First trip to Toho

It was a very pretty morning yesterday. 2mph wind, air temp of 69° and a nice sunrise as I got to the ramp. Apparently Big Toho Marina (where I launched) just went through a change of ownership the past few weeks....It was closed until this past Sunday. Beautiful launch area with plenty of parking for trailers (they host a lot of tournaments on this big lake), a nice restaurant and (I believe) 12 launch ramps. The water temp was 66° and the water clarity was about 2 feet....very tannic water.
I didn't catch any bass yesterday, but I did manage to catch 2 chain pickerel though. I didn't drive all the way down here to catch a relative of the northern pike!!! Ah well, it was good to get on the water for a couple of hours anyway. I had some technical issues that I wanted to look after so I left early. Problems solved. Now it's just wait for a less windy day.....25-30mph today, 15-20mph forecast for tomorrow.
The attached picture doesn't do this lake justice. It is a beautiful lake with lots of open water and tons of matted hydrilla, pencil reeds, pond weed, lily pads and milfoil. Just tons of places for the big ladies to hide and ambush prey!

Looking for Toho lake in zone 17. Is walleye still open there?

Nice report and glad you're having a good time down South and have your problems solved and ready for bass fishing! Looks like a decent bass haven lake !

We here are stuck in between seasons with above zero during daytime and below zero at night in the forecast for the next week.

It's in Zone 34....as in zip code 34741!!

I have a good friend who guides in this area. He's actually one of the old school tournament anglers who had a fishing show in the 70's. He's given me several areas to try on Toho as well as the baits that are likely to work in those areas. He did tell me to watch for the toothy critters though. They tend to look at low-sided bass boats as a floating island to climb upon and rest. I'm not looking to have any unwanted passengers!!

It's in Zone 34....as in zip code 34741!!

I have a good friend who guides in this area. He's actually one of the old school tournament anglers who had a fishing show in the 70's. He's given me several areas to try on Toho as well as the baits that are likely to work in those areas. He did tell me to watch for the toothy critters though. They tend to look at low-sided bass boats as a floating island to climb upon and rest. I'm not looking to have any unwanted passengers!!

I looked up this zip code- Nice area!
Right in the middle of various inland lakes.

Yikes about the toothy critters
Do you have to carry a baseball bat with you on the fishing trips on something else to protect yourself?

I was just reading the below.....good luck to you Goshawk....some huge Bass in there.


Lake Toho’s Records

The lake holds many records with the most famous being the heaviest 5 bass limit in B.A.S.S history, caught by Bassmaster Elite series pro Dean Rojas in 2004. His record of 5 fishing weighing 45 Dean Rojas with a mount of his 5 bass limit recordpounds 2 ounces (averaging 9lbs per bass) still holds today. During the four day event he finished with a 20 fish limit weighing 108lbs-12oz, which was also a record for a four day event. Four other 40-41 pound plus bags were also caught during that event. 21 bass weighing 10 pounds or more were caught during that tournament, and with all those double digit bass being caught no one even bothered to count all the 8 and 9 pound bass.

Arnie

It's in Zone 34....as in zip code 34741!!

I have a good friend who guides in this area. He's actually one of the old school tournament anglers who had a fishing show in the 70's. He's given me several areas to try on Toho as well as the baits that are likely to work in those areas. He did tell me to watch for the toothy critters though. They tend to look at low-sided bass boats as a floating island to climb upon and rest. I'm not looking to have any unwanted passengers!!

I looked up this zip code- Nice area!
Right in the middle of various inland lakes.

Yikes about the toothy critters
Do you have to carry a baseball bat with you on the fishing trips on something else to protect yourself?

JB, I just keep my head on a swivel the whole time that the trolling motor is in the water. I learned that over all the years of coming down here.
Some of the other bass fishermen that I talked to take another option. They've taken advantage of Florida's law of carrying a firearm openly (not concealed) while fishing for someone that's a state resident. One guy told me that the first 2 rounds in his Glock are blanks. He's used that a couple of times and says that the noise usually gets them turned away from the boat without harming the critter.
Personally, I've used the oar to slap the water if it gets close to the boat. So far, that seems to work.

Good luck Lionel...Have a great time down there. We are jealous.