Pro bass angler tip of the week: Find the bass around grassy points or moving water

Michael Wilson
·8 min read
Bernie Schultz of Gainesville competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series. He's qualified for nine Bassmaster Classics and five FLW Championships.
Bernie Schultz of Gainesville competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series. He's qualified for nine Bassmaster Classics and five FLW Championships.

It’s no secret that Florida’s bass school at different times of the year. Finding them is the key. Look for them around grassy points, creek and canal mouths or wherever the water is flowing.

Good lure choices include topwaters like Shimano’s World Pop, fluke style soft plastics like a Yamamoto D-Shad, or small swimbaits like the Hildebrandt Drum Roller. Try to keep some distance between you and the fish, so you don’t spook them. Then put your lure in the melee and hang on.

The Hildebrandt Drum Roller for Power Pole Pro Bass Angler Tip of the Week with Bernie Schultz.
The Hildebrandt Drum Roller for Power Pole Pro Bass Angler Tip of the Week with Bernie Schultz.

Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Florida, competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series. He’s qualified for nine Bassmaster Classics and five FLW Championships. His career winnings exceed $1.5 million. He also serves as a columnist for Bassmaster.com, InsideLine.net and JustFishing.ca. Follow him on Facebook @Bernie Schultz Fishing or on Instagram @bernieschultzfishing.

Fishing Results

Bill Barlow and Jerry Davis had 18.40 pounds to win the Wednesday Open Bass Series tournament on Jan. 18 on the Winter Haven South Chain. Jason Leverette took second place with 17.50 pounds. Joe Magnatta and Keith Howlett placed third with 16.14 pounds. Robert Garcia took big bass with a 7.30-pounder.

John McKenzie and Keith Wooten had 6.92 pounds and also big fish with a 1.73-pounder to win first place in the CATCH’EM CRAPPIE tournament on Jan. 14 on the Kissimmee Chain. Matt Ingram, Mickey Ingram and Taylor Ingram were second with 5.30 pounds. Jason Denham, Billy Moore and Jeremy Knowles placed third with 5.23 pounds.

Jason Brewer and Kyle Brewer had 21.01 pounds to win the Lake Wales Po Boys Bass Club tournament on Jan. 22 on Lake Arbuckle. Steve Coleman and Cheryl Brewer took second place with 17.52 pounds. Dave Keen and Justin Pelletier placed third with 15.45 pounds. Mark Edwards took big bass with a 5.75-pounder.

William Cowart and Scott Kottwitz had 10.33 pounds to win the Mosaic Bass Club tournament on Jan. 21 at Eagle Lake. Robert Wiggins and Josh Dunn took second place with 9.90 pounds. Brian Ames and Brad Cobb placed third with 9.25 pounds. Troy Sutton took big bass with a 2.52-pounder.

Bill Barlow, left, and Jerry Davis had 18.40 pounds to win the Wednesday Open Bass Series tournament Jan. 18 on the Winter Haven South Chain.
Bill Barlow, left, and Jerry Davis had 18.40 pounds to win the Wednesday Open Bass Series tournament Jan. 18 on the Winter Haven South Chain.

Daniel Garcia and Ismail Garcia had 14.70 pounds to win the Polk County Bass Assassins tournament on Jan. 21 on the Winter Haven Chain. Roger Weigel and Roger Weigel Jr. took second place with 13.69 pounds. Chris Fox placed third with 12.45 pounds James Kiddy and Ricky Garcia took big bass with a 5.97-pounder.

Ken Singletary and Steven Singletary had 22.06 pounds to win the Bass N Boats open tournament on Jan. 21 on Lake Hamilton. Rick Miller and Riley Miller took second place with 14.46 pounds. Ricky Carroll and Henry Carroll placed third with 13.94 pounds. Ken Singletary took big bass with a 7.14-pounder.

Ken Whitlow and Scott Smith had 21.74 pounds to win first place during the Kissimmee Bass Series Seniors tournament on Jan. 20 on the Kissimmee Chain. J.W. Watkins and Tad Jones were second with 20.98 pounds. J.W. Watkins took big bass with a 6.76-pounder.

Michael Porter had 23.68 pounds and big bass with an 8.83-pounder to win first place during the Kissimmee Bass Series One-Man tournament on Jan. 21 on the Kissimmee Chain. Shelton Smith was second with 23.35 pounds.

Jack Rhodan and John Merk had 9.16 pounds to win the Florida Crappie Club tournament on Jan. 21 at Lake Harris. Dave Troster and Ken Hamelton took second place with 9.03 pounds. Jack Rhodan Jr. and Tanner Rhodan placed third with 8.84 pounds. Scott Lawson and Wendal Conner had big fish with a 1.71-pounder.

Upcoming Tournaments

The next Country Boys Fishing LLC Sunday Open tournament is on Jan. 29 at Saddle Creek out of the public ramp. Time is safe light to noon. Entry fee is $30 a boat including big bass. For more information, call Randy Stone at 863-808-7275.

