Butler Chain of Lakes

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BASS FISHING BUTLER CHAIN OF LAKES

About Butler Chain of Lakes Fishing Tour Details

The Butler Chain of lakes (4,927 acres) is all very similar in that they are relatively deep for Florida lakes (20 – 40-foot holes), has abundant submerged vegetation, and good largemouth bass fisheries. This 4,720-acre chain is made up of 11 interconnected lakes. Boat access is available only at a couple of city and county ramps, and public bank access is almost non-existent. Orange County charges a launch fee at some local lake ramps, and not all ramps are open after dark. Read More

• • Region: Orlando Florida
  • Duration: 4, 6, 8, & 12 hrs
  • Cancellation: 8 hrs in adv.
  • Weather-Related: Full refund
  • Instant Online Confirmation
  • Includes All State Taxes

• All Fishing Equipment
• Professional Captain
• Boat & Fuel
• Cooler & Ice
• Bottled water
• Photos
• Florida Freshwater Fishing License for those ages 16+
• Live bait if desired is also additional and is purchased the morning of the trip. (optional)
• Food or Specialty beverages

Amenities:

• Fishing Chairs
• GPS & Fishfinder
• Life Jackets
• Catch and Release Allowed
• Keep Fish Allowed within Laws

About this Tour:

• Boat Specs: 20+ ft
• Boat Capacity: 4 People
• All Fishing Equipment
• Boat & Fuel
• Photos

Fishing Techniques:

• Light Tackle
• Heavy Tackle
• Livebait
• Fly Fishing
• Artificial Lures

Fishing Equipment:

• Spinning Rods
• Baitcasting Rods
• Left & Right Handed
• Fly Rods (request only)
• Braid & Mono Line

What is Entailed:

• Experience the stunning fishing opportunities in Central Florida aboard a fully equipped boat, complete with high-quality rods, reels, hooks, and artificial lures.
• Venture out onto the renowned Butler Chain of Lakes, a top-ranked destination, in pursuit of trophy largemouth bass, hard-fighting black crappie (speck), and various other species.
• Your guided fishing expedition will be led by a knowledgeable USCG professional fishing captain with expertise in North Florida’s diverse waters.
• Don’t forget to capture memories of your impressive catch with souvenir-worthy photos taken by your guide, ready to be shared on your social media.

Local Operator Information:

For comprehensive Operator information, including local contact numbers specific to your destination, please refer to your Confirmation email. Our Trip Managers meticulously select guides with extensive experience and unwavering reliability in each location, ensuring a worry-free experience for you.

Additional Insights:

• To maximize your enjoyment, we recommend bringing comfortable footwear, a light-colored shirt, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Be well-prepared for an unforgettable day on the water.

BUTLER CHAIN OF LAKES FLORIDA

This 4,720-acre chain is made up of 11 interconnected lakes. The Butler Chain of Lakes was formed as a result of a typical Florida phenomenon known as “karst topography.” In this occurrence, limestone (found under the majority of Florida soil) is slowly dissolved by water to form sinkholes.

A series of sinkholes formed over time created what is now called the Butler Chain of Lakes (aka. Windermere Chain). There are areas on these lakes that reach depths of 50 feet and are believed to be the remnants of those old sinkholes that helped form this beautiful chain of lakes.

Many celebrities call the Butler Chain of Lakes their home. Such people include the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Ken Griffey Jr., and Tiger Woods, just to name a few sports stars. It is a nice place to fish, where you can catch a large number of bass, along with the occasional big fish. However, just being on this Chain for the day is worth the trip.

Contour and Aquatics

Submerged vegetation, including hydrilla, eelgrass, and coontail, is common in pool sections. Every three to four years, water management and FWC conduct a survey. This helps with fish and wildlife enhancement and the control of aquatic plants. It also creates an incredible bass fishing experience that every outdoor angler should want to explore.

Butler Chain in Florida is an outdoor activity that must be experienced. You will be targeting several areas. Both floating cover, including water dollar weed mats, and Lily pads are key areas. Underneath these shaded areas, you will find some unsuspecting prey. Lots of Eelgrass, lily pads, and some hydrilla are several other great options when searching to land fish. This beautiful, crystal clear waterway is a truly unique fishery to explore, with many natural wonders and abundant wildlife viewing.

Why Hire a Local Expert?

Fishing the Butler Chain of Lakes alongside a local expert is essential for two primary reasons: ensuring safe navigation and substantially increasing your chances of landing a trophy largemouth bass.

