In the January ’09 issue of Florida Sportsman, editor Jeff Weakley provides a retrospective of 40 years of FS coverage of Florida bass fishing. (Each month this year, we’ll devote one story to a review of four decades of stories about a single favorite Florida species, including plenty of classic pictures from our archives—all part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of FS). Weakley also provides an update on the fishing at what were considered Florida’s top 30 bass lakes in 1970, and below, with the substantial help of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Bob Wattendorf and other FWC staff, here’s a more detailed status report on the current condition of Florida’s top 30 bass lakes from 1970.

Florida has 10,550 miles of rivers, streams and creeks and 7,000 plus lakes comprising more than 3 million acres of water, and in virtually all of them you can find black bass and anglers pursuing them. The latest national statistics indicate there are 30 million anglers, and 10 million of them specifically pursue freshwater bass, compared to 6.8 million fishing for trout and 2.1 million fishing for flatfish (the most popular saltwater group). It is clear that black bass remain the most popular sport fish in North America, and the Florida largemouth bass with its outstanding growth potential and wariness is king or perhaps queen, given that all of the trophy hawgs are female. Florida continues to have more total anglers (2.8 million, versus Texas with 2.5 million) and to attract many more nonresident anglers than any other state (885,000 versus North Carolina with 395,000). The Florida bass plays a crucial role in keeping Florida the Fishing Capital of the World.

Florida has four species of freshwater or black basses: the largemouth, spotted, Suwannee and shoal. Of those, largemouths are by far the most common, since they live in almost every body of fresh water in Florida. The native subspecies, the Florida largemouth bass is also the official Florida freshwater fish. Pure Florida’s are generally found in the bottom third of the state with more northern areas having some Northern largemouth bass traits mixed into their genetic makeup. Their popularity is the driving force behind many popular magazines, fishing shows, tournament series and billions of dollars worth of tackle and boat sales each year, all because they represent a great challenge to anglers wishing to refine their skills, while still being attainable to the novice. At either level, the thrill of a bass hitting a topwater lure is one to get the juices flowing and make you glad to be outside enjoying Florida’s year-round fishing season.

Forty years ago, Florida Sportsman Magazine identified the top 30 bass fishing sites in the state. More recently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been maintaining an annual list of the top 10-15 bass fisheries in Florida. Here’s an update on the October/November 1970 Florida Sportsman list and what’s happened during those intervening years as Florida’s population sky rocketed from 6,789,447 to 18,680,367. With all that development, water use increase, and pollution impacts, there are bound to be some profound changes. So let’s take a look at what’s been happening.

Florida’s Best 30 Bass Lakes from October/November 1970 are listed below, with notes that update their current status. This is not a list of the current top 30, but rather a reflection on how things have changed in the past 40 years.

Northwest

1. Juniper Lake—This 665-acre impoundment was built in 1962 and underwent a drawdown and restoration project in Spring 2006. The FWC manages this area as a “Commission-Managed Impoundment” that allows it to maintain a healthy fish population in spite of intense fishing pressure.

2. Spring Lake—There are several in Florida, notably near Rodman Reservoir and Istokpoga, but Spring Lake in northwest Florida near Defuniak Springs is now a private impoundment.

3. Deer Point Lake is a 5,000-acre impoundment located north of Panama City and is fed by freshwater streams. It remains one of FWC’s top picks as a bass fishery. Although bass fishing typically slows down during winter months in Deer Point Lake, it picks up again in mid-February and March, and becomes red hot in April and May. Try fishing for largemouth in the old creek channels of Bear, Cedar and Econfina creeks with plastic worms, diving crankbaits or Rat-L-Traps. Bayou George and the flats area at the confluence of Bayou George and Deer Point Lake are also popular largemouth spots. Anglers should exercise caution while boating due to flooded cypress stumps and snags found in the lake.

4. Dead Lakes is a 6,700-acre tannin-stained lake with numerous cypress snags and stumps making a beautiful setting for fishing. The FWC worked with local agencies in the 1980’s to have a dam removed that prevented the migration of fish to and from the river and kept the water levels from fluctuating. The lake provides good bass fishing but is especially known for its bluegill and redear in the spring.

