CONWAY & BUTLER CHAINS

Although the FAB FIVE and URBAN PONDS are good places to start a fishing adventure, there are other water bodies in the greater Orlando area that provide good angling. Two of these include the Conway and Butler Chains whose protection and preservation will be a component throughout the program.   The Conway (1,800 acres) and Butler (4,927 acres) Chains are very similar in that they are both relatively deep for Florida lakes (20 - 40 foot holes), have abundant submergent vegetation and good largemouth bass fisheries. Topographical maps for both lakes are available through various fisheries retail establishments in the Orlando and the smart angler would do well to use these maps and their depth finder for consistent largemouth bass action.  Both chains also have relatively unknown and unstudied black crappie (speck), bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker) populations, but anecdotal angler reports and field observations indicate a fishery exists for all three species.

Windermere Chain (Butler Chain) - This 4,720-acre chain is made up of 11 interconnected lakes.  Boat access is available only at one county ramp (Lake Isleworth just south of Windermere) and public bank access is almost non-existent. Orange County charges a launch fee at the Lake Isleworth ramp and the ramp is not open after dark.  The chain is primarily known for its excellent largemouth bass fishing.  Most successful bass anglers pay attention to the bottom contours of the lake’s offshore structure where 4- to 5-pound bass are commonly produced.  Live shiners free-lined over grass edges, humps, ledges, and drop‑offs adjacent to spawning flats is one method to consistently catch quality bass in the winter/spring (Try Lake Down). Jigging spoons fished over deep-water humps can produce 50-fish days when the water gets cold and fish congregate tightly (Try Little Lake Down).  The R.D. Keene ramp at Lake Isleworth (Butler Chain) costs $5/day or $150/year for use of the ramp. Call Orange County at 407-876-6696 (Wed - Sat) for questions regarding R.D. Keene ramp.

Conway Chain of Lakes - Four interconnected pools (east, west, middle and south) in the south Orlando area are collectively referred to as Lake Conway.  The larger of only two public boat ramps is located off Hoffner Avenue, two blocks east of Orange Avenue (SR 527).  Like the Butler Chain, public bank access is, for all practical purposes, non-existent. The chain has nearly 1,800 acres of clear water and hard sand bottom, with beds of peppergrass, eelgrass and hydrilla scattered offshore.  Largemouth bass fishing is good in every season except summer when the bass often suspend and become difficult to catch.  One of Conway’s “claims to fame” is its schooling bass during late fall and early winter.  In fact, schooling activity often seems to be best during cold, post-front conditions that shut down many of the area’s shallow lakes. Schooling bass can be found by locating surface activity or by watching birds feeding in offshore areas (Try the buoy line in the east pool). Jigging spoons, topwater lures, soft jerkbaits and white spinnerbaits will all catch schooling bass; however, it is important to remain flexible, because what worked one day will often be ignored the next.

Fish Orlando! personnel help manage the Conway Chain by assisting our FWC aquatic plant biologists, State DEP aquatic plant biologists and Orange County EPD aquatic plant experts in managing the habitat.  The Conway Chain is one of the few water bodies where grass carp have successfully been used to help control the exotic hydrilla without ruining the rest of the beneficial aquatic plant habitat.