The Florida Fishing Experts
Specializing in Florida Bass Fishing on all of the Florida Freshwater Lakes.

We just wanted to say thank you so much for the most wonderful experience we had fishing with Captain Tony last weekend.  My dad and I fished a full day for Peacock bass and had an amazing time.  Captain Tony is the best.  We boated over 30 fish; 20 of them Peacock’s; the largest just over 3.5 lbs, and most around 2.5 lbs. We caught 5 different species of fish and created a lifetime of memories!

It was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken!

Thanks again!

Scott and Marvin
Arcadia, IN

BOL Responce: Thank you Scott & Marvin  for this letter and awesome picture.  Captain Tony is honored as we are to have given you guys such awesome memories. We looks forward to you coming back for more!

To our readers, we hope this helps you make a decisions to come fish one of these great rated Florida fisheries.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline) fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Source:  Copyright 2009, National Public Radio
Date:  June 23, 2009
Byline:  Greg Allen
Original URL:Audio

 Residents of the towns that line the southern rim of Florida’s Lake Okeechobee know about the benefits and risks of living next to one of the nation’s largest freshwater lakes.

Many have relatives who survived the massive flood of 1926 — and another, two years later, when a Category 4 hurricane blew through the area. Old mud dikes failed, killing at least 2,500 people.

In 2005, the failure of levees in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina hit led authorities to re-evaluate the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The results were alarming. The report uncovered erosion problems that, if left uncorrected, could lead to a failure of the old earthen levee.

Stuart Appelbaum with the Army Corps of Engineers says the corps moved quickly to address the problem.

“Best thing we’ve done is manage the risk by lowering the lake a bit,” he says.

For the past three years, the corps has made sure the lake’s water level reaches no higher than 15 feet, well below capacity. At the same time, the corps is working to strengthen the 80-year-old levee that 40,000 local residents depend on for safety.

‘The Dike Is Eroding Itself From The Inside’

On a few sections of the dike, rehabilitation work is well under way. A key portion is on Lake Okeechobee’s southeast rim, near Belle Glade, the town hit hardest by the 1928 flood. This area is still considered the highest risk, and the corps is working here first to strengthen the levee.

Huge shovels, trucks and other heavy equipment dig a deep trench 70 feet down through the center of the dike. They then fill the trench with a concrete mixture to create what’s called a “cutoff wall.”

Mike Rogalski, who’s in charge of the project, says that when the lake level rises, water seeps through the levee, washing away material.

“It’s essentially that the dike is eroding itself from the inside,” he says. “What this cutoff wall does is cuts off all those paths of erosion.”

The massive project is expected to cost $1 billion and take at least 20 years to complete. After a year of work, just about two-and-a-half miles have been strengthened.

To ensure that the dike remains safe while the work is being carried out, a team of inspectors constantly monitors the dike, shoring up sections that it finds weakened by erosion.

“When the lake levels reach a certain point during the wet season, you’re going to do daily inspections,” Rogalski says.

Boosting Morale For The Residents Of Pahokee

On the southeast rim of Lake Okeechobee, Pahokee’s several thousand residents sit in the levee’s shadow. It’s literally in their backyard.

Pahokee Mayor Wayne Whitaker says the work under way has already helped restore confidence in the dike and his community.

“There was some industry back in the day that wouldn’t come to Pahokee or the Glades area because they were scared of the dike,” Whitaker says. “People actually thought the dike was going to break at any time. But this rehab is really going to help the morale of everybody.”

The concerns surrounding the lake and the dike now are less about safety and more about something that up until now has been plentiful: water. For decades, water seeping under Lake Okeechobee’s levee has kept irrigation ditches full and the water table high. That’s been a boon to farmers in the area.

If the corps is successful in stopping that seepage, farmers are concerned that a safer levee may come at a cost — leaving them with drier and less productive fields.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing…..

From Staff Writer BASSonline / fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

 Wow what a month of fishing on the big O (Lake Okeechobee) with huge numbers fish of all sizes some on the beds during the full moon phases,  some schooling bass and cruising bass every were. This month started with my friend Allen of Hilton head, SC… he fished 6 days in a row and has fished with me for many years. Allen has been on many adventures with me and tells me often that Lake Okeechobee is the best he has ever seen it in the many years he has been fishing it. We averaged 50 to 100 plus fish a day on top water baits,  crank baits, frogs and plastics of all kinds. We also were flipping and site fishing on days that permitted it. This years spawn was awesome, with all the new grass on the lake, it has kept the water very clear and you can see fish all over and of all kinds.

