Help Needed With Canal Fishing 2024
rvadog reply :
I just moved to South Florida and have moved in to a house in Miramar. A block from my house is a 20' wide canal. I've seen fish in there but Ive been out twice so far and got skunked. I'm fishing a green topwater frog at abour 7:30 am.
Any suggestions? What would you guys do if approaching a small canal you've never fished in?
BP10 reply :
they might of not been bitting frogs that day but i would try flukes worms spinnerbaits maybe a crank bait
---=Martin=--- reply :
1/8oz weight + zoom swim fluke shad color on a 5/0 EWG hook :-)
the closer to the bank's edge, the better :-) same with frogs, work them 1-2 ft from the water's edge.
Good luck!
BassinLou reply :
Keep it simple when canal fishing. All of the above baits will catch you fish. Also, there is an array of other soft plastics that will work also. For ex, trickworms, centipedes, finesses worms, flukes were mentioned, buzzing frogs, the options are endless. What I found in my experience,canal fishing is all about the gear and the approach you use. Use the lightest weight and line you can get away with, and your approach must be stealth like. Bass vision is unbelievable, and if you stomp your way to the bank and cast in front of you, game over. Keep your casts to the sides, walk slowly, and keep your rod tip down. Keep the color of your clothes to earth tones. Some may disagree to these extremes but these fish aren't dumb. Lastly, do not leave home without polarized glasses. Bass will be right in front of you and you will miss them.
xbacksideslider reply :
On 6/13/2013 at 3:54 AM, BassinLou said:Keep it simple when canal fishing. All of the above baits will catch you fish. Also, there is an array of other soft plastics that will work also. For ex, trickworms, centipedes, finesses worms, flukes were mentioned, buzzing frogs, the options are endless. What I found in my experience,canal fishing is all about the gear and the approach you use. Use the lightest weight and line you can get away with, and your approach must be stealth like. Bass vision is unbelievable, and if you stomp your way to the bank and cast in front of you, game over. Keep your casts to the sides, walk slowly, and keep your rod tip down. Keep the color of your clothes to earth tones. Some may disagree to these extremes but these fish aren't dumb. Lastly, do not leave home without polarized glasses. Bass will be right in front of you and you will miss them.
Ditto that on stealth; soft step, sneak, keep low, throw the bait so it soft lands even slides into the water.
Several times I caught a big bass that lived under a particular dock. Wary fish. It got to the point where I had to walk in from an entirely different direction and then only a perfect skip cast of a new and different plastic bait that went deep under that dock from forty or fifty feet away would get a bite. I could swear, that bass could feel or hear my foot steps and was looking for me too.
SirSnookalot reply :
Miramar is peacock country, just about every canal and lake has them there, I would check out some of the parks in the area. Lures I would be using would be dependent on 2 variables, high or low banked canal and how much vegetation or floating grass there is. My first choice would always be lures with exposed hooks simply because I have a better chance at the peacocks. For me it's spinnerbaits, spoons, flashy jerkbaits, inline spinners and the sleeper bait is a crappie jig. I use a saltwater flats jig for them, bass will hit them too.
rvadog reply :
I learned to fish crappie with crickets and minnows in Virginia and spent the last 4 years fishing LMB occasionally in NYC. I've never even seen a peacock bass. I would love to catch one. Those guys get more active in hotter weather than LMB right?
BassinLou reply :
Pea's are active in the summer months. I think however, that OP question was geared more towards canal fishing in general.
rvadog reply :
I am the op
derekxec reply :
On 6/14/2013 at 5:05 AM, rvadog said:I am the op
lol! try a white buzzbait or a fluke with no weight
BassinLou reply :
Duh! you are absolutely right, you are the OP. my mistake.
FishingFLA reply :
Top water frogs have been working good. I've used the Boo-yah small frog and large popper frog. both work great
rvadog reply :
I have some zoom horny toad's that I will rig up weightless.
What time of day do you guys go out fishing? I've been going around 7:30am and have had no luck.
derekxec reply :
for peacocks it doesnt really matter what time most of mine have been caught in the middle of the day while stupid me is on fire from the sun lol
---=Martin=--- reply :
On 6/16/2013 at 3:40 AM, rvadog said:I have some zoom horny toad's that I will rig up weightless.
