Lake Ibis Fishing in Sarasota County, Florida

• Overview

  Lake Ibis belongs to Sarasota County, Florida. The water sits 46 feet up. At roughly 13 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Fruitville lies 1.8 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is St. Petersburg, 34 miles away. Water in the same corner: Alligator Pond some 0.3 miles off, Ward Lake after 7.1 miles, Lake Myakka some 10 miles off, Lake Manatee after 12 miles and Flounder Pass some 18 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lake Ibis

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include Florida gar, largemouth bass and Nile tilapia. Use it to know what is possible here, not what is certain. Lake Ibis responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 83°F and January reads 62°F. Warmth runs the whole year, so timing is about the hour, not the month. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Lake Ibis the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Alligator Pond, 0.3 miles away. Rules at Lake Ibis are worth checking on the day.