Updates and tips for freshwater fishing in Lakeland, Polk County, July 1-10

Raymond Beasock
| For the ledger

Fish of the week: Bass – With the afternoon rains starting to ramp up, water levels are starting to rise slightly and the lakes are also cooling down a bit. This has resulted in some good fishing, especially around the grass lines.

Strike zone: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13

1. In Lakeland, At Saddle Creek, Tenoroc and Parker Lake, bluegill and shellfish are being caught on worms and grass shrimp. The bass bite has been good on sea worms, Redbug speed worms and the Strike King HC 5 crankbait has been sold out at Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).

2. In Auburndale and on Lake Alfred, Lake Juliana, bass are being caught on lures, with fish to 6 pounds reported. The bluegill bite has also been good. On Lake Alfred, Lake Haines and Lake Rochelle, nothing really big, but plenty of bass in the 4- to 5-pound range are being caught on royal-colored lipless Booyah lures. The shellcracker bite has been on fire on Lake Rochelle. For more information, contact Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).

3. In Winter HavenOn Cannon Lake, bass and bluegill fishing has been solid. On Blue Lake, catfish and bass fishing has been good according to Schelfo. Stick to smaller lakes like Swoop Lake and Echo Lake with all the holiday traffic on the lakes for a better time on the water. Capt. Bill Goudy reports that bass can be found on the outside edge of submerged grass using rubber worms or wild minnows. Carolina rigged soft plastics are best for fishing near offshore brush piles. For a guided fishing trip with Capt. Goudy, call Bass Online (888-629-2277).

4. On Lake HamiltonBig Lake: Bass have been tough to catch, but there are still plenty of fish in the grass and flipping is still dominant to catch the big ones there with a ⅜ or ½ ounce weight with a black and blue senko or creature baits on deeper grass lines, as well as a trap along the edge of the grass lines in the low light parts of the day. Shellcracker and bluegill are still on whips or pads, with crickets or worms. Speckled flies are few and far between, with most being caught trolling with white or chartreuse jigs or with lights at night in open water using minnows. Middle Lake: A few bass have been caught here and there with a senko. Speckled flies are being caught more frequently in the main lake around the buoys with lights and minnows. Small Lake: Bluegill and shellcracker are being caught in and around the pad patches with crickets or worms. Bass can be caught by flipping the grass with a ⅜- or ½-ounce weight with dark-style creature baits on heavy braided line, reports local guide Kyle Brewer. Contact Kyle at [email protected].

5. On Lake Marion Near Haines City, bass are being caught flipping the Kissimmee grass on the east side with swim jigs, fast worms and even frogs before 9 a.m. Later in the day, spinnerbaits have been effective flipping the outside of loose grass patches. Shellcrackers and bluegills are being caught on the northwest side and in the southeast pad patches by dipping crickets and worms into pad holes. Flies are being caught with lights at night in 6 to 8 feet of water with minnows, Brewer reported.

6. On Lake PierceThe fly bite has slowed considerably. Bluegill and pumpkinseed are still in the areas around Jennings Fish Camp and Cherry Pocket on worms and grass shrimp. Bass are hot early in the thick grass on topwater baits. The Carolina Rig and jerkbait are working best later in the day around brush piles, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

7. On Lake HatchinehaBass fishing has been a little slow due to the shallow water, but you can still catch a few fish on the deeper grass and reed lines by casting a jig. They’ve also caught a few flies trolling in water 7 to 9 feet deep, reports Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

8. On Lake TohoNo reports this week. For more information, contact Mike Groshon of Bass Online (888-629-2277).

9. On Lake KissimmeeBass fishing has been very good, with a 1-ounce jig and brush piles sticking out of the water around Philadelphia Point. Bluegill and snow crab have also been very good near Rabbit and Bird islands, Bridgemaster Fishing Products reports.

10. On Walk-in-the-Water LakeBass fishing has been very slow, but you can catch a few fish on the brush piles with a crankbait and a Zoom OL Monster worm. Bluegill and shellcracker have been biting very well around Indian Lake Estates in the pads on red worms, Bridgemaster Fishing Products reports.

11. On Crooked LakeBig Crooked: Minnow fishing at the junction of Big and Little Crooked has produced a few bass. Speckled flies are most effective at night using lights and minnows. Shellcrackers and bluegills have been biting near Wirt’s Point in 6 feet of water on worms. Little Crooked: Red worms fished on the bottom in 6 feet of water are working well for bluegills, Childress said.

12. Protect from frostOn Clinch Lake, bluegills and a few pumpkinseeds can be found on the south end using red worms. The bass bite on the west side has been solid, with minnows drifting along the grass edge with topwater baits doing the trick in the same area early in the morning. Use the Carolina Rig and jerkbait on the brush piles later in the day. On Reedy Lake, bluegills are in the lily pads in the southwest corner of the lake. Bass are hitting the Carolina Rig and jerkbait near the brush piles. On Arbuckle Lake, bluegills are biting near the cypress trees on the south end. A few bass can be caught using live bait on the east side near the downed trees, Childress reports.

13. At MulberryThe topwater bite has started to pick up in the pools thanks to recent rain that has cooled the water temperature a bit. Stick to the banks and points off islands and rock bars casting a shad-colored Devil Horse or Whopper Plopper. When the temperature rises, switch to junebug-colored worms and black and blue senkos and take it easy. Watch the weather as the bite increases before and after afternoon thunderstorms, but as always, be cautious, says Danny Hamm of Bull Bay Tackle Company (863-937-3292).