Clear Lake Fishing in Alachua County, Florida

• Overview

  Clear Lake lies in Alachua County, Florida. It lies 62 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 8 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Alachua County standards. Gainesville is the closest place, 4 miles off. Alachua is 7.3 miles and Archer 11 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. 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, blackchin tilapia, mozambique tilapia and warmouth. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. Clear Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 81°F, with January the cold end at about 55°F. Cold never shuts this water down; heat is the only limit. Season rules are a separate question. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It holds true on Clear Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Clear Lake Nature Park takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lake Alice, 1.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Clear Lake should be assumed from this page alone.