Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, Florida Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions
Fly Fishing Map of Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, FL
Bookmark and Share
Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, Florida Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions
My tips of the week
Bass on the bed are so much fun. Some days popper, some days deep divers, but something will usually aggravate a strike. Catch and release is critical this time of year for our future populations. The unexpected bonus is that tilapia are easy targets since they bed at the same time as bass. Usually, a strike can be enticed with small clousers and/or wooly buggers fished into the bed. Bluegill are opportunistic and will be near the beds too.
Fishing Conditions

Fly Fishing Winter Haven Chain of Lakes is currently Excellent

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby:

Water flow:

Visibility: 28 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 74 Degrees F

Water condition: Stained

Best time of day to fish: Mid Morning, Evening

Best stretch:

Best access point:

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

Mayflies, Dragonflies

Fish species: Largemouth Bass, Panfish, Crappie, Gar, Grass Carp

Fishing season: Year Round

Nearest airport: Orlando International Airport

Person Fishing in a stream

Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Description

The Winter Haven Chain of Lakes is a large group of around 60 different lakes located midway between Orlando and Tampa. A little less than an hours drive from either one of these metro areas you can find access via boat ramps on about a dozen of the lakes many of which are connected by a canal system allowing boaters into most all the lakes during higher water.

Most of the lakes are shallow ...

Techniques & Tips

Hatches: Mayfly hatches (hexagenia) are common this time of year. Our mayflies are typically size 8-12. Tan, yellow, and light olive bodies on a Stimulator or Hippy Stomper will usually draw a strike. If the bluegills are fussy, try something that dips deeper like a Comparadun for spinners. Dragonflies are buzzing brazenly, and dapping everywhere. Tan, Blue, and Green monsters are all over my lakes. Fish your favorite dragonfly and damselfly patterns in any size. Try a quick dap in the same place, and/or space the daps out. Also try spent spinner style and let them twitch on the surface. Small poppers with rubber legs can be a good imitation for dragon flies too.

7-Day Forecast

With cool mornings, some of our lakes have turned, or partially turned. This phenomenon makes the water very dirty, sometimes we will have a yellowish bloom/pollen on the surface. Basically, the cool surfaced water has turned under with the warmer deeper water floating up. Water is very murky, but will settle in a day or two. Lack of rain has made water clarity improve dramatically. Enjoy while it lasts as summer rain is coming soon.


Add Your Fishing Report