Published Thursday, February 9, 2006
Fishing: Around Polk County My site: http://mysite.verizon.net/captgene2/
1. Around Lakeland, Kevin Sarvis of Lakeland caught one of the biggest bass in the county over the past few months at Lake Lester Saturday on a gold/black Strike King Bleeding Bait, a 3/8 ounce spinnerbait. The fish tipped the scales at 12 pounds, 12.75 ounces at Big Fish Outfitters (see photo page C3). Mike Tucker netted an 8-pound, 5-ounce bass in Sunday tournament on Lake Parker, though most fish were 1-2 pounds. Bass up to 24 inches long at lakes 2, 4 and 5 at Tenoroc, reports Brian Fleming. Lake Parker good for specks over past week, with a few limits on minnows or jigs (MidSouth Tackle Super Jig) along grass lines, reports Bobby Blizzard at Big Fish Outfitters. At Saddle Creek Park, boat caught 32 nice-sized specks 11/4-11/2 pounds on minnows Friday afternoon, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle. At Tenoroc, best specks lakes 2, 4 and F, said Fleming. Blizzard said anglers catching specks at lakes 5 and B at Tenoroc as well. No specks at State Road 540 bridge at Lake Hancock this week.
2. At Auburndale, bass fishermen waiting for next extended warming trend, which looks several days away at least, to try Ariana, Alfred, Juliana and north Winter Haven chain.
3. At Winter Haven, a few nice bass showing up on days before approaching cold fronts. Steve Coleman netted 81/2-pounder on south chain in Saturday tournament. Phillip Roop boated 7.38-pound bass at Eagle Lake in Saturday tournament. Parker Stone won tournament on south chain Sunday with 61/2-pounder. Some sight fishing before cold front in Lake Summit and Lake Hartridge. Bass mostly pre-spawn on south chain, suspended off shorelines and hitting Rat-L-Traps or jerkbaits over submerged vegetation or in shallow grass with flipping sticks or Super Flukes, reports local bass guide Monte Goodman (863-661-7226). South chain will be crowded today through weekend with 300 anglers in Fishers of Men championship out of Lake Shipp.
4. At Lake Hamilton, speck boats picking up 15-20 per trip trolling 5-6 feet of water off grass lines in big lake with red/head, yellow-bodied Hal Flys and Beetle Spins, reports Chain O'Lakes Bait and Tackle (863-439-3885) in Dundee. No bass over 5-6 pounds.
5. At Lake Marion near Haines City, speckled perch catches limited because of wind, with boats catching up to 10 per trip 1-11/2 pounds this week, reports Ray Chase at Bannon's Camp. Specks spawning, taking minnows or Hal Fly jigs tipped with minnows around lily pads early mornings and at night. Cliff Isaacs of Virginia catching bass up to 5 pounds flipping Charlie's black grape worm in 31/2-4 feet of water Tuesday and Wednesday despite wind. But it took only 6 pounds to win bass tournament Saturday.
6. At Lake Pierce, a few good-sized speckled perch on minnows around piles of debris out in lake, reports Jennings Camp.
7. At Lake Hatchineha, speck fishermen battling wind, getting out at daybreak for decent catches in Gator Cove, and at Canoe Creek in Lake Cypress. Also specks drifting or jigging around hydrilla at center marker in Cypress (red head/yellow body). Bass difficult with cold front conditions expected for next several days. Shiners about all they'll hit right now.
8. At Lake Toho, weather shutting down bass bite with cold nights and windy days. Shiner guides doing better at Lake Conway this week, reports Big Toho Marina. Specks fair in Southport Canal.
9. At Lake Kissimmee, big bass few and far between, and bass very tough in general with water temperature dipping back to low 60s. Jim Rose boated 9-pounder in Sunday tournament, but only took 11 pounds to win. Nine-pound bass on shiners Monday, reports Rob Murchie at Middleton's Fish Camp. Scattered grass in 41/2 feet of water best -- look for clear water, said Murchie. Full moon could spark action, but it's not expected to warm up until next week. Specks best bet, with boats catching decent numbers of "roed-up" perch in grass and lily pads on calmer days. Lily pads at Philadelphia Point popular, with center strip in 4 feet of water optimum, reports Leo Cosce at Camp Lester. Specks in grass at Bird Island, Grassy Island, and North Cove at Osceola Slough, said Cosce, and in lily pads at Brahma Island.
10. At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, wind and cold making it tough on bass anglers most days. Bass up to 51/2 pounds on artificials or wild shiners if weather allows.
11. At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, Dick Brown of Lakeland landed a 10-pound, 10-ounce bass on a medium shiner in a pocket in heavy vegetation last week. Bass up to 6 pounds in St. Petersburg Bass Club tournament over weekend, reports Cindy at Bob's Landing. Specks picking up at night with full moon coming on Monday.
12. At Frostproof, chilly weather stalling bass fishermen. Check shallow grass and lily pads on next warming trend. A few specks at Lake Arbuckle.
