Fishing at Plew Lake, Okaloosa County, Florida

• Overview

  Okaloosa County in Florida is where Plew Lake sits. This is warm green lowland country. About 16 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Niceville is the closest place, 0.9 miles off. After that come Valparaiso at 1.7 miles and Eglin Village at 5.5 miles. Others worth noting: 0.3 miles away is Trout Lake, Roberts Lake 1.2 miles off, 1.4 miles away is Pine Lake, Brandt Pond 2.1 miles off and 3.2 miles away is Hazelwood Pond. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Plew Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Fish reported in the area, according to open records, include speckled madtom, blackbanded darter, spotted sunfish, brown darter and okaloosa darter. Records show what people reported, so treat the list as a guide to what lives in the area. At Plew Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 81°F in July and bottoms out near 50°F in January. Every month fishes, though midsummer narrows the useful hours. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Plew Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Emerald Coast Marina sits half a mile off, with launching and moorings. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Trout Lake is 0.3 miles distant. Treat access at Plew Lake as something to verify.