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FISHING: Nighttime Decline Brings Bigger Bites For Day Anglers

Contributed photo

Ed Ibersen holds a seven- and five-pound bass he caught on Lake Istokpoga last Saturday.

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Dave Douglass

Published: January 17, 2008

The first-quarter moon occurred Tuesday at 7:46 p.m., which means the daytime primary feeding migration takes place in the very late morning and continues into the afternoon.

The nighttime feeding migration diminishes greatly during the next seven days and this means the daytime angler has much better chances of catching more fish, and larger fish.

So, best time of the day to plan your next fishing trip is from 11 a.m. to sunset. If you decide to try mornings, you'd better be on the water by 6:30 a.m. or your chances will be slim at best for success.

Fishing Report

Everyone I talked to this past week boasted of excellent results.

Spec, bass, and even bluegill anglers all experienced good to very good numbers and sizes on all the lakes.

Some spawning bass have been located since the cold front came through a few weeks ago. The largemouth bass will spawn if the weather stabilizes and the water temperatures stay in the middle to upper 60s for a low and mid- to lower-70s for a high.

Other News

The SFWM Lake Istokpoga Deviation Request of 36 feet above sea level was approved by ACE South Atlantic Division in Atlanta last Friday, Jan.11.

As of the time of writing this report (Tuesday morning), the S-68 Structure spillway gates are still closed. Upon checking the USACE Web site graphical plots for Lake Istokpoga, I found they have updated the lake level schedule and added the 2008 deviation plot lines.

Lake Istokpoga level as of today is 38.4 feet ASL. If there is a lack of rain, under the current approved deviation schedule, South Florida Water Management is allowed to take the level down to 37.5 feet ASL by Feb. 17, and 37 feet ASL by April 1, and 36.5 by April 27, 36 feet ASL by May 10. Once the lake reaches this low level, SFWM is allowed to release water — if rains occur causing the lake to rise — to this low level of 36 feet ASL until July 1.

The USACE and SFWM are banking on the hopes that the 2008 rainy season will provide enough rain to raise the lake three feet and also fall on the farmers south of the lake. Rainfall in the Arbuckle Creek basin and Istokpoga area will cause the lake to rise. However, without rain falling on the farmers' fields, the water will be released between July to October, according to the scheduled deviation.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FFWC) has started their Lake Istokpoga weed management plan. Big Island, Henderson's Point, Springlake area, West Wall and East Shores are all going to receive herbicidal treatments by airboats and the last few days of this month the larger areas by airplane.

Lake Istokpoga Hydrilla treatment planning is currently in the works. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has their mapping of the lake complete, and the Lake Istokpoga Management Committee (LIMC), along with the DEP, will be developing a plan in the next few weeks.

Highlands County weed manager Carl Smith has been opening up access trails for businesses on Lake Istokpoga using airboats to spray Aquathol to manage thick topped-out areas hindering lake access for fish camps and communities.

Tournament News

Bass Champions Senior Tour Inc. is having its first Lake Istokpoga tournament 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 Roy Underwood at 352-694-6272 or 800-416-4451 for all the information. Pay online at BassChampionsSeniorTour.com.

American Bass Anglers Istokpoga South District 28 will be holding its second tournament of the new season on Lake Istokpoga this Saturday. This is a members-only tournament. If you're interested in becoming a member or would like more information contact Ted Moore at 863-946-0036 or visit americanbassanglers.com. Weigh-in time is 3 p.m. at the U.S. 98 Istokpoga County Park in Lorida.
You may join at the ramp — cash only — prior to safelight launch.

Ridge Anglers Bass Club kicks off its new season on Lake Istokpoga on Jan. 20, launching out of the U.S. 98 Istokpoga Park County ramp. Event is from safelight to 2 p.m. weigh-in. This is a club-only tournament, so to join and/or find out more information, contact Jerrel Mott at 863-494-3199 or 558-1244.

Extreme Crooked Lake Series Tournament kicks of its new season on Crooked Lake, launching from Bob's Landing on Jan. 20 at safelight with weigh-in at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Mike Blocher at 813-363-5266.

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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