Early Risers: This Is Your Week To Shine

This is the week of the last-quarter moon phase, which occurs Monday at 9:37 p.m.

Over the next three days, the major feeding migration gradually switches from the late evening to the early morning. For anglers who prefer getting out to the lake before sunrise, this is your week.

If the weather forecasts for the next three days hold true, the late evening anglers should experience the perfect wind conditions in all parts of the lake.

There will be a mild cold front moving into our area tonight, but it should not negatively affect the fish enough to worry about. Depending on the time of the front arriving in Highlands County, it's possible the evening anglers could get lucky by having the barometric pressure drop, triggering a larger feeding migration than expected.

All in all, this will be a great week to get out on the water, mornings or evenings, to catch your favorite fish.

The early-morning bite starts at 5:30 a.m., peaks at 6:30 a.m., and ends somewhere around 7:30 a.m. The water temperatures will be approximately 65 degrees, which is perfect for fish to feed aggressively. There should be just enough wind present to create a mild wave action from Northwest to the Southeast.

This feeding migration will build in duration and intensity each day this week, and by Wednesday will become the major feeding migration of the day. Don't forget that each day this time frame adjusts about 30 minutes later and lasts longer.

The late-evening Bite starts at 5:30 p.m., an hour later, and ends at about 7:30 p.m. The water temperatures should reach the low 70s by sundown unless the cold front moves into our area beforehand.

Be expecting a barometric change sometime during this feeding migration. The wind will change direction and come out of the Northeast and pickup slightly. This evening could provide the best top-water fishing opportunity of the week.

Today this feeding migration is the major bite period of the day, but will diminish each day this week and be overtaken by midweek as previously stated. This bite also starts later each day by about thirty minutes and becomes shorter in duration.

The nighttime bite really doesn't rate high enough to mention, however it's always true that all fish feed at night. Compared to the last two weeks though, this week will seem dismal in comparison. On a scale from one to 10, it might reach a three or four.

Fishing Facts

Locating bass during the spawning season can at times seem impossible.

This is due to the abnormal, erratic characteristics of the bass during the phases of the spawning ordeal. Both male and female abandon their normal daily migration routes - patrolling territories and hunting for food - and instead move into a suitable area for safe spawning.

The determination is dictated by the weather pattern and not primarily the lake bathymetry. A female bass will travel only as far as it needs to locate a secure surrounding, and if the weather ruins the first choice, she'll move on until a suitable area is discovered. This process could occur several times, such happens to be the case over the last three months.

For this reason, bass anglers are hard-pressed to learn where bass have moved to in relation to weather conditions. Everything is unpredictable and irregular.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

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

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

Steven Gornak, Biological Scientist IV, Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Sub-Section, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation - 3991 SE 27th Court, Okeechobee, FL 34974. Phone: 863-462-5190 (SunCom 761-5190), Fax: 863-462-5194 (SunCom 761-5194), Mobile: 863-697-6256, Email: steven.gornak@myfwc.com

Tournament News

The Outback USA Crappie Tournament is open to the public and will be held monthly.

The second event will be Feb. 20 and 21. Entry fee is $5 and anglers can fish any lake of their choice and weigh-in on any day at Outback USA at 14021 US-27 South.

Application can be picked up at Outback USA which is half way between South Sebring and Lake Placid, on route 27S. Store hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

The Monday Morning Lake Jackson 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 Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is on the Feb. 18 at Lake Jackson. Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon. Pay at ramp - entry fee is $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) or 863-273-4062 (cell), email bassbutchie60@aol.com or call Dwight Ameling at -863-471-3305.