Captain Jason Colby
At least once or twice a winter I go to visit my mother in the Boca Raton area of Florida.
When I arrive for one of these visits, I purchase a temporary fresh and saltwater fishing license, and the first morning I am easily found by looking out my mother's back window towards the freshwater pond behind her condo, as I fish for largemouth bass.
I get the feeling that I'm the only human that actually fishes this pond.
I share the take with an osprey that my mother named "Ozzy," who sees me as a competitor, and is not shy about how much he doesn't like me.
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Day #1
It has been "going on" with Ozzy and I for a few years now.
Ozzy shows up in the same place every winter, and whenever he sees me he gets freaked out and moves to another lake, but not before circling over me a few times and chirping loudly.
Ospreys on Cape Cod
Ospreys are already active down in Florida, but you will also soon see them hunting trout and holdover stripers on Cape Cod and throughout New England.
As you explore and fish this spring, keep your eyes peeled for these birds of prey. If you get too close they will let you know by squawking and circling above your head.
On my first morning last week, I did a lap around the lake, casting every ten steps or so, making extra casts when needed and paying particular attention to areas with weed beds and lily pads.
Areas with weed beds and lily pads are normally where I have the greatest success. However, I find that weather patterns have the most influence.
For example, if there have been a lot of cold fronts moving through with winds out of the north, then you will likely catch less largemouth bass. It isn't that there are less fish, or that they are not eating.
The issue is that you have to get them to bite.
Photo by Lauren Blacker
You have to slow your presentation down, which means you make less casts and cover less water.
However, if there has been a warm weather pattern, or if I visit my mother in late March or sometime in April, then you can forget about it! With warmer temps you can work a lot of water very fast, just like the situation I encountered last week.
Before I go any further, I have to say I'm not a great freshwater fisherman. In fact, I don't even like it all that much. However it is something I always look forward to when I visit my mom.
There is certainly nothing wrong with catching 30 or 40 fish on a lap around a tiny 5 acre lake!
Jim-
From daybreak to an hour and a half after is best but the last two hours of daylight (late afternoon) can be better when there is a cold front. Do what you were going to do AND give the lakes a shot. I’ll bet they are loaded with bass (and other stuff)!
Nice report Jason – spring is coming!
Thank you Ryan-
Spring can not arrive soon enough!
Great report. My parents have a place in a very similar looking area of Naples, and I’ll be going down there at the end of the month. I was already planning to give the gulf a shot from shore and from a charter one day. Your article has got me thinking about trying the ponds and small lakes in their community.