Southwest Region, Florida Fishing Sites and Forecast

January-March 2009
	Lakeland Weather, or Pick Another City

The following is a general description and quarterly forecast (teal-colored updates) for fishing conditions in major public water bodies in this region. For even more up-to-date information, we suggest you call or visit a local bait-and-tackle shop, fishing marina or guide service. We have provided information for some local contacts, who indicated they were willing to be listed herein. Clicking the clock/thermometer above will take you to a very detailed weather site, where you can get forecasts, historic weather information, moon phase, tide charts and sunrise/sunset times.

If you would like additional descriptions of these and other fishing sites listed by county, you can visit the Great Outdoors Recreation Page listing for Florida's South Region. Please note, however, that their site is not routinely updated to reflect current fishing conditions.

A few sites have additional links to local web pages or to topographic maps and brochures. We will continue to expand these links as they become available to us.

Lake Istokpoga	Medard Reservoir	Lake Parker	Peace River	Saddle Creek Park	Lake Tarpon
Tenoroc Pits	Webb Lake & Marl Ponds	Lake Walk-in-Water	Winter Haven Chain	Fishing Tips	Statewide Forecasts

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LAKE ISTOKPOGA (Highlands County): Located five miles northeast of Lake Placid, Highlands County, this 27,692-acre lake has quality fishing for black crappie (specks) and one of the highest largemouth bass catch rates in the state. The best speck fishing occurs during winter months drifting over open water, particularly in the northeast and southwest corners. Predominant aquatic vegetation includes spadderdock (bonnets), bulrush (buggy whips), cattail, and pondweed (pepper grass). Kissimmee grass on the south end is particularly productive when there is flow into the Istokpoga Canal. This canal, located off County Highway 621, provides excellent largemouth bass fishing from the bank when the gates are open. Arbuckle and Josephine Creek mouths are also good areas when there is flow. The island areas and associated grass can hold bass any time of year and the deepest portion of the lake (10 ft) is in the southwest corner. Public boat ramps are located on the north, northeast, and southwest shorelines off of U.S. Route 98, Lake Boulevard off Cow House Road, and Highland Lake Drive off of County Route 621, respectively. There are also six fish camps/resorts on the lake with various accommodations. Anglers can wade fish off of the Cow House Road boat ramp.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS ON LAKE ISTOKPOGA. A slot limit protects quality largemouth bass by requiring that all bass between 15 and 24 inches in length must be immediately released back into the lake. The daily bag limit is three fish per day. Only one of the three fish may be greater than 24 inches. This means you may keep three bass less than 15 inches, or two bass less than 15 inches and one bass greater than 24 inches. For more information on the special regulations or tournament exemptions, contact Tom Champeau, Bill Pouder, or Jeff Willitzer at (863)648-3202.

Bluegill (bream) and redear sunfish (shellcracker) fishing has slowed, but some of these fish might still be caught while fishing for black crappie (specks). Specks are really turning on with the cooler water temperatures. Drift live Missouri minnows and grass shrimp in open water, or troll with Napier deer hair jigs and Hal-Flies for schooling fish. Find areas with sandy bottoms around bulrush and cattails, and fish a grass shrimp under a cork for spawning fish. Henderson’s Cove is producing good numbers of specks on the outside edge of the pads near deeper water.

Largemouth bass fishing can be tough, with cold fronts slowing the fishing on a regular basis. Slow working baits like plastic worms have been the bait of choice in Junebug and red shad colors. Live wild shiners are working about as well as artificial lures are right now. Bass will begin to spawn in late January, and will be moving into areas in and around bulrush (buggy whips) on the northern shoreline and the submerged vegetation in the channels south of Big Island and Bumblebee Island. Flipping these areas with soft plastics will be the best bet during the spawning season. Fishing for bass between the cold fronts can be very productive. Use caution when the wind blows on this shallow lake, it can get rough in a hurry.

NOTE: Low water will be an issue through next year unless the area receives large amounts of rainfall in the next month or so.

