Strike Zone Areas: 2 , 3 , 9 , 11
1 - Around Lakeland, bass up to 23 inches at Tenoroc in lakes Halfmoon, 5 and Butterfly casting red shad worms, topwater lures and Rat-L-Traps, reports Tenoroc Manager Danon Moxley, and bass a little more active than a week ago. Bass slowed down at Saddle Creek Park over weekend, but picking up by Wednesday morning although most bites 1-3 pounds instead of up to 6-7 pounds for the last two weeks. Catfish the best bet at Saddle Creek, with channel cats up to 8 pounds on chicken livers. Channel cats also good at Tenoroc on Derby, B and 5. Bluegill pretty good at Lake Parker on crickets, with anglers wading chest-deep to outer cattails along Memorial Boulevard and around to Sertoma Park, and a few limits, Roberts said. Mouth of Lake Crago also producing bluegill, and boat ramp area on Lake Bonny still productive. Smaller bluegill and tilapia 1-2 pounds off bank at Saddle Creek, with buckets-full of tilapia being snatched. Panfish fair on Derby, Picnic, 5 and B at Tenoroc. Speck fisherman at Tenoroc reported a limit on B.
2 - At Auburndale, bass up to 8 pounds on Lake Alfred in Lion's Club tournament on July 4 and 26-pound stringer for winners, a 5.20-pound average. Lot of bass 4-6 pounds in tournament on worms, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and frogs early, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron's Tackle Box in Lake Alfred. Bluegill and small catfish strong on crickets and red worms, especially around culverts and running water, on lakes Haines, Rochelle, Alfred and Echo.
3 - At Winter Haven, bass up to 7 1/2 pounds in Sunday tournament on south chain, with five stringers 15-20 pounds and seven bass over 5 pounds. Crankbaits and junebug worms best bets around structure, mussel bars and submerged grass in 10-15 feet, with lakes Howard, Eloise and Winterset producing, reports Willard Combee. Also bass up to 7 pounds in Thursday evening tournament on south chain. Fly fishing guide Capt. Craig Crumbliss of Winter Haven (nomotorguide@yahoo.com) reports good action for bass and panfish on small lakes and ponds between Winter Haven and Lake Wales very early or just before sunset, the "golden hour" when the wind calms down, birds return to their roost, and fish that have been trying to rest in cooler water move up to feed. Crumbliss starting around 7 p.m. on western side of lakes in shady spots and then moving as sun gets lower and temperatures start to cool, casting smaller topwater patterns like white foam spiders, yellow Sprogs and chartreuse Boogle Bugs. He said to try subsurface patterns with large Hare's Ear nymph trailed with a red San Juan worm in deeper water. Nice bluegill catches on Lake Eloise, said Stacy Roberts. Water level still up on south chain, with 30 inches of water in canal from Shipp to Lulu, Combee said.
4 - At Lake Hamilton, bass and bluegill fair first thing in the morning, then it's time to head home.
5 - At Lake Marion near Haines City, good reports on bluegill replacing what was a flurry of shellcracker last week, reports Eileen O'Leary at Bannon's Fish Camp. Boats bringing in 40-50 bluegill, with lily pads in northeast and southeast corners preferred spots on grass shrimp.
6 - At Lake Pierce, bass fairly slow, with a few keepers early on edges of deeper grass lines with Rat-L-Traps and junebug worms, reports Jennings Resort. A few bluegill, just up to a dozen.
7 - At Lake Hatchineha, bluegill were good late last week and over the weekend, but slowing down this week. Not enough current at Cypress Canal for running water pattern on bass, but rains are cranking up again.
8 - At Lake Toho, high heat and summer showers becoming daily fare, so bass fishermen are getting out early and working open-water hydrilla with topwater lures, 10-inch worms, lipless crankbaits and Carolina rigs. But few fish over 5 pounds.
9 - At Lake Kissimmee, Richie Upchurch boated a 9.30-pound bass and a 25 1/2-pound stringer in the Camp Mack Open on Saturday. David Glenn weighed in 20 1/4 pounds in the Lunker Lovers tournament Sunday casting Bitters Skip Shad (Toho color), and Huck Pewitt's 7 1/2-pounder was tops. Limits of bass up to 3-4 pounds on artificial lures and wild shiners in south end over weekend, reports Grape Hammock. Bass fairly active early, then shutting off with water temperature in upper 80s. Busy weekend at Grape Hammock, mostly panfish anglers who brought in a lot of limits of bluegill and shellcracker around Brahma Island. New moon late next week should see improving bluegill, maybe by this weekend, said Leo Cosce at Camp Lester. Not many anglers on water. Cosce said he hasn't had a boat launch in two days. Dredging project in river channel is drawing to a close. Cosce said they are removing pipes and stacking them along the canal.
10 - At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, down side of the full moon cooled off the bluegill bite somewhat. Best bet for bass around open-water fish attractors early mornings.
11 - At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, couple of fishermen drop-shotting watermelon red worms in 20 feet boated a 10-pound bass on July 4, reports Cindy Ritchison at Bob's Landing. Bass up to 5 pounds in Suncoast bass club tournament Sunday, but mostly keepers. Bass 12-14 inches dominating around grass lines in 2-6 feet, where water temperature is approaching 90 degrees. Moderate numbers but good-sized bluegill on shell bars in open water on crickets and red worms. Catfish 3-5 pounds at night in 6-10 feet.
12 - At Frostproof, Lake Reedy has been the mainstay for bass, with size better in open water around mussel bars and peppergrass patches around major feeding periods.
13 - In the phosphate pits south of Mulberry and Bartow, most bass fishermen taking a break, but there's a decent bite up to 8 a.m. around deeper structure.
