FL Panhandle Bream Busters

Comment

Comment by J. B. Hillard on May 4, 2015 at 2:40pm

Fished shellcrackers and bluegills all of last week at Lake Seminole on Fish Pond Drain and Spring Creek. This was a 'relax' trip with non-stressful fishing. Our trips on the water were no more than 2 or 3 hours. 

Shellcrackers have apparently not spawned yet but they are ready. What we caught were all females and full of eggs. The male gills we all peeing on us.

Ended up with 30 to 40 crackers and gills. Brought a dozen home and gave the rest to neighbors for a family fish fry.

Crossed The Choctawhatchee River at Caryville yesterday about noon and a little disappointed it is still running a little high. Actually the lower river below hwy 20 is out in the woods. It will be anothe week before is goes down and starts clearing up.

I'll be out there Thursday but will fish way up the river above hwy 90. Maybe it will be a little better up around Cerro Gorda or Baker landings. 

Comment by J. B. Hillard on April 18, 2015 at 5:17am

We are into another steep Choctawhatchee River rise for the next few days which means little gill or bass fishing. The only anglers you will see on the river right now are those who know how to fish the backwater swamps. I know very little about n this but plan to give it a shot early next week, or might just resign myself to a nearby lake.  

Buddy and I did fish Lake Cassidy on Thursday but had not luck. After a couple of hours we hauled the boat and moved to Berrian Lake south of Ponce DeLeon just to try the high river.  One small channel cat for the effort. Snakes were on the move probably due to high water. We saw 6 or 7 cotton mouths.  That's it for now.

Comment by Eric Pierce on April 8, 2015 at 7:43am

Great J.B. Glad you got on some Shellcrackers.... Thank you for the report too...

Comment by J. B. Hillard on April 7, 2015 at 6:55pm

Fished the Dead Lakes at Wewahitchaka yesterday. First trip. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Fished with a local who had knowledge of the lake so that made the trip all that more enjoyable.
Had hoped we would get a couple of hand painted or pied bream, but got sidetracked on shellcrackers. Managed about 20 in the box and they were really good ones.
Will be going back soon. Bream not on bed yet at this location.

Comment by J. B. Hillard on April 3, 2015 at 6:30am

Apparently my post with the photo yesterday did not post. I don't see it this morning. Here it is again.  Fished the Choctawhatchee River lakes before Comander's landing 8:15 to 12:00. River level, color, and temp is looking good. Bream are staging in 8 to 12 ft water, especially along drop offs all the bank. They are not in the usual 2 to 4 ft water close to shore. 

Last two trips they would not bite crickets....only earth worms and maybe big wigglers. Don't know about fly popping bugs...haven't tried. 

Ran low on bait yesterday so cut worm in half. This slowed the bite nd quality of fish. The big boys wanted the full worm. I just hook one end twice and let the worm dangle. When a gill hits you have to let him run with it a good time so he can get it deep enough to set the hook. 

My bet is next week thing will begin to really pick up if we don't get another weather front and it keeps getting warmer. 

Comment by J. B. Hillard on April 1, 2015 at 1:58pm

Talquin trip for crappie was a bust so my fishing partner and I did a little recon down Dead Lakes way before we came home Consequently we will be fishing next Monday and Tuesday with a guy who knows the area and we will be looking for bream and do a little bass casting as well. 

Buddy and I fished 7 Runs/Dead River area yesterday. This is off the 'Choctawhatchee River below Red Bay, FL. Bite was slow but we managed to  box 22 nice eating size bream.Didn't get a throw-back all morning lond.  Used earthworms on bottom in 9 to 10 ft water. They were not intereted in crickets.

Got 2 big gills, one female and one male. The female had eggs and the male peed when holding for hook removal.

My bet is by end of next week we should be seeing some shellcrackers bedding. 

Going out tomorrow. This time will take my camera.  

Comment by J. B. Hillard on March 27, 2015 at 9:22pm

Turned out the Lake Talquin trip was a bust. We fished yesterday mornng the a rain storm kept us off the lake. This mornng the ran clouds were still heavy so we decided to pack it in and come home.  

I did get a report that a couple of guys got a nice mess of 44 bream earlier in the week. The gill bite is not strong but it's started.  I'm ready to hit the Choctawhatchee frequently and be there when they do crazy. It can happen overnight when the conditions get right.

Comment by Eric Pierce on March 24, 2015 at 8:43am

Starting to sound good J.B. Good luck on your Talquin...Hope you get a bout full. Tight lines with wiggling poles to you.

Comment by J. B. Hillard on March 24, 2015 at 7:06am

Hope you guys are getting out on the water. Bream fishing is starting to pick up here and there along the Choctawhatchee, but I have only been able to get into the Warmouth.  Have been fishing a small lake accessed from Magnolia Lodge landing off hwy 3280 here in Walton County.  So far it's mostly Warmouth and Bowfins (mud fish) with just a few crappie, bream, and a couple of small bass and a cat.  

We had a good rain Sunday that is pushing the river back up a foot or more so that will muddy things up. It's actually good to have the high water up there for long periods during the winter and early spring. This can improve the fishing a great deal starting about April - June.  

The photo is the last trip a few days ago to Little Bishop Lake. Went to Alaqua yesterday mullet fishing and didn't get a bite. The Sunday rain had the creek very high and with the incoming tide.

I'm headed to Lake Talquin tomorrow for 4 days of mostly crappie fishing, but taking a couple of bream busters and crickets to poke around for some gills.

Comment by J. B. Hillard on March 15, 2015 at 6:55am

Here is the other photo from last Wed.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• …
• 36
• Next ›
• Page