Lake Tarpon Report 2/23

Got out and messed around on Lake Tarpon yesterday for a few hours with mixed results. I started fishing about 1:30pm in Salmon Bay (Anderson Park) throwing a trap in the hydrilla with no bites in about a half-hour. I saw little surface activity or baitfish so I moved on. I tried a couple deeper residential canals with a rapala shad rap again for about a half hour with no hits. Again, no surface activity so I moved on to another spot. I tried the John Chestnut area, working some senkos around the shoreline but the Sunday traffic was to much so I again moved on. I decided to hit a canal on the west side of the lake where I figured there to be clear water and there are usually at least some small fish this time of year. I threw a Bitters Sling in X-mas (junebug with red and green flakes) and started to get some bites. I caught my first largemouth about 3:30pm under a dock at the mouth of the canal measuring 15 1/2 inches and close to 2 pounds. I continued down the canal tossing my Bitters Sling under pontoon boats while chatting with a resident sitting on his porch having a beer. He told me the fishing has been so-so and that the females haven't really moved up to spawn yet. I noticed a few nests with a few small males scattered around but nothing over a pound. I got two more small ones on the X-mas slings before exiting the canal and focusing on a line of docks in the mid-lake area. I got one more there at 5:00pm measuring 15" under a dock and decided to call it a day. Total came out to 4 bass-2 keepers and one missed at the boat. Temps were around 70 with water temp about 64. A small front basically moved in the whole time I was out there but only dropped the temp a few degrees. Either way it was nice just to get out land throw some casts!

Frank Sargeant Outdoor Expo and Boat Show

It's time for the 18th Annual Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo and Boat Show hosted by Frank Sargeant (formaly The Frank Sargeant Show) to take place at the Florida Fairgrounds Expo Hall starting next Friday the 27th and goes through the Sunday 1st. It's Florida's largest outdoors family event featuring the latest in fishing equipment, hunting gear, boats, and a variety of outdoor products and services held in the Expo Hall and Sweetbay Entertainment Hall. Along with a kid's fishing derby, there will be numerous demonstrations and seminars each day. Show hours are Friday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is always one of the better fishing expos in the Tampa Bay area so I recommend checking it out! Be sure to get a schedule of the seminars because there is always talented local and national speakers giving away lots of useful tips! Oh, and Friday is always Free!!

Admission: $8
Kids under 12 are free

Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 N. US Hwy. 301
Tampa, FL, 33680

Pair of Benefit Bass Tournaments @ Camp Mack

There are a pair of benefit tournaments that will be taking place within the next month at the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Mack. The first is taking place this Saturday the 15th of February and will benefit Jacob Ellis who is the grandson of Brenda Lacy and was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately I don't have many details on Jacob or the tournament other than the weigh-in is at 2:00 and the contact number is 863-696-1108 for Camp Mack. If I get more details, I will pass them on but anything you can do to support this tournament will be greatly appreciated I'm sure! The second is The Barbara "Boo" Allen Memorial Tournament in support of the Good Shepherd Hospice. It will take place March 15th out of Camp Mack as well. Entry will be $75 and will pay back 5 places so get out there and support these tournaments if you can!

Tarpon Tom's Shiner Tournament Date Announced

A date has been set for this years annual shiner tournament on Lake Tarpon put on by Tarpon Tom's Baitshop. The tournament will take place March 14th, 2009 out of Anderson Park in Tarpon Springs. You can sign up early at Tarpon Tom's or pay at the ramp. Entry will be $150 and rumor has it shiners will be included this year! Winners are usually in the 25-30lb range for 5 fish!

For more info contact:

Tarpon Toms Bait and Tackle
36217 US 19
Palm Harbor, Fl 34684
(727)-772-0708