Fishing at Bear Lake, Orange County, Florida

• Overview

  This water sits in Orange County, Florida. The bank is 102 feet above sea level. Roughly 310 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. At about 3.1 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Size puts it in the front rank of our Orange County list. Nearest town is Forest City, 1.1 miles off. Orlando is the closest city, 8.7 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records collected within a few miles name bluegill, largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish and spotted sunfish. The records cover the area rather than this water alone. Bear Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 82°F at the top of summer and 59°F at the bottom of winter. Fish feed through every month here. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Bear Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Little Bear Lake, 0.6 miles out. Where Bear Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.