Fishing Lake Griffin - advice needed

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!

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get you some crickets or worms......fish the canals.......post some pictures of those girls catching fish!:cheers2

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).

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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

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!:cheers2

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?

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Originally Posted by 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

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Originally Posted by 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?

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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.

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Good setup for cane pole?

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.

Attachment 202203 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
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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

Great pictures of your girls. And glad to see you jumping in and posting. And don't listen to Slab, his limit is 1. :Rofl

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Originally Posted by "D"

Great pictures of your girls. And glad to see you jumping in and posting. And don't listen to Slab, his limit is 1. :Rofl

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Hey now! One at a time, that's all it takes! lol

I'm catching a serious amount of sun out here :) not so many fish though. It has to be my technique. I can see the fish down there on my finder

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Originally Posted by jobobcowman

I'm catching a serious amount of sun out here :) not so many fish though. It has to be my technique. I can see the fish down there on my finder

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Hey, at least you're catching something. Nothing but cold and rainy here at the Illinois/Wisconsin border.

I'm thinking there's a chance that what you're seeing are gizzard shad maybe! At least sometimes. I've seen tons of fish while fishing Griffin and had essentially just given up looking that the fish finder. My habit of choice while fishing Griffin is, move often, and very often especially if you're not catching anything at all! Impatience my friend, impatience! That's my motto!

Yea Wednesday I'm going down to the south end and hitting some spots I've been graced with. I'll have some pics I'm surr

Care package in the mail..... Good luck!

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Originally Posted by Speckanator

Care package in the mail..... Good luck!

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You shouldn't have, but thank you!

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Originally Posted by Speckanator

Care package in the mail..... Good luck!

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Yay! Thanks!

Rain showed up and ruined the party tonight

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You're in the right place at Pine Island Fish Camp. A co-worker told me how to fish Griffin for Shellcracker years ago so it would only be fair to pass it on to you and your girls. From Pine Island, go straight cross to where the Oklawaha comes into the lake and fish the pads there to the right. It's called "The Wall'. Go up river and fish around the 2nd island close to bank and around structure, from the camp go south to bird island and fish under the powerline. From there, go southeast to Haynes Creek and fish the pads at the mouth and into the creek. When fishing pads, look for pads shaking, fish smell and most importantly 20 boats fishing the same area. ding, ding, ding! Get your bream buster, 3-4 feet of 10-12lb line, #6 hook. No sinker and no cork. Purchase some grass shrimp at the camp. Red worms will work but I prefer shrimp. Be sure to cover the point of the hook with the bait. Jig the small holes in the pads make sure the bait gets to the bottom and hang on!
I started my daughter fishing at an early age. She's 20 now and still enjoys it so I hope this helps you and yours. Nice pics.

Now that's some valuable info right there!

I second that information..............That should put you on the trail to becomming
hooked on fishing - those girls will remember those kinda trips with Dad.........
Thanks Specklocker for the assist
Welcome to cdc Jobobcowman...........please continue your experiences and
pictures.

Can't wait to get out on the water and have some pics to send! Thanks!

First...I'd try worms and crickets under a bobber. Maybe shoot over to the mouth of Haynes Creek, lots of pads. Look for boats, don't be afraid to ask questions without pushing too close. I'd also call Nelson's and ask for a report on the Ocklawaha River. Pine Island is real close to both spots. I'd be shocked if you can't find a few panfish. Good Luck.

Well I spent about 3 hours this evening trying specklockers advice. Got some hits over by Haines creek, I attempted to fish the other spots but it was too windy. I caught a small bad and a small gar lol. I'm frustrated that I can't get in fish. I'm fairly certain though that it is my technique/gear. I have 1 pole with 8# flouro and a 1/16 oz powerbait jig and body in brown and silver fleck, my cane pole is 8# mono with a #6 long shank hook and a fake grass shrimp that comes in the foul smelling juice jar with abut 2 ft and a bobber. 3rd pole is a black and yellow hollow tube in a #6 cricket hook.

I cast out the jig and slowly retrieve and others I put in water and move them around every so often. I'll have to buy some worms at Wally World, can't get grass shrimp since bait shops are closed when I get off work. I'll try again another day

Which way is right if I'm using a bobber?

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I got your PM........ and all of those will work but to get the best response hold the hook upside down and stick the point of the hook through the top of the head (little more rounded off than the tail) and bring it back up through the other end...try not to expose the hook point too much ......and it really doesn't matter which end you decide is the head. When you do this the bug will lay flat with all the legs straight out. Again anyway you do it you should get hits...I just try to get it to look like more a bug and having the lighter side down. After a few fish it will probably have cuts and tears and it will be harder to get it right. If you loose more than one leg....get a fresh one.

Like this?

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Oh I bet you meant like this

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The situation I'm talking about is when the fish are bedding/spawning in the pads. The full moon is June 2nd. I would look for them on the beds starting around Memorial Day up to the full moon. There are bait shops in Leesburg and Tavares that are usually open late. Check with them for the grass shrimp. Until then, use the red worms. I haven't tried the artificials before so I don't know if they work or not. The summer months are on the horizon and are the best months for the gils and shellies to bed. Keep at it.

Attachment 203154 Hope this helps....Like specklocker posted live bait is a sure thing......but you can try the other stuff I sent you.......the brown bug is the one that works best.

Southeastern Tackle
325 Burleigh Blvd
Tavares, Fl

352 742-0036

I believe opens at 5:30am - closes at 7pm ?

Call them for hrs. They have 2 sizes minnow, worms & grass Shrimp