Bream Lake Fishing near Hawthorne, Florida

• Overview

  You will find Bream Lake in Putnam County, Florida. The bank is 105 feet above sea level. The water covers some 120 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 1.6 miles in total. On our Putnam County list it sits near the top for size. Hawthorne is the closest place, 3.5 miles off. The big place round here is Gainesville, 18 miles distant. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Bream Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records collected within a few miles name bluegill, largemouth bass, warmouth and black crappie. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. On Bream Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 81°F, while January sits near 55°F. Heat, not cold, shapes the year here. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. It sets the rhythm of the year at Bream Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Green Pond, 0.6 miles out. For Bream Lake in particular, ask before you travel.