Freshwater fishing: Size might be down a bit, but bass are still smashing lines in Polk
1. In Lakeland, bluegill and shellcracker have been hot at Saddle Creek, Lake Parker, Picnic Lake and Cemetary Lake with grass shrimp, crickets and worms being used effectively. Smaller, but numerous bass, were caught out of Saddle Creek using live shiners and dark-colored worms. Bladed jigs are also a popular go-to for bass, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).
2. In Auburndale and Lake Alfred, on Lake Juliana bowfin and gar have been hitting. On lakes Haines and Rochelle, the bluegill bite has been hot, and bass are ranging in the 4- to 5-pound range with many being caught. Lake Rochelle is producing a lot of shellcracker, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).
3. In Winter Haven, in lakes Eloise and Winterset, bass in the 4- to 5-pound range have been popping up. Shellcracker and bluegill have been good in the canals. Lake Cannon is yielding a lot of catfish and bass off the docks, says Schelfo. Capt. Bill Goudy says bass are being caught early on topwater chugbug, then on jerkbaits and drop shot using a minnow-style bait. Look for bass on the outside edge of submerged grass. For a guided fishing trip with Capt. Goudy, call Bass Online (888-629-2277).
4. In Lake Hamilton, dark-colored speed worms have been working for bass on the big lake. Anglers have also had success using spinnerbaits in light colors. Bluegill were hitting crickets or worms in 3 feet of water or less. The middle lake is seeing specks hitting trolled minnows or jigs in about 9 feet of water. The little lake is seeing a good bass and speck bite. For bass, use dark-colored speed worms or green pumpkin and black and blue chatterbait. Senkos on 3/8-ounce flipping weights in-and-around the grass lines have worked as well. For specks, go with chartreuse or white jigs or minnows trolling around the brush piles, reports local guide Kyle Brewer. Contact Kyle at fishingbud55@gmail.com.
5. On Lake Marion near Haines City, bass are being caught on black-and-blue swim jigs and dark-colored speed worms in the grass and lily pads. Flipping black-and-blue creature baits in about 4 feet of water around the grass lines has been working as well. Stick to the grass and pads for bluegill, with crickets and worms doing the trick, reported Brewer.
6. On Lake Pierce, specks are still active with a report of more than 20 being caught drifting minnows in open water (8 feet). Bluegill and shellcracker can be had in the pads on red worms and grass shrimp. Bass remain in the heavy grass, try topwater baits, chatterbaits and plastic worms, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
What's Biting: Bass
While the sizes of caught fish are trending downward, the number of fish being landed is not. It’s not uncommon to catch numerous 4- to 5-pound bass on any number of dark-colored baits or live shiners.
Strike zones: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13
7. On Lake Hatchineha, the bass bite has been good on a 3/8-ounce Medlock jig throwing in the pads and throwing a swim jig into the thin reed patches. Shellcracker and bluegill are around the port and are hitting red worms and crickets, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).
8. On Lake Toho, rising water temps are causing bass fishing to heat up. With water levels going down, the fish are moving out deeper as bedding fish are being spotted both shallow and deep. Swim jigs and speedworms are the preferred lures, as well as some topwater baits. Shiners are a good go-to bait as usual. The speck bite has been slow, but you can look for them in deeper water around isolated grass patches, according to Mike Groshon from Bass Online (888-629-2277) for updates.
9. On Lake Kissimmee, the bass bite has been good flipping outside the grasslines using a Medlock jig. Shellcracker and bluegill can be found around Bird and Rabbit islands using the conventional bait of crickets or red worms, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
10. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, the bass bite has been slow, but a few have been found in the reeds flipping a black-and-blue Senko. Look for shellcracker in the offshore reed patches, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
11. On Crooked Lake, on the big lake, specks are still in the deeper water. Shellcracker and bluegill continue to hit red worms fished on the bottom in 8 to 10 feet of water. Bass bite is still good, try live shiners or crankbaits and spinnerbaits around the grass or submerged vegetation. At the mouth of Big and Little Crooked, try freelining live shiners for bass, says Childress.
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12. In Frostproof, on Lake Clinch the bluegill and shellcracker are hot, stick with red worms fished on the bottom in about 10 to 12 feet of water. Bass continue to be good with the west side being the best. Try live shiners, crankbaits and chatterbaits along the edge of the grass. On Lake Reedy, bluegill have been good on crickets or red worms in the southwest part of the lake. The bass bite has been strong on live shiners on the south side. On Lake Arbuckle, bluegill have been biting crickets and worms around the lily pads, reports Childress.
13. In Mulberry, there’s a lot of numbers as bass size has dropped off. Look for them in the hydrilla using black-and-blue Senkos and ribbon tail junebug worms. Jerkbaits are also working, just keep moving and finding the pockets in the hydrilla, reports Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Company (863-937-3292).
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Freshwater: Size might be down, but bass are smashing lines in Polk
