Orange Lake

THE HEAGY BURRY BOAT RAMP IS NOW OPEN.

Low water levels due to extreme drought are making it difficult to launch at Orange Lake. The only public launch still usable is the new Heagy Burry Ramp, which has been completely rebuilt with new parking areas, a fishing pier, and bathrooms. Water levels are too low to launch at Marjorie Rawlings State Park or to get to Lochloosa Lake through Cross Creek. Substantial rainfall will be required to increase water levels. While the lake is still plenty deep in many areas, all anglers should use caution near the shoreline due to shallow conditions and submerged hazards.

Orange Lake should continue to offer some of the best fishing Florida has to offer this summer and early fall. Very few people have been fishing this year, so these fish are ready to bite. Pads are abundant along the eastern/southern shorelines of the lake and are great areas to target. Submersed vegetation has really taken off in recent years and can be found along the shoreline around the entire lake. Hydrilla is very thick and topped out in McIntosh Bay (in the SW part of the lake) and the entire southern/eastern shoreline. Caution is advised in these areas for anglers with smaller boat motors. Anglers are encouraged to use the corridor marked with FWC buoys in McIntosh Bay and other boat trails throughout the lake. Focusing boat traffic should keep the hydrilla clear and help maintain trails, ensuring everyone can access great fishing areas.

Orange Lake is known for providing some of the best bass fishing in the country! Top water baits, frogs, soft plastics, and bladed jigs are the baits of choice for most bass anglers. Punching through thick vegetation with soft plastics and heavy weights/line is a great summertime technique. Despite limited access, over 30 bass weighing over 8 pounds have been approved by FWC's TrophyCatch Program in Season 14, which began October 1, 2025. Anglers should be aware that the Orange Lake Florida Bass regulations changed in April 2024 as part of the Florida Trophy Bass Project (check this news release for details and check the bass regulation signs at the ramp). Bass are easily stressed during the high temperatures of summer. For information on best handling practices that help ensure large bass survive after release, check the TrophyCare page.

While bass get most of the attention on Orange Lake, it also has had some of the best panfish action in the area. Try fishing for Bluegill and Redear Sunfish up near the pads, on the edge of thick submersed vegetation, or along the shoreline, and use a grass shrimp or cricket under a cork. Most of the Black Crappie have moved offshore during the warmer months, but they still need to eat. Try your luck at fishing a spider rig in open water.

For more information on FWC management activities at Orange Lake, visit the Orange Creek Basin Working Group webpage and email questions to OrangeCreekBasin@myfwc.com.