Fish of the week
Spotted Perch—Cooler weather continues to keep the speck bite good for anglers in the Central Florida area.
strike zone, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Around Polk County
1 Around Lakeland, in Saddle Creek, decent numbers of 3-4lb bass have been caught on live shiners this week and a good number of catfish have been caught on liver. Good-sized walleye, up to 2 pounds, have been caught on minnows in Parker, Crago and Gibson lakes. Bass are also good on Rat-L-Traps shad color, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).
2 In Auburndale, Lake Ariana is producing spots at night on anchored fish under lights in deeper water. Around the Lake Alfred area, Lakes Alfred, Haines and Rochelle are producing specks both day and night while drifting and anchored with fish. There isn’t much to the bass bite. Most anglers are targeting specks, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).
3 In Winter Haven, Cannon Lake is good for specks while drifting during the day. Shipp and May lakes are also producing decent numbers of specks on fish, both day and night. Channel mouths around the southern chain are producing some specks and shellcracker, Schelfo reports.
4 In Lake Hamilton, a decent number of specks are biting on the Hamilton chain in deep fish holes. The best numbers bite at night under the lights. The bass bite is decent, but cooler weather this weekend may slow that bite, reports Hoppy’s of Crossed Industries (863-439-7616).
5 At Lake Marion, near Haines City, the speck bite is still good while drifting and trolling fish and jigs. Topwater lures are producing bass around hydrilla in the early morning. Moving water up Marion Creek is also producing a few bass, Hoppy’s reports.
6 At Pierce Lake, Spots bite primarily in open, deep water, but some fish also bite on pads. Drifting fish are best during the early morning hours, but the afternoons are also producing decent numbers. Not much to report on the bass, most anglers are targeting the spots, reports Jennings Resort (863-439-3811).
7 At Hatchineha Lake, pull as many poles as possible while drifting from the hourglass area to the river mouth for the best bite. Bass move in with the next new moon phase. Smaller-sized bass begin to make beds in shallow water. Bigger female bass are starting to hold shell lines and outside rods, reports Charlie Wynperle of Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
8 And Lake Toho, with the cold weather and additional cold this weekend, the spinning bite has been productive for bass and should remain so for the next week or so. Mats in 3 to 4 feet of water will produce the best bass bite and some good sized fish may be in the mix. The running water is also producing some bass. Bluegill are nipping at offshore structure, reports Grady Johnson (407-205-6719).
9 On Lake Kissimmee, Spot anglers are all over North Cove and fishing the isolated areas of grass mixed with hydrilla. Pink and chartreuse rigs in 4 to 5 feet of water produce the best bite. The bass are really starting to pick up. Try the pads around Brahma Island and fish a Senko and let it sink. Two 9-pound bass were caught Saturday, Wynperle reports.
10 At Walk-in-the-Water Lake, Spots move to the grass and pads at the south end of the end. Anglers should get out early for the best action. Drop a live fish and hold on. Bass roam the shallows preparing for the next generation. Fish any isolated structure with an odd rig worm or other artificial bait, Wynperle advises.
11 At Crooked Lake in Babson Park, three anglers had a total of 75 good sized spots on fish while anchored this week. The best bite is at night while anchored in 25 feet, reports Rick Ritchison at Bob’s Landing (863-638-1912). The US 27 side is producing bass up to 8 pounds on live shiners in 7 to 8 feet of water. Little Crooked are producing spots while drifting in 8 feet of water, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
12 Frost proof, Lake Arbuckle is good for spots around the edges of fish pads. A good number of specks are also biting while trolling long lined rigs. Clinch Lake is good for spot and some limits are being caught there in 18 to 20 feet of water. The bass bite is good there as live shiners move around the grass edges. Carolina rig plastics are also getting a good bite. Reedy Lake is good for bass as they move live shiners along the grass edges. Topwater baits are also producing along grass edges in the early morning, Childress reports.
13 At the phosphate pits near Mulberry, the bass are moving into the cattails and getting ready to bed. Casting and flipping black-and-blue Senkos or Junebug-colored plastic worms is producing the best bite in the early morning, reports Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Co. (863-937-3292).