Find Those Oxygenated Lake Areas

This week, the forecast becomes less ideal each day due to the heat factor occurring at the same time as the lunar-produced major daily feeding migration period.

Normally, during the lunar event of the full moon - Friday at 7:59 a.m. - the three days prior and after provide the second best fishing period of the month. The afternoon summer thunderstorms and heat will prohibit many (if not all) anglers from enjoying the peak feeding period of the day.

The early morning bite doesn't change much in intensity and duration from the previous weeks. Your odds of hooking into a larger bass are 25/75 at the most, but the possibility of boating several medium-sized bass is a sure thing if you find the oxygenated areas of the lake.

The peak period is from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today, but each day this moves later into the day, but builds in intensity and duration until Saturday, only to diminish.

The opportune strategy is to place yourself in your favorite "hot spot" and hope the storms happen about two or three miles away. The barometric pressure drops because of the close proximity of the weather front formation and provides the benefits of the triggering affect on the feeding migration.

Such was the case for me last week on Lake Josephine, when from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., storms formed all around the area but not directly on the lake, which allowed me to safely keep fishing.

The results were exceptional.

One eight-pound Bass, one seven, two six, two five, one two, and three good losing battles with three- to five-pounders - all in the lily pads.

If I said it once, I've said it one thousand times now, but it needs to be said again: "You can't beat bass angling in Highlands County - the center of the largemouth bass capitol of the world."

Fishing Facts

Today's fishing fact is Highlands County is the center of the universe. Well, the largemouth bass universe that is (this writer kicks back in his office chair, remembering dozens of memories of massive hook-sets and ensuing trophy-bass battles through the vegetation and onto the boat deck.)

This is one place in the universe were the "facts" automatically improve - naturally.

Fishing Report

Shoreline anglers everywhere are rejoicing and exhibiting positive attitudes many of their family members and friends thought would never be seen again. Our lakes are finally starting the journey back to the normal levels of 2003 and early 2006 - before the drought started.

Lakeshore vegetation has overgrown thickly along all the shores of the lakes and as the waters rise and cover these areas, the entire lake's food chain will move in and thrive. This is one of the positives of a severe drought: When the lake levels return to normal, the fishing along the shorelines becomes the best it could possibly be.

For the next three months, everyone has much greater chances of creating real life "fish stories" which won't need exaggeration to make them a legend.

Storylines like, "I caught a Hawg this big and this fat, and battled for what seemed like hours" will become a once-in-a-lifetime reality.

Last year, several huge monster Florida largemouth bass were caught in deeper water lakes.

Lake Placid and June both provided anglers with bass over 15 pounds, both just off bed, and both during the summer months. Keep in mind the shorelines had receded to the point of providing no vegetation for these monsters to move up into, as they would normally do. This year the huge bass will have the best shoreline vegetation of their lifetimes, and now that I think of it, your lifetimes too.

Fishing News

Lake Istokpoga's level is above the high-pool hurricane level of 38.25 feet above sea level, and therefore South Florida Water Management is releasing water through the S-68 Spillway daily.

Lakes, Josephine, Clay and June are all at the point where using the lake boat ramps is not a problem.

Lake Jackson still has not risen to the level needed to safely use the Veteran's Park boat ramp, but it's possible to use smaller boats and wade them out to deeper water.

Please remember to NOT power-load your boats as the lakes return to a level where you can use the ramps. Most of the ramps are all in need of repairs because of inconsiderate boaters who refuse to "float load" their boats instead of power loading. Foundation bed rock is exposed at most of the ramps, and this will damage motor props when power loading is done.

Also please remember to remove all weeds from the boat and trailer before leaving the lake ramp. The last thing we need to do is to transport hydrilla to lakes which don't have this fast-growing invasive weed.

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: is today on Lake June. 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, Cell (863) 446-1310 bassbutchie60@aol.com or Dwight Ameling at (863)471-3305.

Paul reports that many parents have been teaming up with their children to compete in the tournament.

This is great news.

I can't think of a better family (parent/child) relationship development event by which to strengthen the very core of our society - our children's relationship with their parents.

Highlands County parents have - by virtue of living in Central Florida rich natural heritage - the ideal natural environment host, waiting to assist in the formation of our children's character. This is one investment that should not be cut from the family budget as prices climb through the roof and threaten the essential quality time our children require in order to succeed in life.

Highlands County has many lakes which do not require a lot of gasoline for our boat motors. Towing the boat to the lake costs twice as much, however, once on the lake, motoring to the first fishing hole and the return trip to the weigh-in totals no more than two or three miles at most. All in all, it costs about $22.00 more - or five gallons of gas.