02-24-2004, 02:24 PM
Florida Biologists List Top 12 Panfish Waters For 2004
TALLAHASSEE, FL--Panfish fans, take notice--fisheries biologists from the Florida Wildlife Commission have released a list of the state's top panfish waters for 2004. They include old favorites like the St. Johns River, Lake Kissimmee and Lake Okeechobee, but a few might surprise you.
The top 12 are:
ST. JOHNS RIVER: One of the world's few rivers flowing from south to north. Try fishing the stretch between S.R. 50 and Lake Monroe, especially for bluegill. In this area, look for sandbars and try around grass points. The area from Sanford to Astor is productive. Fish the edges, near drop-offs and around lily pads or brush. Also, don't overlook spotted sunfish, or stumpknockers, along the brushy banks.
LAKE KISSIMMEE: This 35,000-acre gem in central Florida boasts the best bluegill and shellcracker populations just about anywhere following a drawdown a few years ago. The 24 miles of improved shoreline, plus its enhanced open areas, gives boaters and waders a super shot at spectacular catches. Also, try around each of the islands and in open areas off of the boat trails.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE: We are again expecting a good year for panfish on the "Big O." Hopefully, water levels will be down by April. Try the Rim Canal for bluegill and Indian Prairie, Fisheating Bay, West Wall, Bay Bottom and Pelican Bay for bluegill and shellcrackers. There are a lot of good areas, so look for two to five feet of water and firm, sandy bottom. The best bait for both is grass shrimp, while worms will also entice redear, and crickets will catch bluegill.
[url "http://floridafisheries.com/forecast/ner.html"][#0000ff]LAKE PANASOFFKEE[/#0000ff][/url]: This lake is back on the list this year after a better-than-expected fishing season in 2003. Now undergoing one of the nation's most expansive lake- renovation projects, shallow Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County has long been famous for its shellcracker and bluegill production. Shellcrackers are particularly cooperative during spring full-moon periods at Shell Point, Grassy Point and Tracy's Point. Also, try the shell beds at the mouth of the Outlet River and in the middle of the lake out from the Outlet. If water levels remain good, get up in Little Jones Creek for some outstanding warmouth action.
LAKE TALQUIN: Anglers in the Tallahassee area are advised to break out their flyrods, cane poles or light spinning tackle this spring, because shellcrackers should be bedding by early May and bluegills should be soon behind. What's more, both species should continue biting well throughout the summer months. Working the upper end of the reservoir and in the back of various creeks in depths ranging from three to seven feet is productive.
TENOROC: This nearly 7,300-acre fish management area on the outskirts of Lakeland has 13 lakes ranging in size from seven to 227 acres. Harvest statistics for bluegill and shellcracker show a consistently higher catch ratio here than in any other Florida water body. Call the Tenoroc office at(863) 499-2422 to find the lake that currently offers the best opportunity and to make reservations, because lakes are only open to the public four days a week.
LAKE HARRIS: If you live in, or happen to be visiting, the Leesburg area and have a hankering to tussle with some heavier-than-usual bluegills and shellcrackers, both Big and Little Lake Harris will be to your liking. Some of the better locales include the grassy areas at the far end of Little Lake Harris in four to six feet of water, plus the lily pads and spatterdock tracts near the Ninth Street Canal out from Leesburg. Bluegills also will be found in shallow waters tight to saw grass shorelines.
LAKE MARIAN: Although this 5,740-acre "sleeper" lake in Osceola County doesn't receive much notoriety, it's still one of the best panfishing spots. In past years, shellcrackers have been known to bed later than usual, while bluegills can be gangbusters one day and just so-so the next. An angler's best bet might be to tackle Marian during the month's full and new moon periods.
LAKE ISTOKPOGA: Located a few miles southeast of Sebring, this large, relatively shallow lake gets tons of "ink" for its outstanding bass fishing. However, panfish anglers can concentrate their efforts from April through June around the inshore and offshore cattail and bulrush areas. In other months, likely spots for bluegill and shellcrackers include Big Island, Grassy Island, Bumble Bee Island, around various sandy bars and along the edges of eelgrass.
LAKE JESUP: Near Sanford, Lake Jesup is widely recognized as a top bluegill and shellcracker hotspot, especially from April through July. Spring samples in 2002 revealed that Lake Jesup has some of the biggest, heaviest sunfish of almost any lake in Florida. Concentrate in sandy areas in or near cattails during low-water periods. When levels are high, both species may be found in and around all types of aquatic vegetation. Try grass points along the south shore, the near-shore pilings of the expressway bridge and around Bird Island for bluegill. Shellcrackers can be located in the open water at the entrance of the lake just south of the S.R. 46 bridge, near Bird Island and off the north shore wherever hard, sand bottom can be found.
CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER: For river and stream lovers in Florida's Panhandle, this river is ideal, particularly for shellcracker aficionados. Shellcrackers usually bed in quieter waters during April and remain active through the early-fall months. If tooling around in smaller creeks off the main channel and sloughs during the late spring and summer months, be sure to check out redbreast bream, stumpknockers and warmouth perch.
[url "http://www.floridafisheries.com/forecast/ncr.html"][#0000ff]SUWANNEE RIVER[/#0000ff][/url]: Although bluegill and shellcrackers can be readily caught in the Suwannee, this river is second to none for spotted sunfish (stumpknockers) and redbreast sunfish. These scrappy fish are good in the middle river and excellent in the lower portion. Try near tree banks on deep shores, the mouths of creeks and along water lilies. Use crickets, mealworms, beetle spins or flyfishing tackle, such as popping bugs.
