All Indicators Point Toward Perfect Nights For Late Anglers

The full moon occurred this morning early at 2:38 a.m., and from my house I could hear the largemouth bass feeding vigorously in its light.

Because of this nighttime aquatic festive occasion, I plan to be on the water for several hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with hopes of locating the bass which were not so fortunate to get their fill during the nighttime smorgasbord.

The major daily feeding migration occurs from midnight to 3 a.m. with a peak time happening around 1:30 a.m.

The rating should reach 10 on the 1-10 scale, but this bite will diminish quickly by the weekend, so all you nighttime anglers enjoy it while it lasts.

The early-morning, midday, and late-afternoon bites all are very equal in intensity and duration today. All reach a 7 rating on the 10-scale but only the morning and midday bite increases in intensity and duration for the next four days. The late-afternoon to evening bite will decrease on all counts and be literally absorbed by the today's midday bite as it moves into the afternoon over the same period.

The early-morning bite is from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. with a peak at 8. The midday bite is from noon to 3 p.m. with a peak of 1:30 p.m. And the late-afternoon bite is from 5-7 p.m. with a peak at 5:30 p.m.

Looking ahead using the projected weather forecasts, it looks as if Friday will be the best choice of the next four days with a low pressure system moving into the area dropping barometric pressure.

At this point there is no way of knowing if the late afternoon arrival predicted will actually take place, so it's best to plan to be on the lake by mid-morning at the latest and to fish for the rest of the day.

With the week of constant normal weather the slightest barometric drop will trigger fish to feed very aggressively in the perfect-temperature water - which is mid- to upper-60s. It's a very good chance that anglers will experience record catches both in numbers and sizes. All of the angler's essential indicators are pointing toward an angler's optimum opportunity.

Fishing Facts

When weather patterns settle down and become seasonally consistent and normal for periods longer than five or six days, anglers are able to track fish migrations and habits far better resulting in much greater success rates.

Fishing Fiction

"Bass prefer shallow depths over deeper ones."

This is only true when water temperatures fall into the mid-50s here in Florida. Otherwise, bass will always seek the deepest water possible for ultimate safety.

But if the lake doesn't offer depths of over nine or 10 feet, they will substitute healthy thick vegetation in the deepest water possible as their place of refuge.

Nothing spells "relief" for a largemouth bass like deep water.

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 third event will be on March 14 and 15. 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 today at Lake June. 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.