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FISHING: Work Your Way Toward The Shallows

BE ON THE LAKE AT 2 P.M. WITH A COOLER FULL OF ICE

Contributed photo

Dave Douglass holds a typical summertime catch of a four- to five-pound bass out of hydrilla in six feet of depth in Istokpoga. It's the norm to hook into three-to-five of this size bass during one trip this time of year.

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Dave Douglass

Published: June 22, 2008

Since we've just moved out of the full moon phase and are looking to the last quarter moon phase (which occurs this Thursday at 12:10 p.m.), the peak feeding period of the day happens from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

As always, each day this feeding migration will lessen in intensity and duration along with starting later by about 30 minutes.

At the same time, an early morning feeding migration starts to form in the more oxygenated areas of the lake. Today's chances of catching a limit are moderate at best — even during the peak period. To make matters worse, the summer heat peaks at the same time as the moon, influencing fish to feed. So be careful and remember to bring plenty of fluids, and sun block.

My advice is to be on the lake at 2 p.m. with a cooler full of ice and water, and plan to work the outside sections of your favorite fishing hole. Start deep and work your way toward the shallows, trying several methods of bait presentation — swim and drag worms and jigs, crank various spinners and crank or jerk baits, even try your favorite top-water baits.

Once you locate what depth fish are holding in, mark the area with a float, back off just far enough to cast 20 feet past the float marker. You might have to re-position the boat to present the bait at the right angle and depth, so if you don't produce strikes right away, try at least three or four different angles, one of them will be correct.

The winds are not supposed to be a factor according to the weather report, so your action and angle of presentation is crucial. It's always a good idea to have a few rods setup with lighter line, just in case they are not in a full feeding mode. However, if they're in a feeding mode, a heavy line will attract a feeding fish.

Fishing Facts
A non-feeding bass will move away from a highly visible line and not be in the path of your bait action and thus, not trigger the reaction strike the fish uses to kill but not eat their prey.

A feeding bass will be attacked to a highly visible line because of hunger. They will come to investigate with hopes of finding food. The natural temperament of the bass takes over and it will attempt to eat first and ask questions later. As a last resort, if it doesn't like what it inhaled, it can always blow it back out.

Bass don't spoke as so many fishermen claim.

Bass are not afraid of anything the size of fishing line or lures. If they move away, it simply means they don't want to be bothered, much in the same way you don't want your favorite food after a Thanksgiving dinner.

A non-feeding bass can be tricked however, by using an invisible line and bait which is presented in a way in which the fish's territory is invaded — bothering a six-pound bass repeatedly will cause it to kill the nuisance in order to have peace.

Fishing News & Report
The stringers have started to fall off from last month. Everyone is reporting catching their larger bass in the deeper water in vegetation or other suitable structure. The tournament five-fish stringers total in the middle to lower teens for the top three competitors.

Lake Istokpoga has risen two to three inches and is currently at 38 feet above sea level. This makes it the best lake in Highlands County for boat access. Lakes June and Josephine can also still be safely accessed but most of our other lakes are just way too low — six to seven feet too low to be exact. It will be a long time and many tropical storms before our lakes are even close to being normal again.

Fishing Tournaments
The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event is from 7:30 a.m. to noon June 25 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.

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