Fishing at Palestine Lake, Baker County, Florida

• Overview

  Palestine Lake is set in Baker County, Florida. Land around it is open low country. This is sizeable water at about 923 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Florida listings. Some 7.8 miles away sits Lake Butler, the nearest settlement. Gainesville sits 33 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Palestine Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include warmouth, swamp darter and bluegill. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. Read Palestine Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 53°F in January and 81°F in July. Cold never becomes a factor on this one. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Palestine Lake. Barometer swings matter more than a degree or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Fisher Lake, 3.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Palestine Lake is worth confirming on the day.