5. Ocheesee Pond is a 2,225-acre “pond” that has clear tannin-stained waters and many fish-holding tree stumps. Although fish populations were affected by the drought, bass and redear are rebounding.

6. Lake Talquin was formed in 1920 following construction of the Jackson Bluff Dam on the Ochlockonee River, which created this 8,800-acre reservoir. Drawdowns and fish stocking efforts by the FWC have kept this resource extremely productive. It ranks among Florida’s best bream and crappie fisheries, and also provides striped bass and white bass fishing opportunities. The largemouth bass fishery is good and protected by an 18-inch minimum length limit, which will help move the lake from good to great for bass fishing enthusiasts.

7. Lake Jackson (4,000 acres) is one of Florida’s famed disappearing lakes that sits on very porous karst (limestone) bedding and is subject to sink holes when the Floridan aquifer goes down. Recent droughts have repeatedly drained the lake offsetting the benefits of some extensive FWC efforts to restore this fishery. It was observing the phenomenal growth rates for bass and the strong year classes produced following reflooding of such naturally drawn down lakes (along with the “new reservoir” syndrome that occurs when a reservoir is flooded for the first time) that helped clue biologists into benefits of artificial drawdowns. Florida biologists pioneered this exceptional lake restoration technique beginning in the early 1970s. It is anticipated that a few years after the lake refills there will be great numbers of small bass, and 8-10 years of average water levels will again make Jackson into a trophy bass Mecca.

8. Lake Iamonia is a 5,000-6,000 acre, marsh-like lake best known for waterfowl hunting. A dam to separate it from a natural sinkhole was built in 1938, and the drawdown gates were removed in 2007 allowing it to fluctuate naturally. As a result, during droughts, such as Florida has recently experienced, water levels can get very low and make navigation and fishing difficult. However, the FWC is working towards a restoration project that will remove some of the accumulated muck, enhancing water depths, creating better substrate for native vegetation, and allowing more successful sunfish spawning (including bass).

9. Lake Miccosukee underwent a FWC drawdown in 1999 followed by a controlled burn to remove some of the excess organic matter. An improved ramp and fishing pier were also installed. Lake Miccosukee is another prairie lake, like Lake Iamonia, with connections to the aquifer. These lakes tend to be heavily vegetated and shallow, so during drought periods fishing declines but when waters come back up they quickly become prime fishing locations for northwest Florida anglers.

Northeast/Central

10. Lake Sante Fe is a 5,850-acre lake that even though largely surrounded by homes happily remains an outstanding bass fishery. Healthy cypress trees and maidencane grass provide great habitat. Spring 2008 electrofishing samples produced a high catch rate of bass over 14 inches (0.93 fish/min), and indicated the population has a good size structure with plenty of bass ranging from 14 inches to trophy size.

11. Lochloosa Lake is a 5,700 Fish Management Area with both FWC ramps and fishing piers providing good access. Good aquatic habitat such as knotgrass and spatterdock produce abundant forage, including grass shrimp and minnows, which lead to a good bream and bass fishery. Currently, it is known for quality size bass, although they are not overly abundant.

12. Orange Lake covers about 12,550 acres and is a Fish Management Area with FWC ramps, a fishing pier, and a local fish camp. Spatterdock and hydrilla are the dominant vegetation, and it consistently produces abundant catches of quality bream and bass. It had the best angler catch rates (1.81 bass/hour) of the 14 water bodies that the FWC is currently monitoring as a long-term project to evaluate fishing trends.

13. Crescent Lake is a 15,725-acre lake near Crescent City on the Putnam/Flagler county line, which FWC listed as one of the best bass destinations for 2008. Past electrofishing samples for largemouth bass revealed one of the highest catch rates recorded for areas on the St. Johns River. Largemouth bass up to 20 inches long were well represented in the sample and good numbers of larger fish (8 pounds or larger) were collected. Fall and early winter fishing will be impacted by high water levels following Tropical Storm Fay, but should return to normal by Spring 2009. Preferred artificial baits include plastic worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Live golden shiners are always popular.

