FISHING: Fish Returning To Normal Patterns

Each week I sit down twice to write a forecast hoping to enable fishermen and anglers to achieve success by providing a base understanding of physical environmental factors and laws which all aquatic life exist by.

Starting with lunar cycles - which affect all bodies of water in various degrees according to size and global location - then adding weather patterns and variations. After arriving at the sum of those two factors, other factors such as man-made-effects are plugged in, and choices are offered based on experiences from a variety of sources - both mine personally, but more often, great fish authorities in print and personal relationships.

Now, since I spend a lot of time working with all of these areas on the subject of catching fish, I ultimately judge what works from what doesn't by the fish I put in my boat.

Because I'm an objective research-type of angler - one who assumes nothing and tries everything - no matter what, I change to the opposite bait after catching each fish just to see what takes place and test theory. And after nearly 800 experiences trying all this out in just a little over three years - mostly on six local lakes - I present all of this for your consideration.

It might not work for you for literally dozens of reasons which you bring to the relationship, however, I can tell you that I use my own report forecast to the and enjoy fishing to the point I am hopelessly "hooked."

So, a magic formula it is not, but rather it is a basic starting place in a thought process, which you should be able to transfer over to your own situation and find some of the information useful in various degrees of success. Each situation dictates how the base rules and factors should be applied in your thinking in order to put yourself into a place to set the hook and boat your prey.

Fishing Forecast

For the next three days, the fish will be migrating into feeding areas very early in the morning in greater numbers that in previous weeks and months. Any extreme weather conditions will cause this normal occurrence to start later than it would normally, so remember this when you get out there and wonder why there are not fish near you. Also, if someone the day before caught fish in your area, well, the human factor trumped my forecast and they all have injured mouths and won't be biting today.

Then there is always the necessary lake management agencies work to be factored into the equation.
Today should have been enough time for the affects of fronts which came through the area this past week to subside, allowing fish to return to normal seasonal patterns, thus becoming predictable. Fish are very adaptable creatures and if you're not, neither of you will cross each other paths on the water. It's a worthy work to perfect one's knowledge of the fish world, because the results are priceless.

Other News

SOS Florida Lakes Inc is having their next open public meeting on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Lorida Civic Center. A full progress report will be presented along with the current Lake Istokpoga management planning goals the organization has adopted as policy. Lake levels, Hydrilla treatment, and other management policies will be covered.

Note: Chip Boring of RE/MAX Reality of Sebring will be speaking at the Dec. 6 open meeting instead of Nov. 8, as previously scheduled. The subject of Lake Istokpoga Real Estate Property Values and Taxes will be presented.

Tournament News

Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: Nov. 7 on Lake Jackson. Time: 7 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), 863-446-1310 (cell) or bassbutchie60@aol.com. Or call Dwight Ameling at 863-471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a Bass fishing guide, teacher, bass tournament fisherman and also an officer of SOSFlorida Lakes, Inc. You can reach him at (863) 381-8474, e-mail at davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org or visit the Web sites reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalakes.org.