Partnership helps rebuild fish attractor locations in Lake Apopka

Friends of Lake Apopka has partnered with the town of Montverde, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, Shelley’s Environmental Systems and the owners of a defunct citrus grove to transport the remains of old citrus trees into the lake. Anchored to the lake bottom in 17 locations, the tangled branches and roots will provide habitat for Lake Apopka’s re-emerging game fish population and provide ideal locations for anglers to hook fish.

Lake Apopka was once the bass fishing capital of Florida.

The old 127-acre grove lies on the west shore of Lake Apopka in Montverde and lies adjacent to the Montverde boat ramp on the lake.

“Several years ago, we built fish attractors with dead trees and they have worked out well, but over time, the branches in those locations have decayed and fallen away,” said Scott Bisping, FWC fisheries resource biologist who oversees the study of recreational fishing in the Harris Chain of Lakes. “These citrus trees represent the perfect opportunity to rebuild the fish attractors and continue to provide great habitat for game fish and other species.”

Shelley’s Environmental Systems owner David Shelley took an excavator with a grapple bucket to lift the trees from the shore onto a small, self-propelled barge owned by the FWC. Shelley donated the use of the excavator, the fuel and the services of an operator for the duration of the project.

“We are happy to help,” Shelley said. “I’ve been fishing in Lake Apopka since I was a boy. Anything we can do to help make the lake better is going to make life better for all of us.”

Bisping said he expects crews to rebuild all 17 fish attractor locations, using more than 100 old citrus trees.

Joe Kilsheimer, president of FOLA, said: “This is a great example of how community-minded folks can come together for the benefit of the environment. We had a short window to pull everything together, and it all worked like a charm.”