| Fishing in Florida is easy, exciting and fun because | | | | jerk baits are one of the favorites of the local |
| there are so many productive places to fish in the | | | | fishermen. |
| state, its not stretching the truth to say if you | | | | The Seminole Indian name Okeechobee actually |
| see some water and its more than a few inches | | | | means big water, an appropriate title for the |
| deep, theres probably fish to be caught. Pair this | | | | largest freshwater lake in the United States |
| with the fantastic weather Central Florida has and | | | | occurring entirely in one state. The lake is |
| youve got heaven on earth for many Bass | | | | approximately 37 miles long by 30 miles wide |
| fishermen. You can virtually go bass fishing | | | | (448,000 acres, 700 square miles) with an |
| everyday. | | | | average depth of almost 10 feet. To fishermen |
| You can fish everyday of the year, that adds to | | | | nation wide, Okeechobee is renowned for the |
| the attraction as a fishing Mecca. Your chances of | | | | sheer numbers of bass it contains per acre and |
| catching what you want do vary with the time of | | | | the fact that it produces more Florida trophy bass |
| the year. But with the temperature and weather | | | | over 8 pounds than any lake in Florida and the |
| barely fluctuating and changes are at a minimum, | | | | United States. |
| it is not unlikely to catch a fish even when out of | | | | Because the river flows north, the upper basin is |
| season. | | | | the area to the south that forms its marshy |
| The largemouth bass is the best known and most | | | | headwaters. The middle basin is the area in central |
| popular freshwater game fish in Florida. Found | | | | Florida where the river widens forming lakes |
| statewide, largemouth bass have rapid growth | | | | Harney, Jessup. Monroe and George. The lower |
| rates. Historically known for huge bass, Florida | | | | basin is the area in Northeast Florida from Putnam |
| remains an outstanding destination to catch a | | | | County to the river's mouth in Duval County. |
| trophy Bass. | | | | The source of the river, or headwaters, is a large |
| Central Florida offers not only Lake Toho which is | | | | marshy area in Indian River County. It flows north |
| the most popular lake of the Kissimmee Chain, | | | | and turns eastward at Jacksonville to its mouth in |
| but the fame Stick Marsh-Farm 13 fishery as well | | | | the Atlantic Ocean |
| as the trophy bass lake Walk in water. Lake Toho | | | | The total drop of the river from its source in |
| is relatively shallow 18,800 acre lake that is | | | | swamps south of Melbourne to its mouth in the |
| covered with various types of aquatic vegetation. | | | | Atlantic near Jacksonville is less than 30 feet, or |
| The most abundant is the massive hydraulic beds | | | | about one inch per mile, making it one of the |
| that can be found growing to the surface in up to | | | | "laziest" rivers in the world. Because the river |
| 12 feet of water. | | | | flows slowly, it is difficult to flush pollutants. |
| For Florida bass fishing, bream fishing, or anything | | | | For example, the water color in the Harris Chain is |
| in between, Bass World Lodge is the place to be. | | | | much stained. This is a blessing as most bass in |
| Their location on the St. Johns River in | | | | these lakes are shallow and hold close to cover. |
| Georgetown, Florida gives us quick access to | | | | Noisy lures are effective and multiple |
| some of the most lucrative Florida bass fishing | | | | presentations to the same spot are required to |
| and bream fishing grounds in the United States. | | | | get the fish's attention. |
| Bass World Lodge offers professional guide | | | | The biggest problem most fisherman encounter |
| services, spacious cabins, and fully stocked bait | | | | when fishing in the Harris Chain for the first time |
| and tackle shops, as well as bass and pontoon | | | | is purely mental. Coming from other areas of the |
| boat rentals. | | | | state or country, they look at the pea-soup |
| Lake Toho is a lake that faces North/South, the | | | | water color and get the impression that these |
| lake is approximately 9 miles long and only a | | | | lakes are fishless. This is a shame as they are |
| couple miles wide | | | | missing out on some great action if they only |
| Similar to most of the Florida lakes medium to | | | | knew more about fishing under these conditions. |
| large Wild Shiners are the best producers for | | | | Never underestimate Central Florida; it is a well |
| trophy fish. However, many lurkers are taken on | | | | kept open secret that many fishermen have |
| soft plastics, Carolina rigs; Rats Traps, crank baits, | | | | failed to discover. |
| soft plastic jerk baits, and suspending hard plastic | | | | |