Fish Orlando

Fish Orlando! “We’re bringing quality fishing to families.”

NOTE: For more information about Fish Orlando, call 352-732-1225 or email: fishorlando@MyFWC.com.

URBAN PONDS (Barnett Park Frog Pond, Bear Creek, Lake Island Park, and Santiago):

These urban ponds continue to provide accessible and productive fishing opportunities for anglers in the Orlando area. Bear Creek Park and MLK Jr. Park ponds performed exceptionally well during FishOrlando’s Fall fishing events, with anglers reporting abundant catches of channel catfish. These two ponds remain excellent spots to target catfish using chicken liver or nightcrawlers fished on light lines (4–8 lb test). For anglers looking to improve their odds during this cooler season, using small hooks (#6/8) and light tackle can be key. While bird predation can impact fish numbers, these ponds are regularly stocked and offer rewarding experiences for patient anglers. Lake Santiago continues to provide solid channel catfish action near the “Baited Fishing Area” signs. Whether you’re fishing for fun or a meal, these urban ponds are a great place to start.

The Fish Orlando BIG WATER BODIES (Butler Chain, Conway Chain, Johns Lake, and Winter Park Chain):

These are the primary months that bass spawn in Central Florida. In the clear waters of these BIG WATERBODIES, look for bass beds in the shallows, adjacent to deeper water that is protected by the wind. We have seen bass spawn as deep as 12-15 feet, as the clear water allows for the sun to penetrate these deeper beds. Once you find the males on beds, the bigger females will be close by. Top water plugs, jerk baits, swim baits, spinnerbaits and swim jigs (including bladed swim jigs) work good on overcast days or at dawn and dusk. It helps if there is some wind as well. For times when the bass are not as active, switch to a fluke, finesse worm, wacky rig or drop shot rig. Don’t forget to use lighter fluorocarbon or monofilament lines (8lb – 12lb test). Slow trolling a shiner on the drop-offs next to the bass beds is your best chance to land a TrophyCatch bass (8lbs plus) on Johns Lake.

The Fish Orlando FAB FIVE water bodies:

Clear Lake:

Hybrid striped bass fishing is at its peak this quarter. Fish stocked in Spring of 2023 and 2024 will both be catchable size during this quarter. Try fishing the deep holes with crappie minnows or a small domestic shiner fished at different depths. Concentrate on the holes where bait is marked on the depth finder. The bite is usually better when a cold front is coming in from the north with overcast skies and a little rain. The deeper areas are listed on a topographical map, which can be obtained by emailing or calling the Fish Orlando office (see contact information above). Minnows can be purchased at Palmer Feed Store which is located just a few minutes from the lake (407-841-8924).

Lake Ivanhoe: With the majority of bass in spawn mode, fishing should begin to be productive up close to the bank. Try the edges of the submersed vegetation with finesse plastic worms or soft jerk baits. If this is unproductive try fishing around the emergent vegetation (i.e. pads, bulrush and cattails). If the fish are not active, try rigging the baits “wacky” style or fishing them in a dead stick manner.

Starke Lake: Hybrid striped bass have been stocked into Starke Lake in Spring 2023 and 2024. They were caught as 1+ year old fairly consistently last winter and some should now be available as 2+ year fish. Try around the deep water near the fish attractors using crappie minnows. The Florida bass that are in the lake should be moving into the grass areas to spawn. Try flipping soft plastic craws inside areas that have cattails (tall flat stemmed grasses that can grow 6 feet or higher). Also try casting u-vibe speed worms Texas-rigged on 1/8 oz weights in the pads and grass. A lipless or shallow running crankbait fished so that it hits the tops of the submerged vegetation is a good method to check for active fish. If lipless crankbaits don’t work, switch to flukes, Carolina-rigged plastic baits, or wacky rigged worms. The 3 fish attractors were each refurbished in November 2020 with 25 mossback fish attractor trees. If a strong cold front occurs, some bass may move into these attractors temporarily. A weedless worm is a good way to target the dense cover provided by these attractors, without getting snagged.

Turkey Lake:

Like Starke Lake, Florida bass should be in spawning mode. Topwaters or soft plastic jerk baits cast back into the emergent grass pockets are usually productive. If bites do not come with an active retrieve, try “dead sticking” i.e. leaving the lure sit motionless for a minute or two at a time. A Senko rigged weedless is also another good lure to try if the bite is slow. The area where the two lobes of the lake come together in a bottleneck is often a good spot. If a cold front sweeps through, fishing can be tough, but occasionally probing the dredge areas in the lake using crankbaits and Carolina-rigged plastic worms can save a trip. The dredge areas are listed on a topographical map, which can be obtained by emailing or calling the Fish Orlando office (see contact information above).

Black crappie (Speck) fishing is usually good this quarter and minnows is one of the best ways to catch these good eating fish. Try drifting and/or trolling minnows or jig/minnow combinations at different depths and speeds in the south lobe of the lake, or in the north lobe straight out from the fixed fishing pier towards the boat concession area.