Fishing Around Polk County (July 12) TheLedger.comJuly 11, 2012 10:24 PM1 - Around Lakeland, bass up to 23 inches at Tenoroc in lakes Halfmoon, 5 and Butterfly casting red shad worms, topwater lures and Rat-L-Traps, reports Tenoroc Manager Danon Moxley, and bass a little more active than a week ago. Bass slowed down at Saddle Creek Park over weekend, but picking up by Wednesday morning although most bites 1-3 pounds instead of up to 6-7 pounds for the last two weeks. Catfish the best bet at Saddle Creek, with channel cats up to 8 pounds on chicken livers. Channel cats also good at Tenoroc on Derby, B and 5. Bluegill pretty good at Lake Parker on crickets, with anglers wading chest-deep to outer cattails along Memorial Boulevard and around to Sertoma Park, and a few limits, Roberts said. Mouth of Lake Crago also producing bluegill, and boat ramp area on Lake Bonny still productive. Smaller bluegill and tilapia 1-2 pounds off bank at Saddle Creek, with buckets-full of tilapia being snatched. Panfish fair on Derby, Picnic, 5 and B at Tenoroc. Speck fisherman at Tenoroc reported a limit on B.
2 - At Auburndale, bass up to 8 pounds on Lake Alfred in Lion's Club tournament on July 4 and 26-pound stringer for winners, a 5.20-pound average. Lot of bass 4-6 pounds in tournament on worms, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and frogs early, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron's Tackle Box in Lake Alfred. Bluegill and small catfish strong on crickets and red worms, especially around culverts and running water, on lakes Haines, Rochelle, Alfred and Echo.
3 - At Winter Haven, bass up to 7 1/2 pounds in Sunday tournament on south chain, with five stringers 15-20 pounds and seven bass over 5 pounds. Crankbaits and junebug worms best bets around structure, mussel bars and submerged grass in 10-15 feet, with lakes Howard, Eloise and Winterset producing, reports Willard Combee. Also bass up to 7 pounds in Thursday evening tournament on south chain. Fly fishing guide Capt. Craig Crumbliss of Winter Haven (nomotorguide@yahoo.com) reports good action for bass and panfish on small lakes and ponds between Winter Haven and Lake Wales very early or just before sunset, the "golden hour" when the wind calms down, birds return to their roost, and fish that have been trying to rest in cooler water move up to feed. Crumbliss starting around 7 p.m. on western side of lakes in shady spots and then moving as sun gets lower and temperatures start to cool, casting smaller topwater patterns like white foam spiders, yellow Sprogs and chartreuse Boogle Bugs. He said to try subsurface patterns with large Hare's Ear nymph trailed with a red San Juan worm in deeper water. Nice bluegill catches on Lake Eloise, said Stacy Roberts. Water level still up on south chain, with 30 inches of water in canal from Shipp to Lulu, Combee said.
4 - At Lake Hamilton, bass and bluegill fair first thing in the morning, then it's time to head home.
5 - At Lake Marion near Haines City, good reports on bluegill replacing what was a flurry of shellcracker last week, reports Eileen O'Leary at Bannon's Fish Camp. Boats bringing in 40-50 bluegill, with lily pads in northeast and southeast corners preferred spots on grass shrimp.
6 - At Lake Pierce, bass fairly slow, with a few keepers early on edges of deeper grass lines with Rat-L-Traps and junebug worms, reports Jennings Resort. A few bluegill, just up to a dozen.
7 - At Lake Hatchineha, bluegill were good late last week and over the weekend, but slowing down this week. Not enough current at Cypress Canal for running water pattern on bass, but rains are cranking up again.
8 - At Lake Toho, high heat and summer showers becoming daily fare, so bass fishermen are getting out early and working open-water hydrilla with topwater lures, 10-inch worms, lipless crankbaits and Carolina rigs. But few fish over 5 pounds.
9 - At Lake Kissimmee, Richie Upchurch boated a 9.30-pound bass and a 25 1/2-pound stringer in the Camp Mack Open on Saturday. David Glenn weighed in 20 1/4 pounds in the Lunker Lovers tournament Sunday casting Bitters Skip Shad (Toho color), and Huck Pewitt's 7 1/2-pounder was tops. Limits of bass up to 3-4 pounds on artificial lures and wild shiners in south end over weekend, reports Grape Hammock. Bass fairly active early, then shutting off with water temperature in upper 80s. Busy weekend at Grape Hammock, mostly panfish anglers who brought in a lot of limits of bluegill and shellcracker around Brahma Island. New moon late next week should see improving bluegill, maybe by this weekend, said Leo Cosce at Camp Lester. Not many anglers on water. Cosce said he hasn't had a boat launch in two days. Dredging project in river channel is drawing to a close. Cosce said they are removing pipes and stacking them along the canal.
10 - At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, down side of the full moon cooled off the bluegill bite somewhat. Best bet for bass around open-water fish attractors early mornings.
11 - At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, couple of fishermen drop-shotting watermelon red worms in 20 feet boated a 10-pound bass on July 4, reports Cindy Ritchison at Bob's Landing. Bass up to 5 pounds in Suncoast bass club tournament Sunday, but mostly keepers. Bass 12-14 inches dominating around grass lines in 2-6 feet, where water temperature is approaching 90 degrees. Moderate numbers but good-sized bluegill on shell bars in open water on crickets and red worms. Catfish 3-5 pounds at night in 6-10 feet.
12 - At Frostproof, Lake Reedy has been the mainstay for bass, with size better in open water around mussel bars and peppergrass patches around major feeding periods.
13 - In the phosphate pits south of Mulberry and Bartow, most bass fishermen taking a break, but there's a decent bite up to 8 a.m. around deeper structure.
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