Lake Lena in Polk County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Lena belongs to Polk County, Florida. The coast is 39 miles away. It measures about 205 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Roughly 1.9 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. The closest town, Auburndale, is 1.2 miles distant. Fussels Corner is 3.2 miles and Inwood 3.4 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Lena

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Public wildlife records from this area list largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and threadfin shad. The records cover the area rather than this water alone. At Lake Lena the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 82°F at the top of summer and 61°F at the bottom of winter. The calendar barely matters here; the time of day does. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan around that when you fish Lake Lena.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Lake Ariana at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Lake Lena.