Speckled Perch: Speck fishing remains solid for Central Florida area anglers. The fish are beginning to move from deep, open water into shallower water near vegetation.
Strike Zone: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Around Polk County
1 Around Lakeland, bass have been good in deeper water around Saddle Creek Park. Two large bass were reported on dark colored worms this past week. Specks have been decent on minnows and some bluegills were caught on red worms. The speck bite is good at Lake Hollingsworth both out in open water. At Tenoroc, speck fising has been good on minnows and jigs in in Lakes B and 5, reports Evan Wieber at Phillips Bait and Tackle. (863-666-2248).
2 At Auburndale, speck fishing has slowed some in Lake Ariana, but Lake Juliana has picked up. “The fish have moved shallow and minnows are best,” reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990). Around Lake Alfred, Lakes Haines and Rochelle are best for both specks and bass.
3 At Winter Haven, speck fishing is best on Lakes Howard and Shipp. The canals and areas around the canal mouths are still the best area to target. Bass fishing is good on lipless crank baits. “Some of the bass are starting to bed. Creature baits such as a Zoom Brush Hog are good for these fish,” reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).
4 At Lake Hamilton, a good number of specks were caught on minnows in deeper water this past weekend in Lake Hamilton and Middle Lake Hamilton. A few limits were reported. “Bass fishing has been a little quiet, but that bite should pick after the next front,” reports Mickey Ingram at Hoppy’s Marine (863-439-7616).
5 At Lake Marion near Haines City, the speck bite continues to be pretty good for anglers drifting with minnows. The bass bite has been good while flipping in the lily pads and grass lines around the north edge of the lake. Dark colored creature baits are best. “Male bass are moving up on the beds, but the females not just yet,” reports Eileen O’ Leary at Bannon's Fish Camp (863-422-1223).
6 At Lake Pierce, anglers have been catching some nice size specks and around 15-20 fish per outing. Most of the specks are taking minnows around the lily pads. Bass fishing has been slow, reports Jennings Resort (863-439-3811).
7 At Lake Hatchineha, there’s a good bite for specks in open water while drifting with minnows around the Hourglass area. But, a few fish are being caught in the lily pads on jigs. A couple of 10-pound bass were caught this week on live shiners. The outside edges of hydrilla in the Gator Cove area has the best bite, reports Leo Cosce at Camp Lester (863-696-1123).
8 At Lake Toho, small bass are starting to move into the shallows and the bite has been pretty good. A 23-pound total weight took first place during a tournament this past weekend. Bank anglers are catching bluegill and shellcracker on nightcrawlers. Specks have been kind of slow. A better bite is being reported in East Lake Toho and the Alligator Chain, reports Mark Detweiler at Big Toho Marina (407-846-2124).
9 At Lake Kissimmee, bass fishing has been pretty good around Rabbit Island and around the Eagles Nest. North Cove also has a good bite on creature baits and topwaters. Specks are starting to move inside and jig fishing is picking up over minnows. Jigs with a red head, chartreuse body with a white tail are best, reports Leo Cosce at Camp Lester (863-696-1123).
10 At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, speck fishing is good while drifting or trolling with minnows in water six to eight feet deep. A few bass are being caught up in the reeds. Live shiners and swim baits in black and blue color are producing best, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
11 At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, speck fishing is good in deep water near vegetation, but the fish are starting to move shallow. Bass fishing is good on live shiners along the grass patches and humps in the lake. One angler from Tennessee caught 14 fish on Monday with the largest fish weighing seven and half pounds, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
12 At Frostproof, speck fishing has been good at Lake Reedy while drifting with minnows in four to six feet of water. Anglers are catching specks from the docks on the lake as well. Bass fishing is good on live shiners while drifting near the grass. Black and blue color swim baits also getting the bite, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
13 In the phosphate pits near Mulberry and Bartow, lots of small bass in the two to three pound range are being caught on plastic worms in red shad color. The bass are holding in the bulrushes. The speck bite has picked up, reports David Andress of Mulberry Bait Company (863-943-4009).