Pike: Private lakes offer fishing on demand
Big water gets more attention, but newcomers to Southeast Texas bass fishing have several private-lake alternatives to the intimidating sprawl of a public reservoir.
Fishing forecast
Complete FLORIDA TODAY coverage delivered to your door. Subscribe now. 1. Freshwater lakes : High water levels at Lake Blue Cypress, between Vero Beach and Yeehaw Junction, continue to create plenty of water flow around the lake, which is good for bass and bluegill catches.
A South American sizzler
Peacock bass were made for South Florida summers because the hotter the weather, the better those fish seem to bite. You don't have to be on the water at first light like you do for largemouth bass , because peacocks will strike when the sun is at its highest and hottest.
Fish-off starts slow, ends with flourish
Offshore fishing has been a little on the slow side, although a few anglers have managed to catch some nice fish.
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Peacock bass--which can range from 15 to 20 pounds--can be caught in Lake Gun, Venezuela, or along the Rio Negro in Brazil. Known as one of the most exciting freshwater species of bass, peacock bass range from Panama to southern Brazil.
Throughout the Americas, bass enjoy dragonflies as their favorite food. Young bass feast on dragonfly larvae, while the mature adults hide near the surface to grab the adult insects. If fact, the world's largest dragonfly with a wingspan of over seven inches is found in South America--an ideal meal for a lunker largemouth.
Now, you can use this natural predator-prey relationship to hook "the big ones" and enjoy bragging rights at the fishing camp. Hover-Lure, a fast-growing company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has developed a series of unique lifelike lures called the "Hover-Lure DragonMaster Kit." Because these lures resemble dragonflies, they are ideal for catching largemouth, smallmouth and peacock bass, as well as pike, gar, bluegill, trout, sunfish and crappies.
"Because the Hover-Lure is based on many years of scientific research, it will definitely help you catch more fish," says John J. Storelli, Hover-Lure president and CEO.
Dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures, with fossil records dating back 300 million years, predating dinosaurs by over 100 million years and birds by some 150 million, according to the World Dragonfly Association. About 5,900 species of dragonflies and their cousins, damselflies, are known and these insects are found in all temperate and tropical regions of the world.
"When fish are hungry, they go after insects first," says Storelli. "After millions of years it's embedded in their brains. And of all the insects that fish pursue, the dragonfly is at the top of the list."
Storelli was fishing for bass at one of his favorite fishing holes in the Everglades seven years ago, when he saw lunker bass leaping out of the water around him to attack dragonflies hovering just above the surface. He went home and began work on designing his own dragonfly-shaped lure. Returning to Big Cypress, he field-tested and tweaked his lure to ensure its success. With a few short casts into heavy cover, he found that bass were striking so aggressively that he had to leave and build new lures.
Today, that research and field-testing has resulted in the Hover-Lure, which is based on lifelike representations of dragonflies in different colors in keeping with the changing seasons. In addition to being effective, the Hover-Lure has the added advantage of being virtually snagless. With its unique design, the Hover-Lure is the only lure that is fished above water.
"The next time you're out on your favorite fishing hole, look around," says Storelli. "You'll see dragonflies and other insects flying around the thickest brush or weed patches - but rest assured under those types of conditions a largemouth bass is waiting for his favorite meal."
Storelli says anglers around the world are clamoring for the Hover-Lure. "Retailers throughout the Americas are starting to carry our products," he says, "and we look forward to expanding our distribution channels in the Caribbean and Latin America."
For more information, visit .com or call 866- BASS-FLY (866-277-7359) - Hover-Lure, Inc., 4530 N Dixie Hwy, Oakland Park, FL 33334.
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