 OPTIONS ABOUND FOR BOATING, FISHING TRIPS Orlando Sentinel -- Wednesday, May 23, 2001 By: Paul Andrea, Sentinel Correspondent Lake County is centrally located for one-day fishing and boating trips around the state within 60 miles. Options include Ocala National Forest lakes, rivers and springs. Salt Springs and Georgetown, for example, offer excellent fishing in Rodman Reservoir, Lake George and the Ocklawaha River. Butch Miller at the Georgetown Marina offers information and supplies for this area. Call 904-467-2002 for pre-trip preparations. Ron and Rick Rawlins, owners of Highland Park Fish Camp, reports panfish and bass are biting. Lakes Woodruff and Dexter, the St. Johns River and Norris Dead River are prime fisheries. Drive east on State Road 44 to Grand Avenue in Volusia County, then proceed north to the camp. Fishing guide James Hillman can be reached at 1-800-525-3477. The Lake Woodruff National Wildlife refuge has maintained its pristine quality. Bring along a camera and recorder for rare photo opportunities. The day trip south is filled with surprises. Drive south on U.S. Highway 27 to Lake Wales. Capt. Jim Dowling specializes in trophy bass fishing. Wildlife management is manifested in Lake Weohyakapka (Lake Walk-In-The-Water). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is monitoring aquatic vegetation and fish populations. Lakes Kissimmee, Reedy and Rosalie have ideal panfish habitat. Shellcrackers, specks and bream limits are commonplace. Call Dowling at 1-800-488-3315 or www.tillmanbb.com. The trip east to the Atlantic coast is the destination for saltwater anglers that seek red fish, trout, snook, mackerel, grouper and snapper. The Fly Fisherman shop in Titusville is the gathering spot for fly fishers. The main quarry are red fish. Sight fishing for reds with a fly at the ready has made the Indian River lagoon a national attraction. Reds that range from 2 to 50 pounds will take a fly and give a thorough account for themselves. Trout and snook are ready to put anglers to the task with all types of tackle and bait. Offshore trips depart from Cape Canaveral. Call Fritz Cole at 321-267-0348 for Indian River and Canaveral information. Drive south on U.S Highway 441 then east on State Road 50 to Titusville. Trips west include Inverness and Dunnellon for freshwater fishing and Homosassa and Crystal River for saltwater fishing. The Lake Rousseau RV Park and Fishing Resort in Crystal River has all the necessary for boating and fishing. Bass guide Bud Andrews specializes in artificial lure bass fishing. He is nearing the 400 mark for caught-and-released largemouth bass, 10 pounds and over. Rainbow Springs Run and the Withlachoochee River from Rousseau. Call Andrews at 352-726-4748 or 352-795-6336 for complete service information. Drive east on State Road 44 to State Road 19, then north to the camp. Copyright (c) 2001, Sentinel Communications Co. |