Fishing Mirror Lake in Putnam County, Florida

• Overview

  Mirror Lake sits in Putnam County, out in Florida. The surface lies 92 feet up. It measures about 47 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 1.0 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. 1.4 miles away sits Interlachen, the nearest town. It is 27 miles to Gainesville, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mirror Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records collected within a few miles name blackbanded darter, largemouth bass, brown darter, speckled madtom and bluegill. Take it as evidence of what swims here, not a promise for one session. The shape of Mirror Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 81°F, the coldest about 55°F. There is no cold season worth the name. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Anyone fishing Mirror Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Still Pond, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Mirror Lake carry more weight than any list.