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Freshwater Fishing Offices - Orlando - Fab Five

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Turkey Lake (339 acres)

Species focus: Largemouth bass and black crappie

Partner: City of Orlando

Target constituency: Greater Orlando residents and visitors

Amenities: Featured in BASSMASTER magazine, FLORIDA SPORTSMAN magazine and ESPN's "Casting Crew", Turkey Lake is located just minutes from BASS PRO SHOPS Outdoor World and Universal Studios. Thanks to cooperation between the FWC, City of Orlando and BASS PRO SHOPS, fishermen can rent a BASS TRACKER boat at the City of Orlando's Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, for just $15 boat/day! The boats are equipped with live wells, trolling motors, anchors, depth finders, and park radios.

In order to maintain quality, boat fishing is limited to four boats, Thursday - Sunday, 6:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Due to deed restrictions, these loaner boats are the only way the public can legally fish Turkey Lake from a watercraft. The City's boat concession area also has some loaner fishing poles equipped with a limited selection of bait and tackle.

While fishing this relatively clear, shallow grassy natural lake is certainly better from a boat [Turkey Lake topographic map (1MB)], five fishing piers (one fixed, four floating) help improve the bank fisherman's odds. Shoreline fishing is available anytime the park is open or 24 hours/day for those camping. The fixed pier has fish feeders to attract fish as well as lights and a fish cleaning station. The three floating piers in the primitive camping area have two oak-brush fish attractors within casting distance. Three additional oak-brush fish attractors (for boat anglers) and a park shoreline enhanced to maximize fisheries production round off the list of angler amenities.

Turkey Lake Park offers campsites, primitive cabins, a swimming pool, numerous picnic pavilions and bathrooms, a kid's playground area, a Frisbee golf course and a "mock-up" of an old historic Florida farm. For boat loaner reservations or information on the Park call 407-299-5581.

Work History:

1998:	FWC Commissioners approved largemouth bass catch and release and reduced bluegill and channel catfish bag limits.
Spring 1999:	Conducted effort creel to assess angler usage of lake prior to management efforts.
Spring 2000:	FWC Commissioners approved "no gasoline motors" and "no cast netting" regulations.
Spring 2000:	Removed nuisance vegetation along public shoreline as part of habitat enhancement project to improve fishery.
Fall 2000:	Installed 5 brush fish attractors around strategic areas of the lake, marked with yellow "Fish Attractor" buoys.
Winter 2001:	Installed 3 informational kiosks on shoreline to educate anglers about Fish Orlando! program.
Spring 2001:	Built 2 floating fishing piers.
Spring 2001:	Built floating dock system to house the Turkey Lake Boat Loaner Program.
Spring 2001:	Remodeled concessionaire building in preparation for the Turkey Lake Boat Loaner Program.
Summer 2001:	Installed 2 davits with respective fish feeders at the end of the fishing pier to attract fish to the area.
Summer 2001:	Turkey Lake Boat Loaner Program brought on line!
Summer 2002:	Planted eelgrass in efforts to replace nuisance vegetation removed in 2000 as part of lake restoration project.
Summer 2002:	Fixed fishing pier refurbished complete with lights and fish cleaning station.
Winter 2003:	Hero board installed at boathouse to display success of Boat Loaner Program. Installed two more floating piers.
Fall 2003:	Removed nuisance vegetation along private north shoreline as part of habitat enhancement project to improve fishery.
Spring 2005:	Conducted effort creel to assess angler usage of lake following management efforts.
Spring 2005:	Revegetated area along private north shoreline, previously enhanced in Fall 2003.
Ongoing:	Fisheries assessment, aquatic plant management and maintenance of Boat Loaner Program, fish feeders, kiosks and fish attractors.

Fishery: The bass population covers the full range of opportunities from smaller fish to an occasional fish in the 11- to 12-pound range. Spring fisheries samples have indicated that approximately half of the bass are 14 inches or more! By continuing the management strategy of developing and protecting good fisheries habitat and limiting harvest and pressure, the bass population should remain strong for years to come.

The black crappie (speck) population offers the angler a great shot at fish over 12 inches. A few "specks" even make it to 14-16 inches! Anglers are encouraged not to keep anymore than they can use, as this low to moderately dense population could be susceptible to over fishing. For now, maintaining quality will be accomplished by limiting pressure with the boats. Further regulations, however, may be necessary if a few anglers get "greedy".

Even though largemouth bass and black crappie are the management focus for the lake, there are times when 8-inch plus bluegills are caught off the fishing piers or by black crappie fishermen. Most of the time a good catch of these bluegill is 10 fish or less for a four-hour fishing trip. Other fish available at Turkey Lake but not caught as frequently, include redear sunfish, warmouth, brown bullhead catfish and channel catfish.

General Fishing Tips: December through April soft jerk baits and top water plugs tossed in the Kissimmee grass, pads and other aquatic vegetation will usually provide good action on largemouth bass. As the water warms try fishing crank baits and Texas-rigged plastics on main lake points, bottlenecks and at the fish attractors.

Speck fishing is usually best October - February. Missouri minnows (also known as fathead or crappie minnows) drifted under a float and split shot in the south lobe of the lake is one "time-tested" method of catching Turkey Lake "slabs". If no bites are had with this method try slow trolling or drifting without the floats. Don't give up until you've tried different depths and speeds.

Regulations: Catch-and-release for bass, statewide for black crappie (25 fish bag limit; no minimum size), reduced bag for bluegill (20; no size limit) and a reduced bag for channel catfish (6; no size limit). Possession of cast nets and use of gasoline motors (except for sanctioned City and FWC activities) is prohibited. For convenience, lake regulations have been posted in informational kiosks at three locations (boat concession, fixed fishing pier and primitive camping area).

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