Lake Sampson is a 200-acre lake located in the north-central part of Florida, USA. It is a popular spot for fishing, with several species of fish including largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, and speckled perch. Nearby activities include hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. For fishing, it is recommended to use live bait or lures such as spinnerbaits and topwaters. The best time of year to visit is during the spring and fall months when the weather is cooler, with average temperatures ranging from 60-75°F.
The blue catfish is considered an excellent food and game fish. It prefers clean, swift-moving waters where it feeds primarily on fish and crayfish. It is a strong, well-toned fish with a fine, delicate flavor. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: The blue catfish, the channel catfish, and the white catfish are the only three catfishes in the U.S.A. that have distinctly forked tails, setting them apart from the bullheads and the flathead catfish, which have squarish or slightly emarginate tails. The blue catfish can be distinguished from the channel and white catfish by its noticeably longer anal fin, which has a more even depth and a straighter edge than in the other two species. There are 30-36 rays in the fin, versus 24-30 rays in the channel catfish and 19-23 rays in the white catfish. Internally, the blue catfish can be identified by the fact that it has three chambers in the swim bladder, whereas the channel catfish has two chambers. All three forked tail species may be almost uniformly pale blue or silvery in color, though white catfish may show a more distinct difference between the bluish black and white belly. Channel catfish frequently have spots.
Camping Area | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers |
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Silver Lake - Withlacoochee State Forest | 23 | |||
Holder Mine - Withlacoochee State Forest | 13 | |||
Clarcona Horse Park | ||||
Magnolia County Park | 96 | |||
Hog Island - Withlacoochee State Forest | 20 | |||
Trimble County Park | 15 | |||
Kelly | ||||
Turkey Lake City Park | ||||
Withlacoochee River Park | 10 | |||
River Jct - Withlacoochee State Forest | 20 |