Real Florida. Real close.
Get the scoop on the best fishing holes!
Find the perfect locale to dock, dine and unwind.
Fill your bait bucket before casting a line.
Rent a boat
and go fishing.
and go fishing.
Grab a guide and go
catch your trophy fish.
catch your trophy fish.
Featured Lakes
Harris Chain
The Harris Chain features nine bodies of water in the heart of Lake County.
-
Types of Fish:
Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Shellcracker, Sunshine Bass, Gar, Bluegill -
Water Depth:
Ranges from 2 – 28 feet -
Number of Boat Ramps:
12 -
Unique Features:
The nine Harris Chain of lakes total approximately 76,000 acres.
Clermont Chain
The Clermont Chain features 11 lakes.
-
Types of Fish:
Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Shellcracker, Sunshine Bass, Bluegill -
Water Depth:
Ranges from from 2 – 16 feet -
Number of Boat Ramps:
2 -
Unique Features:
The 11 lakes of the chain total 8,692 acres
Lake Dorr
In the Ocala National Forest, and undeveloped shorelines make Lake Dorr one of the most scenic spots in Lake County
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Types of Fish:
Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Shellcracker, Sunshine Bass, Gar -
Water Depth:
Ranges from 2 - 24 feet -
Number of Boat Ramps:
1 -
Unique Features:
A beautiful setting for fishing, nature watching or just an afternoon boating with the family.
Johns Lake
A 2,424 acre lake divided into east and west pools with a connecting channel.
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Types of Fish:
Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Bluegill, Shellcracker -
Water Depth:
Ranges from 2 - 15 feet -
Number of Boat Ramps:
10 -
Unique Features:
FWC restocked the lake with 500,000 bass fingerlings in the early 2000’s which are now trophy size.
Testimonials
"As a professional bass fisherman there is no better place to live and practice than in Lake County, Florida. With well over 1,000 named lakes and countless miles of rivers and canals, Lake County is an ideal location to hone my skills and test new equipment. Coupled with the fact that the Harris Chain of Lakes is a big bass factory, I know I have the opportunity to catch a 10-pounder on every cast. Fishing in Lake County is a must for every bass angler's bucket list."
Testimonials
"Every year, we choose to have the majority of our tournaments right here in Lake County.
Whether it's the renowned Harris Chain, Johns Lake or the Clermont (Chain), our anglers enjoy
catching lots of fish with a chance to land a giant trophy bass. There's no better place to be in
the country when it comes to serious bass fishing. Come check out Lake County Florida and you'll be hooked!"
Billy Taylor
Fishers of Men Legacy Director, Central Florida Division
Testimonials
"Lake County has been a great fishing location for me since I was 12 years old.
I have had a lot of success fishing in tournaments on the Harris Chain, St. Johns River and
Johns Lake, not to mention the hundreds of successful guide trips I have taken my clients on in Lake County.
In February of 2015 one of my guide trip clients caught the biggest bass of his life,
a 12 pound 1 ounce trophy catch largemouth bass in Lake Harris."
Plan your trip!
Pick from suggested lodging, restaraunts, and attractions below to start planning your Fishing trip to Lake County, Florida. When you're done, we'll email it to you. We look forward to seeing you!
Catch the
Big One!
Big One!
Largemouth Bass
The largemouth bass is the best known and most popular game fish in North America and is
Florida's state freshwater fish and Florida is an outstanding destination to catch a trophy.
The best live bait is a golden shiner, fished under a float or free-lined. Plastic worms are the most dependable artificial
bait for largemouth bass.
Largemouth Bass
- Appearance: Upper jaw extends beyond the rear edge of the eye. First and second dorsal fins are separated by an obvious deep dip.
- Habitat: Commonly found along vegetation, or underwater structure, but schooling bass are also found in the middle of lakes.
- Behavior: Spawn in spring when males fan out a bed and protect eggs and fry.
- Primary food: Wide variety of fish, crustaceans and larger insects.
- State Record: 17.27 lbs.
- Big Catch: 24 inches
Black Crappie
Specks are a cool-weather favorite and excellent table fare.
