Winter is here!! We are seeing water temps in the 40's for the first times sense last Feb and the fish don't like it at all. Artificial baits have not worked the past week at all. I spent 4 days this week with my good friend Jack G of TN and besides some great conversations the rest of the trip was as tough as it gets. It was nice to spend some time on the water with a good friend after loosing my Father on Dec 23rd.
I was really anticipating the full moon on Dec 31St kicking in the spawn but it's not happening with all these cold water temps coming into play. They are now calling for freezing air temps the next 6 days with lows in the upper 20's to low 30's. I wouldn't think of doing a trip this next week without Wild Shiners in the live well. Even then I would be targeting Trophy Bass and looking for just a few bites a day. Mid Jan will be the start of the spawn and then we will see great artificial and live bait fishing.
I spent yesterday with a good client and his family in from Detroit for Christmas vacation. Because of kids being involved in this party of six I called my good friend Capt Pete Matson in to help and we headed to the Butler Chain of Lakes in Orlando FL.Knowing we were looking for numbers of fish and not Trophy Bass I figured that the deep water the Butler Chain offers would be our best bet. It paid off well as this family had a ball catching 19 fish between the two boats and I was very surprised to see most of these fish weighing between 3 and 6 pounds.
Pulling wild shiners behind the boat in 13 to 25 ft of water was the key to success on this great trip.
Thanks From Capt Ed Bussard and Bass Challenger Guide Service
Guiding Clients To Trophy Bass IN Central FL For Over 30 Years
Office 407-273-8045
Cell 321-377-2013
www.basschallenger.com