I know this is a crappie site but can anyone tell me where some good bassin is close to Winter Haven. Might come in late feb or early March. Thanks guys.
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I know this is a crappie site but can anyone tell me where some good bassin is close to Winter Haven. Might come in late feb or early March. Thanks guys.
All kinds of great bassing down here, but what is your situation going to be like when you get here? Do you have a boat?
I do have a boat Im planning on pulling down there. Its a16 ft lowe with a 25hp motor so I dont want to be in any real rough water.
How deep are the lakes in that area.
Bout as deep as the height of the corn in Missouri in most places. You can find some deeper areas down to 16-22', but not of the norm. I think the average depth of the big "O" is something like 3.5'.......that is what I heard anywho.
Dusty
Most lakes are pretty shallow, with 10 - 12 foot being the average depth in the middle. Usually a few holes deeper than that. A 'deep' lake is 20 feet.
Any lake around here, even Kissimmee ain't that rough... just depends on the wind on that given day. I've been in the middle of Kissimmee and had a canoe go by me (35000 acre lake).
The lakes of Winter Haven are have OK fisheries for bassing. Most are ringed by Kissimmee grass and buggy whips. Many have large weed beds of hydrilla. There are many boat ramps and a lot of the lakes have navigatable canals. There is a North Chain and a South Chain of lakes in Winter Haven. You boat can handle any of the lakes in Winter Haven.
Some bass will likely still be on spawn or post spawn so you can flip for them.
Also hard to beat just dragging a worm around. I like a watermelon seed with red fleck in vibe tail by zoom in the clear to slightly stained lakes. Junebug red vibe tail in darker waters. Rigged on 10 lb test with a light weight or no weight at all. If flipping, a craw in a dark color on heavy pegged weight.
Okachobee is definitely very shallow. The canals around it are a bit deeper.Quote:
Originally Posted by centerdriver
if you wanna catch bass the everglades is second to none.
all you need is a boat and a dalton special
I hope that I get to come down there. I have never been to Florida. My buddy has a house on some golf course in Winter Haven that we can stay at for free. Money is a little tight right now but the main thing that would stop me is that Im fighting with some rare form of pneumonia. So if the docs can get me fixed I'll be coming.
If you want to leave Winter Haven, try Lake Walk in the Water, aka Weohtopiga. I think it has come back some, and it use to be good for putting 15 - 20 bass in the boat.
INFO from the FWCC on Lake Walk in Water - I'm not sure how well it has recovered. We may go check it out this weekend.
Quote:
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.