14. Lake George is the second largest lake in the state at 46,000 acres and is located 18 miles northwest of Deland. It is consistently a top choice among FWC staff as a prime bass fishery. Extensive vegetation provides excellent bass habitat, and wade fishing in eel grass with plastic worms or topwater lures is productive along the western shoreline.

Live golden shiners are popular here and throughout the state for catching trophy bass especially during spring. Hot spots on the lake include Juniper, Salt and Silver Glen spring runs. In winter and early spring, look for bass at jetties on the south end of the lake. Casting deep-diving crankbaits near old docks along the northeast shore and off Drayton Island can also produce good results. The 2004 hurricane season resulted in major habitat loss, primarily from eelgrass beds being uprooted. The recovery way adversely affected in 2008 by high water levels associated with Tropical Storm Fay.

15. Lake Dias is a relatively small (711 acre) Fish Management Area in Volusia County. Better known for producing a previous black crappie (3.5 pounds) record, the lake is still a popular bass fishery. The lake still enjoys a reputation for producing large fish.

16. Lake Woodruff is 2,200-acre lake draining through Lake Dexter into the St. Johns River. It is especially known for trophy-sized black crappie. However, it is also a consistent largemouth bass fishery. Recent flooding from tropical storm Fay temporarily affected this area, but when water levels recede fishing should improve.

17. Lake Dexter is the 1,900-acre lake between Lake Woodruff and the St. Johns, and like Woodruff produces outstanding speck (black crappie) fisheries, but also consistently produces both bream and bass.

18. Lake Griffin is a Fish Management Area in Leesburg, which benefits from a nice fishing pier and park constructed by the FWC and Lake County. It has been stocked several times with bass and aquatic habitat projects have somewhat enhanced the aquatic vegetation community, but development and other concerns have prevented full-fledged restoration work. Pollution from local truck farms has created some health concerns for alligators and other long-lived aquatic predators in the area.

At 9,290 acres, this lake is hypereutrophic (receives an overabundance of fertilizer nutrients stimulating excessive vegetation growth, including algae and phytoplankton). An experimental effort by the St. John’s Water Management District is attempting to use commercial fishers to harvest shad, which feed on the algae and phytoplankton, using gillnets to remove some of these nutrients. By-catch of crappie is one concern with this study but is being monitored by FWC. Meanwhile, the bass fishery has dwindled but will hopefully respond to several initiatives including purchasing farms around the lake, reconnecting them as shallow filtration areas and stopping some point source pollutants from entering the system. Canals have also been dredged to provide better low-water access. The FWC is also evaluating the possibility of a large-scale stocking program to help restore this historically excellent fishery.

19. Panasoffkee is a 4,460-acre Fish Management Area that is spring-fed. The current drought has reduced water levels but allowed FWC to help remove more than 8 million cubic yards of sediment and deepen a portion of the lake. With a 0.75 bass/hour catch rate in 2007, the lake still deserves to be recognized as a prime bass fishery.

20. Tsala Apopka is a heavily vegetated marsh system comprising 19,111 acres of water in 15 lakes. The three main open water pools are Hernando, Inverness, and Floral City. FWC has both a pier and boat ramps on the lake. In 2007, over 6,500 cubic yards of tussocks and muck were removed to improve fishery habitat and access to the Florida City pool. Ongoing work to improve fish and wildlife habitat continues in all of the pools. The fishing in this chain of lakes can vary greatly from year to year based on habitat changes and rainfall. High rainfall years, especially following a drought, tend to cause major fish kills in the system due to poor quality water entering the lakes from Green Swamp via the Withlacoochee River. Once this happens it can take several years for the fishery to recover. Currently, there seem to be abundant small bass.

