Lake Panasoffkee Fishing
Sumter County, FWC Northeast region, 4,460 acres.
- 5ramps
- 179TrophyCatch bass
- 4,460acres
Pick for florida bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes: Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
Lake Panasoffkee for anglers
FWC lists Lake Panasoffkee under its Northeast fishing sites, in Sumter County. FWC gives its size as 4,460 acres. The closest town is Coleman, about 3 miles from the middle of the lake. FWC runs Lake Panasoffkee as a fish management area (open to fishing).
Anglers have documented 179 Florida bass from Lake Panasoffkee with TrophyCatch, each 8 pounds or more and released. FWC lists Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and black crappie as the main species in Lake Panasoffkee. The FWC ramp inventory has 5 public ramps on Lake Panasoffkee, 2 of them free.
For the florida bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 What FWC says about Lake Panasoffkee
Fishing spots on Lake Panasoffkee, per FWC
“This is a 4,460-acre Fish Management Area located by the town of Lake Panasoffkee.”
“Panasoffkee is unusual; a true spring-fed lake, water depths seldom exceed four feet.”
“I-75 runs along the eastern edge and C.R. 470 along the southern and western shore.”
“A public ramp is available on the Outlet River, west of the lake on C.R. 470.”
Quoted from the FWC site page: FWC page 1. Checked October 2026.
FWC report for Lake Panasoffkee
“Good places to fish are still “Big Jones” creek located at the northern end of the lake, and the southern end of lake at “Turtle “creek.”
“They are always willing to point you in the right direction.”
“Also, Largemouth Bass fishing should start to get going before the cold weather gets here.”
“Texas rigged worms or swimming shad type baits would work well.”
Quoted from the FWC fishing forecast: FWC page 1. Checked October 2026.
Getting on Lake Panasoffkee
- Coleman Landing Public Boat Ramp (Lake Panasoffkee)1 lane ramp, free, 10 trailer spaces, portable toilet
- Pana Vista Lodge1 lane ramp, fee, 3 trailer spaces, flush toilet
- Shady Brook Greenway Park1 lane ramp, free, 12 trailer spaces, flush toilet
- Tracy's Point Fishing Lodge2 lane ramp, fee, 12 trailer spaces, flush toilet
- Turtleback RV Resort1 lane ramp, fee, 2 trailer spaces, flush toilet
Source: FWC Boat Ramp Inventory, October 2026.
Species in Lake Panasoffkee
TrophyCatch bass from Lake Panasoffkee
TrophyCatch counts as shown on the FWC page (Lake Panasoffkee). Only bass 8 pounds and up, released alive, are counted.
Bag limits at Lake Panasoffkee
Extra FWC rules for Lake Panasoffkee, Sumter County:
- Open to fishing
- Trotlines may be used
- No bag limit for channel catfish
| 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 Panasoffkee on the FWC top spots list
Black-Bass, 2026 list
“Good places to fish are still “Big Jones” creek located at the northern end of the lake, and the southern end of lake at “Turtle “creek. Big Bass and big Spotted Sunfish can be found in both creeks.”
Bream, 2026 list
“Good places to fish are still “Big Jones” creek located at the northern end of the lake, and the southern end of lake at “Turtle “creek. Big Bass and big Spotted Sunfish can be found in both creeks.”
Crappie, 2026 list
“Good places to fish are still “Big Jones” creek located at the northern end of the lake, and the southern end of lake at “Turtle “creek. Big Bass and big Spotted Sunfish can be found in both creeks.”
From FWC’s yearly top freshwater fishing spots lists.
Lake Panasoffkee and the lakes around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres (FWC) | Public ramps | TrophyCatch bass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Panasoffkee | 4,460 | 5 | 179 | |
| Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes | 13 miles west | 19,111 | 6 | |
| Lake Hiawatha | 16 miles northeast | 69 | 0 | |
| Lake Griffin | 18 miles east | 16,505 | 9 | |
| Lake Weir | 18 miles northeast | 5,685 | 3 | 103 |
| Lake Harris | 19 miles east | 8 |
Close to Lake Panasoffkee
Lakes within a short drive of Lake Panasoffkee
- Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes13 miles west
- Lake Hiawatha16 miles northeast
- Lake Griffin18 miles east
- Lake Weir18 miles northeast
- Lake Harris19 miles east
Bait and tackle near Lake Panasoffkee
- Tracy's Point Fishing Lodgebait and tackle, Lake Panasoffkee, under a mile
- Dynamic Flow Bait Saverbait and tackle, Oxford, 9 miles
- Anglers Tackle Shackbait and tackle, Bushnell, 10 miles
- Fish Ops Bait & Tacklebait and tackle, Citrus, 11 miles
- Floral City Bait & Tackle Outfittersbait and tackle, Floral City, 11 miles
- Codella's Heritage Sporting Collectiblesbait and tackle, Inverness, 12 miles
Bass guides around Lake Panasoffkee
- Capt Tom's Custom Chartersfreshwater guide, Bushnell, (352) 236-0872
Where to base a trip to Lake Panasoffkee
- Lake Panasoffkee1 mile
- Bushnell8 miles
- The Villages10 miles
Counties touching Lake Panasoffkee
- Sumter Countyseat: Bushnell
Reels and a lip grip from Piscifun
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Questions about fishing Lake Panasoffkee
Where is Lake Panasoffkee?
In Sumter County, about 3 miles from Coleman.
What is the acreage of Lake Panasoffkee?
4,460 acres, per FWC.
How many ramps does Lake Panasoffkee have?
Yes, 5 ramps in the FWC inventory.
What species live in Lake Panasoffkee?
FWC lists Florida bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and black crappie.
Are there trophy bass in Lake Panasoffkee?
TrophyCatch has 179 bass from Lake Panasoffkee, each 8 pounds or more.
Are there special fishing rules on Lake Panasoffkee?
Yes. Open to fishing
Can I fish Lake Panasoffkee without a license?
Yes, a freshwater license unless exempt, and residents pay $17 a year.
What does FWC stock in Lake Panasoffkee?
No FWC stockings are listed for Lake Panasoffkee in 2021-22 to 2023-24.
Is Lake Panasoffkee low right now?
Lake Panasoffkee has no public real-time gauge.