TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

FISHING: Food Chain Accelerating Toward Top Speed

SLOT LIMIT ENHANCING ISTOKPOGA BASS NUMBERS

Contributed photo/Highlands Today

Dave Douglass holds an 11.4-pound bass he caught in Lake Istokpoga this week.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dave Douglass

Published: May 11, 2008

On Monday, the first quarter moon phase occurs at 3:47 a.m., and along with it starts the beginning of the best "safe-light bite" of the month.

Each day this week, a greater majority of the bass population will participate in the early-morning-late-night feeding migration from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. By mid-week, this early migration will be the dominant feeding migration, but today, the best time to be on the water is from 1 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The afternoon winds will pick up and challenge the angler's resolve by influencing the normal migration habits of the Florida largemouth bass, as the wind direction changes on a daily basis. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the wind changed direction and the larger bass leave first, followed by the rest of the smaller bass.

To relocate the new bass safe haven, the angler must learn the migration routes in association with the wind direction. This challenge is greater in shallow lakes, which are more the norm here in Florida than deeper lakes.

Water temperatures are in the upper 70s and the larger bass are feeding more often than they were over the past six months. In fact, right now is arguably the time of year when the bass angler has the highest hook-set ratio per trip. The food chain is accelerating toward top speed, and while it does, the angler enjoys his best success of the year.

Fishing Facts
Lakes under 12 feet in depth are greatly affected by the wind speed and direction. A 10-mile per-hour wind will influence larger bass to move into the wind. As the wind increases, so does the number of bass to move toward the wind.

The wave rotation effect dictates how far they move into the wind — Fish won't stay in a water column that's moving. Instead, they'll move into the wind until they find an area that is unaffected by the wave action.

Fishing Report
Most lakes in Highlands County are still dropping and fewer boat ramps are usable.

Evaporate is increasing and rain is decreasing, and since the lakes are already very low, even though the rates of evaporation are the same as last year, the lake levels drop faster because the lakes are smaller.

Lake June, Jackson, Josephine and Istokpoga, however, remain accessible and have been producing excellent catches.

I've had the best fishing of the year for the last month on Lake Istokpoga: Several bass over 11 pounds, and over a dozen heavier than nine pounds. Catching bass over 24 inches happens several times per day. In fact, catching bass under 15 inches is harder to do. The slot limit is greatly enhancing this lake's bass population but the major reason for the number of large bass is really the catch-and-release policy of the majority of bass anglers. People just don't come to Istokpoga if they want to eat bass, instead they go to a lake with a five-bass limit that doesn't have the protected slot.

Other News
Lake Istokpoga is at 38.2 feet above sea level and is scheduled to have a Hydrilla treatment on May 13 and 14 using Aquathol Super K contact herbicide applied by helicopter — 1,600 acres total in five areas. Maps have been posted and kiosks placed next to the boat ramps informing lake users of the areas to avoid until Friday. Because of the warmer water temperatures, the chemical will break down quickly and pose no threat to lake users. If you're "on fish" in the treated Hydrilla areas, try moving up wind toward the nearest different vegetation (bulrush, cattails, and lily pads) — this will be where your fish moved to.

The Friends of Istokpoga will hold its 2008 spring general membership meeting at the Lorida community center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. At this meeting, we'll have three guests to bring you up to date on the projects and happenings on Lake Istokpoga.

The speakers for the evening will be Steven Gornak of the FWC, Celle Ford, Highlands County Lakes Manager and Carl Smith, the Highlands County Aquatic Weed Supervisor. The speakers will bring you up to date on the Hydrilla problem, lake levels and canal dredging There will also be a question-and-answer session after the presentation. So come out for evening of information and also a chance to get some of your question about the lake answered.

There will be refreshments served beginning at 6:45 p.m. There will also be a membership table where you can pay your 2008 dues. This will be a very informative evening.

Tournament News
The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event is from 7:30 a.m. to noon on May 14 on Lake Josephine.
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