Around Polk County

1. Around Lakeland, “Huge bluegill are being caught at Saddle Creek and we’re selling lots of crickets. The shellcracker are also good. They’re the nice fat ones, with the lumps on their heads,” reports Evan Wieber at Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248). Bass fishing is good in the morning on topwater frogs up under the trees. Bass have also been good off the bank on dark colored speedworms. Good size bluegill also being caught at Lakes Hollingsworth and Agnes, reports Wieber.

2 At Auburndale, “I haven’t heard much this week out of the Auburndale lakes. All surrounding lakes in the Lake Alfred area are good for bluegill and shellcracker. Lake Alfred has been especially good, “reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990). Lot’s of schoolie size bass in the three to four pound range caught this week around Lake Alfred. The pier at Lion’s Park on Lake Alfred has been good for bass and panfish, reports Schelfo.

3 At Winter Haven, the south chain has been really good for the panfish. The shorelines of Lakes Howard, Shipp, and Winterset have been really good for bluegill. The canals have also been good for panfish. Schoolie sized bass have been good at Lakes Canon, Eloise, Shipp, and Summit. Live shiners and artificials such as lipless crankbaits both producing, reports Schelfo.

4 At Lake Hamilton, bluegills are biting good in big Lake Hamilton. There’s also been some bluegill biting in the middle lake. Bass fishing has been good on plastic worms in the deeper water around the lily pads and cattails, reports Mickey Ingram at Hoppy’s Marine (863-439-7616).

5 At Lake Marion near Haines City, the bluegill and shellcracker bite has been good on red worms in the north end of the lake. “I’ve heard one of the creeks has been especially good,” reports Eileen O’ Leary at Bannon's Fish Camp (863-422-1223).

6 At Lake Pierce, the panfish bite has slowed, but they’re catching some bass on the east side down around the points, reports Jennings Resort (863-439-3811).

7 At Lake Hatchineha, they’re still catching bluegills in the lily pads. The bass bite is good in the reeds early in the morning on Senkos in black and blue color, reports Charlie Wynperle at Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

8 At Lake Toho, live shiner fishing for bass is great, there’s good numbers of fish each day. The artificial bite has slowed though with the hot weather. There’s not many anglers out fishing for panfish, reports Mark Detweiler at Big Toho Marina (407-846-2124).

9 At Lake Kissimmee, bluegill are biting in the lily pads mixed with grass at Twenty Seven Palms and Brahma Island. A few shellcracker are being caught at Gobbler Ridge. For bass, throw a topwater such as a frog or a River2Sea Whopper Plopper. Later in the day, fish the grass lines with a jig or a creature bait. The grass lines in North Cove have been especially good for the bass, reports Charlie Wynperle at Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

10 At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, bluegill are biting in the lily pads in the cove to the right of the boat ramp. Bass are biting in the pencil reeds. Fish a Medlock Jig with a black and blue trailer. There’s still some bass biting in the offshore brush piles, reports Wynperle.

11 At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, good numbers of schoolie size bass in the one to three pound range coming in on artificials. Most of the bass are being caught south along U.S. 27 to the lily pad bay. Some larger bass on the north side on live shiners. Not much on panfish this week, reports Cindy Ritchison at Bob's Landing (863-638-1912).

12 At Frostproof, there’s lots of bluegill and shellcracker up in the grass at Lake Clinch. At Lake Reedy, the shellcracker bite is good on the shell beds and along the edge of the grass. Bass up to six pounds are good at Lake Clinch along the edge of the grass on live shiners. Topwater frogs, chatterbaits, Zoom Horny Toads are also getting the bite. At Lake Reedy, the bass have moved up shallow along the grass and in the grass, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

13 In the phosphate pits near Mulberry and Bartow, the bluegill are bedding and some really nice size fish are coming in on crickets. Flipping Junebug colored worms has been very productive for bass. The catfish bite has been slow. Medard Park has the best bite, reports David Andress of Mulberry Bait Company (863-943-4009).

Compiled By Michael Wilson

Ledger correspondent