Looking out over the flooded farmland in Fellsmere in southeast Florida that anglers call Stick Marsh, I wondered how we would ever find our way through the hundreds of submerged tree stumps.

"You have to proceed slowly," my guide, Lenny Crispino, explains. "But trust me, it will be worth it."

Lenny Crispino lives near Tampa, but doesn't mind getting up in the dark and driving across the state to fish this 16,500-acre man-made impoundment. Though the nearest big city is Vero Beach, most fishing guides throughout the state are familiar with its waters. "When it comes to big bass, this is as good as it gets," says Crispino. "It is not uncommon to catch 50 fish in a day here. And there are plenty over 10 pounds."

Florida has more than 7,700 named lakes, but only a select few make the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Top Ten Bass Lakes list. Stick Marsh has earned that honor year after year. The FWC doesn't rank the lakes - for fear of igniting regional loyalties - but I'll take a chance.

The Stick Marsh reservoir may not look like much, but it is what lies beneath the surface that attracts anglers from all over the world and earns it the rank of #10. Thousands of submerged tree stumps and ample aquatic vegetation give fish plenty of place to hide, which makes "the hunt" particularly enjoyable for bass aficionados.


WHY THEY COME

Florida has an estimated 2 million resident anglers, and another million visitors fish state waters every year. With more than 700 world records to its credit - more than any other state or country - Florida can honestly claim the title of "Fishing Capital of the World." But while saltwater fishing has played an important role in the state's economy, it is Florida's largemouth bass that put the Sunshine State on the international sportfishing map.

''People come from all over the world to fish for Florida bass,'' says Dean Kessel, vice-president of operations for B.A.S.S., the nation's oldest and largest competitive bass fishing organization. ''When you think of largemouth bass, you think of Florida.''

B.A.S.S., which recently joined forces with broadcaster ESPN and entertainment giant Disney, just moved its headquarters from Alabama to Celebration, in Central Florida. Fans of the sport can expect more major tournaments, including the Bassmaster Classic - ''The Super Bowl of Fishing'' - to be held on Florida lakes in 2006. Tournament organizers hope Florida's reputation for big bass will help lure more television viewers.

Anglers know the odds of catching trophy fish - 10 pounds or larger - are as good as it gets in Florida. The term "trophy," however, is a misnomer when it comes to Florida bass, because the vast majority of anglers would rather take a picture than take a fish. Crispino, who makes his living on the water, is no exception.

"Stick Marsh is strictly catch and release," Crispino says as he returns a five-pound bass to the water. "That is another reason why the fishing is so good."

There are no amenities at the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 complex so anglers must bring everything they need - food, ice, gas and water.

Anglers who fish the Suwannee fall in love with its cypress swamps and spring-fed creeks. From its headwaters in "The Swamp" to the wide flood plain near its mouth, the Suwannee's scenery seems to evolve every 30 miles.


THE LIST

#9: Lake George: Central Florida has its share of great bass fishing lakes, but few have more history than #9 on my list, Lake George. Located north of Orlando between DeLand and Ocala, Lake George is just one of several bass-friendly lakes on the St. Johns River.

Native Americans fished these fertile waters for millennia, but steamboats carrying passengers up The River of Lakes opened up bass fishing to sportsmen in the mid 1800s. At 46,000 acres, Lake George is the second largest lake in the state. Like the state's other great fishing lakes, it is George's ample vegetation that makes it so productive.

Visitors will find several fish camps on the St. Johns River, north and south of the lake itself. For a change of pace, check out the Juniper, Salt and Silver Glen spring runs for a truly unique Florida fishing experience. They are all spring-fed, so the water is gin-clear. The clear water allows anglers to actually "sight fish" for largemouth bass, a practice usually reserved for northern trout streams.


#8: Lake Tohopekaliga: Heading south, you'll find #8 on the list just south of Orlando in Kissimmee. Lake Tohopekaliga, or Lake Toho for short, is a favorite stopping spot for professional bass fishing tours. In 2001, Toho made international news when angler Dean Rojas set a new B.A.S.S. record by weighing and releasing a phenomenal 108 pounds of bass. During the four days of fishing, anglers caught and released 21 bass that weighed 10 pounds or more.

