Fishing Orange Lake

AKA: Lake Orange

Popular Fish Species
Orange Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Orange Lake, FL

Popular Fish Species Orange Lake, FL

Black Crappie Fishing

Black crappie are also abundant in Orange Lake, providing anglers with enjoyable fishing opportunities. Crappie, aka "specs", can be targeted using small jigs, live minnows, or crappie-specific baits. Sunfish, including bluegill and redear sunfish, can be caught using worms, crickets, or small artificial lures. These species offer a great experience for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Because crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Orange Lake, FL Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Bass fishing is a major attraction on Orange Lake, and it is renowned for its trophy-sized largemouth bass. The lake's expansive vegetation, submerged structure, and ample forage create an ideal habitat for bass to thrive. Anglers can use a variety of techniques such as topwater lures, soft plastics, or crankbaits to entice these powerful game fish. A history of careful fisheries management by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has helped to maintain a thriving bass fishery. Recent results by bass fishing tournament participants, attest to the fact that fishing for largemouth bass has been quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 6 pounds being weighed in. In Orange Lake, FL, bass often move shallow and become fairly aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. If they seem disinterested in your presentations, try slowing down and use smaller, lighter baits. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.

Bluegill Fishing

Fishing for bluegill is a favorite tradition at Orange Lake, FL. Young and old, beginners and seasoned anglers alike, all enjoy catching a bunch of fat bluegill. This year, much like recent years, the bluegill population is healthy and always looking for something to eat. Bluegill fishing is as basic as fishing gets. Any pole, reasonably small line and small hooks baited with anything edible, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to position. Bluegill hang around brush, rocks, vegetation or any cover available.

Orange Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish at Orange Lake in Florida.

Giant bass and big fat crappie are the main attraction at Orange Lake, a 12,700-acre lake located in the northeast part of the state, 10 miles south of Hawthorne. A wide variety of aquatic vegetation lines much of the fifty miles of shoreline, creating an excellent environment for the bass, crappie and sunfish thriving here.

The boat ramp at Heagy Burry, in the southwest corner of the lake is the only public ramp that provides access during low water-level conditions. There are rental boats, bait, tackle, restaurants, camping and lodging all at, or nearby, the lake.

Primary fish species residing in Orange Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Orange Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, northeast side, off County Road 325, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.

Orange Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off W 191st Place, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.