In our last article, we focused on three of our favorite saltwater launches in the Englewood area. We hope local kayak anglers have checked out at least one of these spots and enjoyed a glorious trip. Now we’re looking inland to suggest some freshwater launches we enjoy. Freshwater launches are often our choice because tidal flows and winter winds don’t affect the creeks and lakes we fish. In small lakes, the wind that makes fishing on Lemon Bay problematic isn’t an issue. Spring is the best time to look for Florida bass as they are in spawning mode and are happy to attack a variety of lures. We will begin with the 7″ Zoom® Trick Worm® in black. Black is our default followed by green or red tones.
Webb Wildlife Management Area south of Punta Gorda is less than an hour away from Englewood. We like the middle launch on 7-mile-long Webb Lake. Launching here assures us of a leeward shore to fish, as designers made this lake a fish habitat with meandering branches and spawning shallows. Heading either north or south gets us to cattails, grass shorelines, and lily pads. We usually choose plastic worms in the winter to work the deeper shorelines, but this time of year, frog lures take over as spring brings these amphibians out. Just listen for a few moments at sunset to verify that frogs are active. We use Zoom® Horny Toads® in either Watermelon Red or Watermelon Seed colors rigged weedless on a 5/0 wide gap hook. Ten-pound test with two feet of 20 lb. fluorocarbon that helps around vegetation that might break the lighter line. Toss this rig onto the shoreline vegetation and swim it back to you either on top or submerged for aggressive strikes.
North Port’s Cocoplum Waterway is an overlooked quality fishery. People can easily access this 9-mile-long canal, which parallels US41, at the Dallas White Park boat ramp off North Port Blvd. This little boat ramp is hardly ever busy and still functional, unlike the expensive plastic kayak launches lying around that Ian destroyed and that people haven’t replaced. There is plenty of free parking here and some shoreline fishing, too.
From this launch point, fishing is productive in either direction, with plentiful bass and panfish. Paddling west a short distance towards North Port Blvd. ends at the water treatment plant spillway that keeps saltwater below the spillway. A walkway constructed around the spillway had plastic kayak launches on each end. Unfortunately, this was never workable, as the walkway had switchbacks that kayaks would not bend around. Ian demolished the entire structure and left it unrepaired.
We’ve caught bass below the spillway in saltwater and snook on shiners above the spillway in freshwater. The same lure suggestions apply here with worms taking precedent during the day and frogs later in the afternoon if you hear them.
Finally, let’s mention Wellen Park. This is one of the newer fisheries in our area, but aggressive stocking has created a freshwater fishery we enjoy. A bike path that provides shore access along most of its length surrounds grand Lake, in the center of Wellen Park. Access ends in places where the path leaves the shoreline and kayak anglers take over.
There is a floating kayak launch and kayak rental shop on the lake. Parking is nearby, but we still recommend a dolly to get from parking to the launch. We also read online that there is a “simple sand launch” which would be our choice if true. Grand Lake provides adequate shelter from wind, regardless of its direction. Bring the usual bass lures and try plastic worms during the day and frog lures at sunset. Shore based fly anglers will appreciate the clear back cast area along the lake while casting poppers at sunset.
This story is contributed by Shore & Kayak Fishing, by Kimball and Les Beery
