St Johns River, Deland Area, Ed Stone Park

Deadeye · April 21, 2015, 05:17:07 PM

Ed Stone Park is located west of Deland on Rt 44. The Park consists of a Pavilion, Picnic Area, Restrooms, and Boat Launch.

There is quite a bit of Bank Fishing available and is a favorite spot to fish for Bream and Catfish for many. The Restrooms are nice and usually are kept clean.

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Deadeye · April 21, 2015, 05:22:00 PM

There is a large Parking Area and the Launch Ramps consists of a 3 Double Ramps and 1 Single Ramp.

This Ramp is a popular place to hold Tournaments and there is one held there almost every weekend and on Wednesday Nights.

Also because it is a well maintained Ramp it is popular with All Types of Boaters, so it best to get there early if you plan to use it on the weekend.

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Deadeye · April 21, 2015, 05:36:56 PM

The Launch Area is in a Cove with a Canal that leads to the River. Once in the River you can head North or South.

Heading North you will find lots of patches of Pads along the banks as well as Fallen Timber. There are several Oxbows that lead off the main River and most of these hold fish. Within a few miles you will find the entrance to Highland Park Run on the right side. By following the run you will come to a 3-way point where Highland Park meets both the Norris and Ziegler Dead Rivers. The Ziegler runs east and takes you to a housing community. There are Pads, Trees and Canals once you reach the end. The Norris runs north and will eventually bring you to Lake Woodruff. There are Pads, Trees and Floating Mats along the way.

All of these Runs are Slow Speed Minimum Wake and yes they are patrolled.

Staying in the Main River you will eventually come to Lake Dexter. This section of the river is mostly natural Florida with very little to none development.

Heading South you will find several Marinas. Some of these have Idle or Slow Speed Zones near them. There are several patches of Pads on both sides and both Shell Creek and Hontoon Dead River break off to the right. Passing by Hontoon Island you will find Lake Breseford on your left. Staying in the main River will take you all the way to Blue Springs State Park. There are also several Oxbows off of the main river.

Water here is dark and most anglers use lures that will produce in darker waters.

Here is the Canal to the River and what some of the Pad Fields look like.

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Deadeye · April 21, 2015, 05:45:13 PM

Fishing in this section for me is either very good or very tough.

Today I chose to head south and first worked some of the boats and docks near the ramp with a Wacky Rigged Senko, but had no takers.

Next I headed to a patch of Pads and began with a Frog, then Speedworm, then followed up with a Ribbontail Worm but had no luck.

Running to another rather large Pad Field I once again began working it with a Frog. I spent about 5 hours working that field and managed to catch 5, lose 3, and miss a couple. I worked maybe less than 1/4 of the field and all of my fish came within a 200 yard stretch.

The 5 I boated would of made a decent limit with most running between 15-16 Inches. The biggest one was 18 1/2 Inches and about 3 - 3 1/2 lbs.

Water temps were 77 at launch at 9:00 AM and hit as high as 84 by afternoon. I was off the water by 4:00 PM.

Water Temp and Biggest Fish

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Pferox · April 21, 2015, 05:51:20 PM

Great Report and a very nice fish. Sure looks pretty.

Capt. BassinLou · April 21, 2015, 06:33:57 PM

Wow Fred!! That pad field looks pretty dense behind you.

SFL BassHunter · April 21, 2015, 07:05:01 PM

Wow nice report fred. I vote for you if there is ever a "best report" award lol. Btw nice work with those fish. Good sizes for sure.

Reservoir Runner · April 21, 2015, 07:40:13 PM

Thanks for the report Deadeye! I am glad to see I am not the only one that has a tough time on the river. When I fish the upper St. John's that is where I usually put in at- I fish mostly there during the week, I am sure the place is a madhouse on the weekends. There is definitely plenty of cover and plenty of water to fish, I guess that's why they constantly move from one are to the other.

Deadeye · April 21, 2015, 07:41:50 PM

Quote from: Bassinlou on April 21, 2015, 06:33:57 PM
Wow Fred!! That pad field looks pretty dense behind you.

That's where she came from. Hooked me up on a Pad Stem and it pulled the boat right back into that stuff trying to get her out.

Finally she pulled free and I was able to get her to the boat.

All the Pads up here look like that, at least the bigger fields do.

Deadeye · April 21, 2015, 07:50:27 PM

That picture of the Pad Field does not do it justice. It is one of many on the offshoots of the River that are HUGE. This one probably stretched a good 1/2 mile or more.

I found that by letting the boat drift into the edge of the pads, don't have a Power Pole or anything like that, I could work the area over thoroughly. Most fish came after passing over them from different angles on multiple casts. Also found to never give up on a cast until you are out of the water.

Some fish came 50-60 feet from the boat, some came 10 feet or less from the boat. Got to watch two of them swim up and blast the Frog from 10 feet or less away.

I would work an area, move the boat 20-30 ft and rework the same area. Never put a dent into that field, that much I promise you.

Deadeye · April 21, 2015, 08:44:55 PM

Quote from: Reservoir Runner on April 21, 2015, 07:40:13 PM
Thanks for the report Deadeye! I am glad to see I am not the only one that has a tough time on the river. When I fish the upper St. John's that is where I usually put in at- I fish mostly there during the week, I am sure the place is a madhouse on the weekends. There is definitely plenty of cover and plenty of water to fish, I guess that's why they constantly move from one are to the other.

