Padgett Lake Fishing near Land O' Lakes, Florida

• Overview

  Padgett Lake is one of the Pasco County waters in Florida. The surface lies 75 feet up. Surface area is around 143 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Some 3.2 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. On our Pasco County list it sits near the top for size. Nearest town is Land O' Lakes, 1.5 miles off. Lutz lies 3.2 miles off, Cheval another 4.8 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Padgett Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Public wildlife records from this area list largemouth bass, bluegill and bowfin. Reported species tell you what lives around here, nothing more. Read Padgett Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 82°F in July and bottom out at 59°F in January. The year runs unbroken and warm. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Padgett Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Saxon Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Padgett Lake are worth checking on the day.