Vero Chronicles Report #1

Bud Kennedy · April 02, 2021, 01:39:27 PM

About Vero Trophy Bass Lakes

Last July started the idea of finding a place to continue my search for a 10 LB bass. After reading a post from Flatsnbay on Ultimate Bass, I decided that Vero Trophy Bass Lakes just had to be a place to visit to continue my quest for a new personal best bass.

Vero Trophy Bass Lakes are located about 10 miles south of Vero Beach Florida in the Ft. Pierce, Florida community. This location is just off I-95 at exit 138 about 3 hours south of Jacksonville, Florida. After making an exit at exit 138 travel west on Indrio Road. Take Indrio about 1.8 miles to Vero Trophy Bass Lakes. The first half mile of Indrio is a paved road before becoming a dirt road. The dirt portion of this road is rough like a washboard and be advised quite dusty. A clean vehicle won't be clean for long. The entrance to the facility is on the left at a gate that goes into a commercial farming operation. It is best to keep in touch with your guide who will meet you at the aforementioned gate and lead you back to the lodge location. The road to the lodge is just a grass covered lane but it is a road nonetheless.

There are two private lakes within this farming operation that are the subject of this trip. They are both used as irrigation ponds supporting the 4000 acres of this farming operation. Remember this is quite private and don't expect to see any other boats. It will be just you and your guide on the water. You will be amazed at the seclusion of this property and how quiet it is at the lodge. If you are here to do anything other than go fishing then you are in the wrong place. There is nothing else here. In my mind it doesn't get any better than this. Kids and non-fishing wives would not be very happy.

The lodge is just a simple cabin that in reality is a modular home. It has a few bedrooms a single bathroom, an adequate kitchen and living room area with the facilities only TV. If you want to go shopping or out to eat than be prepared to drive about 5-8 miles to do so. If you need something to eat you need to bring it with you or be prepared for a drive. If you prepare correctly there is no reason to leave the property unless you just want to. This is not a hotel it is a cabin. Works just great for me but some may not want to fend for themselves if you know what I mean.

There are two lakes here. The south lake being the largest and is said to have the best population of big bass while the north lake is also good but the bass tend to be smaller but better for quantities versus the quality fish that are more likely on the south lake. It just becomes a matter of what you are looking for. Even the north lake has produced some nice bass in the 8 LB range. On this trip we only fished the south lake. So, there you have it. If you are looking for a quiet, private place to just go fishing with a chance of landing a fish of a lifetime this would be high on the list to consider. I am already under the impression that one trip to this location isn't enough. Seems logical that I will be returning to Vero Trophy Bass Lakes to continue my quest for that first - double digit bass.

The driveway back to the lodge

A view from the porch at the cabin

FlatsNBay · April 02, 2021, 02:14:47 PM

Great report. Glad you had a great time. I'll be going back myself for sure. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your adventure.

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Bud Kennedy · April 02, 2021, 02:23:55 PM

Steve, it looks like the Vero Chronicals will be 5 reports as I look through my steno pad. Maybe more but the 5 reports should cover about all I want to share and add pictures to.

Wizard · April 02, 2021, 04:42:44 PM

Looking forward to your future reports. Private trophy lakes can be the best fishing of a lifetime. I had access to a pair of 5 acre lakes near St. Louis that hadn't been fished in over 40 years. The owner had used the lakes to raise exotic water fowl. One lake had blugill and catfish. The other was 40 ft. deep in spots and had blugill, crappie, bass, green sunfish and pike. The lake also had grass beds for the pan fish to hide and reproduce. Best fishing of my life for almost a decade. The only fee trophy lake I fished was Bienville Plantation near White Springs, Florida. Trophy bass, crappie and gills on a chain of lakes. I had an ultralight and a flipping stick. Only time I used a flipping stick to catch monster gills. The required guide was expensive and the lodging more so.

Wizard

Donald Garner · April 02, 2021, 05:31:42 PM

Bud, tks for sharing this with us. I'm looking forward to the other reports also.

geneinnc · April 02, 2021, 07:33:21 PM

Fun trip! I got a guide for my dad and uncle down there and he said if you want a chance on a 10 lb bass leave your gear at home because you will be using live bait.

That was decades ago. Has that theory changed Bud?

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Bud Kennedy · April 02, 2021, 07:41:35 PM

Gene, at Vero Trophy Bass Lakes only artificial baits are used. You still don't need to bring anything but I chose to bring my own rods and reels. I did not bring any baits and only used what they told us to use. I just had a preference for my own rods and reels.

I guess some places do shiner fishing but not here. These lakes are totally private and only available to the guides. No other people or boats are permitted on the lakes. I hope it is able to stay that way.

Nutt · April 05, 2021, 01:47:48 PM

Sounds like a great place to visit. My question is this....would you be sharing the cabin with other people? If so, thats a deal killer for me.

Bud Kennedy · April 05, 2021, 02:07:00 PM

I suppose that is possible. This particular trip Doc and I were the only guests. There are two total guest rooms each equipped with two single beds, so two other folks would be possible. Also the guides stay there also each has their own room.

Bud Kennedy · April 06, 2021, 07:50:50 AM

Quote from: Nutt on April 05, 2021, 01:47:48 PM
Sounds like a great place to visit. My question is this....would you be sharing the cabin with other people? If so, thats a deal killer for me.

After thinking about your comment, You could always book a hotel in Ft. Pierce. There are a number of choices some of which are on the beach. Might be a solution for you. It is not required to stay at the cabin in order to fish the private lakes. You are only required to hire their guide (s). The cabin room rent is $150.00 per day as per their website. I don't know what the local hotels go for. It would be about a 10 mile drive from the hotel area to Vero Trophy Bass Lakes.