Note: TEAM lake designations are no longer used.

Nobody said it would be easy, and Lake Griffin in Lake County at Leesburg will be one of the more challenging bodies of water in the "TEAM" (Team Effort Accomplishing Management) approach to restoring five of Florida's more notable "fishin' holes."

Beginning last year, Florida's Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission (FWC) employees embarked upon an ambitious program to make several major lake systems more attractive and productive for freshwater anglers. Targeted lakes include Griffin, Talquin, the Orange Lake complex, the Kissimmee complex, and Lake Istokpoga. TheTEAM concept enlists support from several state agencies, local and state lawmakers, the media, university representatives and private citizens.

Lake Griffin is a 9,290-acre hypereutrophic lake where anglers have experienced a rapid decline in quality fishing in recent years due to stabilized water levels, a loss of rooted aquatic plants, an overload of nutrients, and the diking of associated marshlands for farming operations.

Although anglers sporadically catch trophy largemouth, FWC Biologist John Benton rates Lake Griffin at only a "2" or "3" on a 10-point bass scale.

Griffin's bass spawning is severely limited due to poor water quality and aquatic habitat, resulting in the recruitment of fewer fish into the population.

Speckled perch (crappie), though generally small, are reasonably abundant, while bream (bluegill and shellcracker) get just "fair" marks at best.

Historically, Lake Griffin was considered one of Florida's leading bass hotspots by local and out-of-state anglers. As quality fishing declined from the mid-1970's to the early 80's, a 1984 drawdown was performed which produced notable gains in sportfish populations and angler success rates.

A second attempt to draw Lake Griffin down in 1995 was stalled, due primarily to public opposition. According to Benton, a meeting on the proposal was packed with winter residents who objected to a temporary inconvenience that a drawdown would cause.

"One winter resident said he 'wouldn't buy green bananas and wants access to the lake now.'

"Unfortunately," mused Benton, "bass anglers assumed a drawdown would be an easy 'sell' and failed to show up to support the proposal."

Local politicians, community leaders and businessmen also have been inconsistent in expressing support for a different management approach for Lake Griffin, and there is a general lack of public awareness of the problems and potential solutions to improve the lake's quality.

There is county-wide interest in boosting tourism, but, presently, no guiding force is in place to encourage or promote the concept that improved fishing will expand the tourist base.

A drawdown is probably the best avenue available to restore Lake Griffin to past glories. But, from a practical standpoint, the very earliest it can be accomplished will be in the fall of 1999, assuming that public and political support for such a measure will be forthcoming.

If a drawdown is deemed feasible following a scheduled May, 1999, public hearing, work could begin in November, with the actual removal and relocation of organic bottom sediments taking place in March, 2000.

Until then, the FWC will embark upon several programs to improve aquatic habitat in both the quality and quantity of submersed aquatic vegetation.

In cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, the FWC is now controlling at least 50 acres of cattail in selected areas of Lake Griffin to promote expansion of such desirable native plants as knotgrass and bulrush. On the agenda for February is the establishment of an inter-agency group to address increased water level fluctuations and strategies to improve the abundance of native submersed plants and, annually, with Watershed Action Volunteer (WAV), fishing clubs, high school science classes, and Boy/Girl Scout troops, FWC biologists will continue to aggressively control cattail in areas that have been replanted or where desirable native plants have shown potential to expand.

This year, FWC biologists will consider the desirability of reducing the black crappie bag limit to 25 fish per day, and, in June, will consider the stocking of advanced fingerling largemouth bass to supplement a limited natural reproduction of the species.

With help from the WAV group, the FWC next May will coordinate and implement a project to reestablish native aquatic plant species.

On the immediate horizon, the FWC will seek cooperation from the City of Leesburg to enhance bank fishing opportunities at Hurlong Park. This project may include construction or installation of additional facilities, enhancement of the bank and canal, along with increasing the number of fish attractors or feeders from three to five. No question but what "TEAM" has an enormous job ahead to restore Lake Griffin's aquatic habitat and fishery. However, with government, political, agency and public support for a drawdown in late 1999, plus the other proposed initiatives, perhaps Lake Griffin can once again regain its status as one of the country’s premier bass lakes.