TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

More Rain Signals Better Conditions

Contributed graphic

Graph of Istokpoga hydrilla treatment areas: The four black-marked areas are dense areas in the south end of the lake.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dave Douglass

Published: February 23, 2008

Weather conditions are perfect for this time of year.

With all the rain we've received recently, our lakes' influents are flowing again and this causes fish to move into these areas. Moving water is full of oxygen and food, so all types of fish will move into the area to take advantage. Also, when you factor in the warmer water temperatures than is usual for this time of year, the angler realizes all fish are feeding more often due to an increased metabolism.

The daily feeding-migration routes extend into the influent areas which have been mostly dry over the last year, which all but ended the migration into these areas. Be looking to see fish start using these sections of their daily trek.

The lunar cycle is at the end of the full-moon phase, with today being the best day of the last six days — three days prior and three days after. The daily major feeding migration happens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, but this period starts later each day and slowly continually decreases in intensity over the next week.

On Monday and Tuesday, be at your favorite fishing hole by 11 a.m. and be ready to work your art for the next seven hours. This is the time of month, daily feeding migrations last a long time because the majority of each fish species feed all at the same time. Even the larger fish tend to move in accordance with the masses during this time of year, instead of keeping their own rogue schedules.

Fishing Facts

This time of year, bait colors begin to change for the fish because of the solar position and resultant light spectrum change.

Black and dark blue with silver, green and red with silver, work best. If your favorite lake and fishing hole has a lot of fishing pressure, try adding subtle changes and additions to popular baits. Adding rattles, custom-colored weights, even a small spinner spoon attached with heavy line to the hook eye will trigger a reaction strike when it's seen for the first time.

Crawdad-type forms are the natural food type for this time of year. Dying the claws a bright green or red might give the angler the edge when attempting to trick the more paranoid bass — the largest bass in the lake is indeed paranoid.

Other News

Rainfall for the month of February reached its average, and over the last week was at 97 percent of the average. If this type of weather continues to be the pattern, we are in for much better fishing conditions. Let's pray it continues — I know we all want our beloved state to return to normal conditions and lifestyles.

Lake Istokpoga's level is at 38.45-feet above sea level and with the recent rainfall into the Arbuckle Creek basin, as well as between lakes Okeechobee and Istokpoga, the level is sure to rise. Farmers south of the lake don't need the water from the Seminole Istokpoga reservoir, so the lake users are blessed to be able to use it.

The Department of Environmental Protection will be treating the Hydrilla with Aquathol-K by helicopters sometime between March 3-7.

If your favorite hole is on the south end of the lake in the areas of Southwest Bumblebee, The Cut between Big Island and Bumblebee, or on the Southeast corner just East of Mossy Cove, you might want to consider developing a new area for the next two to three weeks until the contact herbicide does it thing and opens up those areas. Within a month from the treatment date, fish will move back into those areas to take advantage of the openings the treatments create.

Tournament News

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event is Feb. 27 on Lake Jackson from 7:30 a.m. to noon.

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.

Dave Douglass is a bass fishing guide and teacher, bass tournament fisherman and an officer 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.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT