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Highlands Today

Cold Front Reverses Negative Moon Effects

DURING HIGH WINDS, FISH MIGRATE AT LOWER DEPTHS

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Dave Douglass

Published: December 14, 2008

This week, we're in the waning of the full-moon lunar cycle, which means the next three days the best time to head out onto the water is at 11 a.m. so you can be ready for the afternoon bite.

During the Florida winter season, the waning moon phase can be a very productive phase because of the "weather factor" which always trumps lunar phases.

Normally, the moon phase's effect on the major midday feeding migration of a few days ago, would in fact, diminish the migration both in intensity and duration. But, because of the weather cold fronts (which now seem to arrive every week) and the colder water temperatures during the night and early morning, the afternoons when the hottest part of the day occurs ends up naturally triggering the fishes' metabolism to speed up, enabling an active feeding migration.

Thus, the cold weather front reverses the negative affects of the waning moon's afternoon bite by naturally providing fish with the most favorable daily high water temperature to feed during — the heat of the afternoon sun.

The afternoon feeding migration starts at noon and ends somewhere between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Be sure to check the weather forecast for the latest wind advisory before determining which lake to fish and which lake access ramp to use. The highest water temperatures of the day usually come when the highest winds speeds of the day, so the boat ramp options are essential considerations in order to achieve a successful day on the lake.

The early-morning bite is very weak at best. If you do venture out onto the lake at this time, be prepared to search and wait — sitting there in your "Alaskan Parka" trying to discover a way to hit the fish in the head with a heavy enough bait to jar it out of its semi-hibernation state. Even then, she'll probably just move over to get out of your way as she waits for the afternoon sun.

Fishing Facts
During the Florida winter season bass will travel (migrate) in search of the movements (migration) of the food-chain, which is influenced by mainly weather-condition effects within the water column.

During a high wind day, fish migrate to a lower depth, during a moderate wind they move back along the previously used migration route to the shallow area. If the wind changes direction and remains moderate the fish adjust moderately, however if the wind is high and gusting, fish move deep enough to avoid the wave action cycle within the water column and the underwater current caused by the water returning off of the wave beaten shoreline.

Consider the fact that a larger shallow lake like Lake Istokpoga, which is 10 miles long and five miles wide, has a lake surge of as much as six inches during a high wind day. This means a lot of water will be pushed by the wind into the shorelines on one side of the lake. This effect produces an underwater lake bottom current that travels from the shoreline toward the opposite side of the lake—upwind direction. The entire food-chain within this lake will be in areas where the most undisturbed water is, which will be along the first lake bottom type structure which does not have any moving water on the upwind side—the lake bottom grade which leads to the upwind shoreline, which is where the current stops.

Now the place along the upwind-shoreline-lake-bottom grade where fish will feed and suspend afterward will be determined by the water temperature. Fish always seek out the perfect temperature to feed in. If they can't find it, they'll suspend until their coldblooded metabolism adjusts and then lightly feed as often as needed. If they do find temperatures in the sixties or higher, their metabolisms will speed up significantly to the point where they will be forced to feed aggressively.

Fishing Flash
Lake Istokpoga's level is at 39.5 feet above sea level and has been at this level for the past 10 weeks. Prior to that, the last time the lake was at the maximum-allowed-high level for that long was back in 2005. If the normal monthly rainfall occurs during the winter months, the 2009 spawn season from January to April should be a great one. When the lake enters the major spawn season at the highest level allowed, the Bass are able to spawn in greater numbers along shorelines and that is exactly what this lake is famous for.

It's been just a few days over a month since the major hydrilla treatment was done by helicopter, and three weeks since airboat hydrilla treatments were completed, and one week since torpedo grass was spot-treated (rank growth areas only) along 25-30 miles of shoreline in the northern half of the lake.

The overall fishing conditions will steadily improve as the natural lake habitat improves because of the timely, professional, level of lake management, which Highlands County agencies, and the state agencies, achieved early this season.

It is very likely that a new lake record for Largemouth Bass is caught this upcoming year.

Lake Okeechobee's level is at 14 feet above sea level, which is exactly where South Florida Water Management District and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission like to see it. Conditions in this lake are also steadily improving thanks to the extensive work by SFWM, USACE, and FFWCC.

It should be a banner year for the Okeechobee fishery this year as well.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:
Clell Ford - Lakes Management Specialist - Highlands County, 4434 George Blvd, Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: 863 402 6545, Email: Cford@hcbcc.org

Vicki Pontius Parks and Recreation Director - Highlands County, 4344 George Blvd. Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: (863)402-6812, Email: VPONTIUS@hcbcc.org

Steven Gornak, Biological Scientist IV, Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Sub-Section, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, 3991 SE 27th Court, Okeechobee, FL 34974. Phone: 863-462-5190 (SunCom 761-5190), Fax: 863-462-5194 (SunCom 761-5194), Mobile: 863-697-6256, Email: steven.gornak@myfwc.com

Fishing Tournaments
The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is Dec. 10 on Lake Jackson. Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon. Pay at ramp - entry fee $30.00 per boat. One person may fish alone if you do not have a partner. For information, contact Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-446-1310 (cell), email bassbutchie60@aol.com or call Dwight Ameling at -863-471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a bass-fishing guide and bass tournament angler and CEO of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes, Inc. He can be reached at 863-381-8474, or e-mail him at davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org.

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