Lake Bentley Fishing in Polk County, Florida

• Overview

  In Florida, Lake Bentley falls inside Polk County. Around the bank it is warm green lowland. Roughly 53 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 1.3 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Crystal Lake lies 1.9 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Lakeland, 2.5 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Bentley

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include Florida gar, blue tilapia and bluegill. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. Take Lake Bentley a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 61°F in January to roughly 82°F in August. There is no cold season worth the name. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Lake Bentley that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lake Somerset sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Lake Bentley before loading the car.