Matthis Lake, Florida: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Matthis Lake lies in Dixie County, in Florida. The bank gives way to open low country. It measures about 42 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Among the waters listed for Dixie County, none is wider. Cross City at 13 miles is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Trenton (17 miles) and Manatee Road (20 miles). It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Matthis Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records collected within a few miles name bluegill, warmouth and banded sunfish. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. On Matthis Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 81°F; the cold one sits at 53°F. Fish feed through every month here. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Matthis Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Cemetery Lake, 0.4 miles away. Confirm before you fish Matthis Lake.