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Naturally Beautiful

With more than 1,400 lakes in the county, it’s easy to understand why most residents boat, fish, swim or water-ski. Lakes, in fact, make up 17 percent of Lake County’s nearly 722,000 acres.

The Harris Chain of Lakes gives all residents equal access to many fishing opportunities. “Chain” describes how the lakes are all interconnected, meaning a boat in one lake may access any of the others by way of naturally occurring rivers or man-made canals. With so much water, a private fishing hole is never far away.

Lake Griffin, seven miles long by 2-1/2 miles wide, is a major link in the Leesburg-to-Atlantic Ocean chain. Extensive management programs are attempting to restore the lake. Average depths are 7.74 feet. Bass fishing is best in canals.

In winter, expect speck; in summer, panfish. There are camps that serve the west, south and east shores; most have ramps. Lake Griffin State Park (one mile north of Leesburg on Highway 27-441 north) has a ramp, picnic areas and campsites. For more information, call (352) 360-6760.

Lake Harris is the largest and, arguably, prettiest lake in the chain. The depth is 12.01 feet; the bottom is sandy with a few mucky areas. The lake’s shoreline is filled with native aquatic grasses. Bass and pan fishing are both good. Venetian Gardens in Leesburg supports many bass that can be bank-fished. Specks bed in padded covers in January through March. Panfish collect in pads and on gravel bars during spring and summer. There are several ramps in the area.

Little Lake Harris covers about five-square miles, and has a varied bottom that includes some grassy areas. The west side is sandier with shoreline grass beds. Howey-in-the-Hills and Astatula have ramp access. Little Lake Harris is good for one- to three-pound bass year-round, but has seen bass up to 13.5 pounds, with 75 percent caught using artificial worms. A half-mile bridge that covers the center of the lake is a virtual mecca in winter and spring for night fishing, lantern-wielding speck anglers, spring to summer bass bridge-trollers and year-round panfish anglers. Hickory Point offers a day-use marina (no overnight mooring) and fishing piers.

The mooring facility accommodates boats up to 10 by 30 feet. The park features a two-story, screened pavilion that accommodates groups from 25 to 275 people. All or part of the pavilion may be reserved up to a year in advance for special events. For more information, please call the Lake County Water Authority at (352) 343-3777.

Haines Creek flows northwest from Lake Eustis to Lake Griffin, a distance of four miles. Once crooked, the creek has been channeled. A lock and spillway at Lisbon on Route 44 oxygenates the water, attracting bass all year-round, speck in winter, and panfish and catfish in the summer. There is also good bass fishing near lily pad oxbows. Access is best near Lisbon.

Lake Eustis is another major lake leading to the Atlantic, covering nearly 19 square miles and is largely hard-bottomed. The Dead River and Dora Canal flow into the south end, and Haines Creek exists to the west. The lake has a shoreline filled with native aquatic grasses. The lake averages between 11-15 feet in depth. Bass fishing, especially trolling, is good along the east shore between Eustis and Tavares. Rock areas along Lake Shore Drive produce panfish in spring and summer. Both Eustis and Tavares have boat ramps.

Lake Dora covers almost 15 square miles. Accessible from Mount Dora or Tavares, the depth ranges between 11 and 15 feet. From April through July, anglers catch bass with top water lures, plastic worms and shiners (the bait of choice). Trolling is excellent. The lake has cattail shorelines with a variance of cypress covers and lily pads to the north.

Dora Canal is a mile-long waterway that connects Lakes Dora and Eustis at the Tavares city limits. Noted for its scenic beauty (its nickname is “the most beautiful half-mile of water in the world”), it produces panfish in the spring.

Lake Yale, without a city on its shoreline, is a favorite of local fishermen. The average depth is between 16 and 19 feet. Good, year-round bass fishing with plastic worms; speck and panfish catches are excellent; and bank fishing at the park areas produces excellent results.

Lake County fishing licenses cost $1 more than in other Florida counties, with the extra revenue dedicated toward upkeep of the county’s many lakes. Licenses are good for one year, and required for those fishermen between the ages of 16 and 65.

For true outdoor lovers, the cost of a sportsman’s license covers virtually all Lake County sports (hunting, fishing, archery, muzzle loading and state waterfowl) for a single price. Duck hunting requires state and federal licenses.

Applications for five-year and lifetime licenses must be submitted at the County Tax Collector’s Office in Tavares, (352) 343-9602. Other licenses are available at the Tax Collector’s Office, in addition to authorized retailers (such as Wal-Mart and Kmart) for an additional fee of 50 cents. www.laketax.com

For nature lovers, the Ocala National Forest is only 20 minutes north of Leesburg. Part of what is known as the “real Florida,” the forest attracts over two million visitors per year and covers more than 450,000 acres. Established in 1908, it is the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi, the southernmost forest in the nation and home to hundreds of varieties of birds and animals.

The Ocala National Forest Interpretive Association conducts bus tours in the winter. The forest also has a number of picnic areas and hiking trails, as well as camping, swimming, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, a visitor center and bookstore.

For more information, contact the Forest Pittman Visitor Center, 45621 State Road 19, Altoona, FL 32702, (352) 669-7495.

In Leesburg proper, Venetian Gardens is one of Central Florida’s most aesthetic family-oriented parks. Located on the shores of Lake Harris, this 100-acre public park features boat ramps, a beach, baseball fields, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, a pool open in summer and a cultural center. The name comes from Venice, Italy in recognition of the park’s canals and bridges.

In addition to Venetian Gardens, Leesburg has nine other city parks, one within walking distance of almost every resident. Most parks have benches and a children’s playground. A recent addition is the community-funded and built “kids korner.” This is the newest playground located on Lake Shore Drive. Funds for the playground were raised by the community, and it was built by the community over a five-day period. Area dignitaries and local residents worked three shifts to accomplish this feat in five days. Any of these parks and playgrounds would be a perfect place to spend a quiet minute relaxing in the shade. In the entire Leesburg area, there are more than 22 parks.

Other outdoor activities include tennis and shuffleboard. Indoor activities include bowling and skating. For golf enthusiasts, a number of local courses challenge both the novice and the expert. The nearby Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort, for example, features championship golfing on two semi-private courses.

Silver Lake Country Club in Leesburg is a pristine, semi-private and member-owned club with full facilities. The club’s beautiful setting on the shore of Silver Lake offers one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the area. Established in 1921, Silver Lake hosts Florida’s oldest invitational tournament. Elevation changes and natural wetlands abound here, making it a unique golfing experience. Call (352) 787-4035 for membership information or guest playing opportunities.