Fishing Hare Lake in Suwannee County, Florida

• Overview

  Hare Lake sits in Suwannee County, out in Florida. Elevation runs to 131 feet. Surface area runs to about 19 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is high ground by Florida standards. Live Oak at 4.9 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Gainesville, 61 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Hare Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records collected within a few miles name blackbanded darter, redbreast sunfish, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. Hare Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 81°F and January near 52°F. Nothing shuts down for cold, so the question is when in the day to go. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Hare Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Rees Lake sits 2.7 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Hare Lake is worth confirming on the day.