TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

'Power Angling' Works Out Best During New Moon

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2008

Starting today and continuing for the next three days, fishing conditions will be very good to excellent according to the lunar cycle influences on aquatic life.

The new moon occurs on Tuesday at 11:14 p.m., which means no nighttime feeding light for the fish to feed by. Add to that fact that for the last three nights, cloud cover has blocked out the diminishing last-quarter moon, making the night feeding migration less than desirable for our finny friends. All of this translates into superb daytime angling for Central Florida anglers.

The daytime feeding migration occurs from 10 a.m. to noon today, but I'm betting on the feeding session lasting longer with sporadic feeding continuing into the early afternoon. All the rainfall over the past three days will weaken the intensity of the feeding migration just a little bit, however the duration will increase and expand to make up for the lack in a spiked feeding session intensity.

Monday through Wednesday should offer a return to fish-feeding migrations aligning with the lunar cycle as the influences of the recent rain events subside.

Expect the daytime feeding migration to start about 30 minutes later each day, from Monday through Wednesday. The duration should shorten slightly, but the intensity should peak as more of the fish population moves in unity during the feeding session.

On Tuesday at noon, anglers should be ready for a prime angling event.

I'm expecting the peak period to occur from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., however I will be on the water at least two or three hours before that to see if I can get lucky enough to locate and set the hook on a famous rogue female largemouth trophy bass, which pays attention to none of the environmental influences as she swims through the lake displaying her bad attitude, inflicting her judgment on all who are to slow to get out of her way.

May I meet up with her to set her straight and show her the error of her ways.

Fishing Facts

Fish need light to feed at the most successful level, it's just that plain and simple.

Most of the food source they hunt blends into their environment; making a distinction hard to achieve. The presence of adequate light causes bait fish and other food sources to move constantly from one area of cover to another, especially when the larger predator fish move into the area they chose for protection. So, anytime there is less light during a feeding migration, all feeding fish must look for food much longer, and many times they don't eat as much as they need causing a sort of perpetual hunt to continue far outside of the predicted lunar influence.

Fishing Formula

During the new moon event, the key to success and the formula to employ is power angling; the aggressive presentation of the artificial bait in order to promote and entice a predatory reaction strike. This is possible because of the aforementioned "lack of light" and the resultant "hungry fish" being in the majority of the population.

When you first arrive on your favorite fishing area, try speed-retrieving your favorite top-water bait through the area, the chances of spectacular strikes is very good for the next three days.

Try using larger bait than you usually do, as well as heavier weights; the bigger the bait, and the faster it falls, promotes aggressive reactions, resulting in larger-fish strikes.

Larger spinner-baits are also very effective. The two- and three-blade designs work to attract the larger predatory strikers which will be out in larger numbers than usual.

This is also the time to cover more area water and cover than you normally would do. Since the fish are on the move, covering more area to locate food, the angler must keep up by repeatedly moving through the known feeding area for better chances at presenting the bait in the path of the "bad attitude" bass.

Fishing Fiction

"Fish are easily spooked and leave their feeding area when loud noises occur or a boat passes by a little too close."

This is seldom true for the largemouth bass. I would dare say that 85 percent of the time fish move closer to the noise. With panfish species, I'd say this saying is absolutely true.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga's level remains at high level limit of 39.5 feet above sea level with the S-68 spillway gates open two or three inches, releasing 265 cubic feet of water per second to keep up with the inflow from Arbuckle Creek.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will have their contractor, Aquatic Weed Technology, treating the east and north ends of the lake, along with Grassy Island and Henderson's Point areas for primrose, cattail, burhead sedge, spatterdock, and Pickerel Weed which has grown in to thick to allow aquatic life to thrive successfully.

It will be an airboat spot application of a total of 200 acres starting on Monday and finishing by Friday - weather permitting. The weather forecast projects no excessive windy days, so this should be finished as scheduled.

Fishing Tournaments

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is Oct. 29 on Crooked Lake. 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, e-mail bassbutchie60@aol.com or Dwight Ameling at 863-471-3305.

FAST FACTS

Fish need light to feed at the most successful level.

Most of the food source they hunt blends into their environment; making a distinction hard to achieve. The presence of adequate light causes bait fish and other food sources to move constantly from one area of cover to another, especially when the larger predator fish move into the area they chose for protection. So, anytime there is less light during a feeding migration, all feeding fish must look for food much longer, and many times they don't eat as much as they need causing a sort of perpetual hunt to continue far outside of the predicted lunar influence.

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.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT