Middle Lake near San Antonio: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Middle Lake lies within the bounds of Hernando County, Florida. What surrounds it is warm bottomland. With some 165 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 2.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The closest town, San Antonio, is 6.3 miles distant. Beyond it, Saint Leo at 6.7 miles and Hill 'n Dale at 6.9 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Middle Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Nearby survey and observation records mention bluegill, largemouth bass and bluespotted sunfish. Records show what people reported, not what is stocked. Fish Middle Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 81°F at the top of summer and 58°F at the bottom of winter. Heat, not cold, decides when to be on the water. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. That is the shape of the year on Middle Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Hancock Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Middle Lake for certain.