For more information contact Henderson's Fish Camp at 941/465-2101, or Cypress Isle RV Park & Marina at 863-465-5241

Webb Lake and Marl Ponds Fish Management Areas (Charlotte County):

Webb Lake is a man-made 395-acre lake located on the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County nine miles south of Punta Gorda, and one mile east of I-75. Marl Ponds 1, 2, and 3 are located on either side of Tuckers Grade Road, and are approximately 2 acres each, with excellent bank fishing opportunities. Fish feeders are present on the Marl Ponds and Webb Lake. Three boat ramps provide access to Webb Lake. A Daily Use Permit or Management Area Stamp is required to gain access to the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area.

Bluegill (bream) can be caught on crickets, red wigglers, dough balls, and small bits of hot dog fished below a cork. Largemouth bass fishing is slow. Fish with floating plastic worms, and Texas-rigged plastic worms in Junebug, red shad, and smoke colors. Snook are also present and can be caught using MirrOLures and other large artificials. Snook season is closed from December 15 through January 31. Catfish can be caught on the ponds using chicken livers and doughballs. Anglers have reported catching tilapia (Nile perch) using eraser-size bits of hot dog fished around the feeders on Webb Lake. Commercial fish feed can be purchased at local feed stores, and is a great bait to use to catch bream, catfish, and Nile perch in the ponds and the lake around the feeders.

NOTE: The feeders have returned to the boat ramp areas on Webb Lake. The lake level may be lowered from March to May 2009 to improve fish and wildlife habitat.

EDWARD MEDARD RESERVOIR (Hillsborough County): Formerly known as Pleasant Grove Reservoir, this 770-acre reclaimed phosphate mine within Edward Medard Park is located in Hillsborough County, approximately six miles east of Brandon, one mile south of State Route 60 on Turkey Creek Road. The park, maintained by the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department, has facilities for fishing, boating, canoe rental, picnicking, camping, hiking, and swimming. The reservoir was impounded in 1970 and is very popular, with approximately one-quarter million visitors annually. Medard Reservoir is a fertile and productive impoundment with extensive, irregular shoreline. Bottom contours of the lake are very irregular as well, with an average depth of nine feet and maximum depth of 33 feet. Kissimmee grass, bulrush (buggy whips), and cattail are the predominant vegetation. Sunshine bass (striper hybrids) are stocked on a regular basis and channel catfish are very abundant. The many ledges and bars (flats) within the main body of the reservoir are productive for all species, but key in on the shoreline grass for largemouth bass in winter and spring. Due to the convoluted nature of the reservoir there is a no wake restriction (idle speed only) on boats for safety purposes.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS. A 15 to 24-inch slot limit with three fish daily bag limit protects quality bass. All bass between 15 and 24 inches in length must be immediately released. Bag limit is three fish per day, only one of which may be greater than 24 inches in length.

Bluegill (bream) and redear sunfish (shellcracker) fishing has slowed, but a few large bream have been caught while fishing for black crappie (specks) with minnows on the drop-offs. Specks are really turning on with the cooler weather. Drift with live Missouri minnows around the drop-offs, or troll these areas with Hal-Flies and small spinners for the best action. The reservoir is one of the top spots for specks in Hillsborough County. Catfish angling is good all year long with most being taken with chicken livers, shrimp, and night crawlers fished on the bottom. Sunshine bass (hybrid stripers) have been biting on chicken livers while fishing for catfish and live Missouri minnows while speck fishing. Sunshine bass are very aggressive eaters, and will strike at a variety of artificial lures too. Try trolling Rapala Shad Raps and other deep-diving crankbaits for some good action. Largemouth bass have been slow, with most fish being taken on live wild shiners. Slow-rolling spinnerbaits around maidencane (Kissimmee grass) and fishing plastic worms slowly can also be productive during cooler weather. Look for bass to move into shallow water on the full moons in January and February when they will start spawning. Flip with plastic worms, crawfish, tubes, and lizards for lunker bass.

For more information contact Turkey Creek Bait and Tackle at 813/737-1566.

LAKE PARKER (Polk County): Lake Parker is a 2,272-acre Fish Management Area in North Lakeland. A canal on the northwest shore connects to Lake Crago. Both offer good largemouth bass fishing, particularly during the winter and spring. The canal can be a real hot spot for large bass. Bluegill and catfish fishing is popular all year and don't be surprised to find a black crappie at the end of your line. During low water the canal can be tough to navigate. Kissimmee grass, bulrush, and cattail are the predominant vegetation. Maximum depth is 10 feet. There are three boat ramps on Lake Parker. A city ramp and park is located off Lake Parker Avenue on the west shore, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ramp off U.S. Route 92 on the south shore (Sertoma Park), and a county ramp on the east shore on Lake Parker Drive. Bank fishing areas can be found at both parks.

