Jonathan Davis Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 Hello,I live in Utah and I bass fish. I am going to be visiting Fort Meyers, FL beginning of March. Won't have my boat, but will be bringing just a few rods and some baits. What ponds/lakes/reservoirs should I hit when I am there? I will be fishing from shore and know about Florida's reputation for big large mouth. Any tips would help. Thanks Quote
0119 Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 I dont fish in Ft. Myers but I'm in the next county north. Right now the bass are both in the last of pre spawn and some on their beds. Some could be still on beds around the full moon in March. Focus on the shoreline. Other than neighborhood ponds there is very little freshwater fishing there. Cape Coral, the next town to Ft. Myers has both fresh and salt canals. Webb Babcock WMA has a huge fish management lake easily fished from shore. It is just north of Ft. Myers. Be careful it is full of huge gators. Golden Gate south of Ft. Myers has bass fishing but I dont have any info on it to help you. 2 Quote
Jonathan Davis Posted February 11, 2015 Author Posted February 11, 2015 Thank you, I appreciate the advice. I will probably only fish a few days. Can i purchase day permits to fish there since I am not a state resident of Florida? I usually fish a lot of soft plastics (worms, craw fish immitations), drop shots, and cranks. What presentations will be hot during that time? Here in Utah, it's a lot of flippin/pitchin into trees and weeds. My favorite flip/pitch tech. is weightless senkos either wacky rigged or texas (depending on how heavy the cover is). thanks Quote
0119 Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 You can get a non resident permit at BPS, Dick's, any walmart or the county tax collectors office downtown. Lots of filamous algae around here hampers most crankbaits. Soft plastics are fine. Quote
zell_pop1 Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 I was planing on fishing webb lake when I visit my friend in punta gorda, maybe I'll stick to canals and parks looking for snooks, specks and reds. Quote
0119 Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 Dont let the gators stop you. FWC puts a lot of trapped nuisance gators in there and many are very big. But I never have had trouble with them either on the bank or in my kayak. The little ones are the trouble, they just wont leave a topwater lure alone. Its top secret but there are some HUGE reds and snook in Webb Lake. Stocked by FWC and remants from old Alligator Creek which is now in the center of the lake. Quote
etommy28 Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 there are fish in most of the lakes, try lakes park. I used to fish ponds alot but not so much any more. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted February 13, 2015 Global Moderator Posted February 13, 2015 The canals in Cape Coral hold fish. You can try The Kennedy Chain which is just a bunch of interconnecting canals that flow into what they call the Kennedy Chain. If you have a boat the only place you'll be able to get on plane is in the lake and then it'll only be for about 3min. The local club fishes it a lot. There some vacant lots in and around there you can fish from tho. Also you can fish the Gator Slough which is accessible by an old, uneven dirt ramp on the north end of the Cape. There are supposed to be bigger fish in there but you couldn't tell it by me! Webb Lake does hold fish. There is a dock on the main road that parallels the lake that you can fish from if you want. Stay on the main road leading into the ranch and turn just past the gun range as there are a few ponds back in there, the range officer will give you a map if you ask. BUT BE CAREFULL! Don't even think about it after any kind of rain, or at night. They'll still be looking for you after the first snow. Mike Quote
0119 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Be careful of what? The crazy shooters and their lack of gun range manners are by far more dangerous than the gators. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted February 13, 2015 Global Moderator Posted February 13, 2015 No agurement from me! Some of those guy's and what they bring to shoot are down right scary. I always drive a little faster past that place. Mike Quote
AVIDBF2015 Posted February 16, 2015 Posted February 16, 2015 Here, Try this place out bud, http://www.leeparks.org/Facility_info?Project_num=0101 There are gators, but if your in an active area, stay along paths. There are bank areas to fish. Just gotta find your way. Quote
Jonathan Davis Posted February 16, 2015 Author Posted February 16, 2015 Alright guys I really appreciate all of your input! Im definitely going to hit Lakes Regional Park because it's only an 8 minute drive from where I'm staying! Is it worth it to rent a canoe or paddle boat or best from shore? Also, where should I fish specifically there? I know that the pond is around 250 acres, which isn't very big. However, 250 acres is enough to make finding a hot spot pretty tough! Any specfic locations on the pond that are good during beginning of March? I am aware that most bass are post spawn by the time March comes. One of you mentioned using soft plastics and crank baits. Anything else work really well that time of year? I'll probably stick to shallow diving cranks and craw immitations and weightless worms. I may even take a few of you up on your offer and try for snook and reds, I'll also hit the ocean with shrimp on a hook from the shore (I heard that can be fun this time of year but mainly sticking to bass fishing). Thanks guys. Quote
CHugh Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 250 acres is big around here haha. My suggestion is if you see fresh water(lake, pond, canal or whatever) then fish it, as long as it's legal. Canals by the gas stations? Fish them. 50'x50' pond that looks like nothing? Fish them. Trust me you won't be disappointed. I've caught some of my biggest large mouth in ponds less then an acre in size. Stay away from it if it looks like a new lake/pond or near construction because it's most likely newly dug. Remember as long as it doesn't have a NO FISHING sign then you should be good. I know I'm BRAND new to the forum but I've been fishing south-west florida for 15 years now and have decided to start giving back. Stick to the edges and banks, when casting out, take your time. I've had year round luck with all kinds of soft plastics with a 1/16 oz or 1/8 oz bullet weight on the leader using a 3/0-5/0 worm hook, rigged weedless. Quote
Super User Darren. Posted February 17, 2015 Super User Posted February 17, 2015 Just want to say welcome aboard, Jonathan! Quote
Jonathan Davis Posted February 17, 2015 Author Posted February 17, 2015 Thanks a lot guys. Like I said, I'm just visiting for now. However, I will be moving to Florida within the next two years! Happy fishing everyone! Maybe when I move out there with my boat, I can take some of you out with me on Okeechobee! Quote
zell_pop1 Posted May 9, 2015 Posted May 9, 2015 Ok I fished Webb lake last weekend,my buddy caught a 4lber and I lost a bigger one. I will be going back even though we did have a big gator swim close by. And on the plus side I caught my 1st redfish a 5lber. Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted May 9, 2015 Global Moderator Posted May 9, 2015 Good Job!! I'm told there are even bigger ones in Webb. I wouldn't know first hand. Mike Quote
Duma Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 These gator comments are a bit off base imho. They're much more afraid of us than we are of them, trust me. RE: shore fishing for bass in Ft Myers, just about every roadside ditch here holds bass (like much of so. fl.) but my advice to you would be go to places that aren't as "on the map." Lakes Park is a county park that everyone Joe Blow knows about. There's still not a lot of pressure even in these areas (people here care much more about our fantastic saltwater fishing) but you can do much better. Drive down I-75 and look east, there are a number lakes built for retention behind retail, hotels that have some beasts swimming in there. Quote
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