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Highlands Today

Slow Midnight Bite Signals Large Migration

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Dave Douglass

Published: December 2, 2007

Today is the best day out of the next three, since the midnight bite has finally slowed, and there's a larger feeding migration throughout the day.

The entire day today should produce a nice, even-feeding bite from safelight to sundown. A slight spike in feeding will take place at mid-day and this should be the best time of the day for a big-bass strike.

From Monday to Wednesday, this situation diminishes slightly each day but the early morning bite should remain constant until 9 a.m., then drop off gradually until noon.

In the late afternoon — 5 to 6:30 p.m. — there might be a slight increase for medium-sized fish along vegetative areas in the deeper waters.

Crappie are in the deeper areas moving along vegetation and ridges and bars in eight to 10 feet of water. The season is just getting started for this tasty pan fish. Anglers are just starting to produce limits along inclines and ledges.

Water temperatures have returned to the mid- to lower-70s, which will hold off the spawn of many bass, especially in the shallow lakes. Deeper lakes are not affected as much and most bass will continue to move into spawning areas to start their yearly reproductive cycle.

Fishing Facts

The geneticly superior Florida largemouth bass spawn early and more than once a year. When I say, "early," I mean starting in October and then again in April.

I've boated quite a few very large bass with bruised/bleeding tails and undersides from maintaining their beds. Many of the largest bass in the lake are caught in September/October right after they spawn.

Remember to treat the spawning bass with care after you catch her, and return her to the same area after you take your pictures. It's extremely important that you allow her to reproduce, for she has the best genetics to create the new generation of bass.

Fishing Report

Lake Istokpoga is at the same level it was last year on this date.

All the area lakes are about at the same levels as last year with the exception of a few lakes which have influents. Overall, lake levels are in a sad state with no hope of returning to normal levels until several tropical storms and a well-above-average rainy season occur during the same period.

Lake Istokpoga users are waiting for the outcome of the deviation request from SFWM to the USACE for a possible option of a low lake level of 35.5 feet above sea level if not enough rain occurs this winter and spring — which is not likely to happen. This means the farmers will be provided lake water until 35.5 feet ASL is reached. At this point in time, everyone involved is banking on nature providing record levels of rainfall in the amount of three to four feet of lake-level increase in one rainy season.

Now I don't have the records in front of me at the moment, but I believe a three-foot rise in lake levels has not occurred very often, and four feet never has occurred.

What happens to Istokpoga if there is a rainy season no better than the 2007 season? Or even worst yet, less than 2007?

Here's what will happen: Farmers will have to wait on rain (no Istokpoga water available) along with lake users — this they have in common. Once it starts raining, the farmers immediately go back to work and start planting crops and all returns to normal again for them, however, this is not the case for lake users.

The lake users have to deal with a Hydrilla problem, which has progressed at a record pace. The county has no money from their prime fishing lake while having a much more expensive weed management program to implement very carefully as to not cause a fish kill using aquathol-k contact herbicide in one to three feet of water depth. The lake recovery time is at the very least two years, but more likely five years before returning to pre-deviation status both in lake habitat — which is extremely damaged — which will takes years to convince anglers and fishermen the fish population has returned.

You see, farmers return from loss five times faster than lake users if the lake is taken to 35.5 feet ASL. However, if the lowest lake level stays at the current low lake precedent of 36.5 feet ASL, the farmers receive very little or no water — just like lake users do, at the same time.

All wait for rain experiencing the same problems. The farmers lose money without as much crops and the lake users and the county loses money because of much less lake usage — some lake use is possible, but very little.

But the plus here is, lake users don't see the lake habitat diminish as fast because they have a foot more water to enable the lake to last longer if rain doesn't return — in a best case scenario.

The Hydrilla management challenge is not near as crucial and cost far less — Hydrilla grows very fast in very shallow water, and shading still works in causing die-back, one foot makes a huge difference in Istokpoga at 36.5 feet ASL for weed management.

The bass will be able to barely exist in the south end where they all end up as water is released to the level of 36.5, three to four feet deep. At 35.5 feet, bass will not survive unless we have the rainy season of biblical proportions — a below normal season will place the lake in a far more precarious situation than it presently is in, and will a 34.5 deviation be requested at that time?

What level is the "Stopping Point" and when is the "Point of No Return?"

Tournaments

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: Dec. 5 on Lake Apthorpe from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Pay at ramp — entry fee is $30 per boat, and one person may fish alone if you do not have a partner.

For information, contact Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home), 863-446-1310 (cell) or e-mail bassbutchie60@aol.com. Or call Dwight Ameling at 863-471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a bass fishing guide and teacher, bass tournament fisherman and also an officer of SOS-Florida Lakes, Inc. You can reach him at 863-381-8474, e-mail davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org or visit reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalakes.org.

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