I’m gonna be in the Tampa area in a bit and am looking for suggestions on a lake & someone to take me out   
 

thanks in advance 

Check the sponsors on the right: https://www.aeguideservice.com/

I assume if you're in Tampa you're looking for some inshore saltwater fishing options?

 

I went to Tampa in 2015 for a week and hooked up with Mike Anderson from Reel Animals guide service.  I had only booked a 4 hour trip, but he kept us fishing for about 6.5 hours without charging us any more.  That guy got a really nice tip from us in return.  Caught some snook, redfish, and sea trout.  I hope to go back and do that again someday.

https://www.aeguideservice.com/

My bad, I just saw DD Largemouth in the title.  Omit my previous post on saltwater fishing.

9 hours ago, Nelson Delaney said:

I’m gonna be in the Tampa area in a bit and am looking for suggestions on a lake & someone to take me out   
 

thanks in advance 

The site sponsor guide service look good and use artificial lures as in Arti-FISH-ail. 

Your goal however of catching a DD LMB after March near Tampa Bay or anywhere in Florida is extremely low. Set your goal as PB or 8 lbs is more realistic imo.

Enjoy your outing should have a fabulous experience.

Tom

Not much in terms of bass fishing in Tampa. If you’re willing to head 1.5 to 2 hours towards the middle of the state you’ll hit some good fishing (Kissimmee chain, Rodman, Harris Chain, Istokpoga, St. John’s).

 

Lakeland has several lakes about 30-45 minutes away with good fishing but not necessarily on par with the others.

15 hours ago, bigbassin' said:

Not much in terms of bass fishing in Tampa.

 

This. 

 

I quit bass fishing when I moved here.  Most of the ponds are private, the river is brackish, and the bay is just so inviting. 

 

You can catch bass anywhere in the US, I'd focus on something local.  Tarpon season is coming up soon and there's always reds and snook and a variety of table fare that fight better than a bass and offer a different set of challenges.

 

If you want to hit a bank on foot, I've heard there is some bass fishing to be done in the bypass canal.  I've just never bothered with it.

Check out Lake Rousseau in Crystal River north of Tampa. It's a 100 year old rock quarry loaded with giant bass. Here's one below.   A 17 pound LM bass was caught there a few years back. Also the old phosphate mines in Tenoroc near Lakeland have good bass fishing. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

Check out Lake Rousseau in Crystal River north of Tampa. It's a 100 year old rock quarry loaded with giant bass. Here's one below.   A 17 pound LM bass was caught there a few years back. Also the old phosphate mines in Tenoroc near Lakeland have good bass fishing. 

 

 

Tenoroc for sure....