What I am looking for:
I am looking for different tweeks on fishing jigs from shore and docks. I especially am looking for discussions on 'float and fly' rigs.

Long winded discussion of what im up too:
I have been carrying a spinning reel with me to work and swinging by some of the lakes / parks on my way home trying to catch a few fish to release some stress.

While I am targetting specs, I am more the willing to fight with just about anything.

I had been reading about injecting tubes with crappie nibbles and thought that some smell would help my chances.

I bought a few 1/16 oz blakemore road runner heads in chartreuse color, and some green/chartreuse 2" tubes to go with those. Bobbers on the Hwy 98 bi-pass in Lakeland has a pretty good deal on those road runner heads. I think it was 2.50 for 4 in a pack, or 5.99 for 10 in a pack. They also have some inexpensive long rods good for trolling or jigging. The owner was pretty nice. Not a baitshop though, so no minnows.

I bought some chartreuse crappie nibbles from walmart in Auburndale, and over in the medical section, found a siringe for around 1.50.

My first bank fishing spot I tried was the old power plant on Lake PARKER ( :P ) in Lakeland. This place has a rep for having 'hot' streaks in the wintertime. It is a long dock with light poles that runs out into the lake. They also at times cycle water past it.

I put the tube on the roadrunner. I then placed about 8 of the crappie nibles in the siringe. I then pushed the plunger down and injected the nibbles into the tube. It worked fairly well. A little of the nibbles got on my fingers, and the stuff does stink somewhat, so if such things bother you, have a wipe or something handy. I used some baby wipes in the back of the truck (I have kids!). If I weren't in my work clothes I'd have just brushed it off on my pants.

I 'doped' up my roadrunner and tube and started working my way down the dock casting and doing a slower retrieve. I caught 1 small (5 inch) bass doing this. I switched up my patern and began to vertically jig the pilons for the dock and caught a keeper blue gill. I fished about 35 minutes, and it was pretty relaxing. I think I missed another fish, because I felt a hard thump at one point, but it could have been some cover. Not really sure.

The next day I stopped at Saddle Creek Park, approximately halfway between Auburndale and Lakeland on right off Hwy 92. The Saddle Creek baitshop right at the entrance to this fishing area and has a good supply of lures and live bait. They carry the Ron's Bites I have taking a liking to as of late, as well as a good selection of Mid South jigs and tubes. A large variety of cane poles both bambo and graphite in all kinds of lengths. There are at least two ramps to give access to these old mine pits, and the banks are mowed to allow for pretty decent bank fishing. You basically drive along til you find a spot, pull off and start fishing. I think these old pits see a great deal of fishing pressure almost daily, but the waters are teaming with bait, so things 'grow up' fast. I am certain FWC stocks these lakes as well.

I fished for approximately 40 minutes, caught 1 keep spec, and got a few good thumps on the doped up blakemore.

The next day I arrived at Saddle creek and tried a slower fishing style. I rigged my pole with a slip float and still using the road runner cast and did a slow retrieve with alot of long pauses. I fished approximately 3' deep. Got tons of little pecks, that I probably didnt feel the day before, but no fish caught.

I am looking for different tweeks on fishing jigs from shore and docks. I especially am looking for discussions on 'float and fly' rigs.

Many years ago I found a 8ft. jon boat and 3hp motor in the back of my pickup worked great for stress relief. I never took it out of the truck. See a fishy spot, stop jerk it out the back and 3 minutes later fishing. The only problem I ever had was when my first wife started riding to work with me......

Is there really a lake howard in lakeland with a powerplant? Dont you mean lake parker. If so lake parker is full of dinks so is lake howard in winter haven.

Here is an idea. Tie up a multiple hook drop shot (3 or 4 hooks). Bait each hook with minnow and grass shrimp and tie to a slip rig bobber. Add a heavy weigh and you can cast this thing all the way across saddle creek into the trees. Adjust the depth until you catch something. Dont be suprised when you catch a bass on every hook.
Good luck

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Duh... I fished Howard this past weekend and it was stuck in my head.

You are quite right, Lake Parker. It is full of dinks.

I can't keep much live bait in the truck, but I may add a long poled dip net for getting some shrimp and minnows.

I have thought to add a kayak to the roof of my exterra for just that reason.

Hit Saddle creek for 30 minutes and no luck on jigs.

I will try the drop shot rig soon, and let you know how it plays out.

Kayak, canoe what ever works.

If your into shore fishing you might want to try tenoroc

http://myfwc.com/recreation/WMASites...sitorinfo.htmt

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If I have just a few more minutes i may try that.

I have fished teneroc a few times, its just they are as come and go as you please as saddle creek.

Keep in mind, this is 30 minutes of fiddling around time... maybe an hour.

Hit saddle creek again today. I am (or was) fishing two Ron's Bites under a slip float. I slow retrieve in. Today I hooked up with what looked to be a 2 to 3lb bass. I got him up close enough to see his big mouth and my little red jig stuck in his lip. He took a hard dive into some hydrilla, and well, my drag wasn't set right and he broke off my 4lb leader.

I had tightened my drag to pull off some weeds a bit earlier... note to self to loosen it back up.