NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

March 15, 2001

CONTACT: Gary Morse (863) 648-3206

LUNKER BASS BITING HARD WARM WEATHER ARRIVES

Central Florida fishermen searching for trophy bass have a great opportunity to find huge largemouths as lowering water levels, due to drought conditions, have concentrated fish in decreasingly smaller areas. While access is difficult in some places because of low water, there are enough lakes with sufficient water depth in them to launch a boat with little or no problem. Where launching is a problem, wade fishing can be a very productive method of targeting fish that are holding close to cover or over deep drop offs near shore.

The best areas for catching trophy largemouths in west-central Florida are the Tenoroc Fish Management Area in Lakeland, Winter Haven Chain-of-Lakes, Edward Medard Reservoir, and Kissimmee chain of lakes with special emphasis on Lakes Walk-in-the-Water and Istokpoga. (See Sites/Forecasts for updates and details)

The ongoing drawdown on Lake Istokpoga, designed to help control the formation of tussocks and organic muck detrimental to sportfish, is producing bass in the 12- to 13-pound class. The majority of larger fish have been taken over deep-water hydrilla beds.

Lakeland native and noted outdoorsman, John Dean, caught a 13-pound lunker in the south end of Lake Istokpoga on a recent outing. The fish bit a spinner bait over hydrilla in six to seven feet of water. The fish was measured, photographed and released to fight another day.

"On Lake Istokpoga, the difficulty is not in catching the fish, it's getting to the fish," said Tom Champeau, regional fisheries biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

According to Champeau, there is access to Lake Istokpoga, mainly from some of the fish camps. Cypress Isle Fish Camp or Henderson's Fish Camp both presently have launch ramps with good lake access.

In addition to Lakes Istokpoga and Lake Walk-in-the-Water, Tenoroc Fish Management Area in Lakeland and Hillsborough County's Medard Reservoir, one mile south of SR 60 on Turkey Creek Rd., have produced good quantities of quality largemouth bass in recent weeks. According to angler reports in Tenoroc and Medard Reservoir, most large bass are being caught near deep drop offs on crank baits or on artificial worms, lizards and wild shiners.

Still an underrated bass fishery, Medard Reservoir near Plant City amazes fishery biologists. Electrofishing samples continue to indicate the growth and presence of a large number of extremely robust bass in the 20- to 23-inch range. Particular attention to lure color seems to be the key to enticing these large fish into biting artificial lures. Effective colors vary with water clarity.

Bass anglers need to be aware that special regulations, designed to improve fishing, may be in effect on some of these lakes. Anglers can get a free copy of freshwater fishing regulations by calling the FWC's Lakeland Office at 863-648-3203 or by accessing the FWC Web site at www.myflorida.com/fwc/fishing.