Camping at Webb Lake

By Kimball and Les Beery

We have fished and kayaked on this lake many times but only camped once before to enjoy the early morning and evening bite. So, we recently hitched up our Aliner camper and loaded our kayaks for a weekend of fishing and primitive camping. Because it is so close to Englewood, we decided to take both cars, our old Subaru Forester, which serves as our “rolling tackle box and kayak hauler,” and the Highlander to pull the camper.
Camping at Babcock Webb WMA is limited to Friday and Saturday nights this time of year. During hunting season, the camping days are expanded to accommodate the increased demand for space. Now, the weekends are peaceful and uncrowded except for the persistent small arms fire from the popular gun range during the day. The campsites are available by reservation only and are free, but a daily pass is required for $6/car/day which is payable at the entrance kiosk. The facilities are limited to pit toilets and a picnic table but are level and grass-covered. There is no water or power available at the sites. Aliner campers have a gas/electric refrigerator and freezer, so we were only missing the AC and microwave. Our first night featured low temps in the 40s so we didn’t miss the AC at all.
There are three boat ramps along the western shore of Webb Lake. These are good spots to launch a kayak and for shore fishermen to access the water. There are several spots that could serve as kayak launches if folks are willing to launch into the grass and mud along the shore. The water level was average, which created an emergent grass shoreline perfect for weedless lures, though we lost most fish to tangles in the grass as bass burrowed into the cover and shook off the hook.
Friday afternoon, after setting up camp, we ventured to the southern end of the lake to try a new area. We found the water there cloudier than further north, but fishing was good, with lots of average bass willing to tangle us up in the grasses. It would take really heavy tackle to bring in a bale of grass along with these small bass on the hook. As the sun set and the cold began to slip in, we headed to camp and a hot bowl of stew.
On Saturday, we launched at the northern boat ramp and crossed over to fish the lee shore grasses. The water there is shallow, and bedding was evident. Bass beds are not the perfect circle beds the tilapia make. They may be little more than a hand sized spot of bare bottom. Our weedless Zoom Horney Toads and black Trick Worms were attacked as they passed over these beds in shallow water. All the bass we were catching were on the small side, so we had lunch and moved our operation.
The area we wanted to fish was too far away from a ramp, so we decided to find a spot for a “wild launch”. The shoreline grass created a straw mat underfoot to stand on, but the dredged channel dropped off only two feet from the dry land. We got it done but decided to avoid grass launches going forward. Once more, we found a plethora of smaller fish in the grass, but my instinctive second cast to the bed didn’t get attacked by the larger females. It may be that the females had left the kids in the little male’s care. So, in three different areas, we had the same small bass results.
On Sunday, our last morning, we launched at our favorite middle boat ramp and rather than fish south as usual, we paddled north towards more unexplored shorelines. The water clarity here was remarkably good and the fish were biting. We investigated several sloughs and fished lily pads until time to pack up and head home. Just before we quit, Kimball caught the big fish of the trip with 15 minutes left and her photo is attached.
Webb Lake camping can be a great weekend close to home with good fishing and camping. The small arms fire from the gun range, the planes landing and taking off at nearby Punta Gorda Airport, and the sounds of I-75 are negatives to consider if you are seeking a remote, quiet experience. Or they can be a reminder of the fast-paced world just outside of the Babcock Webb Wildlife Management Area that you have escaped. Both the airport and the shooting range shut down later in the evening.

Kimball and Les Beery, authors of Angler’s Guide to Shore and KAYAK Fishing Southwest Florida, contribute these excerpts from both Waterproof books to promote the excellent fishing available in the Englewood area. They are available locally at Old Florida Gallery on West Dearborn, and for download at www.anglerpocketguides.com & amazon.com.