Medicine Lake in Orange County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Orange County, Florida, sits Medicine Lake. What surrounds it is open low country. The water measures roughly 11 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. After that come South Apopka at 2.4 miles and Apopka at 3 miles. Nearby, in order: Lake Carter 0.3 miles, Lake Rutherford lies 0.4 miles on, Lake Marden 1 mile, Lake Maynard lies 1.1 miles on and Lake Semmes 1.1 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Medicine Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records collected within a few miles name largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish. Reported species tell you what lives around here, nothing more. Read Medicine Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 59°F to 82°F. The calendar barely matters here; the time of day does. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Medicine Lake. Water colour tells you more than the air temperature does.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Lake Carter, 0.3 miles out. What applies at Medicine Lake may have changed since it was mapped.