Local Fishing Reports Feb. 23

Published Thursday, February 23, 2006 http://mysite.verizon.net/resrl9wc/

Fishing: Around Polk County

1. Around Lakeland, bigger bass have just started bedding around the county. Bruce Walker netted a 101/2-pound bass on a firetiger crankbait at Saddle Creek Park, reports Phillips Bait and Tackle. Best chance of the year for boating a big one in shallow water on soft plastics at Lake Gibson, Parker and Tenoroc next few weeks. Bass up to 24 inches at lakes 3, 4 and F at Tenoroc through Tuesday, reports Brian Fleming. Specks have picked up with mild weather, with lakes Parker, Crago and the Hourglass at Parker yielding good catches on green Hal Flys and dark-colored Road Runner jigs, reports Big Fish Outfitters. Specks best in lakes 3, 4 and 5 at Tenoroc, said Fleming. Rusty McKinney won the bimonthly speck contest at Phillips Bait and Tackle with a 11/2-pound perch caught at Saddle Creek Park. The second 6-Hour Speck Roundup is Sunday at Big Fish Outfitters (863-815-9492).

2. At Auburndale, bass up to 9 pounds at Lake Agnes. North Winter Haven chain, Alfred and Ariana good places to try in shallow grass and flags.

3. At Winter Haven, small city lakes like Ned, Deer, Elbert and McLeod seeing good-sized bass, mostly on wild shiners. South chain also coming to life for big bites on spinnerbaits and soft plastics inside grass lines, with a 61/2pounder best in Sunday tournament.

4. At Lake Hamilton, specks turned on last Thursday and going strong since, reports Chain O'Lakes Bait and Tackle (863-439-3885). Limits of good-sized specks on jigs around grass -yellow/yellow and red/yellow Hal Flys and electric chicken Pan Assassin Tiny Shad. Bass 6-8 pounds on shiners.

5. At Lake Marion near Haines City, speckled perch back at it after slowing down during recent cold snap. Limits of big specks on minnows starting on Sunday. Jigs not working as well. Jerry and Dixie Kooienta of Michigan boated two limits this week up to 13/4 pounds in the lily pads, reports Ray Chase at Bannon's Camp. Couple of 2-pound specks on Wednesday morning.

6. At Lake Pierce, speckled perch picked up with warm weather early this week, hitting minnows and jigs in grass, but a little slower on Tuesday and Wednesday, reports Jennings Camp. One angler had eight bass up to 5 pounds around grass on Wednesday.

7. At Lake Hatchineha, 10-pound, 2ounce bass this week on Kissimmee blue Bass Striker worm, casting in bulrushes, reports Leo Cosce at Camp Lester. Bassmaster Classic out of Lake Toho Friday through Sunday. Specks also good, though Kissimmee might be better right now. Hydrilla lines in Gator Cove best with jigs, and Canoe Creek in Cypress productive for specks.

8. At Lake Toho, local guide Jay Turner released a 14-pound bass on Monday caught on a wild shiner, reports Marc Detweiler at Big Toho Marina. Bass started bedding on Sunday on chain, and just in time for Bassmaster Classic Friday through Sunday out of Lakefront Park. Pros will be sight fishing or flipping and pitching in bedding areas.

9. At Lake Kissimmee, big bass and speckled perch have busted loose this week, with excellent catches of both. But bass is the focus with the Bassmaster Classic Friday through Sunday. "We've got 8s and 9s and 10s all over the place," said Leo Cosce at Camp Lester. Joe Pinkston won the Lakeland Bassmasters tournament on Sunday thanks to a 10.55-pounder, one of three bass over 10 in tournament. Bass are in shallow water, 18 inches or less, around flags, grass and reeds in bedding areas. Horny Toads, Cane Toads, Senkos and various soft plastic craws, lizards, worms, tubes and creature baits (black/blue color) being used. Sight fishing effective early this week with light winds and bright sun, but wind expected to pick up this weekend. Specks are equally good -- "We've had limits and limits of specks coming in," said Cosce. "And there's a lot of fish pushing 2 pounds, real nice fish." Specks are in grass, hitting minnows or jigs (1/32-ounce yellow/white, chartreuse/white or pink/ white). Best spots are in grass at Grassy Island and north end of Bird Island, at Brahma Island across from The Rocks in lily pads, or trolling Hal Flys down the middle of North Cove, said Cosce.

10. At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, fishermen waiting for bigger bass to turn on, and it could be happening any day. Bass on slow side through Saturday, even on shiners. Three-bass daily limit with fish 15-24 inches illegal to keep. One more than 24 inches is allowed.

11. At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, four bass over 10 pounds on shiners in scattered grass 6-8 feet deep for winter visitors in past week, reports Cindy at Bob's Landing. David Martin of Kentucky landed a 12-pound, 2-ounce bass last week. Billy Walter of North Carolina caught a 10-pounder Saturday. Don Butler of Kentucky got a 101/2-pounder on Tuesday and Jamie Brakett of Kentucky boated an 111/2-pounder. Numbers of bass not real good, but size is. Speck boats getting 15-20 at night.

12. At Frostproof, Joshua Snyder netted a 9-pound, 13-ounce bass on Lake Reedy in a Sunday tournament on a Zoom trick worm. Also several bass 4-7 pounds in weekend tournaments at Reedy.

13. In the phosphate pits south of Mulberry and Bartow, bass up to 8 pounds reported, but no 10s yet. Should be some caught this week in shallow water. Bigger bass were still suspended in 5-6 feet at Lake 1 at Hardee Lakes on Saturday, but might have moved shallow.

COMPILED BY DEL MILLIGAN

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