Florida Strian Bass (Very hard to catch) 2024
gjones2397 reply :
My neighbor has a lake / pond, about 5 acres, and it was stocked with Florida strain bass about 8 years ago. Usually, I am the only one that fishes the lake. Most of time, nobody can catch fish out of the lake. I get lucky because I am so persistent and stay out there on the water for hours and somedays not even get a bite (most of the days). I know the latest craze in the past was to stock with Florida bass, because they grew bigger. And I have heard that they are harder to catch, and have read that the older the fish gets, the harder the Florida strian bass is to catch.
I have read articles of people believing that there were no fish in their ponds, until they drained it and found that there were huge bass in lake or pond. On some days, I will leave the lake and think, "man there aren't any fish in here". I can fish for hours and throw a variety of lures with no luck. I fish with 4 reels, all with different lures, and can throw anything from plastic worm, spinnerbait, buzz bait, crank bait and have no luck.
I have read that I may have better luck with live bait, but no-one has suggested a live bait to try. Minnows, crawfish,.....? When I was younger and my dad would take me fishing, he would catch bull frogs. But, he also taught me to clean a fish by scaling with a spoon. >
Does anyone have a suggestion on a bait to try, or a presentation. At this point, I am willing to try almost anything.
Chris reply :
Are you primarily a shallow water fishermen?
ScroGG ToGG reply :
First off, welcome to the forum. Second, im not sure that "Florida Bass" get bigger or are harder to catch, that may just be a myth. i WILL suggest to try some live bait though, if your not against it.
Lightninrod reply :
Welcome to BR and in case you missed it, this might be of help.
Dan
Hale reply :
Well if Florida Bass is harder to catch that makes me feel better! Thats all I fish for being that Im in Florida.
If your going to try a live bait, try using wild shiners. Your local bait shop should have some.
Geroge will clue us all in on if Florida Strain will grow larger and more difficult to catch. He seems to be the authority on this kind of thing.
RoLo reply :
Welcome to the forum gjones 
What you've read is very true, Florida-strain bass do grow larger than northern-strain bass,
and the Florida-strain is a less aggressive fish.
As for your temporary difficulty with bass, I'd suggest that you hang around
and read the member posts. I'm sure that before too long, you'll be able to put a pattern together.
Best of Luck
Roger
gjones2397 reply :
I primarily fish shallow water.
I don't know if I can get shiners in around here or not. I am in North Mississippi. I never use live bait, so I don't know what to use or how to present the live bait.
roadwarrior reply :
Welcome aboard!
I've seen a few pictures of the Florida bass George Welcome and his guests catch on a regular basis. Yes, they are big and some are huge! He catches the vast majority (maybe all of them) on artificial lures. So, it can be done, but experience and skill come into play and specific locations may be important, too.
gjones2397 reply :
QuoteWelcome aboard!I've seen a few pictures of the Florida bass George Welcome and his guests catch on a regular basis. Yes, they are big and some are huge! He catches the vast majority (maybe all of them) on artificial lures. So, it can be done, but experience and skill come into play and specific locations may be important, too.
I will give you that experience and skill play a big part. I am no expert, but have been fishing since I was a young kid. I can catch bass (what I believe to be Northern bass) fairly consistently. Has anyone noticed a different pattern technique, lures or possible presentation that is more effective between one strain and the other.
I firmly believe that there is a difference in the strike pattern and aggressiveness between the two strains, until enough people tell me different. Let me give you more examples of how the fishing goes in this particular lake/pond. I can go fishing, lets say 10 times. Six times that I go, I may not even get a bite. Two times, I may catch one fish each trip. And one time, I may catch three or four fish ranging from 3lb - 8lb. For instance, the last good day that I had at this lake, I caught 3 pounder, one or two casts later I caught 8 pounder, and couple casts later I caught 5 pounder. I don't keep any fish, I always throw the fish back immediately.
And some of the straglers that I manage to catch on the bad days (most of the time) vary between .5 to 1.5 lbs. So, I know the fish are thriving and reproducing. Just can't catch.
