Going camping next weekend with a group of friends, my GF and my oldest. We got invited, and managed to get the interior campsite across from the friend group, so we'll have water access.

4 of us have kayaks, and I have gear to catch anything from bluegill to hammerheads, I just dont fish freshwater much at all, and when I do it has been bank and pond fishing.

Is it worth it to paddle after some bass this time of year? Any suggestions on lures/presentation( Im reasonably familiar with types of freshwater presentation, fished from the boat more as a kid, and still like to chase bass in a pond when topwater bites are effective)? Would it be worth it trying to find deeper spots and throwing shiners for crappie? Juglines are prohibited, or id toss a trolling or some jugs out.

Anyone ever fish this lake in particular? Its kind of an awkward time of year to fish, but since were there why not.

Dang... so decent fish! Any tips for hitting them this time of year?

Fished it out of a float tube this time of year. Had no issues with gators. Actually didn't see a single one.

Great bass fishing lake. Some monsters in there. Was fishing from the pier there and was bending down to lip a 2 lb bass and a gator flew out from under the dock and grabbed the fish out of my hand. Scared the **** out of me.

Have had success in cold weather there with slow presentations of senko and yo-yoing a spoon.

Was closer to mid February but we caught good 4-5 lb bass from the bank with zoom fat Albert green pumpkin grubs. The big metal flake boats weren't catching anything - I'm guessing the bass were headed to or on the beds

Thank y'all for the input! This will be a bitnof a scouting expedition as well, im going to sell my big bait drone( thats a while ball of wax) and get a trolling motor for my yak, and a smaller one to take my youngest boy out in( hes big enough to paddle some, but not enough endurance yet) and start doing some bass and flats/marsh fishing. He's my little fishing buddy, but is getting bored sitting on the bank waiting. I figure the camping here is affordable, if the fishing ends up good we will use it to learn this summer.

Little dude bout had me fit to burst the last time we hit the surf... has my light surf rod, up to his armpits in waves, and launches it about as well as I would have! I think if we can het him used to using artificial, he'll be all over that!

Chatterbaits and swim jigs on edge of grass line, senkos, other weedless presentations for beating the bank. Hollow-body frogs for catching gators if the fishing is slow (only kidding, sorta). 1.5-2lb schoolers near the dam on suspending jerk baits when sun is high and warm temps (typically during warmer months but still possible if theres a warm stretch of weather). Beds are pretty easy to spot in the jungle of hydrilla (circles of exposed ground). Fun little lake to fish.

I went in throwing roostertails and roadrunners before and got some fun small bass and big sunfish. There are some big gators in there but they leave people alone. There is at least one in the near 10 foot range and it will give you a start when you accidentally paddle over one resting on the bottom and look down and realize what it is.

Also there are a few large Gar in there and they can startle the hell out of you if you paddle over one and they take off. I never felt unsafe in there.