Description: About Winter Haven Chain of Lakes The Winter Haven Chain is the headwaters for the Peace River. These are dozens of small lakes in the city, some with boat access, others with fishing access from shore. Bass, Bluegill and Crappie are popular sport fish targets. Other species are carp, catfish , and gar.
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Where do bass go in the winter in lakes?
Often times the bass in Winter will pull off shore and lay in the lowest, deepest spot they can find off shore. If you’re on a small body of water this probably means the middle of the deepest coves. If you’re on a big body of water this could be the middle of a bay or even the center of the lake, miles offshore.
What lakes are in the Winter Park Chain of lakes?
The Winter Park Chain of Lakes consists of six lakes connected by navigable canals – Lake Virginia, Lake Mizell, Lake Osceola, Lake Maitland, Lake Nina and Lake Minnehaha.
How many lakes are in the chain of lakes in Winter Haven?
Located within the city of Winter Haven, nine lakes compose this 6000-acre chain where fishing and boating are extremely popular. Boat and shore access to the South Chain are available at lakes Summit, Shipp, Howard, Cannon, and Hartridge. The North Chain can be accessed through lakes Conine, Rochelle, and Haines.
How do you fish in Winter Haven Chain of lakes?
Use live wild shiners for the best chance at some big bass over submerged vegetation. Bluegill (bream) and Redear Sunfish (shellcracker) fishing will begin to slow as spawning congregations disperse. Use crickets and red wigglers fished under a cork for bluegill and shellcracker, respectively.
What is the best bait for bass in the winter?
- #1 โ Jerkbait. The suspending jerkbait is no secret to coldwater bass anglers.
- Jerkbaits as topwaters.
- #2 โ Blade bait.
- #3 โ Lipless crankbait.
- #4 โ Wacky worm.
- #5 โ Jig.
- Beat the cold to boat the bass.
Are bass deep or shallow in winter?
Bass, even the big ones, are not always deep in winter. Watch for bait fish, and remember that even crawdads don’t hole up until the water temps dip below 40. You may be surprised at how many fish you find on the bank, no matter how cold it is.
Are there alligators in Winter Park Chain of lakes?
Snakes & Alligators Alligators and other potentially dangerous wildlife do occur in Winter Park’s lakes and natural areas. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) website provides helpful information on these organisms and how to stay safe while using our waterways and natural areas.
Are there clear lakes in Florida?
The clearest fresh water lakes in Florida are spring-fed white sand bottom lakes. These lakes are smaller than the Harris Chain lakes and are mostly private or have limited access. These lakes are not as fertile as the large lakes, but they make up for it with less boating and fishing pressure.
Are there alligators in Winter Haven Fl?
8-foot gator spotted wandering in Florida yard Sgt. Gregory and Officer Ramos wrangled the gator lassoed by Officer Avery on Manolin Boulevard in Winter Haven. The gator was successfully relocated to the local pond. Winter Haven Police Department shared the photos on their facebook page on Monday morning.
Are the Chain of Lakes man made?
The Chain O’Lakes, or simply “The Chain”, is a waterway system in northeast Illinois composed of 15 lakes connected by the Fox River and man-made channels.
Can you swim in Chain lakes?
Chain Lakes Provincial Park Beach is more of a wading beach than a swimming beach and there is no marked swimming area. The area around the small, sandy/rocky beach is large and grassy with all of the amenities required for a day by the water.
How many lakes are in Polk County Florida?
According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District there are 381 lakes in Polk County. When ranked statewide Polk County is fourth in total number of lakes.
What kind of fish are in Lake Ariana?
Lake Ariana is a lake near Auburndale. The most popular species caught here are Largemouth bass, Blue tilapia, and Smallmouth bass. 168 catches are logged on Fishbrain.
Is Lake Hamilton part of the Chain of Lakes?
The Chain of Lakes is a famous series of lakes in Central Florida. There are two chains of lakes, the northern chain and the southern chain. The northern chain extends across three cities: Winter Haven, Lake Alfred, and Lake Hamilton. It has ten lakes, connected by a series of canals.
How big is Lake Ariana in Florida?
Ariana, Lake is a 1018 acre, Public lake located in Auburndale in Polk County.
What colors are best for winter bass fishing?
Black/blue is the best color for this lure in off colored water. Considering off colored water is about the only color you’ll find this time of year with all the rain. Black and brown are excellent choices as well. Most anglers tie on this bait during a cold front when the bass have buried themselves in cover.
Will bass bite topwater in winter?
Yes, a topwater lure during the Winter can be productive but takes lots of patience. Black bass can be caught in the Winter, summer, spring, or fall on topwater.
What is the best time of day to fish for bass?
Without question, the best time of day to fish for bass is at night. Bass are known to feed more heavily at night than during any other time of day. Not only is night the best time to fish for bass due to bass being more active, there are often fewer anglers and less commotion on the waterways during the evening hours.
What temperature are bass most active?
Bass become more active as the water cools back into the low 70s and 60s and will attack a faster-moving bait, such as a crankbait. Fish on long, tapering points with a deep-water access; some bass will be shallow and some still deep, and a long point interfaces with both environments.
How far will bass travel in a lake?
Another study found that over 90% of the bass tagged and released moved a great distance, many traveled up to 16 miles away. This supports what I found in my study on Lake Eufaula. Some bass would be caught by anglers near where we released the fish while others would show up miles away at the other end of the lake.
How do you catch big bass in the winter?

What depth do bass swim at?
While productive depths during the early summer are dependent on the lake, I like 6 to 12 feet of water. During the height of summer, bass may move as deep as 15 or 20 feet, especially in clear water. Fishing crankbaits along weed edges is a proven summertime tactic for big largemouths.
What are the best months for bass fishing?
When it comes to catching bass, every season has its opportunities and challenges. Fishing can come alive in the dead of winter on a mild afternoon, but spring and fall usually present the best action. Generally, I try to avoid extremes of heat and cold and times when the water temperature falls rapidly.
What lure should I use for bass today?
JIGS. A jig is the bass lure to use when you plan to fish for bass in an area of heavy cover. In other words, if you see a lot of grass, surface vegetation, trees or stumps, a jig should work well. One of the other advantages of using a jig is that you can fish them in either shallow or deep water.