Best fishing lakes in Florida: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee spreads over some 467,000 acres. Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are the draw. The deepest water is around 12 ft. Its bed shows a sheltered cove and an upper arm worth a first look.

Lake Okeechobee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Kissimmee

Lake Kissimmee covers some 34,900 acres. Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are the draw. At about 12 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Lake Kissimmee today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Tohopekaliga

At some 18,800 acres, Lake Tohopekaliga is a big lake. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The deepest water is around 15 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look.

Lake Tohopekaliga today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Talquin

Lake Talquin is a reservoir of 8,800 acres of water. It lies about 2.5 miles northeast of Midway. The fish here are largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Lake Talquin was created in 1927 when the Jackson Bluff Dam was built on the Ochlockonee River; its name blends Tallahassee and Quincy, the two cities it lies between.

Lake Talquin today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake George

Lake George spreads over 46,000 acres of water. You will find it within an easy drive of Palm Coast (about 27 miles). The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and striped bass. At about 8 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Lake George is Florida's second-largest lake (after Okeechobee) and forms a wide natural basin of the St. Johns River.

Lake George today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Apopka

Lake Apopka is a natural lake of 30,800 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Pine Hills (about 7 miles). It holds largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a steep ledge to work. Lake Apopka is Florida's fourth-largest lake and has been the subject of a long-running water-quality restoration program after decades of agricultural pollution.

Lake Apopka today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Lake Jesup

Lake Jesup spreads over 10,700 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Sanford (about 5 miles). Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish are the draw. At about 10 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Lake Jesup is the largest lake in Seminole County and is known for supporting one of Florida's densest alligator populations.

Lake Jesup today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Lake Monroe

At 8,770 acres of water, Lake Monroe is a good-sized lake. The lake is near Sanford. Expect largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work.

Lake Monroe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Lake Istokpoga

Lake Istokpoga covers 26,800 acres of water. You will find it about 3.7 miles southwest of Lake Placid. Largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill are the draw. At about 10 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work. Lake Istokpoga is one of Florida's largest lakes but is unusually shallow, which can make it rough in windy conditions.

Lake Istokpoga today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Lake Harris

Lake Harris spreads over 13,800 acres of water. The lake is right by Howey-in-the-Hills. It holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Lake Harris is the largest lake entirely within Lake County and is part of the Harris Chain of Lakes.

Lake Harris today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. East Lake Tohopekaliga

East Lake Tohopekaliga is a natural lake of 12,000 acres of water. You will find it next to Saint Cloud. The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. At about 18 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has two point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. East Lake Tohopekaliga is part of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and is well known among anglers for trophy-class largemouth bass.

East Lake Tohopekaliga today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake is a natural lake of 16,000 acres of water. You will find it within an easy drive of Palm Coast (about 18 miles). The fish here are largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Its bed shows three steep ledges and an upper arm worth a first look. Crescent Lake, formerly called Dunns Lake, connects to the St. Johns River by way of Dunns Creek.

Crescent Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Florida lakes by fish

Lakes listed for a fish are the ones on this page where it is on record or typical for the lake.

• Bass: Lake Okeechobee, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga and Lake Talquin
• Crappie: Lake Okeechobee, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga and Lake Talquin
• Catfish: Lake Okeechobee, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga and Lake Talquin

Season by season

• Spring: largemouth bass are usually at their best. Prime time. Spawning in shallow coves and pockets.
• Summer: largemouth bass are usually fair. Hot water. Best at dawn, then they drop to deeper, cooler water.
• Fall: largemouth bass are usually at their best. Fall feed. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
• Winter: largemouth bass are usually fair. Cooling down. Try slow baits on points and deeper channel edges.

Before you go

Buy a Florida fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.