It all starts Saturday, September 18 at 11:00am, and besides the great entertainment (that I’ll be telling you about below), the first 500 school age children through the door will receive a free bag of art supplies!

So what can you do or see at Family Day? How about performances by Didgeridoo Down Under, magician Luis Campaneria, Tampa Taiko Japanese drumming, and the Kuumba Dancers & Drummers? You can also find balloon bending, face painting, a community sculpture project, a global stick game, portrait sketches, a bake sale, and tables about countries from all over the world. For art activities, you can try your hand at paper African masks, origami lanterns, Japanese kimono dolls and carp kites, Moroccan good luck hands, Australian didgeridoos, and Chinese good luck door hangers.

The event runs 11:00am – 3:00pm on September 18. You won’t want to miss it!

Of course, the game is inspired by the aviation wonderland, Fantasy of Flight, and the aviation themed-children’s book, All of Life is a School, written by the attraction’s owner Kermit Weeks, the game is a fun way to allow users to learn about the game’s vintage aircrafts in a hands-on and imaginative way. The app is $1.99 and can be purchased by visiting the Apple iTunes store.

The bite has definitely slowed on Kissimmee. Not as many fish hanging around brushpiles as there was a month ago. Bass are mostly in shad chasing mode now and feeding mostly at night. Flip outside grasslines early, then further in as the day progresses. Also look for schoolers around mouths of trails early. Try shad colored topwaters or spinnerbaits. If there’s no clouds and wind the bite dies off in a hurry. Shell beds are worth a shot with shad colored crankbaits and Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics. It’s a real chore to catch a few fish on clear, calm, hot days after about 9:00 a.m. There’s a few fish hanging around the little bit of hydrilla that remains in lake cypress. Flip or cast soft plastics around any visible grass that’s matted. Try rattlebaits or spinnerbaits around the submerged grass.
 Toho fishing a little better than other lakes on the chain now. Offshore hydrilla beds should produce the best results. Try spinnerbaits or rattlebaits early around submerged grassbeds then switch over to Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics during midday hours and fish slow to entice bites from hot, lethargic, fish. Flip matted hydrilla with 1/2 – 1 oz weighted soft plastics or Jigs. Also check creek mouths for flowing water and schooling bass.

Central Florida is where you’ll find beautiful lakes, great bass fishing and Monte Goodman. Monte has made a career of doing what he enjoys and does best as a professional bass guide and successful tournament angler. Guiding and fishing competitively for the past 15 years has given him the experience, skill and knowledge it takes to be a great fisherman. Monte is also a vocal advocate of Florida’s habitat and conservation efforts, supports and practices “catch and release” himself and encourages others to do the same. A member of tournament trails such as FLW, FOMNTT, BFL, and B.A.S.S just to name a few. Credited with well over a hundred local tournament wins, was back to back Angler of the Year in the largest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the world, and has won numerous Big Bass honors. Monte’s ability to adapt, his versatility and lengthy resume has earned him a reputation anyone would be proud of.

The Polk Museum of Art will showcase several exhibits, including the Modern Masters exhibit, featuring artisits such as Arshile, Gorky, Robert Rauschenber, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Barnara Kruger and more!  Other exhibits include: Loïs Mailou Jones: A Life in Vibrant Color, Student Exhibittion: VSA-Art for All, the Creative Studies Series: An Adventure with Carl Jung, and the final in the Principals of Design Series – Art and Design/Unity.

Interested in a concert?  Don’t miss The Repeatles, LIVE at Bok Tower Gardens on Saturday, August 21^st. Back by popular demand, this band features classic music from the 50’s and 60’s, an Elvis impersonator and a rockin’ good time!

Would the performing arts be more up your alley?  Ramon Theater presents Murder Mystery Theater: Death Bemoans Her on Saturday, August 28^th.  Join your fellow investigators for an evening of intrigue and murder!

Jones has had a fantastic career within Merlin Entertainments.  Most recently, he served as Divisional Director of Midway Attractions in the Western United States, responsible for LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas and Madame Tussauds Hollywood — which was the first Madame Tussauds attraction ever to be built from the ground up in 200 years. Jones has worked in leisure attractions for more than 20 years and has done everything from selling ice cream to being a General Manager that has driven attendance and visitor satisfaction in his attractions. His experience will prove to be a tremendous force in guiding LEGOLAND Florida into being one of the best theme parks in the world.

During the construction phase of LEGOLAND Florida, he will work closely with John Ussher, Merlin Entertainments’ General Manager of Development for LEGOLAND.  “Having worked for Merlin all over the world, I know the quality expected and I’m excited to bring a LEGOLAND park to Florida.  I can’t wait to see the expressions on visitors’ faces when they see what we have in store for them,” said Jones.  “Merlin is a major global attraction operator with proven expertise at running theme parks. It is a compelling brand with a huge emphasis on guest satisfaction that is unparallel in this day and age.”  

