Lake Frances, Florida: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lake Frances is listed under Hillsborough County, Florida. This is open low country country. At about 34 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Nearest place of any size is Keystone, 1.2 miles away. The nearest city of size is Tampa, 17 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank. It suits a short session as much as a full day.

• Where to Fish on Lake Frances

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Documented catches and surveys in the area cover largemouth bass, warmouth, bowfin and Florida gar. Local agencies keep the authoritative list for each water. Lake Frances responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 82°F at the top of summer and 60°F at the bottom of winter. The year runs unbroken and warm. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Lake Frances fishes to that pattern most years. A settled week fishes better than a changeable one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Crescent Lake, 0.6 miles out. What applies at Lake Frances may have changed since it was mapped.