Fishing Lake Goodson in Putnam County, Florida

• Overview

  Look for Lake Goodson in the Putnam County part of Florida. The surroundings are scrub and brush. It measures about 92 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The bank runs in an even curve, so features come from what lies under the surface. Start from Hawthorne, 7.1 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is Gainesville, 19 miles away. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake Goodson

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. 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. Biodiversity records within roughly six miles include bluegill, warmouth and redfin pickerel. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. On Lake Goodson that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 81°F on average, January about 55°F. Fish feed through every month here. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. On Lake Goodson the same rules apply, with local timing. Water temperature lags behind air temperature by days, not hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Lake Barco is 0.5 miles distant. None of that is settled for Lake Goodson in what we hold.