The first of this season’s cold front has already passed. Here in Central Florida, the month of November is typically the start of fall weather and cooler temps during the days and nights. The fish are starting to school up and feed on bait near mouths of creeks, canals and both ends of all the rivers. The cooler weather, shorter days and water temps have motivated the fish to start the transition to staging areas and shallows seeking out locations for spawning. The cooler water temps will not only turn on the topwater bite for bass it will also trigger the crappie into their spawning mode also. Schooling bass are biting lipless Rattle Trap baits around the eel grass in both Lake Harris and Lake Eustis, also reports on both Zoom Speed Worms and 10” old monster worms in dark colors along the deeper edges of the Kissimmee grass and the deeper water between the offshore eel grass. The bigger fish are feeding and fattening up for the first of this season’s spawn. It usually starts with the New or Full Moon stage in December. November is one of the best months of the year for freshwater fishing in Central Florida. If we get a good cold snap before the moon phases the fish will be on the move. Look for the staging areas close to deep water that is close to a flat. Deeper water out in front of canals, mouths of the rivers and Haynes Creek on both ends and shallow boat docks that have deeper water closeby are places to target. The recent Saturday BASS Open event took over 20 pounds a day to win. This proves that the fish have started chewing.
Anglers are already catching some nice black crappies all throughout the chain. Minnows are being sold by the dozens as our annual snow-birds are arriving daily. When the moon phases get close the males will be moving shallower. Look for them near the lilly pads and edges of the grass. Find a sign-up location near you and get registered for the 15th Annual Central Florida Shad and Crappie Derby beginning on November 1st – FREE to enter with over $5000 in prizes for the winning anglers. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
