TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

'Aggravation' Is The Name Of The Game

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 11, 2009

The full moon occurred at 3:27 a.m. this morning, and the moon moves closest to the earth tomorrow, Both events will cause fishing to improve even though there is a cold front moving through our area which will drive temperatures colder yet by the middle of the week.

The water temperatures have dropped five or more degrees and should drop even further over the next few days, which in the language of the angler translates into a slower than expected nighttime feeding and slightly better midday feeding.

The main daytime bite occurs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a peak period somewhere around noon to 1 p.m. If I had to place a bet on exactly what time to be ready, I'd say 1-2 p.m. is when fish will really "turn on." So get your things ready and be on the water no later than 10 a.m.

This daily migration will start about a half hour later each day, as usual, and lose intensity and duration at the same.

Bass were preparing to spawn back in November due to the below normal temperatures, but then the warmer-than-normal December halted an all-out spawn. Now with this current cold front projected to go through Central Florida this week, it might be enough to trigger a full spawn - let's hope so.

Fishing Facts

Anytime Florida water temperatures drop into the mid- to lower-60s for a prolonged period, bass start to spawn in large numbers. If this does happen by Thursday, bass anglers should be able to locate spawning bass in well protected areas.

Most anglers don't consider the "success level" of each year's fish spawn. Weather is one key determining factor in the level of success fish have when attempting to spawn.

Consider, for instance, the Florida winters which produced extreme weather changes at the same time the majority bass spawn was occurring. Many spawning females in shallow lakes were forced off beds just prior to dropped their eggs, resulting in dropping eggs in open water instead; a total yearling class of the bass population will be minimal to null at best. The few yearling bass produced most likely will be unwilling contributors in the food-chain.

This year's bass spawn needs a steady prolonged normal Florida Winter with no extreme changes to enable our lakes to produce strong yearlings in large numbers so that in five years, an eight-pound bass can provide anglers with the fight of a lifetime.

Who knows, that same bass in three more years might be caught by you again, but this time as a 12-pound trophy so you can have a replica made from the pictures you take just before you release the genetic-superior specimen, back into her home to produce more offspring in the next spawn.

Fishing Formula

The weather today will provide the best fishing conditions of the next three day period.

Tomorrow a significant temperature drop will trigger rain - hopefully in Highlands County. This weather change could produce a dropping barometer, which if this occurs, despite the colder temps, anglers on the lake early Monday morning will reap the benefits.

Today be ready to set the hook from the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. peak period. Use patience and a slow, very slow, retrieve, pausing frequently. Using noise-makers such as rattling weights, works very well if you shake your bait slightly while you are pausing the bait -"aggravation" is the name of the game.

Contrary to what many say and think, making your bait and line as visible as possible in a calm subtle manner produces an aggravation and curiosity during the spawning season. During pre-spawn, bass are extremely territorial and investigate anything, during the spawn a visible line on the bed dragging bait will tax her patience producing a strike, and post-spawn bass will try to increase their strength by eating anything that moves.

My advice: try the "high-visibility" type lines, but remember the key to success when using them is a calm, smooth, subtle, action. Snapping and jerking the line will cause bass to move away as a first move.

The number of times I have seen bass "swirl" on my line and then dive on my falling bait with a vengeance has become so great that it's one of the reasons for my success, with one exception. When bass "suspend" and will not feed and are non-aggressive, which is rare in a 24-hour day, but it does occur.

Fishing Fiction

"Largemouth Bass spawn only once a year-in the winter."

Not true in Florida. The Florida Largemouth bass spawns at least once a year, and most likely twice a year. And if the female is interrupted and drops eggs off of bed, she'll bulk-up again and within a month or so, be ready to give it another go. It is this fact alone that makes possible the claim of Central Florida being the "Bass Capitol of The World."

Fishing Flash

As I do each year, again I remind you that if you are planning to catch a spawning bass, use great care when handling reproducing female caught on bed.

Please bring a camera to preserve the moment instead of harvesting the mother of next year's one-pounders. And please, make sure you release her right where you caught her in order to give her a greater chance of continuing the spawning process already in progress.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

Clell Ford, Highlands County Lakes Management Specialist - 4434 George Blvd, Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: 863-402-6545, Email: Cford@hcbcc.org

Vicki Pontius, Highlands County Parks and Recreation Director - 4344 George Blvd. Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: 863-402-6812, Email: VPONTIUS@hcbcc.org

Steven Gornak, Biological Scientist IV, Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Sub-Section, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation - 3991 SE 27th Court, Okeechobee, FL 34974. Phone: 863-462-5190 (SunCom 761-5190), Fax: 863-462-5194 (SunCom 761-5194), Mobile: 863-697-6256, Email: steven.gornak@myfwc.com

Fishing Tournaments

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

The first event will be held on Jan. 16-18. 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. Store hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

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 inch) bass per boat, and one bass over 22 inches per angler. For information, call Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-446-1310 (cell).

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is Jan. 14 on Lake Jackson. 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) or 863-446-1310 (cell), email bassbutchie60@aol.com or call 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.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT