Florida’s freshwater is a amazing area and many a trophy are taken from these waters annually. Most folks think of saltwater when discussing opportunities in Florida. The saltwater is quite good but the monsters that lay in Florida’s inland freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers are amazing to say the least. To do some planning check out Florida’s reports for the following regions. Top Black Bass Lakes, Top Striper Lakes, Top Black Crappie Lakes, Top Bluegill Lakes, Top Catfish holes

Florida is a MECA for the black bass species commonly called the large mouth bass. These fish grow quite large in Florida and almost all of the freshwater areas in Florida hold these great fighters of fish I will Identify 3 top areas in no particular order. Visit my website to get information on the other top Black Bass lakes and rivers.
Florida’s top largemouth bass lakes are , #1 Lake George. Lake George is located 29 miles from Ocala in central Florida. There are many Lake George Reports available. #2 West Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho). Lake Toho is located next to the city of Kissimmee in central Florida. #3 Lake Kissimmee. Lake Kissimmee is the largest of Kissimmee river lakes and is nationally renowned. Just a note: look for Kissimmee reports to find reports for the Kissimmee chain of lakes. Also visit the Florida Fish And Wildlife website.

You may not know it but Florida holds some Monster Stripers and the striper hybrid called “sunshine bass” in many of the freshwater areas. I will Identify 3 top areas in no particular order. #1 Apalachicola River / Lake Seminole. Lake Seminole is located on the Florida Georgia State line Near the City of Chattahoochee, flowing south to city of Apalachicola. This freshwater area is where all the state records for stripers are found. #2 Lake Talquin / Ochlockonee River. Lake Talquin is located just west of Tallahassee. Fish in the 10 to 20lb range are common up to 30lb . #3 St. Johns River and Blackwater/Yellow Rivers. The St. Johns river is located north to Jacksonville. 8 to 12-pound range are common, but stripers over 20 pounds are rare. The Blackwater/Yellow Rivers is located northeast of Pensacola. Stripers 10 to 20-pounds are common and stripers in the 20 to 30-pound range are now occurring more frequently.

Florida’s Black Crappie is outstanding and many a 2 to 3lb’ers are caught. These fish are commonly called specks also I will Identify 3 top areas in no particular order. Make sure you check the Florida reports for these locals for the best time of year to fish. #1 Lake Talquin . Lake Talquin is located just west of Tallahassee. Thee is a 10” length restriction on this lake to control the Black crappie population. Not surprisingly, many crappie in the 2lb range are caught from this lake. Also the state record of 3lbs 13onces was caught from Lake Talquin. #2 Orange Lake / Lochloosa Lake. Orange lake

is located between Gainesville and Ocala. Crappie in the over 1lb range are common here. #3 Lake Weir. Lake Weir is located in south Marion County near Ocla. The larger crappie are caught early in the season on this lake.

Florida has more than 7,700 named lakes and ponds and over 10,000 miles of streams and rivers, all holding good populations of bream. Bream is a term given to the sunfish family that includes: bluegill, redear sunfish (shellcracker), redbreast sunfish, spotted sunfish (stumpknocker) and warmouth. All the freshwater impoundments hold good populations of these critters , but I will list three of the more popular areas. #1 Lake Monroe. Lake Monroe is near Sanford. Good catches of bream will be seen in 2008. #2 Lake Kissimmee. Lake Kissimmee is located east of the City of Lake Wales in the heart of Osceola County. Lake Kissimmee has always been a old reliable lake for catching good size and numbers of bream. #3 Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho). Lake Toho is located south of the City of Kissimmee. Lake Toho is noted for it’s largemouth but is also a great Bream Lake.

The best catfish holes are located on the rivers. Here’s three rivers systems that holds a good population of Channel ,Flathead and Blue Cat. Make sure your check local reports to find out what months are best to catch catfish in Florida. #1 Apalachicola River. For all species of catfish , anglers should try the area from the Jim Woodruff Dam south to Owl Creek. #2 Choctawhatchee River. Fishermen should concentrate on the Alabama line south to West Bay, and around the mouth of Holmes Creek and other tributaries. #3 Escambia River. The best stretch lies from the Alabama line to the I-10 Bridge.