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Citrus County

Inverness River

The Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes is 19,111 acres of shallow, heavily vegetated marshes intermingled with open water pools. Water control structures separate the chain of lakes into three main pools named after nearby towns: Floral City, Inverness and Hernando.

Public boat ramps are available for each pool:

  • Hernando Pool: 1/4 mile east of the intersection of U.S. Hwy 41 and SR 200
  • Inverness Pool: Highway 44 Boat Ramp, Eden Park, and North Apopka Boat Ramp
  • Floral City Pool: Duval Island Road

Local Contacts:  River Land Bait and Tackle (352-465-2755) for more up-to-date information.

Prior to fishing, interested anglers should seek information from local bait and tackle shops to help focus their efforts.  Anglers looking to target Largemouth Bass should find plenty of success fishing these lakes. While the weather is still warm, bass anglers should fish in the morning and evening hours around areas of vegetation. Crank baits and imitation frogs fished through pads has been reported to be successful. Live shiners or long, plastic worms are also good choices for bait. Panfish anglers should find plenty of success in Lake Henderson , where the bluegill are big and plentiful. Fish near any large boulders or riprap associated with bridge pilings. Using grass shrimp or live crickets should work best. In the Floral City Lake try using small beetle spins or jigs fished through grasses to draw out the bluegill, and use earthworms for the hungry redear sunfish. The catfish should be biting most stink baits fished along the bottom. As the quarter progresses and the weather cools, expect the Black Crappie fishing to improve as they school up in deeper holes. Try using minnows lip hooked under floats set at different depths to entice a strike.

Popular Species

Popular Sport Fish Species

Fish graphics by Duane Raver, Jr.

More species information is available for:

Largemouth bassBluegill, Redear sunfishChannel catfishBlack crappie

FWC Trophy Catch Logo

TrophyCatch Tracker

TrophyCatch is FWC's citizen-science program that rewards anglers for documenting and releasing trophy bass 8 pounds or larger. The following TrophyCatch bass have been submitted from the Tsala Apopka Chain:

Lunker Club (8 – 9.9 pounds): 243

Trophy Club (10 - 12.9 pounds): 109

Hall of Fame Club (13+ pounds): 5