The Clay County Public Fishing Lakes are attractive and open, easily surveyed with minimal effort. There are resident Canada Geese and Mallards. Wood Ducks breed nearby and are regularly seen here. The lake may be one of the better local sites for spotting wintering waterfowl. The land to the left (east) of the entrance road provides an opportunity to survey old-field habitat. Expect to see Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Bobwhites, and Field Sparrows throughout the year. Red-tailed Hawks hunt here, and this is a good spot to find Great Horned Owls. Look for Wild Turkeys along the edges of the fields, particularly at dawn and dusk.

The lakes attract Barn Swallows and Purple Martins in the warmer months. Song and Chipping sparrows reside here, and there are always herons and egrets present. Look for Ospreys and Bald Eagles, as both species nest nearby. The woods surrounding the lakes feature Brown-headed Nuthatches and Pine Warblers in the many Loblolly Pines. Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warblers, and American Redstarts are found in the trees near the lake from spring through fall.

Note the headquarters/fishing center where the entrance road arrives at the lake. There are restrooms here and small boats are available for rent. A paved road proceeding southwest from the main parking area provides access to numerous picnic tables. The road is bounded by all-age mixed pine/hardwood forest, which should reveal a good variety of songbirds and woodpeckers throughout the year.

Contact Clay County Public Fishing Lakes

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
Clay County Public Fishing Lakes is not employed by or affiliated with the Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.

Listed in:

• Ecotourism