13. In the phosphate pits south of Mulberry and Bartow, bass in lull with cold nights. Specks way to go right now.
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1. Around Lakeland, Kevin Sarvis of Lakeland caught one of the biggest bass in the county over the past few months at Lake Lester Saturday on a gold/black Strike King Bleeding Bait, a 3/8 ounce spinnerbait. The fish tipped the scales at 12 pounds, 12.75 ounces at Big Fish Outfitters (see photo page C3). Mike Tucker netted an 8-pound, 5-ounce bass in Sunday tournament on Lake Parker, though most fish were 1-2 pounds. Bass up to 24 inches long at lakes 2, 4 and 5 at Tenoroc, reports Brian Fleming. Lake Parker good for specks over past week, with a few limits on minnows or jigs (MidSouth Tackle Super Jig) along grass lines, reports Bobby Blizzard at Big Fish Outfitters. At Saddle Creek Park, boat caught 32 nice-sized specks 11/4-11/2 pounds on minnows Friday afternoon, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle. At Tenoroc, best specks lakes 2, 4 and F, said Fleming. Blizzard said anglers catching specks at lakes 5 and B at Tenoroc as well. No specks at State Road 540 bridge at Lake Hancock this week.
2. At Auburndale, bass fishermen waiting for next extended warming trend, which looks several days away at least, to try Ariana, Alfred, Juliana and north Winter Haven chain.
3. At Winter Haven, a few nice bass showing up on days before approaching cold fronts. Steve Coleman netted 81/2-pounder on south chain in Saturday tournament. Phillip Roop boated 7.38-pound bass at Eagle Lake in Saturday tournament. Parker Stone won tournament on south chain Sunday with 61/2-pounder. Some sight fishing before cold front in Lake Summit and Lake Hartridge. Bass mostly pre-spawn on south chain, suspended off shorelines and hitting Rat-L-Traps or jerkbaits over submerged vegetation or in shallow grass with flipping sticks or Super Flukes, reports local bass guide Monte Goodman (863-661-7226). South chain will be crowded today through weekend with 300 anglers in Fishers of Men championship out of Lake Shipp.
4. At Lake Hamilton, speck boats picking up 15-20 per trip trolling 5-6 feet of water off grass lines in big lake with red/head, yellow-bodied Hal Flys and Beetle Spins, reports Chain O'Lakes Bait and Tackle (863-439-3885) in Dundee. No bass over 5-6 pounds.
5. At Lake Marion near Haines City, speckled perch catches limited because of wind, with boats catching up to 10 per trip 1-11/2 pounds this week, reports Ray Chase at Bannon's Camp. Specks spawning, taking minnows or Hal Fly jigs tipped with minnows around lily pads early mornings and at night. Cliff Isaacs of Virginia catching bass up to 5 pounds flipping Charlie's black grape worm in 31/2-4 feet of water Tuesday and Wednesday despite wind. But it took only 6 pounds to win bass tournament Saturday.
6. At Lake Pierce, a few good-sized speckled perch on minnows around piles of debris out in lake, reports Jennings Camp.
7. At Lake Hatchineha, speck fishermen battling wind, getting out at daybreak for decent catches in Gator Cove, and at Canoe Creek in Lake Cypress. Also specks drifting or jigging around hydrilla at center marker in Cypress (red head/yellow body). Bass difficult with cold front conditions expected for next several days. Shiners about all they'll hit right now.
8. At Lake Toho, weather shutting down bass bite with cold nights and windy days. Shiner guides doing better at Lake Conway this week, reports Big Toho Marina. Specks fair in Southport Canal.
9. At Lake Kissimmee, big bass few and far between, and bass very tough in general with water temperature dipping back to low 60s. Jim Rose boated 9-pounder in Sunday tournament, but only took 11 pounds to win. Nine-pound bass on shiners Monday, reports Rob Murchie at Middleton's Fish Camp. Scattered grass in 41/2 feet of water best -- look for clear water, said Murchie. Full moon could spark action, but it's not expected to warm up until next week. Specks best bet, with boats catching decent numbers of "roed-up" perch in grass and lily pads on calmer days. Lily pads at Philadelphia Point popular, with center strip in 4 feet of water optimum, reports Leo Cosce at Camp Lester. Specks in grass at Bird Island, Grassy Island, and North Cove at Osceola Slough, said Cosce, and in lily pads at Brahma Island.
10. At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, wind and cold making it tough on bass anglers most days. Bass up to 51/2 pounds on artificials or wild shiners if weather allows.
11. At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, Dick Brown of Lakeland landed a 10-pound, 10-ounce bass on a medium shiner in a pocket in heavy vegetation last week. Bass up to 6 pounds in St. Petersburg Bass Club tournament over weekend, reports Cindy at Bob's Landing. Specks picking up at night with full moon coming on Monday.
12. At Frostproof, chilly weather stalling bass fishermen. Check shallow grass and lily pads on next warming trend. A few specks at Lake Arbuckle.
13. In the phosphate pits south of Mulberry and Bartow, bass in lull with cold nights. Specks way to go right now.
COMPILED BY DEL MILLIGAN http://mysite.verizon.net/captgene2/
