Freshwater fishing in Polk: Specks and some bass are moving shallower as temperatures cool
1. In Lakeland, on Lake Parker bass are still being caught near the grass using dark-colored rubber worms and swim jigs. Some specks are being caught near the canal. On Lake Bonnie, specks are being landed on minnows and jigs, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).
2. In Auburndale and Lake Alfred, speck action has been good on Lake Ariana in the early evening. On Lake Juliana, quite a few specks are being caught on minnows and chartreuse-colored jigs. Four- to 5-pound bass are being reported on Juliana as well. In Lake Alfred, lakes Alfred, Haines and Rochelle have been fantastic for specks day or night on minnows and jigs, with bass fishing improving with 4- to 5-pound catches being reported, according to Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).
3. In Winter Haven, on the south chain, the canals have been great for specks as they find the water appealing. Lakes Cannon, Howard and Shipp are also reporting a lots of specks, according to Schelfo. For bass, Capt. Bill Goudy says to slow down a little with the cooler temperatures and to look for bass going shallow. Try flipping rubber worms or beaver-style baits in 2 feet of water or less around hard cover. Weightless flukes are also good in between the reeds. Shiners are still good. If they’re not biting under a cork, then try free lining. For a guided fishing trip with Capt. Goudy call Bass Online (888-629-2277).
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4. On Lake Hamilton, on the big lake, dark-colored trick worms and Senkos are working for bass. Try also dragging light weights in and around the lily pads and anything that holds heat. Crickets are working in and around lily pads for shellcrackers in shallow water. For specks, try trolling minnows around the island. Shellcracker on crickets and worms on the edge and in the lily pads in shallow water have been the only action reported out of the middle lake. On the little lake, specks have been caught trolling minnows off the brush piles. Rat-L-Traps in shad colors an half-ounce spinner baits are good for bass, reports Kyle Brewer at Crossed Industries (863-439-7616).
What's Biting: Speckled perch
With the temperature continuing to stay cool the perch are moving to shallower waters to keep warm. Try the mouths of the canals and shallow water areas like lily pads, brush piles and grass lines.
Strike zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
5. On Lake Marion near Haines City, bass are being caught using chartreuse square-bill crank baits on the edge of the grass along with black-and-blue Senkos. Spinner baits are being used to some effect. Try trolling minnows along the edge of the grass lines for specks. Shellcrackers can be had on the north side using crickets near the lily pads, reported Brewer.
6. On Lake Pierce, specks are still biting drifting minnows in open water, some specks are being caught using jigs in the lily pads. The bass bite has been good in the offshore brush piles using Carolina-rig worms, also in the pepper grass using chatter baits, according to Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
7. On Lake Hatchineha, bass fishing has been very good around Gator Cove. Try throwing a Devil Horse in the hydrilla in the morning and afternoon. Speck fishing has been very good on trolling a road runner and jigging the lily pads and grass, according to Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).
8. On Lake Toho, the weather has made it tough fishing for bass, but your best bet is to try shiners on the outside edge of the grass. The fish are very picky, reports Capt. John Leech at Bass Online (888-629-2277).
9. On Lake Kissimmee, Grape Hammock and Colman Landing have been good for bass. Your best bet is to try flipping mats. Speck fishing has also been good on the outside grass lines in the morning with minnows and jigging in the grass later in the day, according to Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
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10. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, the bass bite has been very slow, but if you’re persistent, a few fish have been caught in the canals in Indian Lake Estates throwing a frog. Your best bet is for specks, which have been on fire at night drifting minnows, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
11. On Crooked Lake, trolling minnows for specks has been the way to go. Limits are being caught at night. The bass bite has been so-so drifting shiners in the open water. The topwater bite has been good early in the morning around the grass, says Childress.
12. In Frostproof, on Lake Clinch the speck bite has been good on minnows in deeper water and over the top of brush piles as well. The bass bite has been good around the brush piles on Carolina rigs, and the west side of the lake is good drifting live bait along the edge of the grass. On Lake Arbuckle, the speck bite has been good longlining jigs, and you can also try drifting minnows. A bass tournament over the weekend produced a 6-½ pounder. Try the moving water coming in off Reedy Creek for the best chances at a bass, reports Childress.
13. At Mulberry, right now the bass are being caught shallow, flipping in 3 feet of water or less using Junebug or black-and-blue Senkos. The cooler weather is also pushing the specks into the shallow water, so try using jigs and minnows with a bobber around the edges of the hydrilla and cattails. reports Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Company (863-937-3292).
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Freshwater in Polk: As temperatures cool, try going shallower
