Fishing Lake Griffin - advice needed

[jobobcowman]

Hey all! Relatively new to the site, although I've been a somewhat frequent lurker. I've been fishing Lake Griffin now for a couple of months and have yet to figure out how to catch panfish with any consistency. I primarily use white or yellow tubes on a 1/16 oz jig head and have tried both casting to cover and using a bobber.

If the wife lets me out at all it is usually with my 2 daughters, ages 5 and 7. They are starting to get discouraged by our fish less expeditions so hopefully y'all can help me out. Any advice on locales and bait/tackle would be great.

I almost always launch from Pine island fish camp as it is real close to my house, but could possibly go elsewhere if needed.


Thank you you for any advice you can offer!

[Speckanator]

get you some crickets or worms......fish the canals.......post some pictures of those girls catching fish!

[jobobcowman]

Thanks!

Here is a couple pics. I fished the canals...I'm kind of tired of those dang canals. The water is about 4 feet deep and I catch a LOT of mud and sticks =)

Seriously though, do I just cane pole the lily pads? I suppose it is worth mentioning that I fished mainly after 6pm (when I get home and can round up the kiddos).

[Slab]

I winter on Griffin, and the one big thing I noticed is the best time for those Red Ears is right before dark. So you are on the right track fishing after six o'clock, but do fish till dark, you'll get the bigger fish at that time, at least from my experience. Cute girls, have three of my own, or should I say had, they're all grown up now. But I think I still have life jackets just like those in the garage! I wear them all the time! lol

[Speckanator]

Shu is the resident expert on Griffin, but I've heard him say many times...it's an afternoon lake". Shallow water is good...don't give up....keep scouting you'll find em'

Great pictures!! Thanks for posting!

[jobobcowman]

Are you fishing the canals this time of year? It seems to shallow...Should I be drop shotting the deep holes or fishing the weeds/lily pads?

I winter on Griffin, and the one big thing I noticed is the best time for those Red Ears is right before dark. So you are on the right track fishing after six o'clock, but do fish till dark, you'll get the bigger fish at that time, at least from my experience. Cute girls, have three of my own, or should I say had, they're all grown up now. But I think I still have life jackets just like those in the garage! I wear them all the time! lol

[Slab]

Are you fishing the canals this time of year? It seems to shallow...Should I be drop shotting the deep holes or fishing the weeds/lily pads?

Sorry but I've already migrated back up to the Northwoods so I could not tell you specifics for this time of year. But when I'm down there, yes, I fish the canals. Maybe the canals are too warm this time of year, dono.

[jobobcowman]

Good setup for cane pole?

[Speckanator]

For shell crackers and blue gill bream I use #6 long shank wire hook......I usually use artificial bait but they can't resist a worm or a cricket. Here's what I use just about all the time.

Southern pro has them and they come in all colors...I stick with brown and white....never tried the other colors. I use it under a bobber with no weight. When you cast it sometimes it floats and sometimes it sinks very slow.....they'll hit mostly as it goes down. It no hit, reel it to you the length of line you have under the bobber...that will bring it to the top and it will sink again. I don't imagine the girls will be able to fish this way so with them maybe you could use live crickets or worms under a bobber with a small BB size weight. I use the smallest weighted ones so I can get some distance on my cast. I make it a rule to never tell anybody how to fish...I only tell them how I fish......Good luck....maybe shu will chime in and give some locations. Here's another artficial bait I use....grass shrimp

[jobobcowman]

Tried a few different places and techniques last night but no luck, I'll buy those artificials speckanator mentioned and try that out. I am also going to try some long line trolling on some semi deep (6 to 8 ft) weed lines I saw on the FF