Hi all,

 

I am currently up north and the winter has been a drag with the low temperatures suppressing the bass bite. I was wondering if there were good LMB/striped bass lakes in the southeast that might be good in the winter. Additionally, boat rentals on the lake would be great. I'm trying to plan a trip to the southeast but have been inundated with the number of lakes I can find online. Thanks in advance!

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

 

 Not exactly certain have far 'south' you're willing to travel, but this place is pretty good. 

 

 

A-Jay

Almost all of the LMB/striped bass lakes in my area are good in winter. I'm fairly certain it's the same story in Alabama and Georgia. Stripers love the cold and often school on the surface in winter 

Largemouth, smallmouth and strippers can all be caught on the Alabama Rig this time of year.

Rather than renting a bass boat, I recommend hiring a guide. Our lakes are big and challenging.

Boat control can be a big issue. 

 

Alabama rig

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Largemouth, smallmouth and strippers can all be caught on the Alabama Rig this time of year. 

 

Alabama rig, huh?  Is that one you can hang multiple dollar bills from?  Or maybe like a small stack of ones on can of Milwaukee's Best?

The best deal in the country is Turkey Lake in Orlando Florida.  I half day rental is 25 dollars for a Tracker with trolling motor.  The lake is limited access, catch and release only and has some quality bass.  It is right next to Universal Studios and part of the Orlando Park System.  You will need a reservation for boat rental.  I have fished it six times and always caught quality bass.  There are also RV spots to rent, and some cabin rentals in the park.

If you choose to go I will give you some fishing tips.  BPS supplies the Trackers.

12 hours ago, geo g said:

The best deal in the country is Turkey Lake in Orlando Florida.  I half day rental is 25 dollars for a Tracker with trolling motor.  The lake is limited access, catch and release only and has some quality bass.  It is right next to Universal Studios and part of the Orlando Park System.  You will need a reservation for boat rental.  I have fished it six times and always caught quality bass.  There are also RV spots to rent, and some cabin rentals in the park.

If you choose to go I will give you some fishing tips.  BPS supplies the Trackers.

That looks awesome, thank you for sharing this. I may very well plan a trip there in a week or two! Any fishing tips you might have would be gratefully appreciated!

19 hours ago, basshunterman9 said:

That looks awesome, thank you for sharing this. I may very well plan a trip there in a week or two! Any fishing tips you might have would be gratefully appreciated!

Once you finalize your trip, make reservation for the tracker they book up quickly.  Then PM me and I will give you a run down on the lake, what to use that works for me, and hot locations on the lake.  There are only 6 trackers on the lake and no other traffic.  There is also a typo map on line of the lake, so you will know the drop-offs, shallow flats, and run off areas.  I don't think you will be disappointed with this lake.  You can also fish from the shore even after the rental is over.  

We went to a national football coaching clinic in Orlando every year and would fish the lake 2 or 3 mornings and then go to the clinic.  It was always the highlight of the trip.

2 hours ago, geo g said:

Once you finalize your trip, make reservation for the tracker they book up quickly.  Then PM me and I will give you a run down on the lake, what to use that works for me, and hot locations on the lake.  There are only 6 trackers on the lake and no other traffic.  There is also a typo map on line of the lake, so you will know the drop-offs, shallow flats, and run off areas.  I don't think you will be disappointed with this lake.  You can also fish from the shore even after the rental is over.  

We went to a national football coaching clinic in Orlando every year and would fish the lake 2 or 3 mornings and then go to the clinic.  It was always the highlight of the trip.

 

Have you fished it within the last month?

 

I've fished it for the last 2 Saturdays in a row, and know the catch numbers are down. 

No, I haven’t fished it recently but it has been consistant the past six times I fished it over a six year span.  I have always been there in feb or March over that span.  If it were closer to me I would fish it more often.  Still the best rental deal around.

5 hours ago, geo g said:

No, I haven’t fished it recently but it has been consistant the past six times I fished it over a six year span.  I have always been there in feb or March over that span.  If it were closer to me I would fish it more often.  Still the best rental deal around.

 

Nice! The lake is suffering as the water temp flipped quickly from the heavy cold December rains we got in the Orlando area. The lake is also high, by several feet from the rain, which is killing the grasses and pad fields. 

 

The fish are still catchable, but they're offshore, not pre-spawn like in Toho. 

 

I won't be back out there until Feb 23rd, but if I hear anything before then, I'll post an update. 

You can find boat rentals on Guntersville