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Highlands Today

FISHING: Winter Pattern Kicks In

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Dave Douglass

Published: December 9, 2007

The New Moon occurs today at 5:40 p.m., which means the best fishing time is from 4 p.m. to dark for the next three days.

The second best time is about twelve hours later in the morning when the secondary feeding migration takes place. This pattern moves slightly forward (starts later each day) about 30 minutes per day and decreases in intensity during this process – bad news for the daytime anglers and fishermen.

My advice would be to arrange your day so you can be out on the lake by 2 p.m. for four or five hours, for this is your best chance to hook into those larger bass. If you do go out in the morning, I would suggest covering a lot of water in attempts to learn what activity there is during adverse conditions. By doing this, you'll teach yourself where the fish are, because there are always a few bass, which will hit when bait comes into their territory. They might be midsized at best, but they prove one fact: The other Bass in that area are shut down from having fed heavily about 12 hours before.

Note: When I say "Cover a lot of water" that does not mean fish fast retrieve. It means to fish very, very slow retrieve. However, when you've done so, move the boat 20 or 30 feet and try again. I like to throw ahead 30 yards and slowly retrieve back to the boat while I move the boat toward the bait at the same time. I can't tell you how many times I have caught three of four two- to four-pound bass along a half-mile lake structure line by doing this.

Fishing Facts

The larger bass feed during the peak lunar event, it's their primary meal of the day, but will also feed very briefly about 10-14 hours later. Smaller bass, which are anywhere between one and four pounds, feed when the larger bass are full, which happens to be approximately 12 hours later.

Fishing Report

I have been hearing from many bass anglers that the elusive summer/fall migration patterns have just about ended and the winter pattern is kicking in somewhat. Water temperatures dropping slightly are the reason this is happening, and we can expect this to continue and increase, causing the full bass spawn to take place very soon. By the 24th of this month — full moon — the spawn should be "on."

Other News

The South Florida Water Management Lake Istokpoga Deviation Request, which is currently before the US Army Corp of Engineers, is halfway through the process of events and research needed to render a decision of approval or disapproval. When I talked to the ACE Jacksonville reps last Thursday, they provided a diagram by email that clearly explains the process and the current status, as well as the future processes that still need to be accomplished in order for a ruling to come forth on way or the other.

SOS Florida Lakes directors and officers are staying on top of the situation pleading the lake user's cause. The ACE said the lake user's voice does matter, and they do add each voice to the body of research, which will collectively affect their decision.

Tournaments

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event is Dec. 12 on Lake Jackson from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

Pay at ramp — entry fee is $30 per boat. 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. You can also contact 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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