Wind, wind and more wind – here we go March! The bite has been off and then on again for both bass and crappie. Some good catches have been coming for both species around the new and full moon phases. It seems that they bite better 2 to 3 days before the moon phases or for several days following, likely due to spawning. The bass spawn has been a little slower this year due to the warm winter we are having along with the cold fronts that are every 4 to 5 days. March is usually the last month for spawners all throughout the chain of lakes. Get out on the water in between the fronts on the second or third day after it passes for better results.
The bass have been staging in the deeper grass edges, eel grass beds or in the lily pads and mixed vegetation close to the spawning areas. The mouths of canals, both ends of Dead River, Haynes Creek, 9th Street area, Little Lake Harris have all been good places to check. Lipless crank baits, chatter baits (bladed jigs) and swim baits have all been producing bites. Once you get a bite or two in the same area slow down and work through the same area with a Junebug or Black-blue trick worm or Senko style worm, Texas-rigged or wacky style. Check any of the canals in or close to moon phases for the buck bass and big females as they push up into those areas when they are ready to lay their eggs.
The crappie bite has been equally the same, with some days better than others. The recent full-moon phase did have several days when they were up shallow and really biting. Most are coming on Ron’s Zip Jigs, Road-Runners tipped with a minnow or just a plain live minnow when fished in the heavy vegetation and very shallow. Eustis, Little Harris, and Lake Dora have all been producing limits when the bite is on. Take a kid with you when you go and make a memory!