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TALLAHASSEE, FL--Panfish fans, take notice--fisheries biologists from the Florida Wildlife Commission have released a list of the state's top panfish waters for 2004. They include old favorites like the St. Johns River, Lake Kissimmee and Lake Okeechobee, but a few might surprise you.
The top 12 are:
ST. JOHNS RIVER: One of the world's few rivers flowing from south to north. Try fishing the stretch between S.R. 50 and Lake Monroe, especially for bluegill. In this area, look for sandbars and try around grass points. The area from Sanford to Astor is productive. Fish the edges, near drop-offs and around lily pads or brush. Also, don't overlook spotted sunfish, or stumpknockers, along the brushy banks.
LAKE KISSIMMEE: This 35,000-acre gem in central Florida boasts the best bluegill and shellcracker populations just about anywhere following a drawdown a few years ago. The 24 miles of improved shoreline, plus its enhanced open areas, gives boaters and waders a super shot at spectacular catches. Also, try around each of the islands and in open areas off of the boat trails.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE: We are again expecting a good year for panfish on the "Big O." Hopefully, water levels will be down by April. Try the Rim Canal for bluegill and Indian Prairie, Fisheating Bay, West Wall, Bay Bottom and Pelican Bay for bluegill and shellcrackers. There are a lot of good areas, so look for two to five feet of water and firm, sandy bottom. The best bait for both is grass shrimp, while worms will also entice redear, and crickets will catch bluegill.
[url "http://floridafisheries.com/forecast/ner.html"][#0000ff]LAKE PANASOFFKEE[/#0000ff][/url]: This lake is back on the list this year after a better-than-expected fishing season in 2003. Now undergoing one of the nation's most expansive lake- renovation projects, shallow Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County has long been famous for its shellcracker and bluegill production. Shellcrackers are particularly cooperative during spring full-moon periods at Shell Point, Grassy Point and Tracy's Point. Also, try the shell beds at the mouth of the Outlet River and in the middle of the lake out from the Outlet. If water levels remain good, get up in Little Jones Creek for some outstanding warmouth action.
LAKE TALQUIN: Anglers in the Tallahassee area are advised to break out their flyrods, cane poles or light spinning tackle this spring, because shellcrackers should be bedding by early May and bluegills should be soon behind. What's more, both species should continue biting well throughout the summer months. Working the upper end of the reservoir and in the back of various creeks in depths ranging from three to seven feet is productive.
TENOROC: This nearly 7,300-acre fish management area on the outskirts of Lakeland has 13 lakes ranging in size from seven to 227 acres. Harvest statistics for bluegill and shellcracker show a consistently higher catch ratio here than in any other Florida water body. Call the Tenoroc office at(863) 499-2422 to find the lake that currently offers the best opportunity and to make reservations, because lakes are only open to the public four days a week.
LAKE HARRIS: If you live in, or happen to be visiting, the Leesburg area and have a hankering to tussle with some heavier-than-usual bluegills and shellcrackers, both Big and Little Lake Harris will be to your liking. Some of the better locales include the grassy areas at the far end of Little Lake Harris in four to six feet of water, plus the lily pads and spatterdock tracts near the Ninth Street Canal out from Leesburg. Bluegills also will be found in shallow waters tight to saw grass shorelines.
LAKE MARIAN: Although this 5,740-acre "sleeper" lake in Osceola County doesn't receive much notoriety, it's still one of the best panfishing spots. In past years, shellcrackers have been known to bed later than usual, while bluegills can be gangbusters one day and just so-so the next. An angler's best bet might be to tackle Marian during the month's full and new moon periods.
LAKE ISTOKPOGA: Located a few miles southeast of Sebring, this large, relatively shallow lake gets tons of "ink" for its outstanding bass fishing. However, panfish anglers can concentrate their efforts from April through June around the inshore and offshore cattail and bulrush areas. In other months, likely spots for bluegill and shellcrackers include Big Island, Grassy Island, Bumble Bee Island, around various sandy bars and along the edges of eelgrass.
LAKE JESUP: Near Sanford, Lake Jesup is widely recognized as a top bluegill and shellcracker hotspot, especially from April through July. Spring samples in 2002 revealed that Lake Jesup has some of the biggest, heaviest sunfish of almost any lake in Florida. Concentrate in sandy areas in or near cattails during low-water periods. When levels are high, both species may be found in and around all types of aquatic vegetation. Try grass points along the south shore, the near-shore pilings of the expressway bridge and around Bird Island for bluegill. Shellcrackers can be located in the open water at the entrance of the lake just south of the S.R. 46 bridge, near Bird Island and off the north shore wherever hard, sand bottom can be found.
CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER: For river and stream lovers in Florida's Panhandle, this river is ideal, particularly for shellcracker aficionados. Shellcrackers usually bed in quieter waters during April and remain active through the early-fall months. If tooling around in smaller creeks off the main channel and sloughs during the late spring and summer months, be sure to check out redbreast bream, stumpknockers and warmouth perch.
[url "http://www.floridafisheries.com/forecast/ncr.html"][#0000ff]SUWANNEE RIVER[/#0000ff][/url]: Although bluegill and shellcrackers can be readily caught in the Suwannee, this river is second to none for spotted sunfish (stumpknockers) and redbreast sunfish. These scrappy fish are good in the middle river and excellent in the lower portion. Try near tree banks on deep shores, the mouths of creeks and along water lilies. Use crickets, mealworms, beetle spins or flyfishing tackle, such as popping bugs.
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