Lake Kissimmee

Current Forecast

As weather patterns stabilize and water temperatures rise, largemouth bass should begin to actively forage as a means to replenish their energy reserves depleted from the rigors of the spawning season. Areas of the lake that anglers should give a try are vegetative communities associated with Brahma and Grassy Islands, Lemon and Philadelphia Points, northeastern shore of North Cove and the western entrance of the Pig Trail should account for some good action. Golden shiners fished within these areas will account for some exciting and successful days on the water.

Bass anglers choosing to use artificial lures should include an assortment of their favorite spinner baits, as bass will be very receptive to these baitfish imitations during the period. Proven spinner bait configurations include a white skirt and tandem, willow-leaf blades. Also, soft-bodied jerkbaits or flukes (colored in watermelon seed, white or pearl), lip-less crankbaits (chrome colored with rattles), minnow-type lures and the ever popular plastic worm (colored in black grape, red shad or Junebug) need not be overlooked. The aforementioned areas of the lake should produce some excellent fishing for anglers utilizing these assorted baits. Anglers should also be attentive to largemouth bass “schooling” activity in open water, where using a lip-less crankbait is a proven method.

Spawning activity by both redear sunfish (shellcracker) and bluegill will get into full swing during these months. Typically, the two-week period around the full moon phase (one week prior and one week after) is a good time for anglers to try their luck for these feisty fish. Anglers should seek out areas of the lake having a clean, sandy bottom associated with lily-pads or bulrush (buggy-whips) and use live bait (primarily crickets for bluegill and red wigglers for shellcracker) fished on the bottom (split-shot sinker placed 5-6 inches above the bait). As water temperatures get hotter, shellcracker spawning will subside, but bluegill will continue to carry-out their spawning ritual until water temperatures cool down. Although live bait will be the most common method used by shellcracker and bluegill anglers, nice stringers of these fish can be caught by anglers using artificial bait (small plastic jigs or Beetle Spins).