Lake Pierce fishing: Largemouth Bass
Target species: Largemouth Bass
Best months: Mar, Apr, May for Largemouth Bass
Boat: 3 ramps and launches on file for this water.
Start here: Launch at Lake Pierce Public Boat Ramp (Limited Parking), 1 lane, concrete.
The lake
Lake Pierce covers 3,856 acres in Florida, across Polk County. It is a lake: 96.9% of it is 9 feet deep or less; the deepest point measured is at least 11 feet (3.4 m). Our records hold 17 species for this water.
Depth and bottom
Deepest measured point: at least 11 ft (3.4 m). That is the deepest contour line: the bottom goes deeper. 96.9% of the water is 9 feet or shallower. We hold 64 depth contour lines for this water.
- 0–2 ft: 7.6% of the water
- 2–3 ft: 5.5% of the water
- 3–4 ft: 7.8% of the water
- 4–5 ft: 8.8% of the water
- 5–6 ft: 10.6% of the water
- 6–7 ft: 14.9% of the water
- 7–8 ft: 27.3% of the water
- 8–9 ft: 14.4% of the water
- 9–10 ft: 3% of the water
The target fish: Largemouth Bass
- Largemouth Bass (Florida bass, black bass) — Best months: Mar, Apr, May. Spawns Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May. A trophy starts at 8 lb. Holds in weed beds, open water and drop-offs. What works here: golden shiner, plastic worm, soft plastic, crankbait and topwater.
Also recorded here: Blue Tilapia.
Water and conditions
Water clarity runs 1–2.3 feet on our readings, averaging 1.6 feet, from 44 readings. Our water temperature readings average 79°F; they do not cover the whole year, so this is not a yearly average. The coldest single reading we hold is 59°F and the warmest is 93°F; the warmest monthly average is 87°F. pH averages 8.4. These readings span 2016–2025.
Stocking: 86,429 fish, 2014–2017
FWC records list 86,429 fish released into this water from 2014 to 2017. The latest stocking on record is from 2017, more than three years ago.
- Largemouth Bass: 86,429 fingerlings in 2014–2017
3 ramps and launches on this water
On this water we hold 3 trailer ramps.
- Jennings' Resort Inc. — 1 lane, concrete, paid, portable restrooms, dock. Haines City. 4325 Jennings Fish Camp Road, Haines City 33844 · website jenningsresort.com
- Cherry Pocket Fish Camp — 1 lane, concrete, paid, portable restrooms. Lake Wales. 3100 Canal Rd, Lake Wales 33898
- Lake Pierce Public Boat Ramp (Limited Parking) — 1 lane, concrete, parking for 2 trailers (paved), no fee. Lake Wales, Polk County. Parkway Boat Ramp Road, Lake Wales 33898 · website polk-county.net/parks-and-recreation/facilities/-in-category/categories/pr-amenities/boat-launching-site
2 of the 3 places listed have 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
With 96.9% of the water 9 feet or less, low level turns the flats into hazards. 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.
