Lake Monroe... Is anybody familiar with this lake?

[BennyFLa]

I haven't read anything about Lake Monroe, but was thinking back to being in that ballpark in Sanford, and I remember walking to a waterfront restaurant for lunch a couple of times. The lake appears to be huge but bigger isn't always better. Just wondering if it is worth the trip. Thanks

[Mickstix]

Im planning on hittin it Tuesday morning if all goes well.. Your welcome to follow along for a tour! The guys who fish it religiously can pull 25lb sacks on a fairly regular basis.. (unfortunately Im not one of them) lol.. It does fish smaller than it looks.. Think west side, north side, and east side.. Lots of lilly pads and buggywhip type patches of weeds.. And if the lake aint workin, there's always the river.. (Again, mostly pads for visible cover, and shells/drops for finding on the sonar)

The ramp on the south side of the 17/92 bridge is the most popular, as it's free and open 24/7.. If your worried about security, the ramp on the north side of the (same) bridge is a park/camp ground, with a fee.. (Opens around 7am if I recall) Both are nice and have multiple lanes to launch from.. As for baits, it's similar to most other Fl. lakes.. Topwater early, rattle trap, and flippin when the sun gets up..

Hope that helps! Let me know if ya want to meet up on Tuesday, or if ya need anymore help!

[FloridaEd]

Benny you should take Mick up on his invitation...he is Mr Lake Monroe! If anyone can help you there it's him.
Monroe is a pretty easy lake to get around, Mick showed me and George a year or so ago and we caught a couple nice fish.

[BennyFLa]

Edwardo- How much travel time am I looking at? 55-60 mph.? Take the turnpike to 4 or is there a shorter route?

I'd like to take Mick up on his invite as I am not above asking/receiving help...

[earthworm77]

Benny give me a ring, I picked something Triton up for you.

[BennyFLa]

I see you've made the move up to the Rainbow River. I hope that you and Sven will be happy, oiling up each other's shiny skin

Are you up for this Monroe trip? I'm wondering the travel time, but I've got to move those tires around, I haven't been out for a while now...

[Mickstix]

Thanks for the compliments Ed, but I wouldnt exactly say Im "Mr. Monroe" Far from it actually, but I can get ya pointed in the right direction anyway!

Benny, here's a link for directions to the ramp: Lk Monroe-Wayside Park Just enter your starting addy and hit the "get directions" button and it should give ya the best route and estimated time of travel.. I've found them to be fairly accurate on the timing.. I usually drive around 8mph over the limit and get there 5-10 minutes or so earlier then it's estimate..

Me and Walt will be there in the morning around 6:30am. We'll be the blue/grey Astro.. Come on over and I'll show ya around!! Im "hoping" the frog bite is happening!!

[flwillie]

Frog Bite............did you say frog bite? I haven't seen that all year. You have fun......................

[earthworm77]

If you need to rotate tires, I have a heavy duty floor jack, like 10k lbs. Bring it over and we can do it. I'm in any day except Thurs. this week.

[BennyFLa]

Tard of Re- I was going to rotate them by driving them. My tire guy switches em around ever so often. Per the meter the fishing tomorrow peeks at 0900.

The Expo is full of benzina ..

[FloridaEd]

Benny if I were going I'd go out 441 through Mt dora and then take route 46 to I-4 just west of Sanford. Then go north on I-4 to the ramps Mick is talking about. Maybe an hour from here.

[Mickstix]

Shoulda came on over Benny.. We smoked em' this morning! Caught some LM and a bunch of Striper.. Too bad we waisted an hour throwin frogs, but once we got back out in the lake, they were bitin good!!

Nothin picture worthy unfortunately, but a tight line for most of the morning none the less.. Walt did "quick release" one about 3 lbs at the side of the boat..

[earthworm77]

Ben give me a call if you want to hit the lake. Stripers? as in Striped Bass or Sunshine bass?

[BennyFLa]

I'll take the blame of a "flame out" Unstable weather and all that blah, blah and blah. Was fishing real good at around 0900? Type me more about the Stripers, that was also part of my inquiry, an area guy told me they had Stripers

Craiger- That is why I inquired of the lake, a guy over here told me they have "Stripers" (striper, Stripers)

[jaqfan]

Thanks for the trip Mick.... ( Mr Monroe)
We put 9 in the boat this morning till the rain/wind chased us off about 9:00. Stripers were aggressive this morning. Put up a nice lil fight. But as Mick said no top water bite. Looking forward to getting back out next week

[ROBODOM]

Hey Walt. Good to see you back on the Florida boards.

[Mickstix]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BennyFLa &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Type me more about the Stripers, that was also part of my inquiry, an area guy told me they had Stripers
</td></tr></table>

Yea, Im not positive what the correct name for em' is down here.. Hybrid/Striper? Not Sunshine Bass though, I dont believe.. Definitely striped bass of some variety. All about a pound, pound and a half slabs..

I'd caught the random one out there before, but they were the dominant fish today.. Caught em' in 2 different areas, while throwin traps and spinnerbaits up to bullrush patches.. We could of kept on catchin em' but we kept moving to look for LM.

They were biting good up till around 9:00am, when we headed back due to heavy rain clouds.. Just got the boat loaded when the bottom dropped out.. Only lasted a few minutes though, but we didnt feel like gettin wet..

[BennyFLa]

I use this:http://www.weather.com/outlook/recre...ishing_welcome and it had the fishing the best at 0900... I'd love to hook up in the future if you can forgive Craig (Earthworm77) I noticed when I was outside (e) that the weather had a nice little nip (still 82º though)

[Mickstix]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BennyFLa &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I'd love to hook up in the future </td></tr></table>

For sure! I'll let ya know next time I'm gettin out!

[earthworm77]

Lets do this next Monday or Tuesday. Ben my messaging system took a dump, thats why I haven't called lately, give me a ring. If there are stripers, I'll bring my traps, if there are strippers, I'll bring my singles.