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Highlands Today

'Opportunity' Is The Name Of The Game

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By DAVE DOUGLASS

Highlands Today

Published: November 16, 2008

This week, anglers who like to head out on the lake after working the first shift should have a good chance at catching their favorite fish.

The lunar cycle heads toward the last-quarter moon phase which will arrive on Wednesday night, but before that happens, the current lunar-influenced feeding migration moves into the afternoon, favoring those of us that like to drop a line in the water after working all day.

The major feeding migration period today should be from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and each day start about 30 minutes later and weaken slightly in intensity and duration. The one positive, however, is the daytime high water temperature will promote a more active feeding session, especially when the cold front which should be entering our area today slows down slightly all fish migration daily patterns.

As we get into the middle of the week, the few hours before sunset will be the best time of the day to land a full stringer, that is providing the typical seasonal winds don't turn you back with the usual 10-20 mph speeds.

There is always an early-morning bite, because fish always feed at night no matter what season or weather conditions. The art of achieving success in the morning is to know how much effect (or lack thereof) the moon phase had the past night.

In the current case this morning, fish will be still eating well with the aid of the waning full moon light which occurred last Thursday. But since the moon is only two days from being closest to the earth during its 28-day cycle, fish feeding migrations will be intensified enough to cause more fish to feed longer than if the moon was furthest away from the earth. It does make a noticeable difference, especially if that "difference" happens to be in the form of a full stringer of crappie, or a 12-pound bass.

Water temperatures are in the upper 60s to low 70s, depending on how deep the water is and the amount of wind mixing the water column. This is ideal for crappie anglers to find full stringers in the deeper areas of seven to 12 feet. But as this present cold front starts to change daily migrations, be expecting them to move up three to five feet to depths of four to seven.

Bass are currently at the top of the water temperature range, where they feed best throughout the year. The "ideal" temperature is in the middle- to upper-60s, which explains why they spawn this time of year. This is the time of year when the bass angler can literary hunt down the feeding bass, for they are feeding longer and more often, so if you are not finding them where you are, get on the trolling motor and start hunting, cause they are out there feeding - somewhere.

Fishing Facts

Bass spawn this time of year because every key environment factor combines at the same time to enable procreation.

Bass can eat at will and have plenty of oxygen to provide physical energy to digest food. The temperature is warm enough to keep the metabolism moving to fight off diseases and build physical muscle. Females can store maximum protein to enable egg production and endure the strain of spawning. And the frey can thrive with the highest percentage of survival in such optimal conditions.

Fishing Formula

Today's formula has more to do with timing than bait selection or action and method.

Bass, when feeding this time of year, are not picky - they'll eat what ever happens to be placed in front of them. "Opportunity" is the name of the game today. Being where the fish are when conditions cause them to feed.

The "right place" is always in protected-clearer water depths. This time of year, bass are searching for areas out of direct wind, yet not too far from the currents the wind produces. The water in these areas is cleaner, yet has food moving past in a nearby current. Oxygen levels are also highest in these same areas.

The lunar timing dictates that an extremely early morning bite or a middle- to late-afternoon bite will be occurring today and throughout the remainder of the week. Both will be starting later each day with the morning bite increasing in intensity and duration and the afternoon bite decreasing by the same amount.

Fishing Fiction

"Fish shut off when the temperature drops."

This is not true, but rather those same fish which used to be where you are fishing, moved to an area not far away to avail themselves of where the food source moved to. It is more likely that the wind which brought the cold front also moved the food those fish were feeding on. And, in most cases, that food is in a bordering area to your hot-spot, and has more sunlight penetrating the water column which in turn enables a higher feeding rate for the food chain's metabolism speeds.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga hydrilla research work is done and now the Fish & Wildlife Commission is ready to target topped-out Hydrilla fields throughout the lake on Nov. 18-19 by helicopter and airboats. Both FWC and Highlands County agencies will be posting information mapping of those areas at the various access ramps.

In speaking with the members of SOS Florida Lakes - who've worked together with all the agencies involved with Lake Isokpoga Hydrilla treatment planning for the past two years - they applaud the early first treatment of the winter season and praise both Highlands County agencies (Natural Resources and Parks & Recreation) and Fish & Wildlife for addressing the concerns of lake users who depend completely on the fishability of this lake during the winter months.

In speaking with the bass fishing guides on Istokpoga, they have lamented the 50-60 percent drop in business which was brought about by the 1-in-100 year drought and last year's hydrilla treatment schedule combined.

When the public taxpayer's servants listen to their employer, you and me (which assumes that you and me proactively participate in the process to the end) a beneficial positive result occurs, and if it doesn't there must be a radical change. That change comes in the form of a majority of lake users uniting to change their employees and/or their employee's policies.

It's already a given that we the people are involved in the process, but the real question is, are we working together as one?

Fishing Tournaments

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is Nov. 19 on Lake Josephine. Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon. Pay at ramp - entry fee $30.00 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.

Triton Owners Tournament presented by Florida Triton Boat Dealers & Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail, will be held on Nov. 22, safe-light to 3 PM, launching from the Southport Ramp on Lake Toho. This is a team event for Triton Boat owners only. The entry fee is $100, with optional $20 Big Bass Pot, and $5 raffle. Pre-registration is no longer available, however you can pay cash at the boat ramp. A pre-tournament meeting will be held at the ramp at 5:30 a.m. on the day of the event. This is a 100 percent pay back tournament. For more information, contact Don Hatcher at 863-655-0265, or 863-214-1740.

Dave Douglass is a bass-fishing guide and bass tournament angler and 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.

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