Suwannee Bass like to lay in ambush of their prey preferring the cover of river banks.

The same reasons that make spring is an ideal time to fish for Suwannee Bass, make the winter months of December, January, February and March ideal as well. The months of February and March offer some of the best Suwannee fishing.

Largemouth Bass are very popular in south Florida. These are big fish and love the shallow lakes and large rivers in the south. However, as the Suwannee Bass is a much smaller fish with the largest one on record being three pounds, 14 ounces. Focus on the smaller river, brooks and streams of the north if you want to focus on the Suwannee Bass and not have a largemouth lunker snap your line and steel your bait.

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is also a successful means to attract Suwannee Bass using dragonflies, damselflies and insect larvae flies. Cast your flies to land above a shoal or riffle and imitate the actions of an insect that has fallen into the water for best results. The most successful flies are those that look like those that live along the banks of the Suwannee. However, insects are the primary food source of the young bass, adults preferring small fish and crayfish. Largemouth bass will also strike at flied so go with a weight-3 light tackle rod.

Like all bass, Suwannee Bass like to lay in ambush of their prey preferring the cover of river banks. They enjoy the same popular foods that attract Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Spotted Bass and Florida Largemouth Bass. Crayfish, minnows, leeches are top live baits.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found through a series of surveys and research that the largest concentrations of Suwannee Bass were found near steep banks by shallow, silt covered bottoms with lily pads in December.