Keithscatch reply :
Not knowing where you are located, it is hard to say that pure Florida strain bass will live longer and grow bigger then northerns. You might be in Michigan or Illinois etc. If so, those Florida's will probably die off and not live very long. However, in the south or central states It is a fact that Florida strain bass grow larger, live longer and are tougher to catch then their northern strain cousins.
I have fished waters that contained nothing but northern strain in Texas and believe me it was incredible. Florida strain bass are effected more highly with weather conditions also such as dropping or rising barometric pressure. Do a search on Google about Northern Strain and Florida Strain it will point out some articles from experts that agree with this assesment.
This is a good read: http://www.noble.org/Ag/Wildlife/Bass/WILDBASS.html
Welcome aboard.
Lane reply :
I would find live CRAWFISH! Other live baits would be shiners, earthworms, and waterdogs.
Be versatile, use both live bait and artificials. Know when and how to use artificials, learn
the same about live bait. The Florida strain can be more difficult, but you can master this
problem. There is alot of good information, and different techniques and tips on this forum.
Visit it often, and WELCOME to BR!
bass ackwards reply :
how long have you been fishing in this lake?
George Welcome reply :
Try putting some shiners out there and see what happens.
There are no facts when it comes to bass. As quickly as you state one, someone will come along and show you how wrong you are. Bass don't live by rules other than the ever changing ones that they make up.
Fishermen live by facts and rules, whether they be made up by someone else or by themselves. I so disagree with the tougher to catch theory. I do agree that they are more difficult to hook until you get it through your head that you need to set the hook on anything that feels different. There is no waiting or counting with Florida strain bass.
Weather affects both strains of bass and it is real handy to be able to blame it when we aren't catching. The moon was too full, the sun too high, the barometer too low, the barometer too high. Most often however, the fish weren't there, or the bait chosen was wrong.
Your choice: the fish aren't there, or the bait you are using was wrong for the moment. Use some wild shiners and you will find out if the fish are there.
RoLo reply :
I noticed that longevity was also mentioned.
With respect to "lifespan", the northern-strain bass lives longer than the Florida-strain,
significantly longer.
The world-record largemouth bass was presumed to have been
an "intergrade" bass, a natural cross between a Florida-strain & northern-strain bass.
Intergrade bass occur naturally in northern Florida and southern Georgia,
where the gene pool provides a favorable combination of fast growth and long life.
Roger
George Welcome reply :
Roger,
What's the significant difference? Florida strain: 13+-/Northern strain: 13+-
The Georgia bass had to be an intergrade or transplanted.
what reply :
they are harder to catch in my opinion 
RoLo reply :
QuoteRoger,What's the significant difference? Florida strain: 13+ /Northern strain: 13+
Due to their faster growth rate, there are exponentially more 13-lb Florida-strain bass.
Although a 13-lb northern-strain bass is possible, her weight would be more age-related.
That is to say, she may be growing slower, but she is growing for a greater number of years.
Roger
gjones2397 reply :
Quotehow long have you been fishing in this lake?
I have been fishing the lake for about 3 or 4 years. And the lake has always been hard to catch fish.
Someone replied an didn't know where I lived. I live in Northern Mississippi.
I have seen several suggestions to use shiners. I will have to read up on a good presentation for shiners. I have little or no experience with live bait.
I am new to this forum and I have learned so much within this first day of reading posts and replies. There is such a difference in opinions about bass fishing across the readers of these forums. Everyone has a differenct view and brings something unique to the table.
dale reply :
Ok follow your own statement....
1- I firmly believe that there is a difference in the strike pattern and aggressiveness between the two strains, until enough people tell me different.
if you believe this to be true then it is. No matter what others tell you, others my influnce your thoughts but you will only second guess yourself untill you believe different!!
2- Let me give you more examples of how the fishing goes in this particular lake/pond. I can go fishing, lets say 10 times.
If you fished 10 times you should have a fishing log.
