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Adjust Fishing For Colder Weather

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 17, 2007

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mark Cook.

While speck anglers are certain to be out in force this week following the cold front, bass fishing will slow for a few days. Major disadvantages of a front are the higher winds and bright blue skies that accompany it, along with higher barometric pressures.

Most bass fishermen know a significant cold front can slow the bite down, but usually the third day after the front, things balance back out. If temperatures stabilize rapidly, the first major bass spawn of the season should occur.

At Teneroc in Lakeland, bass angling has been average for this time of the year. The new lakes opened in the past couple years have been productive, especially the primitive launch sites. Plastic worms, spinnerbaits and shiners have caught fish up to 27 inches.

Thursday I fished with Danny Lewis of Turkey Creek as we worked Palma Sola Bay north to the Manatee River in search of one last redfish. Aggressive hungry trout took our baits before the redfish could find them and we ended up catching nearly 20 specs on Berkley Gulps and other soft plastics.

As the tide started moving in, I finally found a redfish among the mullet and trout just north of the old Leverock's. After a good fight, I got the fish to the boat but she made one last run and as she did my hook-less line floated in my lap.

A poor knot tie kept me without supper, and unfortunately it wasn't the first time I've had that happen.

For charter trip information, contact Mark Cook at (813) 846-9277 or send an e-mail

to tribfishing@aol.com.

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