Where to fish in central FL

[MikeMc]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum. My name is Mike and I live way up on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border. I'm heading down to FL for a week from Jan 17th - 24th strictly to fish for bass. I'll be staying in Winter Haven at my uncle's condo and we have a small, old procraft bassboat down there to use. I was wondering if you guys could give me some insight on where to fish. We've been going down for the last couple of years and we've mainly fished kissimmee, toho, and a few days on the Winter Haven chain. We went down in March and April the last two years so we haven't been down there this early in the year. Any suggestions would be awesome. We're diehard tournament fishermen up here in the north and would love to get into some pigs down there. Thanks alot

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

George Welcome guides on Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 and is a Senior Member of the Forum. If you are looking for a guide, he is HIGHLY recommended. If not, you might send him a message and I suspect he will give you some suggestions for the area.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1199453494

[skillet]

 Not going to be any help with your question (except what RW said), just wanted to say WELCOME to the forums!!!

                                      As Ever,

                                       skillet

[MikeMc]

Thanks for the welcome fellas..     I'm not looking for a guide. I just thought it would be awesome if I could get some intel from some locals like where they're moving up to spawn and spawning. I went down last year and the year before and hit post-spawn cold front conditions both years. My biggest down there was 6 and I really wanna catch a toad this year. Any info would be greatly appreciated.  

[warmer]

whatup mike,

try eagle lake, it is loaded with fish... and big ones, you just have to find them... and here is a tip... unless you see them on the bed, dont beat the bank they arent there.

also lake mcleod has some big fish.

they are both right near winter haven.

[MikeMc]

Thanks alot, I'll have to check eagle out. My uncle's condo is on lake smart so eagle is close by. I appreciate the help.    

 Does anyone know if the spawn's on at kissimmee and toho?

[George Welcome]

"Spawning Habits - Spawning occurs from December through May, but usually begins in February and March in most of Florida when water temperatures reach 58 to 65 degrees and continues as temperatures rise into the 70s. The male builds saucer-shaped nests 20 to 30 inches in diameter by placing its lower jaw near the bottom and rotating around this central location. Bass prefer to build nests in hard-bottom areas along shallow shorelines or in protected areas such as canals and coves. Depending on her size, the female can lay up to 100,000 eggs, which are fertilized as they settle into the nest. After spawning is completed, usually five to 10 days, the male guards the nest and eggs and later the young (sometimes called fry) attacking anything that approaches the nest. The female bass stays near the nest or may swim a short distance and remain listless for up to a day. After hatching, the fry swim in tight schools, disbanding when the small fish reach a length of about one inch." Florida GFC

No: the spawn is not on - fish are just starting to migrate to annual haunts. The spawn is well down the road.

[Guest avid]

Hey dude, welcome to the forum.

I'm a little south of George.  Last year at this time the bass in my neighborhood were bedding up but not a sign of bedding activity yet this year.  I was out a few days ago and it seemed that the bass were still on summer patterns.  Definitely strange, because the water is in the low to mid 70's but I only know what I saw.

[LCpointerKILLA]

My best buddy told me today that the beds are already all over the place on the butler chain, which is in Windermere, FL. (west of orlando). This is an awesome place to fish. The ramp is on Conroy road. The neighborhood called Isleworth is on this lake. Tiger Woods, Shaquille O'neil and tons of other famous people live on Lake Isleworth, which is a killer big bass lake on the Butler chain. It is a great lake for hawg huntin, and sightseeing some of the biggest and coolest looking mansions in Florida. Lake butler is the main lake.

[warmer]

hey mike,

eagle is a good choice...

re: spawn @ kissimmee and toho: @ tournaments this weekend, a lot of guys were pulling bucks off of beds in toho, the females where not really there yet... i saw a couple of females relating to beds in kissimmee... several females loaded w/ roe weighed in, but as has been said, the spawn is definately not "ON" yet.

[MikeMc]

Thanks a million for all your help everyone. I just hope the cold front comin won't kill the fishin too much.   Thanks a bunch

[MikeMc]

Hey warmer,

            I was just checking out Eagle Lake on mapquest and it shows a launch on W. Eagle Ave but it says "Gate (Key Access)". Do i need a key to launch here? or is there another launch maybe?  thank you

[warmer]

its public access

[ncstatered21]

My Uncle lives in Winter Haven and owns some cattle. I have a little secret spot over there with the clearest water you've ever seen. He says its fed by a spring or something like that. It's heaven, i wish i was there now.