moretolife

Lake Toho. Chuck Pippin would be my guide of choice. Check him out on Facebook and Youtube.

Lake O is huge and because of how it is constructed (dike all the way around) it is very easy to get lost. My recommendation is to get a guide. That way you fish from a nice boat, get to spend your precious few days on a hot spot and most importantly don't get lost on the water. If winds are up, you do not want to be out on that lake (think ocean)! You need to decide if you will fish with artificials or shiners. Both work but some guides and fisherman lean towards the shiners so that the newbies catch something. I hope you have a great time. Just be careful.

I moved from NC to FL. Differences I found were: 1. Much more grass especially hydrilla. 2. Shallow lakes, 9-12 feet maximum 3. Summertime bite is only at night or early am. So, I'm throwing flukes, worms, rattletraps (when lake not too clogged with hydrilla) and grubs. In the summer the fish scatter, so, you might pick up one and then have to move to find another. If you want to catch some during the hot summer, live bait, primarily shiners or bluegill, sometimes works, especially in shady places or just before dark. Spawn occurs much earlier, December to late Feb. That's your best chance at a lunker.

Chuck Pippin. Below is his facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/chuckpippinjr?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

Looks like a very nice place. I must be channeling you. We are in NC now and I'm one year from retirement. We just purchased a home on Lake Toho in Kissimmee. Actually its on a canal that leads to the lake. The home will mostly sit empty from now until then but I'm looking forward to the day. I hope we can get together and fish both lakes. Maybe I'll change my avatar to Retired On Lake Toho! Chris

Nice one. Is that your boat behind you in the pic? What kind is that? Chris

I am heading from NC to Okeechobee the last week of the month. Wanted to know how has the past polar vortex affected fishing? Is it postponing the spawn or creating tough fishing conditions? Has it been too windy to be out on the lake? We are staying at Buckhead Ridge so will likely fish the north east side of the lake. Any help or suggestions will be appreciated. My boat is a Triton TR20 so if you are out there from the 26th through the 1st of Feb. look for me, I'd like to meet you. Chris

Hey Shane, please help this NC boy. Where exactly is the LOX in Fl? When I look at the map I only see a channel around the swamp. Is that what you are referring to? Where does one put in? Thanks, Chris

I'm still looking for a retirement place. Ran across this neighborhood in Palm City. Has anyone fished it? I like the proximity to the Lox and Okeechobee. Thanks, Chris

and I spent the afternoon in meetings with bank regulators. Life is not fair.

Great fish! Isn't it nice to have folks willing to share. That is what it is all about. Congrats!

Very nice fish. Had she spawned yet? Chris

Wife wants to be close to a larger city so we are planning a trip in a couple of weeks to check out Lake County Fl. I've heard some past fishing horror stories about the sludge in Apopka. Any thoughts on bass fishing on Lake Dora, Eustis, Beauclair? I'd hate to buy and then find out fishing is dead. Thanks, Chris

So, tomorrow (Friday Jan. 4) I head down toward the Big O from Wilson NC for a week. I'm picking up two other old fishermen flying into Orlando on Saturday from St. Louis. I plan to check out potential retirement real estate at Lake Toho on Saturday before heading south to the motherland. If you see a Triton TR-20 with 3 old guys flailing on the north or east side of the lake that's probably us so please say hello. Understand the FLW will start their tournament next Thursday. Guess I'll bring my binoculars so I can pick up some pointers. I hope the weather and fishing is great cause I'd really like to catch a toad! Chris

I'm in NC and I've never been to Lox but from your pics it looks nice. Were you up in the less built up river end? Does it turn from freshwater to brine at some point? Do tides affect it? Chris