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Highlands Today

Late Morning Best Time For Fishing

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 28, 2008

The New Moon occurred yesterday at 12:22 p.m. and the day before that, the moon was at its furthest point during its 28 day orbit from the earth. What this means for anglers is, the lack of moonlight during the night hinders fish from feeding at their normal rates--as when they do have moonlight to feed by. However, the regular affects the moon causes on fish when the moon's orbit is closer to the earth, is greatly diminished when it is furthest away.

Because of the two opposing events - one nearly cancels the other out - the overall rating for today is a 6, but during the short peak feeding period it will rise briefly to a 7 at best. If the weather provides a drop in barometric pressure and the wind decreases to a mild speed, both rating numbers could improve by 1.

Another factor which would improve the rating is if the weather daily temperature would drop slightly at night, about five degrees, during two consecutive nights. Fish would sense the probability of a cold front and feed more often and for longer periods in attempts to bulk-up on reserves while the food-chain is most active.

Monday's weather forecast is calling for such a gradual decline in daily temperatures, so be looking for the improvement to be noticeable from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

There is no distinguishable early morning bite to really speak of, but and however, fish always feed at night no matter what the moon does, or what the weather does. If you have previously located fish which have been active in the early morning, the fish for you will be biting. But if you have no idea where fish are active in the mornings, the percentages of luck will not be on your side, but "good luck anyway."

The major feeding migration of the day is short, quick, fast, and hard to locate. Since the influences of the moon are almost null, an actually grouping of fish moving in a migration along a route will not take place. Instead fish will quickly feed, on and off, all day very lightly.

The time of the day they will do this is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a 30 minute period within that time frame in which they will feed actively and shut down. The problem is, not all the fish will feed at the same time heavily, they will feed heavily for short period at different times within that time frame. The windy side of the lake might feed first, and an hour later the south end of the lake becomes active. One hour later the east and north ends turn on.

Fishing Facts

Many areas on the lake have diverse and different characteristics which affect the habits of the fish in those areas differently from the other areas. The north end might be shallow with dense vegetation causing fish to use the vegetation as their protected home instead of a deep hole nearby. The west side of the lake might have a 45 foot deep hole within 200 yards of the shoreline vegetation which is sparse so that the fish in the section of the lake use the deep hole for their safety and home instead of vegetation.

Because of the various characteristics in each lake, the sporadic type bite forecasted for today will turn on and off at different times in the contrasting areas within the lake, but during the 4 hour time frame from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fishing Formula

The main key today and for the next three days is to go angling with a specific plan comprised of three of four diverse areas to work during the four hour time frame. Watch the weather forecast and adjust your plan to work the windy side of the lake first if the wind is to pick up by the late afternoon. Then move to the other locations if you need to. Save the calm part of the lake during high winds for last or as a last resort if the wind really starts to howl.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

Clell Ford Lakes Management Specialist - Highlands County, 4434 George Blvd, Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone 863-402-6545, e-mail Cford@hcbcc.org.

Vicki Pontius Parks and Recreation Director - Highlands County, 4344 George Blvd. Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone 863-402-6812, e-mail 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), Cell 863-697-6256, e-mail steven.gornak@myfwc.com.

Fishing Tournaments

Monday Morning Lake Jackson Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public and launches every Monday morning at 8 a.m. and weigh-in at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $10 per boat with a "winner takes all" payout. One person or two per boat, three legal (over 14 inch) Bass per boat, and one Bass over 22 inches per angler. Tournament director is Paul Tardiff, his contact info is the same as the Wednesday tournament below.

Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: December 31 on Lake June. 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. Next week's event, January 7 is on Crooked Lake. For information, contact Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 Home, Cell 863-273-4062, e-mail bassbutchie60@aol.com or 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, e-mail him at davedouglass@sosfloridalakes.org, or visit reds-bass-fishing-guides.com.

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