FISHING Early morning fishing on Lake Toho Bass 2 Billfish TV show | Photo by Rick Sorensen Fishing in Florida is a given. Fishing the Kissimmee area? Itʼs practically a high art. This is where the headwaters of the Everglades converge; where the bass are so bountiful just about every angler from here to Ohio has heard about them; and where getting the lay-of-the-lakes means getting an education in bass fishing that involves 21,000 acres of water and a spate of prominent tournaments. Given all that, freshwater fishing might be the best way to experience Kissimmee. The centerpiece of the fishing enterprise is Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho) and it’s huge— over 18,000 acres—which means the fishing and wildlife habitat and the vegetation that supports it are also enormous. No other lake can match the trophy bass possibilities here. The Kissimmee Lakefront Park situated along Lake Tohoʼs shores has recently benefitted from enhanced green space and state-of-the-art landscape design. The redone park now incorporates more paved trails, a boat launch, and a new venue for additional tournaments. Several other area lakes are also popular fishing destinations. Dishpan-shaped East Lake Toho (or East Lake) is especially crystal clear with visibility to depths up to 10 feet. At Lake Cypress, the lily pads, Kissimmee grass, and abundant hydrilla fuel the fish population. Just upstream from Lake Kissimmee, Lake Hatchinehaʼs shallow waters and arrowhead grass host panfish and bluegill. Find out more at: ExperienceKissimmee.com/fishing TOP-OF-THE-LINE With so many trophy-sized fish, itʼs easy to see why the Kissimmee area lakes have long played host to world-class fishing tournaments. Past events have included the Bassmaster Classic, Florida Bass Federation Tour, Fishing League Worldwide (Walmart FLW TOURNAMENTS Tour), Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour (PVA), Bass Southern Open, and Professional Anglers Association (PAA) tour. Many of the fish caught in the area top 10 pounds and they’ve been hooked by amateurs and pros alike. ExperienceKissimmee.com 75
Experience Kissimmee 2018 Kissimmee Destination Guide: Page 75