Bluegill (bream) are still biting on crickets and red wigglers. Bream catches have been slow because many anglers have switched to black crappie (specks) for the cooler months. Specks can be caught by drifting live Missouri minnows, or trolling with Hal-Flies and small spinners over open water, with chartreuse, pink, and white the best colors to use. Many specks have been caught while fishing from the pier in the southeast corner of the lake by the power plant. Largemouth bass can be taken during the cooler months on live wild shiners. Try flipping plastic worms in Junebug and red shad colors in and around cattails and bulrush (buggy whips). Bass in the canals around the power plant should be more active due to warmer water temperatures than in the rest of the lake. Spawning starts as early as January, and continues through April; this will be your best chance to find lunker bass. Catfish can be caught on chicken livers and commercial stink baits. Sunshine bass were stocked in the lake last spring and should start showing up in angler catches while fishing for specks and catfish. Low water is making it difficult to get into the hourglass on the northwest side of the lake. The hourglass has deeper water with a ring of vegetation which holds bass, bream, specks, and catfish year-round.

For more information call Phillips Bait and Tackle at 863/666-2248

PEACE RIVER (Polk, Hardee, Desoto, Charlotte Counties):

Peace River (Polk, Hardee, Desoto, Charlotte Counties): This scenic river runs south for over 100 miles from Lake Hancock, north of Bartow to Charlotte Harbor. Popular with canoeists, the Peace River offers excellent fishing for largemouth bass, bream, and catfish. Snook weighing over 30 pounds migrate from Charlotte Harbor and are caught year round as far north as Fort Meade. Bass, snook, and catfish prefer deep holes around tree snags where flow is strong. Tarpon are also caught in the lower Peace River. Commission maintained boat ramps are located near Fort Ogden at Deep Creek off CR 769 (Kings Highway) in Desoto County, and near Wauchula on CR 652 in Hardee County. Depending on water levels and other conditions, additional limited-access points are sometimes available. Locations follow: US 98 east of Ft. Meade; west of US 17 at Gardner; west of US 17 at Brownville; west of Arcadia off SR 70; and at Lettuce Lake south of CR 761. Bank fishing opportunities are available near Gardner.

Low water, if any water at all, should make for some interesting trips this spring. Snook are in the lower river this time of year. Snook season is closed from December 1 through January 31. Fish with live finger mullet around bridges, docks, and the many snags (fallen trees), or try using larger artificial baits such as the DOA BaitBuster and MirrOLures for some great action. Largemouth bass and panfish (bluegill, redear sunfish, and spotted sunfish) should be found in deeper holes in and around the snags, and the catfish won’t be too far away. Small spinners and flies should produce some good panfish action, while spinnerbaits and plastic worms will produce bass.

SADDLE CREEK PARK (Polk County): Saddle Creek Park is a series of phosphate pits on 740 acres of mined phosphate land east of Lakeland off U.S. Route 92 in Polk County. The park provides convenient opportunities for family outings, picnics, boating, and fishing. An abundance of bank fishing makes this a unique Fish Management Area. Channel catfish are stocked regularly by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and largemouth bass are popular with Saddle Creek anglers. The special regulations on largemouth bass (15-24 inch protective slot limit, 3 fish bag limit) and catfish (6 fish bag limit) are needed to maintain desirable fish populations under intense fishing pressure. Fish feeders are operated and maintained near a number of bank fishing sites. Fishing for catfish and bluegill is often good in these areas. Willow is the major shoreline vegetation. There are a number of public boat ramps on Saddle Creek Park Road, which runs through the middle of the park.

Bluegill (bream) fishing has slowed, but a few fish are still being caught with crickets and red wigglers. Catfish can be caught on chicken livers and commercial stinkbaits around deeper holes. Bank fishing opportunities here are excellent. Largemouth bass fishing is slow. Use live wild shiners for the best action, and try plastic worms in Junebug, red shad, and Christmas colors fished slowly along the edges and near drop-offs. Spawning will begin around the full moon in February and continue through April. Be ready for some big bass action during these times. Many anglers will target black crappie (specks) during the winter months. Live Missouri minnows and small jigs trolled or drifted are the best bets for good speck action.

