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Highlands Today

Full Moon Shines On Low Lakes

Courtesy photo/Highlands Today

Steve Dubois is shown with his 7.96-pound Big Bass at Crackerboys Tournament Saturday on Lake Istokpoga.

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Dave Douglass

Published: September 26, 2007

A full moon happens today at 7:45 p.m., which means the major migration peak occurs at noon. A moderate early morning bite also starts to increase slightly.

Before the winds increase, try using top-water baits along the outside edges of Lily Pads, which are near incoming streams or rivers. Shoreline points usually have underwater shoals the fish use as routes to and from deep water and working top-water frogs and plugs along in parallel lines yield spectacular strikes.

Another method of presenting top-water baits is slowly working them through the center of vegetation areas. You do end up hooking vegetation one out of four casts, but the added hassle is worth it. I should mention that getting the "Big Girls" out of the weeds is a challenge worth engaging for a chance of boating a trophy bass.

Fishing Facts

As I've said before many times, the angler must be in the area of the lake where oxygen is plentiful, and the majority of the food chain will thrive as a whole.

Vegetation starts to produce oxygen once the sunlight triggers the underwater plants to produce oxygen. After a few hours of production, the oxygen — which was used up during the night — reaches a high enough level to cause the smaller fish to feed. This process continues; oxygen level rises and larger fish become more active and feed. The size of the fish corresponds to levels of oxygen — high levels energize larger fish.

Fishing Report

Today's fishing report focus is on the subject of "Lake Levels."

Specifically Lake Istokpoga — as you might have guessed — is of concern because it's a water supply for farmers south of the lake. As of today, the lake level is exactly one foot below where it was last year at this time — Oct. 2006 level was 39.3', today the level is 38.3'.

This lower level is not because of the South Florida Water Management (SFWM) district deviation requested last summer, which they didn't use because of the rain we received. Instead, it's simply because of the lack of rain.

The drought has remained and will deliver the second part of the "one-two punch" this fall, winter and spring if the current weather pattern continues.

Without several tropical storms before the middle of November, or an exceptionally wet winter and spring, the suffering experienced by lake users and farmers last year will look like child's play when compared to what will occur.

Last year, from October to June the level dropped an average of three inches per month. This was due to permitted water releases for farms and evaporation. It should be noted that only 10 rainfall events caused Arbuckle Creek to supply some recovery in lake level during this same period. Not counting the recent rainy season, there has been no reason to expect that number of events occurring again this dry season, but instead far less.

This paints a bleak picture for all of us who share this great Highlands County lake. What should we as lake users allow when it comes to lake management policy and planning?

It's a fact that SFWM will have to ask for another deviation from the normal water release schedule. The question is, what type of deviation should we allow? Should it be a rationing of three inches a month with a base line of 36.5 feet above sea level? Or should we allow releases of any amount until the low is reached of 36.5'? These are just a few of the questions we should all be addressing.

Last spring, efforts of S.O.S. Florida Lakes and Friends of Istokpoga played a successful part in maintaining the low level of 36.5' judgment by the US Army Corp of Engineers as the low-level deviation approval for SFWM's requests. They did request 34.5' and 35.5' and pressed for the second of the two as their preferred plan. The public battled back and gained one foot of depth. Now just because rain occurred and this battle wasn't pressed any further, doesn't mean the matter is settled. That was the first round and the second round is about to start.

Now is the time to start preparations designed to speed up plans already on the table, which will handle future droughts. However, today, we must start to campaign for maintaining the 36.5' low level as the lowest level possible. There is no possibility of a lower level being accepted by the citizens of Highlands County. If the state agencies wanted a reservoir, they should have informed every person who had thoughts of building a home on the lake of the water not being the property of Highlands County, but the property of the State. And this should have occurred before the homes were built, not after.

Also, what value is your lakefront home if the lake water is not a constant? It was a constant variable when you paid to acquire ownership, right. How valuable is your home now that you know the water will be taken each time there is a drought?

Should I mention "Global Warming" and the predicted frequency of drought for Florida — I think I already did. If every homeowner would stand united on these facts, it will make a difference.

The USACE and U.S. Fish & Wildlife support the low-level of 36.5 as the lowest acceptable level before extensive damage is done to lake habitat and lake users investments. There are reasons to take heart and prepare to fight. Fighting for your investment on this front requires that you plan a strategy for success now. The place to start is to contact your state government as one people — citizens of Highlands County. Put a personal face and name on your investment and send it to the head quarters of the USACE and our senators and governor. Also, join non-profit organizations such as S.O.S. Florida Lakes Inc. and Friends of Istokpoga Inc.

Other News

S.O.S. Florida Lakes Inc. is having their next Open Public Meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11, at the Lorida Civic Center in Lorida. The subjects are "Hydrilla Lake Management", and "Istokpoga Levels."
Guest speakers addressing Hydrilla issues are Vicki Ponius and Carl Smith from Highlands County and representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

I'll be addressing lake levels, and I hope to see you there. Let's work together to create lake management at it's finest. Visit their Web site for more information at www.sos-floridalakes.org or www.istokpoga.info

Remember to check your boat when loading after using a lake with Hydrilla. Let's make sure not to carry it to other lakes. A little prevention by all of us costs us less money in a long run.

Tournament News

Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public.

The next event is from 7 a.m. to noon on Lake Lotela. Pay at $30 entry fee per boat at the ramp. For information, contact Paul Tardiff at 385-8007 or Dwight Ameling at 471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a Bass fishing guide, teacher, Bass tournament angler and vice president of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes Inc. You can reach him at (863) 381-8474 or email at davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org. Visit the web sites at reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalakes.org.

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