I bet if you did you would find you caught the most fish on same moon/weather conditions
3- Six times that I go, I may not even get a bite. Two times, I may catch one fish each trip. And one time, I may catch three or four fish ranging from 3lb - 8lb. For instance, the last good day that I had at this lake, I caught 3 pounder, one or two casts later I caught 8 pounder, and couple casts later I caught 5 pounder. I don't keep any fish, I always throw the fish back immediately.
I bet if you had a log you would find your own pattern as to why you did or did not catch fish and what type fish is going to be expected on what day reguardless of the moon/weather conditions .
I do believe that warm all green colored bass are less aggressive during cooler temps. and for me the same is true with bronze backs in warmer waters.
with this being said I also think fish must feed to survive so look around find warmmer water. (mud flats,Rocks or even burried deep in a weed bed, for the green ones...and for the smallies go deeper or find current as current provides oxygen and that inturn makes cooler temps.
So as you can see knowing what I know (or believe) will make me to fish differently on different days.
Your log will give you belief and make you a better fisherman. JMO.
hope this helped
Dale
George Welcome reply :
Roger,
I meant that the FL. strain is expected to live 13+- years, and the Northern strain is expected to live 13+- years, so what is the significant difference in longevity?
Fish Chris reply :
I had always understood that Northern strain bass live longer than Floridas. As in, Floridas might live 10 to 13, where as a Northern should easily live 13, with 20 being possible. In fact, I have read (in In-Fisherman) of a Northern Strain Bass being caught in New York (I believe it was) that was well over 30 years old.
In any case, regardless of whether the bass is a Northern, or a Florida strain, studies have shown that bass which grow "too fast" (unlimited food, and very warm water) tend to experience "burnout", and won't live as long, as bass which have slower growth rates...... Hence the reason So Cal has produced a good handful of 20 plus fish, yet the biggest "certified" from Mexico, was 'only' a 19-10.
But to answer the original question, In my personal experience, Florida bass are tougher to catch than Northerns..... Or should I say, they bite less often out of a "knee jerk" reaction, and will more likely investigate a meal more closely, before committing to eat it.
But none the less, there is "no such thing" as an uncatchable bass :-)
Peace,
Fish
RODBENDER reply :
QuoteRoger,I meant that the FL. strain is expected to live 13+- years, and the Northern strain is expected to live 13+- years, so what is the significant difference in longevity?
i think George and Chris got it nailed on this ...
Havn't yall noticed that skinny people live longer than fat people ...
I think it's the same for bass ,,,in the south they have a longer growing season so they mature faster ..
Randall reply :
No doubt about it in my mind that the intergrades (F-1 hybrid) has different feeding habits and is more affected by fronts. Unless transplanted and isolated from any northern genes I dont think there are any pure Florida bass except in South Florida. I once fished a pond that had what was susposed to be pure Florida bass that had been brought to Georgia and I found them to be extemely difficult to catch after a front. I fish a bunch of different lakes. Some have only northern strain and others have the intergrade. In tough conditions the northern strain lakes have more catchable fish than the lakes with the F-1. Northern strain bass also have a larger strike zone and will move a longer distance to hit a bait than the F-1. Of course all of this is just based on my personal experience and observation. I have no idea what the scientific reason is and have never found anyone who could really tell me.
George Welcome reply :
There are pure Florida strain bass in many locations of this country. However, given time and recruitment, in not a lot of time the intergrade, (F1) will outnumber the pure Florida strain. In Florida the delineation is relatively clear and follows what is know as the weather line. This line runs just south of Melbourne, Florida west to Tampa. Stick Marsh/Farm 13 sits just south of that line.
Jan. 2000- Shaw Grigsby wins Toho with 53-11. This was on a hard cold front with winds in the 40's.
Think this was a cold hard front period.
Cold front accompanied by high winds.
Another one of those cold front windy days.
Fronts affect us far more than they do the fish - weather in general affects us more than the fish. If you think that weather has adverse affects of Florida strain bass than you already have two strikes against you and are quickly headed for the third strike and out.