For more information contact Phillips Bait and Tackle at 941/666-2248.
Check out this outstanding Web site > www.saddlecreekpark.com

LAKE TARPON (Pinellas County): Lake Tarpon is a 2,534-acre Fish Management Area near Tarpon Springs, in Pinellas County. Although the largemouth bass population and size structure is excellent, fishing pressure is relatively low. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) fisheries biologists regularly sample bass during electrofishing surveys on this lake. In fact, Lake Tarpon is rated one of the Top 10 bass lakes in the state of Florida by FWC fisheries biologists. Primary largemouth bass fishing areas are found among the weeds which rim the shoreline. Bulrush (buggy whips), cattail, and tape grass beds are good places to try. Offshore humps, particularly with submerged vegetation, are productive and bass will school and chase shad in open water during the summer months. Public boat ramps are located at the county parks off U.S. Route 19 and County Road 611 (also known as East Lake Road). These parks are open sunrise to sunset and also offer fishing piers.

Redear sunfish (shellcracker) can be caught all year from the shell bars on crickets and red wigglers fished below a slip bobber near the bottom, and with live Missouri minnows while fishing for black crappie (specks). Largemouth bass fishing has been good, with 2-4 pound bass making up the bulk of the catch. Try fishing a Texas-rigged plastic worm or slow rolling a spinnerbait around the shell bars near deep water. Live wild shiners should be very productive when drifted over grass beds or dropped into holes in the grass. Bass will begin to spawn in late January, so try flipping with a variety of soft plastics such as tube jigs, crawfish, lizards, and worms in the canals and shallow bays. Black crappie (speck) fishing is improving. Try drifting live Missouri minnows, or trolling small jigs and spinners in open water to find the schools. The best bet is a small green tube jig drifted over grass beds.

For a local map of the area click here, use your browser's back button to return. For more information contact the Tarpon Turtle at 727/934-3696.

TENOROC (Polk County): Tenoroc Fish Management Area, located northeast of Lakeland, offers a unique fishing opportunity. Tenoroc is an old phosphate mine where 14 lakes ranging in size from seven to 227 acres provide quality public fishing. All anglers are required to register at the area headquarters where a daily use fee of $3 is charged. Access quotas control the number of anglers on all lakes and harvest restrictions on sportfish ensure angler satisfaction. Limitations on the use of boat motors also apply here. Special opportunities are available to children and physically challenged anglers; bank fishing access is provided on many lakes. This intensive management philosophy has created some of the best catch rates in the state for a variety of sportfishes.

Two types of lakes offer different fishing challenges. Unreclaimed lakes have steep banks, brush-covered shorelines and generally greener water color. Reclaimed lakes have gently sloping shorelines vegetated with cattail, bullrush and other aquatic plants. Lakes vary in depth and offer shoreline opportunities, as well as open-water structure fishing. Roads and grounds are well maintained and modern boat ramps are provided on most lakes. Selected lakes also have restrooms and picnic pavilions.

Tenoroc is nationally noted for largemouth bass and provides excellent fishing for panfish (bluegill and redear sunfish), black crappie and several varieties of catfish. Seasonal patterns are well established for these fishes and appropriate fishing techniques are updated quarterly in this report. Most bass anglers prefer to fish the reclaimed lakes, while panfish and crappie anglers target unreclaimed lakes. Nevertheless, all species can be caught in both, so anglers can choose the type of area they wish to fish.

The site also has a shooting and training facility on the property.

Bluegill (bream) fishing is slowing with the cooler water temperatures. Fish deeper water with red wigglers and crickets fished below a cork for the best catches. Largemouth bass action has improved as the temperatures drop. Bass are in deeper water around points and humps. Try fishing these areas with plastic worms in red shad and Junebug colors, or with deep diving crankbaits in shad imitating colors. Spawning will start in late January or February, and will be the best time of the year to find bass in lakes 3, Tern, and Fish Hook. Catfish angling is slow. Fish with chicken liver, commercial stinkbaits, and nightcrawlers around the deeper holes in lakes B, Legs, and Picnic for the best catfish action. Black crappie (specks) are the best thing going right now in lakes 3, 4, and 5. Drift live Missouri minnows in 6-8 feet of water or troll small jigs and spinners in the same areas. Use a depth finder to locate dredge holes and fish them until you find the one holding the specks.

