New member from Central FL

[FL_Angler]

Hello everyone, new member here but not new to bass fishing. I have been living in central FL since I was 2 and used to do a lot of bass fishing in my teens and 20s. Later on I really got more into saltwater inshore fishing along Florida’s east coast. My absolute true passion is Snook fishing but recently decided to get back into fishing for Largemouth Bass since the snook bite has slowed down and I got tired of driving to the east coast to fish saltwater every weekend. Looking forward to learning more about bass fishing from you guys.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

A-Jay

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

 

I am fishing ToHo and Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 at the end of the month.

Can hardly wait.

 

[FL_Angler]

Very nice! I used to fish West Lake Toho years ago when I had a Jon boat. Have yet to make it out to stick marsh or the Fellsmere reservoir but I hear it is a real bass fisherman’s paradise.   

[GaryH]

Welcome aboard.. ToHo and East lake are great.

[bowhunter63]

Welcome Aboard

[whitwolf]

4 hours ago, bowhunter63 said:

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome!

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[Bluebasser86]

Welcome!

[Backroad Angler]

Welcome to the forums!!

[ike8120]

Welcome

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard! ??

[Glenn]

Welcome Home! We're glad you're here.

[Captain Phil]

Welcome.  I grew up and lived in South Florida until about 25 years ago when we moved to Eustis.  I have fished for anything that can swim and hit a bait.   Spent a lot of time fishing for Snook, Redfish and Tarpon.  Got into offshore fishing for a time as well.  When I retired from business, I moved to Central Florida.  I have fished every major body of water in the State.  The Kissimmee Chain is by far the best overall bass fishery in Florida.  Okeechobee is second. The Harris Chain is challenging, but it's the best place to catch bigger fish. Rodman depends on the water level and the state of hydrilla.  The St. John's River can be good if you can stand the numerous manatee zones.  Central Florida is dotted with thousands of smaller lakes. All of them have a good population of bass.  If you are serious about bass, you should join a local bass club.  You can learn more by watching than fishing.

[FL_Angler]

On 1/10/2021 at 12:42 PM, Captain Phil said:

Welcome.  I grew up and lived in South Florida until about 25 years ago when we moved to Eustis.  I have fished for anything that can swim and hit a bait.   Spent a lot of time fishing for Snook, Redfish and Tarpon.  Got into offshore fishing for a time as well.  When I retired from business, I moved to Central Florida.  I have fished every major body of water in the State.  The Kissimmee Chain is by far the best overall bass fishery in Florida.  Okeechobee is second. The Harris Chain is challenging, but it's the best place to catch bigger fish. Rodman depends on the water level and the state of hydrilla.  The St. John's River can be good if you can stand the numerous manatee zones.  Central Florida is dotted with thousands of smaller lakes. All of them have a good population of bass.  If you are serious about bass, you should join a local bass club.  You can learn more by watching than fishing.

Thanks for the advice. I really want to try the  Kissimmee chain after everything I have heard about it. Is West Lake Toho considered part of the chain? Really wish I would have made more time for bass fishing these last years instead of only fishing saltwater. Had some good bank fishing spots when I lived in Orlando. But I moved to Winter Springs a few years ago so now trying to scout the near by bodies of water. 

[roadwarrior]

I am headed to Disney World in a couple of weeks.  We are fishing ToHo

and Stick Marsh/ Farm 13. I'll let you know how we do and what's working.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

[N Florida Mike]

Welcome to the forums ! I have fished mostly between Ocala and the Fl/ Ga. line, and mostly east coast saltwater.

[Captain Phil]

The Kissimmee Chain is a huge chain of lakes connected by canals and locks.  It starts in West Lake Toho at the City of Kissimmee.  If you lock through to the South you will come to Lake Cypress, Hatchineha and Big Lake Kissimmee.  East Lake is land locked and near the City of St. Cloud.  Big Lake Kissimmee is connected to Lake Okeechobee via the Kissimmee River with numerous locks.  All this water runs south into the Everglades.  Each lake is somewhat different.  The canals and the river itself hold lots of bass.  These are natural lakes with fields of grass and very little homes.  It's a bass fishing paradise.

 

The Harris Chain is similar, but vastly different.  It runs north draining the water into the St. John's River and the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville. The Harris Chain near my home in Eustis are residential lakes.   These lakes are large, shallow and contain very little obvious cover.  They can be challenging to fish at times.  On the positive side, the bass average larger than down south.  Harris Chain bass are fat footballs.  You won't get as many bites as down south, but you could catch a fish of a lifetime.

