A Tale of Two Jungles: Part II – Shingle Creek

Happy Monday Spacefish!

Picture yourself in a kayak or canoe, gliding along a peaceful, serene backwater creek framed by ancient oaks and cypress. You wonder what these waters have seen in their lifetime. Your bow is pointed north. It’s eerily quiet. A light breeze rustles the Spanish moss draped from the limbs of the oaks. You hear birds. You hear your thoughts. You feel the place.

You’re tempted to cast into the shade pockets ahead, but you’re holding out for one stump just a few yards downstream — it’s breaking the current, and you’re betting a chunky Largemouth is sitting right behind it, waiting to ambush an unsuspecting meal.

You wait. One shot. That’s all you’ll get.

You clear the stump and make a skip cast right along the submerged wood, hugging tight to the timber so a predator facing upcurrent will feel and see that dark silhouette — a Candybug-colored Bitters Skip Shad — crossing his face. You make the perfect cast.

Don’t work it too fast and pull it out of the strike zone — but don’t go too slow either; the current is pulling you away. Twitch. Pause. Twitch-twitch. Pause. You go for another twitch and — there’s weight. You lower your rod tip to the nose of your kayak and sweep it back over your left shoulder. The hookset is strong, driving that steel point through plastic and into a fish’s mouth.

Fish on!

The current turns the fish toward you. It’s not a giant, just a chunky little creek bass, but it fights hard. A few jumps later, you net him. Not a hydrilla gorilla from Big Lake Toho, but a satisfying catch on a hot summer afternoon.

I could do this all day.

Today I’m finishing what I started last week: A Tale of Two Jungles. If you missed Part I — my urban bass adventure on Lake Ivanhoe — you can check it out here.

This trip took place on Friday the 13th (June 13th), and considering I wasn’t attacked by an alligator on Shingle Creek or run over by a snowbird in Orlando traffic, I’m calling that a win.

Beyond just surviving, though, it was an incredible and rewarding day of fishing.

What made it so satisfying was targeting the same species — Largemouth Bass — in two completely different habitats… The puzzle is what hooks me.

(I’ve got a full breakdown coming soon on the crossover between football strategy and bass fishing. Expect that one to drop right around the first week of football season.)

But back to this day — from the clear, grass-lined depths of Ivanhoe to the dark, tannin-stained shade pockets of Shingle Creek, I worked two totally different approaches, matched my lures to the environment, and came out with a solid haul of fish and a renewed confidence.

Shingle Creek Launch Options

• Shingle Creek Regional Park — Babb Landing: The northernmost access point. Near historical Cracker Village. A bit of a hike from the parking area but well worth it. Beautiful, quiet, and packed with potential.
• Shingle Creek Regional Park — Steffee Landing (The Paddling Center): More open section. Great wildlife. Fewer shade pockets. Trick worms fished near bottom produced fish, especially near lower section toward Lake Toho.
• Marsh Landing — Shingle Creek Regional Park: Launched here most recently and paddled south/southeast. Didn’t reach Toho but caught over 20 fish in four hours.

Fishing Report

From the third cast onward, the action was nonstop. Caught over 20 bass in under four hours. Could’ve hit 40+ if not for the heat.

The bite came exclusively on:

• Bitters Vibe (Speedworm) in Junebug Silver
• Bitters Skip Shad in Candybug

Brought 3 rods, used 2:

Rod 1:

• 7′ Ugly Stik Inshore Select
• 15lb braid with 15lb fluoro leader
• Weightless, weedless Skip Shad (3/0 EWG hook)

Rod 2:

• 7′ Bass Pro Shops Fish Eagle with Mega Cast reel
• 30lb braid, no leader
• 1/4 oz pegged tungsten weight (Speedworm)

Rod 3 stayed latched down and unused.

Note: Keep rods flat to duck under branches. Creek reminds me of mangrove shoreline fishing. Run-and-gun style.

Wildlife of Shingle Creek

Best seen between Babb and Steffee. No docks, no houses — just wilderness. Further south still feels remote.

• Deer
• Wild Turkeys
• Hogs
• Bobcats
• Turtles
• Ibis, Herons, Woodpeckers, native birds

A Bit of History: Shingle Creek

Shingle Creek is the northernmost headwaters of the Everglades. Historically used to float cypress logs to sawmills. Supported early Florida settlers. Restoration efforts today aim to revive its natural flow for Everglades health.

Check out Pioneer Village in the park — including Steffee Homestead, tied to early regional development.

Recap of the Past Weekend

Since writing this (June 13), explored two new spots:

• Lake Cypress (Kissimmee Chain): Fantastic day of bass fishing.
• Mosquito Lagoon: Decent trip. Topwater trout bite at sunrise. A few reds and trout post-sunrise.

Conclusion

If you’ve got a kayak or paddleboard and want to explore one of Central Florida’s wildest, most scenic and historic waterways — go paddle Shingle Creek. Summer is perfect thanks to the shade and serenity. Smaller bass, but a far richer experience.

Not just fishing — it’s an adventure through Old Florida.

Shoutout to our paddle partner, Kayaks By Bo!

Stay safe out there. Especially on the 4th — don’t blow off your casting fingers!