21. Puzzle Lake (1,300 acres) is a meandering maze of flowing channels in the St. Johns River. It is one of the prime American shad fishing areas from December through March each year and an excellent catfish fishery. Although a good bass fishery, it is not listed by FWC as one of the prime areas for largemouth. Generally, moderately low water levels following high water periods, and an abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation ensure good bass, bream and crappie fishing. These dynamic water fluctuations still occur in Puzzle Lake and represent what was the historic norm for Florida lakes. Stabilization of water levels in other systems to prevent flooding and ensure adequate water storage is one of the biggest management challenges to fisheries biologists.

22. Lake Poinsett (4,332 acres) is one of the larger lakes in the Upper St. Johns River Basin just west of Cocoa, along the central east coast. Protected by surrounding marsh habitat, the lake’s shoreline and emergent plant communities have changed very little the last 40 years. Since the 1970’s, studies have continued to show Poinsett to be one of the more productive lakes in the chain for largemouth bass. Since early 2000, less favorable water levels from drought years, periods of poor water quality (low dissolved oxygen levels) and a noticeable decline in submerged vegetation communities have lowered the lake’s overall production from historical levels. Despite these impacts, the bass population has always been dynamic, responding quickly following good water years. A new county boat ramp and parking lot was recently completed off SR520, just downstream from the lake.

23. Lake Tohopekaliga (18,810 acres), also known as Lake “Toho,” is located adjacent to the City of Kissimmee in Central Florida. It is an outstanding fishery that remains on the FWC list of top bass fisheries, and its close proximity to Central Florida vacation attractions places Lake Toho among the elite fishing destinations in the nation. The lake received national attention during 2001 when the all-time B.A.S.S. tournament record for total weight was eclipsed by professional angler Dean Rojas with a total catch of 108 pounds. Numerous professional and amateur tournaments continue to be held each year at the lake, including the record setting 2006 Bassmaster Classic, which highlights the lake’s popularity.

In spring 2004, the FWC conducted an extreme drawdown and habitat enhancement project on the lake to improve critical shoreline habitat for fish and wildlife utilization. Today, the lake boasts an extensive and diverse vegetation community that provides essential spawning and nursery habitat for fish and wildlife. Plastic baits (worms, crawfish and lizards) flipped along grass edges will catch quality-sized bass. Spinnerbaits, soft jerkbaits and chugging baits also work well. Eight FWC fish attractors located in deep water produce good stringers of bass, as does shiner fishing adjacent to hydrilla beds.

24. Lake Hancock is near the headwaters of the Peace River and covers 4,500 acres. This is prime phosphate mining country. Since the industry boomed in the late 1800s, the lake has been impacted at times including by deepening from phosphate mining activities and subsequent deposits of muck reflecting the hypereutrophic conditions. These conditions result both from natural phosphates and agriculture (primarily citrus and cattle) production in the water shed. The lake is commercially harvested for blue tilapia, a non-native that began expanding throughout central Florida in the 1960s and 1970s. Eutrophication of this resource has led to poor habitat and water quality resulting in a limited bass and sunfish fishery. However, the Water Management district has purchased land around the lake and is planning on constructing wetlands to treat the water before it flows into the Peace River, which will hopefully improve the fishery with time.

South

25. Lake Kissimmee (35,000 acres) is nationally renowned for consistently producing high quality fishing, and the FWC lists it as a top bass destination. In 1996, the FWC coordinated an extreme drawdown and habitat enhancement activities to remove excessive organic material and improve fishing. Following a lake refill, enhanced areas were dominated by beneficial native vegetation creating critical spawning and nursery areas.

Lake Kissimmee’s extensive and diverse plant community consists of both submersed and emergent vegetation, which allows anglers to try different bass fishing techniques. Fly fishermen have access to miles of outstanding wade fishing, and consistently catch bass on popping bugs during spring and summer.

