Fishing Clearwater Lake in Polk County, Florida

• Overview

  Look for Clearwater Lake in Polk County, Florida. The setting is open low country. With some 78 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. About 1.5 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Compared with other Florida water on our list, it sits high. Nearest town is Polk City, 1.1 miles off. The big place round here is Lakeland, 11 miles distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Clearwater Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include largemouth bass, spotted sunfish and warmouth. The records cover the area rather than this water alone. Clearwater Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 82°F in July and bottom out at 60°F in January. The calendar barely matters here; the time of day does. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Clearwater Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The closest car park is 0.9 miles away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Little Lake Agnes, 1.6 miles out. Nothing on Clearwater Lake should be assumed from this page alone.