Midnight Moon Taking Its Toll On Fishing

The conditions since last Sunday still have not improved much, so the forecast at best, looks the same - a very weak morning bite which lasts until 9 a.m. and after that sheer luck is your only hope.
The midnight new moon is taking its toll on the daytime fishing and the only good news is a changing barometer.

Today the barometric pressure will gradually drop and this will improve chances as fish migrate more than they have been. There is hope a larger bass will travel further for a longer period of time.

Fishing Facts

The water temperatures have finally dropped into the mid -60s at night and climb into the low 70s by mid-afternoon and this triggers the spawning mode in bass.

If you can find clean protected calm areas between 3 to 5 feet deep, you should see the smaller male bass preparing beds.

Female bass will feed more aggressively for longer periods of time as well, and this translates into greater chances of boating the ever elusive "Trophy Bass."

I encourage all fishermen and anglers to use great care when catching the spawning bass.
After you boat them, take your pictures from all angles and measure her girth with a waterproof flexible tape measure and a golden rule in order to accurately provide the taxidermist the information he needs to provide you with a true replica.

Then place her right back where you found her so she can finish reproducing herself providing you and your children with bass for years to come.

Fishing Report

The reports remain unchanged from the last three weeks however, many have boated very aggressive male bass which repeatedly strike after being released - a sure sign of the coming spawning season.

In deep water lakes, Carolina-Rigs provide the slow action needed to promote a strike, so give that technique a try - its your best shot at hooking the larger bass.

In the shallow lakes, work the deeper vegetated areas very slowly, letting the bait sit there occasionally tightening the line and shaking the rod tip without moving the bait forward.

It seems this eventually wears out the patience of the bass and she finally strikes in order to kill the bait.

She sucks in the bait, crushes it and blows it out. If you're not using a 3-inch bait with the largest hook size possible, you might not hook her as you set the hook. The point is to leave her no choice but to pick up the hook when she attempts to do this. So, have your rod positioned ready to set the hook - there is no time to reel down before setting the hook.

Other News

Friends of Istokpoga is holding their Open Meeting this Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Lorida Civic Center. Steve Gornak and Beacham Furse will speak about the FWC

Lake Istokpoga Management Plan being developed by the Lake Istokpoga Management Committee. Also, Dale Knapp, Law Enforcement Officer for the FWC, will give a short presentation on rules and regulations that you need to know when you are out on the lake.

We will also have representatives of various local and state agencies who will be able to answer some of your questions and concerns about the lake.

Tournaments

Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: Today on Lake Josephine. Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon. Pay at ramp - entry fee $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, Cell (863) 446-1310 bassbutchie60@aol.com or Dwight Ameling at (863)471-3305.
Dave Douglass is a Bass fishing guide and teacher, Bass tournament fisherman and also an officer of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes, Inc. You can reach him at (863) 381-8474, e-mail davedouglass@sos-floridalakes.org or visit the Web sites reds-bass-fishing-guides.com and sos-floridalakes.org/.