Turkey Lake Orlando, FL

[ThePolkFolk]

Has anyone ever fished this lake? Taking a buddy out to rent one of their bass boats in a few weeks. Hard time finding a good topo map for the lake. Google Earth shows a lot of thick lily pads on the east side so a Gambler Big EZ worked on top will probably be my first bait for the morning.

 

Anyone have any tips on location or baits? Or maybe just a good topo map?

[geo g]

In the search box punch in  (Turkey Lake, Orlando), lots of information will come up.  I have been there many times and always do the rental thing.  I have caught lots of bass up to 6.5 lbs.  Best rental deal in the country.  There is a topo map on line, I printed it and laminated it.  Senko's, trick worms, flukes, and Gambler E-Z swimmers have done well for me in watermelon red.  In the north pad field snapping a wacky trick worm off the bottom was exceptionally good.  Weightless flukes have done well in the pad fields south of the ramps.  Senko's have caught the biggest ones by the dock across the lake by the apartments.  E-Z swimmers have done well in the pad fields with a light swimbait hook.

[Hez]

29 minutes ago, ThePolkFolk said:

Or maybe just a good topo map?

 

http://webapp.navionics.com 

 

It shows the topographic details for Turkey Lake, good luck.

[ThePolkFolk]

Thank you guys for the tips. Should be a good long weekend either way.

@Hez I've been using Navionics free app. Is the $10 upgrade worth it in your opinion?

[Captain Phil]

I have always wanted to fish this lake.  I called a few years ago and found out it was off limits to everyone except for boat rentals.  Why do they do this?  I drive by the lake on the expressway and no one ever seems to be fishing on it.  Seems like a huge waste of the resource to me?

[Hez]

8 minutes ago, ThePolkFolk said:

Thank you guys for the tips. Should be a good long weekend either way.

@Hez I've been using Navionics free app. Is the $10 upgrade worth it in your opinion?

 

To me it's worth every penny.  

[geo g]

31 minutes ago, LakeCountyBass said:

I have always wanted to fish this lake.  I called a few years ago and found out it was off limits to everyone except for boat rentals.  Why do they do this?  I drive by the lake on the expressway and no one ever seems to be fishing on it.  Seems like a huge waste of the resource to me?

 

 

Yes, but great for the boat rental people.  The lake has big fish in it.

[RoLo]

 

I’ve never fished Turkey Lake, but I know it's one of Florida’s so-called ‘Fab Five’.

The other members of the Fab Five are Lake Ivanhoe, Starke Lake, Clear Lake and Underhill Lake.

 

Based on what I’ve read, Turkey Lake is a shallow, clear, weedy natural lake, a numbers lake for bass under 16”.

Due to urban deed restrictions, I believe shore fishing is forbidden except inside the city park where it's permitted.

I understand that the FWC placed a daily limit on the number of loaner boats on the lake at one time.

I’m not aware of the details, you would have to call ahead on that.

With respect to lures, I'd focus mainly on T-rigged soft-plastics and of course the Big EZ   

 

Roger

 

 

[ThePolkFolk]

Thanks for the assistance guys, glad I found BR as everyone is knowledgeable and willing to help.

 

The topo map shows a good couple points that I'll have to check out first for sure. Other than that there looks to be a lot of cover to work through, be it docks or pads. I will be out there a day early with my buddy to get a quick lay of the land. Should be a fun time regardless as I haven't seen/fished with this friend in a while.

 

Also if anyone was wondering, the leadtime for the boat rentals was about 4 weeks out when I called in about 2 weeks ago.

[SFL BassHunter]

Nice Lake and it is in a nice park. Lots of pad cover in different areas. I caught a bunch of fish on the senko out there.

 

Also saw a few big bug eyed bass hanging out by the fishing dock.

 

One of the really cool things about this lake is there is so much bank to fish.

[Selbor2u]

I have fished Turkey Lake a lot! Love it! Never anything over 4 pound range for me but I have never been skunked there. I've had the best luck fishing along the turnpike. Fun place. 

[geo g]

Weightless senkos, and E-Z swimmers, in the grass beds, jerked and stop have draw decent size bass.  Trick worms wacky with a 1/8 weight jerked off the bottom and then free fall back,  in ten feet of water has done well around the north side pad fields.  Sinking Rattle trap swimming around the narrows between the north and south sections have done well.  Senkos and a 7 inch culprit worm did well around the dock over by the apartments.  I caught a 6.5 under the dock.  If the water is clear watermelon red color, if muddy in some areas, Junebug.  A deep diving shad rap has caught bass at the south end by the turnpike. I fished it a bunch and have always caught fish.  I have seen otters and a bald eagle at the lake also.  

You can enter the park through the exit before the park opens if you have a boat rental scheduled.  After the rental you can fish from the shore if you chose too.  Good luck.

[ThePolkFolk]

Thanks again for the info everyone. Hoping the rain holds off until the afternoon Saturday!

[geo g]

On 6/1/2017 at 7:35 PM, ThePolkFolk said:

Thanks again for the info everyone. Hoping the rain holds off until the afternoon Saturday!

 

 

Let us know how you did!!!!!!!!

[ThePolkFolk]

Fishing the docks and some of the weed points turned out the best for the time we were out there. Darker worms were the ticket for us. Nothing large but they were busting up all around us, saw a couple dead shad floating around. I imagine they were chasing the shad/shiners before it got too hot out.

The most interesting part is that they stopped using the outboards and only do the trolling motors now. Makes getting around a bit tougher and luckily there wasn't too much wind. 

[geo g]

15 hours ago, ThePolkFolk said:

Fishing the docks and some of the weed points turned out the best for the time we were out there. Darker worms were the ticket for us. Nothing large but they were busting up all around us, saw a couple dead shad floating around. I imagine they were chasing the shad/shiners before it got too hot out.

The most interesting part is that they stopped using the outboards and only do the trolling motors now. Makes getting around a bit tougher and luckily there wasn't too much wind. 

 

 

They never have used big motors, its always been just T/M.

[ThePolkFolk]

5 hours ago, geo g said:

They never have used big motors, its always been just T/M.

Yeah, that was an oversight on my part. Overall it was still a good day, I would probably start off on the east side next time so we can finish on the west closer to the launch.

[leapfrogging]

On Sunday, June 4, 2017 at 7:41 PM, ThePolkFolk said:

Fishing the docks and some of the weed points turned out the best for the time we were out there. Darker worms were the ticket for us. Nothing large but they were busting up all around us, saw a couple dead shad floating around. I imagine they were chasing the shad/shiners before it got too hot out.

The most interesting part is that they stopped using the outboards and only do the trolling motors now. Makes getting around a bit tougher and luckily there wasn't too much wind.

 

How big were the bass you caught? I have caught some memorable fish out of turkey lake by beating the banks.

[SFL BassHunter]

Yeah the boats only have  TM, but you can get around ok with it. It does limit you a bit but regardless it lets you get to some areas you can't reach on land.

 

Glad you had a good day out there and figured out a bite.

[ThePolkFolk]

I'd say the biggest of the day was 2.5 lbs. Mostly little dinkers but they sure were agressive. Had a 6 incher bend my medium spinning rod all the way when he hit. Fun times and no one got skunked.