Note: Many of the lakes have very low water levels, and some ramps may be closed to trailer launching this spring. Use extreme caution when launching in lakes A, B, C, Horseshoe, Hydrilla, Picnic, and Shop. Check with the office for closures.

Up-to-date fishing reports for Tenoroc can be obtained by calling (863) 499-2422, Friday through Monday, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.

WALK-IN-WATER (Polk County): Also known as Lake Weohyakapka, this 7,528-acre anglers' favorite is located south of State Route 60, 10 miles east of Lake Wales off Walk-in-the-Water Road in Polk County. Predominant vegetation is cattail, bulrush (buggy whips), Kissimmee grass, and hydrilla. Tiger Creek flows in from the southwest and Weohyakapka Creek flows from the north end of the lake. Maximum depth is 12 feet. Nationally known for largemouth bass fishing, Lake Walk-in-Water provides both large numbers and trophy-sized fish. Drifting live shiners over offshore hydrilla is the most consistent technique, but many bass are caught on artificials as well, particularly topwater lures. There is a county boat ramp on the west shore at the end of Boat Landing Road.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS ON LAKE WALK-IN-WATER. A slot limit protects quality largemouth bass by requiring that bass between 15 and 24 inches in length must be immediately released back into the lake. The daily bag limit is three fish per day. Only one of the three fish may be greater than 24 inches. This means you may keep three bass less than 15 inches, or two bass less than 15 inches and one bass greater than 24 inches. For more Bill Pouder, or Jeff Willitzer at (863)648-3202.

The hydrilla in the lake has not regrown as quickly as expected since the hurricanes in 2004 removed it from the lake. Bluegill (bream) and redear sunfish (shellcracker) fishing is slow, with many anglers targeting black crappie (specks) when temperatures drop. Fish bulrush and cattail stands near shore for the best chance to catch some bream or shellcracker. Fishing for specks should be excellent. Live Missouri minnows, Hal-Flies, and small spinners in the open water should all be productive. Largemouth bass fishing is tough; with hydrilla virtually gone, the bass have been moving around trying to find suitable habitat. Shoreline vegetation (bulrush, cattails, and Kissimmee grass) should hold bass, especially when they begin to spawn. Live wild shiners are producing, and plastic worms, jerkworms, and suspending stickbaits are the artificials of choice for the winter months. The full moon in January signals the beginning of the spawning season, with big bass getting on the beds through April. Try using plastic lizards, crawfish, tube baits, and worms to catch these fish.

For a topographic map click here, use your browser's back key to return.

For more information contact the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 863/648-3202.

WINTER HAVEN CHAIN OF LAKES (Polk County): Located within the city of Winter Haven, nine lakes compose this 6000-acre chain where fishing and boating are extremely popular. Boat and shore access to the South Chain are available at lakes Summit, Shipp, Howard, Cannon, and Hartridge. The North Chain can be accessed through lakes Conine, Rochelle, and Haines. Fish attractors are located and marked in lakes Summit, Winterset, Cannon, Smart, and Haines. Bass anglers achieve success by "flipping" plastic worms around shoreline plants such as cattail and maidencane, as well as docks.

Bluegill (bream) fishing has slowed during the winter months. Black crappie (speck) fishing will be good through March. Drift live Missouri minnows or troll with Hal-Flies and small spinners over grass beds for the best action. Largemouth bass fishing is slow, with most fish being caught on live wild shiners and plastic worms fished slowly around cattails and bulrush (buggy whips). Try using a lipless crankbait along deeper grass beds. Bass will begin to spawn as early as January, and continue through April, so fish shallow areas with cattails, bulrush and Kissimmee grass (maidencane) present with plastic lizards, crawfish, and other soft plastics such as the Zoom Brush Hog in Junebug, red shad, and tequila colors. Be aware that canals may be impassible later in the spring.

Take Me Fishing.org is a great general information site for recreational anglers and boaters.

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