Best Crappie Fishing within 1 hour of Tampa Bay area

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and also somewhat new to freshwater fishing. Lifelong FL native and fisherman, just always in the Gulf.

I would like to try my luck with some crappie fishing but really have no idea about the most productive lakes in the Tampa Bay area. I actually live in Pasco County, a little north of Tampa, and have no problem trailering even up to a couple of hours (although preferably just 1 hour each way).

I did go to Lake Tarpon a few weeks ago but didn't catch anything. Maybe just too early in year? It was before all of these cold fronts. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

One good way to get a general idea of good local lakes and ways to fish them is go over to the "Florida crappie club" section and check out tournament results!

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out!

Tarpon is a good fishery. Lots of specks caught from there. Teneroc in Lakeland is good, must follow their rules. Takes time to learn any place you go. Lk. Manatee in Manatee county is very good but has a 20 HP or less rule.

How were you fishing at Tarpon?

Thanks for the suggestions. At Tarpon I bought some live minnows at a local bait shop and used a crappie rig I bought online. The rig was basically a jig at the bottom and a hook about 6" up from the jig. i am sure there is a name for this rig I just cannot recall it. I'd put the live minnow on the empty hook and just used a bobber. Fished the N end of the lake around docks and channels. I caught a couple of small bass but that was about it.

I also fished the lilly pads directly across from the Anderson Park boat ramp, but didn't get a single bite.

Depends on the time of year on fishing in pads or reeds compared to open water. Right now all I am getting are in open water on Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Would be about an hour and a half drive one way for you.

If you do head over this way let me know and I can get you direction to some good areas.

Welcome from Orange City. Just stay in touch here and the rigs and depths and so on will be posted on regularly. Some good folks over your way, you'll be catching fish soon. We fish year round with a catch rate sometimes better than others.

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Originally Posted by USF_BULL_92

Thanks for the suggestions. At Tarpon I bought some live minnows at a local bait shop and used a crappie rig I bought online. The rig was basically a jig at the bottom and a hook about 6" up from the jig. i am sure there is a name for this rig I just cannot recall it. I'd put the live minnow on the empty hook and just used a bobber. Fished the N end of the lake around docks and channels. I caught a couple of small bass but that was about it.

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Do you have a trolling motor? Do you have any electronics, fish finder? These pics are what is called spider rigging. there is a 1/2 oz sinker with jig tipped with a minnow or crappie nibble on the end of each line. You only need as many poles as you can afford. You move around slowly, till you find fish , then back and forth over that spot till they move or quit biting. Then find another spot. At Tarpon they should be in 10' to 15' depths. All of this info is subject to variables that you will learn with experience. If Tarpon is close to you go there till you figure it out. Search and read on this site for info, there is a ton of it on here. Pick brains for info and keep the parts that fit you. Refuse to give up.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M...0&pid=3.1&rm=2https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M...0&pid=3.1&rm=2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by USF_BULL_92

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and also somewhat new to freshwater fishing. Lifelong FL native and fisherman, just always in the Gulf.

I would like to try my luck with some crappie fishing but really have no idea about the most productive lakes in the Tampa Bay area. I actually live in Pasco County, a little north of Tampa, and have no problem trailering even up to a couple of hours (although preferably just 1 hour each way).

I did go to Lake Tarpon a few weeks ago but didn't catch anything. Maybe just too early in year? It was before all of these cold fronts. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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Sent you a P M.

All those with information given so far are dead on = Lake Tarpon is a good Fishery - can catch fish there almost
any time of year - long-lining or spider rigging.... live bait and jigs work best -
black / char - slider jigs - bubble gum -
If Spider rigging - go with Ron's or Skipper's mylar jigs in colors of Hot pink - buttercup - green

Thanks again for the suggestions. I'll keep an eye on the boards and look forward to posting future reports.

Yelim had asked about my boat, which is not exactly an ideal freshwater boat. It's a 2016 Yamaha FSH 190. As you can see from the photo it's a center console. Nice built in livewell. I've put some big grouper on the deck in the 6 months I've had it. No trolling motor, but yes to a good garmin bottom machine. I've seen where people have put trolling motors on these before but I probably won't because I'll still use it a lot for saltwater. If a trolling motor helps fishing a lot I can look into a removable on a bracket.

