1. In Lakeland, bluegill are biting crickets and grass shrimp on Lake Parker, at Tenoroc and Saddle Creek. On Lake Parker, a huge bass was caught off the bank near the pads. Popping frogs and topwater lures are working well. At Saddle Creek, catfish are biting chicken livers, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).
2. In Auburndale and Lake Alfred, some nice-sized bluegill and a few bass have been taken out of Lake Juliana. In Lake Alfred, on lakes Haines and Rochelle bluegill, shellcracker and bass are all biting. On Lake Alfred, bass up to 4 pounds have been caught off the dock. For more information, contact Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).
3. In Winter Haven, on Lake Shipp the bass are biting on the shoreline or in the boat. On lakes Summit and Cannon, the bass bite has been plentiful. On Eagle Lake, some bass are being caught in the middle of the lake off the oyster bars, says Schelfo. Capt. Bill Goudy recommends burning an early-morning swim bait over the topped out pepper grass, then moving to the outside edges of submerged grass with soft plastics. Also look for big bass on the brush piles. For a guided fishing trip with Capt. Goudy, call Bass Online (888-629-2277).
4. In Lake Hamilton, On the big lake, bass are being caught flipping black-and-blue senkos in buggy whips and throwing shad-colored traps along the edge of the grass. Try black-and-blue swim jigs around docks in 3 feet of water or deeper (look for shaded area in the water). Bluegill are biting on worms and crickets in pads in 2 to 5 feet of water. If you smell or hear them, fish around there close. A few specks are being caught sitting still with lights at night near deeper areas. On the middle lake, shad and bluegill color chatterbaits are getting bit casting under docks and around loose grass on the bank. Bluegill are biting in the pads and cat tails on worms and crickets, just listen for them. On the little lake, flipping a ½-ounce darker creaturebait Texas rigged into thick grass is getting decent sized bass, as well as traps and chatterbaits (shad colors). Specks are being caught with lights with minnows and jigs on offshore wood at night, reports local guide Kyle Brewer. Contact Kyle at fishingbud55@gmail.com.
5. On Lake Marion near Haines City, bass are being caught on square bill along Kissimmee grass in lowlight times. As the sun rises and gets hot, black-and-blue swim jigs are scoring by casting way behind the Kissimmee grass and working it out. Bluegill are being caught on worms and crickets on the north side in the pads. Specks are being caught with night lights on jigs and minnows, reported Brewer.
6. On Lake Pierce, specks are still being caught drifting minnows in open water on the south end. Bluegill are in the lily pads and are biting crickets and grass shrimp. Bass are in the heavy grass early in the morning. Use topwater frogs. In the afternoon, stick to the offshore brush piles and ledges with Carolina Rigs and jerkbait, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).
What's Biting: Bluegill
Crickets, grass shrimp or red worms are the bait of choice for this panfish that has seen a strong bite across many Polk lakes.
Strike zones: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12
7. On Lake Hatchineha, bass fishing has been slow, but a few fish are being caught in the outside reeds flipping a black-and-blue tip senko, and throwing a War Eagle spinnerbait. Bluegill and shellcracker have been biting in Gator Cove in the pads on red worms and crickets, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).
8. On Lake Toho, the water has warmed up immensely and this has made fishing a little frustrating at times. You can still catch an early-morning topwater bite, but it ends as quickly as it starts. Work a speed worm slowly through thinner hydrilla patches. Wacky rigs are still producing bites as well. Grass punching with a creature bait has produced bites as well. Shiners are still working by floating them over grass, says Mike Groshon from Bass Online (888-629-2277).
9. On Lake Kissimmee, bass fishing has been very good in North Cove flipping a 1-ounce Medlock jig in the Kissimmee grass and throwing a Gambler Big EZ. Bluegill and shellcracker have been biting very good on Rabbit Island on red worms and wigglers, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
10. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, bass fishing has been very good around the Indian Lake Estates canal with a S-pro popping frog and a Z-man Jackhammer. There have also been a lot of specks around the same canals and they are catching them jigging the docks with a Muck City jig, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products.
11. On Crooked Lake, on Big Crooked, bluegill and shellcracker are active around Grassy Island on red worms and crickets. Bass are biting around Wirt’s Point on live shiners. Between the two lakes, the bass bite has been good on live bait as well. Spinnerbait has worked for bass around the Highway 27 side, with live shiners doing the trick as well. On Little Crooked, bluegill are around the grass lines and are hitting worms and crickets, says Childress.
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12. In Frostproof, on Lake Clinch, the bluegill and shellcracker bite has been good on the southwest side in about 12 feet of water using red worms on the bottom. The bass bite has been active on the west side drifting live bait. Brush piles are also producing bass using a deep-diving crankbait or Carolina Rig. On Lake Reedy, the bluegill bite has been very good on crickets and worms around the lily pads in the southwest corner. Bass have been mostly in the offshore brush piles on jerkbait and Carolina Rigs. On Lake Arbuckle, bluegill have been hitting worms and crickets around the Cypress trees on the south end of the lake, reports Childress.
13. In Mulberry, with the heavy afternoon downpours, the morning bite has slowed. If you can get out there before or after the rain, the topwater and worm bite has been good. The panfish bite has been off, says Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Company (863-937-3292).
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