Where We Fish

John’s Lake Bass Fishing

John’s Lake might fly under the radar compared to the Harris Chain or Kissimmee Chain, but that’s what makes it special. With less pressure and loads of fish-holding structure — offshore grass, shell bars, shallow flats, and thick emergent vegetation — it’s a versatile lake that fishes well year-round.

January – April:
This is trophy season. The Florida spawn is long and drawn out, and John’s has excellent spawning habitat both deep and shallow. If you’re looking for that 8+ pounder, this is the time. Wild shiners are hands-down the best bet if you want to put a giant in the boat, but soft plastics can get it done too for anglers who prefer artificial lures.

May – September:
Post-spawn fish start to school up offshore and feed heavily to recover from the spawn and prep for summer. You’ll catch good numbers this time of year. Topwaters in the morning, big ribbon-tail worms, frogs, and weightless flukes will all draw aggressive strikes.

October – December:
Fall feeding begins as fish bulk up before winter. The shiner bite picks back up, and lure fishing gets fun again. Chatterbaits, lipless crankbaits, and Damiki rigs are productive options as the bass chase bait and get more aggressive.

Lake Apopka Bass Fishing

Lake Apopka has a bad rep from years past, but it’s bouncing back in a big way. If you like flipping and pitching, this lake is for you. Most of the action happens close to the bank, where cattails, lily pads, pencil reeds, and Kissimmee grass line the shore. The forage base includes gizzard shad, bluegill, crappie, and wild shiners — all the ingredients for a healthy bass population.

January – April:
This is my favorite time to fish Apopka. Big females pull up to spawn on isolated cover — perfect targets if you know where to look. Lightly weighted Texas rigs with creature baits or worms work best around those beds. The lake stays stained, so dark colors like Junebug or black/blue get the nod here.

Lake Toho Bass Fishing

Lake Toho is world-famous, and for good reason. With nearly 20,000 acres of prime vegetation and endless structure, it’s a bass angler’s dream. The lake produced the biggest 5-bass limit in Bassmaster history, and it continues to produce giants every season.

January – March:
Prespawn and spawn are in full swing, and this is prime time to target trophy bass. Clean water can be found near the north end of the lake and around protected coves like Goblit’s Cove. Chatterbaits, squarebills, lipless cranks, and straight-tail worms all put fish in the boat this time of year.

April – May:
As the spawn wraps up, fish move offshore and start schooling around hydrilla beds. Fishing the holes and irregular edges in those grass mats is the key. I like throwing big worms (like the Zoom Ol’ Monster or Magnum Speed Worm), weightless flukes, and walking topwater baits to target these aggressive post-spawn fish.