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Highlands Today

Early Morning Best Time To Fish

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DAVE DOUGLASS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

The forecast for the next four days consists of a diminishing afternoon bite which loses both intensity and duration with a peak time of 3-6 p.m. depending on weather conditions, and a very early morning bite which increases both in intensity and duration each day.

The early morning peak hours are from 6-9 a.m. and depending on the previous night's weather conditions should provide excellent fishing results.

If rain occurred the night before be expecting the peak bite period to happen near the end of the three hour feeding duration period - 9 a.m.

Conversely if no rain at all fish should be actively feeding at the beginning of the peak period and remaining in the feeding mode for the full three hours.

The early morning major migration period is just starting to develop as the First Quarter Moon phase arrives on Friday at 8:20 p.m. Each day's migration increases in numbers of feeding fish and expands in feeding time due to an accelerated appetite. However, this will only occur - wait for it, don't rush ahead of me, I know you know what comes next - in areas with adequate dissolved oxygen levels.

There is good new and bad news in this forecast. The bad news is that lake water temperatures are the highest so far this year and should remain high for the next month and this means the lowest oxygen levels of the year. The good news is the major feeding bite of the day happens at the coolest part of the day, which means anglers can work their art in more comfortable conditions with the best chances of crossing the path of a worthy feeding fish.

Fishing Facts

The highest dissolved oxygen levels in Florida lakes during the heat of the summer months happen just after an afternoon thunderstorm or storms roll through a particular lake area. The greatest wind and wave action of the day occurs, combined with a drop in temperature, combined with a drop in barometric pressure, and the addition of fresh water rain, all promote an increase in dissolved oxygen on the water's surface.

Even though the afternoon bite is on its way out this week, this type of weather will trigger a change in the natural migration habit caused by the lunar phase cycle. The oxygen level spike allows fish to digest more energetically, thus fish are able to feed and digest meals at the same time and closer to the same rate of speed.

Remember, the high water temperatures increase the fishes' metabolism which accelerates the need to eat, but the lack in dissolved oxygen prohibits digestion resulting in a stuffed fish suspending in the water column waiting for a spike in oxygen levels.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga's level remains slightly above the high pool mark of 38.34' above sea level. The expansion of hydrilla has been steady all through the south end and everywhere anglers come off plain to fish their favorite fishing hole after they were in a hydrilla field. All it takes is a small piece of the invasive weed to be carried on a boat prop to start a new area of growth which happens constantly due to boat traffic.

Highlands County weed managers treated 50 acres of hydrilla with Aquathol by airboat this week near the southeast corner of the lake in the Trails End Resort section.

Lake Okeechobee's level is at 10.9' above sea level and unless a significant rainfall occurs over the next 60 days will mean extreme low water concerns again for the beginning of 2009.

If the current tropical storm track does not change and include Florida as part of its path it doesn't look good for the state's lakes for the remainder of the year. We need two or three tropical storms each rainy season to sustain a strong healthy ecological balance.

It looks like South Florida Water Management District won't have to provide their main function of flood control, but instead learn and formulate the opposite management strategy plan of water conservation and drought controls. Handling dry seasons is one thing, handling a continuing 1-in-100 year drought is another challenge altogether.

Fishing Feature

This past weekend I focused on Lake Jackson in order to update my bathometric data and information with hopes that enough rain would arrive over the next two months to cover the new weed growth that has extensively covered the majority of the shoreline area.

The drought shoreline or "drought-line" will be the next secondary shoreline feeding migration area fish use if the lake levels rise another foot or two this year. Right now all the lakes clearly reveal where the future fish holding areas will be.

As I traveled around Lake Jackson, I logged Way Points in my GPS unit of all the areas which in the past held fish regularly - which presently are dry land with thick vegetation growth. Doing this provided me with a wealth of education concerning fish migration routes and how they correspond with the deeper sections of the lake. Charting lake bottom structures while the lake is down gives the angler a real advantage when the lake returns to normal levels again.

The Lake Jackson boat ramp is usable with a little care. Float loading of the boat was easy and power loading was out of the question due to the exposed rock foundation of the loading ramp. A 20' bass boat can idle out using the big motor trimmed up as far as possible to navigate the 20 inches of depth for 75 yards.

Within a few hours of combing the lake I was able to locate a dozen good sized tree-piles which I marked on my GPS for future fishing ventures. I have no idea who put them there but am grateful for the positive fish habitat contributions of anglers doing their part to give fish such wonderful homes. Anglers remember, once you put your tree-pile in the lake it is no longer your property, but becomes the property of everyone who happens to see it flash on their sonar screen.

Fishing Tournaments

Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: Today: August 6 on Lake Josephine. Time: 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, Cell (863) 446-1310 bassbutchie60@aol.com or Dwight Ameling at (863)471-3305

HT3 Sunwest Summer Slam Istokpoga Tournament is this Saturday, August 9 launching out of Windy Point ramp. For information contact tournament director Kurt Owen - 239-825-0272, or visit online at HT3OUTDOORS.com

HT3 Sunwest Summer Slam June Tournament is this Sunday, August 10 launching out of Lake June Park ramp. For information contact tournament director Kurt Owen - 239-825-0272, or visit online at HT3OUTDOORS.com

Dave Douglass is a Bass fishing guide and CEO of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes Inc. You can reach him at 863-381-8474 or e-mail him at davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org. Visit his Web sites reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalakes.org

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