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Highlands Today

FISHING: Weather Conditions Kick-Start Migration

LOOK FOR BASS ALONG EDGES OF VEGETATION

Contributed photo/Highlands Today

Dave Douglass caught this 11.25-pound Istokpoga bass in the Hydrilla.

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Dave Douglass

Published: May 7, 2008

Today and Thursday are the last two days of the new moon phase for May, which happened to occur in the middle of the daytime instead of at night as it does a majority of the time.

The morning bite is good — a "six" on a scale of one-to-10. However, the midday bite is the major feeding migration period of the day and will be a "ten" today and Thursday. This peak-bite period will diminish to an "eight" on Friday and move an hour later into the afternoon.

So be on the lakes today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and each day expect this to start later by at least 30 minutes. Remember to factor in weather conditions — early morning bright sunny skies will cause the lunar schedule affect to have less of an impact on both the intensity and duration of the feeding period. Clouds, wind and a dropping barometer will start the migration, and cause a longer feeding session.

Water temperatures are in the mid-70s first thing in the morning, so be looking to find bass along the edges of vegetation. However, as the water temperatures increase as summertime approaches, remember that oxygen levels greatly decrease at night because plants use oxygen in the water column. Each week, the early morning bite will diminish but the late afternoon bite will increase as plants produce oxygen and winds pick up.

Fishing Facts
Oxygen levels in the water column play a larger role in the feeding habits of fish than most people realize.

During the summer, for instance, if we experience several cloudy days or overcast days with little or no wind to speak of, and water temperatures are in the 80s or higher, oxygen levels are at their lowest. Plants don't have enough sunlight to produce oxygen at a faster rate than evaporation and oxygen depletion.

As the level drops, the larger fish stop feeding as often then the smaller fish follow suit if the conditions persist. In such weather conditions, look for the larger bass to be as close to thriving semi-thick new vegetation which has open areas to allow sunlight to penetrate. Also, the larger fish will be on the down-wind section of the lake, where there is some wave action if any.

Fishing Report
For the past week, bass angling as been as good as it gets here in Highlands County, which is central in the bass capitol of the world.

Hooking into bass weighing more than six pounds almost seems commonplace. Boating bass between three to five pounds seems to easy.

Last Sunday, Chris and I went to Lake Istokpoga to see who would prevail and come out on top by the end of the competition.

By 1 p.m., I had two four-pound, two three-pound and two two-pound bass caught and released, while Chris had one six-pound, one 6.2-pound and two three-pound bass caught and released.

Lucky for me, she forgot the camera, so there is no real proof that I have to live with. For the record, we used the fishing report in the Highlands Today to plan our Bass angling trip by - and it worked perfectly.

I have talked to many bass anglers over the past week who have boated bass over eight pounds and several landed big "trophy females" between 10 and 12 pounds. Florida Fish and Wildlife reports that the bass spawn this year produced heavy 18-pound bass caught in smaller lakes, and many heavier than 12 pounds.

Remember, most of us practice "Catch and Release" so that an eight-pound bass in four years can reach 14 lbs and if you factor in the additional weight during the spawn, a lake record is very possible.
Just think, Florida has one of the cheapest fishing license fees in the nation, pays their state agencies the least of any state (I believe we are ranked 49th in pay scale) and has more people fishing and more people moving into the state to fish, than any other state.

One has to ask, "Just how long will the status of be the "Fishing Capitol of the World", and the "Bass Capitol of the World", hold up? My educated guess is it won't hold up much longer, more people, more fishing pressure, high lake management employee turn over, low lake management budgets, and practically free fishing, translates into a real gamble with such a natural treasure.

Other News
Lake Istokpoga's level is 38.25 feet above sea level, Okeechobee is at 10 feet ASL and the projected rainfall for this month is well below the average — again.

The canals between these two lakes will be filled by Istokpoga until Okeechobee returns to 11 feet ASL, and that will happen after more than one serious storm directly over that lake. South Florida Water Management District would best serve the people by planning for a three plus year drought, erring on the side of holding higher levels than the regular hurricane "High Water Level" if the rainfall happens to afford them of such a rare opportunity.

The chance of flooding caused by a hurricane is so unlikely that if you had to bet on which would happen first — me getting younger or a flood happening on Istokpoga or downstream. And you'd better bet on me getting younger.

Tournament News
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.

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