Lake Behnke Fishing near University, Florida

• Overview

  Within Hillsborough County, Florida, you have Lake Behnke. The bank is 66 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 16 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. For supplies, University is 1.3 miles out. Further out sit Temple Terrace (2.7 miles) and Lake Magdalene (3 miles). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lake Behnke

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public wildlife records from this area list largemouth bass, bluegill, spotted sunfish, Florida gar and blue tilapia. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. The near bank of Lake Behnke is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 82°F in July and bottoms out near 60°F in January. Heat, not cold, shapes the year here. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Anyone fishing Lake Behnke regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking is close: a car park sits 70 yards from the bank. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Flynn Lake at 2.7 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Lake Behnke is worth confirming on the day.