Speckled Perch—Before the cold front speck fishing was excellent for Central Florida area anglers. Extreme cold will slow the bite temporarily, but as the weather eases, the bite will improve and may be the best of the season.

Strike Zone, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Around Polk County

1. Around Lakeland, bass anglers at Tenoroc had the best success this past week on lakes 5, A, B, and Picnic. Most of the bass reported were in the 12- to 16-inch range with no large bass more than 23 inches reported. Anglers reported the best results with plastic worms and jerk baits. Speck fishing was best on lakes 5, B, C, F, and Legs. Panfish action picked up this past week with Lakes 5 and Picnic seeing the best action. The best lakes for catfish were Half-moon, B, and Legs, reports FWC biologist Keaton Fish.

2 At Auburndale, before the front, lots of specks and a few shellcracker were caught in Lake Juliana. “Schooling bass were good there, too, and a few bass were starting to stage for the spawn,” reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990). Lakes Haines, Rochelle, and Echo had a good speck bite using minnows and pink jigs. “Lake Alfred was good for schooling bass and a few fish were seen on the beds before the cold front,” reports Schelfo.

3 At Winter Haven, speck fishing was good at the public dock on Lake Howard. Speck fishing is still good around the mouths of the canals and in the canals themselves. “With this really cold weather, speck fishing will remain good now until April,” reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990). Before the front, Lake Summit had a good bass bite and some fish were sighted on the beds on Saturday, but they’re gone now,” reports Schelfo.

4 At Lake Hamilton, speck fishing with minnows in deep water have been decent on Lake Hamilton and Middle Lake Hamilton. The bite was a little slower on Little Lake Hamilton. Bass fishing has been okay with good numbers of fish in the 2- to 4-pound range being caught. “The big lake has seen a little bit bigger fish. Slow worming with darker color plastics is best for the bass right now,” reports Mickey Ingram at Hoppy’s Marine (863-439-7616).

5 At Lake Marion near Haines City, “We haven’t had too many out fishing. The few that have gone out have been limited to 10 to 5 specks per outing,” reports Eileen O’ Leary at Bannon's Fish Camp (863-422-1223).

6 At Lake Pierce, “Before the real cold weather, the specks were good out in open water and in the lily pads on minnows. But since the real cold weather moved in, nobody has been out fishing,” reports Jennings Resort (863-439-3811).

7 At Lake Hatchineha, the speck fishing had been pretty good for anglers floating minnows under a cork at mid-depth around the Hourglass at night. The bass were starting to move shallow. A few big males were caught with plastic worms around Catfish Creek. “This cold weather is going to put that shallow water bite on hold though,” reports Charlie Wynperle of Kissimmee Bass Series at Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

8 At Lake Toho, speck fishing was good with jigs up until the really cold weather moved in. Bass fishing with plastic worms was starting to pick up in shallow water. A slow presentation was best, reports Charlie Wynperle of Kissimmee Bass Series at Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

9 At Lake Kissimmee, speck fishing was good in Lake Kissimmee and up in Lake Cypress around the mouth of the Toho Canal. “Crappie Masters jigs in white with a red head was really producing this last week,” reports Charlie Wynperle of Kissimmee Bass Series at Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009). Bass were starting to move inside the grass lines. “Topwaters such as a Devil’s Horse early in morning, then switching to a Zoom Ol Monster Worm in Junebug color or a Fluke in watermelon red color with a real slow presentation was best,” reports Wynperle.

10 At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, before the really cold weather moved in, the specks were real good for anglers drifting and trolling in deeper water. Bass were beginning to move into shallow water. “One angler caught three bass between eight and ten pounds fishing with live shiners in the reeds,” reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

11 At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, “Before the cold front, anglers were catching good size specks up to 12 inches on minnows. There were good numbers, but not quite limits,” reports Cindy Ritchison at Bob's Landing (863-638-1912). Bass fishing was pretty good working the middle to outer weed edges during the evening. Bass in the 2- to 3-pound range were pretty consistent for those flipping and working crankbaits, said Ritchison

12 At Frostproof, Lake Reedy had a good speck bite for those jigging in shallow water. Lake Livingston also had a good speck bite up shallow before the really cold weather. Bass fishing with swim baits was good on Lakes Clinch, Reedy, and Livingston. “The bass were starting to move into shallower water and swimbaits like the Gambler EZ Swimmer in Junebug and Copperfield colors were getting a good bite,” reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

13 In the phosphate pits near Mulberry and Bartow, “speck fishing has been really good, but there’s not much to speak of on panfish or bass,” reports David Sir of Lakeland Bassmasters. Specks are biting really good on jigs tipped with minnows in 10-12 feet of water around the lily pads and the grass lines right now. “Bass fishing is real slow. The full moon and cold weather has really shut the bite down,” reports Sir.