RoLo reply :
QuoteThere are pure Florida strain bass in many locations of this country. However, given time and recruitment, in not a lot of time the intergrade, (F1) will outnumber the pure Florida strain. In Florida the delineation is relatively clear and follows what is know as the weather line. This line runs just south of Melbourne, Florida west to Tampa. Stick Marsh/Farm 13 sits just south of that line.
I've always based the line of demarcation on lakes rather than cities, which from all
appearances runs from Tarpon Lake near the Gulf coast to Cypress Lake
in the Kissimmee Chain. George and I are on the same page, because if cities were used,
the Florida-strain line would run from Tarpon Springs to Melbourne.
Along with several other behemoths, Lake Tarpon has produced the former
uncertified Florida bass record weighing 19 lbs even (surely a pure Florida-strain).
With respect to bass longevity, I'm afraid George and I part company.
Like most fish and animals, the highest percentage of bass die within their first year of life.
Among the precious few Florida-strain bass surpassing the age of 8, about forty percent
are expected to die within 1 year and 90% will be dead within 2 years (10 years old).
To be sure, there's the occasional bass that reaches 12 years of age, which is popularly
accepted as the age ceiling for pure Florida-strain bass.
As Fish Chris and I have stated, northern-strain bass live significantly longer
than Florida-strain bass. The age ceiling for northern-strain bass is about 16 years,
or about 33% longer than Florida-strain bass. There is more than one account
of a northern bass living longer than 20 years. I also read about that 30-year old
northern-strain bass in the In-Fisherman magazine, but I can't recall the details.
Roger
RoLo reply :
QuoteThere are pure Florida strain bass in many locations of this country. However, given time and recruitment, in not a lot of time the intergrade, (F1) will outnumber the pure Florida strain. In Florida the delineation is relatively clear and follows what is know as the weather line. This line runs just south of Melbourne, Florida west to Tampa. Stick Marsh/Farm 13 sits just south of that line.
I've always based the line of demarcation on lakes rather than cities, which from all
appearances runs from Lake Tarpon near the Gulf coast to Cypress Lake
in the Kissimmee Chain. George and I are on the same page, because if cities were used,
the Florida-strain line would run from Tarpon Springs to Melbourne.
Lake Tarpon has produced many behemoths, in addition to the former uncertified
Florida bass record weighing 19 lbs even.
With respect to bass longevity, I'm afraid George and I part company.
Like most fish and animals, the greatest number of bass die within their first year of life.
Among the precious few Florida-strain bass surpassing the age of 8, about forty percent
are expected to die within 1 year and 90% will be dead within 2 years (10 years old).
To be sure, there's the occasional bass that reaches 12 years of age, which is popularly
accepted as the age-ceiling for pure Florida-strain bass.
Northern-strain bass live significantly longer than Florida-strain bass.
The age ceiling for northern-strain bass is about 16 years, or about 33% longer
than Florida-strain bass. There is more than one account of a northern bass
living longer than 20 years. I also read about a ~30-year old northern-strain bass
in the In-Fisherman magazine, but don't recall the details.
Back On Topic
As Fish Chris stated and few would disagree, northern-strain bass are more aggressive
than Florida-strain bass. I've been fortunate in having fished extensively for bass
in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey and Canada. Jersey bass are much smaller,
but practically jump in the boat with you. In my experience at least,
Florida-strain bass are clearly the least aggressive.
Roger
George Welcome reply :
Roger,
Life span is not something that is George's opinion, but rather published information from various DNR's and fish and game departments.
The popular age may be 12, but Florida's fish and game put it at 13+-. The oldest bass from Florida whose age has been determined by fisheries biologists was 16 year of age. A typical 10 pound Florida strain is 10 years old. Unless they make a major weight gain immediately how do you account for the large numbers of bass caught that weigh considerably more?
Minnesota DNR directly addresses life span of northern strain: Lifespan to 13 years.
The reality is, as long as the fish got big, it really doesn't matter its age.
Hale reply :
Shiner presentation can be farily easy when starting out...as long as you start out basic. I would say use a 3/0 hook and put the hook through its back behind the dorsal fin. Use a strike indicator run about 3' above the bait.
