An eagle soared high over Camp Mack as we pulled into the rustic fishing camp near the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Arriving here is like being transported back in time to the good old days of old Florida.

The view is breathtaking with 100-year-old live oaks dripping with history and hanging moss, beckoning us to slow down to a pace from days gone by where deer and turkey roam the banks and monster bass populate the waters.

Famed Lake Kissimmee flows right up to the dock of Camp Mack store with a channel connecting the historic camp to the main lake. Lush vegetation lines the canal and lily pads beckoned us to come onto the water for a touch of old Florida fishing.

Monster bass lurk beneath the greenery searching for another easy meal and they’re eager to strike an angler’s lure and break a line and heart as well. Make no mistake, they are there just waiting, if you can take the time to wet a line.

Fall is harvest time and it was no different at Lake Kissimmee with persimmons glistening a ripe orange in the autumn sun and acorns falling along the shorelines. Deer, turkey and many different species of wildlife make their home here and interact with nature, seemingly unaware of the human intrusions.

Scott Taylor, our guide for the morning, led us through the shallows and past miles of gorgeous scenery before stopping in a slice of bass fishing heaven. The whole lake is a veritable salad patch filled with greenery galore. The lush vegetation on the shoreline and in the water is a paradise for all types of birds, wildlife, alligators and monster bass.

And make no mistake about it, monster bass are here. Bass in the 10 to 14-pound range are not uncommon.

“You might have to catch a bunch of bass before you get to a 13 or 14 pounder but they are here and we do catch them,” said guide Scott Taylor. “If you’re strictly targeting monster bass, then live bait would be the best bet as those lunkers want a big meal and small lures usually don’t tempt them into striking.”

We preferred fishing with artificial lures rather than with traditional Florida shiners and what a day we had. Shortly after arriving at a secluded cove an osprey soared by on the brisk winds searching for an early morning meal. Later, an unseen gator suddenly emerged from the lush green vegetation and kept a safe distance from us.

With an approaching hurricane bearing down on us it was imperative that we took advantage of the down home southern hospitality right then. There was no promise of tomorrow so we went to work and we caught more than a few fish to boot with the help and guidance of Taylor.

Around mid-morning several bass slashed the water surface chasing shad. Taylor gave me a black and blue colored Jethro Baits’ Senco style worm and I cast it just past the commotion and let it sink slowly but it didn’t get far.

Wham! A bass smashed the lure and took off like a tiny torpedo. In reaction, I reared back and set the hook and my first Kissimmee bass was history. After admiring the bass, I eased him back into the water and cast out again. Another bass struck hard and I set the hook on him and landed him in short order.

We’d broken the ice and found what they wanted so I kept fan casting the areas where the bass were surfacing and kept catching fish.

The bass came up schooling in a small area and every time I sailed a Senco their way I let it sink slowly toward the bottom. They just couldn’t resist the tempting offering. Though our day had started slow, Taylor put us on the fish and I’d caught and released 16 bass by 11:00 A. M. Where else can you catch monster bass, numbers of bass and experience a slice of heaven on earth?

Though the lunker bass had a case of lockjaw Joe Opager, of FLW Outdoors, caught a trophy bass that made his line sing and gave us a taste of what Kissimmee had to offer.

If you’re interested in a taste of “old Florida” and want to catch monster bass then give Scott Taylor a call at 855-354-8433.

Call Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or email mikegiles18@comast.net.