In response to the request for more people to share patterns, I thought I’d post a few baitfish patterns I’ve been tying to use this winter and next spring. they are all tied with faux fur that I get from Etsy. My wife and I recently moved from central Georgia where we lived on a beautiful 50-acre lake loaded with bass and very nice Bluegill. We now live in central Florida on a 100-acre lake that has lots of BIG bass, as well as Bluegill, Tilapia and Gar. I have a lot to learn about fishing this lake. Like most lakes in central Florida, it was originally a Phosphate mine so it varies in depth from 2 feet to about 35 feet at the deepest. I’ve managed to catch a few nice bass from the shore in our back yard, but I have yet to take the kayak out. This is the view out of our Lanai (aka screened patio).
Badbug, There are certainly plenty of gators here in central Florida. The community I live in has five lakes ranging in size from 60 acres to about 120 acres. There are alligators in all of the lakes, but most of them are six feet and under. There is one larger gator about nine feet long in the largest lake, but so far he appears to be people shy. That said, I would not advise anyone fishing these lakes in a float tube or even hanging a stringer of fish off the side of their jon boat or kayak.
Gar are cool fish.