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Post by blacktip on Jun 11, 2015 14:31:54 GMT -5
Headed out early am for some gills, got to the bait shop and they were out of crickets. So changed plans to white bass. Hit a few, Bite was still a bit slow but the shad were pilled up. should be good fishing in a few weeks. Hot n sunny, sums up the day.
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Post by tears143 on Jun 11, 2015 16:21:44 GMT -5
Yummy white bass/striper hybird. I rather eat those than panfish.
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Post by blacktip on Jun 11, 2015 16:35:49 GMT -5
lots easier on the fillet'in hand Thats for sure. They are starting to school up in the deeper water at medard. If you have a boat or a yak, give it a shot.
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Post by tears143 on Jun 11, 2015 18:53:33 GMT -5
didn't know there were white bass in central FL. Learn something new everyday~
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Post by blacktip on Jun 11, 2015 19:23:48 GMT -5
Yes, sunshine bass were put back into the lake after the closure to repair the damn.
Edward Medard Reservoir (770 acres) is a former phosphate pit lake located south of Plant City. Since the 90’s the reservoir has gained a reputation as one of the top sunshine bass fisheries in the state. This popular reservoir was dewatered in 2010 to repair an aging dam and refilled in 2011. Over the course of the past two years, the reservoir was stocked with 135,000 sunshine bass produced at the FWC’s Bass Conservation Center at Richloam Hatchery. Sunshine bass will continue to be stocked annually to provide anglers with a unique fishing opportunity.
Sunshine bass stocked in 2013 started to show up in anglers catches this past year. There was an estimated 3,000 sunshine bass caught. Growth rates are extremely fast for sunshine bass in Medard do to the abundance of their preferred food supply, shad. Most of the fish caught by anglers this past year were around a pound but with another year of growth these fish should be anywhere from 2-3 pounds this upcoming year. Schooling sunshine bass are typically found in open water; however, anglers have had success catching them off the footbridge on the east side of the reservoir. The most productive time to fish for sunshines is fall through early spring when water temperatures are cooler. Best baits are live shiners or shad but will sometimes take cut bait and worms fished on float with a 1-2 foot leader. If fishing with artificial baits try fishing with shad-imitation crankbaits retrieved quickly.
Catfish, Largemouth, crapie, bluegill, shellcracker (sunfish in general) have all been stocked.
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Post by redwrecker on Jun 11, 2015 22:28:33 GMT -5
Looks like you had a good day. I fish there regularly. The hybrids have been on fire lately. The other morning they were stacked along the West bank and were pushing the shad out of the water onto the shore. I usually use a rattletrap and 1/2 ounce rooster tails.
I never have much luck with the gills out there. The ones I catch are always real small. And surprisingly I have a hard time finding catfish as well. Any tips on the gills and cats?
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Post by blacktip on Jun 13, 2015 15:13:55 GMT -5
Yeah, I normally troll traps. once we find a school we will cast to them.
We do well on the gills out there, but this has been a pretty slow year for them in general. The Commercial cast netter's and shock boats aren't helping any either. As far as locating them, we have been finding them under the large overhanging oak trees. Burnt stump area has produced well and the inlet/finger cut to the far left of the damn. We Have also found a few hogs on the palm trees across the lake from the boat ramp. Crickets, and small pieces of wigglers under a slip float for the most part.
As for the cats, I like do anchor up on the drop offs near the damn wall. Ill use home made stink baits (commercial's work well as well, hog wild dip, or magic bait) chicken liver, or left over blue gill heads that I brine and salt. I do chum the water with ground fish blocks I make with left overs, it takes a bit for the cats to smell out the general location of your chum slick. But once they get on your chum you should have no problem filling the cooler.
You ever do good on crappie out there? I get on them every once in a while with minnows on a drop shot or slip bobber, but nothing consistent yet.
Tight Lines.
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Post by redwrecker on Jun 14, 2015 4:56:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the detailed info. I have been trying to figure out where the bull gills are and where to consistently catch cats.
I consistently catch crappie around the boardwalk. Toward the end of the boardwalk furthest east is a drop off between the bank and the little island. That area produces best in the cold months, however, I still catch them there year round. During the spring I consistently catch them around the little cove close the entrance and around drop offs in the burnt stump area. I use live minnows under a slip float, white/pink road runners, and small sinking rapalas on 6lb test. I can't figure out a pattern on them in the summer.
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