The Best Way to Catch Bass in the St. Johns River

Largemouth Bass

The St. Johns river is well known among the bass fishing community, and consistently produces large numbers of largemouth bass for those who know how to catch them. Though there are many ways to catch bass on the St. Johns, there are a few tactics that any angler should know for an edge over the competition. Novice fisherman catch plenty of bass with a large shad, or shiner, hooked under a cork, as long as they know where to find the bass. According to Florida Game and Fish, local fisherman Rick Rawlins suggest "Submerged cover like hydrilla and coontail can draw a lot of fish in the hottest weather. If the pads didn't produce fairly quickly, I definitely start looking at the deeper hydrilla patches."

Things You'll Need

• Open face spinning rod
• Live shad
• Cork float
• 5/0 circle hook
• 1/8 oz. split shot weight

Instructions

Rigging Your Rod

1. Thread cork onto line, then tie circle hook onto line, using a trilene knot or any acceptable fishing knot. Cut excess line after tying knot.

2. Set your cork between 12 and 24 inches depending on the depth of the water that you are fishing, and pinch split shot onto line about 6 to 10 inches above the hook.

3. Push circle hook under the mouth of the shad, then out of the top of its head, or if using jumbo shad, thread the hook through the top of its back, from one side to the other.

Finding Fish

1. Concentrate on keeping your shad in the middle of vegetation if the water level is high. During times of low water levels, fish near the edges of vegetation and steep increases in depth.

2. Set your bait to a lower depth when the water pool is low, and when it is high, set the bait shallower.

3. Move to another spot if you don't get any bites.

The Bite

1. Cast your bait, then watch your cork. If the cork goes under, it's a bite; if it stays under for more than a second, set the hook.

2. Play the fish to the boat, being careful not to break the line, or let the fish wiggle free.

3. Use a net to get the fish to shore, or onto the boat.

Tips & Warnings

• Try back water areas where fishing pressure isn't as high in order to have a higher chance of fooling a big bass.

• Keep a close eye on your cork or you may miss the fish of a lifetime.

• Handle bass with care.

• Always keep waterways clean to ensure a good fishing experience for years to come!

References

• Florida Game and Fish: Florida Bass Fishing St. Johns River
• Florida's St. Johns River: Florida Bass Fishing