Francis near Madison: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Madison County end of Florida holds Francis. Height above sea level is 135 feet. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Florida listings. Madison is the closest place, 0.4 miles off. Tallahassee is the closest city, 52 miles away. More in the same country: Mill 0.7 miles away, 0.9 miles out stands Brickyard Pond, Twelvemile Pond 11 miles away, 15 miles out stands Bear Garden Swamp and Lake Octahatechee 16 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Francis

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover redfin pickerel, warmouth and swamp darter. It reflects what has been logged, which depends on who was looking. The shape of Francis decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 81°F, with January the cold end at about 52°F. Heat, not cold, decides when to be on the water. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Francis rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Mill at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Francis may have changed since it was mapped.