The Kit Lake Solace

AUGUST 2026

     It was a month of moving homes on Kit Lake, my home water in central Florida’s largemouth bass country. Anglers moved through improvements and challenges. Kids moved back to school. And rain helped the fish of Kit Lake move to new spots in old areas.   

Patterns on the lake have changed: Pads have taken over the German’s Pond and others disappeared from Ben’s Run. Some Kit Lake anglers gave up all together, choosing to watch football,and even football practice rather than go down to the water. But, anglers prepared with the precise fly and leader combination or with the patience to change fly and leader did well.

     Semi-normal rains raised our lakes enough to rebuild some habitat. But the heat pushed the bass deep. Even good holding spots like the lily pad field around the dock-repair-pontoon-boat, which was lifted to three solid feet of water, didn’t attract bass. Instead, they were pushed beyond dropoffs. Especially in the second half of this hot month, deep fishing was the plan. Anglers chased bass with sinking flies, like a brace of purple and black Clousers presented slowly on eight weight in approximately fifteen feet of water.

      Bluegill were caught in shady dock spots, except where the grass was too tall. A medium sized bee imitation proved attractive to several bluegill when Spence took one out of his box.

Midday fishing is much less productive. Mr. G found strong fighting shell crackers between 8:00 and 10:00 am. But later in the morning, even the ten feet of water was not enough cover for them to attack the hare's ear nymph, again.

The Rapino family has put in a new pool, and old fish holding spots are getting new water, so there is hope for the future. When we get past the dry patches by doing something different, our birddogging for new habitats this month is bound to pay off in the future.