Hooking it in this way allows the shiner to run about somewhat freely, which makes for good excitement when being hunted down by a bass. That shiner will get frantic and may even come out of the water.
Try to leave it in a good area and make casting minimal. Hooking it in the back like this will usually kill the shiner after a few casts. I would suggest setting up two rods in this manner and run both at the same time. Until you get a little more effecient at it I wouldnt run more than two lines at a time. Trust me, it can be chaos at times (multiple fish on, tangles, etc).
You can also hook it through the bottom lip and come up through one of the nostrils. Someone on here may be able to give a good reason to hook it like that, I personally dont see one. It seems to cause the shiner to swim about in a way that is unnatural.
One more tip: You can clip part of its tail to make it swin erratically, a shiner swimming like this is a bass aphrodisiac.
guest reply :
Especially through the ice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
gjones2397 reply :
QuoteShiner presentation can be farily easy when starting out...as long as you start out basic. I would say use a 3/0 hook and put the hook through its back behind the dorsal fin. Use a strike indicator run about 3' above the bait.Hooking it in this way allows the shiner to run about somewhat freely, which makes for good excitement when being hunted down by a bass. That shiner will get frantic and may even come out of the water.
Try to leave it in a good area and make casting minimal. Hooking it in the back like this will usually kill the shiner after a few casts. I would suggest setting up two rods in this manner and run both at the same time. Until you get a little more effecient at it I wouldnt run more than two lines at a time. Trust me, it can be chaos at times (multiple fish on, tangles, etc).
You can also hook it through the bottom lip and come up through one of the nostrils. Someone on here may be able to give a good reason to hook it like that, I personally dont see one. It seems to cause the shiner to swim about in a way that is unnatural.
One more tip: You can clip part of its tail to make it swin erratically, a shiner swimming like this is a bass aphrodisiac.
Thanks Hale.
I am going to go fishing this weekend at the pond/lake that is stocked with the Florida strain bass. I am going to attempt to use some shiners. I have no experience using live bait in bass fishing, so all the tips are helpful. I will make a post again on Monday to give an update on whether or not the live bait has helped me catch more Florida bass in this particular lake. And I know that I can't make a decision on one weekend.
George Welcome reply :
Hook to use - small shiner: 3/0 Kahle hook - medium shiner: 4/0 Kahle hook - large shiner: 5/0 Kahle hook. Kahle hooks are shiner hooks.
Rod: MH - H, 7.0 - Line: anticipating possible fish over 5 pounds: 14-20#
Back hooked in front of dorsal fin: (don't go too deep) shiner will swim forward and up working the surface - behind the dorsal fin: the shiner will rise quicker. In front of the anal fin: the shiner will swim forward and down. Through the lower lip and out one of the nostril places the hook where the fish will take the shiner: (head first) Lip/nostril is the most damaging to the shiner, but puts the hook in the right place for quick hits. Also lip/nostril is used if trolling the shiner.
With or without a float: With if you have a lot of cover that the shiner could get caught up in - without, (free lined) if you have open water. If you have deep water try C-rigging the shiner. Experimentation pays off in this area.
Setting the hook: This is a timing issue that takes some experience to get right: you must have an absolute straight line to the shiner/bass. If not you will hit air as the bass will drop the shiner in a heartbeat. If float fishing let the bass take the float down and be swimming off before setting hook. If free lining let the bass get going with the shiner and when you sense straight line to the bass, hammer it.
Good luck!
gjones2397 reply :
George -
Great informaiton. That is just what I needed. Thank you so much. ;D
Keithscatch reply :
I don't know where this information keeps coming from but everytime I do a google search on the age of bass I continually run into statements like this one:
"On the other hand, northern bassthe native bass in most statesrace each other to smash lures. Unfortunately, northern bass don't live as long as Florida bass and seldom reach more than 8 pounds."
