| Lake
Toho, Florida
 Located
adjacent to the City of Kissimmee in Central Florida, the 18,810-acre
West Lake Tohopekaliga has long boasted a reputation
among both recreational and tournament anglers of producing excellent
fishing and trophy largemouth bass. The lake received national attention
during year 2001 when professional angler Dean Rojas broke the all-time
B.A.S.S. tournament record for total weight with a catch of 108
pounds of Trophy Bass. During the four day competition,
two 40-pound-plus limits, 21 bass over 10 pounds, and 251 five-fish
limits were brought to the scales. Two-and-one-quarter tons of Trophy
Bass were weighed in during this fishing tournament.
An extreme drawdown and habitat enhancement project was conducted
on the lake during spring 2004 to enhance critical shoreline habitat
for Trophy Bass and wildlife utilization. In all,
8.4 million yards of organic material, and associated vegetation
that was too thick to provide good fisheries habitat, was removed
from 3,506 acres of lake bottom. Subsequently, rainfall from the
rash of hurricanes during 2004 quickly re-filled the lake to normal
levels.
 Most
anglers targeting trophy bass use live golden shiners
during early spring. Shiners are fished inshore near native vegetation
or topped-out hydrilla . Plastic baits (worms, crawfish and lizards)
flipped along grass edges, hydrilla, and bulrush will also catch
quality-sized bass. Spinnerbaits, soft jerkbaits and chugging baits
can also be very productive at times. Both Texas-rigged and Carolina-rigged
plastic worms, and rattling crankbaits, top the list of favorite
lures during warmer months of the year.
North Steer Beach, Brown’s Point and Goblet’s
Cove are popular bass fishing spots on the lake.
Fishing in Shingle Creek and St. Cloud Canal can be outstanding
when flow is present through these tributaries. Eight, man-made
fish attractors hold good concentrations of Bass in deeper areas
of the lake during the summer.
Two fish camps, one marina, one county park and
four public boat ramps are available to anglers. On the north end
of the lake, two fishing piers and numerous access points exist
for bank fisherman.
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Lake Toho info in PDF format |
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