Bass: It certainly has been an interesting start to the new year on the Kissimmee Chains. Rapidly changing water temperatures on a weekly basis can challenge even the most seasoned Bass Anglers. It appears this winter this trend will continue on through the month of February. The best advice I can give when the water temperature in anywhere between 48 – 60 degrees on any lake throughout the chain is to find the areas that are sheltered from wind, then locate thick isolated cup pads in 4’ to 5’ of water. Cast a weightless senko or swimbait on a 3/16 jig to the outside edges of the pads up to 10’ off the pads. Often times the bigger females will hang out in pad locks. Then out the nose of the boat into the pads and flip a ½ oz. jig with a craw. My personal preference is a Champion jig, football tread with a strike King rage Craw, 65 lb. braided line on a heavy rod. The key is to work your artificial bait slow and have a lot of patience. For the live bait bass angler’s slow trolling your shiners through the cuts in the pad fields is your best bet for big trophy bass.
Specks: Despite harsh conditions the speck bites has been very good. This is the time of the year I really like fishing for specks in the canals. Not only is it a comfortable place to fish on windy, cold days, theses canals are loaded with specks. A slip cork rig set at 6’-9’ on an ultra-light spinning rod with a minnow just doesn’t get any better that that.
Submitted By: Capt Dave Ochs
Waters Edge Fish Camp
10730 Camp Mack Rd
Lake Wales, Fl
863-589-6295