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FARM 13 / STICK MARSH RESERVIOR (Indian River County) -- a water management reservoir near Fellsmere, west of Vero Beach.
One of the hottest bass lakes in the nation during the past decade is Farm 13/Stick Marsh Reservoir. The reservior was created in 1985 by flooding 6,500 acres of farmland. Biologists expect a large crop of fish ranging from 8 to 12 pounds. The lake is often partially covered with hydrilla. Anglers should try the south end of Farm 13. Plastic worms, spinner baits, crank baits and topwater prop baits will produce good results depending on weather conditions, water levels and habitat fished. Golden shiners are the top choice for anglers looking to catch a trophy fish here. There is a catch-and-release only rule for bass.
Both bluegills and shellcrackers bed around palm trees and berms from April through June and will school on or near emergent structures afterward. Anglers should concentrate near levees, submerged road beds and substrates.
There is one boat ramp, a parking lot and rest rooms. No gasoline or food is available on site.
LAKE ISTOKPOGA (Highland County) -- A 27,000-acre lake situated just southeast of Sebring. Bream spawning usually occurs from April through June in both offshore and inshore cattails and bulrush areas. After bream bedding is over, anglers should fish around Big Island, Grassy Island and Bumble Bee Island, but don't overlook shallow sandy bars, eelgrass flats, and cattail fringes.
Lake Istokpoga has been a red hot crappie fishery recently and should remain that way during March and early April of most years. Istokpoga has one of the state's highest crappie catch ratios at 2.6 per hour, these fish average between 10 and 12 inches in length. Those who slow troll or drift small jigs, hal-flies or beetlespins in warmer months will catch both bass and specks, especially at the north end. Throughout winter, crappie move into bulrushes to bed in about 4-feet of water and will readily take missouri minnows.
There are numerous launching ramps available, including Henderson's Fish Camp, Mossy Cove Fishing Resort and Trails End Fishing Resort.
LAKE KISSIMMEE (Lake County) -- a 35,000-acre natural lake located south of St. Cloud. Fish camps and guides have regularly reported bass over 10 pounds since 1994. Successful anglers target deep-water peppergrass, hydrilla and grass edges during warmer months. Flipping plastic baits into heavy cover and slow-trolling shiners along hydrilla edges are productive techniques for catching big bass.
Kissimmee also provides some of the best bluegill and shellcracker action in central Florida. During a recent drawdown the GFC cleared 24 miles of wadeable shoreline, and enhanced open water areas giving both boaters and non-boaters a shot at impressive catches.
Lake Kissimmee is proving to be a bonanza for speck fishermen, who will cash in on spawners through February and early March in such cover as bulrush, cattails lily pads and Kissimmee grass.
Six fish camps, one state park, and three public boat ramps are available at Kissimmee. Non-boaters can wade fish from access points at some of the fish camps and boat ramps.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE (Palm Beach, Martin, Glades, Hendry and Okeechobee counties) -- a 730-square-mile lake, in south central Florida.
The "Big O" is easily accessible from Florida's east and west coasts. The lake is shallow and provides ideal forage and habitat for bass. If you want to catch big bass, the "Big O" is the place to go. Anglers routinely catch 7- to 10-pound bass, and 10- to 12-pound bass occasionally show up. The lake record is 15 pounds 5 ounces. Anglers do well fishing in bulrush near Eagle Bay Island, Little Grassy Island and King's Bar at the north end of the lake. At the south end, anglers are effective fishing in eelgrass in South Bay area. The largest bass are caught using live golden shiners and casting into, or along edge of, vegetation. Plastic worms and spinner baits are often productive. Casting lures near vegetation often produces the largest numbers of bass. Lake Okeechobee has a 13- to 18-inch slot limit on bass, meaning all bass between 13 and 18 inches must be released unharmed.
Considered by many as the best panfish lake in the world, anglers descend upon the lake and its Rim Canal by the thousands, often starting in March and continuing through late fall. Fishing here ranges from "spectacular" during bedding season to "good" throughout most of the year.
Okeechobee is also called the crappie capital of the world. Areas such as Okeechobee City, Buckhead Ridge, Moore Haven, Clewiston, South Bay, Belle Glade, Pahokee, Canal Point, Sand Cut or Port Mayaca are all excellent starting points. From December through April literally tons of crappie will be hauled from its waters by recreational anglers. While crappie can be caught by drifters and slow-trollers in open waters and Rim Canal throughout the year, it's the cooler months that attract the multitudes.
Sixteen boat ramps and numerous fish camps surround the lake.
WEST LAKE TOHOPEKALIGA (Osceola County) -- an 18,810-acre shallow lake just south of the city of Kissimmee.
Both West and East "Toho" can provide excellent bass fishing for the knowledgeable angler. Anglers can fish either Lake Kissimmee or Lake Tohopekaliga by passing through the locks between the lakes. Medium to large wild shiners are effective baits for big bass. In Spring, also try slowly working Carolina-rigged plastic worms, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits. Popular fishing spots in Tohopekaliga are the mouth of Shingle Creek, St. Cloud Canal, North Steer Beach and Lanier Point.
Two fish camps, one marine, one county park and four public boat ramps are available around Lake Tohopekaliga. Two fishing piers, a boat basin, and numerous other access points are readily available for bank fishermen along the north end of the lake.