26. Lake Blue Cypress (6,555 acres) is the largest and most scenic lake nestled in the headwater marshes of the Upper St. Johns River, west of Vero Beach. The largemouth bass population would be described as low-density but high-quality based on recent surveys. Management activities since the 1970’s have included stocking (striped bass hybrids), improved launching facilities, installation of fish attractors, native re-vegetation plantings, creel surveys, bass diet studies and tagging studies to evaluate the impact anglers may be having on the bass population in the lake. The FWC is currently conducting a largemouth bass study at Blue Cypress to compare the efficacy of different stocking techniques.

27. Lake Istokpoga (28,000 acres) is situated in Highlands County south of Sebring. Istokpoga is a Fish Management Area and has an average depth of only 6 feet. In 2001 a large-scale habitat restoration project was conducted removing overgrown aquatic vegetation and associated organic muck from the lakes littoral zone. The project provided littoral habitat more conducive to fish and wildlife. Additionally, desirable aquatic plants were planted around the lake to improve fish and wildlife habitat. Past angler surveys have estimated more than 1,000 bass over 8 pounds being caught in less than a year’s time. Last year bass angler catch rates were relatively slow for the lake (0.51 bass/hour, which is double the figure of 0.25 cited nationally as an average bass catch rate), but are improving and the lake is still considered by FWC to be a top bass fishery.

Lake Istokpoga has a 15- to 24-inch protected (no-harvest) slot limit for bass with a three fish daily bag limit, of which only one bass may be 24 inches or longer.

28. Lake Okeechobee is Florida's largest lake and the second largest body of fresh water in the contiguous United States covering 730 square miles (448,000 acres). By the 1970s the impact of the Herbert Hoover Dike that the US Army Corps of Engineers built around it to protect residents from flooding following two 1920s hurricanes were already beginning to be felt. Subsequent use of the levee and water-control structures to hold water for irrigating the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) has exacerbated the problems reducing the natural cleansing of the lake. Periods of extended high waters have been especially detrimental to the lake due to reducing the shallow littoral areas and thus lessening the amount of vegetation in the lake. Furthermore, a history of back pumping nutrient and chemical rich water from the EAA south of the lake back into the lake and the flow of nutrients from dairy farms and other sources into the lake from the north adversely impacted water quality. A series of hurricanes in the early 2000’s further damaged the lake by uprooting vegetation and stirring up bottom sediments.

Recently, some improvements have been seen as a result of a drought lowering the water and allowing some vegetation to come back. Low water levels allowed thousands of truck loads of muck to be removed, which were heavily burdened with arsenic and pesticides. The FWC remains a champion for water level fluctuation, nutrient control and overall habitat management to ensure a sustainable future for the sportfishery and wildlife of the lake. During the spring 2008 fishing season, angler catch rates were at a very respectable 0.84 bass/hour and many bass were caught in the 10-12 pound range. However, sampling still shows bass at a record low and as yet there are few young bass to spur a recovery. A minimum 18-inch total length limit on Lake Okeechobee was implemented in 2008 to help protect the fishery and restore it to its glory days, but water quality, water levels and the scheduling of high and low water periods will remain the major challenge to full recovery. Going in to 2009 the water clearing and plant response is looking positive and a strong year class in the spring could help begin the recovery.

29. Lake Hicpochee is near the headwaters of the Caloosahatchee River, which was dredged and channelized to form the Okeechobee Waterway.

30. Lake Trafford (1,500 acres) has two ramps and a park with a pier. Lake Trafford has been the beneficiary of an ongoing major project that was strongly supported by a local environmental group. Complete refilling will still require some additional rainfall, but the lake is already showing good catches of crappie and bream and further improvements are expected in the next few years. A minimum 18-inch total length limit on Lake Trafford was implemented in 2008 to help protect the fishery and restore it to its glory days.

Beyond the prime bass fisheries identified among the 30 listed above by Florida Sportsman Magazine in 1970, the FWC currently lists the following as excellent bass fishing destinations.

