Crankbait time on Lake Tarpon

Randy · 05-13-09, 11:05 AM

Posts: 9

Crankbait time again
Well Saturday morning on Lake Tarpon started the weekend out well . My fishing partner and I decided to hit our favorite spots in reverse order . I pulled up to a large flat about 5 acres across . Scattered hydrilla in about 5 - 6 ft of water with deep water all around . Payed off well , for me at least . I started out with a 1/2 oz blue/chrome frenzy lipless crankbait . By 10 am in central Fl its already around 85 degrees . I boated 10 keepers and my partner , as stubborn as he is, could only hook up with 1 while dragging a worm . We left around 10 and called it a day .
Sunday morning I was by myself , throwing the same Frenzy lure , I had 11 keepers by 8 am ( 7 within the first 20 minutes ) . I can't wait to get back on them this weekend . You know the week will just drag on ....tick tock ...tick tock ...waiting for Saturday morning .
Thought I would let you guys know how crankbaits are working this time of year in Tarpon Springs , FL on Lake Tarpon .

keithdog · 05-13-09, 10:47 PM

Hi Randy. I really enjoyed your post. I have fished Tarpon Lake down there near Palm Harbor Florida many times. My parents lived in a subdivision on Tarpon Lake, and dad had a boat we fished from when I would come to visit. I live up here in Indiana. Both my parents are gone now so I don't get down there anymore. But I would love to get back on Tarpon and fish it again some day. Have to tell you a story you might find both interresting and enjoyable. One year I came down to visit in early January. Dad and I got out for three days on the lake. Those three days were the wildest bass fishing I've ever experienced. There was a bed of hydrilla located about a half mile off shore. It was about 40 yards wide and 300 yards long located at the northern end of the lake. The hydrilla was topping out about 4-5 feet below the surface of the water. For those three days we drifted over that weed bed and caught fish, both bass and a few HUGE crappie. The funny thing was that there was only ONE lure you could use that the fish would hit. No other lure or color would work. It had to be a jointed Rebel stick bait silver with black back. They guys down there called those lures "broken backs". A term I'd never heard them called up here. Anyways, we tried all kinds of other lures, and even the same lure in another color, gold with a black back. Not a single hit. But as soon as we switched back to the silver and black model, the bass would hit like they were starving. I've never seen anything like it since. I would say we got a strike every 7 casts out of 10 as long as we used that bait over that weedbed. We tried many other weed beds around the lake without a hit. Those were three days of great memories. Thanks for the Tarpon Lake update!

Randy · 05-14-09, 07:16 AM

Thanks for the reply . I was born and raised in Tampa , grew up near Brooksville . I fished with Tampa Pro Bass club for 15 years . I haven't fished a tourney in about 5 years . Now I just go for fun . Since Lake Tarpon is only 15 minutes from my house , makes it real easy to get there and back . I have fished that Lake since 1980 . My neighbor took me there in his Dynatrac for my first ride in a bass boat . He is the person that got me into fishing tournaments . I love it . Not only do you meet alot of good people , you can learn alot about bass fishing from them . The reputation lake Tarpon has around here is " there's no fish in that lake " Well just like any other lake , you just need to know where to find them . Next time you get down this way , give me a buzz and I will gladly take you for a day on the lake . Have a good one and hope you fill the live well every time you go .
Randy

Brute · 05-14-09, 07:03 PM

Good job Randy.
I'll be out there Tomorrow and Saturday with my brother.
Maybe we'll see you out there.
I also have been throwing a lot of crankbaits in the grass flats, but they have removed a lot of the grass lately ruining my favorite spots.

I guess I've got to start looking at other places on the l ake.

