Crappie Fishing on Lake Tohopekaliga

Also called specks — cool-month panfish that school up thick around brush, grass, and river bends, filling coolers on drift-and-troll trips.

Lake Tohopekaliga — Lake Toho — is the central-Florida bass trip for visitors based in Orlando and Kissimmee. It has hosted the Bassmaster Classic and major FLW events for a reason: hydrilla mats, eelgrass, shell beds, and Kissimmee grass combine to grow big, healthy largemouth in numbers.

January through April is the window most guides target for trophy fish, with shiner trips and sight-fishing the shallow spawn. Outside the spawn, the lake's shad forage means moving baits — swimbaits, lipless cranks, and bladed jigs — shine over the grass. It's a forgiving lake to learn on and a serious one to chase a wall-hanger on.