ARCHIVE NEWS & REPORTS
Central Florida Bass Fishing Report October 2021 Winter Haven Lake Kissimmee Camp Mack
Posted by scott on October 2, 2021
One of the best and most accurate memes I’ve seen online the last few weeks goes something like this: “It’s almost fall in Florida and you know what that means? Nothing. Absolutely Nothing. It’s still Florida and it’s hot.” Considering it’s 91 outside as I sit under the fans on the lanai writing this I couldn’t agree more.
Although there is some activity in the tropics the Farmer’s Almanac is forecasting a drier and cooler month. Let’s hope it’s not drought-type dry because that can have some adverse effects for the big lakes. The smaller, deeper, spring-fed lakes won’t feel the pressure.
So let’s get to the fishing in these conditions and start on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes fishing out of Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina, and RV Resort. The water is falling slightly but as it stands there is an awesome morning topwater bite in scattered pockets around pads and kissimmee grass, as well as out in open water over shell beds, eel grass, and contour breaks. This is the time to throw your favorite black and gold Devil’s Horse, Spook, or any other bigger profile topwater including bigger Pop’Rs. Once the sun gets up high, and depending upon wind or cloud cover that game will end and it’s time to switch to swimjigs and Gambler EZ Swimmers. Flipping junebug or black & blue senkos is always a safe bet around pads, outside grass lines, or holes in the hydrilla.
Moving back to Winter Haven and the South Chain I don’t really expect to feel too many effects from the weather. Many of these lakes are insulated from pattern changes because they have deeper water, deeper vegetation, and are spring fed. All of that means you may not always bust them up top but they are always there and you can find fish actively feeding. Now to clarify, I will still have a Pop-R or Jumpin’ Minnow tied-on every single trip out no matter what. I will also have my usual arsenal of flukes, 1/4oz jig heads and smaller swimbaits, both shallow and mid-depth crankbaits, and more than likely a jerkbait or two. Here, I’m 99% sure to have all of these in more natural colors in the white/pearl, watermelon reds, chrome/black back families.
Capt. Scotty Taylor
#winterhaven #lakewales #lakekissimmee #CampMack #SouthChain #floridabassfishng #fishingguide #floridafishingcharters #campamackbassfishing #bassguide #centralfloridabassguide #legoland #balmoralresort #davenport #celebration #kissimmee #disneybassfishing
Central Florida Bass Fishing Report Sept 2021 Winter Haven Lake Kissimmee Camp Mack
Posted by scott on August 29, 2021
It’s been one truly wild & crazy summer here with the bass fishing in Central Florida. I can give you a handful of lakes that will consistently produce good fish day after day, then you show up and you KNOW the fish are there, and they are being obstinate and do not want to eat. Then the next day you’re heading out and run past those fish to another spot they are on a feeding frenzy again so you whip back around... go figure. But, that’s why we are thankful the calendar says September so that we have Saturday college football to give us a break from “the grind as it were.”
So let’s get started out in Olde World Florida on the Kissimmee Chain fishing out of Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Marina, Lodge, and RV Resort. We have been enjoying a good stretch of decent lake levels below the Lake Toho lock with all of the recent rains but the Army Corps of Engineers is still trying to bring the lakes down. Pray for more rain & that Mother Nature keeps up for a few more months because with the water up, the fishing has been awesome! We’re talking about incredible “offshore” fishing in 3’-5’ over shellbeds and scattered hydrilla with eel grass and it is honest to God so much fun if you like an early morning topwater bite then switching to swimjigs, chatterbaits, Gambler EZ swimmers, flukes, etc.
I’m always locked & loaded with an array of baits rigged & ready to start our days out here. I like all of the afore mentioned baits lined up, but also in different sizes and colors because again, these fish can change on a daily basis. To simplify, I’ll have “smaller” white or white & chartreuse baits along with bigger gold or gold & black baits until we know if the bass are keying in on shiners or shad.
In Winter Haven on the South Chain and many of the smaller stand alone lakes we’re still fishing out deep, deep like out in the middle of the lakes when you find schools of bait. And just because we are fishing in up to 30ft of water does not mean I won’t have topwaters and flukes rigged-up for the first 2-3 hours of the day. Here I don’t over analyze: natural color topwaters, flukes, smaller swimbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits. Because it is dealing with a creature with a brain the size of a pea just be versatile and it’s “normally” easy to figure out the puzzle. Til that one day they have you shaking your head, but go back the next because it’ll be “game on.”
Capt. Scotty Taylor
#winterhaven #bassfishing #Fishingguide #floridafishingguide #lakewales #campmackbassfishingguide #lakekissimmee #southchain #laketoho #lakewales
Central Florida Bass Fishing Report Aug 2021 Winter Haven Lake Kissimmee
Posted by scott on August 1, 2021
In case you may not have gotten the notice about the weather here in Central Florida, it’s just kinda mild-to-slightly warm! Thankfully, the early morning bass fishing bite is still going in full swing!
It is simply a matter of getting out early, watching the water, and “listening” to the fish. Also, as a reminder we have early-bird 2.5 hour trips at a discounted rate on lakes all around Winter Haven. This allows people to get out and enjoy the incredible bass fishing that we are world famous for and still get back to the hotel or condo mid-morning and make it to the parks, beaches, or anything else the family wants to do for the rest of the day. This has quickly become a late summer favorite and the best part is if we’re not doubled-up on the 0900-1130 trip and guests wish to stay longer we can do that most days.
