Florida anglers: I have a couple questions re: recent angling...

[Benny Payless]

Aloha- I have noticed that when I fish from the bank at my friend's house the only fish that seem to be biting are either Gar, Bowfin and Catfish. The lake I am fishing has got some very skinny water yet recent rains has opened up the other portion of the lake and I'm thinking the bass have moved out to the bigger portion of the lake, although I don't think it is as deep as where I am fishing.

The last bass I caught was 25" and my fist fit in it's mouth yet the body looked like a rainbow trout that I use to catch in Ca.?

Q #1) I see a bunch of Gar swimming in circles and then other Gar joining them. Is this part of the Gar spawning process?

Q #2) The Gar will "pick at the worm" and won't hang on during the hookset. Do I need to allow more time for them to suck it up?

Q #3) Did the bass indeed move on?

"Ralph" the Great Blue Heron that I share the fishing hole with only eats the Gar's head when I do catch one and he won't even mess with a Catfish, thats when "Andy" the Anhinga will just 'show up' I have found out that nothing bites when Ralph or Andy are NOT around so when I drive up in the golf cart and don't hear Ralph sqwauk Hello I don't even get out of the cart...

Thanks for the info

[Benny Payless]

I did a Google search and it doesn't appear that they are spawning so maybe they are just sucking air? I do know that as my Triton sits in the shop I miss going out in the boat.

[FL Dell]

Google nylon rope as a lure and how to "brush it out" so you can catch them....if I have't explain, I can, but I'm off to work.

[George]

Benny it sounds like you are talking about lake Davis, that is probably one of the best lakes on the chain . It is a very good flipping lake ,with all the rain we have had it should have running water if so when you get your boat back fish along the west bank, there is deeper water there and the moving water will be pushing the plankton to that end of the lake. The lake is a lot deeper than what it appears the state done some test 3 or 4 years ago and found it has 20' of silt and muck dating back to about 5,000 years ago . As far as spawners go it is the wrong time of the year . I don't live in Inverness anymore if I did I would take you back there and show you a few spots.

What Dell was telling you was to take some nylon rope and cut it into 6"to 12" lengths and fix it weight less and fish with it the gar will pick up , the nylon rope will get stuck in there teeth. I have never done but I watched two guys in Harris fishing for them and that is how they were catching them.

[Leesburg Laker]

Benny....What Dell and George said will work, I have done it. But another method and more fun is to fish a jerk bait. The best I have used is a Rattlin Rogue. Fish it thru the school of gar, by giving it short quick jerks. Gar are not suppose to eat meat, but they will hit a rogue for some reason, try it, it is fun. 1 caution tho, they will thrash around and a flying Rogue will hook anything it touches....John