Newnans Lake
Alachua County
Newnans Lake (5,800 acres), designated as a Fish Management Area, is located about two miles east of Gainesville on Highway 20. The lake is surrounded by cypress trees that provide good angling when water levels are high. Sparse areas of emergent grasses, bulrush, and spatterdock (water lilies) are found around the shoreline of Newnans Lake. The most consistent fisheries on Newnans Lake are catfish and bream, and these can be caught year-round in deeper areas of the lake and the lake shoreline, respectively.
For more information on FWC management activities at Newnans Lake, visit the Orange Creek Basin Working Group webpage.
FWC maintains fish attractors at Newnans Lake, visit the Fish Attractor webpage for locations.
Shore and Pier Fishing Opportunities/Boat Ramp Locations:
Earl P. Powers Park Boat Ramp/Fishing Pier: 5902 SE Hawthorne Rd, Gainesville, FL 32641
Owen Illinois Park Boat Ramp: 11309 SE 16th Ave, Gainesville (Windsor), FL 32641 - CURRENTLY CLOSED BY ALACHUA COUNTY DUE TO LOW WATER LEVELS.
Palm Point Park: 7401 Lakeshore Dr, Gainesville, FL 32641
For updated information please call:
Travis Tuten, FWC fisheries biologist, 352-955-3220, for tag information.
The water level in Newnans Lake has been dropping steadily this spring and summer with high temperatures and little rainfall. Water levels are too low to launch boats at both public ramps (Earl Powers Park and Owen, Illinois Park). A substantial amount of rainfall will be needed to reopen these ramps. Water levels around the Earl Powers Park Pier are too low to fish. The best fishing action may be bank fishing for catfish at Palm Point Park. Try using chicken livers or worms. Good catches of large Bluegill and Redear Sunfish may be possible using crickets and grass shrimp. You may even land a big bass if you’re lucky. Anglers should also be aware of tagged Black Crappie with rewards. If you catch a tagged crappie, keep the tag (and the fish if you want), and call the number below to receive information on how to claim your reward.
Steve Beck, FWC fisheries biologist: 352-415-6958
For more information on FWC management activities at Newnans Lake, visit the Orange Creek Basin Working Group webpage and email questions to OrangeCreekBasin@myfwc.com.
FWC maintains fish attractors at Newnans Lake, visit the FWC Fish Attractor webpage for locations.
Popular Species
Fish graphics by Duane Raver, Jr.
More species information is available for:
Florida/Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfish, Channel catfish, Black crappie
TrophyCatch Tracker
TrophyCatch is FWC's citizen-science program that rewards anglers for documenting and releasing trophy bass 8 pounds or larger. The following TrophyCatch bass have been submitted from Newnans Lake:
Lunker Club (8 – 9.9 pounds): 10
Trophy Club (10 - 12.9 pounds): 2