Orange Lake

[RangerAndBass]

Had a buddy from home down for a few days of fishing. We spent a day on Orange. It has gotten the better of me a few times but we wanted to try to even the score.  Water temp was 71, no wind, no clouds. We thought we would be punching hydrilla, which is thick. 
The morning started slow.  Water went from dark brown - almost black with decent clarity to chocolate milk brown and poor clarity.
We got 6 on chatterbaits near scattered hydrilla or the stand up pads (what are they called guys?), but none of them were any size, in the morning.
After noon we found cleaner water and some of those pad islands in slightly deeper water. We caught another 5, the best coming under some mats in the pads.
Was a fun day and I think we  got some redemption.


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[big g]

Congrats my friend!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Wtg guys! Thank you for sharing R&B.

[FlatsNBay]

Nice job Ranger..those pads are called spatterdock. Money during the spawn!

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[RangerAndBass]

Thanks G and Lou.
And thanks Flats for getting ving me that name. Now I just have to remember it

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[Larry Francis]

I keep hearing about Orange Lake and have never fished it. Thanks for the report and never knew their name either good question.

[cport]

WTG. I've had some success there with white paddletail flukes. Twitch over the pads then let fall at the edge of pads and weedlines. Be ready on the fall off the pad. Also swim over hydrilla mats and let fall the same way. Good way to pick up a few on a tough day. You will have to cull a few warmouth, but there is a good chance to catch multiple 3+ lbers. if they are on the chew. I stay away from flashy except chatterbaits; the bowfin love spinnerbaits as much as, if not more so, than the bass. Your mileage may vary.

Frogs are fun, but unless they are really popping off on them, you'll attract more gators than bass. Unless you're into that sort of thing with little gators.