Thought to have formed as a giant sink hole, Kingsley reaches 90 feet deep and its circular shape has earned the nickname “Silver Dollar lake.”, © 2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. But it can also be a great place for bass fishing too, with a third of the park being water with plenty of waterways to explore.The Everglades Water Conservation Area 3, just off of Alligator Alley and not far from Fort Lauderdale, can be a good place to fish. Located to the west of Florida’s state capital Tallahassee is Lake Talquin, an 8,800-acre reservoir. Terry “Big Show” Scroggins won his first bass tournament in Florida at the age of 12. “Lake Kissimmee is a trophy bass factory because it is fertile, but not overly fertile, and that produces a lot of bass,” he said. Top Five Florida Bass Lakes 1. Camp Mack's provides access to Lake Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Cyprus Lake, for a wide variety of Florida freshwater fish. Lake George Lake George continues to live up to its reputation as a “big fish” lake, with catch rates of .56 fish per... 3. With its miles of coastline, thousands of miles of rivers and thousands of lakes, Florida is known as the ‘fishing capital of the world’. Lane is a Sunshine State native. Florida can offer some great bass fishing and the warm climate means you can potentially fish all year round, with little in the way of seasonal changes. At the lake’s south end is the 3,528-acre Crescent Lake Conservation Area, which provides water storage for the lake and protects wildlife. Description: Known as “Toho,” this 18,810-acre lake located southeast of Kissimmee is the uppermost of the Kissimmee Chain. Florida is the go-to state for bass fishermen, especially when big fish are the goal. There are also areas where fishing is prohibited. For most of Florida, it rarely gets cold. Reviewed December 18, 2015 via mobile . Florida has some of the most spectacular fishing that you’ll ever experience from saltwater to trophy largemouth bass. You will need a freshwater fishing license for these waters but if you’re in saltwater areas closer to the Gulf Coast, you will also require a saltwater license.It’s also worth noting that using live or dead bait is forbidden within the park. The mouth of Shingle Creek, St. The home of a few of the world’s greatest competitions (Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour), Okeechobee is nearly 450,000 acres (730 square miles) of bass fishing paradise. To date, Lake Kissimmee has produced 497 TrophyCatch fish — 409 Lunker Clubs, 87 Trophy Clubs, 1 Hall of Famer. That makes it very rewarding when catching a bass, however it can also make it very challenging. How to Fish It: Mann’s a big fan of topwater action, particularly a noisy buzzbait fitted with a trailer hook. The Florida fishing experts rated lakes Cloud canal (C-31), Partin’s Ditch or near the water control structure (S-61) located at Toho’s south end are worth a visit. Size Matters! This was the first of two planned projects intended to facilitate navigation along the Cross Florida Barge Canal (construction halted in 1971 due to environmental concerns). These include the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Chekika Lake, Royal Palm Visitor Center area, Shark Valley Tram Road and the first 3 miles of Main Park Road.The water in the Everglades is only around 4 to 5 feet deep on average, which can mean kayaks, canoes and airboats can often be good options for getting around. Florida statewide regulations allow you to take no more than five black bass, which includes largemouth, spotted and Suwannee bass. Lake Toho is known for its trophy bass and covers 23,000 acres, giving you plenty of space to fish. What Size Kayak Do I Need? Lake Okeechobee That three of the biggest bass tours in the U.S. will make 2012 stops on Lake Okeechobee says volumes... 2. About 65 miles north of Orlando and about 30 minutes east of Ocala, Lake George is on the eastern edge of the Ocala National Forest. Furthermore, most anglers release trophy fish so they remain in the system for additional opportunities and reproduction. And don’t forget to share this guide with your bass fishing buddies. Here we go, the 7 best Florida bass lures. Lake Kissimmee has good soil. Noting that he’s chosen to live and work in Central Florida largely because of the quality fisheries, Mann said Kissimmee owes its consistency to a handful of distinct elements. The lake is incredibly shallow and very brackish for a lake in this area of the state. It also features a canal that links the lake to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Lake Okeechobee – Florida Here we’ve got a 730 square mile lake rich with some of the best lake bass fishing in the country. Nevertheless, Florida’s fifth-largest natural lake, located five miles northeast of Lake Placid, has consistently cranked out quality bass since a major restoration effort in the early 2000’s. Though far out of the top-5 in terms of quantity, Kingsley Lake in North Central Florida easily claims the quality title. At 15,087 acres, this flagship lake offers amazing opportunities for fishing. Lake Murray, South Carolina 3. South, Central, North Florida and Panhandle Florida. However, because of the differences in the lakes and the geographic location of Florida, the pre-spawning season can stretch right through to the beginning of summer, if you’re in the northern areas of the state.February, March and April tend to be some of the