Lake Toho is known as a "shiner" lake because this live bait favored by bass fishermen has historically produced the most trophy-sized fish. But a variety of artificial lures - from spinner baits to plastic lures - will catch their share of fish, especially near North Steer beach, Brown's Point and Goblet's Cove.


#7: Lake Kissimmee: Another central Florida hotspot with an international reputation, Lake Kissimmee near Lake Wales is the largest section of five distinct bodies of water on the legendary Kissimmee River. Covering a massive 35,000 acres, Lake Kissimmee can take weeks to fully explore.

A recent angler survey revealed that the average catch rate is one fish every two hours, compared to the statewide average of one fish every four hours.

Large stands of vegetation make Kissimmee a favorite lake for "flippin'" plastic worms. With a state park, several fish camps and a numerous boat ramps, Lake Kissimmee is one of the more easily accessible lakes on the Top Ten list.


#6: Lake Istokpoga. A large - 28,000 acres - yet relatively shallow - an average of six feet deep - Istokpoga, just outside of Lake Placid, is another "big number" bass lake in the Kissimmee Chain.

Several years ago, a late-spring fishing trip to Istokpoga went down in my personal record books after every cast seemed to result in a strike. The lake has two large islands - Big Island and Bumblebee - which make this a particularly scenic and productive fishing spot.


#5: Lake Weohyakapka. A smaller, yet equally popular central Florida lake, just east of Lake Wales, comes in at #5. Lake Weohyakapka, known in angling circles as Lake Walk-In-Water, covers just 7,500 acres but has a reputation for producing astonishing catches. It is not unheard of for fishermen to catch 25 bass in a single day. State biologists recommended a 15- to 24-inch slot limit and a three-fish bag limit to help this lake maintain its high catch rate.

On a recent trip to Walk-In-Water, it seemed like bass covered the shorelines. A fly rod with a popping cork lured several four pounders out of the cattails, a rare treat for an angler accustomed to fishing open water.


#4: Deerpoint Lake. Bass like warm water and Florida's subtropical climate is one reason why the fabled species grow to record weights. Though the lakes of North Florida have a shorter growing season, it doesn't mean these cooler bodies of water don't have their share of big bass. The #4 lake is near Panama City Beach and is often the "hottest" lake in the state during the months of April and May.

In February 2003 and 2004, state officials caught and tagged 1,000 fish, some weighing as much as 11 pounds, in Deerpoint Lake. Anglers who fish the lake are encouraged to keep an eye out for tagged fish, and if one is caught, immediately contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's office on Deerpoint Lake.

This 5,000-acre impoundment is fed by several freshwater streams and supplies drinking water to the people of Panama City. But anglers should keep an eye out when fishing the lake because the very thing that provides good habitat for bass - cypress stumps and fallen trees - can also put a hole in the bottom of the boat.


#3: Suwannee River. Bass fishermen looking for a change of pace may consider visiting the 213-mile Suwannee River, a tea-colored waterway connecting Georgia-s and North Florida-s Okeefenokee Swamp with the Gulf of Mexico (at the town of Suwannee, near Cedar Key).

While Florida may be known for largemouth bass, the state has three other species of black bass, the most famous being the Suwannee bass. This thick-bodied fish doesn't grow much larger than 12 inches, but pound for pound, it packs a punch equal or greater to that of the famous bucketmouth.

Anglers who fish the Suwannee fall in love with its cypress swamps and spring-fed creeks. From its headwaters in "The Swamp" to the wide flood plain near its mouth, the Suwannee's scenery seems to evolve every 30 miles.

Paddling a kayak its entire length several years ago, tossing a plastic crawfish against the shoreline was a pleasant break from fishing the open water. In the shallows, you can actually see a big bass hit a lure. No matter how often I witness the spectacle it is always a thrill. The Santa Fe River, one of the Suwannee's many tributaries, is actually better known for the small bass of Suwannee fame.


