Adding some fishing to your Florida vacation? Cast a line from the fishing pier located at Summer Bay Orlando by Exploria Resorts, featuring a 64-acre lake complete with boat rentals. Or hit the road for some wild new territory. Central Florida is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the world, with some pretty serious large-mouth bass action in its broad, shallow lakes south of Kissimmee. Bring a boat or go on a guided excursion, wade along the shoreline or cast off from a pier: there's a beautiful lake-fishing experience waiting for you no matter what you prefer! With the Orlando/Kissimmee area as our home base, let's take a look at some of the spectacular fishing Central Florida has to offer: Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon Early morning fishing on Bay Lake at Walt Disney World Resort. Photo: Disney Two lakes, one natural and one man-made, sprawl through the heart of Walt Disney World Resort. These lakes, connected by canal, are home to more than just ferry boats – they're also a destination for anglers. A two or four-hour fishing expedition from one of the Disney resort marinas includes a year-long membership to BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) along with a subscription to the society magazine, and promises unforgettable memories: after all, how often can you cast your line in the shadow of a fairy-tale castle, or along a beach lined with Polynesian longhouses? For more information or to book, call 407-939-BASS or visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/fishing/ Lake Panasoffkee Just an hour from Orlando's attractions, and yet worlds away from the tourism scene, this enormous (4,465 acre!) spring-fed lake is a true marvel – and home to a variety of fish. Panasoffkee means “Valley of Water,” and the stunning length of this lake lives up to its name. Shallow depths and clear water make this lake famous for largemouth bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish, known as “shellcrackers.” A public ramp is available if you've brought your own boat, or else there are fish camps with rentals, such as the historic Pana Vista Lodge. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission website offers hints on how to fish Lake Panasoffkee at myfwc.com. Lake Kissimmee Catching a big one in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Photo: Experience Kissimmee/Flickr under a Creative Commons License. Although it sounds like it's right down the road from the fun of Kissimmee, this lake is in the remote southernmost reaches of central Florida, and is part of the newly-named “northern Everglades.” The good news is that just an hour and a half south of Orlando, you can escape onto a jaw-dropping 34,948 acres of freshwater lake, with a natural shoreline dappled with native grass, cattails, and hydrilla beds. This makes Lake Kissimmee perfect for bass and bluegill fishing. There are many fish camps and ramps in the region to get you out on the water. Start with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission to get your bearings on this big opportunity. Lake Toho At the northern end of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is Lake Tohopekaliga. It's a mouthful of a name, so most Floridians settle for Lake Toho. At 22,700 acres, Lake Toho is about twice as large as its nearby sister lake, East Lake Tohopekaliga, which many visitors fly over on their way into Orlando International Airport. Fishing here is extremely convenient to the Orlando attractions area, with the city of Kissimmee bordering the lake's northern shores. Kissimmee Lakefront Park is the site of Big Toho Marina, a full-service marina with fishing guides available to show you their favorite spots for large-mouth bass. Visit bigtohomarina.com for more details. Lake Louisa State Park Looking for something close to your resort home? Less than ten miles from Kissimmee's resort district and Summer Bay Orlando by Exploria Resorts, you'll find Lake Louisa State Park. Lake Louisa, the largest of the 13-member Butler Chain of Lakes, has been designated a Florida Outstanding Waterway. Along with Lake Louisa, the state park also boasts Hammond Lake and Dixon Lake for fishing and boating. While there are fishing piers and shoreline fishing available, the park doesn't have a public boat ramp or allow gasoline engines. For trolling-motor boats that can't be hand-carried to the water, you'll have to drive to the nearby Palatlakaha River Park & Boat Ramp. Start your adventure at the Florida State Parks website. Are you ready to get out on Florida's beautiful lakes and cast a line? With more than 30,000 lakes in the entire state, one thousand of those are located in Lake County alone, home of Summer Bay Orlando By Exploria Resorts. Fishing enthusiasts, your ship has just come in. Ready to plan your next Orlando vacation? Summer Bay Orlando By Exploria Resorts offers the perfect home-base for your entire family, with room to relax, play, and connect. Visit our Destinations tab to explore accommodations, recreation, and amenities at this resort, featuring villas and condos perfect to host your next family vacation.
