Local Florida Fishing Reports

[Captgene]

Local Fishing Reports
Published Thursday, January 19, 2006

Around Polk County

1. Around Lakeland, Travis Futch won first annual Big Fish Outfitters 6-Hour Speck Roundup Saturday with 5 pounds, 10 ounces. Henry McCoart caught biggest speck of 1 pound, 9 ounces. Tom Singer of Lakeland won Phillips Bait and Tackle bi-weekly contest that ended Jan. 15 with a 11/4-pound speck at Saddle Creek Park. Specks taking minnows around grass lines at Tenoroc (lakes B, F, 3, 4 and 5), as well as Lake Deeson, Lake Crago and Lake Parker, reports Big Fish Outfitters. Bob Stone at Stone's Outhouse and Brian Fleming at Tenoroc also report lakes 3, 4 and 5 best for specks. Bass up to 20 inches at Tenoroc in 4, 5 and Shop.

2. At Auburndale, bass up to 7 pounds in Sunday tournament on north Winter Haven chain. Good speck bite in Lake Rochelle late evenings on minnows off grass lines.

3. At Winter Haven, a few big bass on beds before cold front on south chain and small city lakes, reports Bob Stone at Stone's Outhouse. Bass up to 6 pounds staging in 5-10 feet just outside bedding areas, reports guide Monte Goodman (863-661-7226).

4. At Lake Hamilton, Jessie Mizell of Dundee caught 7-pound bass on Yamamoto Senko (black/blue laminate), reports Chain O'Lakes Bait and Tackle (863-439-3885) in Dundee. Dewey Touchton of Winter Haven weighed 11-pounder and 61/2-pounder on shiners, but didn't say which lake. Speck boats getting 10-15 off grass lines.

5. At Lake Marion near Haines City, one angler and his wife boated a limit of specks up to 11/2-2 pounds in and around grass edges on Friday, reports Ray Chase at Bannon's Camp.

6. At Lake Pierce, anglers catching half-limits of specks up to 11/4 pounds on minnows or jigs when weather cooperates, reports Jennings Camp. Keeper bass schooling on warmer days, hitting surface lures.

7. At Lake Hatchineha, Leo Cosce IV and family boated 96 specks Sunday night at Canoe Creek on Lake Cypress, reports Leo Cosce of Camp Lester, his grandfather. Tim Lawhorn at Port Hatchineha reports limit of specks before front on minnows and Beetle Spins.

8. At Lake Toho, big bass spotted in bedding areas late last week before front, but wouldn't bite, reports Marc Detweiler at Big Toho Marina. Shiner guides only getting 7-8 fish per trip.

9. At Lake Kissimmee, high winds and whitecaps limiting angler effort, but handful of nice bass starting to show. Bass guide Don Miller out of Camp Mack reports six bass up to 83/4 pounds Monday on wild shiners around voids and ditches in hydrilla patches. "It's in the midst of getting real good. It slows down every time we get one of these cold nights or two. But it should pick right back up," said Miller. "I'd say by the end of this week it ought to be real good." Another guide, Dave Pontos, caught a 91/2-pounder and couple of 7-pounders on shiners before front, reports Middleton's Fish Camp. Bass fishermen watching shallow bedding areas rest of week for first wave of big bass, reports Leo Cosce at Camp Lester. Speck fishing limited because of 15-25 mph winds, but Cosce said to check grass edges with minnows or jigs at Osceola Slough in North Cove, Grassy Island, Philadelphia Point, and Bird and Rabbit islands.

10. At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, limits of specks to 21/4 pounds at night when winds down, reports Chain O'Lakes Bait and Tackle.

11. At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, late afternoons best for bass. Leonard Mackey of Michigan landed 11.1-pound bass on shiner, while Glen Byers of Michigan netted 101/2-pounder on shiner, reports Cindy at Bob's Landing.

12. At Frostproof, speck boats getting up to 10-12 per day on minnows at Lake Arbuckle. Bass around creek mouths.

13. In the phosphate pits south of Mulberry and Bartow, fishermen will be checking to see if this is weekend for first run of big bass.

COMPILED BY DEL MILLIGAN

My Site: http://mysite.verizon.net/captgene2/

[cook]

Thanks for the report-wind was wicked last sat.!!

[Captgene]

Saturday was like a standing in a wind tunnel. I drove around and checked out a bunch of small lakes close to here ,20 little lakes, I'll fish'm soon on other windy days. Always check that weather forecast, dead people can't fish.

[frank lawhead]

Wind Was Terrible Last Sat ... Checked The Crappiemasters Tour On The Big (o) And The First Place 9# ...thru 5th Was Real Good Too..
I Don,t Have Any Ideal How To Fish Okee In That Wind...my Hats Off To Some Good Fishermen