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Lake
Kissimmee, Florida
The
lakes in the Kissimmee Chain comprise the headwaters
for the entire Everglades system. The upper part of the Chain originates
in Orange County with lakes Hart (1,850 acres) and Mary Jane (1,158
acres) and continues south through lakes Center (410 acres), Trout
(273 acres), Coon (148 acres), Lizzie (792 acres), Alligator (3,406
acres), Brick (616 acres), East Tohopekaliga (11,968 acres), and
Gentry (1,791 acres). These lakes are acidic with tannin-stained,
relatively unproductive water. Bass fishing on
the upper Kissimmee Chain is tough generally. However, at times
decent numbers of bass can be found in Alligator Lake, East Lake
Tohopekaliga and Lake Gentry. Access to East Lake Tohopekaliga is
available in the city of St. Cloud on Lakeshore Drive. Lakes in
the Alligator Chain are accessible from a ramp off C.R.534, 5 miles
east of U.S. Hwy 192.
The lower Kissimmee Chain is comprised of lakes
Tohopekaliga (18,810 acres), Cypress (4,097 acres), Hatchineha (6,665
acres), Jackson (1,020 acres), Marian (5,739 acres), and Kissimmee
(34,948 acres). Almost all have periodic navigational problems with
hydrilla. The lower Kissimmee Chain is shallow and extremely sensitive
to weather fronts in the winter and early spring. Those fishing
shiners will be the most successful under strong cold fronts. Speck
fishermen divide time between the open water and the grass. Spawning
specks start showing up in bulrush, cattails, kissimmee grass and
lily pads in December or January.
Lakes Kissimmee and Marian are best for bluegill
and shellcracker in the one-pound-plus range. The last full moon
in March almost always finds bedding shellcracker, and bedding bluegill
come in about the time shellcrackers are slowing down (April/May).
All lakes in the lower chain are accessible from the boat basin
in Kissimmee through a lock at the southwest corner of Lake Tohopekaliga.
Other access points are at Lake Cypress Rd., off C.R.523 out of
St. Cloud; and on Overstreet Rd. (Lake Kissimmee) off C.R.523, 25
miles south of St. Cloud.
 Lake
Kissimmee has a national reputation for high quality
bass fishing. The 34,948-acre lake is between Lake Wales
and Yeehaw Junction in central Florida. In 1996, the FWC revitalized
24 miles of shoreline, resulting in increased numbers of largemouth
bass in the lake. Bass spawned in 1997 and 1998 are beginning show
up in the lake. These Bass will provide excellent action with many
reaching 10 pounds within the next four or five years. Currently,
trophy Bass and high catch rates are reported regularly from guides,
fish camps and tournament anglers. Bass tournament winners routinely
catch a five-fish bag limit weighing 18 to 25 pounds
.
Expansive stands of vegetation (maidencane, bulrush, knotgrass)
account for excellent catches of Trophy Bass. Slow-trolling
golden shiners and flipping plastic baits along, and within, the
vegetation are proven techniques, especially during the winter and
spring. During the summer and fall, bass are caught offshore with
rattling crankbaits, jerkbaits and plastic worms.
Six fish camps, one state park and three public boat ramps are available
at Lake Kissimmee. Wade fishing is a popular method
used by many anglers and access is provided at some of the fish
camps and boat ramps.
More
Lake Kissimmee info in PDF format
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