Lake Lily Fishing near Gotha, Florida

• Overview

  Out in Orange County, Florida, sits Lake Lily. The water sits 128 feet up. Gotha lies 1.4 miles from the water. Ocoee is 1.7 miles away, with Lake Butler at 3 miles. Also worth knowing: Lake Pearl 0.2 miles away, Lake Bonnet at about 0.4 miles, Lake Bennet 0.6 miles away, Fischer Lake at about 1.1 miles and Lake Nally 1.2 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lake Lily

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Nearby survey and observation records mention blue tilapia, bluegill, largemouth bass, Florida gar and spotted sunfish. The list reflects reported sightings and surveys rather than what is stocked. On Lake Lily that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 59°F in January up to 82°F in July. The whole calendar is open, with dawn and dusk the productive hours in summer. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Anyone fishing Lake Lily regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Lake Pearl at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Lake Lily in what we hold.