All our local experts and Orlando fishing guides adhere to the stringent requirements set by the United States Coast Guard. Their years of professional experience in this fishery guarantee you an exceptional outdoor adventure, replete with opportunities to learn novel techniques and methods for catching trophy largemouth bass.

Exploring this fishery, be it in the morning or afternoon, they possess a profound understanding of where to go and what to do. On weekends, while you could either have a fantastic or lackluster fishing day, the difference often hinges on your ability to navigate through boat traffic. Our local experts are here to guide you through this, drawing upon their extensive experience in handling various conditions.

If you’re seeking an exceptional outdoor experience in Orlando, the Butler Chain of Lakes deserves a top spot on your list. This premier bass fishing destination is celebrated for its extraordinary catches. When embarking on a trophy bass hunting expedition, it’s advisable to book multiple days on the water with one of our local experts. They are your best bet at making the dream of landing that prized fish a reality.

butler chain of lakes boat ramps

Boat access is available only at a couple of locations, the county ramp (Lake Isleworth just south of Windermere), and public bank access is almost non-existent. Orange County charges a launch fee at the Lake Isleworth ramp, and the ramp is not open after dark.

The R.D. Keene Park ramp at Lake Isleworth (Butler Chain) costs per day or per year for use of the ramp. Windermere Chain of Lakes is known for its excellent largemouth bass fishing. Most successful bass anglers pay attention to the bottom contours of the lake offshore structure where 4- to 9-pound bass are commonly produced. Live shiners free-lined over grass edges, humps, ledges, and drop‑offs adjacent to spawning flats is one method to consistently catch quality bass in the winter/spring (Try Lake Butler).

Jigging spoons fished over deep-water humps can produce 50-fish days when the water gets cold and fish congregate tightly (Try Little Lake Down). Windermere chain also has relatively unknown and unstudied black crappie (speck), bluegill, and redear sunfish (shellcracker) populations, but anecdotal angler reports and field observations indicate a fishery exists for all three species.

Fishing Techniques

Now for tips and trips, the best times to fish the Butler Chain of Lakes are from June to November. This time of the year offers quality-sized fish in the 3-8lb range and good numbers of bass caught per day. On weekends, boat traffic can be a problem, so weekdays are always suggested for recreational boating on these lakes.

 This Butler Chain is legendary for the number of bass it produces year after year. It is ranked consistently as one of the top ten best bass fishing lakes in the country. You can enjoy fishing with both artificial lures and live bait. Wild-caught live shiners are ultimately the bait of choice when looking to catch that trophy bass you have been after. 

Bass anglers can have success using not only live bait but also deep-diving crankbaits and Carolina-rigged worms in deep river channels. Early morning and late evening topwater bites can be good near the flats along the creek channels. Black crappie or speck fishermen can enjoy catching on live minnows or jigs along the edges of the drop-offs. The action is red hot almost all year round. 

EMBRACE LOCAL CULTURE AND CONNECT WITH LOCALS

Orlando caters to a diverse range of visitors, whether you’re embarking on a family vacation, a romantic getaway, a solo adventure, or a group trip with friends. Regardless of your place of stay, be it near International Drive, close to the Orange County Convention Center, or within proximity of the Orlando International Airport, you’ll find the Butler Chain of Lakes easily accessible. The vast array of clientele we serve ensures that every excursion with us is a memorable one.

Perhaps your vacation revolves around enchanting experiences at Walt Disney World, Sea World, or Universal Studios, and for those adrenaline junkies who read the pros and cons, the region offers an array of exhilarating water parks and attractions. However, Orlando has much more to offer, and our fishing trips can be tailored to your preferences and scheduled during the morning or afternoon to accommodate your needs. So, venture out and savor it all.

There’s only one way to truly appreciate Orlando, and that’s by indulging in fishing and boating adventures!

Historic March Offshore-Structure Field Note

One March Butler Chain guide trip found schooling bass on offshore structure and produced more than 80 largemouth bass during a full day. Jerkbaits and crankbaits did most of the work, while another trip during the same period produced with Zoom Super Flukes and jerkbaits over submerged hydrilla. The durable lesson is to use Butler’s depth and clear water to your advantage: locate offshore structure and grass first, then rotate reaction baits and fluke-style presentations based on fish position and pressure.