Starting with the Winter Haven South Chain and many of the smaller lakes around town our approach each day depends upon the moon phase and nighttime weather conditions. A new moon and/or cloudy skies equal an excellent early morning topwater bite and conversely a clear full moon means fishing deeper and slower. For either situation you’ll rarely find me fishing shallower than 14’-16’ on most lakes and many times I’ll be out in 20’-30’ throwing a Pop-R.
Having a handful of baits to cover all your bases is easy and you don’t need 38 rods on the deck to accomplish this feat. If you have a Pop-R, fluke, 3”-4” 1/4oz swimbait or grub (does anyone besides me fish these anymore?!), and a deep diving jerkbait or crankbait you’re all set for action. I always prefer natural lighter colors in the spring-fed lakes with good visibility, whites/pearls, watermelon reds, smoke, and I carry chartreuse for an overcast low-light morning. You can look at the solunar calendars but you’ll know what the fish are doing just looking out from the ramp when you launch.
Moving over to Guy Harvey Outpost’s Camp Mack on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes we’re facing a whole different world. Out here in Olde World Florida I like starting offshore over scattered shell beds with hydrilla or eel grass nearby. Ninety-nine percent of the time I’m starting with topwaters but carry a couple totally different options. I have a bigger black & gold Spook and a regular white Pop-R and will mix it up until I know the fish are chasing shad or shiners, and sometimes it’s a mix and both work equally well. Get your black & blue flipping baits ready for the pads and grass once the sun gets up higher after 0930-1000.
Capt. Scotty Taylor
#winterhaven #bassfishingguide #winterhavensouthchain #winterhavenbassguide #lakeWales #Disneybassfishing #laketoho #floridabassfishingguide #floridabassfishingreport #campmack #lakekissimmee #visitflorida #
Trophy Catch Florida Bass Winter Haven July 2021
Posted by scott on July 4, 2021
We had another family register a Florida Trophy Catch Bass weighting 8lb 10oz and this girl was successfully & safely caught and release on the Winter Haven South Chain.
#CampMackBassFishing #FloridaBassFishing #CampMackBassGuide #FloridaBassFishingGuide #LakeKissimmeeBassFishingGuide #LakeWales #WinterHaven #WinterHavenSouthChain #LEGOLAND #DisneyBassFishing #OrlandoBassFishingGuide #TampaBassFishing #TheVillagesBassFishing #FloridaFishingReports #VisitCentralFlorida #VisitFlorida #ChampionsGateBassFishing #GuyHarveyOutpostResorts #TravelInspired
Lake Kissimmee & Winter Haven Florida Bass Fishing Report July 2021
Posted by scott on July 3, 2021
First off we’d like to “welcome” all of new vacationers down here in Central Florida, and “welcome back” all of the many seasoned vacationers in our area. It is still strange trying to get tourists back down here but we are open and doing everything we can to make memories happen on the water. It seems like cabin fever had set-in on most of the country and we are here to offer the cure!
In Winter Haven on the South Chain of Lakes, and a handful of the stand alone lakes, the largemouth bass have been out chasing schooling bait fish for many weeks now in deeper waters. It is definitely a “morning bite” that we are chasing out here with most trips leaving the dock by 0630. There are two reasons for that: first is that the bass are out feeding at sunrise most days, the second is that we’ve had requests for trips less than 4hrs so that the anglers can get back to their hotels or condos to meet the rest of the family and get to the parks or beaches in the morning still. With that said, some people are not early risers and like to fish from 0900 for a couple hours and still catch good fish before it gets too hot, then head back to the hotel, we can accommodate that also.
Back to catching these green beasts, 99% of our trips offer both live and artificial baits. With our 23’ bay boat we can easily give shiners a “swimming lesson” off the back of the boat in rod holders while guests can have the entire front deck to fish artificial baits along the grass lines and deep water springs. Our best baits this time of year are Pop-Rs, flukes, Z-Man & Gambler swimbaits, jerkbaits, and senkos. We mostly fish clear spring-fed lakes with a good 6’-10’ of visibility so natural colors and lighter lines are in order. You can use “heavy” gear but most of these fish get very line and tackle shy so downsizing is key. Besides, we’re not trying to horse a fish out a hyacinth mat or bulrush points, we’re in mostly open water.
Heading over to Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina, and RV Resort on the Kissimmee River we’re talking about fishing in Olde World Florida at it’s finest. This is were we can truly get lost in the world catching big bass with the alligators, eagles, and osprey. Here we still give shiners swimming lessons earlier in the morning while throwing bigger black & gold topwaters or sub-surface baits, Gambler EZ Swimmers, Spooks, etc for the first few hours. After that most guests opt for heading into the jungle and some combat fishing with frogs, jigs, flipping worms, and EZ Swimmers in the heavy grass and pads.
Capt. Scotty Taylor
855-FL-GUIDE (855-354-8433)
Website: TMCGuideService.com Email: scott@TMCGuideService.com
Capt. Scott Taylor is the Senior Pro Guide for Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort as well as an Official Partner & Guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org, the Polk County Tourism Board
#winterhaven #lakewales #centralflorida #lakeland #disney #bassfishing #orlando #floridabassfishingguide #floridafishingguide #legoland #campmack #tampa #stpete #lakekissimmee #davenport #whattodo #celebration #reunion #westgateresorts #orangelake #caribecove #southerndunes #balmoralresort #championsgate #southchain #trophybass #bigbass #bestfishingguides