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Bass bite gets hot

Posted Feb 1, 2012 by Tribune Sports

Updated Feb 1, 2012 at 08:21 PM

BY FRANK SARGEANT

Warmer weather has the bass bite going nuts at Lake Okeechobee, reports Captain Mike Shellen. He says the Skinny Dipper jerkbait, a soft plastic that’s usually Texas rigged to make it weedless, is one of the top offerings over the submerged grass all along the north shore.

Shellen also said that crappie fishing, which should be on fire, has been hit or miss for many anglers. The fish are all over the weedline one day, gone the next. This is likely to change to a strong, steady bite any day and continue through mid-March when the spawn winds up.

Rodman continues to turn out 10-pound monsters to live shiner anglers, but water levels will be on the way up soon after the drawdown, so those who want to experience this amazing bite at its best will want to go soon. Shiners and advice are available at bait shops in Salt Springs and Orange Springs.

The upper St. Johns is another prime spring area for big fish. Top Stick Marsh guide Jim Porter says he’s catching plenty of fish around the start-up of new hydrilla growth in the lake – fishing had been off there for some time after a die-off of the submerged grass. He said shiners are the top bait, but big plastic worms, spinnerbaits and topwaters also do the job. The lake also turns out whopper specks at this time of year for anglers fishing the submerged ditches with live minnows.