Largemouth Bass Fly Fishing Charters in Florida

In this article I will thoroughly cover largemouth bass fly fishing charters in Florida. Florida is well known for both largemouth bass fishing and fly fishing. However, not quite as many anglers think to combine the two. The reality is that the shallow fertile waters of Florida offer the perfect year-round environment to catch largemouth bass on fly!

Call Cap Jim at (941) 371-1390 email CaptJimKlopfer@gmail.com

4 hour charter is $300 for 1 angler, $350 for 2 anglers

6 hour charter is $400 for 1 angler and $450 for 2 anglers

My name is Capt. Jim Klopfer and I offer anglers largemouth bass fly fishing charters in Florida. I spent a little over 30 years guiding clients to a variety of saltwater game fish species in the Sarasota, Florida area. I recently left Sarasota and moved to Inverness, Florida in order to pursue freshwater fishing opportunities. I really enjoy the solitude and scenery that freshwater fishing charters offer, particularly in this area.

Largemouth Bass Fly Fishing Charters in Florida

There are several aspects of fly fishing for largemouth bass in Florida that I find especially appealing. From a guide standpoint, this is actually pretty easy fly fishing. Long, super accurate casts are not required. If an angler can cast 30 feet, he or she can catch a bass. Also, largemouth bass fly fishing charters are a bit more relaxed where clients can take in the scenery and enjoy the environment while also experiencing some excellent angling action.

I fish a variety of waters close to Inverness, Florida on my largemouth bass fly fishing charters. These include Lake Panasoffkee, Lake Rousseau, the three lakes of the Tsala Apopka Chain, and the Withlacoochee River. These are typical Florida waters that are quite shallow within abundance of aquatic vegetation along with some other structure such as boat docks and fallen trees. In other words, the perfect year-round largemouth bass habitat!

The tackle that I use on my largemouth bass fly fishing charters in Florida is pretty basic. I use an 8wt rod 90% of the time. Floating lines are used majority of the time, though I will go to an intermediate sink tip in situations where we need to get the fly down a bit deeper. There are times when anglers want to focus more on action, in which case I will scale down the tackle to a 4wt where they will catch more numbers of small bass along with bluegill and other panfish.

Fly selection is pretty simple as well. I basically use three flies on my largemouth bass fly fishing charters in Florida. These are popping bugs and dear hair bugs, a woolly bugger variation, and a Clouser Minnow. My favorite colors are white, chartreuse, and blue/black. These few flies will cover every situation we encounter.

Techniques used when fly fishing for largemouth bass

Unless conditions dictate otherwise, such as a severe cold front, I will always start off casting a surface bug. I start off with a popper and if the bass seem reluctant to hit it, I will switch to a deer hair bug which gives a more subtle presentation. Surface bug such as this are perfect as they hover just above the submerged vegetation. This is particularly true in submerged hydrilla beds, where bass will explode out of holes to take us top water fly! I think most anglers will agree that any time you can add a visual component, such as top water fishing, it only increases the excitement.

While catching largemouth bass on top certainly great fun and exciting, there are situations where a subsurface fly will be more productive. The wooly bugger variation I use is kind of a combination between that and a Crystal minnow. The long marabou tail has terrific action in the water and the weighted eyes give the fly a natural jigging action. The fly also rods with the hookup, reducing snags.

The primary disadvantage to using a subsurface fly is the abundant aquatic vegetation. While this vegetation is certainly a major factor in holding bass, they can also be tedious the fly is constantly picking up debris. Therefore, I use these flies in areas that are a bit more open or along weed edges that drop off into deeper water. They can be worth the trouble low, as they slither seductively through and around the vegetation.

We are fortunate enough that the lakes and rivers near Inverness, Florida are loaded with shad. The result of this is that you will often get a top water bite or surface by during the shad spawn. In this situation, I will often opt for a chartreuse over white or all white Clouser Minnow pattern. It is a classic bait fish fly that is used extensively both freshwater and saltwater fly fishing application. It cast well, rods with the hookup, and is a perfect imitation of the forage.

Waters fished on Florida largemouth bass fly fishing charters

I mentioned earlier the waters that I fish on my largemouth bass fly fishing charters. While all are similar, there are differences as well. I will go through these waters and a bit more detail.

Lake Panasoffkee

Lake Panasoffkee is a terrific largemouth bass fishing like! It is also well known as one of the top panfish lakes in Florida. Perhaps the two are related as small bluegill and other panfish are a top largemouth bass forage. The lake is shallow and weedy and very easy to fish. It is also not very large, only being a few miles long. This makes it easier to find the fish as well as it being calm are on slightly breezy days.

Lake Panasoffkee is also the closest to Orlando, Florida and all of the tourist destinations in that area. It is about an hour or so away. This makes it very easy for an angler to sneak away for a morning or afternoon of fishing. It is just off I 75 as well. It is a good like for numbers of bass as well is having the chance for a trophy fish to be landed. There are several boat ramps that are conveniently located with good parking and facilities.

Withlacoochee River

Theurns into Lake Rousseau.

Tsala apopka Chain

The Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes runs right through the center of Inverness, Florida. There are three separate lakes, or pools as a are known, one each in Inverness, Florida city, and Hernando. The large pool in Inverness is also known as Lake Henderson. All three offer decent fishing, though they do get a bit more local boat traffic. These lakes also offer a lot of protection and are a good option on a day with a bit more wind. There is excellent access to all of these waters via multiple boat ramps. The lakes are very shallow and more susceptible to water level than the other waters that I fish.

 

Lake Rousseau

Lake Rousseau is the most remote of the waters that I fish. It is the result of a dam on the Withlacoochee River. There is a distinct river channel that runs through the center of the lake, with many acres of flats outside of the channel. These flats are loaded with stumps and other obstructions and are treacherous boating. However, they offer anglers some outstanding fishing. This is definitely the lake that I will take anglers to are searching for a trophy largemouth bass. There are multiple options for launching the boat. Also, I can take anglers up the river a bit if wind is an issue.

In conclusion, I hope this article on largemouth bass fly fishing charters in Florida will encourage anglers to give this overlooked experience a try!