Bass Fishing

- Bass Fishing
- Bass Fishing in Florida
- Bass fishing lakes
- Bass Fishing Lure
- Bass Fishing Tips

Bass Fishing in Florida

Florida has gained much recognition for its world-class saltwater fishing, but the truly exceptional freshwater fishing has not yet caught the attention of the enthusiastic anglers from around the world. Local residents are fully aware of the sheer pleasure of Bass fishing in Florida and slowly the state of Florida is catching on as the ultimate in Bass fishing in the US.

At least 32 species of fish are caught in the numerous lakes, canals, ponds and rivers throughout Southwest Florida. The anglers that pursue these freshwater game fish are popularly called as 'Bass fishermen', 'pan fishermen' or 'catfishermen' depending upon the object of their pursuit. The most sought after game fish in Florida is the largemouth Bass. These Bass are so popular in Florida that they are often referred to as Florida Bass. The largemouth generally has a light green to light brown color on its side and a dark lateral line. This line extends towards the tail and breaks out into blotches as it reaches the tail. Originally, this fish was found only in peninsular Florida, but now several other states like Texas and California also stock these fish. However, pure northern largemouth are found only in Florida. The largemouth prefers non-flowing waters with lots of vegetation. Much of its popularity as a game fish is because of its aggressiveness and its willingness to strike bait with almost explosive force. The longmouth will strike almost any kind of artificial or live bait. Because of its immense popularity as good sport, there is slowly a movement towards catching and releasing this fish.

Bass fishing in Florida is done in the various small lakes and canal systems in the state. Lake Okeechobee is the most famous of all the trophy bass lakes in the world. The quality as well as the quantity of bass meat found here is truly unrivalled. The Lake Okeechobee is 750 square miles and is thus the second largest freshwater lake in the US. It is almost full of weed beds, a favorite of the largemouths. This river has an immense capacity to turn out large numbers of Bass every year. The Miami Lakes, Lake Toho and the FL Evergaldes are popular places for bass fishing. The Orlando and the Central Florida area have also been coming up with many trophy bass in the recent years. The Lake Toho, Lake Conway and Lake Cypress are popular haunts.

The Bass are comfortable in a wide range of water temperatures. They can survive in a range between 35-80 degrees, though they prefer a range between 65 and 70. When the water is cool, they tend to go deeper. One of the undisputed finest bass bait is the wild golden shiner. This is the indisputable ticket to giant bass. The shiners are responsible for producing more trophy bass than any other live or artificial bait known. "Shiner fishing for bass has developed into a real art where only the most skilled practitioners come out at the top".

It's not for anything that Florida is known as the 'Bass Capital of the World'. Though this title has slipped a bit in the recent years, tournaments, stocking and development of the fertile waters in other states has led to a strong comeback. "Bassin on the fly is alive and kicking in Florida". The entire crowd that is pulling into the waters of Florida has made the fish more wary, and the angler's job has become more adventurous and tough, adding some much-wanted spice to the age-old sport. No matter what your experience level, you can be sure of a fun time when you go Bass fishing in Florida.