Living in what many people consider to be the best fishing destination in the world, one would think finding a place to bass fish in Florida would be easy. For those of you who have bass boats to get around in places like Lake Okeechobee, finding places to fish may not be hard. For anglers who don’t have the luxury of a boat with a big motor, finding trophy bass becomes much harder.
Since many places are located private property, it can seem almost impossible to find a place to fish from the bank. However, it is possible to consistently catch good bass without ever stepping in a bass boat, you just have to know what to look for and be a little outgoing.
When looking for a new area, you should be willing to try places no one else will. Places like roadside canals, golf course ponds, and neighborhood ponds sometimes hold fish everyone else has overlooked. Fishing places like this will eventually lead you somewhere secretly holding big bass. You just have to be persistent.
You should also do things a little differently than everyone else. For example, some wildlife refuges prohibit boats and motorized vehicles. If you are willing to walk or bike to small ponds or canals that are farther out, you might find areas that aren’t fished at all. Sometimes all it takes is that little extra effort.
Next time you are hunting for new areas to fish from the bank, try something no one else is willing to, and it might just lead to the fish of a lifetime.
Brandon Tourigny, 17, of Loxahatchee, Florida, is a senior at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. Most of his fishing is done in the Everglades, and he hopes to work in the hunting and fishing industry.