Lake Carlton Fishing
Orange County, FWC Northeast region.
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Lake Carlton fishing overview
In the FWC Northeast region, Lake Carlton lies within Orange County and Lake County. Lake Carlton has no published FWC size; it maps to roughly 378 acres. The closest town is Mount Dora, about 4 miles from the middle of the lake. Lake Carlton is part of the Harris Chain of Lakes.
FWC names Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, sunshine bass and channel catfish for Lake Carlton. The FWC ramp inventory has no ramp named for Lake Carlton; the closest named launches are listed below.
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Hot spots on Lake Carlton
“The Harris Chain of Lakes in Lake and Orange Counties is comprised of 8 primary lakes (Apopka, Harris, Griffin*, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair, Carlton, and Yale) totaling about 75,000 acres.”
Quoted from the FWC site page: FWC page 1. Checked October 2026.
What is biting on Lake Carlton now
“If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of larger lakes however, give nearby Lake Carlton a try as it produces regularly.”
Quoted from the FWC fishing forecast: FWC page 1. Checked October 2026.
Ramps and launches on Lake Carlton
- Trimble Park Public Ramp2 lane ramp, free, 17 trailer spaces, flush toilet, under a mile northeast
- Lake Jem Park and Boat Ramp1 lane ramp, free, 5 trailer spaces, composting toilet, 2 miles southwest
- Simpson Cove Mount Dora Boat Ramp4 lane ramp, free, 28 trailer spaces, flush toilet, temporarily closed, 3 miles north
- McDonald Canal Accessible Kayak Launchpaddle launch, free, 19 trailer spaces, composting toilet, 4 miles south
- McDonald Canal Boat Ramp1 lane ramp, free, 19 trailer spaces, composting toilet, 4 miles south
- City of Tavares Seaplane Base FA14 lane ramp, flush toilet, 5 miles northwest
Source: FWC Boat Ramp Inventory, October 2026.
Fish FWC lists for Lake Carlton
Rules on Lake Carlton
Lake Carlton follows the statewide freshwater limits below.
| Species | Statewide daily bag | Length rule |
|---|---|---|
| Florida bass | 5 | only one 16 in or longer |
| Black crappie | 25 | none statewide |
| Bluegill and other panfish | 50 combined | none statewide |
FWC freshwater regulations, 2026-27 season, checked October 2026. All Florida limits and license prices.
Lake Carlton side by side with nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres (FWC) | Public ramps | TrophyCatch bass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Carlton | 0 | |||
| Lake Beauclair | 1 mile north | 2 | ||
| Lake Dora | 4 miles northwest | 3 | ||
| Little Lake Harris | 7 miles west | 3 | ||
| Lake Eustis | 7 miles northwest | 4 | ||
| Lake Harris | 9 miles west | 8 |
Next to Lake Carlton
Lakes near Lake Carlton
- Lake Beauclair1 mile north
- Lake Dora4 miles northwest
- Little Lake Harris7 miles west
- Lake Eustis7 miles northwest
- Lake Harris9 miles west
Where to buy bait near Lake Carlton
- Mount Dora Boating Center & Marinamarina, Mount Dora, 3 miles
- Sandy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle, Tavares, 6 miles
- Banana Cove Marinamarina, Tavares, 6 miles
- Fisherman's Cove RV Park & Resortmarina, Tavares, 6 miles
- Flint Creek Outfittersbait and tackle, Tavares, 6 miles
- Lakeside Bait & Tacklebait and tackle, Tavares, 6 miles
Freshwater guides around Lake Carlton
- Ifish Orlando Inc.freshwater guide, Alafaya, (407) 943-7454
- GATORS BIG BASS GUIDE SERVICEfreshwater guide, Orlando, (407) 856-7961
- Bass Challenger Guide Svc Incfreshwater guide, Orlando, (407) 273-8045
- Spectacular View Fishing Chartersfreshwater guide, Alafaya, (407) 489-3399
- iOutdoor Fishing Adventuresfreshwater guide, Orlando, (407) 392-4593
- Orlando Fishing Chartersfreshwater guide, Orlando, (407) 476-7926
Towns close to Lake Carlton
- Mount Dora4 miles
- Tavares6 miles
- Eustis7 miles
County pages for Lake Carlton
- Orange Countyseat: Orlando
- Lake Countyseat: Tavares
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What anglers ask about Lake Carlton
Where is Lake Carlton?
In Orange County and Lake County, about 4 miles from Mount Dora.
What is the acreage of Lake Carlton?
FWC lists no size for Lake Carlton.
How many ramps does Lake Carlton have?
None is named for Lake Carlton; nearby launches are listed above.
What species live in Lake Carlton?
FWC names Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, sunshine bass and channel catfish.
Are there trophy bass in Lake Carlton?
Lake Carlton has no TrophyCatch count on its FWC page.
Are there special fishing rules on Lake Carlton?
No; statewide freshwater limits apply on Lake Carlton.
Can I fish Lake Carlton without a license?
Yes, a freshwater license unless exempt, and residents pay $17 a year.
What does FWC stock in Lake Carlton?
The FWC reports show no stocking at Lake Carlton.
Is Lake Carlton low right now?
No public gauge reports for Lake Carlton.