Bass fishing on the Kissimmee Chain: The bass have moved out to open water; mostly due to lowering water levels for the summer hurricane season. One of the best spots has been goblets cove when the flood control gates are open from East Lake Toho. Concentrate your efforts at ambush points. Bass are also schooling in open water chasing shad.
Anglers are catching bass on the outside edge of the Kissimmee grass, and open water hydrilla patches, using artificial baits. The schooling Bass range in size from one to four pounds. The baits of choice are small rattle traps and Rapala X-raps. Plas- tic baits of choice are flukes and swim baits in shad colors.
Florida Black Crappie: The crappie bite has been good on the Kissimmee Chain. On West Lake, fish for crappies in open water between the two islands. On East Lake, fish for specks in open water. Look for the 15 feet range – it seems to be where most crappies are being caught. The best method to catching crappie is trolling with jigs in vari- ous colors tipped with a minnow. Vary the depth until you start catching fish, then move the other baits to the same level in the water column.
Panfish: For bluegill and sunfish, they are congregating in open water shell beds with live red worms fished on the bottom as your best bet. If you like to fly fish, popping bugs are a great choice; fish the outside edge of the floating vegetation in open water. Look in shallow water where shell beds can be found for spawning panfish around the full moon phase, very common this time of year. Use crickets for spawners near the bank.
