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Highlands Today

FISHING: Fish Appetites Should Be Enormous

GET OUT AT SUN-UP, LOOK IN VEGETATIVE AREAS

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Dave Douglass

Published: April 15, 2008

I have good news in the fisherman and angler's forecast this week: The full moon occurs this coming Sunday at 10:25 a.m. which is rare during any year — three months this year, the full moon happens within three hours of midday, January, April and September.

All three months happen to be excellent spawning months — yes, September is known to yield some of the largest spawning bass of the year.

Such was the case last year, with two bass over fifteen pounds being caught after they came off bed (imagine how heavy they would have been if caught just prior to dropping their eggs). Could well have been a new state record which stands at 17.27 pounds caught by Bill O'Berry in an unnamed lake in Polk County in 1986.

Because of the new moon cycle happening during the daylight hours in the middle of the day, the usual three days prior and three days after will be exceptionally good. From today to next Wednesday be sure to be on the water by sun-up and look for the early morning feeding bass coming out of cattails and bulrush after feeding all night — as the Florida largemouth always does to one degree or another.

In this case the feeding at night will start later than usual because the full moon won't be its brightest until the very early morning hours, so the feeding migration into the vegetative areas starts late and finishes very late into the morning - even until noon or after, depending on the lake and the weather.

There still is some bass spawning going on, so be looking for the pre-spawn feeding to occur in the traditional spawning areas. A push-pole should be handy in order to sneak up on the easily-alarmed females.

Due to the recent cold front that moved into the area last Sunday late in the day, the effects from the weather front actually accentuate the affects of the full moon by slowing down the usual feeding migrations over the last three days. Now that the moon is about to trigger the largest migration of the month, the fishes appetites should be enormous.

Fishing Facts
Frederick Friebel is thought to have caught the largest Florida Largemouth Bass back in 1923 on a lake in Pasco County, unofficially weighing 20.13 pounds. There have been numerous Bass reported by fish camps and other lake businesses throughout Central Florida to have weighed in the 17- to 19-pound range, with lengths in the 28- to 30-inch range and girths of 21-24 inch range.

A Florida largemouth bass that is 30 inches long and 24 inches in girth weighs 18 pounds, which is well over the state record. If you happen to land a giant bass 28 inches or longer you should call the FFWCC or call me, and I will do it for you, to see if you have set the new record for the lake and perhaps the state.

Fishing Report
All of Highlands County lakes are just a little deeper than they were a month ago.

This means the shoreline fisherman and anglers will start to be able to work their usual areas more than they have been able to. As our lakes rise again, the shoreline will come alive with activity as fish enjoy the thick new growth and the food it holds. This type of action has already been reported in some of the lakes which tend to rise faster because of a high amount of run-off into the lake.

It seems all are reporting a decent amount of fish being taken no matter what type of fish being fished for. The Florida pan fish varieties are spawning still — shell crackers most notably — and many are finding their limits. Several bass stringers also are being reported on all the lakes which are accessible.

Other News
Lake Istokpoga is at 38 feet, 9 inches above sea level (ASL) and holding.

We have one more month before the regular high-level schedule will require the release of some water to prepare for hurricane season. Thirty-eight feet, 4 inches ASL is the normal scheduled "high" level from June 1 to Aug. 1.

Unless we receive no rains or the opposite extreme of a hurricane, SFWM should not release anymore water than necessary to reach the high-mark of the seasonal schedule. No one has officially ended the drought yet, so I expect the water managers to keep as much lake level as possible.

Tournament News
The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event is from 7:30 a.m. to noon on April 16 on Lake Jackson.

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.

Bass Champions Senior Tour Inc. Istokpoga Division tournament is Friday, April 18, launching at the Lake Istokpoga Marina, 155 Marina RV drive Lake Placid at safelight, with the weigh-in at 3 p.m. Memberships and entry fees are accepted at the boat ramp. Contact Foy Underwood at 352-694-6272 or 800-416-4451 for information. Pay and/or visit online at BassChampionsSeniorTour.com.

The Rotary Club of Highlands County Secondnd Annual Bass Tournament is being held on Saturday, April 19 launching out of Istokpoga Marina on Highlands Lake Drive off of county route 621 in Lake Placid. There is open registration at the boat ramp prior to safelight. Weigh-In is at 2 p.m. Guaranteed first place prize of $100, second place $600, and third place $400. For more information, call Scott Fettinger at 863-381-8055 of James Dyer at 863-441-3598. Or email gotbass2@yahoo.com.

Dave Douglass is a bass fishing guide and teacher, bass tournament fisherman and CEO 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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