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.

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

In this quarter the bass will move to the deep water drop-offs, ledges, dredge holes and saddles. Find these structure areas (changes in bottom) and look for underwater grass in the 8’-15’ areas. With low light conditions (cloudy or rainy days, early morning, late evening) try top water plugs, lip-less crankbaits, and lipped crankbaits. For times when the sun is higher or 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 is another good way to catch bass if live bait fishing is preferred. The R.D. Kene boat ramp on the Butler Chain has been shut down since October 2022 due to high water from hurricanes Ian (Sept 2022) and Nicole (Nov 2022). Call Orange County Parks & Recreation to get the latest status on the current water levels and anticipated opening of the ramp. Anglers’ bass fishing the Conway Chain are encouraged to keep their limit (5 per person) of “skinny” bass less than 13 inches. The local Wednesday night tournament anglers have been assisting Fish Orlando in this effort with the goal of improving the numbers of 20 inch plus bass. Some improvement in the catches of these larger bass has been seen on the Conway Chain since this practice was implemented in 2017.

The Fish Orlando FAB FIVE water bodies:

Clear Lake: Hybrid striped bass fishing slows down this quarter and the channel catfish action picks up. Richloam hatchery has stocked approximately 30,000+ catfish since November 2016 so in fall 2023 we are due for a restocking of channel catfish as significant natural mortality occurs after 4 years of age. Liver fished on the bottom around the numerous dredge holes should provide some action for channel catfish up to 10 lbs and brown bullhead up to a pound. 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). If the dredge holes do not hold fish try fishing the mouths of the numerous canals associated with the lake.

Lake Ivanhoe: Try fishing for bass on the numerous drop-offs around the lake with wacky rigged plastics or senkos rigged weedless and weightless if they are inactive. If it’s cloudy or rainy they should be active and try a lipped crankbait or fluke. In the first part of the quarter most of the fish should still be relatively shallow (6 – 8 feet) with a movement deeper (8 – 12 feet) as the weather turns warmer in May and June. Some schooling activity may occur in this quarter as well. A rattletrap fished quickly or another shad imitating crankbait or lure will usually catch the schoolers. The water quality conditions are now good in all 3 lobes. Work on the I-4 expansion project is done. Electrofishing conducted in winter 2023 averaged 131 bass an hour with 3 per hour 20 inches and 52% of the adult population 14 inches or bigger. This “crushed” the management goal of 60/hour with 30% of the adult population > 14 inches.

Starke Lake: The Lake is still suffering from algae issues. Fortunately, the city of Ocoee has pledged to spend 9 million dollars over the next 2-3 years to rectify the problem. In the meantime, electrofishing samples in February 2023 were the worst ever recorded (< 40 bass/hr). The management goal is at least 100 bass/hr. We are recommending that anglers target the hybrid striped bass we began stocking in spring 2020. The latest stocking should be 10,000 (3” – 6” ) hybrid striped bass fingerlings in March 2023. Winter 2023 hybrid fishing was excellent with at least one documented catch of 36 in a 3 hour trip. April may still have some active hybrid striped bass, but in May and June, fishers would be wise to target black crappie (speck) in the deeper 20ft holes fishing minnows at various depths. Hybrids become very inactive during the hot summer water temperatures. These deep areas are listed on a topographical map, which can be obtained by emailing or calling the Fish Orlando office (see contact information above).

Turkey Lake: Largemouth bass should be done with spawning. Try the deeper pads, edges of the grassy bottlenecks, main lake points and submersed vegetation edges in the open water with lipless crankbaits, Carolina-rigged plastics (French fries, seinkos, etc.), Texas-rigged plastics, soft jerk baits (flukes), and wacky rigged plastics. Also try casting lipped crankbaits that run 10 – 12 feet on the fish attractors (marked with a FWC buoy). The fish attractors were refurbished in April 2020 with each attractor buoy receiving 25 mossback artificial trees. The fish attractors are listed on a topographical map, which can be obtained by emailing or calling the Fish Orlando office (see contact information above). If water levels are up and water temperatures are still at or below 80^o F, look for the fish to stay inside the emergent grass and be susceptible to soft jerk baits and topwaters. Due to deed restrictions, there is no public boat access on Turkey Lake, but the FWC, the City of Orlando and Bass Pro Shops have teamed together to provide a Boat Loaner Program where four Bass Tracker Grizzly Boats can be rented for only $32 a morning (7 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; Fri - Sun). Call the City of Orlando’s Bill Frederick Park at 407-299-5581 to reserve a boat.

Lake Underhill: The hydrilla in this lake was significantly knocked back by a June 2022 treatment and a cold December/January 2023. In April 2023 we will evaluate whether we even need to do another treatment. However, as always, if a treatment is done we will try and make sure there is still plenty of aquatic submersed grasses to drive this good bass fishery. The edges of the hydrilla and peppergrass with a weightless senko, fluke, pegged 4-inch worm, weightless trick worm, or wacky rigged plastic should produce a bass or two greater than 4 lbs. If there is any cloud cover try crank baits, hard jerk baits, or top waters that walk the dog (i.e. Zara spook, Sammy, etc.).

URBAN PONDS (Barnett Park Frog Pond, Bear Creek, Lake Island Park, and Santiago): The URBAN PONDS are managed for put-and-take channel catfish and grow out bass. The grow out bass stocked in January 2023 into Barnett (370), Bear Creek (700) and MLK (1,100) are most likely gone in this quarter. They usually only last 2 months due to their inability to avoid predators so most of the fishing this quarter will be for channel catfish. All four of the ponds are scheduled for spring 2023 stockings of channel catfish thanks to Orange County, and the cities of Orlando and Winter Park. Try fishing chicken liver rigged on a #6 or # 8 hook around the “Baited Fishing Area” signs. Because of their abundant small bluegill, the URBAN PONDS are also a good place to take a kid to catch their first fish. A small piece of worm or biscuit dough inserted on a #10 to #14 small hook fished under a small float or weightless is usually all that’s needed.

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).