Largemouth bass are found in almost every freshwater body of water in Florida. With more than 7,500 lakes available, anglers sometimes face a tough decision about where to fish. The following list of Top 10 Bass Lakes aims to help anglers find a quality place to catch trophy bass. For more information on Florida’s freshwater fishing opportunities and fishing forecasts visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC’s) Web site at www.state.fl.us/fwc/fishing/forecast/index.html, and for basic fishing tips click here. (NOTE: The links to the lakes and rivers below will take you to their current forecast).

These Florida lakes (in no specific order) have been selected by FWC fisheries biologists as top bass fishing destinations for 2001-2002.

LAKE GEORGE

Lake George is one of the premier bass fishing lakes in central Florida. It is the second largest lake in the state (46,000 acres), and is 18 miles northwest of Deland and 29 miles east of Ocala.

Lake George is one of the many natural lakes on the St. Johns River. It has extensive vegetation that provides excellent habitat for bass. Wade fishing in eelgrass, with plastic worms fished on the surface, and other topwater artificial lures are productive. Fishing with shiners is an excellent method for catching trophy bass during the spring spawning season.

Hot spots on the lake include Juniper, Salt and Silver Glen spring runs on the eastern shoreline. In winter and early spring, look for bass to congregate at the jetties on the south end of the lake. Additionally, casting deep diving crankbaits is productive near old dock structures along the northeast shore and off Drayton Island.

There are many fish camps and landings on the lake and the St. Johns River. There is one public boat ramp with limited parking on the south end of the lake off Blue Creek Lodge Road. A fishing pier is on the east side at the end of Nine Mile Point Road.

STICK MARSH/FARM 13 RESERVOIR

Created in 1987, the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 Reservoir is synonymous with trophy bass fishing. This 6,500-acre reservoir near Fellsmere, west of Vero Beach, became one of the hottest bass lakes in the country during the past decade. FWC biologists predict excellent bass fishing during the early part of the next decade. During winter-spring 2000, many fishing guides reported the best trophy bass catches in recent years. This summer has been no exception, with a number of anglers catching 50 to 100 bass a day, with many over 10 pounds.

Anglers can locate bass in or near hydrilla. Plastic worms, spinner baits, crank baits, soft-jerked baits and topwater propeller baits are effective. Wild golden shiners are the top choice for anglers looking to catch a trophy fish.

The regulation for largemouth bass is catch and release. There is a two-lane boat ramp, paved parking lot, picnic pavilions and rest rooms. No gasoline, food, ice or other facilities are available on site.  This area is part of the St. Johns Blue Cypress Management Unit, see here for a recreational map of that unit.

LAKE KISSIMMEE

Lake Kissimmee has a national reputation for high quality bass fishing. The 34,948-acre lake is between Lake Wales and Yeehaw Junction in central Florida. In 1996, the FWC revitalized 24 miles of shoreline, resulting in increased numbers of largemouth bass in the lake. Bass spawned in 1997 and 1998 are beginning show up in the lake. These fish will provide excellent action with many reaching 10 pounds within the next four or five years. Currently, trophy fish and high catch rates are reported regularly from guides, fish camps and tournament anglers. Bass tournament winners routinely catch a five-fish bag limit weighing 18 to 25 pounds.

Expansive stands of vegetation (maidencane, bulrush, knotgrass) account for excellent catches of bass. Slow-trolling golden shiners and flipping plastic baits along, and within, the vegetation are proven techniques, especially during the winter and spring. During the summer and fall, bass are caught offshore with rattling crankbaits, jerkbaits and plastic worms.

Six fish camps, one state park and three public boat ramps are available at Lake Kissimmee. Wade fishing is a popular method used by many anglers and access is provided at some of the fish camps and boat ramps.

WEST LAKE TOHOPEKALIGA

Bordering the city of Kissimmee to the south, the 18,810-acre West Lake Tohopekaliga has long been a popular bass fishing lake for both recreational and tournament anglers. In recent years, both Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society (B.A.S.S.) and Forrest L. Wood (FLW) bass tournaments have been held out of the Kissimmee lakefront park. Winning weights are routinely in the 18-to 25-pound range. To date, the largest bass documented from the lake weighed 17.10 pounds.

Flipping plastic worms, crayfish and lizards in shoreline vegetation is a common technique among successful anglers. Casting Carolina- or Texas-rigged plastic worms, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits or top-water propeller baits in these areas are also popular methods. Anglers fishing live golden shiners account for some of the larger bass caught from the lake.

