From: Capt
George Medders Guide Service
Guiding and Fishing on Lake Tarpon for over 25 years.
Lake Tarpon Summer Fishing Report
I
would like to dedicate this report to a young man who I had the
pleasure to fish with last week.( Alexander Robbins) Alex is
a 15 year old from California who loves to bass fish. Alex and
his Mom and Dad were down here in Florida on vacation. As most
of you know Summer fishing can be hit or miss, It was tough conditions
on the lake, a very hot day with not a bit of wind and high blue
bird skies. The day started out slow as we hit several areas and
only managed to catch 1 small bass. Alex did catch a 6 pound mud
fish on a lucky craft at the mouth of Anderson park. So around
8 oclock I decided our best chance to catch some fish would be
to slow down and fish the grass beds on the east side of the lake
out in front of the docks straight across from anderson park. I
rigged up a 
couple shaky heads with small 6 inch trick worms. We
managed to catch a few fish but the bite was still not that good.
I then moved out into about 8 feet of water on the outside edge
of the grass and the bass started eating, we boated around 20 bass
in about 2 hours. Alex caught the 2 biggest bass of the day, one
was 5.8 pounds and the other was in the 3 pound range. We managed
to catch a few more fish later in the day but the summer sun was
brutal and we decided to go in around 11 oclock. It was a good
day fishing with a special young man and his Mom and Dad.
The best bite this time of year is by far in the early morning
and late evenings,The water temp is in the upper 80's and the air
temp is in the 90's making the fishing a little slow and uncomfortable.
the afternoon rains will cool the water down and turn the fish
on sometimes if we get a little cloud cover and wind. The best
pattern for summer is start out with rattle traps, top water and
crank baits early in the morning and slow down and worm fish as
the sun gets up. If you get a windy day you can stay with the traps,
spinner baits and lucky crafts all day and cover alot of water.
The otter creek grass beds have a few fish on the outside grass
lines and the mid lake bar is always good early in the morning.
The brush piles are also holding fish. If you can get out right
after the afternoon rains try the outfall canal, they open the
spill way up and let water out as the lake rises, the moving water
always helps the bite. also try where the water is coming in from
the retention ponds.Drink plenty of water and keep the sun screen
on ITS HOT! out there!
Summer
tip- Slow presentations with Jiggy heads, Sinko's and small
worms are working the best on the lake right now! also try crank
baits off the deep grass lines. Try
using lucky craft (Auroa black) also White willow leaf spinner
baits (Terminaters) and Shallow
running crank baits along the shoreline grass beds from sandy
point around the south corner over to the mouth of Chestnut
park. also try the north side of sandy point toward otter creek.
If you need any more info or would like to book at trip give me
a call.
Thanks and
Be Safe, and God
Bless,
Capt GM ><>
Phone:
727-237-7033
georgemedders@yahoo.com
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