Hit Lake Manatee before daylight and quickly picked up four bass to 4 pounds on a black popper. That action ended at daylight, but the bluegill bite picked up.
I caught 40 really nice 'gills on my Myakka Minnow. I fished the Gilley Creek area of the lake on the west side of the S.R. 64 bridge.
Used 6-weight on the bass and 3-weight on the bluegill.
The weather is hot, but it’s not too bad when you get out before dawn.
Lovin’ it, guys! Thanks for posting up some pictures. It’s been windy the past few days here, and I’ve been stocking up on flies so I can get after 'em this next week and weekend!
Oh…oops, sorry! Weird, last night your picture of the coppernose didn’t show up, but it did today! Good looking fish, Very dark colors! (I blame my computer malfunctions on our bizarre storms yesterday…)
It is a juvenile, male Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis). When breeding, the belly will change from yellow, to bright orange. They are striking fish (and delicious). They can get up to 12" and near 1 pound. Like most sunfish, they are veritable demons on light tackle. The Ocoee is full of them. They are probably the second most numerous fish there, after bluegills. Third Place would go to Shellcrackers.