Disney World Bass fishing

[Redbone]

Somehow I am getting suckered into going to Disney in April. It will be a good time to go on Vacation seeing how it wont screw up tourney season.  Anyway, has anyone ever done the bass fishing charters in the park.  I'm thinking it would make my trip ALOT better.  It also looks like there is some nice bass in the lakes. I'm looking for some info.

[Performance Tuned]

Yeah, I did the Disney bass thing like 3 years ago... you have a choice of a 2 or 4 hour trip. They pick you up in a big pontoon and take you to one of the lakes, hand you a spinning rod with some lucky craft baits (LC was a disney bass sponsor) or a variety of soft plastic worms.
We caught a few nice fish... 2 to 3lbers. There are multiple lakes around and they are all connected through canals. Some of the lakes have bass in the teens... so they claim... but it is Florida, so I wouldn't doubt it.
Overall it was fun... I don't know if I'd go out of my way to do it again but it was a day on the water during the winter.

[Waterfoul]

Dang dude... if you go to Florida and don't fish you'll regrett it for ever.  I say do it... and can't be anything BUT fun no matter the size of the fish.

[thedude]

we went a few years ago to visit family. I put a post on the florida forum of BBC and offered to buy food/gas for anyone needing a backseater on Toho or Kissimie chain and ending up fishing for a few hours with some good guys and i think i was only out 30 or 40 bucks. Of course a huge cold front hit (like 45 degrees out) and we didn't catch a thing (FL bass love the cold lol) but thats fishing. It was 10 outside at home so i didn't give a flip.

I borrowed 2 rods from the guy and just brought a few baits/hooks/weights in a tray and 2 reels in my luggage. All you need to fish down there are gold traps, some 6" stick baits and maybe a frog, spinnerbait, buzzbait.

[thedude]

btw - there are some guides on toho - they aren't cheap either, but its an awsome lake and so is the kissimie chain. Benefit of going with a guide is the will live shiner fish and you have a good chance at some 10+ fish.

[LGMOUTH]

 Wavespin happens to be the official reel of Disney world so I got a chance to go out a couple of years ago. It was a fun time knowing I was in Florida, at Disney world and everyone else was at home freezing. We caught a few 3 to 4lbers, but most were small to 2lbs. If you like to take pictures it is a fantastic opportunity. The Dudes idea would be a better bet financially but if your with your family at the park and you could get away for a couple of hours I would recommend going out. Heck like waterfoul said, its florida and it will be warm you probably would regret not going out no matter which way you choose.

[Cy]

I was down there November of 2009 and like a dumbass I didn't fish.  But I can tell you that fishing at Disney is expensive!  Fishing with a guide on Toho, I did that in 2004 is also expensive!  Plan on $300 to $500 for a half a day trip depending on bait and tip.  I can also tell you there were guys that fished the little ponds and lakes by our hotel room all the time.  You a bring a rig and bank fish all you want.  I don't know if you can do it anywhere but they were at the Caribbean Beach.  Have fun!

Cy

[t-bone]

I did it a couple months ago when I was at Disney for a conference and there a day early. They have a couple options - fish with a guide out of a bass boat for more experienced anglers with artificial or pontoon boat with live bait. The costs are about 2-3X of what you'd pay up here in Michigan for a guide. So for $400 bucks you get a couple hours compared to a half day 6 hours up here. It was expensive but I rather do this than go to one of the parks.

We caught some small fish using texas-rigged worms but I did a mid-morning trip. I think that the 2 hr trip might be all you'd want in the heat of the summer in FL. We fished out of a decent sized Nitro and I think he did have wavespin reels but he let me use his spinning and baitcaster setup.
I fished Toho a couple years with my dad and a guide. We did the live shiner and bobber. It was a blast to watch my dad catch some decent sized fish that he probably couldn't do with artificial.

[Redbone]

Yeah, I seen it was pricey.  I think I read that they will put you in a Nitro for 2hrs for $270ish. I would love to have the chance to catch a toad.  Even if its a rare chance. The Dudes idea with BBC would be the way to go if I could get away... But I doubt thats going to happen. Its a stocked lake so you would think a monster is possible.

[stackenem]

I had this a couple of years ago just remember one thing as Mr. Kimmel told me it is impolite to fish a mouse at disney

[djkimmel]

I said that?? I recall seeing some of the TV show hosts fish the ponds and catch a few toads. I think it was Jimmy Houston that had a 10+ on, so there are some big 'uns in there.

[karol]

 at least it would be the only thing at disney that's not make believe.
I'd rather go north to something God made than something made by a bunch of alternative life style people

[Redbone]

at least it would be the only thing at Disney that's not make believe.
I'd rather go north to something God made than something made by a bunch of alternative life style people

That's one way to kill a thread!


