Fishing at Little Lake, Hillsborough County, Florida

• Overview

  Little Lake is set in Hillsborough County, Florida. Salt water lies 8 miles off. It covers about 17 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Citrus Park is the closest place, 2.6 miles off. Tampa sits 14 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Also worth knowing: James Lake (0.2 miles), Horse Lake at about 0.3 miles, Lake Juanita (0.7 miles), Lake Raleigh at about 0.7 miles and Pretty Lake (0.8 miles). A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Little Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include largemouth bass, bluegill, Florida gar, redear sunfish and black crappie. Local agencies hold the definitive list for this water. On Little Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 82°F in July and bottom out at 60°F in January. Warmth runs the whole year, so timing is about the hour, not the month. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Little Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, James Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Signs at Little Lake carry more weight than any list.