Crappies are common throughout Florida.
Drift Missouri minnows or grass shrimp below a float, with a #4 hook and small split shot.
Depth is key, as crappie school at the same level. When crappie move inshore to spawn, a bright 1/16-oz. to 1/8-oz. jig or Hal-flies will produce.
Black Crappie
- Appearance: Deep body with nearly symmetrical dorsal and anal fins and speckled pattern on body and fins
- Habitat: Offshore feeding on small fish in lakes or large slow-moving clear water rivers
- Behavior: next in colonies from Feb. - April
- Primary food: Crustaceans, aquatic insects and small fishes
- State Record: 3.83 lbs.
- Big Catch: 14 inches
Blue Gill
Live worms or crickets are the best bait on the bottom or suspended below a float.
Crickets, grubs, sand maggots or grass shrimp will catch bedding bluegill. Use a #6 or #8 hook
with a split shot sinker about 6 inches up. For artificial
baits, a 1/8 oz. "beetle spin" with a white or chartreuse body on ultralight tackle is excellent.
Blue Gill
- Appearance: Deep-bodied with a long dorsal fin and slightly forked tail. Dark ear covering and a blotch at the dorsal fin's back bottom edge.
- Habitat: Common throughout Florida but are best known in lakes and ponds 6 ft depth or less.
- Behavior: Spawn throughout summer, congregating in large "beds". Anglers may find 30-40 shallow nests scooped out in sandy areas.
- Primary food: Insects and insect larvae
- State Record: 2.95 lbs.
- Big Catch: 11 inches
Redear Sunfish
The Redear sunfish is well-known for its diet of clams and snails, giving it its other common name — Shellcracker. They grow larger than bluegill,
with fish over 1 pound common. They are caught most often on earthworms around the full
moons of March and April when their spawning activity peaks.
Redear Sunfish
- Appearance: Deep-bodied with bright red mark on the back edge of the gill cover is very distinctive.
- Habitat: Found throughout Florida, preferring hard bottoms.
- Behavior: Congregating in deeper water than bluegill
- Primary food: Earthworms but prefer snails and clams.
- State Record: 4.86 lbs.
- Big Catch: 12 inches
Channel Catfish
Catfish are a staple for anglers who eat their catch. Use baits with strong odors:
chicken liver or gizzards, shrimp, cut mullet and commercial stinkbaits. Catfish are most active just before dusk and at night.
Fish on the bottom with a sturdy #2 to #4 hook and a heavy split shot sinker. Be careful of sharp spines when handling these fish.
The FWC stocks 200,000-300,000 annually in public waters.
Channel Catfish
- Appearance: Typical whisker-like sensory barbels and forked tail of catfish. Rounded anal fin and scattered black spots on sides and back. Males become especially dark during spawning season and develop a thickened pad on their head.
- Habitat: Throughout Florida waters
- Behavior: Primarily bottom feeders. Spawn in holes and crevices.
- Primary food: Aquatic insects, crayfish, mollusks, crustaceans and fish. Not decaying material.
- State Record: 44.5 lbs.
- Big Catch: 31 inches
Striped Bass
In Florida, striped bass are found primarily in the
St. Johns River and its tributaries, and a few panhandle rivers. Striped bass populations depend on
annual stockings from FWC and federal hatcheries. Striper fishing is best from fall through spring. Live shad are very effective.
Use heavy tackle with 3- to 4-oz. weights in high flow areas.
Baitfish-like lures, such as heavy jigs, sinking or floating lures in white,
chrome or chartreuse produce memorably.
Striped Bass
- Appearance: Silvery sides and white belly with 7-8 black stripes on the sides. Stripes are absent in young fish less than 6 inches.
- Habitat: Found in the St. John's River and its tributaries.
- Behavior: Need long stretches of flowing water to reproduce. Cannot tolerate water temperatures over 75˚F for long. During summer, they must find cool water to survive.
- Primary food: Wide variety of fish and crustaceans.
- State Record: 42.25 lbs.
- Big Catch: 30 inches
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