Osborne Chain-of-Lakes

As we enter the fall months, drought conditions remain and can have an impact on freshwater fishing by concentrating on fish, reducing oxygen levels, behavior changes, and making them more susceptible to stress and predation. As water levels drop in the canals and lakes, fish are confined to smaller areas. This may initially make them easier to find, but it also leads to overcrowding, resulting in heightened competition for food and space.

The Osborne Chain-of-Lakes are excellent spots for catching Butterfly Peacock Bass and Florida Bass. The best times to catch these fish are early morning and late evening, when temperatures are cooler. As the temperatures decrease during the fall fishing will improve throughout the day. Most of the Florida Bass are typically located in deeper cooler water especially during drought conditions, but they will start moving back to shallower areas in the upcoming months if drought conditions improve. Fishing lures like crankbaits, jigs, and plastic worms are effective for catching bass.

Butterfly Peacock Bass can be caught using a variety of methods, including in-line spinners, feather jigs, flies, and live shiners. Anglers looking to catch Butterfly Peacock Bass should fish near structures like docks, trees, and snags, regions with minimal aquatic vegetation, or the border of aquatic vegetation where smaller fish seek refuge. With decreased water levels, shore fishing could be affected, requiring casts to reach deeper waters. Nevertheless, Butterfly peacock fish are adapted to warmer temperatures, and these low-water situations may lead to improved biting activity

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 using small jigs or live worms, while exploring different areas of vegetation until fish are located.

Anglers can catch numerous non-native species along the Osborne Chain of Lakes, including Mayan Cichlids, Clown Knifefish, and Bullseye Snakeheads. Cichlids can be successfully targeted by concentrating on vegetation, like the strategy for panfish. Drought can also facilitate better fishing conditions for non-native species that are better adapted to the harsher, low-water conditions.

Clown Knifefish are commonly found near deeper water or structures such as bridges and prefer live prey such as small fish, insects, amphibians, and crustaceans. In south Florida, shad are a popular bait option. Additionally, artificial lures, rattletraps can be effective in catching Clown Knifefish in the deeper pockets of water. Clown knifefish are nocturnal, so try fishing at night.

Bullseye Snakeheads can often be found near shorelines or in areas with dense vegetation, where they seek out shallow cover for protection and will strike at virtually any moving target in-front of them. Topwater lures, especially topwater frog, are often the most effective in areas with dense aquatic vegetation. Snakeheads possess a highly developed lateral line that enables them to detect vibrations in the water, so it is advisable to maintain your distance and cast your line ahead of yourself.

FWC has designated 12 fish attractor sites throughout Lake Ida and Lake Osborne, indicated by FWC buoys. Utilizing these fish attractors creates optimal locations for catching native fish, as they supply forage and provide shelter in the deeper parts of lakes where vegetation is limited, thereby drawing in larger fish in search of prey. For more information about the attractors and their exact locations visit the FWC Fish Attractor Web Page and the Interactive Fish Attractor Finder.