The next Wednesday Open Bass Series tournament is on Feb. 1 on the Winter Haven South Chain out of the Lake Cannon public ramp. Entry fee is $30 per boat with 100% payback with exemptions. FWC rules apply. Time is safe light to 1 p.m. For more information, call Keith Howlett at 863-669-5805 or Joe Magnatta at 863-581-7011.

The next Happy Hookers Bass Club tournament is on Feb. 4 at Lake Rosalie. Time is safe light to 1:30 p.m. Entry fee $50 per boat and $10 for big bass. For more information, contact Brandon Robinson at 863-397-7932 or visit the Happyhookers Club on Facebook.

Robert Garcia took big bass with a 7.30-pounder during the Wednesday Open Bass Series tournament Jan. 18 on the Winter Haven South Chain.
Robert Garcia took big bass with a 7.30-pounder during the Wednesday Open Bass Series tournament Jan. 18 on the Winter Haven South Chain.

The next Lone Fishing Club tournament is on Feb. 4 at Lake Juliana out of the public ramp. Club membership is now closed. For more information, call Walt Hunziker at 407-284-0277 or email at whunziker@tampabay.rr.com.

The next Florida Bass Club Survivor Series tournament is on Feb. 4. on Lake Toho out of the Southport ramp. Time is safe light to 3 p.m. Anglers must pay a one-time club membership fee of $50. Tourney entry fee is $100 per boat. Optional big bass side pot fee is $10 and optional big bag weight side pot fee is $20. For more information, contact Brant Sims at 321-246-2385 or Dustin Meneley at 689-777-8809 or visit the club’s website at http://www.FloridaBassClub.com.

The next Toho First Sunday of the Month Team Trail is on Feb. 5. on Lake Toho out of the city ramp. This tournament is open to the first 50 boats. Entry fee is $60 per team with an optional $100 per boat, winner-take-all side pot. Time is safe light to 3 p.m. For more info, call Rich Patterson at 407-394-4474.

The next Freedom Bass Anglers tournament is on Feb. 11 on the Winter Haven North Chain out of Lake Rochelle. Time is safe light to 2 p.m. Membership at this time is closed. For more information, email Charles Matlock at matlockcn@gmail.com.

The next CATCH’EM CRAPPIE tournament, held by Hoppy’s Marine, is on Feb. 11 on the Kissimmee Chain out of Port Hatchineha. Time is safe light to noon. Up to four anglers per boat with a $60 fee per boat, plus $5 ramp fee. Heaviest six fish go toward place prizes and big fish. For more information, or to sign up for the tournament, call Matt Ingram at 863-412-5207 or Catch’em Crappie at Facebook.

The next Mosaic Bass Club tournament is on Feb. 11-12 at Lake Ariana out of the public ramp. The tourney is open to Mosaic employees only. Please be launched and ready to fish by safe daylight. Weigh-in is at 2 p.m. For information, contact Richard Blair at 863-581-1523.

The next Winter Haven Lunker Lovers tournament is on Feb. 12 on Crooked Lake out of the public ramp. The draw meeting will be held on Feb. 7 at Beef O’Brady’s in Winter Haven. The Lunker Lovers tournaments are for members only. To inquire about becoming a member or for more information, call David Glenn at 863-559-0824, Lamar Middleton at 863-224-4050 or go to lunkerlovers.com.

The Polk County Bass Assassins begin their new season with a tournament on Feb. 18 on Lake Juliana out of the public ramp. Entry fee is $40 per boat including big bass. Time is safe light to 2 p.m. The club is accepting new members. Membership fee is $35 per angler. For more information, contact Jimmy Saxon at 863-581-5939 or go to www.facebook.com/bassassassinsofpolkcounty/.

The Bass N Boats will begin their new season with a tournament on Feb. 18 on John’s Lake out of the Highway 50 ramp. Launch is at safe daylight and weigh-in is at 3 p.m. There is a $60 tournament entry fee. The club is seeking new members. Membership fee is $50. For more information, contact Ken Singletary at 863-651-7607 or Brant Sims at 321-246-2385 or visit Bassnboats.com.

The next Florida Crappie Club tournament is on Feb. 25 on the St. Johns River out the Astor public boat. Entry fee is $60 per boat for seven-fish aggregate and big fish. Sign-up is from 5:45 a.m. until 6:45 a.m. Tourney time is 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call Tony Strollo at 352-584-6970.

The next Central Florida Slay Nation Club Tournament is on Feb. 25 on Lake Garfield out of the public ramp. The tourney is open to club members only and only small vessels are allowed. Kayaks, canoes and johnboats with no gas-powered vessels only. Club membership is $60 per angler. For more information, contact Josiah Vansickle at Josiahvan27@gmail.com.

The next Lake Wales Po Boys Bass Club tournament is on Feb. 26 on Crooked Lake out of the Little Crooked ramp. Entry fee is $70 per team. Time is safe light to 2 p.m. The club is always seeking new members. For more information, contact Terry Nesbitt at 863-232-6897 and Carl Carmichael at 727-463-4802 or visit lakewalespoboys.com.

Send tournament notices or results to Ledger correspondent Michael Wilson at fishingresults@theledger.com. Deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: This week's bass pro tip: Find them around grass or moving water