Capt. Rick Rawlins hoists the 8 1/2-pound largemouth that the author pulled from beneath the pennywort. The number of aggressive bowfins encountered in these waters can become a nuisance -- but they do put up a fight. Photo by Polly Dean.

Defining the western boundary of Volusia County, the mighty St. Johns River is only minutes away. But it's a world apart from the popular destination of Daytona Beach, where hordes of spring-breakers, bikers and NASCAR fans invade the warm sandy beaches. The river's corridor with its rich vistas and laid-back lifestyle, reminds us that old Florida still prevails.

For decades, the river's abundance of freshwater fish -- first and foremost, the largemouth bass -- has attracted anglers to the area. Today's fishermen are still greeted by the river's fertile waters and lush banks where the fishing camps of yesteryear still dot its shoreline.

Most significantly, lunker bass still thrive in great numbers in the St. Johns and its feeder creeks. Today's angler is just as likely to boat a "hawg" as those who fished the river's dark waters years ago.

This I learned in a very short time!

Nicknamed "Florida's First Highway," the St. Johns is Florida's longest river. Its 310 miles meander north from the vicinity of Cape Canaveral in the south northward to Jacksonville. The St. Johns is one of only three major rivers in the United States that flows from south to north.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the river was a popular waterway for vacationers from the north, who traveled on steamboats to admire its beauty. Its historic significance earned it the distinction in 1997 of being named by President Clinton as the only American Heritage River in Florida.

BASS FISHING
September and October are the start of the prime time for targeting big largemouths on the St. Johns, and the season for hooking into big bass continues into March. During these prime months, fishing live bait is the method of choice for many.

Brothers Rick and Ron Rawlins are experts at catching these lunkers and have mastered the techniques for catching the big ones. Both men guide anglers on the St. Johns River and its surrounding waters and put their clients on big fish!

During my first visit fishing with the Rawlins brothers, I succeeded in landing an 8 1/2-pounder! Along with catching that big bass, I learned their method of using live bait and was surprised to learn that it can be a challenging -- but very fun -- way to catch the hawgs!

The Rawlins brothers own and manage Highlands Park Fish Camp, a place that reminds us of what old Florida was like, decades ago. It still holds the same appeal to returning visitors today. Anglers who visited the camp as children now bring their families to enjoy the laid-back charm, as well as to enjoy the quality freshwater fishing that the area still offers.

The Rawlins family has owned the property for 45 years, and Ron and Rick have guided anglers on the creeks and oxbows of the St. Johns River, as well as the main channel, for all but eight of those years. The brothers' parents acquired the property, after falling in love with it while vacationing at the camp themselves.

The fish camp lies just south of Lake Woodruff, on the outskirts of the town of Deleon Springs and 4 1/2 miles northwest of Deland, home to Stetson University.

Highland Park sits on the Dead Norris River, an old channel of the St. Johns, and is bordered by the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge contains 20,000 acres of undeveloped land contributing to the unspoiled beauty of the area.

The St. Johns River, along with its many creeks, is truly scenic and unique in its appearance. As we floated along its waters, I notice that it really has no bank. The edges are lush and thickly lined with cabbage palms, oaks, and cypresses that are mirrored by the water's dark surface. Scores of fallen trees with their expansive, but shallow root systems dot the river's edge.

Wildlife is abundant. The vast diversity of bird life provided a feast for our eyes and ears. Alligators appeared in greater numbers than I would have imagined! Large gators and their young lay sunning on the horizontal trunks of downed trees. After seeing a number of the toothy reptiles, I decided not to risk a dip in these waters!

Vast beds of lily pads and pennywort cover much of the water's edges and creek mouths. Around these was where the largemouths take cover and where we tossed our live bait.

Both the Rawlins brothers prefer fishing the floating masses of pennywort to the lily pads. The pennyworts provide denser cover, and their stalks usually don't extend down to the riverbed. Lily pads, on the other hand, have long, strong stalks that are just right for hanging up your line.

The brothers use shiners for luring the big bass. The 6- to 8-inch wild river shiners cost about a buck apiece, but are worth the investment. The Rawlins use live bait for 95 percent of their fishing in the fall and winter months. If the fishing gets particularly good in the warmer spring or summer months, they may throw an artificial lure.