Lake Talquin has been in good shape all year. Big bass after big bass have come to the scales to be weighed each week. Thousands of bass in the 5- to 6-lb range, and hundreds in the 8- to 10-lb range are caught each month by local and tournament anglers from all over the area.
The past few months have seen most good catches coming from main lake and river channel ledges. Look for that to change as October brings slightly cooler weather that will move baitfish into the creeks and bass will follow.
A bass has two goals in life: eat and reproduce. This time of year it’s about eating, and bass fishing on Lake Talquin in October can be very rewarding. Although daytime temperatures still range in the higher 80’s, early mornings with fast moving baits can be some of the best fishing you’ll experience all year on this 100+ year old man made marvel.
Rattle traps, spinner baits, poppers, chuggers and stick baits worked on or near creek channel edges and vegetation in deeper creeks is a great place to start early mornings. As the sun gets higher, bait moves deeper or out further into mid creek areas. A good fishfinder can keep you on top of this action as bait fish stay schooled most of the day.
Mid-depth crank baits and a Carolina-rigged worm are good tools to mine bass from the deeper areas as the day goes on. As the sun goes down, reverse the process, and bass will come right back into the shallows.
For those of you who like to chase crappie, look for this to pick up later in the month near Halloween. Crappie also follow bait and are pretty easy to catch early and late in the day by trolling small curly tail grubs right above the fish found on your sonar screen.
So until next month, be safe have fun and ALWAYS wear a life jacket!
JR MUNDINGER
(850) 296-4071
www.fishtallahassee.com
fishtallahassee@yahoo.com