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Rains Will Benefit Area Anglers

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 21, 2008

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 sometimes keeping folks off the water, our afternoon storms have been beneficial to our area lakes and rivers.

Polk County has seen water levels below normal the past two years, but with a few tropical systems this summer hopes are a rebound is coming.

Teneroc Management Area in Lakeland has really been affected by the low water with hand launching of small boats in some lakes the only way to gain access.

Low water also can have a detrimental effect on the spawn bass, according to Danin Moxley, director at Teneroc.
Bob Parker at Phillips Bait and Tackle said the recent rains are slowly bringing lake levels up but they need much more. With the rains they have seen the catfish bite pick up, especially in places where water feeds into the lakes.
Saddle Creek Park has produced good catfish and bluegill catches. Bass, while tough this time of year, are still biting wild shiners. Parker also reported excellent bluegill fishing on Lake Marion and Lake Parker.

At Medard Reservoir, bluegill and catfish seem to be the main target of local anglers, as cricket and liver sales have stayed steady, according to local bait stores.

The Alafia River levels are up but not too high to fish. The currents are still pretty strong, so your best bet is to find a deep corner where the water slows and gives the fish an excellent ambush point.

I walked the river briefly Saturday and saw several creeks trickling into the main river and had I had a rod and reel I would have worked a jerk bait across the outflow points. The Alafia is a great place to target catfish.

For more information,

contact Mark Cook at

tribfishing@aol.com.

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