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Take Advantage Of Early Morning For Best Bite

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2009

Today and tomorrow morning will be the best fishing period of the next three days. The Last-Quarter Moon occurred this morning at 2:46 a.m. which produces a dual-peak period; equal in intensity and duration, happening 12 hours apart.

The early-morning bite occurs from 5-8 a.m. and is developing in intensity and duration each day and will continue to do so and by Jan. 26 will be the New Moon's noontime major-feeding-migration period.

This morning the peak period occurs from safe-light, approximately 6:40 a.m. to 8 a.m. and might extend longer into the morning because of the warm front moving through Central Florida today. However this is followed by another cold front forecasted to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

The later-afternoon bite occurs from 5-8 p.m. and peaks-out in duration and intensity today and then rapidly declines over the next three days as moonlight dissipates steadily as the New Moon approaches.

Starting today at 4 p.m. anglers will experience the best afternoon bite of the month. The water temperatures will be the highest of the day - and the last four-day period - and promote ideal conditions for the pre-spawn bass to feed. Likewise, the post-spawn bass will also avail themselves of the heightened activity of the entire food-chain and attempt to replenish their depleted bodies from the rigors of achieving a successful spawn.

There is a minor feeding migration period today that occurs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., so if you happen to know areas in your favorite lake that are currently holding your preferred type of fish, you should be able to enjoy a "modest catch." If you have not however, already located hot spots, "luck" is your only hope as you search the lake in non-peak hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Weather forecasts are predicting ideal conditions, modest north to northwest winds, and temperatures in the low to mid-70s today. Tonight's temperatures will be warmer and this will result in possibly producing an excellent early morning bite. By mid-morning the barometer will change as the new front moves in. Fish will feed heavily in anticipation of a possible second cold front as a precaution.

So, plan to get up early tomorrow to take advantage of an excellent early-morning bite, that is, if you're not all fished-out from this evening's fishing trip results. Those back-to-back holiday fishing trips can certainly tire you out with an overdose of "too much fun."

Fishing Facts

The recent cold front indeed provided enough of a temperature decline to trigger the first major bass spawn of 2009. Male "bucks" are busy creating beds in order to court females that have been feeding heavy to provide the energy to produce eggs for one of two spawns she'll likely determine to provide.

For the next two weeks if the weather forecasts are correct, an absolutely perfect spawning season should happen, providing the greatest chances of producing a record bass hatch for our lakes.

Fishing Formula

Artificial bait anglers should try using top-water baits in shallow vegetative areas using a very slow action, consisting of a one-foot-per-two-second retrieve, followed by a ten second pause, followed by a "twitch" of the bait without advancing it. This will work for the simple reason that it harmonizes-so to speak-with the fishes' metabolism speed. The prey and predator operate at the same general speeds as dictated by water temperature. The predator will not work harder then its energy level can supply, so your bait must pause and move very slow in order to convince the fish it can easily strike.

Fishing Fiction

"Bass do not hibernate in Florida winters." Since most people believe that the word "hibernation" means a seasonal winter sleep event, they assume it can't apply to the Bass Capitol of the World in Central Florida. This is a mistake, as most assumptions are.

Anytime air temperatures drop severely to near the freezing mark for two days or longer, bass hibernate. The hibernation event is dependant on weather conditions as to what degree of hibernation will occur. The simple definition of the term is, "a dormant inactive period due to metabolism decline which is triggered by a decline of light and/or temperatures."

When the warmest part of the lake drops in temperature, into the 50s, the Florida Largemouth Bass will begin to hibernate in degrees. As this starts to occur, the entire lake's food-chain feeds in anticipation of a possible shut-down of its metabolism. As the lights go out, it makes sure its belly is full-or at very least attempts to.

One day at freezing temperatures produces the first degree of full hibernation; bass feed very slow and once a day. A third day at the same temperature the second degree of hibernation starts; Bass stop feeding daily, and will only eat if a food source lays next to them for a very long time-two days or more. Five days produces a full hibernation event; bass will feed again when the temperatures start to return to a normal seasonal level.

Fishing Flash

If you have information, stories, classic fish tales, or any type if fishing news, please feel free to contact me using the information provided at the end of this article. Email is the best choice for providing me your information and pictures.

Several readers have contacted me assuming that I am the Highlands Today fishing editor, and therefore should personally cover local events and conduct interviews of spectacular fishing experiences. There is no such position within this newspaper organization and I am not paid as a subcontractor to provide this type of service. So, if you'll take the time to provide me with your fishing experience contributions by phone and/or email, I'll take the time to provide those contributions in my articles - deal?

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

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 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

Fishing Tournaments

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

The first event will be held on January 16-18. Entry fee is $5 and anglers can fish any lake of their choice and weigh-in on any day at Outback USA at 14021 Route 27 South.

Application can be picked up at Outback USA which is half way between South Sebring and Lake Placid. Store hours are from 6am - 6 p.m. every day.

Monday Morning Lake Jackson Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public and launches every Monday morning at 8 a.m. and weigh-in at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $10 per boat with a "winner takes all" payout. One person or two per boat, three legal (over 14 inch) Bass per boat, and one Bass over 22 inches per angler. Tournament director is Paul Tardiff, his contact info is the same as the Wednesday tournament below.

Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next Event: January 21 on Lake Josephine. Time: 7:30 a.m. until noon. Pay at ramp - entry fee $30 per boat. One person may fish alone if you do not have a partner. Next week's event, January 28 is on Lake Placid. For information, contact Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 Home, Cell 863-273-4062, email- bassbutchie60@aol.com or Dwight Ameling at 863-471-3305.

Dave Douglass is a Bass fishing guide and CEO of S.O.S.-Florida Lakes Inc. You can contact him at 863-381-8474, e-mail him at davidpdouglass@hotmail.com or visit www.highlandsbassangler.com

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