"That will hold especially true if we don't get a lot of hurricane water, and the lake stays lower than normal. There is a lot of overhead cover, and the bigger fish are going to spend a lot of time under it until they are ready to hit the beds. If you find mats of overhead cover near any quality spawning area, you definitely want to spend a lot of time with a flipping rod."

Alley favors the Gambler crawfish line for flipping, and invariably inserts a plastic Woodies Rattler into the soft-plastic bait.

Should water levels be higher, the outer edge of the emergent vegetation is still a top spot for pre-spawn fish, but Alley will be pushing shallower. Higher water brings floating vegetation into the 2- to 3-foot spawning areas, and the bigger fish seek cover there.

While shallow bass should be the rule this month, don't overlook offshore hydrilla beds in 7 to 8 feet of water -- especially if a cold front blows through.

"A sharp cold front can stack some fish up on that deeper grass," Alley offered. "And there will also be a fair number of fish out there that won't be spawning for a couple of months. Plastic worms are a good bet, but quick-moving shallow crankbaits can trigger a lot of strikes when the fish aren't actively feeding."

For more details, or to book a day of guided bass fishing on Lake Toho, you can reach Reno Alley at Memory Makin' Guide Service by calling (863) 635-6499.

HARRIS CHAIN
It wasn't that long ago that water-quality problems turned the traditionally productive Harris Chain into the proverbial "Dead Sea."

How times do change!

"The bass fishing on the Harris Chain is darned near as good today as it was during its heyday," pointed out bass guide Eddie Bussard. "And during January, it's not hard to get into -- just concentrate on the manmade canals."

All the lakes in the chain are rife with manmade canals, and their draw for January bass is simple -- those waterways provide the best spawning cover on the chain. They're sheltered from high winds, offering stable water that warms more quickly than the main lakes' open water. And given that many are dredged to depths of 10 feet or more, they also provide a quick deepwater access.

Among those traditionally productive canals is the Yale Canal on Lake Griffin, the 9th Street Canal on Harris, and virtually any of the canals on Eustis and Dora.