Palestine Lake is a great place for fishing enthusiasts in Florida. The lake is home to a variety of fish species including largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. Anglers can enjoy both shore fishing and boat fishing on the lake. Nearby activities include hiking, birdwatching, and camping. For the best fishing experience, it is recommended to use live bait such as shiners or worms. The best time to visit Palestine Lake is from late spring to early fall when the weather is warm and dry, with average temperatures ranging from 70°F to 90°F.
It is an abundant species and is important both commercially and as a sport fish. Black crappies are easily caught, often as fast as the hook can be rebaited. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: Though they show a definite family resemblance, they are distinctive enough that they shouldn’t be confused with any other species. The black crappie and the white crappie are most often confused with each other. Despite their common names, both species are the same color (dark olive or black dorsally with silvery sides) and both have spots on the sides. However, the pattern of the spotting is distinctly different. In the black crappie the spots are more or less irregular and scattered while in the white crappie the spots may be more vague and are clearly arranged into 7-9 vertical bars on the sides. Another distinction; the black crappie has 7-8 dorsal spines while the white crappie has only 6, the same number as in its anal fin. In body shape the black crappie’s is somewhat deeper than the white crappie.
Camping Area | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hog Island - Withlacoochee State Forest | 20 | |||
Big Bass | 34 | |||
Crooked River - Withlacoochee State Forest | 26 | |||
River Jct - Withlacoochee State Forest | 20 | |||
Silver Lake - Withlacoochee State Forest | 23 | |||
Lake Griffin State Rec Area | ||||
Trimble County Park | 15 | |||
Holder Mine - Withlacoochee State Forest | 13 | |||
Lake Louisa State Park | ||||
Cypress Glen - Withlacoochee State Forest | 34 |