Osborne Chain-of-Lakes

The winter season introduces cooler temperatures and declining water levels creating ideal conditions for fishing throughout the day. Bass, start to migrate closer to the shore to feed in preparation for their spawning season. Crankbaits, jigs, and plastic worms are among the most effective lures for catching Florida Bass. Furthermore, Sunshine bass are frequently caught in deeper areas of the lakes utilizing live bait such as shiners and shad.

Anglers can use a range of techniques, including in-line spinners, feather jigs, flies, and live shiners, to effectively land a Butterfly Peacock Bass. Targeting shallow, warmer areas that offer shade or cover, as well as structures like falling trees, can increase success.

The Osborne Chain-of-Lakes is also an excellent place to target a variety of panfish including Bluegill and Redear Sunfish. Anglers should target patches of vegetation with small jigs or live worms for the best results and continue to move until fish are found.

The Osborne Chain-of-Lakes also offers unique opportunities for anglers to catch several exotics including Mayan Cichlids, Clown Knifefish, and Bullseye Snakeheads. Live bait is the most common option for targeting exotics. Cichlids can be caught like panfish by targeting vegetation while Clown Knifefish are regularly caught on shiners near deeper water or structures like bridges. Clown knifefish could also be caught using rattletraps in those deeper pockets of water. Bullseye can be found in shallow water under dense cover or vegetation.

Utilizing the fish attractors on these Lakes is an excellent way to catch fish native fish. For more information about the attractors and their exact locations visit the FWC Fish Attractor Web Page.