Brute

Randy · 05-15-09, 06:34 AM

I will be there both days this weekend . I will be in my Red/White Ranger 363 probably on the west side off shore from the trailer park . I stay till around 11 am , by then it gets a little hot . See ya there.
Keep on crankin - Randy

05-13-09, 11:05 AM	#1
Randy BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa , Fl Posts: 71	Crankbait time on Lake Tarpon Posts: 9 Crankbait time again Well Saturday morning on Lake Tarpon started the weekend out well . My fishing partner and I decided to hit our favorite spots in reverse order . I pulled up to a large flat about 5 acres across . Scattered hydrilla in about 5 - 6 ft of water with deep water all around . Payed off well , for me at least . I started out with a 1/2 oz blue/chrome frenzy lipless crankbait . By 10 am in central Fl its already around 85 degrees . I boated 10 keepers and my partner , as stubborn as he is, could only hook up with 1 while dragging a worm . We left around 10 and called it a day . Sunday morning I was by myself , throwing the same Frenzy lure , I had 11 keepers by 8 am ( 7 within the first 20 minutes ) . I can't wait to get back on them this weekend . You know the week will just drag on ....tick tock ...tick tock ...waiting for Saturday morning . Thought I would let you guys know how crankbaits are working this time of year in Tarpon Springs , FL on Lake Tarpon .

05-13-09, 10:47 PM	#2
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	Hi Randy. I really enjoyed your post. I have fished Tarpon Lake down there near Palm Harbor Florida many times. My parents lived in a subdivision on Tarpon Lake, and dad had a boat we fished from when I would come to visit. I live up here in Indiana. Both my parents are gone now so I don't get down there anymore. But I would love to get back on Tarpon and fish it again some day. Have to tell you a story you might find both interresting and enjoyable. One year I came down to visit in early January. Dad and I got out for three days on the lake. Those three days were the wildest bass fishing I've ever experienced. There was a bed of hydrilla located about a half mile off shore. It was about 40 yards wide and 300 yards long located at the northern end of the lake. The hydrilla was topping out about 4-5 feet below the surface of the water. For those three days we drifted over that weed bed and caught fish, both bass and a few HUGE crappie. The funny thing was that there was only ONE lure you could use that the fish would hit. No other lure or color would work. It had to be a jointed Rebel stick bait silver with black back. They guys down there called those lures "broken backs". A term I'd never heard them called up here. Anyways, we tried all kinds of other lures, and even the same lure in another color, gold with a black back. Not a single hit. But as soon as we switched back to the silver and black model, the bass would hit like they were starving. I've never seen anything like it since. I would say we got a strike every 7 casts out of 10 as long as we used that bait over that weedbed. We tried many other weed beds around the lake without a hit. Those were three days of great memories. Thanks for the Tarpon Lake update!

05-14-09, 07:16 AM	#3
Randy BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa , Fl Posts: 71	Thanks for the reply . I was born and raised in Tampa , grew up near Brooksville . I fished with Tampa Pro Bass club for 15 years . I haven't fished a tourney in about 5 years . Now I just go for fun . Since Lake Tarpon is only 15 minutes from my house , makes it real easy to get there and back . I have fished that Lake since 1980 . My neighbor took me there in his Dynatrac for my first ride in a bass boat . He is the person that got me into fishing tournaments . I love it . Not only do you meet alot of good people , you can learn alot about bass fishing from them . The reputation lake Tarpon has around here is " there's no fish in that lake " Well just like any other lake , you just need to know where to find them . Next time you get down this way , give me a buzz and I will gladly take you for a day on the lake . Have a good one and hope you fill the live well every time you go . Randy

05-14-09, 07:03 PM	#4
Brute BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Clearwater, Fl Posts: 38	Good job Randy. I'll be out there Tomorrow and Saturday with my brother. Maybe we'll see you out there. I also have been throwing a lot of crankbaits in the grass flats, but they have removed a lot of the grass lately ruining my favorite spots. I guess I've got to start looking at other places on the l ake. Brute

05-15-09, 06:34 AM	#5
Randy BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa , Fl Posts: 71	I will be there both days this weekend . I will be in my Red/White Ranger 363 probably on the west side off shore from the trailer park . I stay till around 11 am , by then it gets a little hot . See ya there. Keep on crankin - Randy

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