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Highlands Today

Ideal Feeding Conditions For All Fish

Contributed Photo

These three four-pounders were caught on three consecutive casts into pepper grass on Lake Kissimmee. Dave held them in his livewell and brought them onto the deck briefly for the picture before releasing them healthy into the lake.

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DAVE DOUGLASS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2008

Today is the second day after the new moon, which means an excellent early-afternoon bite happens from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. However, due to the recent weather conditions, today's feeding migration bite should happen late because of the heavy feeding migration caused by the low pressure system over the past few days.

The barometer dropped quickly late in the afternoon on Monday, which extended the early-afternoon feeding migration. Then several of the lakes in our county had rainfall during the night, which again forced the fish to ignore the lunar affects and feed out of the norm. It will take a few more days before fish feeding migrations align with lunar influences.

Well, unless the weather doesn't interfere again in a major way.

The early-morning bite is weak right now, because technically it's still a late-night feeding migration happening from 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. But the timing here, too, will be extended into the very early morning hours - 5 a.m. is not out of the question and possibly the migration could extend to safe-light on some lakes.

Water temperatures are absolutely perfect first thing in the morning.

Aquatic plants are starting to significantly slow down in their use of oxygen at night and the cooler water temperatures allow higher dissolved oxygen levels to be maintained during the night.

All of this means ideal feeding conditions for all fish.

Fishing Facts

Here in Florida during the month of October, fishing pressure is still very low compared to the months of November through June.

Factor into that the start of aggressive fish-feeding migrations, and the Florida angler understands his art summons him to load rod and tackle, prepare bait and boat, and head out for an second-to-none day on the lake, working his art in concert with his favorite fish.

Not having to contend with a high level of fishing pressure is a major "plus" and major incentive, and one more reason to go fishing - anglers are always looking to find reasons to go fishing, and this certainly is a legitimate one not to be denied.

Fishing Formula

Because of the heavy feeding migration of the last few days, the approach today will most likely need to be slow-, slower- and stop-type retrieve. Patience and more patience is the key to success today. The likelihood that you will entice a reaction-strike is low, and if they do attack, be prepared for the infamous "short-strike" - the inhale/bait-crush and blowout-in-one-second type bite.

The largemouth bass' appetite today will end shortly after it starts - a snack-type feeding event at best. This should dissipate somewhat over the next two days, however the moon is heading to the furthest point from the earth on Sunday, and this just means the daytime feeding migration will be at its monthly low for the next five days.

So the formula is to use a slow retrieve, smaller baits, long pauses, in areas you already have proven, holds fish. This is no time to be attempting to locate fish or new migrations routes. Hold off doing that type of work for two more weeks.

Fishing Fiction

"Largemouth bass spawn in the same area where they were born."

Many anglers have said a bass will migrate to the exact area where they were hatched in order to spawn. This is not true; however the reason why some believe this is because they find bass in the same areas spawning each year. So they assume it must be true that the same exact fish comes back to where his parents bedded.

Fish biologist have tagged bass and tracked their seasonal migration routes and habits and found that if a bass is 10 miles away from its birth place at the time of spawn, it will not swim across the lake to get back to the original area of their beginning, but spawn in the most suitable habitat where they are at that time.

Bass are not like Salmon. However, if a fish happens to be in the same areas of the lake where its life began, it will most likely choose the most suitable habitat to spawn, which will happen to be where life began.

Fishing Feature

I've been out fishing several days during the last week and my experience is shared by everyone I talk to; dozens of middle-sized bass between two and five pounds are boated two or three days each week. The other days of the week you get three of four short-strike bites and if you're not poised and ready, the result is an empty hook-set.

The few trophy-sized catches occurred by letting the bait lay there for minutes on end, moving it only slightly. The "bite feel" is hardly detectable, most times when you pick up the rod it just feels "heavy", there is no thump, or click, or line actions to speak of.

This same story has been repeated in my presence several times, and is the feature of the week.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga's level is at 39.4 feet above sea level, which is one inch from the yearly high limit allowed. SFWM is allowing water to be stored two or three weeks ahead of the regular seasonal schedule. This will be the first time in several years that the high level limit will be reached.

By the middle of next week, Fish and Game should be done with their fall aquatic weed treatment. Please note the maps provided by FWC and SOS Florida Lakes, in the kiosks located at the loading ramps at the various locations on the lake.

Lake Okeechobee is at 14.9 feet above sea level with minimal flow in and out of the lake occurring. Water clarity is improving and fishing reports are very good and should keep improving.

Fishing Tournaments

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is today on Lake Placid. 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.

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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