Freshwater fishing: Bass are still hot at several Polk County lakes. Bluegill, too
1. In Lakeland, the bluegill bite has been good at Lake Parker, Lake Crago, Saddle Creek and Tenoroc. Catfish have also been hitting chicken livers and cut bait at Saddle Creek, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).
2. In Auburndale and Lake Alfred, on Lake Juliana, bass in the 3- to 4-pound range were reported. In Lake Alfred, on lakes Rochelle and Haines, bluegill and shellcracker bite has been on fire with limits being reported. A few bass have been caught as well. For more information, contact Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).
3. In Winter Haven, on Lake Blue, catfish, bass and bluegill all have an active bite. The rest of the chain has been slow thanks to the holiday and heat, says Schelfo. Capt. Bill Goudy says he's been catching bass on brush piles and the outside edges of the submerged grass, using Carolina-rigged trick worms and drop shot rubber worms. Also, shiners are a great way to put some bass in the boat. For a guided fishing trip with Capt. Goudy, call Bass Online (888-629-2277).
4. In Lake Hamilton: On the Big lake, for bass, use a 3/8-ounce black-and-blue swim jig with creature style grub, as well as a dark-colored magnum speed worm on 3/16-ounce weight in and around the buggy whips. Bluegill are being caught everywhere in 4 feet of water or less on crickets and worms in pads and buggy whips. Specks are slow except at night with lights trolling with minnows. On the middle lake, bass are being caught flipping and dragging senkos near the south side either on pads or hard bottom. Bluegill are being caught on crickets and worms on the edge of vegetation. On the little lake, bass are being caught on gold and chrome traps casting along the edge of grass lines either Kissimmee grass or cat tails. Specks are caught at night with lights on minnows, reports local guide Kyle Brewer. Contact Kyle at fishingbud55@gmail.com.
5. On Lake Marion near Haines City, bass are being caught on crankbaits and spinnerbaits cast along the edge of grass lines in the morning, and then slowly getting up shallow in the grass with tree lines for shade with a black-and-blue swim jig and swimbaits, as well as a frog. Bluegill are being caught on crickets in and around Kissimmee grass as they spawn. You can limit out on specks using minnows, but the bite has been erratic, reported Brewer.
6. On Lake Pierce, specks are still biting in open water trolling minnows. Bluegill and shellcracker are in the pads. Use worms, crickets or grass shrimp. Bass are hitting topwater frogs early in the morning near the heavy grass. Later in the day, switch to the brush piles in deeper water with jerkbait, Carolina rig or crankbait, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
What's Biting: Bass
Topwater bait early in the morning has worked if you want to beat the heat. If you can stand to be out on the water in the afternoon, then Carolina-rigged worms and crankbaits near submerged grass should yield some bass.
Strike zones: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13
7. On Lake Hatchineha, bass fishing has slowed down, but a few are being caught in Gator Cove on topwater bait in the morning and a Zoom speed worm during the afternoon around the hydrilla. They have also been catching a good amount of specks drifting minnows at night in 7 to 9 feet of water, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).
8. On Lake Toho, the water temp hit 95 this week. It has definitely slowed the bite down. Dragging senkos in deeper water has provided some bites working them real slow. Topwater has produced a few bites in the early morning as well. Shiners are still producing bites as well. The speck bite is less than desirable at this time says Mike Groshon from Bass Online (888-629-2277).
Bay scallop season starts soonAnd the FWC is asking folks to throw back the little ones
9. On Lake Kissimmee, bass fishing has been good flipping inside pads on Bird and Rabbit Island on a black-and-blue tipped senko and throwing a Z-man Jackhammer around the same area. Bluegill and shellcracker have been biting very good on red worms in North Cove and 27 Palms, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
10. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, bass fishing has been very good flipping the outside reeds with a ¾-ounce Medlock jig and throwing a topwater bait. Bluegill and shellcracker have been biting great around Indian Lake Estates on red worms, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
11. On Crooked Lake, Wirt’s Point has been active for specks day or night. Bluegill and shellcracker can be had near the same area using live worms fished on the bottom. A couple of evening tournaments produced some good-sized bass, including a 6-pounder near the brush piles on a Carolina rig. Live shiners around the Kissimmee grass have been productive. Bass are still active in the connecting canal between Big and Little Crooked freelining live shiners, says Childress.
Size isn't everything:Florida's deer hunting is superb, so forget the naysayers | Nance
12. In Frostproof, on Lake Clinch, bluegill and shellcracker have been the best bet around the southwest side of the lake. The bass bite has been best on the west side along the Kissimmee grass using topwater bait early, then spinnerbait and crankbait later in the day. Brush piles are yielding bass on Carolina rigs in the afternoon. On Lake Reedy, the bluegill bite has been good on red worms and crickets around the pads on the southwest side. Bass are biting on the south side along the edge of the grass on spinnerbait and topwater bait. Carolina rigs and jerkbait will do the trick on the brush piles as the day grows long. On Lake Arbuckle, bluegill and shellcracker are in the pads. Once some moving water starts flowing, the bite will switch to the mouths of the creeks, reports Childress.
13. In Mulberry, use topwater baits like Whopper Plopper or Devil’s Horse for bass early in the morning around the islands. Move offshore and look for the holes in the hydrilla and island points later in the day using a junebug-colored worm or a black-and-blue senko fished slow. There’s a lot of shad in the pits now, and as summer progresses, they should start schooling, especially around full moon phases. Bluegill and shellcracker bite has been active on worms, says Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Company (863-937-3292).