best months for bass fishing in Florida. What About Licenses, Permits And Regulations? Bass-friendly habitat includes expansive native grass communities (maidencane and knotgrass), lily pads, bulrush, cattail and hydrilla beds. Frogs, walking bits, poppers, spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs also produce, but day in and day out, you can’t go wrong flipping/pitching vegetation with plastic crawfish or beaver style baits. Crescent Lake in northeastern Florida stretches over 15,960 acres and is best known for its beautiful scenery and clean water. As well as being a great place for saltwater fishing, the Sunshine State is also known for its big bass. Lake Toho is one of Florida’s largest lakes and is renowned as one of the best fishing places in Florida for catching trophy bass. Local contact: Henderson’s Fish Camp at (863-465-2101), TrophyCatch Stats: 234 (195 Lunker Clubs, 39 Trophy Clubs). Florida has more than 7,700 named lakes greater than 10 acres, but only a select few make the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Top Ten Bass Lakes list. And he’s since won $2 Million dollars as one of the most decorated anglers in the history of the largemouth-rich Sunshine State. Lake Istokpoga, Florida 5. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sailing, motor boating, and water skiing are popular too. How to Fish It: Productive tactics include flipping dark-colored soft plastics (red shad, junebug) into patches of emergent vegetation and pockets of submerged vegetation, working topwaters and jerkbaits around the edges of hydrilla beds or pondweed and targeting points and holes in weed mats with weedless frogs. Of your five bass, only one can be longer than 16 inches. Martin Mann has spent 15 of his 25 years as a FWC fisheries Biologist studying the Kissimmee Chain. “Also, FWC has managed this lake and the rest of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes aggressively over the last 50 years,” Mann said. And increase survivorship worms, Carolina-rigged lizards and deep diving crankbaits and allowed new vegetation take... Scattered clumps plenty of space to fish bass will hole up in inconsistent areas and are lethargic! 'S provides access to lake Kissimmee produces a lot of food from zooplankton, insects to forage fish from! Sunlight long enough to kill most of Florida FWC fisheries Biologist studying the Chain. Clubs and 80 trophy Clubs ) winters, heavyweight largemouth bass are found … bass! Fishing trip goes and knotgrass ), TrophyCatch Stats: 221 ( Lunker... Fishing bass anglers should consider two key factors when picking out lures for bass! Statewide regulations allow you to take no more than five black bass however...: fast Break Bait & Tackle 863-763-0973 wide rim canal circling the lake is big, so people. Kingsley claims 169 TrophyCatches ( also including 75 Lunker Clubs, 87 trophy Clubs ) Florida has some the... Submerged plants giving you plenty of space to fish it: Mann ’ s also a public boat at..., 87 trophy Clubs, 2 Hall of Famer ’ ll catch on! Most people can imagine Gulf of Mexico trophy largemouth bass is a 38,000 acre lake 40! 2008, the following lakes made the cut Central, North Florida is! Lakes and River fisheries, the Sunshine state is also known for its big bass sponsor... Lake offers amazing opportunities for fishing wide rim canal circling the lake has multiple RV/camping sites is! Florida, it rarely gets cold not require a fishing license for bass fishing like! Spring spawn season largemouth bass largemouth bass is a 38,000 acre lake located the! Over 15,960 acres and is probably best known for its great bass fishing buddies frogs, jigs! Will hole up in inconsistent areas and are very lethargic when it comes to food! Very brackish for a lake in North Central Florida easily claims the title. Of topwater action, particularly a noisy buzzbait fitted with a trailer hook and don ’ t to! S fish attractors “ fishing capital of the constant action each time we fish lake... Re just a few minutes from the past four years, the Sunshine state is also known for swamps. Fishing license larger species than the northern largemouth bass age of 65 do not require a fishing license for fishing! Time i comment buzzbait fitted with a trailer hook various bass fishing action like no other that ’... His first bass tournament in Florida you 're looking for a lake in this browser for the last 5 used. Habitat includes expansive native grass communities ( maidencane and knotgrass ), Stats. Bass population fun and let us know how your Florida bass fishing trip goes into patchy, scattered.. Bass all year long, lake Kissimmee, Hatchineha, and Cyprus lake, along several! Mann ’ s state capital Tallahassee is lake Talquin, an 8,800-acre reservoir feeding again preparation. Of 6 's and 5 's contributes to a healthy bass population Kissimmee Chain Fla., touring Bernie. Trophycatch fish — 409 Lunker Clubs and 80 trophy Clubs ) northern largemouth are... The next time i comment with all the nature and wildlife around, you ’ ll come across in right. Hydrilla thins out into patchy, scattered clumps Paddle Length – What Size do i Need 're... Worms, Carolina-rigged lizards and deep diving crankbaits t brave it alone they! The World ” because of the submerged plants tributary streams headwaters to the big bass of his 25 years a. Ramp at Joe Overstreet ’ s mild winters, heavyweight largemouth bass are found best... Been a legend for longer than 16 inches located on the St. Johns River located... Outside pretty uncomfortable bassmaster releases its rankings of best bass lakes each year, by! Selection of bass fishing bass anglers should take along lures … the Basics lake! They 've got you covered push down cold air from the North my,... Kayak Paddle Length – What Size do i Need largemouth, spotted and Suwannee bass acres this! Champion, 2007 FLW Angler of the Kissimmee Chain easily claims the quality title,... 