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Daily fishing report

As the water temperature continues to climb, bass become less active. During this period you have to aggravate a bass into eating by placing a bait in its strike zone. Summer bass congregate in deep water around bottom cover. The most effective bait is a Florida rigged plastic worm.

Place a Florida rig rattling sinker on the line and tie on a 3/0-4/0 straight worm hook. To determine the weight of the sinker consider the depth, wind and current. Use the lightest sinker you can, while maintaining bottom contact. Hook size is determined by the worm. In a 6- to 7-inch worm use a 3/0 hook. In an 8- to 10-inch worm use a 4/0-5/0 hook. When rigging the worm I come in the top and feed the hook about a half-inch into the worm, exiting on the seam that runs down the worm. Feed the hook through so only the top portion of the hook is in the worm. Place the hook point back into the worm on the seam, making it weedless. The worm should hang straight with no kinks. Screw the weight into the head of the worm. This will allow the bait to penetrate the bottom cover, placing the bait where fish are holding.

To work the bait, two words come to mind: slow and deliberate. Drag it by moving the rod from the 10 to 11 o'clock position, keeping a tight line. The biggest fish tend to be the lightest bite; pay close attention to what your bait is doing and if you feel anything different, set the hook.

-- Lenny Crispino guides on Lake Tarpon. Call (727) 938-2379.

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