What time of day do you guys go out fishing? I've been going around 7:30am and have had no luck.
good question, i usually have some luck between 6-8am when i'm on a boat with LgMouthGambler working the canals in coral springs.
now it's 5:40pm, i'm about to go fishing, but i'm still waiting a bit.. the canal where i'm about to go to is 2 block from me, but i know that anything before 7pm will be an exercise in futility and casting, nothing else. i've noticed that where i fish around my house, the bite is most active between 7pm-7:30/45pm... unless I'm after snakeheads, then it don't matter, the brighter the better :-) last 5-6lbs snakehead i caught few days ago at 1:30pm in the worse possible FL heat and sun, on a top water Booyah Jr. frog.
mg4u2nv reply :
Horny toads are great baits. This time of year i like them in lower light conditions or overcast and around pads or any other type of cover. Getting out at dawn would be a good idea. Dawn tomorrow is at 605. So you can have almost 30 mins before the sun comes up. I caught a 3lber the other night at my lake in pines at about 830pm. Just before total dark. good luck!
Matt
juan_LMB reply :
I just got out of the Army and moved down here myself back in May and I finally found someone that pointed me on the right direction for LMB. I mean you see and pass canals on just about every road down here but which ones are going to actually produce, produce big, and which end of the canal that does produce were the big questions. Oh yea, and what bait haha. So I finally got out yesterday to see if the end of this canal really produced and I caught my FIRST LMB (I just started fishing last fall)! I was beyond excited. I was using a YUM worm but don't know which one. I think it was a watermelon with some JJs magic on the end. He snatched it on the fall so I wasnt 100% sure if it was a bite or me tripping. so I reeled in the slack real quick, waited about 3secs...nudge the line a little and I felt it was tight...then he started swimming with it a little and BAM! Hooked him, reeled that monster in. That's him on my photo <<< I'm looking forward to this South FL bass fishing. OAN, I read the thread and received a lot of great tips that I didn't know. Thanks guys
BassinLou reply :
Welcome Juan. Down here in S.FL, there are canals galore. Now fishing them and catching from them is a totally different ballgame. Nice catch, btw.
AK-Jax86 reply :
On 7/7/2013 at 2:04 AM, juan_LMB said:I just got out of the Army and moved down here myself back in May and I finally found someone that pointed me on the right direction for LMB. I mean you see and pass canals on just about every road down here but which ones are going to actually produce, produce big, and which end of the canal that does produce were the big questions. Oh yea, and what bait haha. So I finally got out yesterday to see if the end of this canal really produced and I caught my FIRST LMB (I just started fishing last fall)! I was beyond excited. I was using a YUM worm but don't know which one. I think it was a watermelon with some JJs magic on the end. He snatched it on the fall so I wasnt 100% sure if it was a bite or me tripping. so I reeled in the slack real quick, waited about 3secs...nudge the line a little and I felt it was tight...then he started swimming with it a little and BAM! Hooked him, reeled that monster in. That's him on my photo <<< I'm looking forward to this South FL bass fishing. OAN, I read the thread and received a lot of great tips that I didn't know. Thanks guys
Welcome to FL bass fishing! My cousin and his wife moved here from NY, my cousin is originally from London moved to NY to play basketball and college. He only fished once before with his boss and he was out for 5 hours and caught nothing, not a good first fishing experience. He came down here and I got him hooked off of one 2 hour trip. The fishing up north holds no comparison to the fishing here in FL. I absolutely love it, I am going to take a trip to South FL and check out these canals, snake heads, and peacock bass you guys got down there.
rvadog reply :
The topic that won't die!
Skunked again today! I can catch those d**n Mayan Cichlids all day long but I can't catch a bass to save my life.
---=Martin=--- reply :
On 7/7/2013 at 2:04 AM, juan_LMB said:I just got out of the Army and moved down here myself back in May and I finally found someone that pointed me on the right direction for LMB. I mean you see and pass canals on just about every road down here but which ones are going to actually produce, produce big, and which end of the canal that does produce were the big questions. Oh yea, and what bait haha. So I finally got out yesterday to see if the end of this canal really produced and I caught my FIRST LMB (I just started fishing last fall)! I was beyond excited. I was using a YUM worm but don't know which one. I think it was a watermelon with some JJs magic on the end. He snatched it on the fall so I wasnt 100% sure if it was a bite or me tripping. so I reeled in the slack real quick, waited about 3secs...nudge the line a little and I felt it was tight...then he started swimming with it a little and BAM! Hooked him, reeled that monster in. That's him on my photo <<< I'm looking forward to this South FL bass fishing. OAN, I read the thread and received a lot of great tips that I didn't know. Thanks guys
Thank you for your service to our great country Sir! And welcome to S.FL.!!! I read about this take-a-vet-fishing program, and perhaps I can show you some spots in Coral Springs that usually produce nice bass :-)
On 7/7/2013 at 5:36 AM, rvadog said:The topic that won't die!