In spring 2002, the FWC will conduct a lake drawdown to help remove bottom sediments and stimulate native vegetation. Bass fishing should be outstanding during this time of low water. Lowered water level will also provide prime wade fishing opportunities for anglers.

For more information about the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes visit www.floridakiss.com.

RODMAN RESERVOIR

Rodman Reservoir, east of Gainesville and south of Palatka, covers 9,500 acres of prime largemouth bass habitat. Since its creation in 1968, Rodman Reservoir has been known for trophy largemouth bass. The state’s largest bass of 2000, 15 pounds and 17 pounds, came from the reservoir during March. Much of the largemouth bass fishery’s success is due to abundant habitat in the form of stumps and aquatic vegetation and periodic drawdowns. Strong year classes of largemouth bass are produced following drawdowns, which allow a higher percentage of fish to reach trophy sizes.

Largemouth bass are most active during the cooler months. Anglers targeting trophy largemouth bass use golden shiners, either floated under a cork or free-lined. Most big bass are caught in the pool area, known as the “stump fields,” along the river channel. However, many trophy bass come from the area between Cypress Bayou and Kenwood Landing, including Orange Springs. Successful anglers use artificial baits, such as deep-diving and lipless crank baits, spinner baits and soft plastics.

Access to Rodman is available at several locations. Among the most popular are Eureka east and west off C.R. 316, Rodman Recreational Area west of S.R. 19 and Orange Springs Recreational Area, Cypress Bayou (Paynes Landing) and Kenwood Landing off S.R. 315.

LAKE TARPON

Lake Tarpon is a 2,500-acre lake near Tampa/St. Petersburg in Pinellas County. For years, this lake has produced excellent bass fishing. Most fish range from 12 to 16 inches long however, quality and trophy fish are also present in good numbers. Biologists have observed anglers catching upwards of 20 fish with an occasional 10-pounder.

Anglers are most successful flipping or pitching plastic worms along canal and bulrush edges. Offshore bass fishing is productive for anglers who fish around ledges, humps, coontail and eelgrass beds. Popular lures offshore include shad-imitating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater baits. Fishing wild shiners and live shad is also effective.

There are two public boat ramps within county parks. Anderson Park boat ramp is on the west shore, off U.S. 19. Chestnut Park boat ramp is on the east side of the lake, off C.R. 611. Some bank access is available in both parks. Boardwalks and piers serve as excellent fishing locations.

LAKE WEOHYAKAPKA

Lake Weohyakapka, commonly known as Lake Walk-in-Water, is a 7,532-acre lake, off S.R. 60 south of Orlando, east of Lake Wales. The lake has a national reputation as an outstanding spot to catch largemouth bass. Anglers frequently catch up to 25 bass a day with several ranging from four to eight pounds. Weohyakapka also produces many trophy bass exceeding 10 pounds each year. Last year, Walk-in-Water anglers entered 130 bass with a qualifying weight of eight pounds in the FWC’s Big Catch Program. A 15- to-24-inch slot limit regulation with a three-bass daily bag limit is in place to help maintain quality bass fishing. Anglers may keep three bass per day, either under or over the protected slot range, of which only one bass greater than or equal to 24 inches is allowed.

The best technique to catch trophy bass is to drift live wild shiners over hydrilla beds in the northern half of the lake. Hydrilla can pop up anywhere in the lake, so time spent looking for smaller, lesser known pockets may be rewarding. Jerkbaits, lipless rattling crankbaits, and plastic worms also produce bass in the offshore hydrilla. Topwater lures are productive, particularly chuggers or walk-the-dog type baits. Although topwater baits catch fish throughout the year, summer months offer the best action when schools of bass roam deep-water areas. Flipping soft plastic baits in the bulrush and behind cattails in the northern and eastern areas of the lake also works well January through March. This technique is effective for smaller bass, but the larger females spend the majority of the year in offshore hydrilla.

A public ramp is located on Boat Landing Road, which runs east off of Walk-in-the-Water Road. There is little access for bank fishing.

LAKE ISTOKPOGA

Bass anglers who fish the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes to the north and Lake Okeechobee to the south often overlook 28,000-acre Lake Istokpoga. Situated in Highlands County between U.S. 27 and U.S. 98 south of Sebring, Istokpoga is the fifth largest natural lake in Florida. Anglers frequently catch bass up to eight pounds, with some between 10 and 13 pounds. An angler caught a 16-pound bass in March 1998.

