[One Under]

Going down to the in-laws in Estero,Florida this Saturday for a week. Estero is just south of Ft. Myers.

Unfortunately for me he lives on a golf course with an island green in his backyard (for your information, I am a golf loser and play as often as I can, even entertained thoughts of going pro) and several lakes/ponds filled with good size LMB.

Last year I spent the week pulling solid 3 to 5 lb LMB out of there, but I am curious about what stage in the year the fish will be (pre spawn, post spawn, mid summer, etc.). I haven't been down there in December yet.

I look forward to taking some pictures using the new digital and will post them when I get back - that is if I catch anything worth showing.

Thanks fellas.

Kevin

 

[VRap]

Kevin,

Your fish should be pretty much all pre-spawn, with maybe a couple of early spawners mixed in. You timing is pretty much perfect for getting a chance at some of the biggest fish those ponds/lakes have to offer. Of course, weather will play a huge roll in what the fish are doing. If it has been stable and warm for a week or more when you get there, your fishing should be oustanding. If you get a few good cold fronts, those fish pretty much shut down and you will have to finesse. Florida fish are famous for being lock-jawed during unstable, cold front conditions. Especially during spawn time.

I'm jealous, you are going to be catching big, fat bellied bass in warm weather while I am here trying to come to grips with finally having to winterizing my boat. lol

Good luck and have a safe trip! Let us know how you made out when you return.

VRap

 

[One Under]

Thanks for the info. Pre-Spawn is perfect and according to weather.com stable weather is on tap.

Last year when I was there in September, I was fishing one of the ponds/lakes in the development and a fellow angler walked by and we started talking - he mentioned he was going over to the pond in front of the fourth tee as he lost the same big fish there the last two nights. Well, we take a walk and ten minutes later a huge bass is pulling his drag out, he lands it and oh my god! The thing went over 10 lbs on his scale. He asked me to hang onto it while he ran and got his camera. I was so pschyed I didn't even notice I was standing in a Fire Ant colony!

I took his picture and he returned the fish safely to fight another day. A real neat experience, never seen a bass that big in person.

 

[acstech]

upcoming weather

Friday night. Breezy. Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows around 50. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.

Saturday. Breezy. Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph diminishing toward evening.

Sunday through Monday. Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. Highs in the upper 60s.

Tuesday. Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs in the lower 70s.

Wednesday. Partly cloudy. Breezy. Isolated showers then scattered showers in the afternoon and evening. Lows in the upper 50s. Highs in the mid 70s.


No worry about rain and the wind won't hurt on the golf course.

 

[Wild Bill]

A buddy of mine that fishes Big O as his home water has told me some LMs are already starting to build nests there for the Spawn.