Opening in fall 2011, LEGOLAND Florida will be a 145-acre family theme park geared specifically for children ages 2 to 12. There will be more than 50 interactive rides, shows and attractions including amazing LEGO models making it unlike any other attraction in Florida.

Jones is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom and is moving to Polk County with his wife Sarah who is a certified nurse and midwife.

  As surface temperatures push towards 90 degrees the bass keep moving deeper in search of more comfortable areas to escape the heat. Got to get out early for best action or fish at night. Bites hard to come by after about 9:00 a.m. In most area lakes, especially the clear ones, fishing shallower than 8 ft is just about a waste of time. Look for fish to be hanging around brushpiles, shell beds, or submerged grassbeds in 8 ft of water or deeper. Deep diving crankbaits along with Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics will be the top producers in these areas. Try shad or chartreuse colored crankbaits as fish will primarily be feeding on shad or bream until the water cools down and they begin to move shallower. For plastics stick to old adage of lighter colors on brighter days and darker colors on more overcast days. Experiment with different weights, shapes, and sizes until the fish tell you what they want.
  Also look for midday schoolers to be chasing shad and glass minnows around the deepest areas of the lake, most will only be 1-2 lbs but any fish after 9:00 is a good fish. Any lure that can be cast into the schoolers should work. Heavier topwaters and rattlebaits are usually best as they can be cast longer distances. For those catching fish deeper than 15 ft please return them to the water immediately to prevent them from inflating their air bladders and becoming unable to swim back to the bottom which would ultimately result in their death. Any fish that can’t swim back down must have the air removed from it’s swim bladder or vented. Berkley has a ventilator tool that folds and fits in a sheath for about 10 bucks and it works great. It takes less than a minute to vent a fish and save it’s life and you some money in dead fish penalties. Also don’t forget to cool down the water in your livewells about 10 degrees below the surface temp. Ice works but freezing bottles of water which may be used over and over is a much cheaper and very effective alternative. The 32 oz gatorade bottles work great. Place one in each side of your livewell every 3 hours and your water will stay cool all day.
Kissimmee Chain

  This place is as hot as the weather. The Kissimmee chain is fishing as good as anywhere in the country. Even with closed locks, rising and falling water levels, and surface temps approaching boiling point, 30 lb five fish limits are coming to the scales in just about every tournament. A 6 lb average in the dog days just once is impressive, but every tournament, that’s stupid good. It’s hard to say which lake is fishing better now because it’s equally as good on both sides of the southport locks. The improved water clarity and vegetation growth has to have something to do with the chain’s success. Let’s hope it stays this way and it should with good management. It’s good to see these lakes returning to their former status as one of the best bass fisheries in the country.
  There’s a very strong but short lived early bite. Topwaters fished along inside and outside grass edges and down boat trails are working good for first hour or so of mornings then fizzles out fast with the rising sun. Also flip outside grasslines early with 1/2-3/4 oz Texas rigged craws or creature baits. Jigs are also taking their fare share of big fish. As it gets hotter and brighter fish further back into the thicker portions of the grass. There’s still some bluegill bedding activity in the lily pads as well, which always means there’s a few big bass hanging around to feed on them.
  Look to offshore structure for the best midday action. Brushpiles, shell beds, and hydrilla are all holding quality fish. Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics are usually best bet in these areas. Black/blue, watermelon, and junebug are always good choices in these lakes. Shad or chartreuse colored crankbaits are also worth a shot. Try flippin’ a craw or creature bait into hydrilla mats which can be a slow but very rewarding tactic. Also check mouths of creeks, canals, and rivers after rains for schoolers. Crankbaits and Texas/Carolina rigs are usually best when there’s current flowing.

Central Florida is where you’ll find beautiful lakes, great bass fishing and Monte Goodman. Monte has made a career of doing what he enjoys and does best as a professional bass guide and successful tournament angler. Guiding and fishing competitively for the past 15 years has given him the experience, skill and knowledge it takes to be a great fisherman. Monte is also a vocal advocate of Florida’s habitat and conservation efforts, supports and practices “catch and release” himself and encourages others to do the same. A member of tournament trails such as FLW, FOMNTT, BFL, and B.A.S.S just to name a few. Credited with well over a hundred local tournament wins, was back to back Angler of the Year in the largest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the world, and has won numerous Big Bass honors. Monte’s ability to adapt, his versatility and lengthy resume has earned him a reputation anyone would be proud of.

