Tsala Apopka Lake

Tsala Apopka Lake

Tsala Apopka is 19,111 acres of shallow, heavily vegetated marshes intermingled with open water pools. Water control structures separate the lake into three main pools named after nearby towns: Floral City, Inverness, and Hernando. Located just west of The Villages.

About Tsala Apopka Lake

Since Tsala Apopka is the largest freshwater resource in Citrus County, efforts have improved recreational opportunities; meanwhile, equality is trying to provide land for residential development.

Extreme vertical water level fluctuation of 9 to 10 feet occurred in the lake before installing water control structures during the 1960s. The benefits of water level stabilization were reasonable predictability of water levels: increased fish production, and improved angling success.

Constructing canals, impounding the Withlacoochee River, and installing water control structures were considered necessary to accomplish some of these goals.

The first of these anticipated benefits realized improvements to the fishery have not occurred since they are not consistent with water level stabilization.

Before installing water control structures approximately three decades ago, natural water level fluctuation caused droughts and floods. Droughts exposed shallow areas and floods temporarily inundated adjacent lands that were naturally uplands.

Except for Floral City Pool, which may still experience drawdown conditions during a drought, the system’s remainder cannot reach either high or low pool stages that natural conditions create.

Tsala Apopka Fishing

Reproduction of largemouth bass in Tsala Apopka has not been a problem, although survival and growth into trophy-size bass have been poor based on available data. Low natural productivity of the lake, stabilized water levels, and harvest by anglers may be reasons for poor bass recruitment in the past.

Fish population surveys indicated that the poundage of all fish produced per acre varied from pool to pool. Floral City yielded the lowest standing crop of combined fish species, followed by Hernando Pool and Inverness Pool, which had the highest surveys.

Production of 10-inch largemouth bass was also variable from pool to pool. Floral City Pool produced less than four 3.5 fish per acre, Hernando Pool had nine fish per acre, and Inverness Pool had over 20 fish per acre.

Tsala Apopka Techniques

Shiners or a type of live-bait are always right in this system. Use bait on the bottom for bluegill and redear sunfish. Water moving through any canal (whether by wind or current) is a likely spot for largemouth bass to congregate.

Continue to target submerged willow tree bases for these sanctuaries, which are known holdouts for largemouths. Texas-rigged rubber worms with no weight will allow anglers to flip baits within the security of these shaded environs. 

Black crappie fishing picks up between December and March, and many successful anglers dip hooked minnows close to lily pads. 

Casting white plastic grubs at the edge of maiden cane grass also seems to work. If the water clarity is good, use a fly rod with a smaller diameter tippet to hide your line from discerning fish eyes.

Winter

Public boat ramps are available 1/4 mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and S.R. 200 (Hernando Pool); ¼ mile east of City of Inverness on S.R. 470 (Inverness Pool); and on Duval Island Road off C.R. 48, one mile east of U.S. Highway 41 (Floral City Pool).

However, until water levels rise, these canals can be very shallow and difficult to navigate.