Ron's Tackle Box in Lake Alfred has more than just the latest in fishing gear. This life-sized tackle box is full of fishing secrets and perhaps some of the best fishing tips on the east side of Polk County.
"When folks come in for advice about fishing gear, I lead them to the XCaliber Fishing Lure, the XR50-Lipless Crank Bait, and the other one that I recommend is the Cotton Cordel Pencil Popper," says Ron Schelfo, owner of Ron's Tackle Box.
Schelfo has been in the tackle business in Florida since 1976 and in Lake Alfred for 14 years. He is also on the Lakes Access Advisory Board for the Polk County Commission.
"There are 10 appointed people and we are looking to put 10 more boat ramps in lakes in Polk County," he says. "Being located right here in Lake Alfred, I am right in the middle of 554 lakes in Polk County."
Schelfo says he is excited about the access to the lakes in Polk County.
"We have lost some of the spring training (baseball) teams and a few other things that used to generate revenue, and more lake access will bring in new revenue for Polk County," he says.
Schelfo says Winter Haven's Chain of Lakes is "the best" for fishing as far as he is concerned.
"This guy from Canada came in and fished Lake Kissimmee for two weeks," Schelfo says. "He then went to Lake Eloise and caught a 10-pound bass. The south Winter Haven chain has been phenomenal."
Schelfo says savvy fishermen know that there's a lot of factors involved when it comes to fishing, such as the barometer, a full moon, and the high and low tides that even affect the inlands, but he says don't let any of that stop you from going fishing "Just go when you can go. That's simple advice," he says. "You'll always catch something. We have bass fishing here all year round.
According to Schelfo, speckled perch season is in the winter months, while shell crackers and blue gill can be caught all summer long.
"When folks come in and ask me for advice on fishing, I ask them where they're planning on going to fish, and I try to tell them what to use for that particular lake," he says. "Now that advice comes from what people are telling me about what is going on and what they are using and what they are catching and where." Schelfo adds that good fishing also depends on the clarity of the lake.
Giving out good advice has obviously paid off. His "tackle box" business is a jumping place, with folks coming in for all kinds of items, from the live worms and the 7,000 crickets, to home décor with "the great outdoors" style, to the antique fishing items, as well as all the modern fishing gear.
Schelfo also organizes fishing tournaments. He's currently working on a Fourth of July tournament that will benefit the Lake Alfred Lions Club.
"We fish on Lake Alfred," he says. "We usually get about 50 boats. It's a good family picnic time. We are done around 1 p.m., and then folks can go be with their families. This is the 11th year for this one."
He and his wife coordinate a fishing tournament every Thursday night. It is a family-oriented event that includes women and children.
"I try to give something back to the community," Schelfo says. "It's $22 per boat and it is a 100 percent tournament, which means we pay back all the money through first, second and third places and also for the biggest bass."
Schelfo organized the recent tournament for the Auburndale Parks and Recreation Department to raise money for the city's Fourth of July fireworks, and he also serves on the board of directors for Idolsaside Ministries, a Christian sportsmen's association.
The famous Japanese fisherman, Hiro Naito, visited Ron's Tackle Box when it first opened in Lake Alfred. "I have some really old lures and he likes the heritage of fishing," Schelfo says. "He works for Pratco, an artificial lure-making company, which makes the Bomber, XCalibur, Heddon, Cordell, Yum, Booyah and Rebel. He is a field tester and lure designer for them, and he used to work for Bagley (Baits). They used to be located in Winter Haven and made fishing lures. Everybody around here knows Bagley."
Naito has produced videos and written books on bass behavior, and the techniques of fishing. He is a big advocate about respect for bass fishing in the United States. "He says it's an honor to bass fish in the United States," Schelfo says. "He says it is a privilege to fish."
Naito has included Schelfo in magazine articles, his books and his videos.
Monte Goodman, of the Eagle Lake-based Central Florida Bucketmouths Professional Guide Service, has been in business for six years. "We had two boats go out today and we caught 53 fish between us and we threw them all back, then we stopped at Fred's Market on the way home to eat," Goodman says.
Goodman says he gets people who have never casted a rod before, all the way up to professional bass fisherman. Some of Goodman's fishing tips include realizing the time of year, knowing the water temperature and considering the season. "Make your decisions how you're going to fish accordingly. There are 100 different ways to catch a bass," he says. "One year something might work and another year something else will work."
Professional bass fisherman Hank Parker, who hosts a weekly television fishing program, came to Central Florida for the Bass Masters' Classic on Lake Toho a few years ago, along with a representative from Mann's Bait Company. The two contacted Goodman and asked him to take them to his fishing holes in Winter Haven.
A good piece of advice Goodman shares for a successful fishing excursion is safety.
"Countless times I've had people fall in and I've had people hook each other. I even had someone fall through the windshield of my boat. I wish I had a video camera on some of them," he says.
Goodman says he does a lot of scouting, what the pros call "pre-fishing," to see where the fish are biting before tournaments and guide trips. Already this season, one of his clients caught a 13.5-pound bass.
"That was the weight on the scale, and that's the biggest I've ever seen personally," he says.
Goodman can be found on the Web at www.cfbucketmouths.com or by calling 863-661-7226.
Schelfo also says that the Polk County OutPost 27 visitors center on U.S. Highway 27, near Interstate 4, also has a lot of information about local fishing and lakes. He says the center staff is largely responsible for sending vacationers and visitors to the area lakes.
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