Skunked again today! I can catch those d**n Mayan Cichlids all day long but I can't catch a bass to save my life.
Don't feel bad man, I've fished for 3 hours yesterday and 2 today, and all I got yesterday was a 7-8 inch baby bass, and absolutely NOTHING today. I tried jigs, 12 inch worms, lizards, and baby brush hogs. N!O!T!H!I!N!G! But I do find comfort in knowing that FL summer is the hardest time to fish for bass, or so I've been told and I believe it :-)
Perhaps Juan_LMB and you and me should get together, I know this pond in front of this church that was loaded with bass last I fished there few weeks ago. Most were small, around 1-2lbs, but still fun to catch :-) Hit me up guys, I'll be going tomorrow around 6pm, if you're interested PM me your cell numbers or emails, and we'll coordinate!
Martin
BassinLou reply :
Rvadog, don't sweat it. This time of year is tough. I have been workin my butt off with this friendly bragging rights tourney we have going and I am hurting. I get home and I am questioning myself.
juan_LMB reply :
BassinLou: yea, the canals are connected 4-5 blocks and spread out, it's like a hit or miss on catching them cause they could be anywhere in there.
rvadog: trust, you're not the only one having issues. Every since I caught that 5lber the other day, I've only caught two others that were maybe 1-3lbs. I've gotten like 4-5 bites but I didn't like them enough to set the hook. Just nibbles or spitting it out too quick. It be too hot out there to be fishing seewee and grass haha. I fished today in two different spots for a total of about 4hrs. I caught one fish...I was pretty frustrated. It wasn't helping neither with all the cars driving by and starring like they've never seen a fisherman lol.
mvobrodt: I'm about to PM you.
SirSnookalot reply :
I don't fish bass religiously in the summertime but I do get out a 3 or 4 times a week for an hour or 2 at a time. Summers can be tough, I mainly stick to ponds this time of year. I did do some canal fishing this past week, I was walking feeder canals due to the high water and some of the cleared out slop looking for peacocks, caught a few and some very nice bass. Yesterday for about an hour I targeted LMB in a tiny canal using flukes then a frog, and bass were there, lots of gar too. This kind of bass fishing is about as easy as it gets from the standpoint that electronics are not needed to find them, just a matter of being in the right place at the right time, some days you score some days you don't. Once the water levels drop a bit fish the bigger canals. Dec thru about Feb is a totally reversal in canal bass fishing, it can get very good.
juan_LMB reply :
On 7/7/2013 at 2:06 PM, SirSnookalot said:I don't fish bass religiously in the summertime but I do get out a 3 or 4 times a week for an hour or 2 at a time. Summers can be tough, I mainly stick to ponds this time of year. I did do some canal fishing this past week, I was walking feeder canals due to the high water and some of the cleared out slop looking for peacocks, caught a few and some very nice bass. Yesterday for about an hour I targeted LMB in a tiny canal using flukes then a frog, and bass were there, lots of gar too. This kind of bass fishing is about as easy as it gets from the standpoint that electronics are not needed to find them, just a matter of being in the right place at the right time, some days you score some days you don't. Once the water levels drop a bit fish the bigger canals. Dec thru about Feb is a totally reversal in canal bass fishing, it can get very good.
Thanks for the input on the canals. I guess I start wondering around looking for ponds now. I have a canal right next to my community and I fished it the other day...got about 2 bites and that was it. I know they're in there, just have to time when they're biting and if they're on that end of the canal.
rvadog reply :
This has become the official "South Florida Transplant Whine About Bass Thread"!
Spent about 45 minutes throwing a horny toad at my local canal tonight with no luck.