Historic Summer Schooling Field Note

One older Butler Chain guide report found summertime bass schooling around points, vegetation and grass structure in roughly 8 to 10 feet of water. Trolled wild shiners over the grass produced the most consistent bite. The durable lesson is to use schooling activity, points and submerged vegetation together as location clues, then keep the bait moving through the productive depth instead of fishing the entire water column.

Historic Butler Artificial-Lure Field Note

Older Butler Chain guide trips found strong artificial-lure action around the chain, including frogs and Senko-style baits for surface and shallow-cover fish, plus flukes, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and swimbaits when anglers needed to cover water. The durable lesson is to match lure speed and profile to the cover and fish activity rather than treating the Butler Chain as a live-bait-only fishery.

Historic Late-Summer Mixed-Presentation Field Note: Older Butler Chain trips showed that both live shiners and artificials can work during late summer. One trip burned through roughly six dozen shiners in four hours while producing more than 25 bass to about 5 pounds. Another produced on small baitfish-style lures and soft-plastic worms around submerged hydrilla and open-water schooling fish, with an early topwater window. The durable lesson is to use schooling activity and submerged grass to choose between a fast artificial presentation and live bait.

Historic Summer Depth & Presentation Field Note: Several older Butler Chain trips found productive bass in roughly 12 to 15 feet of water. Guides used wild shiners either free-lined or trolled beneath a cork, then switched to Senkos and other soft plastics when the live-bait bite slowed. One trip produced a 6-pound-class personal-best bass on a Senko after the shiners were gone. The durable lesson is to match presentation to depth and activity level rather than staying locked into one bait.

Peppergrass habitat: Butler Chain bass often use submerged vegetation as feeding and ambush cover. For a focused explanation of Illinois pondweed, grass edges, holes, live shiners and artificial presentations, see our Florida peppergrass bass fishing guide.

Historic Grass-Hole & Water-Level Field Note: Older Butler Chain trips showed two useful positioning clues. During summer, one guide found active bass around holes in submerged grass in roughly 10 to 11 feet of water and worked wild shiners slowly through the deeper weed beds. After another period when the chain rose more than two feet following a major storm, bass regrouped and schooled in a protected cove where live bait produced. The durable lesson is to let water level and grass openings guide location instead of assuming fish will remain on the same shallow or deep pattern.

Historic Summer Trophy & Deep-Vegetation Field Note: Older Butler Chain trips showed that quality summer bass can use both deep water and submerged vegetation. One guide reported fish from roughly 11 to 20 feet or tucked into deeper grass and a 9-pound, 12-ounce largemouth taken on a wild shiner. Another rainy-weather trip produced by working shiners slowly across the tops of weeds. The durable lesson is to slow the presentation when conditions suppress activity and to check both deep grass and adjacent open water before abandoning an area.

nnHistoric Concentrated-Bite Field Note: One older Butler Chain trip found only scattered action at the first area, then a second location produced repeated bites while the boat stayed anchored. The group landed more than 30 largemouth bass, including fish in the four- to six-pound class. The durable lesson is that once a concentrated school or feeding zone is identified, staying on the productive area can outperform unnecessary movement.nnHistoric Deep-Water & Fall Artificial Field Note: Older Butler Chain trips documented bass holding as deep as roughly 20 to 30 feet, where a Steel Shad-style reaction bait produced alongside live shiners. Another fall trip mixed live bait with swim jigs, an underspin paired with a shad-profile soft plastic, and fluke-style baits. The durable lesson is to let depth and forage position dictate whether to use a faster reaction presentation, a subtle shad imitation, or live bait.

Historic Deep-Break & Summer Grass Field Note
Older Butler Chain guide trips documented several repeatable summer patterns. One trip produced a 9.4-pound largemouth by trolling live shiners along deep-water break lines. Another found schooling bass around 18 feet that responded when worm-style presentations were worked slowly, while separate summer trips produced by trolling or free-lining shiners over main-lake grass and working docks when fish shifted shallower. These are historical field observations, not current conditions; the durable lesson is to use Butler’s clear water and depth changes to move between deep breaks, main-lake grass, and docks as fish position changes.

Historic Deep-Break and Spot-Lock Field Note
Older Butler Chain guide reports documented largemouth bass holding on the outside edge of deep breaks in roughly 15 to 16 feet of water, as well as bass using submerged vegetation around 18 feet. When wind made boat control difficult, holding the boat in place with trolling-motor Spot-Lock helped keep live shiners in the productive zone. The durable lesson is to treat precise boat position as part of the presentation when bass are concentrated on deep grass edges and breaks.