Lake Poinsett

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Lake Poinsett ★★★★★ 5 1 reviews
5 1

About Lake Poinsett

 Positioned in Alachua County, Orange Lake in Florida is the largest lake in the North Central Region at 12,550 acres. It’s located in the southeast of Gainesville designated fish management area with about 20 miles of shoreline. Maximum depth of 12 feet, Orange lake averages 5-1/2 feet deep. The water levels fluctuate an average of 2 feet annually.

A fixed-crest weir located at Highway 301 (the southeast portion of the lake) controls outflow. Orange Lake receives inflow from Newman’s Lake through River Styx and from Lochloosa Lake through Cross Creek. Cross-Creek navigable to most boats is 1.8 miles during normal water levels.

Lake Poinsett

As the St. Johns River snakes out of Lake Washington and through the lush, green marshes, it eventually forms a ‘minor’ wide spot in its trace some eight miles to the North. This small (1496 acres), but highly productive body is known as Lake Winder

Approximately two and one-half miles long and one mile wide, Winder’s size is deceiving. Due to a large amount of aquatic growth, primarily large beds of peppergrass and milfoil in the open waters and dense cane and sawgrass around the perimeter appear much smaller.

As could then be expected, much of its surface area is inaccessible to fishing. However, it can be the more productive of the two lakes, particularly for the knowledgeable bass anglers. Bass are very popular and usually pretty easy to catch. Winder is not known for trophy fish, but it is especially suitable for overall quantities. If the good current flow is not present in the main river channel itself, most local tournament anglers will draw a direct bead on Lake Winder.

Top Half of River

The upper St. Johns basin has increased on the actual fishing areas, more fishing excursions, although theirs more pressure on the northern section of Lakes Winder and Poinsett, to include the stretch of pure river between the two.

The pure river is in this short stretch of the St. Johns that we find indicators of this fine river’s real quality. Even though the quantity of angler hours is very high on the Lake Winder and Lake Poinsett section, the fishing success has refused to decline. If anything, it has even improved over the years. We consider the Winder-Poinsett location worthy of special note when fishing in Florida because of such excellent bass lakes that produce tremendous numbers of speckled perch (crappie).

This large, shallow lake of over 5,000 acres. The most expansive lake in Brevard County, with a distance of 5 miles at its widest point. At the eastern portion of the lake, a channel connects Lake Florence and Barnett Lake. Lake Poinsett and all the other lakes flow north due to being part of the St. Johns River system. It is where the St. Johns River runs along county lines north of the lake. It is part of the St. Johns River Water Management District. At the extreme north corner of Lake Poinsett is Taylor Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns River.

Lake Poinsett Fishing

Lake Poinsett the best bass fishing lake on the St. Johns River south of Lake George. Fishing along the bulrush and in coves with maidencane and lily pads will produce good stringers of bass with occasional trophy bass. Live shiners in the winter and topwater lures or crankbaits in the warm months are good bets for landing bass. 

Worms need to rig weedless because hydrilla throughout the lake is best practice. This lake also produces good stringers of specks in late fall and winter. They are usually picked up by trolling in open water, especially in the lake’s north half. Shoreline fishing for panfish using crickets and beetle spins in spring and summer—fish deeper water for Sunshine bass where the river enters or leaves the lake.

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Lake Poinsett Reviews

Cocoa fishing bass

Lake Poinsett
★★★★★
flew down to cocoa florida and wanted to explore bass fishing. Took my son out on poinsett and we landed some nice bass. Captain Mark was fun to fish with and Bass Online was easy to book. Ill do it again!
- Jack T
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Top Lake Poinsett Fish Species

Largemouth Bass on Orange Lake in Florida

Largemouth Bass

Crappie on Orange Lake in Florida

Black Crappie

Bluegill on Orange Lake in Florida

Bluegill

Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel

Making Travel Plans?

Were you thinking of driving? An incredibly good lake and scenic drive if back roads are taken. From the North out of Gainesville take 441 South. Palaka is just to the East and US-20 can be used. From the South out of Ocala try alternative US-301. Be sure to stop at Island Grove along the way. 

Top Local Lake Poinsett Captains

To see a complete list of great St Johns River fishing guides, please click here!