When I first started fishing the River I never caught anything or at the most one or two.

What I had to do was learn How To Fish In Florida Waters. Believe me there is a difference between fishing in Florida and fishing in most Northern States. To start with the Northern fish are way more aggressive and much more willing to hit anything within 20 feet. In Florida your bait has to be within inches sometimes for them to strike.

Colors are different too. Find what works for you and stick with it, add a few new ones each year but keep within the colors that work in Florida: Blacks, Black/Blue, Watermelon- with or without Red, Some Reds, Junebug (probably the #1 color in Fl), Browns, and Whites. Mix them up on Worms, Cranks, Minnow Plastics, Frogs, etc.

Use less weight than what you did "up north". Florida Bass like a slower fall rate.

Keep working at it and you will start to see patterns develop that work for you. It is kind of hard to learn but once you figure it out it just keeps getting better.

Keep at it and Good Luck.

Reservoir Runner · April 22, 2015, 07:12:52 AM

Good advice! I am finally starting to comprehend that bass fishing down here is very different than it was when I lived in Maryland. It is almost like having to re-learn bass fishing again.

Lipripper · April 22, 2015, 10:01:44 AM

Nice Bass Deadeye

and thanks for the report. Looks like great Frog water.

LgMouthGambler · April 22, 2015, 01:58:22 PM

Pretty area. We all know Lou took the picture of the pad field and put it in his "spank bank".

Swede · April 22, 2015, 06:41:29 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed the read - great report. You mentioned favorite Florida colors - give Candybug a try and let me know how it produces for you. I have had good success on that one color in all Florida waters from the Big O to Toho to Harris to St Johns to Lake Seminole.

Deadeye · April 22, 2015, 08:07:25 PM

Quote from: Swede on April 22, 2015, 06:41:29 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed the read - great report. You mentioned favorite Florida colors - give Candybug a try and let me know how it produces for you. I have had good success on that one color in all Florida waters from the Big O to Toho to Harris to St Johns to Lake Seminole.

I think I've heard of that Candybug. It's a color by Zoom isn't it?

Reservoir Runner · April 23, 2015, 06:56:56 AM

Zoom also makes a color called Redbug that is supposed to be pretty good in Fla. I looked up on Bitter's website the Candybug color and it looks almost like a junebug color to me.

Swede · April 23, 2015, 07:33:43 AM

Quote from: Deadeye on April 22, 2015, 08:07:25 PM
Quote from: Swede on April 22, 2015, 06:41:29 PM
Thoroughly enjoyed the read - great report. You mentioned favorite Florida colors - give Candybug a try and let me know how it produces for you. I have had good success on that one color in all Florida waters from the Big O to Toho to Harris to St Johns to Lake Seminole.

I think I've heard of that Candybug. It's a color by Zoom isn't it?

Zoom and V&M (a sponsor here - www.bayououtdoors.com ) both make it

SFL BassHunter · April 23, 2015, 02:59:55 PM

Quote from: Deadeye on April 21, 2015, 08:44:55 PM
Quote from: Reservoir Runner on April 21, 2015, 07:40:13 PM
Thanks for the report Deadeye! I am glad to see I am not the only one that has a tough time on the river. When I fish the upper St. John's that is where I usually put in at- I fish mostly there during the week, I am sure the place is a madhouse on the weekends. There is definitely plenty of cover and plenty of water to fish, I guess that's why they constantly move from one are to the other.

When I first started fishing the River I never caught anything or at the most one or two.

What I had to do was learn How To Fish In Florida Waters. Believe me there is a difference between fishing in Florida and fishing in most Northern States. To start with the Northern fish are way more aggressive and much more willing to hit anything within 20 feet. In Florida your bait has to be within inches sometimes for them to strike.

Colors are different too. Find what works for you and stick with it, add a few new ones each year but keep within the colors that work in Florida: Blacks, Black/Blue, Watermelon- with or without Red, Some Reds, Junebug (probably the #1 color in Fl), Browns, and Whites. Mix them up on Worms, Cranks, Minnow Plastics, Frogs, etc.

Use less weight than what you did "up north". Florida Bass like a slower fall rate.

Keep working at it and you will start to see patterns develop that work for you. It is kind of hard to learn but once you figure it out it just keeps getting better.

Keep at it and Good Luck.

Thats excellent advice deadeye. Those colors you mentioned are dead on. Ive had most success with watermelon red but also seed and gold flakes. Junebug has also caught fish in the places i go to. Black and blue is also great. Chartreuse tail has also been a good color from time to time when the fish are being particular about what they eat.

SFL BassHunter · April 23, 2015, 03:06:17 PM

Quote from: Reservoir Runner on April 23, 2015, 06:56:56 AM
Zoom also makes a color called Redbug that is supposed to be pretty good in Fla. I looked up on Bitter's website the Candybug color and it looks almost like a junebug color to me.

Its funny you mentioned redbug. I was very close to pulling the trigger on some more zoom 12 inch magnum ol monster worms and was planning on getting redbug. More junebug and one other color which i cant remember right now. The red ones look purdy which is the only reason i was going to get them. I had no idea if they would work or not. I kind of wanted to try a new color since all my plastics are watermelon with flake color variations. Junebug and black.