Attachment 254153

Nice boat!! You should be drowning greenbacks at veterans reef off clearwater.

I'm a newbie to Pasco. I live out in Land O Lakes (which is Indian for "really no lakes that are not private"). You might have found the 2 lakes listed below already. Middle lake is listed as having crappie, I have not fished it yet, but it has a ramp and looks pretty good. Moon Lake is not listed as a crappie lake but is in Pasco. Also listed is Crew's Lake in Crews Lake Park which I have read is a great crappie lake. It looks more like a field with all the weed growth on it. Rangers at the park says it was a prarie a couple of years ago. Don't know if this helps, but if I find anything local that looks good I'll pass it along. Tight Lines

Pasco County, FL - Official Website - Middle Lake Park

Pasco County, FL - Official Website - Moon Lake Park

Seems you have a little more room to walk around on deck then I have on my kayak

Little overkill for Tarpon = unless you go over the dam into Saltwater side of Tampa Bay.

Need to hitch a ride with some of the locals to see how fish are caught in Tarpon and/or come by some of
Florida Crappie club guys - as they will be on Tarpon January 7th for tournament - most likely during week
prior will be pre-fishing lake.

In years gone by Crews Lake was very good for Bass and Jacks, not so much crappie. Years ago a sink hole opened up in lake and drained it dry. Never been back. It was 46 years ago that we fished it. Was no park there then. Know nothing of the other lakes you mentioned.

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Originally Posted by bwanajim

I'm a newbie to Pasco. I live out in Land O Lakes (which is Indian for "really no lakes that are not private"). You might have found the 2 lakes listed below already. Middle lake is listed as having crappie, I have not fished it yet, but it has a ramp and looks pretty good. Moon Lake is not listed as a crappie lake but is in Pasco. Also listed is Crew's Lake in Crews Lake Park which I have read is a great crappie lake. It looks more like a field with all the weed growth on it. Rangers at the park says it was a prarie a couple of years ago. Don't know if this helps, but if I find anything local that looks good I'll pass it along. Tight Lines

Pasco County, FL - Official Website - Middle Lake Park

Pasco County, FL - Official Website - Moon Lake Park

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Originally Posted by Yelim

Nice boat!! You should be drowning greenbacks at veterans reef off clearwater.

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Thanks, and you are correct about the greenbacks. Grouper cannot resist!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bwanajim

I'm a newbie to Pasco. I live out in Land O Lakes (which is Indian for "really no lakes that are not private"). You might have found the 2 lakes listed below already. Middle lake is listed as having crappie, I have not fished it yet, but it has a ramp and looks pretty good. Moon Lake is not listed as a crappie lake but is in Pasco. Also listed is Crew's Lake in Crews Lake Park which I have read is a great crappie lake. It looks more like a field with all the weed growth on it. Rangers at the park says it was a prarie a couple of years ago. Don't know if this helps, but if I find anything local that looks good I'll pass it along. Tight Lines

Pasco County, FL - Official Website - Middle Lake Park

Pasco County, FL - Official Website - Moon Lake Park

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Thanks for info. As someone else mentioned, Crews Lake I had heard was dried up, but then I heard it had rebounded. And you are right about Land O' Lakes.

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Originally Posted by fishin813

Little overkill for Tarpon = unless you go over the dam into Saltwater side of Tampa Bay.

Need to hitch a ride with some of the locals to see how fish are caught in Tarpon and/or come by some of
Florida Crappie club guys - as they will be on Tarpon January 7th for tournament - most likely during week
prior will be pre-fishing lake.

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I actually thought it fished Lake Tarpon well. Except for not catching anything LOL. No problems at the boat ramp and with it being a jet engine I can get right into the pads. I just have to be careful with the intake, but even if something got sucked in I have access topside to remove it.

I'd like to hook-up with someone with local knowledge and experience fishing Lake Tarpon. I'll pay for gas and bait. Hell, I'll even spring for the beer. Just don't mind my fishing buddy, pictured below during the 1 time I went to Lake Tarpon in this boat. He's good, but he does like to lick fish flopping on the deck. :-)

Attachment 254248

Wrong time of the year to be poking around in the weeds unless it is for Bass, Get you a bucket of minnows and drift out in deep water. At least till you get a trolling motor.