This month has made fishing fun for everybody of all ages and skill levels. We  have used no live bait, 100% artificial lures on our guide trips. It has made for some good opportunities to teach the basics to many, while it has let others learn new techniques to add to there angling talent. I would like to thank the Alderman family Pete Scilla and friends Ed Romanoz and all the others for having the opportunity be part of there fishing adventures.

Good fishing and God bless,

From Staff Writer Capt Mark Shepard (marks@bassonline.com )
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

I had the honor of taking Dr. Russell and Michelle from Deerfield Beach, FL out on June 15 & 19 for a few trophy bass on  Lake Toho. Dr Russell is  novice angler on salt and freshwater. On their first day June 15, Dr Russell  managed to land a  11.5 lb and 12.4lb Largemouth Bass. Michelle  doing very well herself  also caught 11.5 & 9lb Bass, both had such a great day, that Dr. Russell had to go back on June 19 with his buddy Chris.  Dr Russell and Chris Friday evening  trip was another successful day on Lake Toho landing 11.5 & 10 lb Bass.

Those are the days that seem like a dream and make you  just want to stay on the water and have your meals and bait delivered.

Letter from Customer:
Dear John,

Let’s use Father’s Day to let these special men know what place they have in our lives and what influence they have on us. This Father’s Day will be celebrated on 21st June 2009 and don’t forget to make this day special!

Happy Fathers Day!

Anyone wishing to honor someone with Bass Fishing Vacation, just mention this blog for $25.00 off.

Hook up now for trophy bass or exotic peacock bass!

From Staff Writer Lori BASSonline) lori@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Central Florida Bass Fishing

If you are a largemouth bass Fisherman you mite want to head for Lake Toho in Florida for some amazing bass fishing at this Nationally ranked largemouth bass fishing lake.

Florida is one of the best states in the US for bass fishing  and is ranked as the “Fishing Capital of the World” addtional is know as the “Bass Capitol of the World.”  There are more than 7,500 freshwater lakes and rivers that hold good populations of large mouth bass, infact it is hard to pick just one location in florida. It is a rough decision because there are so many lakes that hold good populations of bass and are easy to access and fish.

We have compiled a list of the lakes the Florida Fish and wildlife conservation commission (FWC) has listed as holding very good populations and sizes of largemouth bass. This list is a good guide to use to plan for your next large mouth bass fishing trip to Florida. Our focus is on the top ten areas in and around Lake Tohopekaliga that hold good population of Largemouth bass. We hope this information will help you plan a fishing trip to lake Tohopekaliga (called lake Toho by locals). You can also visit our Interactive map to get more detail information.

Absent from this list is Lake Kissimmee, a longtime favorite of many Florida fishermen because of its large bass. The lake has a healthy population of 13- to 14-inch bass, and some real monsters said Marty Mann, a biologist with the FWC’s Kissimmee office.
Lake Kissimmee is the best in the Kissimmee chain for speckled perch (black crappie), bluegill and shellcracker (redear sunfish), Mann said.

New on the best-bass lakes list this year is Crescent Lake near the St. Johns River northwest of Daytona Beach. FWC biologists using electric stunning methods for sampling fish there turned up “good numbers” of 8-plus-pound bass. Fall and early winter tend to produce the best bass fishing at Crescent Lake.

Other top 10 bass lakes designated by the FWC are:

• Rodman Reservoir, east of Gainesville and south of Palatka. The state’s largest bass of 2000 – 15 pounds, 17 ounces – came from the reservoir. Most big bass are caught in the “stump fields” along the river channel. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply for women of childbearing age and children under 10.

• Lake George, east of Ocala and northwest of Deland. One of the many natural lakes along the St. Johns River, Lake George is the second-largest lake in the state, behind Lake Okeechobee, and is a favorite for those who enjoy wade fishing with plastic worms or top-water lures. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply for women of childbearing age and children under 10.

•Lake Tarpon, north of Tampa near Tarpon Springs. Lake Tarpon anglers often catch 20-plus bass, most of them 12 to 16 inches but some up to 10 pounds. Flipping and pitching along bulrush edges and canal banks can be productive, as can fishing humps and eelgrass beds offshore. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply.

•Lake Tohopekaliga, also known as Lake Toho, just south of the town of Kissimmee. This lake has produced a documented 17.1-pound bass. And this is the lake that produced Dean Rojas’ record-setting string of five bass that weighed 45 pounds, 2 ounces in January 2001. Plans to drawn down Toho for shoreline restoration have been postponed until the fall. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply.

