Bass Fishing in the Slot

This time of year in Southwestern Florida, area ponds are bumping up and down in temperature ranges by as much as five degrees (in what's called by scientists as Diurnal Range). This temperature differential makes for some hard angling, but if you use the right baits, you can have days where you hook up almost every cast, if you fish "in the slot". "The slot" in this case isn't the legal size of the fish, but is the time slot where fish usually eat. Bass are notorious as being a fish of habit. Many fish will feed with the onslaught of a cold front, with a gouging the day before and right up to the passing, but not Florida bass! Florida bass have an internal clock in knowing when to feed or not. This clock seems generally set around a 48-hour period. Find that 24 hours when they're eatin em up and you'll hook em up! Write down when you get a hook up. After enough times out on that waterway you are fishing, you will get to know when the bass are in that feed slot. This is another of many arguments you will hear from us about the importance of using a journal.

Son Edwin & I (when fishing a gravel pit, to a farm pond or cattle tank) hit the area along its banks from late afternoon through the setting of the sun. Working our favorite lure, (the pumpkin-seed green salty 5 inch Zoom lizard on a Red Bleed 1/32 per-weighted hook with a wide 3/0 gap) we flip it out along the drop offs and let it sink. The video here shows you how to rig the lizard correctly, so you can use it over and over again:

While looking at the line for the slightest twitch as the lizard sinks to the bottom or has sat on the bottom for at least five seconds, set the hook hard if a twitch happens. Winter bass will suck the bait into its mouth unlike in warmer waters where it may carry the bait a few feet before ingesting. If it does not detect the correct taste, it might immediately spit it out! If no twitch, raise the rod and repeat. Do this all the way reeling the bait in as we have had the strike happen as the lure starts to leave the water.

• Fish your spot three different days in the evening

• Write down the day and the time in a journal or on your smartphone.

• Use 5 “ or larger Lizards on 3/0 wide Gap hooks at this time of year.

• Flip your bait just beyond the drop-offs and let sink to bottom. Cast close to where you are going to be walking. The fish are close to the drop-off.

• Look for that “Twitch” of the line on the surface

• Twitch on the surface or the feeling of a subtle nudge set hook hard

As I said, we start with the lizards, as they are still prevalent this time of year and often fall into the water from overhangs. Just before the sun sets is when the frogs start to show, so switch to your favorite floating frog. Throw the frog into the middle of the thickest floating grasses or hydrilla and let sit for a couple of seconds. Gently pop your rod tip upwards, while retrieving in your slack line. This way, from underneath where that Lunker is, it sees movement of something atop the snag. There is nothing more exciting than a bass rocketing straight up through the grass in an explosion on the water. Fish on and hang on!

• Just before sunset, switch to a frog

• Chunk your frog into a good snag

• At first, let the ripples fade away before

• Flipping your rod tip up to create movement on to of the snag

• Repeat until dark or as needed until you force a bite!

Once you have mastered fishing the slot for Florida bass you will be able to actually (with your log) find the start time to stop time almost to the hour. It is great going fishing knowing before you hit the water that you will catch fish. If you had enough time to work all the lakes in a tourney this way, you might just be the next Bass Pro Angler but until then, just be happy you know how to catch Florida Bass fishing in the slot!

FISH ON!