Or here is another one from the same article:
"For years, researchers and southern fishing guides have known that Florida bass don't bite aggressively after they're about 3 years old. Researchers call this becoming "bait-shy," and it's the reason most Florida guides use live shiner minnows when they take their clients fishing for trophy largemouths.
"We knew that after age 3 Florida bass became increasingly difficult to catch with artificial baits. But we didn't realize it would be such a serious problem in private ponds," says Smith."
Both of these comments come from this site: http://www.progressivefarmer.com/farmer/outdoor/article/0,24672,1224142,00.html
An FWC biologist told me they have seen a 16 year old Florida bass. That is the oldest they have seen. So if other states have seen older northern strain bass then perhaps that is true that northerns live longer. This FWC biologist told me that these subspecies do better in the areas of the country that they are native too. A Florida bass doesn't do as well in places it is not native too just like a northern strain doesn't do as well down here in Florida.
Also, I know that George can't be advocating that Florida bass bite just as well after a cold front moves through as they do before one. If so, this flies in the face of everything I have ever heard from biologists, guides, fishermen, and my own experience which I suppose I trust more then anything else. Do fish bite during or after a cold front? Sure they do. Are they as aggressive and as easily fooled? Not on your life.
I can't imagine using the 2000 Toho results that Shaw Grigsby won as any indicator of post frontal fishing success. January on Lake Toho is right in the midst of spawning time. So fish would not be eating a lure to eat they would be mouthing a lure to remove it from their bed. Which more then not is the cause of the high weights for that tournament.
If someone has well documented proof that Northern bass live longer then Florida bass then please show a link or two that shows this.
Here is an interesting article: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/oas/oas_htm_files/v59/p47_50nf.html
Also, I agree with this statement by Roger:
I base this on my own personal experience fishing here in Florida and in Texas. But thrn again I have never had a 100 fish day eitherQuoteAs Fish Chris stated and few would disagree, northern-strain bass are more aggressive than Florida-strain bass.
So experiences change with time. For now though, I would stand by this assessment.Thanks.
George Welcome reply :
"Researchers call this becoming "bait-shy," and it's the reason most Florida guides use live shiner minnows when they take their clients fishing for trophy largemouths.
"We knew that after age 3 Florida bass became increasingly difficult to catch with artificial baits. But we didn't realize it would be such a serious problem in private ponds," says Smith."
Most Florida guides that recommend only shiners as a way to catch Florida trophy bass do so for several reasons, which in most cases has nothing to do with catching trophy largemouths. To start you down the right road to discovery, they also recommend shiners, (and in most cases only take clients using shiners) if you want to catch fish. Shiners have their place, but you need to look at my pages if you thing that it takes them to catch trophy bass.
I love excerpting to make a point: Smith goes on to talk about his developement of "tiger bass". There are two strains of Largemouth Bass, and Mr. Smith's tiger bass isn't one of them. If you wish to believe that he has developed a new strain, that's your perogative. If you wish to think his quoted statements have nothing to do with a sales pitch, again that's your perogative.
"my own experience which I suppose I trust more then anything else." If you wish to believe that your experiences are the end all to bass fishing that is also your perogative. I make it a point to try to learn something from every client that I take out, and most often I am successful. Having fished for these critters I have found there are no hard and fast rules to catching, but I have found that most rules for not catching, are in most cases, nothing more than excuses for not being on fish.
Very few biologists, (not counting this one), are fishermen, so they really don't have the vaguest idea what fish bite like after a frontal passage. Those that are fishermen most often are busy doing other things when most cold fronts pass this way. Their job is fishery managment and fishery research so the information they give out is second hand and received by fishermen.
A hard cold frontal passage in Florida causes most fishermen to stay home. Not because the fish aren't biting, but because it is downright uncomfortable out there. Winds, cold air, and rain associated with these frontal passages just aren't pleasant fishing conditions. However, for those that venture forth and find the fish, the rewards are there.
I could bore you silly with photos of cold frontal and post frontal bass. The key is to find the fish. If you do that you will catch, if you don't you can always blame the frontal passage. I am not saying that weather cannot affect the fishing because it can. It makes finding the fish more difficult. Being on a lake in excess of 320 days a year gives me a distinct advantage on that score, but even I will say on some days: darn it was that stupid cold front.
