Trophy
Bass Fishing on World Famous Lake Toho World Famous Lake Toho covering
18,810 acres of what is indisputably some of the best trophy bass
fishing in the State of Florida, and with very good reason. This
amazing body of water can, on any given day or any given cast reward
an angler with a 10 pound bass, what everyone considers a trophy
bass, or a catch of a lifetime for many.
With many options
for catching these trophy bass ranging from wild shiners to crank
baits, one thing is for sure, the possibilities are endless, the
fun and excitement has no boundaries. Tournament anglers flock
from around the country to fish tournaments here. Whether it be
a B.A.S.S tournament, FLW, Extreme Bass or local club tournaments,
these directors hold their tournaments here for a very good reason,
BIG BASS!
Depending on
what time of year you wish to fish Lake Toho can play a role on
the numbers, or the quality of the bass you will catch. Now everyone
knows the summer months for bass fishing can be tough with the
extreme heat, many anglers feel that the bass just won’t bite. This is very far from the truth. Generally the summer months the bass fishing will still be productive in the early morning hours and late afternoon. Many will say “the big gals bite early or late” but
I can assure you they will bite all day long. Most of my biggest bass,
7 to 10 pounds have come between the hours of 11am and 3 pm, right in
the heat of the day!
Fall and winter
are probably some of the best times to bass fish on Lake Toho.
Cold fronts will roll into Central Florida, lowering our air temperatures
and also dropping our water temperatures. This will trigger bait
fish, shad and shiners to bunch up in pods making them an easy
target for largemouth bass to ambush. This will trigger the bass
feeding frenzy as they fatten up for the spawn, which typically
starts early January and will last sometimes into May.
Spawn season
is typically our busiest time of year, as this is generally one
of the best times for people to get a chance at catching that trophy
bass from Lake Toho. Many anglers, even the most experienced, will
request live wild shiners as their bait of choice just to increase
the chances of them catching that Trophy Bass that many anglers
may spend many years trying to catch.
Spring can be
just absolutely off the hook bass fishing! Trophy bass have finished
their spawn, and what are they looking to do? Well this is the
time that trophy bass once again go on a major feeding frenzy!
They have laid their eggs and for the most part remained dormant,
as they remain close to the bed, watching over the buck bass guarding
the nest. Now if the buck has been caught and not released, the
female bass will return to guard the nest. Once the spawn is complete
for her, she will start feeding up to regain strength, and these
gals can be very aggressive when they feed. This will make for
some seriously fun bass fishing.
There is good
reason these bass make it to 10 pounds or better, they are smart!
We know the waters we fish, but remember, they know the waters
they live in. Many may find that statement laughable, but think
about it. Many big bass are not caught in wide open waters. They
are usually caught from beds, which can be close to or even under
docks. Close to or in openings in grass beds, or in and around
sunken timber. Now when you hook one of these gals, they will make
a run for cover, Hitting that dock, trying to get to thick cover,
or tangling you up in that timber. That to me, and many other pro
anglers says these bass are smart. It’s not just a matter of setting a hook, and reeling her in.
We must always
remember when you do catch a spawning bass to handle her with extreme
care. Please take that picture fast, supporting her belly and gently
releasing her back into the waters. These trophy bass are also
our “breeding stock” as we like to call them. It’s their gene that helps map our future in the bass fishing industry, and when these trophy bass are released alive and well it will increase the next bass anglers’ chances
at also catching that bass of a lifetime, and who knows, that next
angler could be your own son or daughter.
Capt Tim Fey
Owner/Guide
http://www.bassfishingfl.com
321-303-9207
