Freshwater: Bass fishing has been good for Polk County area anglers

Fish of the Week

Largemouth Bass — Bass fishing is good for Polk County area anglers. No real trophy size fish were reported this week, but the bite is steady.

Strike Zone, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Around Polk County

1 Around Lakeland, at Tenoroc, bass fishing was best on lakes Tern, Waterlou, 2, 4, 5 and A. Lakes Butterfly, Horseshoe, Legs, 3, B and C also had high catch rates. This past week there were 18 large bass over 19 inches reported. Four bass measured over 22 inches, with the largest measuring 23 to 24 inches. The best speck bite was at Lake Cemetery and 4. The panfish bite was best on lakes Cemetery, Picnic, Pine, 5 and B. Catfish were best at Lakes Pine and B, reports FWC biologist Paolo Pecora. At Saddle Creek, the bass bite is picking up early around the islands on topwaters and spinnerbaits. A few bass are biting deep on trick worms worked over the rock piles. Good numbers of bluegill and tilapia are biting from the banks on red worms and wigglers. Decent size catfish are biting chicken liver around the park. Around town, Lake Parker is producing good numbers of bass on chatterbaits and Rat-L-Traps in the hydrilla. Trophy size bass can be had while flipping Senkos and creature baits in the cattails. Lake Gibson is producing schoolie bass around the docks on lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Lake Bonny is producing while flipping in the Kissimmee grass, reports Kyle Stafford at Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).

2 At Auburndale, Lake Ariana is producing bass on Rat-L-Traps around the peppergrass. Juliana is producing bass on plastic worms in the shallow grass and pads, reports Stafford. Lake Ariana is producing bass up to 5 pounds on lipless crankbaits and live shiners, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990). Around Lake Alfred, lakes Haines, Rochelle and Alfred are producing good numbers of bluegill on crickets and red worms. All three lake are also producing plenty of schoolie bass on crankbaits and shiners, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).

3 At Winter Haven, Lake Shipp has a good bass bite along the deeper eel grass edges on chatterbaits and ½ oz. Rat-L-Traps. Offshore grass at Lake Eloise is producing bass on big plastic worms and deep diving crankbaits around 12 to 14 feet deep. Panfish anglers are working the deep pads for bluegill at Lake Lulu, reports Capt. Jackson Williams of Action Bass Guide Service (863-326-3232). Running water around the mouths of the canals is keeping the catfish anglers busy, reports Schelfo.

4 At Lake Hamilton, the bass bite is best early in the morning and late in the afternoon along the outside grass lines. Offshore structure is also a producing a few fish. Plastic worms and swimbaits are producing the best results. If you can locate the shell beds, Rat-L-Traps will also produce some bass. The panfish bite is slow, just a few bluegill have been caught, reports Matt Ingram Hoppy’s Marine (863-439-7616).

5 At Lake Marion near Haines City, the little bit of hydrilla scattered around the lake is producing the best numbers of bass. Moving water around the mouth of Marion Creek is producing a few bass along with bluegill, reports Ingram.

6 At Lake Pierce, a good mix of bluegill and shellcracker, with some near limits, are being caught in the pads off Trout Point. A few bass are biting early along the grass lines on a variety of artificial baits, reports Jennings Resort (863-439-3811).

7 At Lake Hatchineha, the water level on the lake has finally come up. Bass are cruising the outside reed points early. Throw a black color, popping frog for the best action. Then later on, pitch a Senko further in the grass for a strike. Bluegill are being caught in the pads at Marker 10 and the shell bar off Candler Point, reports Charlie Wynperle at Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

8 At Lake Toho, Shingle Creek still has a good amount of running water and is producing good numbers of bass right now. Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps are producing bass out in front of the Lake Toho R.V. Resort. The pad fields near the power lines can produce some big bass on Zoom Flukes. Bluegill are biting around Lanier Point, reports Grady Johnson (407-205-6719).

9 At Lake Kissimmee, bass are “blowing up” shad in the grass, first thing in the morning at the south end of Grassy Island. Throw a white swim jig for the best action. Later in the day, break out the flipping stick and work a Gambler Flappy Daddy craw worm in black and blue color. Bluegill and a mix of shellcracker are being caught in the pads at Lemon Point and Gobbler Ridge, reports Wynperle.

10 At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, bass are biting offshore on the brush piles. Throw a Zoom Ol’ Monster worm in junebug color for the best action. Bluegill are being caught in the canals on crickets, reports Wynperle.

11 At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, panfish anglers getting some shellcracker across from Wirt’s Point. There’s no real size or limits, maybe a dozen fish per outing. Bass anglers are getting good numbers of schoolies along both shores this week. Senkos, swimbaits, frogs, the whole tackle box is producing, but there’s no big fish. A few specks are biting during the day while drifting jigs in deeper water about 25 foot. Tilapia bow anglers are still getting good size fish at night, reports Cindy Ritchison at Bob's Landing (863-638-1912). Bass up to 6 pounds are biting live shiners at the south end. Bluegill are biting red worms on the bottom around Wirt’s Point, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

12 At Frostproof, Lake Clinch has had a good bass bite all week around the brush piles on deep diving crankbaits and Carolina rigged worms. Topwaters and white spinnerbaits are producing early on the edges of the grass. A few specks are biting there in the morning while trolling minnows in deeper water. Bluegill are biting red worms on the bottom. Lake Reedy is producing bass in the pads early on topwaters and spinnerbaits along the edges of the pads. Some bluegill are biting red worms on the bottom. A few specks are biting while drifting minnows 7 to 8 feet deep. Lake Arbuckle is producing bluegill on crickets and red worms around the edges of the pads. Bass are good there on big plastic worms on the edges of the pads, reports Childress.

13 In the phosphate pits near Mulberry, the topwater bite is slow and the bass are staying in the cooler water. Half ounce, lipless crankbaits like a Booyah One Knocker or a Rat-L-Trap in chrome with a black back are producing around the rocky points and sand bars. Junebug red color worms are also producing in water 4 feet deep out to about 12 foot along the hydrilla lines, reports Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Company. (863-937-3292).

Compiled By: Michael Wilson / Ledger Correspondent

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Freshwater: Bass fishing has been good for Polk County area anglers