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Fall Fishing Is Stuck In A Holding Pattern

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2007

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mark Cook.

Freshwater anglers hoping the recent cold front would perk up fishing were left somewhat disappointed. While nighttime lows dipped into the 60s, water temperatures dropped very little. The next cold front is at least a week away, and with daytime temperatures holding near 90 degrees, nothing new is expected this week.

That said, those willing to hunt and peck can find a few specks, especially at night. Lake Haines near Haines City has been a good speck spot all year and should only get better. Lake Kissimmee reported a few limits at night off of Grassy Island. Drift live minnows at different depths until you pick one up, then work that depth in the general area.

As temperatures drop, the specks will start gathering in tighter bunches, making numbers better.

Bass fishing is still in a transition period on most area waterways, so the typical late-summer pattern - fishing heavy vegetation or deep-water structure - is still your best bet.

Late Saturday afternoon, we took a quick trip to Holmes Beach, and we fished the beach until sunset. The lizardfish were thick and aggressive. We were bouncing a quarter-ounce jig rigged with a Berkley Gulp shrimp on the bottom, and every cast produced a bite.

If it wasn't a lizardfish, it was a ladyfish. Though I was frustrated, my 6-year-old son thought we were in fishing heaven.

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