#2: Rodman Reservoir. Just a short drive southeast of the Suwannee River, anglers can visit the #2 spot, Rodman Reservoir. Rodman is located near Palatka; the closest "big" city is Gainesville to the west. Since its construction in 1968 it has consistently been one of Florida's top trophy bass lakes.

Like Stick Marsh to the south and Deer Point to the north, one reason Rodman's fishing is so good is a result of the thousands of submerged tree stumps which provide "cover" for bass during their various stages of the lifecycle.


#1: Lake Tarpon. The #1 lake on my Florida Top Ten list gets extra points for accessibility. While Lake Tarpon may be located in the state's most densely populated county, it has miles of wild shoreline just brimming with bass. The 2,500-acre lake, located in Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs (about a 45-minute drive from Tampa Airport), has consistently ranked among the state's best despite its close proximity to a major urban center.

"I fish this lake almost every day and never get tired of it," says Crispino, my fishing guide. "We catch our share of 10 pounders."

Lake Tarpon gets plenty of use, but the very thing that makes it popular - a high catch rate - also helps protect it.

"Everybody out here practices catch and release," Crispino explains. "Even when somebody catches a trophy fish, they take pictures and then release it. That is the only way we can make sure we have something left for the kids."

With forward-thinking anglers such as Crispino around, it will be a long time before Florida has to relinquish its bass fishing crown.


LARGEMOUTH BASS

Depending on whom you ask, Florida largemouth bass could be a distinct species, different from its northern cousin, or merely a subspecies. But the debate is academic. No one disputes the fact that the Florida "bucketmouth" grow bigger and fatter than any other species of bass.

"You can credit that to our year-round growing season," says Wes Porak, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "We have warm water and plenty of vegetation. Put those together and you have big bass."

Black bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus, were once found only on the Florida peninsula but have since been introduced in Texas and California.

A fish 10 pounds or larger is considered a "trophy." Females live longer than males and are more likely to reach "trophy" size. Most conservation-minded anglers release large fish because of their future spawning potential.

The largest (certified) largemouth bass in Florida was caught in 1986 in Polk County (in Central Florida) and weighed 17 pounds, 4 ounces.


TIPS AND TACKLE

The largemouth bass has a reputation as a "tackle buster." Florida's fabled "bucketmouth" will attack just about anything- minnows, frogs, even baby ducks.

If you are planning a trip, spring is the best time to hunt a trophy bass. The season starts earlier in South Florida. March and April are peak months in Central Florida. As summer approaches, the fishing improves in North Florida.

While professional bass anglers use artificial lures on the tournament trail, the bait of choice for most anglers is either the golden shiner or the wild shiner, a thick-bodied baitfish found in most Florida lakes. When it comes to artificial lures, the plastic worm is probably the most widely used bait. The color is a matter of choice, but a general rule is the darker the better. Crank baits and spinner baits are other popular choices, but when it comes to heart-pounding action, nothing beats the sight of a big bass banging a topwater plug.


FISHING TOURNAMENTS

Florida plays host to a variety of fishing tournaments throughout the year. Check out the sampling of events below.

World's Richest Tarpon Tournament: A midsummer event that draws thousands to the tiny island of Boca Grande on Florida's southwest coast for a chance to win more than $150,000.

Light-Tackle Invitational Sailfish Tournament: Stuart is famous for its sailfishing, so it's no surprise this small city on the east coast is the site of one of the biggest (catch-and-release) sailfish tournaments in the U.S. The event is held annually, usually sometime in December.

Destin Fishing Rodeo: Calling all saltwater cowboys! This month-long October tournament draws upwards of 35,000 anglers to compete in prize categories ranging from amberjack to wahoo. Parties and other special events take place throughout the month as well.

Cobia "BIG" Fish Tournament: The small town of Homosassa (near Crystal River on Florida's gulf coast) offers big prizes in May for catches of cobia, grouper and spotted sea trout. Other activities include a Saturday barbecue, Sunday fish fry and live entertainment throughout the weekend,