peacock bass

While I have not yet had the pleasure of fishing for peacock bass I do fish alot of largemouth and small mouths. First from what I know of peacock your going to need a heavier line. As far as visibility goes the general rule is the heavier lb. test you use the thicker that it is going to be. Personally I like spiderwire mono. or a fluorocarbon line. Getting to the baits to use for them kind of depends on the conditions I know that you said that the water was very clear. Just guessing that the average temps there are hitting between 70 and 80 so the water should be warming up making them more active. If I were to come tomorrow to fish I would probably start off with a spinner-bait kind of as a search lure. and move to minnows (artificial) and definitely work some poppers. Also consider the sizes of your lures. Sometimes they just want something a little bigger or a little smaller. I keep a couple of Rapala Magnums on hand they are huge and I usually get alot of weird looks when I start throwing them at least until I start getting hammered.

I love fishing Peacock Bass. This is the clue. They have to be in spawning season. which last up to end of may. 2nd go out on warm day's. Target area with great visibility. Usually around bushes and shaded area's. this year alone i have caught about 15 of them. ranging from small females 9-12 inches long and some huge 16 inch Male Lunker's. In order to catch it u have to see it. Very rearly do u cath them "blindcasting". u spot them. Then trough ur lure, i like using spinner baits, infront of them (literly) (they won't get spoked and if they do they will circle back.) stay constant reeling in zipping by them. after 3-4 ziipz, slooowww it down. by now u have its attention and on the next slow one they bite. Sometimes there not hungry or u can try changing the colors. When there in spawning they are very aggresive and have eaten hit my plain hooks with nothing. Just the shiny hook. They like kinda large lures. middle water are the best. If u really want to catch them easy. Buy some live shinners and they will go nuts. I don't like using live bait beacuse its really not a challange then, but thats just me. After a few caught like that u will have the technique down and be better with artificial lures. Good LUCK. Oh Check out later i will try to uplaod some photo's. I know i have one now in my profile check it out.