Best Big Bass Lake In Central Florida???

[1234567]

If you were looking for a true giant bass, which central Florida lake would you choose? I'm thinking Kissimmee has the best chance for a bass well into the teens? Any thoughts from anyone?

[Shane Procell]

I had a great fishing experience on Toho last summer. No monsters, (1 seven pounder) but it was some kinda fishy.

[rad07h]

Kissimmee chain without a doubt

[Gotfishyfingers?]

kissimmee or one of those rock quarrys up there. Not sure if there public or private.

[FD.]

I saw a 14.6 come out of Kissimmee last year and in my monthly tourney there are always double digit big fish. 7,8, and 9s are common. The only problem with the Kissimmee chain is the 100K acres that all looks fishy.

If you want to hunt in smaller water the phosphate pits around Lakeland and Mullberry are good spots. Many of them are public and don't get a lot of pressure.

[GLADES]

The stick marsh used to be known for consistent giant bass, but I am not sure if it is the same as a few years ago.

[rad07h]

Istokpoga is another big fish factory

[tennsopher]

Johns lake located between Wintergarden and Clermont produces a few teens every year.

[1234567]

Lake Toho is very tempting. I was there before long before I knew much about bass fishing and missed out on a great opportunity to haul in alot of bass!!!

I think I've found a sleeper lake that I need to check out. I apologize if I am blowing up someone's lake!! I was reading about Crooked Lake in Polk county and according to some sites, several bass in the 16 pound class have been caught here and on some days ten bass in the ten pound class are caught. Spring fed with deep water sounds like a big bass lake to me!!!! At around 7000 acres this lake may not be as hard to pick apart as Kissimmee or Toho. I've looked at topo maps of this lake and have a good idea where I can hunt big ones!

anyone know anything about this lake, unfortunately it doesn't look like there are any fish camps on the lake or areas to charge a trolling motor. Feel free to pm any responses !!!

[FD.]

Bobs Landing or Hillcrest Lodge. They are both on the south side of the lake and cater to fishermen. There are big fish but they are hard to catch, at least on artificials. Most of the +10s are shiner fish.

[evrgladesbasser]

Bobs Landing or Hillcrest Lodge. They are both on the south side of the lake and cater to fishermen. There are big fish but they are hard to catch, at least on artificials. Most of the +10s are shiner fish.

Been there a few times. Everything said here is accurate. Well except Bobs Landing is on the East side of the Lake..

[evrgladesbasser]

And unless you are familiar with deep water structure fishing, it may be tough..

[1234567]

And unless you are familiar with deep water structure fishing, it may be tough..

Well, not really lol! The fact that there are GIANT bass is enough to keep it interesting for me. I'll only be throwing artificials. I'll fish deeper water with jigs and a few swimbaits along the bottom. I'll be there in mid may, I'll post a detailed report when I get back.

[North Ga Hillbilly]

If your looking to throw swimbaits you might want to check out realprey, their golden shiner bait would most likely trick a bass use to eating shiners

NGaHB

[1234567]

If your looking to throw swimbaits you might want to check out realprey, their golden shiner bait would most likely trick a bass use to eating shiners

NGaHB

Cmon NGaHB, how could I consider those after seeing your monsters on the huddy!!!!

I have looked into those and still on the fence about them. I do like that they seem very durable. I'll work those ledges out there from deep to shallow and shallow to deep, hopefully I get my first teener man, it's killing me!

[North Ga Hillbilly]

Cmon NGaHB, how could I consider those after seeing your monsters on the huddy!!!!

I have looked into those and still on the fence about them. I do like that they seem very durable. I'll work those ledges out there from deep to shallow and shallow to deep, hopefully I get my first teener man, it's killing me!

You know I love the hudd man, its what I fish 90% of the time. But I recently got a trout from Real Prey and Im real impressed. Ive put some time into it, but just got the fall rate and rigging setup how I want it.

I have no doubt tho that those fish will go for a hudd, there a serious magic bait.

NGaHB

[evrgladesbasser]

^{Good luck man. You may be suprised at what you find when you arrive. Most topos I have seen do not accurately depict the lake or it's features. Be careful approaching the edges around the entire lake. There are stumps everywhere just below the surface, and as of a few weeks ago the water level was around 3ft below normal. I'm curious as to where you saw the info about the big fish and 10 over 10lb days. Hopefully not off the same guide site I saw years back. Swimbaits sound like a good idea.}

[FD.]

A couple of things to help you get started. A black/blue flake vibe worm works well when you sit off the shore and cast to the edge of the kissimmee grass and let it sit. If you are in a flippin mood then a fluke in baby bass has worked well. I have also had good success with a buzz frog but that was when the water was up.

Also bring an extra trolling motor prop. As evergladesbasser said there are a lot of stumps up shallow, especially on the east bank of the part of the lake that runs north/south.

[1234567]

^{Good luck man. You may be suprised at what you find when you arrive. Most topos I have seen do not accurately depict the lake or it's features. Be careful approaching the edges around the entire lake. There are stumps everywhere just below the surface, and as of a few weeks ago the water level was around 3ft below normal. I'm curious as to where you saw the info about the big fish and 10 over 10lb days. Hopefully not off the same guide site I saw years back. Swimbaits sound like a good idea.}

Oh crap LOL! Probably the same guide site you're referring too!!! Oh well, it still sounds like a good place that should hold some giants. If not maybe Kissimmee is better to go to.

FishinDaddy,

Thanks for the IMPORTANT info, I had been reading about the stumps or stumpfields in this lake and it did have me concerned. I'll bring a copy of the lake map and mark the stump area. I'm wondering if any of you have seen any giant bass caught from this lake?

[1234567]

I was also wondering, I will call to confirm. Hillcrest lodge appears to be an RV park. Will they rent me a spot just for my truck and boat so I can charge for the night? If not maybe I can find a local walmart in the area lol.

[FD.]

Hillcrest has cabins, boat ramp and dock. Not 5 star but better than a fish camp. No.RV's. The walmart is about 15 min away at Hunt Brothers road and SR 60. I have not seen any "big" fish. I've heard of them from local guys and we have several over 6 but nothing huge.

[RoLo]

Lake Kissimmee and Lake Toho are always first mentioned, but smaller waters

that can't accommodate B.A.S.S. and FLW quietly yield some of the heaviest sows.

As FishinDaddy said, some examples are the phosphate pits in Mulberry, Bartow and Tenoroc.

I've lived in Lake Wales since 2006, and used to live on the north shore of "Lake Walk-In-Water"

(lake weohyakapka). In my opinion, 'The Walk' is one of the most undertouted waters in central Florida.

Florida has a Big-Catch program that issues citations for bass over 8 lbs. When the annual results

were published, Lake Walk-In-Water was the number-one trophy lake in Florida, obscenely ahead

of Istokpoga, Stick Marsh, Big-K and Toho. Unfortunately, the state no longer posts the annual results.

It's a tough lake (shiner lake) where seasoned anglers commonly get skunked, but don't let that fool you.

March of this year, Lake Walk-In-Water was electrofished and yielded 22 bass over 8 lbs,

15 of the 22 were tagged and 1 went over 12 pounds. http://www.theledger...S0603/120329269

Roger