•Stick Marsh/Farm 13, near Fellsmere west of Vero Beach. The re-flooded farm fields have become a hot bass-fishing spot, and FWC sampling in 2002 confirms “good reproduction and growth” of bass. Anglers find fish near stumps, submerged canals and hydrilla domes. All bass must be released.

• Lake Walk-in-water, off State Road 60 east of Lake Wales. Anglers frequently catch 25 bass, with several in the 4- to 8-pound range, by drifting live shiners over hydrilla domes on the northern half of the lake. A three-bass limit and 15- to 24-inch slot limit apply, as do limited-consumption mercury warnings.

•Lake Istokpoga, between U.S. 27 and U.S. 98 south of Sebring and east of Lake Placid. This lake is known for large bass, with regular catches of 8-pounders and some between 10 and 13 pounds, the FWC said. Live shiners and pitching soft plastics in bulrush patches around the lake’s two islands can be productive. A 15- to 24-inch slot limit and three-bass bag limit apply, as do limited-consumption mercury warnings.

•At 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee is the state’s largest lake and borders western Palm Beach and Martin counties. (If you can’t find Okeechobee, just look at a map of Florida and find the big blue area in the middle of the state. ) Anglers find fish on bulrush at Eagle Bay Island, Kings Bar and Little Grassy Island on the north end and in eelgrass near South Bay on the south end. Plastic worms and spinnerbaits usually are productive. All bass 13 to 18 inches must be released. A limited-consumption mercury warning applies for women of child-bearing age and children under 10.

• Everglades Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3, off U.S. 27 in western Broward and Dade counties. The best bass fishing tends to be in the spring, when falling water levels force bass to move from shallow marshes into canals. The L-67A and L-35B, accessible from Everglades Holiday Park and the Sawgrass Recreation Area off U.S. 27, are two popular fishing canals. Because of mercury, no Everglades bass longer than 14 inches should be eaten. Limited consumption is advised for the smaller bass.

Hope this helps you make a decidtion to come fish one of these great rated fisheries.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline) fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Captain John Leech is one of a kind and made the trip even that much more special. Captain John did an exceptional job.

A 9.5 lb bass 27 minutes into the trip began what would be some of the best bass fishing we have ever experienced. Captain John had us on fish almost immediately and his knowledge of the Cental Florida area lakes made for a great 3 days of fishing. Your entire staff, from the very first phone call we made is first rate. I have hunted with many outfitters in the past, some good some not so good. This was my first experience booking a bass fishing trip and from the first time we called, and the many additional calls with questions before the trip and ending with an increditable 3 days of fishing with Captain John. I was extremely impressed with everyone and I wanted you to know how wonderful an experience it turned out to be for all of us.

We have a bunch of pictures we will be sending in the near future that have many big bass and smiling faces. If at all possible it would be great to see a few show up on the wesite, but I understand you probably get a ton so if not we undertstand. I’m not sure if you have a mailing or customer e-mail list that you send out, but if so please add me to the list. If not that is ok too, we will be conatcing you in the future to book another wonderful Feburary Bass fishing vacation.

Thanks again, Frank Frederick, Joe Sacrapanti, and “The Coach” John Sacrapanti, extremely satisfied customers you will see again.

BOL Responce:  Just want to thank each and everyone for their letters.  We work hard to provide a fishing vacation to meet our customers expectations!

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Bass Online Staff Writer
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

First fishing trip

Lake Toho Fishing in Central Florida

 

 

  Talk about getting spoiled on your first fishing trip!

Tyler Kiefer from Sparta, IL. went out on Lake Toho, June 10, 2009 for a trip of a life time.  This youngman started is day off  on Lake Toho with a 6.5 lb Largemouth, within 5 minute from leaving the dock.  He continued fish after fish at a blistering pace, fish most fear this 17 year old angler who’s top 5 bass weighted well over 40 pounds. Tyler best fish weighing 10.5 and a 9.5 and his smallest fish went around 4lbs.  This will definately be an unforgettable vacation for Tyler, althought they are already making plans to be back next year.

Hi to all the Bass Online Fishing Outfitters Guys and Girls,

My name is Sean Kent, and on June 9, 2009 my son (7) seven year old Jacob and I had a half day trip with Captain John. Our morning fishing trip on Lake Toho could not have been any more perfect then it was. My son had only fished for trout in a small pond where we live in PA. He has caught some good size trout for his age group. This trip was his introduction into Bass fishing, and I was looking forward to seeing him catch some largemouth bass. I was not expecting him to catch the size of Bass that he did.