• Rodman Reservoir, east of Gainesville and south of Palatka, covers 9,500 acres of prime largemouth bass habitat. Since its creation in 1968, Rodman Reservoir has been known for trophy largemouth bass. The fishery’s success is attributed to abundant habitat in the form of stumps and submersed aquatic vegetation, and periodic drawdowns occurring every three years. Drawdowns on Rodman are used primarily to control invasive aquatic vegetation, but biologists have demonstrated the drawdowns produce strong largemouth bass year-classes that provide the majority of angler catch. Beginning in December 2007, a planned reservoir drawdown sought to lower water levels 7 feet for approximately three months. We anticipate the benefits of the drawdown to show up in the both year-class strength and growth rates of bass, which by shortening the time between bites will attract more anglers to the reservoir.

• Lake Tarpon (2,500 acres) is located near Tampa/St. Petersburg in Pinellas County. Most bass range from 12 to 16 inches long; however, quality and trophy fish are present in good numbers, including an occasional 10-pounder.

Anglers are most successful flipping or pitching plastic worms along canal and bulrush edges. Offshore bass fishing is productive around ledges, coontail, and eel grass beds using shad-imitating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater baits.

• Lake Weohyakapka, commonly known as Lake Walk-in-Water (7,500 acres), is located south of Orlando and east of Lake Wales. Anglers catch up to 25 bass a day with several ranging from 4 to 8 pounds. The lake also produces many trophy bass exceeding 10 pounds each year. A 15- to 24-inch slot limit regulation with a three-bass daily bag limit helps maintain quality fishing. Only one bass greater than or equal to 24 inches is allowed.

In 2004, the lake received the impact of three hurricanes. The result was devastating as all hydrilla and much of the native vegetation in the lake was removed from the storms. In 2006 the FWC transplanted 100,000 stems of bulrush to provide fish and wildlife habitat. The bulrush has expanded and provides excellent fish habitat for bass, crappie and bream.

The best technique for catching trophy bass is pitching wild shiners or flipping soft plastic baits in bulrush (“buggy whips” or “round rush”). Bass can also be found in maidencane grass and knotgrass (Kissimmee grass) stands along the shore. Try soft jerkbaits when fishing these areas.

Topwater lures are effective, particularly chuggers or walk-the-dog type baits. Although topwater baits catch fish throughout the year, summer months offer the best action when schools of bass roam deep-water areas. Bass move offshore when the shallow water temperature heats up during summer.

• The Suwannee River is a pristine, black-water stream that flows 213 miles within Florida from a swampy region near the Georgia border to the Gulf of Mexico. Rocky bluffs and shoal areas occur in the upper reaches of the river. Floodplain cypress tree/hardwood swamp borders, lined with lily pads, are found throughout the middle reaches of the Suwannee River.

Although the Suwannee River is not known for trophy largemouth bass, good numbers of bass can be expected, and quality-sized largemouth bass are frequently caught. The smaller, but feisty, Suwannee bass species also occurs in much of the river system. Suwannee bass over 16 inches (two pounds) can be caught by anglers especially in the Santa Fe River, a tributary of the Suwannee River. They prefer moderate to fast current flowing around cypress trees. When water levels are low, mid-river is a better bet for catching Suwannee bass, particularly in vegetated areas or around structures.

Crawfish are the main food item for bass throughout the river system, so anglers should fish accordingly. Plastic worms, lizards and crawfish; jigs with orange skirts and pork rinds; and metallic crankbaits all catch fish here. While the scenery may change every 20 or 30 miles, the key to catching bass is the same - look for deep structure or shallow structure that has deep water nearby. The lower Suwannee River moves more slowly, and bass utilize shoreline cover such as fallen trees and cypress trees on the outer bends of the river. Plastic baits, rigged weedless, yield bass from shallow banks where lily pads are present. Live shiners can be fished into brush piles from upstream areas by letting them float downstream. Small bass will hit a fly or a small floater-diver fished along banks.

The estuary is also productive. Fishing can be outstanding during fall when shrimp migrate into the river. Tidal creeks provide a unique fishing experience near the Gulf of Mexico.

• The Everglades Water Conservation Areas (WCAs) are South Florida marshlands intersected with over 200 miles of canals with more than 30 boat ramps accessing them. Originally designed for flood control and water supply, the area provides some of the best largemouth bass fishing in the country. Daily catches of 50 or more bass are not uncommon during peak season.