Whether it be short or long, as long as the life span is long enough to create another record for any state, then they have lived long enough. Be that as it may, Florida GFC calls the southern span as 13+-, and Wisconsin calls the northern span 13+-. Sounds good enough for my book.
Keithscatch reply :
QuoteI love excerpting to make a point:
You mean like this one:
Then to go on and say this:Quote"my own experience which I suppose I trust more then anything else."
Seems to me that you are guilty of excerpting yourself.QuoteIf you wish to believe that your experiences are the end all to bass fishing that is also your perogative.
Well, I never said that my own experiences are the end all to bass fishing knowledge. Friends that know me know I would never suggest such a thing. My point was this: I trust other people's opinions allot especially if they are experts in their field such as yourself. So with that in mind I try to apply the information that I have learned. When I hear from other experts that tell me that fish bury themselves in hydrilla during cold fronts or suspend in open water or just do not bite very well, I have no reason to argue with them. So I go and apply my own experience to the equation and if after several years of fishing frontal passages and weather changes I see that this is in fact true then in my opinion the matter is settled. I have opinion from experts and my own experience telling me the same things. For those of us who are not able to fish 300+ days we are limited to say 50 days or so on the water. Believe me it takes a whole heck of allot to keep me off the water on a weekend. So I have spent my fair share of cold frontal type days fishing. Even broke ice off of my eye guides before.
Now, I can also post picture after picture up of nice bass with me wearing a coat. Heck I used to live in Texas and it gets allot colder there then it does here in S.Central Florida. In fact, George, the majority of my biggest fish have come from cold weather days with sunny blue bird skies. However, like I said before their is no way anyone can say with a straight face that bass are just as aggressive and bite just as easily after a cold northerner has just blown through as they were in the summer or fall. That all you have to do is find where they went. Your point seems to suggest that bass are not affected by sudden weather changes and eat just as much as they do before, during, and after the storm or cold fronts. This is what I am saying is just silly to me.
So we will just have to disagree on this one.
RoLo reply :
For what it's worth, the attachment below is Page 53 of the "Largemouth Bass Handbook"
published by In-Fisherman.
In my post above, I stated that northern-strain bass live about 33% longer
than Florida-strain bass. Like most things I write, this is not my opinion,
but an average I arrived at using several sources (many years ago).
In any case, I've noticed that the In-Fisherman suggests that the northern-strain
lives about 50% longer than the Florida-strain, which I feel is on the high-end of reality.
Roger
bitman reply :
We have them in Lake Alan Henry near Lubbock TX and they are pretty tough to catch, at least for me 
Although you will catrch a large fish ever once and a while. But the number of fish you catch in a day are few. I do know alot of folks catch bass and some bigger ones on minners out of the crappie house, Im guessing the fish know where the easy meals are, LOL
DannyG
They also have it stocked with Smallies and Spots, Ive never caught even one of either so they are very hard to catch
tennsopher reply :
George Welcome just told you more about shiner fishing in a few short paragraphs than most people know.Well worth paying attention to no matter the weather.Kudos George!
gjones2397 reply :
I went fishing in the private lake that is stocked with the Florida strain bass. This is the lake that I was referring to when I started this post. I fished with some large minnows (varied between 2 - 5 inches) that I caught from another pond using a casting net.
Well........I was surprised. Although I didn't have long to stay and fish, I caught several fish. I caught several bass in one area. Since I don't have a lot of experience with fishing with shiners or minnows, I tried hooking the minnow a couple of different ways. I hooked behind the dorsal fin and also on some occassions I hooked behind the anal fin. I seemed to get more action when I hooked the bait behind the anal fin and the bait seemed to live longer.
Although I did catch several fish in a short period of time, I didn't catch any big ones.
