Bass are already beginning to move deeper with water temperatures in the lower 80s.
At 72.1 degrees, the average air temperature in March was 5.3 degrees higher than the long-term average for Lakeland.
That made March the eighth-warmest on record.
Fish behavior has been a month ahead of schedule in salt water, and bass are developing summer patterns sooner than usual.
Cool nights this week are a welcome respite, but those 90-degree-plus days will be back next week in all likelihood.
Bass are chasing shad in open water, schooling on Lake Toho and Lake Gibson.
The spring spawn is largely over with this year, compared to some years when April has produced exceptional bass, like a 16-pounder on Lake Kissimmee not that long ago.
Bass fishermen have been working outside grass lines more often for the biggest bites, and open-water structure and grass beds will soon be the preferred locations.
Combined with warming temperatures, water levels are lower than usual, with only a quarter of an inch of rain in Lakeland during the entire month of March.
That has also helped pull bigger bass out of shallow shoreline areas sooner, especially on the south Winter Haven chain where the level is 10 inches lower than a year ago.
Lake Kissimmee has dropped to under 50 feet above sea level, not far from the low-pool stage targeted for June 1.
The same trend is true on all Polk lakes, and it's likely that April and May will continue to be dry.
It's time for bass fishermen to dust off their electronics and think deeper.
Summertime is nearer than you might think.
LICENSE-FREE SATURDAY DRAWS LOT OF ANGLERS
A Florida resident freshwater fishing license costs $17, a bargain compared to some states.
But that is more than some people are willing to pay.
Ron Schelfo at Ron's Tackle Box in Lake Alfred said there were a surprising number of fishermen on the water on Saturday because it was a license-free day in Florida.
June 9 will also be a license-free day for freshwater fishing. June 2 and Sept. 1 are license-free days in salt water.
FOX 39TH IN OPEN
Kyle Fox of Lakeland finished 39th in the Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Norman at Charlotte, N.C., last week, leading Polk County fishermen in the tour's second of three tournaments.
Fox, an Elite Series pro, weighed in 18 pounds, 7 ounces the first two days. Only the top 12 qualified for Saturday's final round.
Tracy Adams of Wilkesboro, N.C., won the tournament with 45 pounds, 6 ounces.
Lakeland native Chris Lane placed 52nd with 17 pounds, 2 ounces. Lee Sisson of Winter Haven was 106th with 14 1/2 pounds, while Cecil Douberly of Lakeland was 147th with 12 pounds.
ELITES ON BULL SHOALS
Kyle Fox, along with brothers Chris and Bobby Lane, are competing in the Bassmaster Elite Series' third tournament of the season on Bull Shoals Lake at Mountain Home, Ark., April 19-22.
Chris Lane is 10th in points, while Bobby Lane is 34th and Fox is 40th.
BASS TOURNAMENTS
Keith Albritton anchored the winning stringer of 21.89 pounds with a 10.21-pounder Saturday to win the Camp Mack Open on the Kissimmee Chain. Bobby Wooten took second with 21.60 pounds. Matt Hinman placed third with 21.19 pounds, followed by Eric Conant with 20.58 pounds and Mike Bierfreund with 16.42 pounds.
Jay Malys produced an excellent stringer for the Harris Chain totaling 20.90 pounds, including a 6.60-pounder, on Saturday to win the Lakeland Junior Bassmasters tournament in his first event with the club. Harry Linsinbigler finished second behind Malys in the 15-18 age group with 13.80 pounds. Colten Grant had 7.30 pounds for third. In the 11-14 age group, Dalton Gorman took first with 13 pounds, followed by Mica Patel with 9 pounds and Roger Weigel with 7.10 pounds. Jackson Williams boated a 6.90-pounder for big-bass honors.
Bobby and Tomi Orth won the ABA Couples Florida tournament on Lake Walk-in-the-Water Saturday with 13.45 pounds including Bobby's 7.43-pounder. Paul Brussow and Anna Midzio placed second with 11.29 pounds.
Buford McCoy and Tom Yutzy won the Ron's Tackle Box evening tournament last Thursday on Lake Alfred with 12 3/4 pounds, and Yutzy's 5-pounder was tops. Dennis Bridges Jr. and Dennis Bridges Sr. finished second with 8 pounds, 11 ounces, while third went to Telly Smith and Trevor Fike with 8 pounds.
David Rizzo needed only 5.80 pounds to win the Bass Bandits tournament Saturday on Lake Walk-in-the-Water. Roy Woodhouse finished second with 5.65 pounds and the largest bass at 2.95 pounds, while third went to Danny Duchesne with 5.45 pounds.
[ Del Milligan's freshwater fishing column appears Thursdays in The Ledger. He can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or 863-802-7555. Milligan's blog, Central Florida Fishology, can be found at theledger.com home page. ]
