Jesse Mizell breaks down an overlooked approach to Florida bass fishing, targeting canals and creeks instead of traditional grass and pad-filled lakes. With the bass spawn in full swing, Mizell explains how he uses a ChatterBait and frog to cover water, locate fish, and trigger aggressive strikes.
FEATURED PRODUCT
CHATTERBAIT SETUP
- CHATTERBAIT – Z-Man ChatterBait Mini Max: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- TRAILER – Rapala CrushCity Mooch Minnow: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- ROD – 13 Fishing Oath Casting Rod, 7’3” Medium Heavy – Extra Fast: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- REEL – 13 Fishing Concept A2 Casting Reel, 7.3:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 15-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
FROG SETUP
- FROG – SPRO Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60, color – Killer Gill: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – 13 Fishing Myth Casting Rod, 7’6” Heavy – Fast: Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at FishUSA
- REEL – 13 Fishing Concept A2 Casting Reel, 8.3:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE – Sufix 832 Braided Line Lo-Vis Green, 65-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
WHY CANALS HOLD BIG BASS DURING THE SPAWN
Unlike many Florida anglers who head to lakes and open water, Mizell focuses on canals and rocky banks. These areas provide clearer, stable water when wind and rain muddy the main lakes. Bass move into these stretches to spawn, feeding on baitfish and using the rocky shelves for bedding. By locating these transition zones, Mizell consistently finds schools of spawning bass.
FROG FISHING FOR SPAWNING BASS
When targeting bass near rocky shelves and shallow structure, Mizell opts for a topwater frog. He starts by casting just onto the shore and pulling it into the water (natural entry) to draw reaction strikes. His go-to frog colors are Black and Killer Gill, covering bluegill and shad patterns. The key to a solid hookset is patience—allowing the bass to fully commit before setting the hook.
CHATTERBAIT FISHING FOR PRESPAWN & POST-SPAWN BASS
Mizell also relies on a ChatterBait to cover water and locate active fish. He likes using a ChatterBait Mini Max paired with a CrushCity Mooch Minnow trailer, adjusting between 15- to 20-pound fluorocarbon or 30-pound braided line depending on the cover. He works the bait along the edges of spawning flats and deeper shelves, drawing bites from bass transitioning between prespawn and post-spawn phases.
THE PERFECT SETUP FOR FROG & CHATTERBAIT FISHING
For frog fishing, Mizell uses a 7’6” heavy-action rod, high-speed 8.3:1 reel, and 65-pound braid to handle Florida’s heavy cover. His ChatterBait setup includes a 7’3” medium-heavy rod, 7.3:1 reel, and either fluorocarbon or braid, depending on conditions.
WHY CANALS ARE A HIDDEN GEM FOR FLORIDA BASS
Canals provide a protected, low-pressure fishery where bass have plenty of bait and depth. Whether throwing a ChatterBait or frog or slowing down with a worm, these overlooked waters hold quality fish for some consistent Florida bass fishing.
BOAT SETUP
- TROLLING MOTOR – Power Pole MOVE ZR Trolling Motor: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR: Power Pole 8 ft. Blades: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- GRAPHS – Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 2 126sv Fish Finder/Chartplotter with Navionics+: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- FORWARD-FACING SONAR (FFS) – Garmin LVS34 LiveScope Plus Live Scanning Sonar Transducer: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- OUTBOARD – Mercury Pro XS 250 hp: Check out at Mercury
