Cox Says Prior Cold Weather Should Ignite the Harris Chain

By Pete Robbins 

 

Florida’s Harris Chain is not only the traditional starting point for the Big Bass Tour, but also one of the year’s most anticipated events – primarily because it’s typically not a matter of whether a double digit bass will be weighed in, but rather of how many of them will come to the scales. Indeed, the last time the field missed the 10 pound mark was in 2021, when a 9.99 and 9.95 took top honors, but we made up for that the next year with a whopping 11.17 pound champion and three additional fish over 10. Last year there were two over 10 and multiple nines. 

 

Of course, another reason for the location’s early start is because much of the rest of the country is still dealing with snow, ice and cold temperatures, even in the south. Indeed, Florida has had an unusual amount of the same in recent weeks, but Forrest Wood Cup champ and current Elite Series pro John Cox said that should make the tournament a prime time event. 

 

“It has been really cold,” he said. “And those fish want to push shallow as it warms up. The winner could come off the bed, or it could still be a pre-spawn fish.” 

 

He’s known for pushing his aluminum boat as shallow as it can go, into places that other anglers can’t access, so he’d probably spend some time looking for early bedders. While he’s won hundreds of thousands of dollars with Berkley’s The General, lately in the MaxScent version, he’s really excited to fish a flapping craw. If you can get Berkley’s new Crud Craw, which he kept secret for all of last year, that would be his choice, but there are several other great options in the Powerbait and MaxScent lineups. Cycle through colors until you find one that agitates the fish. Even if you can’t see the beds, fish pad lines and clumps near likely bedding areas. 

 

He'd be even more likely to chase Florida’s fabled lipless crankbait bite, and his current favorite is Berkley’s Jack, a lure originally made for walleyes that the bass pros clamored to obtain. 

 

“The Jack 6 weighs a half-ounce, but it has the profile more like a ¼ or 3/8 ounce lure,” he explained. “That helps it get down, almost like a blade bait. I’ve just about replaced all of my trips with it. The size 6 is the best for shallow water, but if you’re out a little deeper, try the 7 or 8.” 

 

His favorite color is Wakasagi, which has a baitfish-colored bod and a bit of purple, allowing it to be natural in clear water and still stand out where there’s a stain. 

 

“It works in a lot of different water colors, which is important down there because the color varies from lake to lake,” he added. “I chuck it out and yo-yo until I hit something with big rod jerks. I work it violently and it falls fast, triggering strikes.” 

 

Keeping with the downsized-lure-for-big-bass theme, Cox also likes Berkley’s new compact double willow spinnerbait in the “Crypto” color. “It’s not bright white and those gold blades are perfect. If there’s some cloud cover and win that could be key.” 

 

He said that he’d likely focus on Harris and Little Harris, because “they always show out,” but he noted that the smaller lakes tend to warm up faster. “Griffin is a sleeper. When it’s on, it’s the best lake in Florida, but it can also be extremely difficult. That’s why I’m sometimes wary of going there in a tournament.” 

 

Whether your comfort zone is shallow vegetation or likely spawning canals, sometimes it pays to wait. No matter what, focus on strategy and timing. Because the runs can be so long, and it typically takes such large fish to be top dog, you don’t want to waste a valuable money fish at the wrong time – and have it take you off of your money spot. Florida bass fishing, perhaps more than in any other state, requires both skill and calculation.