Little Gum Lake in Polk County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Little Gum Lake is one of the Polk County listings for Florida. The ground around here is warm bottomland. At about 27 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Start from Lake Wales, 6.5 miles down the road. Lakeland is the closest city, 30 miles away. Alternatives close at hand: Cypress Lake 0.4 miles off, Big Gum Lake at 0.9 miles, Parks Lake 0.9 miles off, Thomas Lake at 1.2 miles and Swim Lake 1.4 miles off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Gum Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Nearby survey and observation records mention largemouth bass, bluegill and Nile tilapia. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. On Little Gum Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 61°F in January to roughly 82°F in August. Cold never shuts this water down; heat is the only limit. Season rules are a separate question. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Little Gum Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Cypress Lake, 0.4 miles out. For Little Gum Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.