Florida Jan Bass Fishing

[Stormxv]

Hey, everyone! 

 

Im heading down to Central FL at the end of Jan around the 29th/30th in the Kissimmee/Toho Area. I see there are a lot of lakes bigger and smaller. 

 

Looking to get advice on where to start!??! Looking to catch a bunch of bass and hopefully beat my PB up North (North East) of 7.2lbs. Any tips on ramps, better lake choice that time of year, what i should be looking for and fishing?

 

Any help would be much appreciated. 

[WRB]

Can’t help other then those lakes will be some phase of the spawn cycle. Big bass are females and should be in and around spawning areas.

Punch rigs in cover and over spinner baits / gold willows along cover edges and pockets.

Tom

[GaryH]

If your main goal is to catch a big bass “ Personal best “ then since you’ll be in the Kissimmee area Toho is great. And wild shiners with a ballon bobber is your best chance at a hog.

 

 

 

[Stormxv]

44 minutes ago, GaryH said:

If your main goal is to catch a big bass “ Personal best “ then since you’ll be in the Kissimmee area Toho is great. And wild shiners with a ballon bobber is your best chance at a hog.

 

 

 

Forgot to add ill be down there on a kayak

[GaryH]

16 minutes ago, Stormxv said:

Forgot to add ill be down there on a kayak

If you’d be more comfortable on a smaller lake in the area East Toho has some great areas for kayak fishing. There’s a tackle shop right at the ramp.

[bigbassin']

5 hours ago, Stormxv said:

Forgot to add ill be down there on a kayak

I’ve done Toho and Kissimmee out of a kayak, you’ll be fine just watch the wind.

 

Personally I prefer Toho, but most would say you’re splitting hairs between the two. 
 

If you’re not comfortable on bodies of water that size but still want to fish the Kissimmee chain, every lake in the chain (including some that could be covered in a day of kayak fishing) are going to hold good fish.

 

You could look to the west at all of the smaller natural lakes in the center of the state as well, most will have good fishing and you won’t see nearly as many folks fishing.

[Stormxv]

31 minutes ago, bigbassin' said:

I’ve done Toho and Kissimmee out of a kayak, you’ll be fine just watch the wind.

 

Personally I prefer Toho, but most would say you’re splitting hairs between the two. 
 

If you’re not comfortable on bodies of water that size but still want to fish the Kissimmee chain, every lake in the chain (including some that could be covered in a day of kayak fishing) are going to hold good fish.

 

You could look to the west at all of the smaller natural lakes in the center of the state as well, most will have good fishing and you won’t see nearly as many folks fishing.

I've had my kayak out on the ocean in 4ft swells. Not worried about that. Big watwr is fine long as I can get to where some fish are. 

[bigbassin']

9 hours ago, Stormxv said:

I've had my kayak out on the ocean in 4ft swells. Not worried about that. Big watwr is fine long as I can get to where some fish are. 

I’d go with Toho in that case.

 

Just about every big bass coming out of the lake is caught using live shiners or punching mats.

[Captain Phil]

In January, you will be dodging cold fronts.  When cold fronts approach Florida, the wind  blows hard from the southeast, swings west, then north.  If you catch a few warm calm days in a row, you will have great fishing.   Toho is a terrific top water lake.   Look for areas with green reeds.  Not cattails, straight buggy whips.  The fish will be shallow in January.  Your kayak should be able to get back in the grass where the big fish are.  Good Luck!

 

[Stormxv]

2 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

In January, you will be dodging cold fronts.  When cold fronts approach Florida, the wind  blows hard from the southeast, swings west, then north.  If you catch a few warm calm days in a row, you will have great fishing.   Toho is a terrific top water lake.   Look for areas with green reeds.  Not cattails, straight buggy whips.  The fish will be shallow in January.  Your kayak should be able to get back in the grass where the big fish are.  Good Luck!

 

Thanks! Any recommendations on Fishing the cold fronts if I am to run into them?

4 hours ago, bigbassin' said:

I’d go with Toho in that case.

 

Just about every big bass coming out of the lake is caught using live shiners or punching mats.

Do they hold to any type of specific grass or mats? I know you have all kind of different types of grass down here. 

[Captain Phil]

2 hours ago, Stormxv said:

Do they hold to any type of specific grass or mats? I know you have all kind of different types of grass down here. 

 

Toho is loaded with bass.  Shiner fishing is preferred by guides because it's easy money and it works regardless of the skill level of the customer.  If you know how to fish artificials, you don't need shiners.  Reeds like in the photo below only grow on hard bottom.  Hard bottom is like a bass magnet.  Everything works in Toho.  It's arguably the best bass lake in Florida. Many bass tournaments have been won within sight of the City of Kissimmee boat ramp.  Take a jacket as Florida can get cold at times. 

