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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
30,800-acre lake near Winter Garden. The lake tops out around 17 ft. The depth chart comes from St. Johns River Water Management District bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Lake Apopka draws 31,020 acres inside 40.6 miles of shoreline, with a single island in the mix. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.6) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Tip to tip the water measures near 9 mi with an 8.8-mi widest point. The water lies in Orange County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Starke Lake, 6 mi southeast of here.
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 16.5 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 16.5 ft. The spot to know is Weed flat, a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Weed flat (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (9 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 16.5 ft, wintering in 5 to 16.5 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 15 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Weed flat (2 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Sharp break (9 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Spring puts bluegill in skinny water — 1 to 6 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 4 to 15 ft, wintering in 5 to 16.5 ft. Spring bluegill concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 1 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (1 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow flat (3 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 18 ft | midday | Sharp break (9 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: white bass & hybrids in 3 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 16.5 ft, wintering in 5 to 16.5 ft. Top water on the chart: Shoreline point, a point in the 5 ft range, prime in fall. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Gravel shoal (3 ft) | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (5 ft) | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 16.5 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 16.5 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Shallow flat (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Deep basin (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 16.5 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) |
Lake Apopka carries 17 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 15 ft down.
Access data: Florida FWC — Boat Ramp Inventory. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Florida waters are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — and special regulations can apply to Lake Apopka specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Florida fishing regulations →
Lake Apopka is about 16.5 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from St. Johns River Water Management District bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass & hybrids, channel catfish on Lake Apopka.
Weed flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lake Apopka is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Check the official Florida regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Starke Lake 6 mi · Johns Lake 6 mi · Lake Minneola 9 mi · Lake Carlton 10 mi · Lake Down 10 mi · Prevatt Lake 10 mi · Lake Louise 11 mi · Lake Blanche 12 mi · Lawne Lake 12 mi · Lake Dora 12 mi · Lake Tibet 13 mi · Lake Fairview 13 mi
See how Lake Apopka stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Florida · best crappie lakes in Florida · best bluegill lakes in Florida · best channel catfish lakes in Florida
More water nearby: Orange County fishing maps (22 charts). Browse all Florida fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.