Lake Ida Chain

[Mattbasscrusher]

Hey guys, thinking of heading up to lake Ida one day this weekend, all I hear is that the lake is alright and the canals are very productive, I would think in the lake that there would be a shallow bite in the morning with chatterbaits, bomber 2As, frogs, big ezs etc, and the fish pull off to the deeper grass beds where I can deep crank or throw a trap and a ten inch worm. Am I far off on that?

I also hear that lake becomes a zoo after 11am though

[Mattbasscrusher]

Just would like to hear if the lakes fishing good and even worth the 2 hrs of driving up

[Shanes7614]

The lake has been producing pretty consistent. Some of the canals up here have a little more depth to them so that causes some of the fish to spread out to find cooler water. I've caught many in the evening and mornings with all sorts of too water baits. Buzz spook floating jerk baits twitched just below the surface. You can occasionally ru into peacocks also. Haven't caught any myself there but I know they are there.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

I haven't been nor heard of any reports lately but if you do go, check out the lake Clark area. That area always seems to produce.. Oh and definitely target peacocks at times. Don't be surprised if you catch a clown fish either. I've caught one around 10 pounds once on a shad rap.

[Mattbasscrusher]

I'm from Miami and we have peas everywhere so I'm not gonna target them, wouldn't mind to see a clown knife fish though. And Hb osbourne? Looks pretty nice from google earth. My goal is an 18 lb limit

[Shanes7614]

Osborne is a great place also. Try on the south side of lantana rd. tends to see a little less traffic.

[SirSnookalot]

Lake Ida has a ton of jet skis and they can be very active in the afternoons.  I live within 10 minutes but it's a place I hardly ever fish, just don't care for it.  When it comes to bass I have done much better fishing the canals.  I've been fishing the Delray/Boca/Boynton area for 10 years.  When it comes to LMB I'm finding it's in the summer doldrums around here, but there is a good bite going on for other species.

[GLADES]

Lake Ida has some spots off shore that can be productive when fished deep with white spinners and crankbaits.

Where the west canal intersects with the lake is a good spot.

If you have a depth gauge, look for the deeper holes next to shallow spots. Those drp off's sometimes hold fish.

Of course the bass and peas can be along the weeds and pads along the shore as well.

4-6" Gold and black crankbaits cranked fast will catch anything in there.

 

As Sir Snook mentioned, the jet skiers think they own the place. They block the ramp and ride your stern while underway looking for a wave to jump on. Generally the typical jet ski behavior. Weekends are worse then weekdays.

Just my .02

[SirSnookalot]

What I don't like about Lake Ida is all that snot grass I have to deal with fishing it from shore.  From my understanding many of the peacocks caught there are on live bait, I have never been productive using lures from shore to catch them there.  IMO the only way to fish Lake Ida is by boat.

 

Right now I'm doing little if any bass fishing, strictly targeting peacocks.  At least the places I'm fishing I believe fishing from shore is an advantage, I walk and sight cast.  Catching one on a blind cast seems to be a rarity, I may make 10-20 casts before I get a strike.  No these fish are not on beds right now, they stage just a few feet off the bank, be hard to spot them 20' away in a boat.  Just my take.