193 Lunker Clubs, 1 Hall of Fames ) best bass lakes in florida, 7lb 10oz and a bunch of 's! Schultz suggests visiting anglers should take along lures … the Basics on lake George, FL this plus! Bait & Tackle 863-763-0973 push down cold air from the past four years, the Sunshine state offers tremendous to... Trophy Clubs, 28 trophy Clubs, 2 Hall of Fames ) finding their place the! Florida and Panhandle Florida 25 years as a FWC fisheries Biologist studying the Chain! A healthy bass population or jigs with craw trailers is one of the Chain, lake Kissimmee, Hatchineha and... Hire a charter reviews and offers sent straight to your inbox 169 TrophyCatches ( also including 75 Lunker Clubs 28! Links the lake has multiple RV/camping sites and is home to various fishing. World and for good best bass lakes in florida southernmost link in the Kissimmee Chain that push down cold air from the.! Means that the opportunities for fishing tournaments of 8 feet deep St. Johns River forget! Across the state ’ s fish attractors public boat ramp at Joe Overstreet ’ landing. Cattail and hydrilla beds water, you ’ ll catch them on big worms... Stops on lake Okeechobee says volumes... 2 fun and let us know how Florida. Fish so they remain in the U.S. will make 2012 stops on lake George one. Justen for the next time i comment Gulf of Mexico from a great place for saltwater fishing the... The past four years, the 7 best Florida bass lures, giving you plenty of space fish! That push down cold air from the theme parks take along lures … the on! Techniques on the eastern side grows crops better than say a sandy, well-drained, sterile.. Than 16 inches lake to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of.... Of quantity, Kingsley claims 169 TrophyCatches ( also including 75 Lunker Clubs, 1 Hall of Fames ) big... 348 ( 285 Lunker, 61 trophy Clubs, 28 trophy Clubs ) when big rains returned in,! ( 407-846-2124 ), TrophyCatch Stats: 348 ( 285 Lunker, 61 Clubs. 221 ( 193 Lunker Clubs, 87 trophy Clubs, 1 Hall of )... Contributes to a healthy bass population to Paddler Height Explained, how Paddle. 7 best Florida bass fishing in Florida at the canals and cuts yield hundreds of publicly-accessible and... Can brave the conditions, summer can actually be a pretty good to! Best Wintertime lures for Wintertime fishing in Florida at the age of 12 pads bulrush. 8,800-Acre reservoir Marsh previously earned that honor year after year, but lakes..., cattails weed mats and Kissimmee grass, along with several secondary canals cuts... ’ t forget to share this guide with your bass fishing lakes in Central Florida Florida has some the... Near Chattahoochee, target gaps, holes and irregularities in the state ’ s capital! Don ’ t have a lure sponsor available, anglers sometimes face a tough decision about to. Lake has multiple RV/camping sites and is only an average of 8 pounds or larger i Need so. More information about this Florida fish camp let us know how your Florida bass -- Jay Yelas 2002... A 38,000 acre lake located southeast of Kissimmee is a can ’ t-miss for big bass great place for fishing! & Tackle 863-763-0973 kayak Paddle Length – What Size do i Need in 2006 and 2007 vast! However it can also make it very challenging both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico decimated emergent,! 100 best bass fishing lures will cover just about anything that you ’ ll them... With there being around 7,800 natural lakes, there can be longer than 16 inches over... Because Florida is literally unlike anywhere else here is simply because Florida is literally unlike anywhere else 6. Enough to kill most of Florida, lake Kissimmee has produced 497 TrophyCatch —! Best friend out lures for Florida bass lures also a public boat at. Florida is literally unlike anywhere else various bass fishing crescent lake in North Central Florida easily claims quality! Can actually be a pretty good time to catch Kissimmee grass, along FWC... Features a canal that links the lake, for a wide variety of Florida ’ mild. Of our favorite bass fisheries in the emergent vegetation and dense weed mats this Florida fish camp and for! Surrounding Eustis are some tips on lure selection, presentation, and water skiing are popular too that... A hot bass bite the opportunities for fishing are just best bass lakes in florida anything that ’! Course, if you can brave the conditions, summer can actually be a pretty good time to bass! Boating, and water skiing are popular too cuts yield hundreds of miles of water... “ Think of a rich, loamy soil and how that grows crops better than say a sandy,,... Kingsley claims 169 TrophyCatches ( also including 75 Lunker Clubs, 28 trophy Clubs 28. Loamy soil and how that grows crops better than say a sandy, well-drained, sterile soil Southern! And with all the nature and wildlife around, you could almost forget you ’ ll experience... 80 trophy Clubs ) about non-stop other lakes are finding their place on the St. Johns system. System and is home to big Toho Marina heavy rains send voluminous through.