Black Lake in Sumter County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Black Lake is a Sumter County water, Florida side. The surface lies 43 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Sumter County are larger. The Villages sits 2.6 miles from the bank. For a city, Orlando is 45 miles off. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Black Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists bluegill, largemouth bass, redear sunfish, threadfin shad and black crappie. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. Work Black Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 82°F in July and bottoms out near 58°F in January. Nothing shuts down for cold, so the question is when in the day to go. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Black Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Lake Miona, 1 mile away. Check the position on Black Lake before loading the car.