Report
by Capt Ed Bussard
Bass Challenger Guide Service
www.basschallenger.com
St
Johns River March 8, 2010
I
can't say the fishing has been great the past four days because
the bites have been a little slow to come.What I can say is the
past four trips each client has caught the biggest fish of their
life.Tommy had a 7 pounder topping his past best by 2 pounds.Chris
had an 8 pounder topping his past best by 5 pounds.Mitch had an
8 pounder topping his past best by three pounds and Jeff had a
7 1/2 pounder topping his past best by 1/2 pound.
The water the past week has been cold and many
of the fish backed out into deeper water.Today we finally had water
temps in the 60's by noon and Jeff and Mitch got a taste of what
Florida Bass Fishing is all about.They only caught 7 fish but the
five best weighed 30 pounds with an 8 and 7,8 being the biggest.
This
next week the weather is calling
for lows in the 60's and high's in
the 80's and that is what these Florida
Bass have been waiting for all winter
so they can finally spend more then
a day trying to spawn before another
cold front come in.I think this week
with be unreal on both numbers and
size.
Bass Challenger Guide Service is now the Central Florida Dealer
for USA Custom Rods Camo Stix Rods. We are working on getting the
Bass Challenger Website set up for online orders. My Wife Jackie
will be taking care of our new Bass Challenger Online Store.
St
Johns River March 3, 2010
Weather
is playing a major roll in the fish catching here in Central
FL. It seems that the days we have nice weather in the 70's with
no wind the fishing is as tough as it can get.On the other hand
the cooler windy days are just the opposite and if you can stand
the cold and wind the day is well worth it.
On Monday I had a double trip 6 HR morning and 6 HR evening with two different
clients. The morning started out a little cool at 42 degrees and the bite was
on the first hour until we seen the sun coming up. The fish shut down about 20
minutes later and never really turned back on during the rest of the morning.
My client Greg of MN ended the 6 HR trip with 8 fish to 5 .4 pounds.
My afternoon clients Bruce and Diane were in for a tough afternoon. We fished
one of the areas I have been doing really well in the past two weeks. Bruce and
Diane sat patiently for three hours and watched a couple shiners get chased
by fish but never hit. We were sitting in 73 degree weather and zero winds.
Around 4pm a breeze picked up from the east blowing into the area we were fishing
and with in minutes the fish started busting every shiner we put in the water,In
one hour Bruce had landed the fish of a lifetime weighing 11 pounds and Diane
landed a fish that was 7.5 and a total of six fish were caught in that one hour
with three between 4 and 11 pounds.
Tuesday started a two day trip with a couple regular clients of mine that fly
in every year for some Trophy Bass Fishing. The wind blew 35 mph on Tuesday with
gust to 47 according to the Sanford Airport.The fishing was ok but we could not
fish one of my better areas due to the winds. A total of 8 fish were caught
up to 6 pounds. Today Wed the 3rd we were greeted with 43 degree air temps and
20 mph NW wind. I headed to the area we couldn't fish yesterday and found the
fishing a little slow but the size was great. We ended the 6 HR trip with 5 fish
between 4 and 9 8 pounds. Butch was happy to catch the fish of a lifetime weighing
9.8 beating his personal best by 1 pound.
The big fish we have caught the past three days are spawned out. With the full
moon just getting over I think we will start to see another wave of big females
move in the next few days.
St
Johns River February 28, 2010
Feb has passed and even after dealing
with unbelievable cold weather most of the month this has been
the best Feb I can ever remember in my 30 years of guiding.
Our
Feb 2010 Trophy page shows just how Great the St Johns River
really is. We ended the month with 6 fish over the 10 pound mark
and topped the month off with a beautiful 13 pounder caught by
Gary Clark on Feb 22nd we also had two fish over 11 pounds and
over 20 fish between 8 and 10 pounds. I finished off Feb 27th
28th guiding a very good client from the Alanta GA area, Clay
W had a great trip for a two day total of 35 fish with three
fish over 8 pounds and topped the trip off with a 9 1/4. 90 percent
of the fish Clay caught were over 5 pounds and many were between
6 and 8 pounds. 
I
have been looking for Shad in the main river and as of today
I have not seen any.Here on the St Johns River we have a large
shad run during March, April, May. The timing of this shad run
is perfect as these St Johns River Bass come off the beds and
find there way to main river points and shell beds where they
will spend the next three month gorging themselves on 6 to 7
inch shad. These schooling fish will run in size from 2 to 12
pounds and are eager to eat a topwater bait on any given morning.
I still have some days open in
March April May so if you are looking for some of the best artificial
fishing Florida has to offer come see what the St Johns River
is all about. I will also be offering Fly fishing trips for this
spring's shad run.
St
Johns River February 23, 2010
I
have been telling my clients the past two weeks that it is just
a matter of time before we get our first fish in the teens for
the 2010 season. I knew it was coming because we have been catching
a lot of fish between 10 and 12 pounds.
Well it happened yesterday and it could not have happened to a better client
and friend. Gary Clark and Dan Basore started the first day of their three day
trip on Monday Feb 22. The morning started off with every shiner that hit the
water being hit by a 4 to 8 pound bass. Then it happened. A BIG BASS knocked
Gary Clarks Shiner out of the water and off the hook as the shiner was swimming
a way from the float with no hook in it this BIG BASS busted the shiner again
and things went silent. I hooked another
shiner on Gary's rod and he made a cast back to the same area. In a matter of
seconds this BIG BASS busted Gary's shiner again and this time Gary laid the
hook into this BIG BASS with the 7 FT MH USA CUSTOM CAMO STIX ROD the action
was something to watch as this BIG BASS put up a great fight. But in the end
between Gary's talent and the Camo Stix Rod it was over and I was lipping a
beautiful 13 LB St Johns River Trophy Bass. We weighed this fish twice with
the Certified Boga Grip and she was 13 LBS on the NOSE.
After
a few pictures and measurements Gary released this beautiful
bass back into the St Johns River to fight another day.
This was one of those days every fisherman dreams of having. Gary
and Dan finished the day with about 25 Bass. The 4 biggest were 13LB
9LB 8 3/4LB 8LB and many other fish between 5 and 8 pounds.
All fish today were caught on large flats off the main river with
a mix of pads and floating grass mats. Wild shiners were the bait
of choice.
The
St Johns River is only minutes from Orlando Disney World and
Daytona Beach. Take a look at our 2008 and 2009 Trophy page
at www.basschallenger.com to
see what Trophy Bass Fishing In Florida is all about.
Thanks From
Capt Ed Bussard and Bass Challenger Guide Service
Guiding Clients To Trophy Bass In Central Florida For Over 30 Years
Trophy Bass Fishing On The St Johns River Only Minutes From Orlando
Disney World and Daytona Beach.
Business: 407-273-8045
Cell: 321-377-2013
Office: 800-241-5314
Website: www.basschallenger.com