In case anyone is curious, this is my usual spot...
http://goo.gl/maps/kjfdL
juan_LMB reply :
Yea I spent about 30 at the canal by my community, no luck! I probably won't go back. Then went to this pond for about 30-45mins, a few bites but the wind wasnt too friendly today. So I couldn't tell if he had it or not to set the hook. Between the wind and all the disgusting algae/grass, my patience were cut short so I departed
---=Martin=--- reply :
On 7/8/2013 at 9:20 AM, juan_LMB said:Yea I spent about 30 at the canal by my community, no luck! I probably won't go back. Then went to this pond for about 30-45mins, a few bites but the wind wasnt too friendly today. So I couldn't tell if he had it or not to set the hook. Between the wind and all the disgusting algae/grass, my patience were cut short so I departed
you really have to hang out with me man! i went out for 2 hours to 3 spots today. first spot 0 bass. second spot 1 bass. third spot 6-7 bass. 2 of them i posted in the "S.FL. Bragging Rights Take 3" thread. nothing larger than 13 inches, most around 10-11, but hey! at least i was catching fish :-P
juan_LMB reply :
On 7/8/2013 at 10:08 AM, mvorbrodt said:you really have to hang out with me man! i went out for 2 hours to 3 spots today. first spot 0 bass. second spot 1 bass. third spot 6-7 bass. 2 of them i posted in the "S.FL. Bragging Rights Take 3" thread. nothing larger than 13 inches, most around 10-11, but hey! at least i was catching fish :-P
We'll get together! Sometime this week or next
SirSnookalot reply :
On 7/8/2013 at 8:23 AM, rvadog said:This has become the official "South Florida Transplant Whine About Bass Thread"!
Spent about 45 minutes throwing a horny toad at my local canal tonight with no luck.
In case anyone is curious, this is my usual spot...
http://goo.gl/maps/kjfdL
Who's whining? No one can control the forces of nature, being the weather, you just have to fish it accordingly. You happen to be in Miramar, peacocks are all over the place there, caught tons of them in canals adjacent to I-75, those neighborhood ponds are killers too.
Any place in the country I have fished I look for the hot bite, especially in Florida something is going on 12 months of the year, that doesn't mean you're going to score every time out. Fishing isn't magic, it's putting in your time, eventually something great will happen.
fstr385 reply :
This time of year ya gotta go early. Even middle of the night. If you have to go during the day, look for spots covered all day by trees, trees overhanging water and flip/pitch into them, or areas where canals drop into junctions to other canals or lakes. Alot of areas like bridges where water ways get narrow and flow current where water cools and gets oxidized will hold fish. Most of them go deep and hide in dips and grassy areas with more oxygen and structure hard to see without a sonar. Ive noticed the bite lately pretty much ends by 830 am. The evening before dark is ok, but the thermocline is still lower till the surface has enough time to cool.
BassinLou reply :
Fstr385 where have you been? Busy?
fstr385 reply :
On 7/8/2013 at 11:13 PM, BassinLou said:Fstr385 where have you been? Busy?
Yea. Boats in for annual maint. and I feel bad ive been spending all my spare time fishing, so been doing more family time stuff. Got to go out early this morning and friday morning and did ok. Hooked into a 6.8lb slob this morning which was nice! It didnt have much lenght, but it was fat! Got alot of bites this morning. You bring in any more of those fatties yet?
BassinLou reply :
I have been striking out in the fatty dept this past week. 6.8lbs is a sweet fish congrats. Like you, with work and family, I fit in fishing when I can and its during the toughest part of the day. Throw in the fact its summer and fishing is going to be sloooow. Next week the family and I are going on vacation so fishing is out. You and AK-NJ are leading the way, keep at it.
BassinLou reply :
^^^ Ooops! the message above is to FSTR85 ^^^
jonnysmith reply :
1 method that has been super productive for me is,throwing a casting net,catching some live shiners/bait fish & casting it with a bobber.u need to feed the fish what they normally eat on a daily basis in that canal.
BassinLou reply :
Jonnysmith, I am in agreement with you that live bait will probably yield some good results, I could be mistaken, but I think the majority of the anglers following this thread are artificial anglers. Also, please show pics of the successes you have been having live baiting. I have not done live baiting in years, I am sure its still very fun.
Mike Clemons reply :
mag ultravibe speedworm,5/0 mag ewg, 1/8 bullet weight...swam just under the surface.
juan_LMB reply :
Makes sense. Thanks for the input and I'll start getting up early around 5-6 to cast out.
On 7/8/2013 at 11:02 PM, fstr385 said:This time of year ya gotta go early. Even middle of the night. If you have to go during the day, look for spots covered all day by trees, trees overhanging water and flip/pitch into them, or areas where canals drop into junctions to other canals or lakes. Alot of areas like bridges where water ways get narrow and flow current where water cools and gets oxidized will hold fish. Most of them go deep and hide in dips and grassy areas with more oxygen and structure hard to see without a sonar. Ive noticed the bite lately pretty much ends by 830 am. The evening before dark is ok, but the thermocline is still lower till the surface has enough time to cool.
