Fly Fishing Central Florida

Central Florida Freshwater Fly Fishing Report 5-29-2012

by Captain Craig Crumbliss, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide/Instructor

We've had another great week of freshwater fly fishing on several local Winter Haven lakes.  In the past few days I've been on Lake Buckeye and Lake Ned and had good morning fishing on each.  You have to be early during these warm months and I've been on the water shortly after 6am every day.

Topwater action has been very consistant with Chartreuse Boogle Bugs being the best fly this past week.  There have been a good number of bass around the shallow weedbeds in the early morning hours before the sun gets up and they move out to deeper water.  Bluegill fishing has been good although they haven't been quite as aggressive this past week and it seems like the numbers of fish caught were down a little too.  Most of the bass were caught when we were working the poppers pretty aggressively, so don't be afraid to strip pretty quickly especially early.

Your best bet this week is to get out on the water early and plan on being finished early as well.  There is still a good hour before sunset when it starts to cool off and the fish will start eating again, especially if we have an afternoon thunderstorm.  Nearly any bright colored topwater fly pattern will bring an aggressive strike.

Comments are encouraged and appreciated!