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The water is low and water management had just opened the flood gates to start pumping again when we set off. The central canal, past the 4 point junction, is down to less then two feet in areas, and several boaters hit bottom.
Fishing conditions: Mid Day - 90+ Degrees - 5 to 10 mph wind - Bright sun.
The fish are everywhere at EHP in any canal you fish; with the South Canal producing bigger Bass. The junction area had dozens of fish hitting the surface at any given time. The small bass are quick to bit, but the big ones are hiding deep in the pads. We coaxed a couple 2-3 pound bass out by casting parallel to the pad line with watermelon and orange flukes. The bass wanted the bait to sink and stay about 3 feet down, fished slow or simply trolled with the boat. We boated about 10 Bass though many were small.
The Chain Pickeral (Aka FL Pike or FL Muskie) were tearing up crawfish colored rattle traps casted across the canals and retrieved fast and straight. I picked up a solid 3 to 4 pounder around Vulcher Island that put on one heck of an aerial display.
We also had...of all things...a crappie landed on a fluke that was half its size.
Lots of fairly aggressive gators out there too. They were coming right up to the boat. Be careful.
Had we had more time, I think we could have easily started getting some bigger fish.
Fishing conditions: Mid Day - 90+ Degrees - 5 to 10 mph wind - Bright sun.
The fish are everywhere at EHP in any canal you fish; with the South Canal producing bigger Bass. The junction area had dozens of fish hitting the surface at any given time. The small bass are quick to bit, but the big ones are hiding deep in the pads. We coaxed a couple 2-3 pound bass out by casting parallel to the pad line with watermelon and orange flukes. The bass wanted the bait to sink and stay about 3 feet down, fished slow or simply trolled with the boat. We boated about 10 Bass though many were small.
The Chain Pickeral (Aka FL Pike or FL Muskie) were tearing up crawfish colored rattle traps casted across the canals and retrieved fast and straight. I picked up a solid 3 to 4 pounder around Vulcher Island that put on one heck of an aerial display.
We also had...of all things...a crappie landed on a fluke that was half its size.
Lots of fairly aggressive gators out there too. They were coming right up to the boat. Be careful.
Had we had more time, I think we could have easily started getting some bigger fish.