Clear Lake fishing: Channel Catfish, Sunshine Bass
Target species: Channel Catfish, Sunshine Bass
Best months: Apr, May, Jun for Channel Catfish
Second window: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr for Sunshine Bass
Boat: 1 ramp or launch on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at George Barker Jr. Park Clear Lake Boat Ramp, 1 lane, concrete.
The lake
Clear Lake covers 358 acres in Florida, across Orange County. It is a lake: 92.9% of it is 22 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is at least 29 feet (8.8 m). Our records hold 20 species for this water.
Stocking: 158,213 fish, 2010–2024
FWC records list 158,213 fish released into this water from 2010 to 2024.
- Sunshine Bass: 124,646 fingerlings, phase I fish in 2010–2024
- Channel Catfish: 33,217 sub adults in 2017–2024
One more species on the stocking list.
Depth and bottom
Deepest measured point: at least 29 ft (8.8 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. 92.9% of the water is 22 feet or shallower. We hold 20 depth contour lines for this water.
- 0–2 ft: 1.5% of the water
- 2–4 ft: 8.8% of the water
- 4–6 ft: 8.3% of the water
- 6–8 ft: 9.1% of the water
- 8–10 ft: 12% of the water
- 10–12 ft: 10% of the water
- 12–14 ft: 8.1% of the water
- 14–16 ft: 8% of the water
- 16–18 ft: 9.1% of the water
- 18–20 ft: 9.3% of the water
- 20–22 ft: 8.7% of the water
- 22–24 ft: 5.9% of the water
- 24–26 ft: 1.2% of the water
2 target fish, led by Channel Catfish
- Channel Catfish (channel cat) — Best months: Apr, May, Jun. Spawns Apr, May, Jun. A trophy starts at 12 lb. Holds in current, deep holes, drop-offs and timber and stumps. What works here: chicken liver, cut bait, stink bait, worm and live bait.
- Sunshine Bass (hybrid striped bass, hybrids) — Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr. A trophy starts at 5 lb. Holds in open water, drop-offs, current and canals. What works here: lipless crankbait, spoon, swimbait, jig and jerkbait.
Also recorded here: White Bass, Grass Carp, Blue Tilapia.
Water and conditions
Water clarity runs 3–9.5 feet on our readings, averaging 5.6 feet, from 186 readings. Our water temperature readings average 77°F; they do not cover the whole year, so this is not a yearly average. The coldest single reading we hold is 60°F and the warmest is 88°F; the warmest monthly average is 87°F. pH averages 8.1. These readings span 2016–2025.
1 ramp or launch on this water
On this water we hold 1 trailer ramp and 2 fishing piers.
- George Barker Jr. Park Clear Lake Boat Ramp — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 24 trailers (paved), no fee, flush restrooms, dock, wheelchair access. Orlando, City of Orlando. 2000 Monte Carlo Trail, Orlando 32805 · phone (407) 246-2283 · website orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/George-Barker-Park?BestBetMatch=Barker|12ea1a31-d235-4041-9ed0-b881924d7e46|6c742062-933c-4b5d-9514-306c313ad6b3|en-US
Fishing piers
- Clear Lake Park — no fee, daylight hours. Orlando, City of Orlando. 2301 29th St., Orlando 32805
- George Barker Park — no fee, open 6am–9pm. Orlando, City of Orlando. 2000 Monte Carlo Trail, Orlando 32805
Only one of the 3 places listed has both a fee and opening hours on file: a blank means we hold no such field, not that it is free or always open, and this list may not be complete.
What is hard here
Clarity swings from 3 to 9.5 feet between our readings — the water you meet is not the water someone photographed. Only 1 public ramp is on file, so the launch decides where you fish. Alligators live in Florida fresh water. Keep clear of the bank edge at dawn and dusk, and keep pets away from it. Summer water sits at 87°F: heat and afternoon lightning are the real risks, not the fishing.
Where this data comes from
- Florida FWC — FWC Florida lake bathymetry: class A, a survey of the bottom.
