Lake George Fishing
The history of Lake George fishing dates all the way back to World War II. There’s even a bombing range on the lake that was operated by the US Military in Ocala National Forest on the Western portion of the lake. It got its name from King George III. Apparently, his botanist John Bartram explored this area in the 1700s and ended up naming the lake after his King. It’s the second largest lake in Florida to Lake Okeechobee, and it spans 46,000 acres, with its widest point being six miles and it’s longest point 11 miles.
The Basics on Lake George, FL
The lake is incredibly shallow and very brackish for a lake in this area of the state. It’s best known for its largemouth, striped bass, and sunfish, and it has an average depth of approximately eight feet.
While most people don’t go out of their way to fish Lake George, it does offer some consistent bass fishing. Expect to find plenty of largemouth in the five to seven-pound range because the lake has a solid population. You won’t typically find a lot of trophy bass here, but you’ll throw your line out and catch fish all day long.
One of the most interesting facts about this lake. Is that it doesn’t have any vegetation along the shoreline or even at the bottom. Most Florida lakes are heavily vegetated, and that’s what makes it so easy to find bass, but here you’re left to your own devices to figure it out.
In fact, the lake doesn’t even have any structural variations at the base. It’s pretty much an even slope from each side of the lake, and it’s flat on the bottom with very little greenery.
Because of the brackish nature of the water, many parts of the lake are popular with crab fishing.
Fishing Lake George
Since you don’t have any vegetation to work with, you have to get a little more creative. You’ll find remnants of the old bombing range throughout the lake, and they’re often in clusters. These areas make great hiding places for bass, and as we said, the whole lake is not very deep, so you can fish towards the middle of the water if you happen to find some underwater structure that you want to explore. If you’re lucky, you might even find the sunken ship that’s in the middle of the lake. If you find it, this is where most of the panfish are hanging out.
Where to Fish Lake George
The most popular fishing area is Nine Mile Point. Take a Carolina rig or Texas rig plastic worm and hit this area. You’ll find the most success using these rigs and fishing along the banks. You can also use spinnerbaits and spoons on bright sunny days.
Nine Mile Point also offers plenty of shorelines to fish from, so if you’re not out on a boat, you’ll want to cast parallel to the shoreline along any of the weed beds that you can find.
Most anglers fish the Eastern portion of the lake because there’s plenty of structure and shoreline opportunities. This section of the lake also has protection from the wind, so it’s an easier cast.
If you’re on the Western shoreline, we should tell you that there are many areas that you can’t fish. Anywhere between Juniper Point and Silver Glen Spring Run is off-limits to fishing, and it should be clearly posted there.
The good news is if you find yourself fishing the Western part of the lake. There is an assortment of creeks running into the lake, and these are great areas for bass fishing. We recommend hitting this area after rainstorms when there’s a lot of runoff because bass like to sit at tributaries and feed on the baitfish that are forced downstream.
The western portion of the lake is also where you’ll catch striped bass. They run up the creek so you can even walk up the river a little and fish downstream. A little bit South of here is where you’ll find more largemouth and panfish like black crappie and sunfish.
Best Lures for Lake George Bass Fishing
We find that the best lure for fishing Lake George depends a lot on the individual, the weather, and where you’re fishing the lake. Fishing the Eastern part is a whole different experience from the Western region, so you’ll need to cater to those specifics.
In most cases, a soft plastic worm is always a safe bet. Rig it with one of the weedless styles and cast it as close to the weed beds as you can. You’ll want to create an erratic presentation by tightening your line, jerking it a few times, re-tightening it, and repeating that process.
If you find yourself fishing in the middle of the day, you’ll want to go deeper into the water. The lake is shallow, so the bass will likely move into the middle of the water during midday to find more consistent water temperatures when the shallows get really hot.
Keep in mind the season you’re fishing as well. When the water temperatures start to dip down, you’ll want to slow down your presentation a little. Of course, the temperature never gets too cold, but the bass here are used to tropical weather. During the winter months, you can expect them to slow down a little.
More of the Best
Also, look around at the current weather situation. On overcast days, you’ll want to mimic the colors by using a more neutral colored lure. When it’s bright and sunny out, you want to use something bright to grab their attention because they’re more likely to strike.
Water clarity is a significant factor, as well. If you’re fishing after a heavy rainstorm, chances are the water is murkier. Which will make it harder for the bass to see your lure. During this time, you might want to switch it up to something noisy like a chatter bait or spinnerbait.
Book A Fishing Charter
A day of Lake George fishing will certainly be a memorable one. Heck, any time out on the water spent with your family is a good day in our books. Even if you don’t want to do any fishing, you can visit the St Augustine area very popular and historic.
No matter what kind of fishing you’re looking for, BassFishingFl.com has partnered with the best charters in the area. Search, call, and book the trip that fits best for your family.
