Lake Tohopekaliga, or “Lake Toho,” as locals call it, is a top largemouth bass fishing destination in Florida and even across the United States. Lake Toho is a large, shallow freshwater lake located near the city of Kissimmee. Lake Toho is a popular for its outdoor recreational activities including camping, bird watching, boating and fishing. Lake Toho is well-known among anglers for its abundance of largemouth bass. Lake Toho spans over 22,000 acres and is part of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, which includes several other bass-rich lakes. Anglers come from all over to fish in these famous waters located in Kissimmee, Florida.
Largemouth Bass Fishing Season
The best seasons for largemouth bass fishing, on Lake Toho, is spring (January to April) and fall (September to November). Spring is peak season, as bass spawn in these months, especially in February and March. Largemouth bass favorite place to spawn is in shallow waters. For the most successful fishing expedition, search for an experienced fishing guide as a fishing guide will know the best places to find these shallow waters. Many experienced fishing guides can be found through a bass fishing charter. The next best season to catch largemouth bass is in the fall. This is a productive time as bass begin to feed heavily before winter. A main feature of bass fishing at Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida is the mild climate offered throughout the winter. This allows more opportunity for an experienced fishing guide to find active areas for largemouth bass fishing during the winter season and not just in the spring and fall.
Best Areas to Find Largemouth Bass
Let’s dig deeper into the best areas to find largemouth bass. Warm, shallow and covered areas are the best areas to find largemouth bass. Bass tend to spawn in shallow, protected areas to create nests and guard their eggs. Lake Toho offers a vast area of protective vegetation with Florida sunlit waters. Bass prefer to create their nests in waters between 1 to 5 feet on hard, sandy or gravelly bottoms. They prefer warm water with a grassy cover for protection. Lake Toho has extensive grass flats and many areas covered with hydrilla beds and lily pads which makes Lake Toho an attractive area for spawning largemouth bass. The grassy areas also attract baitfish which is a staple food for largemouth bass. Local fishing guides know these favorite areas for spawning bass, bringing you to the best locations, providing you and anglers, alike, an amazing opportunity for the best largemouth bass catch.
Bait and Lures for Largemouth Bass
Using the right type of bait, lures and techniques is just as important to catch largemouth bass as the location. Live bait, such as wild shiners is the preferred bait, especially in the early morning or late evening. Other live bait and topwater lures are frogs and buzzbaits, especially around grass lines and lily pads. Another favorite is the use of soft plastics like worms, crawfish and flukes. These work well during the spawning season when bass are in the shallow, covered waters. Jigs and crankbaits work effectively around hydrilla and other submerged vegetation for deeper fishing, especially in winter. Bass are attracted to the pitching and flipping of jigs into the hydrilla beds and lily pads, yielding impressive catches.
Largemouth Bass Fishing Techniques
Just as important as the type of bait or lure used to have a great catch, is the technique in casting your line. In topwater fishing, cast your line and reel in with short jerks to mimic prey splashes as this can trigger aggressive strikes from bass. When casting your line with crainkbait, retrieve at a steady pace, but vary the speed or add a stop-and-go action to mimic an injured fish as this is enticing to bass. When using jigs, cast the jig near cover and let it sink to the bottom. Use a life-and-drop action by gently pulling up on your rod and make the jog hop, mimicking a crawfish or injured baitfish. It is best to slowly drag or twitch along the bottom, soft plastic words and creature baits as bass are often triggered by the subtle, lifelike action of soft plastics. Some anglers prefer to drop shot small worms. Attach a weight about 12-18 inches below the lure and drop it directly to the bottom, then gently shake the rod to make the bait wiggle enticingly without moving the weights. Flipping and pitching your lure or jigs is another technique used to catch largemouth bass. Flip or pitch your lure close to hydrilla or lily pad area and let it sink. This allows for a quiet presentation and is idea for sneaking up on bass. Swimbait fishing is a technique where a steady retrieve with occasional pauses or twitches to make the bait look lifelike.
Things to Remember when Fishing for Largemouth Bass
Familiarize yourself with Florida’s fishing regulations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) enforces size and bag limits for largemouth bass. Lake Toho is a popular spot for professional fishing guides, many of whom specialize in trophy bass fishing. The Catch-and-Release practice for bass fishing is widely used to conserve the trophy bass population. Look into hiring a fishing guide, especially through a well-known fishing charter, as it can greatly increase your chances of landing a big catch. This is especially true for newcomers or if it’s your first time on Lake Toho. Finally, pay attention to the weather. Florida’s weather can be unpredictable, so plan for sudden rainstorms and have proper safety equipment on board. Sun protection is a must, as the Florida sun can be intense even in the cooler months.
