1. Around Lakeland, at Tenoroc, bass fishing was best on lakes Halfmoon, Hydrilla, Legs, Shop, 4, 10, C and F. Lakes Butterfly, Coronet, 3 and 5 also had high catch rates. Last week, there were 33 large bass over 19 inches reported. Three bass measured over 22 inches with the largest close to 26 inches. Speck fishing was best in lakes Hydrilla, Legs and Picnic. Lakes Cemetery, Derby, Fish Hook, Legs, Picnic and 5 had the best panfish bite. The catfish bite was best at Lakes Cemetery, Derby, Legs, Pine and C, reports FWC biologist Paolo Pecora. At Saddle Creek, bass are biting Rat-L-Traps, Zara Spooks and Texas rigged plastic worms fished shallow around the grass and trees. Bluegill and tilapia are biting red worms along the banks. Around town, lakes Hollingsworth and Parker have a good speck bite on minnows in deep water. Lake Parker is producing bass on ribbontail worms and chatterbaits around hydrilla and submerged grass. Flipping Senkos in the Kissimmee grass is producing at Lake Bonny, reports Kyle Stafford at Phillips Bait and Tackle (863-666-2248).

2. At Auburndale, Lake Juliana is producing plenty of specks, but the fish are on the small side. Around Lake Alfred, lakes Haines and Rochelle have the best speck bite while drifting minnows. Lakes Alfred, Haines and Rochelle are producing bass up to five pounds, reports Ron Schelfo at Ron’s Tackle Box (863-956-4990).

Bass fishing remains very good in most spots around the area this week. Catches should only improve as fish stage for the upcoming spawn.

3. At Winter Haven, spawning bass have been spotted around the south chain. Lake Cannon has a good bass bite on lipless crankbaits and shiners, reports Schelfo. Specks are biting on the brush piles around the south chain. Lake Howard is producing good numbers. Offshore brush piles and isolated hydrilla are producing bass on plastic worms and crankbaits at Lake Cannon, reports Capt. Jackson Williams of Action Bass Guide Service (863-326-3232).

4. At Lake Hamilton, the big lake is producing the best speck bite and some of the fish are moving into the pads and Kissimmee grass. Both minnows and jigs are producing. The bass bite is decent on all three lakes. The grass lines are producing best on plastic worms and swimbaits. The upcoming new moon should also bring the males in on the beds, reports Mickey Ingram at Hoppy’s Marine (863-439-7616).

5. At Lake Marion near Haines City, speck anglers are active at night, but the bass bite has been slow, reports Ingram.

6. At Lake Pierce, speck numbers picked up this week and multiple anglers caught near limits. Minnows in the pads and just outside the pads are producing. Bass fishing has been slow, just a few fish have been caught, reports Jennings Resort (863-439-3811).

7. At Lake Hatchineha, anglers are catching their limits of specks at night under the lights in the canal between lakes Hatch and Cypress. Set out as many poles as you can with minnows for the best numbers. Bass are biting in the numerous vegetation mats. Flip a hematoma color, beaver creature bait with a 1.5-ounce tungsten weight for the best action, reports Charlie Wynperle at Bridgemaster Fishing Products (863-676-1009).

8. At Lake Toho, the water level is still way up on the lake due to the dredging on Lake Cypress. Good numbers of bass have been caught throwing jerk baits in open water over hydrilla. Flipping the vegetation mats around Browns Point and Wailey’s Landing is producing good action. Speck anglers are getting the bite while drifting the deeper water spots with jigs and minnows, reports Jay Turner of Jay’s Bass Bustin Guide Service. (407-908-4739).

9. At Lake Kissimmee, there’s still a flotilla of boats drifting minnows around Marker 9. This area has plenty of submerged brush piles, so put out as many rigs as you can. “Bass fishing has been spotty at best. I’d recommend riding up to Cypress Lake first thing in the morning to throw topwaters around the hydrilla. Then later on, run back to Kissimmee to flip the numerous mats,” reports Wynperle.

10 At Lake Walk-in-the-Water, troll an Arkie Lures Shinee Hinee jig in orange and chartreuse color in six feet of water for some “giant specks.” The bass are starting to move shallow. Key in on isolated cover with a gold color Cotton Cordell Boy Howdy early in the day. Then switch to a watermelon red color Senko, reports Wynperle.

11. At Crooked Lake at Babson Park, night fishing for specks is still the most exciting action. The fish have moved a bit shallower, around 25 to 27 feet and some of the fish have roe. The average size is 12 inches and most anglers are catching their limits. A couple of anglers are chasing shellcracker with red worms and the fish are “fat and sassy.” Schoolie bass are biting along the U.S. 27 side, reports Cindy Ritchison at Bob's Landing (863-638-1912).

12. At Frostproof, speck fishing is the top thing right now. Lake Clinch is producing good size specks day and night in 25 feet of water. Minnows and jigs are producing on the brush piles. Bass are biting there on Carolina rigged worms and shiners in the grass. Lake Reedy is good for specks while drifting minnows in 8 feet of water. Some specks are in the pads. Bass are biting in the pads on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Live shiners are also producing around shallow grass. Lakes Livingston and Arbuckle are good for specks while drifting at depth of 8 to 9 feet, reports Jim Childress of Big Bass Bait & Tackle (352-207-7520).

13. In the phosphate pits near Mulberry, a few bass are biting topwaters early, but the bite is real active on Texas rigged worms in 5 to 8 feet around hydrilla. Junebug and junebug red are still the hot colors. The speck bite improved this week and the fish are larger. Trolling minnows or drifting with bobbers has been good for specks up to 14 inches, reports Danny Hamm of Stones Bait & Tackle (863-940-4898).