Tice Lake Fishing Guide, Polk County, Florida

• Overview

  In Florida, Tice Lake belongs to Polk County. It stands 92 feet above sea level. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. On size it sits at the modest end of our Polk County list. The closest town, Bartow, is 3.5 miles away. The nearest city of size is Lakeland, 13 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Tice Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged nearby in open biodiversity records include blue tilapia, channel catfish, golden shiner and taillight shiner. Reporting is uneven, so absence from the list means little. Tice Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 82°F and January reads 61°F. The year runs unbroken and warm. 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. Plan any trip to Tice Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Lake Garfield, 3.5 miles away. Ask locally about Tice Lake if anything is unclear.