On this trip, I had the pleasure of hosting a wonderful mother and her son for an unforgettable day of fishing. From the moment they stepped on the boat, the excitement was in the air. Before their arrival, I packed the livewell full of fresh threadfin shad—hands down the perfect bait for targeting trophy fish on this lake. We kicked things off by flipping docks, and the action was nonstop. They ended up catching an impressive 25 vibrant Peacock Bass, each one putting up a fierce fight that had them smiling ear to ear. To top it all off, they landed one of the lake’s most elusive and prized catches—a Clown Knife Fish! When the bite slowed down, I turned to one of my favorite tactics: live chumming. It didn’t take long before curious peacocks came right up to the boat, ready to strike again. The look on their faces when the fish swarmed in was priceless, and it made for a truly memorable experience they won’t soon forget. If you’re ready to create your own fishing adventure and make memories that will last a lifetime, book your trip now with Johnny Exotic Fishing Charters!

Had a great day on Lake Ida with a fun family looking to catch Peacock Bass. Before they arrived, I loaded the livewell with fresh threadfin shad (as i do on all lake ida trips)—and from the first cast, it was game on! We got on the fish early, finding a deep-water school and landing around 30 peacocks in just the first 90 minutes. Later, we headed north up the chain and worked a canal with some docks, hooking into some bigger fish to wrap things up. If you’re looking for non-stop rod-bending fun, book a charter and let’s make it happen!

Today, I had the pleasure of taking out a group of three anglers for a morning adventure on the Lake Ida chain—and the action started right away! We wasted no time getting on the fish, and the shallow canals loaded with docks were the key to success. This time of year is truly something special. With clear water and warmer temps, you can actually sight-fish for Peacock Bass cruising the shallows. Watching these vibrant fish stalk your bait and explode on it is as exciting as it gets! In addition to the Peacocks, we also found plenty of hard-fighting Mayan Cichlids hanging tight to the dock structure. Don’t let their size fool you—these little guys pack a serious punch and are a blast on light tackle. By the end of the trip, we had a solid mixed bag and more than enough great photos to remember the day. The fish were fired up, the weather was perfect, and the smiles said it all. If you’re looking for an exciting day on the water with consistent action and beautiful surroundings, now is the time to book your trip. The fish are shallow, aggressive, and waiting for you!

This morning, I had the pleasure of fishing with a local angler who booked a quick morning trip—and what a trip it turned out to be! In just three hours, we landed an impressive number of trophy Peacock Bass, which is no easy feat, even on a full-day charter. The action kicked off early as we worked the docks with live threadfin shad, all locally caught right from the lake. These fish were aggressive and fired up, putting up an incredible fight and making for a thrilling experience start to finish. The weather was picture-perfect, the fish were chewing, and the lake was alive with energy. It’s days like this that remind me why Lake Ida is such a special fishery. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just looking for an unforgettable morning on the water, now is the time to get out here. The bite is hot and the conditions are ideal—book your trip today and come experience it for yourself!

What an incredible morning on Lake Ida! I had the absolute pleasure of fishing with an awesome couple on their first-ever trip to this fishery—and it did not disappoint. We kicked things off early, flipping docks with live bait, and the Peacock Bass were fired up! We landed around 20 of them before shifting gears and heading out deep. That’s when the real surprise came—while chasing down elusive Clown Knife Fish, we got into a mixed bag of bonus bites, including some solid Largemouth and even more Peacock Bass. The weather was picture-perfect, the fish were aggressive, and the action barely let up. Right now, conditions are prime and the bite is on. If you’re looking for steady action and a shot at multiple species, now’s the time to book. A 4-hour charter brings plenty of thrills, but for the full experience—including targeting those Clowns—I definitely recommend going for the 6-hour trip. Lake Ida is absolutely lit up right now!

The bite on Lake Ida has been on fire! Every trip lately has been a blast—we’re averaging around 20 Peacock Bass per morning, and the action stays steady from start to finish. We kick things off flipping docks with live bait, then transition out to the main lake to target those elusive Clown Knife Fish in deeper water. The shad just wrapped up their spawn, so the baitfish are running small—but that’s no problem. We simply downsize our hooks and keep the lines tight. No farm-raised shiners here—everything we use is natural forage, caught right from the lake. If you’re thinking about getting on the water this month, this spot is a no-brainer. And if you’ve got kids or just want non-stop rod-bending fun, we can always bring along a can of red worms and go after the wide variety of colorful cichlids cruising the shallows. Let’s make it happen!