Specks abundant at many spots around Polk County

Fish of the Week

Speckled Perch—Good numbers and good size specks are biting in many locations around the Polk County area.

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

Around Polk County

1 Around Lakeland, at Tenoroc, bass fishing was best on lakes Derby, Fish Hook, Horseshoe, Hydrilla, Waterlou, Wetland, A, B, C, F, and 5. Lakes Halfmoon, Legs, and Picnic also had high catch rates. This past week there were 13 large bass over 19 inches reported. Nine of the largest bass measured 19 to 22 inches and four bass were over 22 inches. The largest bass was close to 26 inches. The best speck bite was at lakes Legs, Long and 5. The panfish bite was best on lakes Cemetery, Coronet, Derby, Picnic, Pine, and 5. Catfish were best at lakes Derby, Picnic, A and B, reports FWC biologist Paolo Pecora. At Saddle Creek, bass are biting shallow around the trees on topwater plugs and Texas rigged plastic worms. Bluegill and tilapia are biting red worms along the banks at the park. Decent numbers of good-size catfish are biting on the bottom on liver. Around town, Lake Parker has a good bass bite on chatterbaits and speed worms in the hydrilla. Lake Crago is producing specks on minnows off the banks in 6 feet of water. Lake Hollingsworth is producing specks on minnows in 6 to 8 feet of water, reports Kyle Stafford at Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).

2 At Auburndale, Lake Juliana is producing a few specks and some bass. There’s been nothing real big on the bass, but the specks are good size. Drifting with minnows in open water is best for the specks. The shorelines are producing bass on live shiners and plastic worms. Flipping brush hogs and creature baits are also good for the bass. Around the Lake Alfred area, lakes Haines and Rochelle are producing specks while drifting minnows. Lake Alfred is also producing specks and bass up to 6 pounds on live shiners and lipless crankbaits, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).

3 At Winter Haven, plenty of schooling bass up to 3 to 4 pounds are biting around the south chain. The canals around the south chain are still producing specks, bluegill, shellcracker and catfish. Lake Blue has a good speck bite on minnows, reports Schelfo.

4 At Lake Hamilton, specks are staging up on hard bottom ledges and the shell bars. Trolling both jigs and minnows is producing good numbers. Bass are biting plastic finesse worms and spinnerbaits around heavy vegetation near the edges of bank transitions. If the bass are real shallow, flipping black and blue color Senkos and creature baits such as a Missile Baits D Stroyer will get the bite. Some bluegill and shellcracker are biting in the same areas as the bass, reports Hunter Barberree at Hoppy’s Marine (863-439-7616).

5 At Lake Marion near Haines City, offshore grass is producing some bass. A few bass are also biting around the mouth of Marion Creek. Specks are biting while drifting minnows around Bannon Island, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle.

6 At Lake Pierce, the speck bite is decent while drifting minnows in open water and around the islands and points. There’s a pretty good bass bite on junebug, black and blue, or darker color plastic worms, reports Jennings Resort (863-439-3811).

7 At Lake Hatchineha, drop a minnow down in a clump of lily pads and hold on for a good speck bite. The area around Gator Cove has been especially productive at first light. The best bass bite this week has been around the shell bars and moving water. Throw a Carolina rigged, Missile Baits Quiver worm in black and blue color for some good action, reports Charlie Wynperle at Bridgemaster Fishing Products.

8 At Lake Toho, bass can be caught up shallow right now throwing weightless Zoom Flukes and topwater swimbaits. The East Lake Canal is producing fish in the running water on Carolina rigged plastic worms and speed worms. Running water at Shingle Creek and at the Southport Lock is also producing on the same baits. Bluegill are biting on the shell bars and in the pads in 4 to 6 feet of water, reports Grady Johnson (407-205-6719).

9 At Lake Kissimmee, a number of speck anglers are drifting minnows around the brush at Marker 9. Bass fishing has been tough on the main lake. Concentrate on running water for the best bite. Water levels on the lake are still high, reports Wynperle.

10 At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, the speck bite is really “heating up” at night in front of the pier on the east side of the lake. Drifting with a spread of minnows under the lights is producing the best numbers. The bass bite is picking up just before sunset. Cover water with a River2Sea Whopper Plopper in bream color for the best action, reports Wynperle.

11 At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, the speck bite is on while drifting minnows in deep water around 25 to 30 feet deep and the best numbers are biting at night. The bass bite is good on topwaters early in the morning. No real big fish have been caught, but plenty of bass in the 3- to 4-pound range are biting at the north end of the lake, reports Rick Ritchison at Bob's Landing (863-638-1912). Specks are biting minnows at a depth 20 to 25 feet both day and night, but the better numbers are biting at night, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

12 At Frostproof, specks are biting at Lake Reedy while drifting minnows in the middle of the water column in water around 10 feet deep. Bluegill and shellcracker are biting red worms on the bottom at about 4 to 6 feet. The bass bite is good there on live shiners at the south shore. Shiners are also producing bass in the moving water around the lake. Squarebill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and wacky worms are also producing bass in the moving water. Lake Clinch is also producing bass in moving water on live shiners and Carolina Rigged worms. Zoom Horny Toad frogs are producing in the grass at Clinch at first light. Specks are biting at Clinch while drifting minnows in deep water about 18 to 20 feet. Anglers should note, the Polk County public ramp at Lake Arbuckle is still closed until further notice, reports Childress.

13 In the phosphate pits near Mulberry, water levels have dropped in many places and the bass bite is best early on the edges of the grass on topwater plugs such as a River2Sea Whopper Plopper or a Devil’s Horse and flukes, rigged weightless. Later in the day, rocky bars and hydrilla patches are producing bass while slow-rolling white spinnerbaits with a trailer and while casting junebug red and black and blue color plastic worms. There’s not much to speak of on the specks or other panfish, reports Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Co. (863-937-3292).

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Specks abundant at many spots around Polk County