Fish Tales: Catch the Big One in our Local Lakes

Passionate about fishing? Professional and amateur fishermen alike come here from all over the world to cast a line in area lakes. There’s always something biting in Kissimmee and you’re sure to get hooked.

Fishing in Florida is a given. Fishing the Kissimmee area? It's 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 Toho's 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 Hatchineha's shallow waters and arrowhead grass host panfish and bluegill.

Read more about fishing in the Kissimmee area here: ExperienceKissimmee.com/fishing