- March 25, 2025
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If you ask Lakewood Ranch fishing enthusiasts why they favor casting their lines in local lakes and ponds over pursuing tarpon and snook along the Gulf shores just to the west, many will tell you it’s the thrill of reeling in largemouth bass.
This iconic freshwater predator accounts for nearly 90% of the catches in the area and keeps anglers coming back for more.
For members of the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club (LWRAC), however, the answer is more about enjoying an incredibly relaxing pastime and connecting with nature, family and the community — close to home.
Anyway, who says you have to choose?
Since 1998, the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club has been dedicated to sharing the love of fishing with residents of all ages. Current club President Ed Van Stedum has been a lifelong fishing enthusiast. “I grew up in the Midwest and have fished from Anchorage to Miami and many points in between,” he shares. Van Stedum is also a certified vessel safety check inspector and an active member of the Manatee Sail and Power Squadron.
For the past 17 years, Van Stedum has dedicated himself to organizing fishing events for children, with the last three years focused on Lakewood Ranch.
“My passion is not only fishing but giving back to the community — which is one of the principal goals of the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club. We want to inspire a lifelong connection to nature while teaching kids about fishing safety and environmental stewardship,” he explains.
Reflecting on his favorite moments, he adds, “There’s nothing like seeing a child smile as they reel in their first big fish.”
Nancy Frederick, former secretary of the LWRAC, shares a similar sentiment. Taught to fish by her grandfather when she was a young girl in Cleveland, Frederick has always found joy in the sport. “Fishing brings people together,” she says. “When I see a girl fishing, it warms my heart — it’s a great reminder that this isn’t just a man’s sport.”
Lakewood Ranch, with its abundance of lakes, offers prime fishing locations, including Lake Uihlein, Summerfield Lake and Patton Lake, where anglers can find largemouth bass, catfish, bream and tilapia. Both Frederick and Van Stedum also have waterway backyards. “Living on a lake is a dream come true. I can fish five minutes after I wake up,” says Van Stedum. Frederick agrees, adding that her son visits just to fly-fish in their backyard pond. “There’s something special about spotting fish and targeting them on the water’s surface — it’s like solving a puzzle,” she says.
Nothing beats a good fishing story, says Van Stedum, as he recalls a tournament right before Hurricane Milton hit, when the fish went into a feeding frenzy. “The kids caught more fish than ever, and we saw a lot of smiling faces. Parents often thank us for getting their kids off phones and tablets and introducing them to nature.”
And it’s not just the kids who benefit. Often, grandparents bring their grandchildren to LWRAC events. “It’s a way to pass along a passion and make new memories,” Van Stedum notes.
Both Van Stedum and Frederick extend their fishing adventures beyond Lakewood Ranch — and they’re not alone. The Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club organizes group trips to saltwater fishing hotspots, such as Islamorada, famously known as the sport fishing capital of the world. The club also facilitates casual meetups along local beaches and has resumed bass fishing trips to Lake Okeechobee after a pandemic hiatus.
Frederick recalls a time when the club needed several charter captains to accommodate everyone for a fishing trip on the vast waters of south-central Florida’s iconic Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest natural freshwater lake contained entirely in the contiguous United States. “One of our members was sitting on a metal chair aboard a sand boat — a vessel designed for shallow or sandy areas — when the mounting frame or stabilizing bracket gave way,” she says. “He went straight into the lake with all his gear.” Fortunately, the only casualty was his cell phone as the group quickly pulled him back aboard.
Van Stedum enjoys both freshwater and saltwater fishing on his two boats. For freshwater excursions, he takes out his Xpress Bass Boat on nearby lakes that allow motorized fishing, including Lake Manatee. In saltwater, he navigates his Beavertail Skiff, targeting trout, snook, and tarpon.
It’s important to note that most lakes in Lakewood Ranch prohibit fishing from boats, with a few exceptions, such as Trophy Lake and Otter Lake. Even then, there are restrictions: boats must be no longer than 14 feet, and only non-motorized vessels like kayaks are sometimes permitted. As a result, “most of the fishing here is done from the shore,” Van Stedum explains.
Safety and environmental stewardship are at the heart of every LWR Anglers Club event. Members emphasize teaching children to respect wildlife, steer clear of alligators, and clean up fishing lines to protect birds and other animals. “There’s a blue heron on Lido Beach we call ‘Hook,” because it has visible scars from a fishing hook removal,” Frederick explains.
The group also stresses the importance of using proper equipment for safe and enjoyable fishing. “Always wear gloves when handling fish like catfish — they can be brutal,” warns Van Stedum. He also advises keeping pliers handy for gently removing hooks during catch-and-release fishing, which is required in most Lakewood Ranch waters and mandatory for Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club events. The club also promotes the use of artificial bait, such as Texas-rigged plastic worms, which are safer and cleaner for kids and more environmentally friendly.
Despite the club’s efforts to promote environmental awareness, stewardship and safety, fishing in Lakewood Ranch has undergone significant changes over the years. Frederick reflects on her early days in the community: “We built our first two houses here in ’98 and ’99, when there were only about 2,000 people. We lived in Edgewater Cove and would take a little jon boat out on Lake Uihlein, behind Town Hall. Back then, there were hardly any homes and we were catching bass that weighed 8 to 10 pounds,” she recalls.
Frederick notes how much the area’s lakes have changed over time. “There’s more water runoff now from all the buildings and condos, and I don’t see as many people fishing or boating as we did in the late ’90s and early 2000s. It’s just not the same as it used to be.”
Then Frederick remembers an adventurous day on Lake Uihlein that highlights both the challenges and charm of fishing in Lakewood Ranch. “We took the jon boat out on the lake. I was with my son when a big storm rolled in out of nowhere. With only a battery-operated motor, the waves got really high. Thankfully, a kind lady came out from her dock and let us bring the boat ashore. We walked home through the rainstorm, but 20 minutes later, we were back out fishing. It’s one of those memories that makes fishing so special.”
