TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Summer Weather Testing Anglers

Contributed photo

This is the kind of lake scene that's to be preserved and treasured, not polluted. Anglers should keep that in mind when fishing the shorelines, which are often cluttered with garbage.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dave Douglass

Published: June 17, 2008

The full moon happens today at 5:30 p.m., and with all daytime full moons, the effects during the daytime are as accentuated as the regular increased nighttime affects.

If this moon phase occurred at 1 a.m., the nighttime feeding migration would be off the charts and the daytime feeding migration would be almost non-existent.

The light of the full moon will cause fish to feed, however they'll have far less appetite having fed during the previous daytime feeding migration which was dominated by the timing of the daytime occurrence.

So the peak period today and for the next three days will be from noon to 3 p.m., or in other words, during the heat of the day. This makes for more work for the angler, due to the entire food chain taking their refuge in the most oxygenated areas possible. This means deeper water with vegetation and/or current nearby.

There is also an increased nighttime feeding migration worth attempting to cash in on, especially due to the extreme heat during the day. Because of the late afternoon moon event, and the usual thunderstorm clouds at the same time, and the barometric pressure drop and rainfall, the chances are very good from 6-9 p.m. The only problem attempting to fish at this time is having to contend with lightning, which is a real threat to be taken seriously. So please pay close attention to the weather if you decide to be on the lake during this time.

In certain vegetation areas of the lake, the early morning bite will be on.

The plants which use less oxygen during the night will hold fish. In these specific areas the food chain will be active. Lily pads happen to be one such area. They use less oxygen compared to submerged grasses. Pan fish move into these areas to feed on insects and the larger bass move in to feed on pan fish. Also, if there happens to be hydrilla nearby, the larger fish will move out of it because it consumes huge amounts of oxygen, and instead look for their prey in the pads and pencil reed areas.

Fishing Facts
During the Florida summer, the entire food chain migration routes are more active.

From the deepest hole to the shallows is traveled for more often during the day. For instance, if it happens to be an overcast day, very hot, and no wind, all fish will be in vegetative areas moving very little, in a suspended state not feeding.

It's during these conditions that oxygen is at its lowest and this means fish won't migrate at all. However, if the wind is strong, the sky has variable clouds, and thunderstorms are moving through the area, fish will move back and forth along the entire migration route several times.

Fishing Report
I have been hearing opposing reports.

Either the angler is loading the boat or he can't find a fish to save his life. This is typical summertime Florida fishing –– a direct result of the radical affects caused by radical heat. The anglers who know exact migration areas and understand the summertime variable end up taking advantage in the challenging equation. Without a doubt, the Florida summers test the angler like no other time of the year.

For this reason, only the most serious anglers will be out on the water, and this is good news, for this means we get all the water to ourselves and the fishing pressure is non-existent.

A Bass angler's ideal situation is when no one else has beat up his fish prior to his arrival.

Fishing News
Lake Istokpoga level is at 37.9 feet above sea level (ASL).

Again this week I've listened to people claim that the lake is "real low" and this simply is totally false. On the contrary, for this time of year, this lake is "real high" when compared to the last three years –– a foot higher according to the USACE.

Lake Okeechobee has almost dropped to 9 feet ASL –– 9.1 feet to be exact. Unless we have a phenomenal rainy season, this lake will be in very serious trouble again in the Fall.

The only lakes which have safe access ramps to use are Istokpoga, June, Josephine, and the Kissimmee Chain of lakes. There are a few other lakes still useable if you have two tow vehicles in order to tow your boat out of the water.

However, on the other hand, shoreline fishing has never been this good.

Right now on all the lakes you can walk out to the edge of the formally "deeper areas" and have access to hot spots which normally required a boat and sonar before to locate. But be warned; wear appropriate foot wear, because it seems that many fishermen and lake users of all kinds throw all manner of trash into the water. I have found broken bottles just below the surface of the sand on all the areas I have walked through lately.

Please take your trash with you instead of discarding it into Florida's natural treasure.

I used to fish with a guy who always threw his food bags, wrappers, cans and bottles into the lake. When I asked him why he did it, is response was one of defiance, as if he had a right to do as he pleased and he wasn't going to be bothered to hold onto it until he got near a trash container. He actually was offended by me questioning him and followed that up by retaliating in rebellion to the very idea of not polluting the lake –– he threw a few more food wrappers into the water.

It's times like this that make me want to break the laws of our civilization and treat him as trash by throwing him into the lake along with his garbage.

But vengeance is not mine, especially when the person is only half my size.

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

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 CEO 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