The best fishing usually occurs in spring when declining water levels concentrate fish in canals. During April, catch rates can be as high a 4.1 bass per hour in the L-67A Canal. This past year in the L-67A Canal a peak season creel survey recorded an average catch rate of 1.8 bass per hour, with more than 20 percent of those fish 14 inches or longer. Catch rates for bass are also excellent in the L-35B and L-38E canals.

Most anglers fish in canals rather than the marsh. Anglers work canal edges with plastic worms, soft jerkbaits and minnow imitations. Flipping the vegetation is also a popular technique. During high water, some anglers fish marsh areas where bass can be found in the open sloughs. Several canals have trails that are specifically cut to provide boat access to adjacent marsh areas. In addition, butterfly peacock, Mayan cichlid and oscars are all taken by avid anglers in this area and weren’t there in 1970.

A special bass fishing regulation is in effect in South Florida, including WCAs. Only one bass, of the five-bass daily bag limit, may be 14 inches or longer. This gives anglers an opportunity to harvest smaller bass, but prevents overharvest of fish over 14 inches in total length.

• The 7,300-acre Tenoroc Fish Management Area near Lakeland provides a special opportunity to bass fish in Florida’s famous phosphate pits. These 7- to 227-acre lakes were created years ago by draglines during phosphate surface mining operations. As a result, lake bottoms have irregular contours with depths ranging to 35 feet.

The fishing experience in these pits can rival any natural lake when bass are biting well. Bass fishing is best from mid-November through March. Lake 3, Shop Lake, Hydrilla Lake, Butterfly Lake, Fish Hook Lake, Half Moon Lake and Lost Lake West offer some of the best bass fishing opportunities on the property.

Probing deeper waters with chrome-colored rattling lures and chartreuse or “firetiger” color diving crankbaits are a good bet in phosphate pits. Plastic worms are often the best all-around lure for these lakes - try red shad or June bug colors. Locate submersed islands or sandbars off points to find concentrations of bass. During spring, flipping worms or soft plastic baits in thick brush is the best bet.

Tenoroc lakes are managed with a variety of catch-and-release harvest regulations, including total catch and release (no harvest) and 15-inch maximum size limits. Call Tenoroc at 863-499-2422 for more information or to make reservations. These lakes are only open to the public four days a week. Anglers must check in and out at the Tenoroc Headquarters, deposit their valid fishing license and purchase a daily fishing permit for $3.

• Mosaic Fish Management Area (1,000 acres) includes 12 phosphate pits from 10 to 200 acres each, with depths down to 30 feet. This area is not very well known because it just recently opened. As a result, fishing pressure is low, and bass fishing can turn on at a moment’s notice.

Topwater baits around dawn and dusk, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits, plastic worms and chrome or “firetiger” (chartreuse and orange) colored crankbaits can be successful. Fishing shoreline brush and vegetation works well in spring. Lakes LP2 West, SP11, SP12 North and SP12 South offer some of the best bass fishing opportunities on the property. Mosaic lakes are managed with a variety of catch-and-release harvest regulations, including total catch and release (no harvest) and 15-inch maximum size limits. Mosaic Fish Management Area is located near Ft. Meade in Polk County. The fish management area is only open to public fishing from Friday through Monday. No reservations can be made. Lake permits are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. Call 863-499-2421, ext. 104, for more information about fishing at Mosaic.

With all those “top sites” to choose from, don’t overlook the smaller lakes and ponds in your area. Many of these provide some awesome fishing as illustrated by the largemouth that Jeffrey Smith caught in a relatively small Polk County orange grove lake during January 2008. It weighed 18.50 pounds, according to this famed big-bass hunter, who was featured recently on the ESPN Bassmaster Insider Show. Although the bass’ weight was taken on a certified scale, it was not witnessed by an FWC biologist, or else it would have been a new certified state record. The 17.27 pound hawg caught by Billy O’Berry in Polk County in 1986, is the official record. Fritz Friebel’s 20.13 pounder, out of Pasco County in 1923, was weighed on certified scales but was also not witnessed by a biologist.

