Early Morning Best Time For Fishing

Since the Full Moon was a week ago and today marks the last quarter moon phase, which occurs at 10:06 a.m., the "Very Early Morning Bite" is "On" in a huge way.

The sooner you get out on the lake the sooner you'll be landing your favorite fish. However, because the oxygen levels are still somewhat low in much of the lake areas, your presentation needs to be experimented with until you determine which action the fish prefer.

I recommend starting with a slow retrieve and gradually increasing speed with each cast until you promote the first strike. As for flipping and pitching, a similar approach of a quiet, slow delivery of the bait with a lighter weight into the target zone at first, then gradually try making more noise - an entry splash with a larger weight achieving a faster fall.

Fishing Facts

This time of year, the pattern of vegetation cover for the bass is one which uses less oxygen while providing cooler water temperatures which in turn produces more oxygen. It is here that the baitfish congregate and results in the larger bass moving in and out quickly for a quick meal. It's more of a sporadic event, as each larger bass moves independent of other larger bass. For this reason, a patient approach is needed - waiting for each one to use the same access route into the food chain area to feed. Many times in an area such as this, several larger Bass hold up in deeper water twenty to fifty feet away. Each one moves in rogue-type fashion to feed one or two at a time and then return to the holding area for digestion.

Fishing Report

Last Saturday, I fished Lake Kissimmee launching out of Camp Mack Resort. It was a moderately windy day with plenty of sun - a typical bad day for fishing in Florida. I worked the Kissimmee Grass areas using a variety of methods and baits - topwater, spinnerbaits, big and small plastics, jigs and trailers. The results were miserable to say the least. One 13.75" bass, one hooked bass lost in the battle through the grass vegetation. I changed vegetation to Lilly Pads and lost two bass in the battle to the boat, and then out of frustration, cast a plastic bait as far as I could into an open space in the pads and retrieved it as fast as physically possible.

Halfway back the explosion occurred and a 5.6 lb bass was finally hooked between the eyes and ended up becoming wrapped-up in several pads. A few minutes later and she was relaxing in my livewell.

This day was not all so successful - other than the fact that I did locate a far amount of bass to catch - but better than if I did not locate any bass at all. At least I got the chance to boat some bass. This is more than I can say about the fishing guide trip on Friday I had where I saw bass attempt to strike my bait as I lifted it out of the water and never hooked any. My customer had one bite all day - at two pounder - who saved us from being "Skunked" on Istokpoga. The sad day started with us arriving at my first hole only to discover the area had been sprayed recently to kill hydrilla. Then arriving at hole number two revealed the same exact scenario - dying hydrilla and no bass anywhere.

I found myself wishing the lake management agencies would mark the treatment areas in order to provide for the anglers a warning alerting them to the fact fish are unresponsive due to chemical affects shutting down their metabolism and need for food. Also, citizens of Highlands county who live on the lake and or travel to the lake, plan and work hard to make a living providing people with a fantastic experience. They don't want to waste their money and a form a bad opinion of Lake Istokpoga management policy, resulting in not returning to the lake and worst yet, spreading the word of their disappointment.

Most everyone understands hydrilla chemical treatments are essential to responsible management plans, but what the majority of lake users object to is, not knowing when, where, and to what extent, treatment was done. Knowing ahead of time would also be very beneficial and appreciated. Respect goes both ways on this subject - lake users spend money twice, first in their use of the lake, second in their tax dollars to management the lake that ultimately works against them in this situation.
However, knowing all the information regarding the chemical treatments in advance allows their hard-earned money to work for them - as it should. The lake maintained at the highest level of responsibility, in turn provides the user with the most usage for his dollar. In the end, the lake management agency reduces negative feedback instead of stimulating it, and promotes positive lake usage experiences. Marking hydrilla treatment areas is essential.

Other News

S.O.S. Florida Lakes Inc is having their next open public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. at the Lorida Civic Center in Lorida. The subjects are "Hydrilla Lake Management," and "Istokpoga Levels." Guest speakers addressing hydrilla issues are Vicki Ponius and Carl Smith from Highlands County and representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. SOS V.P. will be addressing lake levels. They hope to see you there. Let's work together to create lake management at it's finest. Visit their Web site for more information at www.sos-floridalakes.org or www.istokpoga.info
Remember to check your boat when loading after using a lake with hydrilla. Let's make sure not to carry it to other lakes. A little prevention by all of us costs us less money in a long run.

Tournament News

Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: Today - Oct. 3 on Lake Francis. Time: 7 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/.