Freshwater fishing: Bass, shellcracker, bluegill - they all seem to be on fire in Polk

1. In Lakeland, crickets and grass shrimp are being sold like crazy as shellcracker have been hot. On Saddle Creek, look for catfish using chicken liver and cut bait. Bass have been hitting on darker colored worms, like a 10-inch junebug ribbon tail, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).

2. In Auburndale and Lake Alfred, no reports were made from Auburndale, but in Lake Alfred, the fishing has been fantastic. Lakes Alfred, Rochelle and Haines have all seen an incredible bass bite over the past week. Nothing overly large, but many 7- and 8-pound fish were reported. Shellcrackers on Lake Rochelle have been great as well, with the bluegill bite being top notch on lakes Alfred and Haines, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).

3. At Winter Haven, the canals remain hot for bluegill, shellcracker, bass and specks. If you’re going after specks, do so soon because with the hotter weather coming the speck bite will turn off, says Schelfo. Capt. Bill Goudy says that for bass your best bet is to stick with last week’s plan of dropshotting trick worms or freelining shiners on the outside edge of the submerged grass. Lipless crankbaits are also continuing to work well. For a guided fishing trip with Capt. Goudy, call Bass Online (888-629-2277).

4. On Lake Hamilton, on the big lake, for bass try either dark-colored worms in and around pepper grass and flipping reeds or chartreuse or white square bill crank bait on the edge of the grass. For bluegill, use crickets in and around pads and cat tails anywhere in 3 feet of water less. For specks, trolling with a white mixed with chartreuse 1/16-ounce jig will get bit in 5 to 9 feet of water off the bank. On the middle lake, bass are chewing in the pads flipping a black and blue creature bait on 3/8- or ½-ounce flipping weight. On the little lake, shellcracker and bluegill are spawning in and around cattails, especially on the northwest bank. Bass and specks are around the brush piles offshore and will eat minnows on bobbers floating over the structure, reports local guide Kyle Brewer. Contact Kyle at fishingbud55@gmail.com.

5. On Lake Marion near Haines City, the bass are biting in the Kissimmee grass and on hard spots off the bank with either bright or chartreuse crankbaits, as well as flipping dark color worms or creature baits with 3/8- or ½-ounce flipping weights. Shellcracker and bluegill are spawning in the Kissimmee grass and pads (just listen for the popping noise) and start dipping crickets and worms. Speck bite has been random off the bank and they aren’t sticking to much. You can catch a few or even a limit trolling chartreuse or white jigs, reported Brewer.

6. On Lake Pierce, specks are still being caught on minnows on the south end, if you can find a spot out of the wind. Bluegill and shellcracker are biting out of the pads on worms, crickets and grass shrimp with numbers and sizes in the good range. Bass can be had flipping the heavy grass using creature baits or topwater baits, with 6-pounders being reported, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

What's Biting: Bass

As we begin the transition out of speck season, bass are continuing to be pulled up in good numbers and sizes. Lipless crankbaits and senkos seem to be the way to go if you’re looking for a lunker.

Strike zones: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

7. On Lake Hatchineha, bass fishing has been a little slow, but using a black-and-blue swim jig in the reeds and pads has produced some bites. Bluegill and shellcracker are being caught in droves in the reed clumps in front of the port, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

8. On Lake Toho, the bass bite has been plentiful despite the wind. Any number of baits are working, but topwater, flukes and senkos are your best bet. Try casting those into isolated grass mats in 6 to 7 feet of water. The speck bite has evaporated, according to Mike Groshon from Bass Online (888-629-2277) for updates.

9. On Lake Kissimmee, for bass try throwing a swim jig in the sparse Kissimmee grass in the morning, and then switch to flipping a plastic worm around the grass in the afternoon. Stick to Bird and Rabbit islands for bluegill and shellcracker, which are hitting crickets and worms, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.

10. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, the canals have been very good for bass using a Texas rig and a popping frog. Also try clipping creature baits in the mixed lily pads and reeds. Bluegill and shellcracker can be caught around the reeds using red worms and crickets, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.

11. On Crooked Lake, on Big Crooked Lake, the wind made it tough the past week, but specks can be had along the edge of the grass near Wart’s Point on minnows. You can also try Grassy Island as the specks are waiting to spawn. Bluegill and shellcracker are hitting red worms fished on the bottom in the same area as the specks. Bass fishing on the south end has been good around the mouth of Big and Little Crooked. Try artificial baits like plastic worms or freelining shiners. On Little Crooked, the specks are still in open water, stick to drifting minnows if you’re going for them, says Childress.

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12. In Frostproof, on Lake Clinch, bluegill and shellcracker can be found in 10 to 12 feet of water, use red worms on the bottom. Bass bite has been good on the southwest side drifting shiners down the edge of the grass or using topwater bait early in the morning. On Lake Reedy, specks are still hitting on the south side drifting minnows in about 8 feet of water. Bluegill and shellcracker are being reported all over the lake in about 6 feet of water. On Lake Arbuckle, specks are still bedding in the lily pads. Find the Cypress trees on the south side of the lake and you’ll find plenty of bluegill. Bass can be found around the submerged trees and grasslines, try using artificial bait like a black-and-blue 10-inch worm, reports Childress.

13. In Mulberry, most of the fish have moved offshore, use lipless crankbaits in chrome blue back or shad color. Chatterbaits are also doing really well using black-and-blue and junebug colored worms, reports Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Company (863-937-3292).

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Freshwater: The fishing is outstanding all around Polk right now