Lake Eaton fishing: Channel Catfish

Target species: Channel Catfish
Best months: Apr, May, Jun for Channel Catfish
Boat: 1 ramp or launch on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Ocala National Forest - Lake Eaton Campround, 1 lane, sand.

The lake

Lake Eaton covers 313 acres in Florida, across Marion County. It is a lake: 96.9% of it is 6 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is at least 7 feet (2.1 m). Our records hold 20 species for this water.

Depth and bottom

Deepest measured point: at least 7 ft (2.1 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. 96.9% of the water is 6 feet or shallower. We hold 14 depth contour lines for this water.

  • 0–1 ft: 28% of the water
  • 1–2 ft: 10% of the water
  • 2–3 ft: 9.8% of the water
  • 3–4 ft: 10.2% of the water
  • 4–5 ft: 13.3% of the water
  • 5–6 ft: 25.6% of the water
  • 6–7 ft: 3.2% of the water

The target fish: 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.

Water and conditions

Water clarity runs 0.8–2 feet on our readings, averaging 1.4 feet, from 31 readings. Our water temperature readings average 72°F; they do not cover the whole year, so this is not a yearly average. pH averages 6.6. These readings span 2017–2024.

Stocking: 64,187 fish, 2010–2017

FWC records list 64,187 fish released into this water from 2010 to 2017. The latest stocking on record is from 2017, more than three years ago.

  • Channel Catfish: 64,187 sub adults, phase II fish, phase I fish in 2010–2017

1 ramp or launch on this water

On this water we hold 1 trailer ramp and 1 fishing pier.

  • Ocala National Forest - Lake Eaton Campround — 1 lane, sand, parking for 4 trailers (firm unpaved), dock. Silver Springs, United States Forest Service. NE 171 Avenue Road, Silver Springs 34488 · website fs.usda.gov/recarea/florida/recarea/?recid=83528

Fishing piers

  • Lake Eaton Fishing Pier — park entry fee, open 8am–8pm. Silver Springs, U. S. Forestry Service.

Fee and opening hours are blank for all 2 places in this list: 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

With 96.9% of the water 6 feet or less, low level turns the flats into hazards. 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.

Where this data comes from

  • Florida FWC — FWC Florida lake bathymetry: class A, a survey of the bottom.