Morning best time to fish

As is always the case during the first-quarter moon phase here in Florida, the mid-morning fishing conditions significantly improve throughout the week.

However, because of the waxing of the full moon happening at the same time as the lunar apogee, the usual nighttime to early morning feeding migration will not be as good as when the lunar perigee occurs.

Therefore there really is only one daytime feeding migration anglers should attempt to take advantage of for the next seven days, and that is during what many bass anglers refer to as "tournament hours," safe-light to three in the afternoon.

Today through Friday the best three hours of the day will be from 8 - 11 a.m. with a peak period of 8:30-9:30 a.m. The rating should reach an eight and possibly higher if there happens to be a midday thunderstorm.

The weekend's best three hours of the day occur from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a peak period of 11 a.m. to noon. The rating should remain at eight unless heavy rains occur during the nighttime. If this happens expect the bite and peak period to occur a few hours earlier.

Fishing facts

During the Florida summer season when temperatures drop more than five or six degrees for more than three or four days the larger bass will feed more in the usual feeding areas. Such as been the case for the past four days, making today and tomorrow's chances of hooking into a big one, that much better.

Fishing fiction

"All fishing forecast charts are the same; they all provide the same lunar and solar information." This is false. There are some charts which take into consideration the geographical area of the angler instead of just offering a "one chart fits all" type general forecast.

The general charts also do not differentiate between the day and night feeding patterns in their rating scales. A rating of six during a full moon apogee breaks down as five of the six points occurring during the daytime and one during the nighttime.

Where as a rating of 10 during a full moon perigee breaks down as eight of the ten points occurring during the nighttime and two during the daytime.

Fishing flash

Lake Istokpoga's level is at 38.30' above sea level today with the S-68 gates opened at six inches, creating some flow through the lake, north to south.

The total South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) rainfall for the month of June was 7.58 inches, which is a half inch above the norm. Let's hope that this scenario repeats for the months of July and August.

The last time I voiced concern about the projected weather patterns back at the end of April, thinking that we might be in serious trouble because there was very little rain forecasted for May, the weather ended up setting a record for May rainfall totals at 9.04 inches.

So here goes, I think I will roll the dice again and voice concern over not having, at the very least, a tropical storm or Category 1 or 2 hurricane travel through our area of Florida for this 2009 hurricane season.

If May is any indication as to the percentage of error in my weather-concerns and prognostications, voicing this might turn out to be a dangerous practice.

Having stated this concern I want to publically state this disclaimer; I claim no special abilities or powers or influences that would in some way cause extreme weather to arrive in Central Florida. If a Category 5 hurricane happens here, I had nothing to do with it.

Lake Okeechobee's level is at 12.28' above sea level and is steadily rising from direct rainfall and above average rainfall in the Upper Kissimmee Watershed areas flowing down the Kissimmee River to the big lake.

For this reason fishing conditions have picked up considerably both in the Kissimmee River and the north end of Okeechobee. Reports of big bass being caught in all the popular areas of the north end are becoming the normal again among the fishing guides.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

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

Vicki Pontius: Parks and Recreation Director, Highlands County, 4344 George Blvd. Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: 863-402-6812, e-mail: 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, e-mail: steven.gornak@myfwc.com

Tournament news

The Monday Morning Lake Jackson Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public and launches every Monday 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).