I still got time to make a decision.  Maybe I'm just getting cabin fever.  The hardwater isn't giving me my fix.

[t-bone]

at least it would be the only thing at disney that's not make believe.
I'd rather go north to something God made than something made by a bunch of alternative life style people

Yeah - I'd rather fish all of the TVA impoundments... crap - did hippies make those too? Nope Hillbillies, dang it - can't fish those.
Heck, I'm going to Canada to fish - that is god's country!

[fasttrack]

My profile pic is one of several I caught that size on Toho a couple yrs ago. Did a half-day trip with a guide for under $200 (+bait). And it was the day after the Elite series was there (that KVD won). Didnt quite get the 10lb'er I hoped for but a limit of 7-8's was just fine by me! I can look up the guy's name if ya want to PM me. He was a bit rough around the edges but an excellent fisherman and guide. He doesnt farm out to other guys - he takes you himself and has a lifetime of experience there. Never a dull moment with this guy! If ya go, ask him to tell you the story of the sugar daddy with his two babes that stripped naked in the boat....Or the 2 brothers who got in a fistfight cause one pitched overtop the other to a bedded fish....

[basshtr]

I am getting suckered into the same trip, probably next year.  I was wondering if there is any kayak rental down there on those little lakes.  I was considering going out a morning or two for a couple of hours.  Sneek a little tackle in the luggage, only problem will be the rod(s).  Anyone been there have an opinion to whether this will be a possiblity?  or the practicality of it?

[TritonTR20]

I was down there last year for a conference and talked to one of the guides that was wait for this guests to show up. They are geared towards spending the first half hour at the dock teaching their clients how to cast. They then shove off and start casting. Their goal is for their clients to catch as many fish as possible so they have a good time. So if there are a tone of bank runners up shallow in the 1lb range and bigger fish are out deeper, you will be fishing for the back runners, with lures that will spend the least amount of time being snagged etc. I have also taken a rod with me before and fished from shore and done quite well.

[Skulley]

Dang dude... if you go to Florida and don't fish you'll regrett it for ever.  I say do it... and can't be anything BUT fun no matter the size of the fish.

Redbone, this quote here says it all.  Florida!!!  Late winter.........early spring..........Florida!!!  I have done the Disney thing.  Rented the guide for 4 hours, on the pontoon.  The guide I had was a retiree.  He really didn't know much about bass fishing except where to go to catch them.  I took my own tackle box I got for traveling.  It had all the necessary Florida stuff.  I have been going to Florida for years.  I have family there.  I still go.  Anyway back on track here, the guide/retiree was asking me what to have on hand for his customers.  I was catching them on spooks and pop r's early and then on spinnerbaits and worms as the sun rose up.  After about 10am, the fishing kind of shuts off.  Of course I did this in mid May when the fish there have already spawned and are into summer patterns.  I had a great day.  Caught about 40 largemouth.  Caught most of them before 9am.  My trip was from 6am to 10am.  I had to bribe the guide to start earlier because he was 7 to 11.  It cost me an extra 20 bucks to get him there early on top of what I tipped him but it was worth it.  When you talk to the operator because that is what you will book the trip through, ask them to have the guide call you.  Then you can make your own deal with him.  You will pay through the operator for the guide trips but adjusting the time will have to be on the side.  Mine was a little stubborn until I said "20 bucks" under the table.  Most will bite.  It's fishing.  Some of these are retirees.  Now the other is the same operator but requesting a guide with "bass boat".  Different deal.  More money.  If you are accomplished and most of the anglers on this sight are, then the pontoon is the best.  Less cash.  Retiree.  You can bring your own equipment.  Also any ponds around your hotel, condo, where ever you are staying all have bass in them.  Shore fishing can be fun.  My aunt had these ponds on here condo complex that had these little Florida red eye bass.  Largemouth family...sunfish if you will.  They only grow 12 maybe 14 but they would wack pop r's.  A blast every evening after dinner.  My uncle would shake his head at me the way I could get these fish to bite.  It was fun. 

So don't sell yourself short.  Lots and lots of good fishing from the local pond, Disney trip, finding some guys to share gas.  I fished Okeechobee many times when I had a friend down there who had a friend that fished it all the time.  It cost me burgers and beers at the bar at the end of the day.  We caught a slew of good Florida Largies on traps and spinnerbaits.  The guy that took me on Okeechobee has been up here several times and we have done the same.  It cost him burgers and beers at Miller's in Dearborn after the fishing day had ended.  Great fun. 

I guess what I am trying to tell you Redbone is that you can make the most of a trip to Florida by seeing how creative you can be and how much you want to fish.  When I have gone down there, I have always gotten a few days of fishing in by being imaginative and creative in hooking up with people and just shore fishing when I have had the opportunity.  But don't go down there and not fish...........you don't know what you will be missing.



BD