Local pro Scott Martin has outshined the field this morning by relying on an old-school favorite — a prop bait.
Clearly relevant in modern tournament competition, this slender topwater with a spinning blade at each end is one of the most effective presentations for triggering Florida fish on or around the beds.
Fishing Lake Okeechobee’s south end, near his Clewiston home, Martin said he believes he’s found a developing pattern that he can exploit. Much of this, he said, relies on cozy conditions.
“The key to this bait is water temperature,” Martin said. “We had cooler water during practice, but when you have warmer nights like we (recently) had, they get frisky. Those big ones start roaming around and they get real munchy — they want to start eating stuff.”
Martin said a slow, taunting presentation works best. He’ll make a cast, let the water rings settle, chug the bait about a foot, let it settle, then chug again. A patient cadence all the way to the boat has proven effective.
This technique yielded a 6-pounder at 9:10. Thirty minutes later, Martin culled a 2-pounder with a 5 and took over the top spot.
As of 9:45, Martin had a limit of 18-12. He sits 2 3/4 pounds ahead of rookie Will Davis Jr., who took the early lead with one of the day’s first limits.
