Lake Alice Fishing near Gainesville, Florida

• Overview

  Set in Alachua County, Lake Alice is a Florida water. Scrub and brush runs right down to the water. It covers about 21 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest place of any size is Gainesville, 2.2 miles away. Beyond it, Alachua at 8.4 miles and Archer at 12 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lake Alice

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include bluegill, largemouth bass, blue tilapia and Florida gar. Take it as evidence of what swims here, not a promise for one session. At Lake Alice light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 55°F in January up to 81°F in July. Heat, not cold, shapes the year here. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake Alice. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Park at Bat House Parking, half a mile from the water. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Lake Alice Conservation Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Bivans Arm sits 1.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Lake Alice are worth checking on the day.