Due to deed restrictions, there is no public boat access on Turkey Lake, but the FWC, the City of Orlando and Bass Pro Shops Orlando have teamed together to provide a Boat Loaner Program where four boats can be rented for only $32 each (7 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; Thurs - Sun). Call the City of Orlando’s Bill Frederick Park at 407-299-5581 to reserve a boat. A few close places to purchase crappie minnows are Palmer Feed Store in downtown Orlando (407-841-8924), Get Hooked Bait and Tackle in Ocoee (407-347-3072) or Ace Hardware in Winter Garden (407-656-2593).

Lake Underhill: A whole lake hydrilla treatment was conducted in Spring 2024, which knocked back the hydrilla, primarily in the north lobe. Thanks to conservative vegetation management, there still should be plenty of native eelgrass to fish in the lake. Try a fluke, senko, or wacky rigged bait on the inside edges of the hydrilla. You can also try flipping both the shoreline and lakeward edges of the topped out vegetation around these dredge holes when the sun is high. If the shallow bite is not on, use your depth finder to find where the deeper open water vegetation fades to a thick/thin edge or a clean bottom i.e. a breakline. Try crankbaits, Carolina-rigs and a drop shot rig with a small 4” straight-tail worm along this deep breakline. When they are active try spinner baits and hard jerk baits.

For the latest freshwater fishing rules please see the Freshwater Fishing Regulations page.

Statewide bag and length limits (if no other regulations apply): No person shall take in any one day more than the following bag limits of freshwater game fish:

• 5 largemouth bass, only one of which may be 16 inches or longer in total length. There is no minimum length limit for largemouth bass.
• 50 Panfish (no minimum length) including bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), spotted sunfish (stumpknocker), warmouth and redbreast sunfish, individually or in total.
• 25 Crappie (also call speckled perch or “speck”; no minimum length).
• 20 Striped bass and sunshine bass (individually or in total), of which only 6 may be 24 inches or longer in total length.

BIG WATER BODIES (Butler Chain, Conway Chain, Johns Lake, Winter Park Chain):

Statewide regulations apply.

The FAB FIVE:

Clear Lake: Statewide regulations except possession of cast nets are prohibited. For convenience, all the regulations have been posted in informational kiosks at two locations (George Barker Park boat ramp and Clear Lake Park).

Lake Ivanhoe: Statewide regulations except panfish bag limit of 20 and possession of cast nets is prohibited. For convenience, all the regulations have been posted in an informational kiosk at Gaston-Edwards Park boat ramp.

Starke Lake: Statewide regulations except panfish bag limit of 20 and possession of cast nets is prohibited. For convenience, all the regulations have been posted in informational kiosks at the city of Ocoee boat ramp and at the fishing pier.

Turkey Lake: Statewide regulations except catch-and-release for largemouth bass, panfish bag limit of 20, channel catfish bag limit of 6, possession of cast nets is prohibited. Except for sanctioned events, gasoline motors may not be used on boats. For convenience, lake regulations have been posted in informational kiosks at three locations (boat concession, fixed fishing pier and primitive camping area).

Lake Underhill: Statewide regulations except catch-and-release for largemouth bass, panfish bag limit of 20, channel catfish bag limit of 6, possession of cast nets is prohibited. For convenience, lake regulations have been posted in an informational kiosk at the boat ramp.

URBAN PONDS:

Barnett Park Frog Pond: Statewide regulations. For convenience, these have been posted in an informational kiosk at the pond.

Bear Creek Park Pond: Statewide regulations except panfish bag limit of 20, channel catfish bag limit of 6, possession of cast nets is prohibited. For convenience, lake regulations have been posted in an informational kiosk at the pond.

Lake Island (MLK Jr. Park): Statewide regulations. For convenience, lake regulations have been posted in an informational kiosk at the pond.

Lake Santiago: Statewide regulations except panfish bag limit of 20, channel catfish bag limit of 6, possession of cast nets is prohibited, and boats are prohibited. For convenience, lake regulations have been posted in an informational kiosk at the pond.

OTHER WATER BODIES:

Lake Baldwin (225 acres): Statewide fisheries regulations but boats with motors have to abide by a “no wake” restriction.

Lake Fairview (401 acres): Statewide regulations apply.

Hal Scott Preserve (approx. 30 acres): Largemouth bass catch-and-release. Panfish bag limit of 20. Channel catfish bag limit of 6. Cast nets are prohibited. Gasoline motors may not be used on boats.

Little Econlockhatchee River: Statewide regulations apply.

Secret Lake: Panfish bag limit of 20. Channel catfish bag limit of 6. Cast nets are prohibited. Personal watercraft are prohibited.

Shadow Bay Park: Channel catfish 30 inch minimum size limit (1 fish bag limit). Largemouth bass catch and release, bluegill 12 inch minimum size (5 fish bag limit).