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Polk County

Saddle Creek

Saddle Creek Park is a series of phosphate pits on 740 acres of mined phosphate land east of Lakeland off U.S. Route 92 in Polk County. The park provides convenient opportunities for family outings, picnics, boating, and fishing. An abundance of bank fishing makes this a unique Fish Management Area. Channel catfish are stocked regularly by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida bass are popular with Saddle Creek anglers. There are a number of public boat ramps on Saddle Creek Park Road, which runs through the middle of the park. Be advised that cast netting is prohibited within Saddle Creek Fish Management Area, and the Channel Catfish bag limit is six (6).

For more information contact Phillips Bait and Tackle at 863-666-2248.
Anglers can also check the  Saddle Creek Park website.

Bank fishing opportunities here are excellent! Many anglers will target black crappie (specks) during the winter months but switch to bream during late spring, leading into early summer. Live Missouri minnows and small jigs trolled or drifted are the best bets for good speck action. Bluegill (bream) fishing will improve with the warmer water, and they can be caught with crickets and red wigglers. Catfish can be caught on chicken livers and commercial stinkbaits around deeper holes. Florida bass fishing will be good during this “post-spawn” transition. Use live, wild shiners for the best bass action, and try plastic worms in Junebug, red shad, and black and blue colors fished slowly along the edges and near drop-offs. Large schools of shad are coming to the surface in the morning and just before sunset. Don’t be afraid to throw your suspending jerkbaits, “wacky” rigs, or weightless shad-colored flukes in and around the schools to catch bass chasing the shad. During past electrofishing surveys, some Florida bass larger than 8 pounds were tagged in Saddle Creek. Tags are yellow and located on the back (dorsal) of the fish. If you catch a tagged fish, remember to cut the tag off and call the number provided. You will need it to collect your $100 reward. Tight lines!

Popular Species

Popular Sport Fish Species

Fish graphics by Duane Raver, Jr.

More species information is available for:

Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Redear sunfishChannel catfishBlack crappie

FWC Trophy Catch Logo

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 Saddle Creek:

Lunker Club (8 – 9.9 pounds): 20

Trophy Club (10 - 12.9 pounds): 3

💬 Ask Buck!