---=Martin=--- reply :
On 7/9/2013 at 11:06 AM, juan_LMB said:Makes sense. Thanks for the input and I'll start getting up early around 5-6 to cast out.
i don't get to fish early, i'm way too lazy for that :-) tough at times I hit the water with LgMouthGambler at 6am on his boat... BUT, most of the fish I catch happens between 7-8pm in the evening...
juan_LMB reply :
On 7/9/2013 at 10:35 PM, mvorbrodt said:i don't get to fish early, i'm way too lazy for that :-) tough at times I hit the water with LgMouthGambler at 6am on his boat... BUT, most of the fish I catch happens between 7-8pm in the evening...
Oohh ok. Well I'm new to the fishing down here so I'm falling the leads I get hahaha
SirSnookalot reply :
I get up at 12 -1:00 most of the time, I'm fishing usually at about 4 or 4:30, but it's always at the ocean. My bass fishing is done mostly 11-1, gets too hot. In the winter, when the bite is better, I like to get out from 4 until dusk.
---=Martin=--- reply :
Don't feel bad Juan, it's been hard catching anything lately... i got skunked again today, but then again, i fished from 4:30-5:30, so I should have known better to pick the worse possible time :-(
I rigged on of my rods for jigs, with black blue jig and skirt and dark blue/green rage tail baby craw trailer; small 2/0 setup for finesse'ing it, i'll give it a shot, but i don't have high hopes...
rvadog reply :
Finally caught some bass! Found a local pond and have been catching some small large mouths on plastic worms. All have been very small but if there are small bass then there's got to be big ones in there too.
SirSnookalot reply :
I could be done with freshwater for while. Went to my peacock spot (did get one) which is under a bridge on a cement slab inches above the water. I have seen a few dead snakes there before and was always a bit leary, yesterday I saw a live one less than 18" away from me. Scared the crap out of me when I saw the light colored bands, I lit up the side of the bank so darn fast. Luckily the snake paid me no mind, but I'm not pressing my luck at that place anymore for 12" peacock.
BassinLou reply :
Snook, I am almost with you. I went out yesterday for a couple of hours and nada. I felt completely defeated. I used every go to technique that works for me and all had to show for it were to little bass that when put together add up to less than 12 inches. LOL. Fortunately, there is good possibility I am heading out to the glades tomorrow, that should be interesting. Snakes in this part of town is nothing to shy away from. Remember, with banded snakes, red over yellow one dead fellow (coral snake).
SirSnookalot reply :
We get coral snakes around here in the home's landscaping, I've never seen one but others have. What I saw with about 90% certainity was a moc, I treat them all as mocosins. Our canals are very high here and I fish on top, snakes and gators are usually in the water, but it only takes one to give ya a bad day.
BassinLou reply :
Snook, when I read bands I assumed colored bans. But, you are right around the banks we have to be vigilant.
rvadog reply :
Snook, you can feel free to PM me that location of that spot and I'll clear the snakes out for you!
AK-Jax86 reply :
Last year I didn't see any snake or gators while fishin here in Jacksonville, you guys got a lot of em in South FL. This year I have seen a lot of gators. I even hooked into 4, 2 of them I snagged and the other 2 attacked my lure (spro frog and KVD crank bait) it was pretty cool but obviously I lost all 4 of those lures lol. As far as snakes at my one spot I see moccasins a lot. One time I was in the same spot for about 45 mins and noticed no movement in water bout 1 foot in front of me. I catch a fish bend over to pick it up unhook it bend down and put it back in the water. Then I stand back up and look to my right and there is a huge moccasin just sitting there head and body in water tail on land. Tail was dry so it looked like it was there for a while and I had no clue, I have no idea how I didn't notice it that whole time
---=Martin=--- reply :
On 7/11/2013 at 3:34 AM, rvadog said:Snook, you can feel free to PM me that location of that spot and I'll clear the snakes out for you!
SirSnookalot reply :
I have another spot for ya, no mocs or gators just bikins and these......
frogflogger reply :
canal fishing in sofla - windy days - furbit parallel to bank vegetation or in it - experiment with retrieve and hang on - the windier it is the more aggressive jerks on the furbit - white somedays - black somedays
if it's not windy there is a lot of good advice already given here.
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