His first Bass was approximately 8lbs and his fourth fish of the morning was a trophy 11 pounder. I was so proud to see him fight the fish all the way to the boat and then when the Bass was in the boat for him to turn to me and say “that is a huge one, I won mine is the biggest” during the same time he was bring in the Big One, I was bringing in an 8 pounder of my own.

Since the day ended till the trip home on the 13th he has not stopped talking about how he wants to be a fishing captain just like Captain John. My son and I had a great time and we plan on returning and having Captain John take us on another great trip. Our next trip will have to include my father inlaw who is an avid hunter and fisherman who needs to see what it is like to catch an absolute giant of a Bass.

Thank you for a great trip and a fantastic bonding moment with my son that I will never forget and I am sure he won’t either. Captain John I look forward to doing this again next time I am in the Central Florida area.

Thanks
Sean Kent

BOL Responce:  Thank you Sean and Jacob  for this letter and awesome pictures. As you so gracefully explained your experience above, it in return is as gradifying to us to know we were part of the story. Captain John looks forward to taking all three generations out to catch trophy bass next year.

To our readers, we hope this helps you make a decidtion to come fish one of these great rated Florida fisheries.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline) fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Florida Fish Busters’ Bulletin
June 2009

Anglers Legacy!

By Bob Wattendorf, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

We Floridians take our fishing seriously. The proof lies in the actions anglers take to ensure a bright fishing future. Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, 695 active Florida anglers took a pledge to introduce fishing each year to at least one person who had not previously enjoyed the sport.

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) announced the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) received more Anglers’ Legacy pledges than any other state last year. The Anglers’ Legacy is important to Floridians for several reasons. First, fishing continues to be one of the most relaxing and satisfying ways for individuals to get outdoors, engage in a fun, active form of recreation and reconnect with nature. Getting outdoors and being active not only leads to a healthier lifestyle, but it also creates endless opportunities for social interactions that can be much more fulfilling when you are away from the television, phone and other interruptions.

In his recent commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, President Barrack Obama related the story of Father Ted Hesburgh, former president emeritus of Notre Dame, who as a member of the Civil Rights Commission in 1964, helped recommend the 12 resolutions that would become the Civil Rights Act. Asked by President Dwight D. Eisenhower how Father Ted managed to lead the Commission to concurrence, his response was “they discovered that they were all fishermen. And so he quickly readied a boat for a twilight trip out on the lake. They fished, and they talked, and they changed the course of history.” That is the power of time spent on the water away from other stresses, enjoying nature and communicating openly.

Beyond the benefits to the individual, RBFF research shows that each fulfilled pledge results on average in the purchase of 3.2 fishing licenses, which support critical management and conservation efforts here in Florida and helps ensure the future of recreational fishing. Without those funds, especially in times as fiscally challenging as these, the state would have a difficult time ensuring safe and sustainable fishing opportunities for all of our residents and visitors. Fortunately, a resident license only costs $15.50, and an average angler uses that license for 17 trips a year, each averaging more than four-hours. So fishing can be one of the less expensive forms of recreation, and even allows for realization of the Chinese proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Each new angler who becomes an ambassador receives an Anglers’ Legacy decal and additional program communications. There is also a rewards program that includes tailored newsletters, special prizes and benefits to encourage ambassadors to keep on sharing the sport. To take the Anglers’ Legacy Pledge yourself, go to: www.takemefishing.org/community/anglers-legacy/take-the-pledge and enter FLFWC09 in the partner code field.

 The FWC and RBFF also partner in other ways to learn about what inspires anglers and boaters to get out on the water and enjoy what is often described as one of America’s favorite and most traditional pastimes. In the process of learning about our resource users, we seek to find ways to make participation easier and more enjoyable for them. The www.TakeMeFishing.org Web site, as well as our own www.MyFWC.com and www.GetOutdoorsFlorida.net Web sites all build on that learning to provide resources for anglers to find the best times, places and ways to go fishing safely and ethically.

Some anglers also will be receiving a reminder in the mail to renew their fishing license.  Anyone who renews their fishing license by Aug. 1, 2009, and then calls 866-967-5600, can receive a free six-month subscription to the popular Florida Wildlife magazine. Historically, Americans have turned to nature to soothe their souls and find relaxation by simply casting a lure and letting their imaginations wander while awaiting the next bite.  “Who hears the rippling of rivers will not utterly despair of anything,” Henry David Thoreau said. Summer is upon us; maybe it’s time for you to renew your fishing license and make the pledge to take a child, friend or stranger fishing and see what history you can make.

Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or 888-404-3922. Visit http://www.myfwc.com/Fishing/ for more Fish Busters’ columns.  

 Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline) fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS