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Highlands Today

Pull Out Your Warmest Thermo-Wear

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Dave Douglass

Published: January 3, 2008

To start off the new year, the Central Florida largemouth bass angler better dig deep into his closet and put on his Canadian thermo-wear.

The first major cold front of the year and winter season arrived Tuesday and does change the approach anglers will need to use to set the hook on a decent catch. Time and patience is needed in order to entice bass under the current conditions.

The best times of the day to get out on the lake is from sun-up to 2 p.m., with the peak period being from noon to 1 p.m.

The 11:37 a.m. new-moon lunar phase started on Tuesday, which means from now until Saturday daytime, fishing will be good to excellent — the bite progressively gets better throughout the day and this trend gets better each day over the next three days.

The barometric pressure is very high today and the good news is that it has to come down, and when it does starting today and continuing into tomorrow, the bass will increasingly feed for longer periods when they finally decide to start. The cold front transition causes bass to go deep into cover area in deeper water into a semi-dormant state.

Fishing Facts

Cold fronts cause oxygen levels to increase in deeper areas, as cold water holds more oxygen than warmer water. Larger fish need more oxygen than smaller fish, so this means they'll be in these areas today and tomorrow, gradually migrating to the normal areas they have been in over the recent month.

Other News

I have continually heard people voicing wrong information about Lake Istokpoga's depth and lake access. It seems all the publicity concerning a SFWM water permit deviation request — still not approved to date — resulted in many people circulating misinformation about the lake's fishing conditions. This is unfortunate, because bass fishing couldn't be better right now on this great lake.

From now until April, this lake will provide the angler with the best fishing Highlands County has to offer. Lake levels won't be a critical issue — if no rain and deviation approval — until May or June.

Tournament News

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event is Jan. 9 on Crooked Lake 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.

Istokpoga is having its first Lake Istokpoga tournament — put on by Bass Champions Senior Tour Inc. — on Friday, 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 all the information or pay online at BassChampionsSeniorTour.com.

American Bass Anglers Istokpoga South District 28 will be holding its first tournament of the new season on Lake Istokpoga on Saturday. This is a members-only tournament and if you are interested in becoming a member or would like more information, contact Ted Moore at 863-946-0036.

Also visit their Web site, americanbassanglers.com.

Weigh-in time is 3 p.m., however, it's a good idea to get there early at the U.S. 98 Istokpoga Park ramp in Lorida. You may join at the ramp — cash only — prior to safelight launch.

Extreme Bass Istokpoga Division will be holding its first event of the new season on Sunday at the U.S. 98 Istokpoga Park ramp in Lorida. This, too, is a members-only tournament.

For more info, contact John Woods at 863-412-9095. You may join at the ramp — cash only — prior to safelight launch. Weigh-in time is 3 p.m. at the U.S. 98 ramp.

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

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