Central/South Florida 2026 scout trip - need advice

[breeves2245]

Planning next year's winter getaway. For half decent Jan/Feb temps, south of Orlando. Looking at Google map seems Lakeland, FL area has a lot of lake choices. I'm looking for "small lakes" as in less than 1,000 acres. Will be taking my 1775 Lund Renegade.

To keep it simple, I'll get an AirBnb/VRBO type place for a month or so. Don't care about beaches, so inland for sure.

I can get a nonstop flight from NW Arkansas to Tampa for cheap. Rent a car and stomp around for a day or two to check a few neighborhoods for Airbnb and some lakes. I've learned first hand Airbnb on the internet sometimes look much better than they are. Want to avoid sketchy areas with the boat.

Any advice on specific areas?

[Transom]

Check out the Avon Park/Sebring area.

[250bassFL]

I haven't fished since 2021, so most that used to talk with me about fishing have stopped. So I can't give you any up to date information. But you mentioned Lakeland. Look up information on Tenoroc Fish Management Area. Numbers of old phosphate pits ranging from in the 200 acres and down. Only so many boats in at one specific time, and different rules per different pits. So you will have to learn the information on each you Fish, to make sure you don't break the rules and get a ticket possibly.
Saddle Creek pits are just below Tenoroc. Gets fished lots by bank and boats.
Lake Gibson can be good for Numbers if caught with the time and technique just right, but gets lots of boat traffic even with a steep ramp and not much of any staging area to bank the boat on. (May be called something else and explained in a better way.) But no dock.
I have never caught a big one, or lots from Lake Parker, though some have. And if the water is not lower, if boat is not to big some canals and cuts will get you on connecting pits that I couldn't tell you still have access on or not. Things definitely change with time, and I have no clue one way or another. Just everywhere be safe, try and get as much info as you can. Some may look like open water to where you can think you can just go where you want but you find out the hard way, or maybe not. I have not been on the water in years, so I sure couldn't say yes or no on anything. Only that from just looking as I pass places from a distance I would guess water levels look pretty good, definitely not like in some drought years. I have even put boats on stuff in some of those.
They spent lots of money years back on making Hollingsworth deeper. It didn't used to get fished much. It used to mainly get some pleasure boaters. Lots of people walk around the whole lake there. I have heard of some catching some decent bass there. Can't say I ever did.
But you will see there's lakes within driving distance of Lakeland with whatever distance a drive you would decide to make to numbers of lakes. Winter Haven chain of lakes is not far from Lakeland.
Tenoroc is only open to fishing on certain days, and it's first come first serve. So sometimes you can not Fish the pit you were hoping. Not in the waiting line early enough who knows, you may not have one with a ranp available to even Fish. Just look up Tenoroc Fish Management Areas website, and you can get the information of it.
And if you go elsewhere, be safe and good luck with your time down. It's really populated and you may get a personal experience with a Florida man or Karen. High possibility with this population.
I couldn't tell you where the safest areas of the state are, or not.Or of Lakeland for that matter.

[MoStratos]

I’m from Missouri and fished south central Florida late last february. I stayed in Lake Placid and had 5 lakes within 10 minutes of me. I fished Istokpoga, Lake June, Lake Placid, and Lake Clay. 3 days on Istokpoga, 1 day on each of the others. I also fished Okeechobee one day. I did the best on Istokpoga for numbers, caught my best on Lake June(7-4 lbs) but caught fish on each. Junebug or black/blue was my best color for plastics, but did well on a rattletrap and chatter bait. A Senko wacky rigged or Texas rigged with am1/8 oz wt. was my go to. Enjoyed the weather and people were nice. Stayed at the Ramada Inn which was decent with good parking and plug ins for the boat.