I need to fish the lake a few more times before I change my opinion on how hard Florida strain bass are to catch. If future fishing trips at this lake go like the one I had today, I have a feeling that the outcome will be that Florida strain are much harder to catch on ARTIFICIAL lures. While I was catching the bass, I also had another reel with a spinner bait and I was throwing it about the same places that I was catching the fish with the live bait, and didn't even get a bite.
Although I did catch fish, I will have to get use to fishing with minnows or shiners. It almost feels like I am fishing for catfish. As a matter of fact, I caught 3 or 4 catfish while I was fishing. I don't know what I can do differently to prevent catching catfish :-/. And something happened that was really funny, I caught a turtle. The turtle was hanging on to my minnow, I didn't even have the hook in him. I pulled the minnow and turtle completely out of the water and eventually the minnow came loose from the hook.
Anyways, thanks to everyone that posted and suggested using live bait, it worked. But, the only thing that I don't like is that it feels like I am catfishing or bream fishing, it is too slow. I am so use to fishing artificial and a lot of action. Does anyone have any more suggestions on how the best way to hook or present a minnow or shiner. Would I have more success using a bobber, rather than "tight lining"?
noway reply :
QuoteQuotehow long have you been fishing in this lake?I have been fishing the lake for about 3 or 4 years. And the lake has always been hard to catch fish.
Someone replied an didn't know where I lived. I live in Northern Mississippi.
I have seen several suggestions to use shiners. I will have to read up on a good presentation for shiners. I have little or no experience with live bait.
I am new to this forum and I have learned so much within this first day of reading posts and replies. There is such a difference in opinions about bass fishing across the readers of these forums. Everyone has a differenct view and brings something unique to the table.
Good info here.
http://www.fishin.com/articles/BassCoach/wildshiners.htm
GAMEOVER reply :
I tell you what, that sounds like crankbait heaven to me. Its a proven fact that Bass expecially larger ones will eat the forage in its home body of water. Match the forage when getting a good crankbait like the Rapala DT w/ Sure Set hooks or your favorite (whichever you prefer) and do some hardcore pattern fishing. Some people dont believe crankbaits will catch big Bass but let me tell you, I know for a fact, that they do. Also if they are really that hard for everyone to catch I suggest you get something like a swimbait from http://www.mattlures.com. Id deffinatly take fishing a place like that where you dont get many bass for days but when you do they are big rather than a pond or lake taken over by smaller Bass.
Trust me on this one to, get an all black jointed Jitterbug and fish it with a slower then faster retrieve. Dont give up on it, fish it every chance you get when the water is calm rather it be a week or a month. Show me pics of that hawg.
BTW, ive also heard Florida is one of the hardest states to "pattern fish" in. I have no idea why even David Fritts mentioned something about it but that doesnt mean it wont work.
If you have two rods try rigging a Fat Ika in watermellon seed on one and throwing it out there then continue on pattern fishing.
mudcatwilly reply :
In CA, we have a mix of Northern and Florida Strain. In the CA Delta, they are mostly the northern variety and I have seen them blow up some topwater lures like it was their last meal. These fish also get very big.
Catt reply :
QuoteTry putting some shiners out there and see what happens.There are no facts when it comes to bass. As quickly as you state one, someone will come along and show you how wrong you are. Bass don't live by rules other than the ever changing ones that they make up.
Fishermen live by facts and rules, whether they be made up by someone else or by themselves. I so disagree with the tougher to catch theory. I do agree that they are more difficult to hook until you get it through your head that you need to set the hook on anything that feels different. There is no waiting or counting with Florida strain bass.
Weather affects both strains of bass and it is real handy to be able to blame it when we aren't catching. The moon was too full, the sun too high, the barometer too low, the barometer too high. Most often however, the fish weren't there, or the bait chosen was wrong.
Your choice: the fish aren't there, or the bait you are using was wrong for the moment. Use some wild shiners and you will find out if the fish are there.
Extremely will put
Add this to it
People often respond to failure and frustration by over-complicating theory and technique. As much as it helps our egos to regard a difficult task as complex, this type of thinking is often the biggest obstacle between you and fishing success.
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