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Highlands Today

Patience Is Prime In Poor Conditions

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Dave Douglass

Published: November 11, 2007

Today begins the second day after the new moon, which occurred on Friday at 11:03 p.m. The projection isn't any better today than it was last Wednesday, I'm sorry to say.
So, read it and weep –– if you're a daytime angler.

There is a very slight, very early, migration bite in areas known to have a high concentration of fish. The majority of fish stopped feeding four hours before and gorged themselves completely from midnight to 4 a.m. There might be a midday bite, but only the smaller fish will be participating, and very rarely a larger fish. A spawning female bass could be caught, but only if you've won the lottery in the last 2 years.

Use patience, fish in deeper areas using smaller baits, pausing for long periods –– or dead sticking –– before inching your offering a little at a time. After a three- to four-minute wait, try popping the bait one time and letting it sit again for a minute before moving it one inch. I think you get the idea –– in other words, watching paint dry could be more of a challenge.
Good luck out there, because you will need it, unless of course you already found an area with concentrations of fish holding in that area.

Other News

Highlands County Commissioners will hold a board meeting on Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. at Highlands County Government Center, located at 600 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring. Representatives from the US Army Corp of Engineers will address the South Florida Water Management agencies deviation request to have authority to lower Lake Istokpoga to 35.5' –– which is one foot below the low-level precedent of 36.5'.

Last year, SFWM granted a deviation request of 36.5' lake-level low but did not need to use the approval due to rainfall between Istokpoga and Okeechobee. The new request projects arriving at the 36.5' present low level by the April and to 35.5' new low by June 1. Board meetings are broadcast live on Comcast Channel 4.

Friends of Istokpoga is holding their open meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Lorida Civic Center. Steve Gornak and Beacham Furse will speak about the FWC.

Lake Istokpoga's Management Plan is being developed by the Lake Istokpoga Management Committee. Also, Dale Knapp, Law Enforcement Officer for the FWC, will give a short presentation on rules and regulations that you need to know when you are out on the lake. We'll also have representatives of various local and state agencies who will be able to answer some of your questions and concerns about the lake.

Tournaments

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: Nov. 14 on Lake Josephine from 7:30 a.m. to noon Pay at ramp –– entry fee $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 S.O.S.-Florida Lakes, Inc. You can reach him at (863) 381-8474, e-mail davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org or visit the Web sites reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalakes.org/.

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