Late-day anglers will find success

Just one day after the full moon, anglers can expect the good luck they had during the afternoon-to-late evenings over the past week to remain "good" and get even better after mid-week.

The early-morning anglers will see things really start to get more "traditional" and back to normal with temperatures starting out around 60 degrees, which is plenty warm enough for all fish to feed at will. Today and Monday, the bite will improve slightly right at safelight but end before sunrise and reach ratings of 6. However, this will be interrupted by a mild cold front Monday night, which will slow down both the intensity and duration on Tuesday morning to 4.

The late afternoon-to-evening anglers for the next three days will see an intensity rating of 6 and a duration rating of 5. The bite should start at about 2 or 3 p.m. and peak right at sunset. The intensity will increase throughout this entire week so anglers should be able to put together strategies due to the constant weather pattern and temperatures. By the weekend, sunset anglers will have the greatest success because of daily high temperature - more fish feed and have greater appetites at 66 degrees than at 60.

The nighttime anglers will have the greatest luck three hours after sunset and before sunrise because the moon became full at 6:19 a.m. Saturday. The intensity and duration ratings should reach 6 tonight, a 4 Monday night and maybe 5 for Tuesday night. As the week continues, a further decline will occur as more fish feed in the late afternoon.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga's level is at 39.31 feet above sea level today as Fish & Wildlife (FWC) lake managers operate mechanical harvesters and barges on Henderson's Point, parts of the West Wall, and several areas on the islands. I can't help but think that it might not be a good thing to drive out bedding bass away from their beds just as they are about to drop eggs, when just a few months ago the FWC concluded that Lake Istokpoga has a declining bass population and needs immediate action. There is no reason why the removal of tussocks could not wait until April Fool's Day. The spawning bass gets harassed enough already with anglers and other predators, they shouldn't be further interrupted and harassed by a government agency designed to protect them.

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 Lake Anthorpe, Feb. 3, and next week's event, Feb. 10, is on Lake Reedy. 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