 

 

[Mike L]

Hello and Welcome 

You got some great advice. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[FL_Angler]

3 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

The Kissimmee Chain is a huge chain of lakes connected by canals and locks.  It starts in West Lake Toho at the City of Kissimmee.  If you lock through to the South you will come to Lake Cypress, Hatchineha and Big Lake Kissimmee.  East Lake is land locked and near the City of St. Cloud.  Big Lake Kissimmee is connected to Lake Okeechobee via the Kissimmee River with numerous locks.  All this water runs south into the Everglades.  Each lake is somewhat different.  The canals and the river itself hold lots of bass.  These are natural lakes with fields of grass and very little homes.  It's a bass fishing paradise.

 

The Harris Chain is similar, but vastly different.  It runs north draining the water into the St. John's River and the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville. The Harris Chain near my home in Eustis are residential lakes.   These lakes are large, shallow and contain very little obvious cover.  They can be challenging to fish at times.  On the positive side, the bass average larger than down south.  Harris Chain bass are fat footballs.  You won't get as many bites as down south, but you could catch a fish of a lifetime.

 

 

 

Thanks for the clarification! I didn’t know so many lakes were part of the chain. I recently discovered using Gambler Big EZ swimbaits for bass around vegetation. Can’t wait to try this out around W Toho and Kissimmee. 

[Captain Phil]

31 minutes ago, FL_Angler said:

 

Thanks for the clarification! I didn’t know so many lakes were part of the chain. I recently discovered using Gambler Big EZ swimbaits for bass around vegetation. Can’t wait to try this out around W Toho and Kissimmee. 

The best month for fishing Toho is March.  The top water bite is off the charts.  Back when I was guiding, I booked a three day Father and Son trip to Toho.   I dumped a pile of Devil's Horse lures on the deck and told them to have at it.  They caught so many fish, their arms got sore and we went in early the last day.   

[bigbassin']

16 hours ago, FL_Angler said:

Thanks for the advice. I really want to try the  Kissimmee chain after everything I have heard about it. Is West Lake Toho considered part of the chain? Really wish I would have made more time for bass fishing these last years instead of only fishing saltwater. Had some good bank fishing spots when I lived in Orlando. But I moved to Winter Springs a few years ago so now trying to scout the near by bodies of water. 

Pretty much every residential pond in that area will hold bass, with the exception of the ponds off Winter Springs boulevard. Not sure if the ponds are too shallow or too young, but they don’t really seem to hold much. They’re probably all posted now anyways.

 

if you know anyone that can get you onto Bear Gully, Little Lake Howell, or Lake Howell I’ve always heard they’re good fishing. Secret Lake Park by you has good fishing and a kayak/canoe launch.

 

We used to catch catfish on Lake Jesup, never tried bass fishing it.

[FL_Angler]

5 minutes ago, bigbassin' said:

Pretty much every residential pond in that area will hold bass, with the exception of the ponds off Winter Springs boulevard. Not sure if the ponds are too shallow or too young, but they don’t really seem to hold much. They’re probably all posted now anyways.

 

if you know anyone that can get you onto Bear Gully, Little Lake Howell, or Lake Howell I’ve always heard they’re good fishing. Secret Lake Park by you has good fishing and a kayak/canoe launch.

 

We used to catch catfish on Lake Jesup, never tried bass fishing it.

Thanks for the recommendations I will check those lakes out! Didn’t have much luck a few months ago around secret lake park but I was only bank fishing. I have my paddle board now and going to try Red bug lake. Lots of vegetation in that lake and looks really good for top water. 

[bigbassin']

31 minutes ago, FL_Angler said:

Thanks for the recommendations I will check those lakes out! Didn’t have much luck a few months ago around secret lake park but I was only bank fishing. I have my paddle board now and going to try Red bug lake. Lots of vegetation in that lake and looks really good for top water. 

I’ve only tried Red Bug once from shore, caught a couple of specs on live shiners. I’ve thought about taking the kayak out there, it looks like it should be good.

 

I wouldn’t paddle board on Jesup.

[FL_Angler]

7 hours ago, bigbassin' said:

I’ve only tried Red Bug once from shore, caught a couple of specs on live shiners. I’ve thought about taking the kayak out there, it looks like it should be good.

 

I wouldn’t paddle board on Jesup.

I wouldn’t paddle there either. Even without the gators the water still smells like a toilet. 
 

Red Bud looks very promising. Almost half the lake has lily pads and might be great in the springs for top water frogs.