Lake Eckles Fishing in Hillsborough County, Florida

• Overview

  Lake Eckles falls in Hillsborough County, part of Florida. Salt water lies 8.6 miles off. Surface area is around 28 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. You are 1.2 miles from Carrollwood. For a city, Tampa is 7.5 miles off. Other water within reach: Pine Lake after 0.4 miles, Noreast Lake a touch under 0.6 miles, Cedar Lake after 0.8 miles, Dorset Lake a touch under 0.9 miles and Lake Carroll after 0.9 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lake Eckles

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Nearby survey and observation records mention largemouth bass, bluegill and dollar sunfish. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. Take Lake Eckles a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 82°F; the cold one sits at 60°F. Heat, not cold, decides when to be on the water. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Lake Eckles that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Reserve land runs up to the bank here, so read the notices. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Pine Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Lake Eckles, the notice at the access point is the final word.