Orlando Bass Fishing Guide Report

I took a mini vacation last week for three days to fish the Wolfson Children's Benefit Tournament out of Palaka FL on the St Johns River. My good friend Hank Gallagher owner of Cattle Ranch Steak House in Sanford FL joined me for the three day trip.Palaka FL is about 90 miles from where I guide on the St Johns River so rather then make the long run to our home waters in the Sanford area we used our practice time Thus and Fri fishing between Sanford and Palaka so my report for this week will be from Lake Dexter to Lake George. On Thursday we spent most of the day fishing the main river channel around the Lake Dexter and Astor area.We caught about 25 fish but very few keepers. We did find a lot of fish schooling on shad around shell beds in the Lake Dexter area of the River.A topwater and C Rigged Bitters Junebug Worm caught most of these schooling fish on Thursday.Friday we spent the whole day in Lake George and never caught a fish until around 10:30 am but when we found them a pattern was easy to put together.We found these fish in two foot of water around the larger dollar pad patches that line Lake George.The first area Hank caught a very nice 6 pound fish and then we shook off the next 7 bites over the next 30 minutes.The second area Hank catches another nice fish about 6 pounds and we shake off the next 6 bites in 20 minutes.The third area we found we never set the hook on a fish and had about 8 bites in 30 minutes.All these fish were eating a Bitters 7.5 Junebug worm rigged with a 1/8 oz Gamble Rattle weight and it was all we could do to get them to let the worm go as we choose not to set the hook.Saturday was a different story as I don't think I have ever worked so hard in my life to catch 5 fish weighing 10.64 pounds. This just goes to show that fish don't bite the same everyday.On Saturday the weather conditions were the exact same as Friday when we had over 20 bites in less the 2 hrs in these same three areas.It was nice getting a way for a few days and fishing a different area of the St Johns River then I guide on everyday but I will be glad to be fishing my home waters tomorrow on the St Johns River in Sanford FL. Thanks From Capt Ed Bussard and Bass Challenger Guide Service Guiding Clients To Trophy Bass In Central FL For Over 29 Years.