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Higher Water Temps Mean Anglers Should Back Off, Cast Long

Contributed photo

Rodger Kelleher holds a five-pound bass he caught deep in the Bulrushes on Istokpoga.

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DAVE DOUGLASS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2009

The rew moon occurred very early this morning at 1:35 a.m. as fish attempted to feed without the light of the moon to aid in the pursuit of their prey.

As I've stated before, without the moonlight the entire aquatic food chain must hunt for greater periods of time and travel much further, resulting in expending a lot more energy, and this results in a greater number of fish with an unsatisfied appetite.

The new moon daytime angler, therefore, will catch more fish during the day on average than he will at any other time of the month. If the weather pattern is seasonal and stable enabling fish to naturally migrate in distinguishable patterns, experienced anglers enjoy the greatest success of the month.

Such is the case for the rest of this week.

The weather forecasters predict a stable consistent warming pattern until Sunday, with mild steady winds out of the north and east and switching out of the south by Friday. Water temperatures will rise into the upper 60s and possibly the lower 70s. Water clarity in shallow lakes will improve greatly because of the low winds for the next five days.

Today the major feeding migration favors both the early-morning and midday anglers equally. From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. the early-morning bite should be excellent with a peak time right at safe-light. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the full effects of the lunar influence should trigger fish to migrate in large numbers as the entire food chain feeds to make-up for a less-than-productive nighttime feeding.

For Thursday through Saturday's daily feeding migration times, remember that they start later by about 40 minutes to an hour. Friday should be the best of the five-day period because of the forecasted drop in barometric pressure; however it may not happen until Saturday.

For anglers who happen to time there trip just right as to be fishing as the barometer starts its decline, the possibility of boating the best catches of the month will likely occur.

Fishing Facts

Colder weather causes fish to hold close to shallow cover in a suspended state. They feed only when absolutely necessary and only enough to maintain the non-active state. Anglers can entice a strike if the presentation of the bait is subtle with very little disturbance, such as splash and noise being at a minimum and very long pauses before starting the retrieval process, which should also be very slow; moving the bait short distances of an inch or two as smoothly as possible.

As the weather warms the water column back to temperatures in the mid-60s or higher, fish will migrate throughout the same shallow cover area in search of food at which time anglers can speed up bait retrieve and employ a noisier faster bait action.

Fishing Formula

When water temperatures are below 60 degrees anglers need to sneak up on the shallow cover areas just close enough to accomplish a non-obtrusive bait presentation.

Flipping and pitching technique works best under these circumstances.

Once water temperatures rise above 63, anglers should back off as far as possible and use long casts, entering the water past the targeted cover-zone in order to work the bait back through the cover area and out - approximately halfway back to the boat.

Fishing Fiction

"The Florida Largemouth bass goes through a migration process to spawn, and that is the only time it migrates."

This statement is false because the definition upon which the speaker frames the opinion is based on a common misconception and/or misunderstanding of the noun and verb respectively.

The word used as a noun in the context of wildlife refers to a "change of location for the purpose of feeding and breeding which is determined by environmental factors and influences produced by the physical universe."

So, while it is true that bass do migrate for the purpose of spawning - some migrate 20 feet and others as much as a mile, and possibly more - they also migrate according to water temperature and pressure to feed, which can be several times a day at 68 degrees, and once in a two-day period when the water temperature drops below 48 degrees.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga's level is currently at 39 feet, two inches which is four inches below the yearly high maximum managed level.

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) provides permitted water users regular allotments per week and with the lack of rain so far this winter, Lake Istokpoga serves as the main agricultural and residential water source for the immediate farmers and homeowners. If this winter had plenty of rain to-date, the lake's seasonal water-level schedule allows for the maximum level of 39.5 feet above sea level. Sad to say, the 2006, 1-in-100 year drought is still with us and threatens to continue imposing its negative affects throughout the 2009 year.

Tournament News

The Outback USA Crappie Tournament is open to the public and will be held monthly.

The third event will be on March 14 and 15. Entry fee is $5 and anglers can fish any lake of their choice and weigh-in on any day at Outback USA at 14021 US-27 South.

Application can be picked up at Outback USA which is half way between South Sebring and Lake Placid, on route 27S. Store hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

February's event results: First place - Daniel Hamm 3.92 pounds. Second place - Wayne Schroeder 3.74 pounds. Third place - Larry Jeffries 3.64 pounds. Big Fish caught by Daniel Hamm - 1.48 pounds.

The Monday Morning Lake Jackson Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public and launches every Monday morning at 8 a.m. with weigh-in at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $10 per boat with a "winner-take-all" payout. One person or two per boat, three legal (more than 14 inches) bass per boat, and one bass over 22 inches per angler. For information, call Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-273-4062 (cell).

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is today at Lake Josephine Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon. 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) or 863-273-4062 (cell), email bassbutchie60@aol.com or call Dwight Ameling at -863-471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a bass-fishing guide and CEO of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes, Inc. He can be reached at 863-381-8474, HighlandsBassAngler.com, or e-mail him at davidpdouglass@hotmail.com.

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