Fishing Thorpe Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida

• Overview

  The Hillsborough County entry here is Thorpe Lake, in Florida. The bank is 49 feet above sea level. About 14 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Hillsborough County. The nearest place of any size is Citrus Park, 2.7 miles away. Then Westchase, 3.2 miles, and Keystone, 3.9 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Thorpe Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public wildlife records from this area list largemouth bass, bluegill, Florida gar, redear sunfish and black crappie. Treat it as evidence of what swims in the area. On Thorpe Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 82°F on average, January about 60°F. The whole calendar is open, with dawn and dusk the productive hours in summer. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Thorpe Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is a jetty 0.9 miles off, worth knowing on a busy day. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Williams Lake is 0.2 miles off. Treat Thorpe Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.