Windermere Chain of Lakes
The Windermere chain of lakes is a combination of Conway (1,800 acres) and Butler (4,927 acres). Chains are very similar in that they are both relatively deep for Florida lakes (20 – 40-foot holes), have abundant submerge vegetation, and a plentiful supply of largemouth bass fisheries. This 4,720-acre chain is 11 interconnected lakes. Boat access is available only at one county ramp (Lake Isleworth just south of Windermere), and public bank access is almost non-existent. Orange County charges a $5.00 launch fee at the Lake Isleworth ramp, and the ramp is not open after dark. Lake Down is the most northern lake in the Butler chain and is 872 acres of clear water. The R.D. Keene ramp at Lake Isleworth costs a day or year for the use of the ramp.
Boat Ramp
The boat ramp at 100900 Chase Road is just S. of Windermere. Little Lake Down is only accessible from a somewhat of a hidden canal located on the west side of the lake. The channel to the north of the central canal between Lake Down and Wauseon Bay. Wauseon Bay is the smallest body of water in the chain of lakes, which acts as a drain from the west side of the lake down to Lake Butler. When exiting Wauseon Bay from the south, it leads you to Lake Butler.
Next is Lake Louise, a 50-acre lake off the canal from Lake Butler down to Lake Tibet. Lake Louise is a long and narrow body of water. Then comes Lake Isleworth, it is a circular or almost round lake. It is around 17 acres and located off the canal south of lake Louise. R.D. Keene Park is also the location of the boat ramp.
Little Know Facts
Next in line is Lake Chase, it’s 140 acres. It has a great mixture of many Florida vegetations we look for when fishing in Florida. Next, Lake Blanche has 120 acres of deep water like the others and a lot of great shallows. It also has deep water like the hole as you enter the lake from the canal. Lake Tibet is the second largest lake of the chain, at 1’198 acres. It is longer then it is in width. The lake has bays on both the east and west side of the lake.
The western side faces a preserve and has several docks that extend out and have deeper water at the ends. Then comes Lake Sheen, it is about 565 acres and also round shaped. From there, it leads you to the Pocket lake; it is roughly 130 acres and even round in shape. The canal found on the southwest corner leads to Little fish lake. If used, please be careful. Warning, experience navigation is recommended in this area. When you do get to Fish Lake, it is about 25 acres in size and can be known to be very weedy and clogged up at times.
One other known fact about the chain of lakes is many celebrities call the Butler Chain of Lakes their home. Such people include Shaquille O’Neal, Ken Griffey Jr., and Tiger Woods, to name a few.
Windermere-aka, Butler Chain fishing
Windermere Chain is known for its excellent largemouth bass fishing. Most successful bass anglers pay attention to the lake’s offshore structure’s bottom contours, where its common to catch 4- to 5-pound bass. Live shiners free-lined over grass edges, humps, ledges, and drop‑offs adjacent to spawning flats is one method to catch quality bass in the winter/spring consistently. Jigging spoons fished over deep-water humps can produce 50-fish days when the water gets cold, and fish congregate tightly.
Windermere/Butler chain also has relatively unknown and unstudied black crappie (speck), bluegill, and redear sunfish (shellcracker) populations. Still, bass anglers reports and field observations indicate a fishery exists for all three species. Most of the lakes consist of clear water, deep ledges, visible and submerged vegetation. The Butler chain offers a wide variety of lure options as well as year-round fishing. Schooling bass is always a popular way to fish for most local anglers, almost year-round, allowing for exciting topwater action.
Finesse techniques are also excellent water choices that can be clear enough to see 10 ft deep on a sunny day. Dropshot and Carolina rigs are always a popular choice for bass anglers when fishing the offshore humps. The best times to fish the Butler chain are from June – November. This time of the year offers quality-sized fish in the 3-8lb range, and good numbers of bass caught per day. Boat traffic can be a problem, so weekdays are always suggested if recreational boating on these lakes.
Fishing Guides
Although live bait popular on the Windermere chain of lakes, we prefer only artificial lures because of the schooling fish. There are a variety of techniques available to catch this bass. This chain is excellent for anglers from locations that fish deeper waters, as the North and maybe Japan, where you are accustomed to deep clear water while using spinning tackle with light line.
Our fishing guides are hand-picked from the best in the area, so you don’t have to. They have fished these Central Florida waters for no less than 20 years. During this time, our team has developed there skills and experience necessary to provide you with that fishing trip of a lifetime. To ensure your trip will be a memorable and safe, all of our guides are insured, and US Coast Guard licensed captains.
Not only will you fish with a professional guide, all of our trips include Fully equipped Bass boats, fuel, and tackle. Everything you need for a day’s success on the water. The only thing you will need to have is a Florida fishing license.
Corporate trips are welcome and very common for use on the Windermere Chain of lakes, because of our size. We can accommodate your fishing needs from one to a hundred. We also can provide everything from breakfast and box lunches to a southern BBQ to end the day.
It is located just minutes from Disney and Universal Studios, one of the most significant benefits to fishing this Windermere chain of lakes.
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