Don’t know what’s hotter, the weather or the bite. The Kissimmee Chain continues to amaze. Surface temperature is approaching 90 degrees yet tournament fishermen are still finding 30 plus lbs of fish consistently. Don’t know of too many fisheries around the country that can compete with that. Rising water temp mixed with low water levels have fish searching out deeper, cooler, areas. There’s still plenty of fish along outside grasslines. Topwaters and spinnerbaits will work early then switch to flippin’ a 1/2 oz or heavier Texas rigged black/blue or watermelon craw or creature bait. Sometimes casting soft plastics with lighter weights along grass edges can be more productive especially in clear water areas.  Junebug, blueberry, watermelon, and redbug are all great color choices. 7-10 in Ribbontail or paddletail worms along with 5 in stickworms paired with 1/4 oz or less weights is a good combination for casting. Look for offshore hydrilla, eelgrass, or peppergrass, submerged or matted as either can and will hold fish. Try 3/8-3/4 oz white spinnerbaits or shad colored 1/4-3/4 oz rattlebaits over submerged grassbeds. Work Carolina/Texas rigged worms slowly along bottom to pick off less aggressive fish. In thicker, matted hydrilla try topwater frogs/rats over the top of the mat then punch through it with 1/2 oz or heavier craw, creature bait, or jig. Pray for a breeze as the hydrilla gnats will be out in full force. Brushpiles planted offshore and shell beds should also be holding fish. Shad or chartreuse colored Deep diving crankbaits along with Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics will produce in these areas.
Winter Haven

Finally, there’s enough water to go from one end of the chain to the other. Only lakes Mirror and Spring are inaccessible on the South Chain and lake Smart on the North Chain. Both chains still need about 2 ft to reach normal levels. Overall fishing is pretty tough. There’s plenty of fish to catch and they are biting. The hard part, as always, is finding them. Most fish are in deeper, cooler, water. Only the deepest of shoreline areas will hold any concentrations of fish in most lakes and these areas become stagnant after about 9 a.m. The one exception to this is boat docks which provide cooler, shaded, water for bass to wait out the day in. Pitch Texas rigged soft plastics such as craws, lizards, worms, or creature baits as far underneath the docks as possible. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits can be good around the docks as well. Look for offshore structure such as shell beds, ledges, humps, and dredge holes. Find some sort of cover on the structure such as brush or hydrilla to locate schools of fish. Fish these areas with shad or chartruese deep diving crankbaits and Texas/Carolina rigged worms. Junebug, redbug, and watermelon colored worms always good here. In more stained water lakes concentrate on depths of 6-12 ft. In clear lakes 8+ ft. Also look to mid-lake areas in clear water lakes for schoolers. Toss topwaters, rattlebaits, and jerkbaits to these mostly 1-2 pounders. Occasionally a big fish is mixed in with the smaller fish. Tournament fishermen please remember to take good care of your catch. There’s way too many dead fish being weighed in. Use ice to cool down the water in your livewells. Surface water is about 10-15 degrees hotter than water 8 ft or deeper. That variance will cause temperature shock in fish and kill them. Two 32 oz bottles filled with water and frozen will keep most livewells cool all day. Start the morning with one and add the other halfway through the tournament. Also fish caught deeper than 15 ft down need to have their air bladders vented. It only takes about 30 seconds to vent a fish and save it’s life. The vent tool I use is a bends mender which can be found cheap online. There are videos on youtube showing how to properly vent a fish.  

Central Florida is where you’ll find beautiful lakes, great bass fishing and Monte Goodman. Monte has made a career of doing what he enjoys and does best as a professional bass guide and successful tournament angler. Guiding and fishing competitively for the past 15 years has given him the experience, skill and knowledge it takes to be a great fisherman. Monte is also a vocal advocate of Florida’s habitat and conservation efforts, supports and practices “catch and release” himself and encourages others to do the same. A member of tournament trails such as FLW, FOMNTT, BFL, and B.A.S.S just to name a few. Credited with well over a hundred local tournament wins, was back to back Angler of the Year in the largest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the world, and has won numerous Big Bass honors. Monte’s ability to adapt, his versatility and lengthy resume has earned him a reputation anyone would be proud of.

The Grand Opening and ribbon cutting of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame will take place on Tuesday, June 22 at 10:00 a.m. at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale and will be followed by the induction of the 2010 Florida Sports Hall of Fame Class that evening at The Lakeland Center. The hall of fame will be open until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, closing in preparation for the induction at 6:15 p.m. that evening at the Lakeland Center. Hall of Fame members scheduled to appear at the event include: Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Doug Sanders, Charlie Owens, Don Garlits, Fran Curci, Jimmy Carnes, Roger Strickland, Hubert Green, Pat Borders, Catie Condon and Ruth Alexander. “We are so excited to be able to share this grand opening with the Hall of Fame members, the people who make this new building what it is,” said Florida Sports Hall of Fame Chairman, Rick Dantzler. “This promises to be a star-studded, memorable event for everyone who attends,” Dantzler added.

Four new members will be inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame at the Lakeland Center at 6:15 p.m. The 2010 Florida Sports Hall of Fame class consists of Lake Wales native and baseball standout Pat Borders, Olympic gold medalist Catie Ball-Condon, long time sports columnist Jack Hairston, who will be inducted posthumously, and professional golfer Hubert Green. The induction ceremony, which will also feature the Polk County All Sports Awards, will be aired live on Bright House Sports Network.

 For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing at 863-551-4750.