February Fishing Forecast: It’s Still Cold

Winter Haven

 Both bass and bass fishermen remain in staging areas due to the cold. For fishermen it’s the couch, for fish it’s deeper water. Until the water temperature rises from the low 50’s up to the mid 60’s this “staging pattern” will continue. The spawn, which is normally half over by now, has not even really got started good yet. Fishing remains extremely tough for now. A few good warm days should send the bass into a spawning frenzy as they are about to pop. Crankbaits and Texas/Carolina rigs should give way to flippin’ sticks and sight fishing soon. Try spinnerbaits, rattlebaits, and jerkbaits in shad/shiner colors early around shoreline areas, then switch over to flippin Texas rigged soft plastics around cattails, reeds, pads, and grass. 

On top of cold fronts coming down one after another we also are plagued by low water levels. Many ramps are unusable and most canals are too shallow to navigate through. Lakefront homeowners however must not notice this as they continue to pump out who knows how much water from the lakes every day. If this is not enough of a challenge for fishermen to overcome, throw in the fact that hardly a blade of grass remains in our lakes due to relentless chemical treatments of aquatic vegetation which affects the entire food chain from grass shrimp to bass. Also the dying vegetation decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen from the water which may even lead to fish kills. Whereas living vegetation increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water and serves as a natural filter for our lakes and also keeps the water clear. As dead vegetation breaks down it turns into a mucky mess that you can’t keep off your baits or hooks. The water goes from clear to puke green. The fish wander around with no submerged cover to relate to and become much harder to locate and catch. Hydrilla has been around for a long time now and it’s not going away. Even after millions of dollars are spent to treat hydrilla, it still eventually comes back. Instead of wiping it out completely, why can’t we just try controlling it? That way everybody wins. Aquatic weed control companies still get to make some money, fish populations can thrive, and we and our future generations can enjoy some fantastic fishing. The local economy would also benefit as people outside of our area would show up in large numbers and spend lots of dollars. It sickens me to watch what was one of the best areas in the world for bass fishing go down the tubes for reasons that CAN be controlled.
Kissimmee Chain
 
 Up and down would describe the fishing on the Kissimmee chain during this crazy weather we’re having. A consistent pattern is virtually impossible to find. The lakes are changing on a weekly basis due to weed control and weather. Even shiner fishermen are struggling to stay on fish. Healthy green hydrilla is becoming hard to find along with clean water. High winds have muddied up the already cold water making for some very tough fishing conditions. If you don’t like the lakes now just wait a week and come back, they’ll change again.
 Check inside pads, flags, and reeds for spawners. Search for clean water hard bottom areas. Cast or flip junebug or black/blue soft plastics around isolated patches of cover 1 – 4 ft. Also topwater frogs, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits worth a shot. During colder weather try flippin’ craws or other plastics around heavy matted vegetation with 1 – 1 1/2 oz weights. Offshore hydrilla beds are still holding some big fish. Try rattlebaits, spinnerbaits, or jerkbaits over the grass. Stick with shad/shiner colors. Tons of empty beds but check back regularly as 75 % or more of bass population has not spawned yet and they may move up overnight. Remember to get a few quick photos and return the fish back quickly to it’s bed unharmed so that it may pass those genes along.

Central Florida, where you’ll find beautiful lakes, great bass fishing and Monte Goodman. Monte has made a career of doing what he enjoys and does best as a professional bass guide and successful tournament angler. Guiding and fishing competitively for the past 15 years has given him the experience, skill and knowledge it takes to be a great fisherman. Monte is also a vocal advocate of Florida’s habitat and conservation efforts, supports and practices “catch and release” himself and encourages others to do the same. A member of tournament trails such as FLW, FOMNTT, BFL, and B.A.S.S just to name a few. Credited with well over a hundred local tournament wins, was back to back Angler of the Year in the largest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the world, and has won numerous Big Bass honors. Monte’s ability to adapt, his versatility and lengthy resume has earned him a reputation anyone would be proud of.