 

[FD.]

6 hours ago, Stormxv said:

Thanks! Any recommendations on Fishing the cold fronts if I am to run into them?

Do they hold to any type of specific grass or mats? I know you have all kind of different types of grass down here. 

Depending on where the moon is and the weather for the past few days, it can vary.  Approaching a full moon with stable weather they are going to be shallow on a hard bottom.  They will spawn in the buggy whips, shell bars and even pad roots.  If you are on a new moon or a front has come through, that's going to knock them back out to the outside grass lines (staging areas).  Shoot me a PM right before your trip and I'll give you the scoop.

[Stormxv]

5 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

Toho is loaded with bass.  Shiner fishing is preferred by guides because it's easy money and it works regardless of the skill level of the customer.  If you know how to fish artificials, you don't need shiners.  Reeds like in the photo below only grow on hard bottom.  Hard bottom is like a bass magnet.  Everything works in Toho.  It's arguably the best bass lake in Florida. Many bass tournaments have been won within sight of the City of Kissimmee boat ramp.  Take a jacket as Florida can get cold at times. 

 

I don't fish with live bait a all. I'll have about 8 or 10 setups on my kayak with me. Figured I'll leave the drop shot and ned rigs home ?

[Captain Phil]

12 hours ago, Stormxv said:

I don't fish with live bait a all. I'll have about 8 or 10 setups on my kayak with me. Figured I'll leave the drop shot and ned rigs home ?

I haven't been to Toho recently, so I don't know the present conditions.   Hydrilla is pervasive in Toho.  It also holds a lot of fish.  You shouldn't need to flip to catch bass in Toho this time of year.  Cast along the hydrilla and back in the pockets.  The weather is cooling and the top water bite should be good.  If you can't catch them on top, use a June Bug Zoom Mag II worm. Good Luck!

 

[Mike L]

There are literally dozens of lakes in the Central Florida area that you can hit. 
Some famous, some not as much but all will all hold bass.  
Toho and the entire Kissimmee chain get the most play and deservedly so. 
The Butler and Harris Chain are others. 
 

Rodman Res, St John’s River, Stick Marsh and more are within a few hours or shorter drive away. 
Fish will start bedding in all of them at around that time. 
 

If you’re intent on fishing Toho in a kayak I’d be sure to fish in and around Shingle creek. 
 

Good Luck. 
 

 

Mike

[FD.]

7 hours ago, Mike L said:

There are literally dozens of lakes in the Central Florida area that you can hit. 
Some famous, some not as much but all will all hold bass.  
Toho and the entire Kissimmee chain get the most play and deservedly so. 
The Butler and Harris Chain are others. 
 

Rodman Res, St John’s River, Stick Marsh and more are within a few hours or shorter drive away. 
Fish will start bedding in all of them at around that time. 
 

If you’re intent on fishing Toho in a kayak I’d be sure to fish in and around Shingle creek. 
 

Good Luck. 
 

 

Mike

The county is supposed to start a dredging project at the mouth of Shingle in November to remove the HUGE shoal that has been growing for the last decade.  Shingle will be closed to all boat traffic for 3 months.  I just helped a buddy get his boat out.  He lives in residential canal before you get to US 92.

[Lech]

I have lived in North Florida for 18 years.

I have come to the conclusion that the bass fishing here is dog poo at best.

The ONLY place I have heard good about is Feldmere, the lake is called headwaters.

Too far for me to drive but I have heard good things about the lake.

Anywhere else and you will most likely be disappointed.

I have been out several hundred time in 18 years and have about 20 bass under 1 pound to show for it.

I don't even buy a license anymore the bass fishing is so bad.

Good blugill, and cropie fishing, bass fishing is non existent, at least that's been my experience.

The closest I get to bass in Florida is youtube videos haha.

Good luck.

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

4 hours ago, Lech said:

I have lived in North Florida for 18 years.

I have come to the conclusion that the bass fishing here is dog poo at best.

The ONLY place I have heard good about is Feldmere, the lake is called headwaters.

Too far for me to drive but I have heard good things about the lake.

Anywhere else and you will most likely be disappointed.

I have been out several hundred time in 18 years and have about 20 bass under 1 pound to show for it.

I don't even buy a license anymore the bass fishing is so bad.

Good blugill, and cropie fishing, bass fishing is non existent, at least that's been my experience.

The closest I get to bass in Florida is youtube videos haha.

Good luck.

 

 

 

You should stick to blugill & cropie then. 

[geo g]

Far south Florida peacock are showing up especially in the glades.  Top water is key, especially on sunny days.

Florida strain bass are hitting slow moving plastics deep as the water drops and bass are forced back in the canals.