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Fish Orlando Fishing Forecast | ||
January-March 2010The following is a generalized quarterly fishing forecast for the Fish Orlando! program (select the Fish Orlando! link for more information and maps). For even more up-to-date information, we suggest you call or visit a local bait-and-tackle shop or guide service. At times we will provide information for some local contacts, which indicated they were willing to be listed herein. Fish Orlando!'s mission is to create and promote convenient, quality fishing opportunities in the greater Orlando area. Initiated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in 1998, the program is supported by the City of Orlando, City of Ocoee, City of Winter Park, Orange County, BASS PRO SHOPS and a variety of other businesses and volunteer/civic groups. For a complete listing of directions to public fishing opportunities in Orange County, contact our office for a free copy of the Fish Orlando! Fishing Map (1601 Scotty's Road, Kissimmee, Florida 34744; phone: 352-732-1225; email: fishorlando@MyFWC.com). Fish Orlando! January-March 2010 Starke LakeLargemouth bass should be moving into the grass areas to spawn. Try flipping soft plastic craws inside areas that have cattails (tall flat stemmed grasses that can grow 6 feet or higher). Also try casting soft jerkbaits (Flukes, Shad Assassins, etc.) and Texas-rigged plastics in the Kissimmee grass along Lakeshore Drive and Silver Star Road. If the fish are not in the emergent grass (i.e. grass sticking out of the water), fish the submerged vegetation (i.e. grass that does not grow above the surface of the water) just out from the areas mentioned above. A lipless crankbait retrieved so that it hits the tops of the submerged vegetation is a good method to check for active fish. If lipless crankbaits don’t work switch to Carolina-rigged plastic baits or try a wacky rigged finesse worm or seinko. Turkey LakeLike Starke Lake, largemouth bass here should be in spawning mode. Topwaters or soft plastic jerkbaits cast back into the emergent grass pockets are usually productive. If bites do not come with an active retrieve, try “dead sticking” i.e. letting the lure sit motionless for a minute or two at a time. The area where the two lobes of the lake come together in a bottleneck is often a good spot. The hydrilla in the open water is scheduled to be treated during this quarter. However, if hydrilla is still present when one gets to the lake, try the holes in the hydrilla as well as the emergent grass. If a cold front sweeps through, fishing can be tough, but occasionally probing the dredge areas in the lake using crankbaits and Carolina-rigged plastic worms can save a trip. The dredge areas are listed on a topographical map, which can be obtained by emailing or calling the Fish Orlando office (see contact information above). Lake UnderhillThe Department of Transportation is widening the 408 which dissects this excellent bass fishery, so for now, the area available to fish has been reduced slightly. In the north lobe there are some patches of topped out peppergrass that have edges and holes that are holding fish. Use your depth finder in this north lobe to find where this grass connects to the deeper dredge holes that are on the shoreline that abuts up to the Orlando Executive Airport. Try a toad worked over the top of the holes or flip a Texas-rigged paddle-tail worm or creature bait. In the south lobe try the edges of the emergent grass with hard jerkbaits or a 4 inch worm fished a foot or so behind a 1/32 oz pegged worm weight. IvanhoeWith the majority of bass in spawning mode, fishing should begin to be productive up close to the bank. Try the edges of the submersed vegetation with finesse plastic worms or small soft jerkbaits. In the second lobe try fishing around the emergent vegetation (i.e. pads, bulrush and cattails). If the fish are not active try rigging the baits “wacky” style or fishing them in a dead stick manner. Clear LakeHybrid striped bass fishing is at its peak this quarter. Crappie minnows or a small domestic shiner fished at different depths on a slip-bobber rig in the numerous dredge holes around the lake is usually your best bet. Concentrate on the dredge holes where bait is marked on the depth finder. The bite is usually better when a cold front is coming in from the north with overcast skies and a little rain. The dredge areas are listed on a topographical map, which can be obtained by emailing or calling the Fish Orlando office (see contact information above). If the dredge holes do not hold fish try drifting the deep water in the middle of the lake. Urban Ponds (Barnett Park Frog Pond, Bear Creek, Lake Island Park, and Santiago)Because the URBAN PONDS are put-and-take channel catfish fisheries and channel catfish are a warm water species, this quarter can often be a bust. However, if we have an unseasonably warm winter and/or you focus your efforts in March towards the end of the quarter, some channel catfish may be caught. Try fishing chicken liver rigged on a #6 or #8 hook around the “Baited Fishing Area” signs. Night crawlers and wigglers are a good second choice for bait. Fish Orlando! "We're bringing quality fishing to families" | ||
Our mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.
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