Prepare for new moon

The week of the new noon is upon us. It arrives Wednesday at 12:03 p.m., which means anglers have a full week of the most beneficial daylight lunar influences of the month assisting them by causing fish to feed heaviest during the day instead of the normal nighttime feeding.

The early-morning bite is the major feeding migration of the day. Sunday, it starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m., with a peak period of 8-10 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, the bite should start about 30 minutes later and build in duration and intensity. The entire week's 1-10 scale rating should be 7-8, depending on weather conditions.

There is a declining late-evening bite starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m., with a peak period of 6:30-8 p.m.. It should reach a rating of 5-7 and perhaps higher if the barometer drops at this time.

The nighttime bite will diminish significantly this week because of the total lack of moonlight and the timing of the new moon arriving almost at noon. It is safe to say that this week will be the best week of the month for daytime anglers to boat their best catches of the month.

By Tuesday there will be perfect winds at speeds of 5-10 mph out of the east southeast. For this reason, Tuesday should be the best of the next three days.

Fishing Facts

For many Florida lakes the bass spawn is already underway. Contrary to what many believe, the spawn is triggered by water temperature and not lunar phases, such as the full moon. When the temperature drops into the lower- to mid-60s, the bass start to prepare for the spawning season. The moon has absolutely nothing to do with it. The only part the full moon plays when it comes to the bass spawn is that it causes anglers to pay closer attention to what the bass do at that time while ignoring what bass do during the other 27 days of the lunar cycle.

Fishing Fiction

"Bass only spawn when the water temperature drops into the mid- to lower-60s." This is not true because I've personally seen bass caught in the months of June and August that were in a post-spawn state with a bruised tale and stomach caused by fanning the bed. It was true, however, that there was a significant drop in temperature in both instances reaching a low-water temperature of 78-80.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga's level has risen to 39.20 feet above sea level, which is ideal for the beginning of the major bass spawning season. Shoreline areas with healthy vegetation will provide adequate protection and cover, and filter the turbid water enough so that more males will be able to make beds in the shallows than in the last three years when this lake was much lower at this time of year.

Tournament News

The Monday Morning Lake "Josephine" 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 inches) bass per boat, and one bass over 22 inches per angler. For information, call Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-273-4062 (cell).

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Tournament will be on Crooked Lake, Dec. 16, and next week's event, on Dec. 23, is on Lake Josephine. Launch time is 7:30 a.m. and weigh-in time is at noon. Entry fee is $30 per boat to be paid at the ramp. For complete information call Paul Tardiff, home: (863) 385-8007, cell: (863) 273-4062, or Dwight Ameling (863) 471-3305.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

FWC Largemouth Bass Research Study Program - Email: TagReturn@MyFWC.com, or Phone: FWC Tag Return Hotline - 800-267-4461. Mail address: LMB Tagging Study, 601 W. Woodward Ave., Eustis, FL, 32726

FFWCC Fishkill Report Hot Line - 800-636-0511, or go online at www.My FWC.com/contact.

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

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

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

Erica Van Horn - FFWCC, Invasive Plant Management Section - 2001 Homeland Garfield Rd. Bartow, FL 33830, Phone: (863)-534-7074, Email: erica.vanhorn@myfwc.com