Bass fishing is excellent throughout the year. From January through April, bass spawn in bulrush and deepwater cattail stands along the shoreline and around the lake’s two islands (Big Island and Bumblebee Island). Flipping soft plastics in bulrush patches and in pockets of submerged vegetation can be productive during the winter. In spring and summer, topwater lures and jerkbaits worked over the top of hydrilla and pondweed in the south half of the lake are often successful. Weedless spoons tipped with grub tails and spinnerbaits fished over pondweed south of Bumblebee Island are deadly on bass during early morning. Rattling lures (silver, gold, and “Tennessee Shad” are excellent colors) also can be effective during summer and fall as baitfish school in open water areas along the north end of the lake. A live shiner fished a few feet under a popping cork is the most reliable bait for catching trophy bass.

Lake Istokpoga has a 15- to 24-inch slot limit for bass with a three fish daily bag limit, of which only one bass may be 24 inches or longer. All residents between 16 and 65 years of age and all non-residents are required to have a fishing license.

Several fish camps and four public boat ramps provide access to the lake. For more information about lodging and other amenities around Lake Istokpoga, contact the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce at (863) 385-8448.

EVERGLADES WATER CONSERVATION AREAS 2 AND 3

Everglades Water Conservation Areas are marshlands bordered by canals. Area 2 has 210 square miles of marsh, and Area 3 contains 730 square miles of marsh. Originally designed for flood control and water supply, the area provides some of the best bass fishing in the country.

The best fishing usually occurs in the spring when dropping water levels concentrate fish in the canals. April is the peak month with angler catch rates as high a 4.1 bass per hour in the L-67A Canal.

Most anglers fish in the canals. Anglers work edges with plastic worms and minnow imitations. Flipping into the vegetation is also a popular technique. During high water, anglers will often enter the marsh areas where bass can be found in the open slough areas. The L-67A Canal has trails off of it specifically cut to provide boats access to marsh areas.

A no-consumption advisory for bass is in effect in these areas due to high levels of mercury. Because of this, most fish are released, which has resulted in anglers catching many 2- to 5-pound bass and an occasional 9- to 10-pounder.

The L-67A and L-35B are two popular canals in the area for fishing. The L-67A Canal has access at the north end at Holiday Park, off U.S. 27, where camping and boat rentals are available.

At the south end, it can be accessed at the S-333 water control structure off Tamiami Trail (S.R. 41). The L-35B Canal access is at Sawgrass Recreation Area, off of U.S. 27 and has boat rentals. Boat ramps are available at all three sites.

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Lake Okeechobee is consistently one of Florida's top producing bass lakes. Situated in south central Florida, the "Big O" covers 730 square miles and is easily accessible from Florida's east and west coasts. The lake is shallow and provides ideal forage and habitat for bass.

If you want to catch big bass, the Big O is the place to go.

Anglers routinely catch 7- to 10-pound bass, and 10- to 12-pound bass occasionally show up too. The lake record is 15 pounds, 5 ounces.

Anglers do well fishing in bulrush near Eagle Bay Island, Little Grassy Island and King's Bar at the north end of the lake. At the south end, anglers are effective fishing in eelgrass in the South Bay area. The largest bass are caught using live golden shiners and casting into, or along edges of, vegetation. Plastic worms and spinner baits are often productive. Casting lures near vegetation often produces the largest numbers of bass.

Lake Okeechobee has a 13- to 18-inch slot limit on bass, meaning all bass between 13 and 18 inches must be released unharmed.

Sixteen boat ramps and numerous fish camps surround the lake. For more information contact the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce at (941) 983-7979 or the Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce at (941) 763-6464.

NOTE: For more information about these lakes, contact the following FWC biologists:
Lake George - Joe Jenkins (904) 985-7880
Lakes Weohyakapka and Tarpon - Tim Coughlin (863) 648-3202
Farm 13/Stick Marsh Reservoir - Bob Eisenhauer (407) 752-3115
Rodman Reservoir - Bob Hujik (352) 392-9617
Lake Istokpoga - Beachum Furse (863) 462-5190
Lake Kissimmee and West Lake Tohopekaliga - Marty Mann (407) 846-5300
Everglades Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3 - Jon Fury (561) 625-5122
Lake Okeechobee - Dan McCall (863) 462-5190