CENTRAL FLORIDA INLAND
Alright forest-fishing-folks, break out the sunscreen because the heat is on—and so is the bite. Cloudy days will be your best bet for an all day slug-fest; while sunny days will guarantee a sunrise and sunset bite. Night fishing is a great way to beat the heat and is especially good around the full moon, which is May 10th.
Bass will be hiding under the shade of lily pads, bonnet pads, and other cover. To locate productive areas, keep moving and throw weight-less swimbaits until you get strikes or spook fish. Once you locate a productive area, slow down and fish that area thoroughly, with a worm or craw-style pitching bait. Top-water frogs will draw explosive strikes during sunrise and sunset, and live shiners will help catch the more finicky bass that won’t eat lures. Lake Bryant and Lake Kerr are the best for good numbers, while the dams at Rodman and Moss Bluff will produce the heavier bass.
Catfish fishing, heats up in the summer and is a great choice for some some night-time action. Most people use chicken livers or worms for bait, but I like to catch a few bream, then use their bellies and guts as bait for the cats—saving the thicker meat of the bream for the fryer. Cut-bait stays on the hook better, so it’s easier to cast and less likely to be picked off by smaller fish. Cut shiners work as well. Lake Eaton, Sharpes Ferry Bridge, and Rodman dam are the go-to spots for shore-side anglers. Channel cats are the best tasting, but any of them will make for a great fish fry!
If you’re looking for a really hard fight, then gar is always a dependable choice. Ocklawaha River has the biggest of these dinosaurs, and Eureka bridge is a great place to start for boaters or shore-side anglers. Use cut-bait, a couple inches under a bobber, to intercept them as they come up to gulp air from the surface. Make sure to use a heavy leader or straight braid; these guys have super sharp teeth. When you see your bobber going down, let them eat for a while before setting the hook. A lot of times they will drop it once or twice before actually swallowing it. Be careful when handling these fish because they can be dangerous. Wrap a towel around their beak and hold on tight.
Big fish are being caught everywhere, and there’s plenty left to catch. A long-sleeved fishing shirt and brimmed hat will protect you from the sun, and bug spray will keep the mosquitoes off you during sunset. Remember to leave the forest cleaner than when you got there and always practice conservation. This place is special! Let’s keep it that way.
John Freeze – 352-216-5798 – swampsurf@embarqmail.com