So although some of the best places to bass fish within Florida may have shifted, and the habitat around them has been altered drastically by development during the 40 years Florida Sportsman Magazine has been around, the fishing is still great. The old Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (GFC) has been replaced by the FWC with responsibilities for saltwater fisheries added to their challenge. They continue to do everything in their power using scientific management, your license dollars and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration funds to ensure a safe and sustainable future for bass fishing in Florida. The recent construction of the Florida Bass Conservation Center (a state of the art hatchery and self-interpreted visitor center) in Sumter County is another step to ensuring Florida’s future as the Fishing Capital of the World. In addition, back in the 1970’s the GFC was responsible for aquatic vegetation management but from the late 1970’s until 2008 those responsibilities were shifted to the Department of Natural Resources and then to the Department of Environmental Protection. They were statutorily directed to maintain nonnative aquatic plants at the lowest feasible level. As of July 2008, the responsibility has been transferred to the FWC and the new legislative charge allows for more optimal management of aquatic plants. Given the importance of aquatic vegetation to fisheries habitat this can be another very positive step. By 2060 (see MyFWC.com/Wildlife2060) Florida’s human population will have doubled and most of the growth will occur near water front. A land area approximately the size of Vermont (7 million acres) will have been paved over. Responsible development and anglers continued excitement about ensuring the future of their sport and actively ensuring protection of fishing access and aquatic habitats is becoming increasingly more critical. What this list of top fishing lakes looks like in 2060 is up to all of us and our dedication to passing on Florida’s fishing legacy to the next generation.

Table 1. Largemouth bass results of creel survey analyses from 14 Florida water bodies sampled in 2007-08. Effort (angler-hours/acre/100 days), catch and harvest fish/acre/100 days) and catch success (fish/angler-hour) estimates are provided for each water body and category. Effort, catch and harvest were standardized by size of water body (acre) and length of survey (days). Superscript letters denote the type of creel, i.e., "r" for roving creel survey and "a" for access creel survey.

Water Body	Interview Period	Effort	Harvest	Harvest	Catch	Catch
				Success		Success
Deerpointr	Feb 11-Jun15	1.67	0.17	0.09	1.34	0.36
Garciaa	Jan 7-Apr 27	6.83	0.04	---	12.69	0.88
Georger	Jan 13-May 3	0.42	0.06	0.15	0.35	0.35
Harrisr	Nov 2-May 1	1.29	0.1	0.08	1.12	0.32
Istokpogar	Oct 5-Jun 12	1.4	0.02	0.01	1.79	0.51
Kissimmeer	Jan 18-May 8	1.34	0.19	0.14	2.04	0.61
L-67A Canalr	Dec 17-Jun 1	25.96	1.8	0.07	75.64	1.18
Lochloosar	Jan 13-May 3	0.38	0	0.01	0.65	0.59
Okeechobee	Jan 4-Jun 19	0.1	<0.01	---	0.2	0.84
(Areas 1 & 2 only)
Oranger	Feb 15-Jun 5	0.39	0.05	0.16	1.73	1.81
Panasoffkeer	Mar 1-Jun 20	1.54	0.16	0.09	3.38	0.75
Sampson and Rowellr	Feb 3-May 24	7.71	1.49	0.08	7.69	0.4
Stick Marsh/	Jan 7-Apr 27	8.32	0	0	14	0.69
Farm 13a
Tohopekaligar	Aug 3-Nov 22	2.22	0.4	0.17	3.35	0.58
Mean (all water bodies)		4.25	0.28	0.09	9	0.71

Bob Wattendorf
Marketing and Special Projects Coordinator/WebMaster
Freshwater Fisheries Management
620 South Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Phone: 850/488-0520 x 17245
Fax: 850/413-0381
Mobile: 850/528-1060
www.MyFWC.com/Fishing
Bob.Wattendorf@MyFWC.com