TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Summer Temps Heat Up Lakes

ADVERTISEMENT

DAVE DOUGLASS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 13, 2008

Today, expect the peak feeding migration to occur between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. as fish respond to the gravitational pull of the moon.

But, the angler must factor in the Florida summer heat and its effects on the water column temperatures. At sunrise, the water temperatures are just below 80 degrees on the surface, which means that by the time of the lunar-influenced-feeding peak, there will have been a rise of three or four degrees, especially in the shallow lakes, not as much in the deeper lakes.

Because of this factor, expect the larger fish to feed at the beginning of the lunar event - 8 to 9:30 a.m., when temps are at nighttime levels still. It's during this time that the daily oxygen levels will be highest in a majority of the known hot spots in the lake. The only exception to this will be in the dense vegetative areas such as newer healthy hydrilla areas which produce oxygen during the heat of the day.

So, to review, the peak feeding migration period is different for different areas of the lake. The non-heavy vegetative areas have the early peak period of 8 to 9:30 a.m. and the thick vegetative areas the later peak period of 9 to 10:30 a.m.

From today until Tuesday, the angler should be able to determine exactly how this works in his particular favorite lake by making the necessary adjustments to locate the feeding bass.

Bait action at the beginning of the peak period should be aggressively fast, taking advantage of the normal feeding habits of the fish. A top-water bite will be "on" along the edges of oxygenated areas. After this bite dissipates, try a slower, less aggressive action and downsize everything. Each retrieve should take several minutes at this point. Near the end of the peak period, try dead-sticking plastics and jigs, hoping to annoy fish resulting in triggering the short-strike type picking-up of the annoyance; to remove it from their selected dormant/resting place.

Fishing Facts

As the lake heats up, metabolisms increase which causes fish to eat more.

However, without adequate oxygen levels of five parts per million (ppm), when the larger bass eats, her ability to digest food at the same rate as her metabolism drops off because of a lack of oxygen needed to convert the food to energy. So, every time she eats, she shuts down, unable to quickly digest, that is unless she is able to locate an area that produces oxygen at the same rate as the rise of temperature.

The factor which complicates this is that the entire food chain will also be in the same area, making it almost a near impossibility for the angler to compete with the readily available food supply which inhabits the oxygenated area.

Only the most experienced anglers are able to trick a bass with a fully loaded supper table of its favorite food to partake of, whenever it desires. Leaving your bait in the feeding zone as long as possible is the best bet. Slowly pick up the bait and let it fall, and then move it very slowly - very slowly - before repeating the process again.

Fast-moving, aggressive-action-type baits will be ignored by bass, especially the larger ones. They'll conserve their energy and wait for food to swim into their ambush point - which happens so often that they don't need to leave and chase bait - as they do when they react to an intrusion or because of not finding their prey. But put a worm or jig within a few feet of their nose and creep it along so that it stays in their face for three or four minutes and they will either eat it or try to remove it.

This time of year in Florida requires the bass angler to adapt using a wide range of techniques seldom used during the fall, winter, or spring.

From one extreme to the other, bass survive by enduring contradictory environmental variables - heat-driven metabolisms producing insatiable appetites causing bass to overeat in low oxygenated areas that result in shutting down bass altogether, or, in oxygenated areas enabling Bass to have energy to feed at will from a smorgasbord of aquatic cuisine.

Fishing Tournaments

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: Today - July 16 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.

For information, contact Paul Tardiff at (863)385-8007 Home, Cell (863) 446-1310 bassbutchie60@aol.com or Dwight Ameling at (863)471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a Bass fishing guide and Bass tournament angler, 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. Visit his Web sites: reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalake

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT