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Early morning best time to fish

Contributed photo

Dave Douglass shows off a 10-pound bass he caught recently on Lake Istokpoga. The early morning offers the angler the best chance of catching a fish in the coming week.

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 22, 2009

Today the lunar apogee occurs at 8:08 p.m. and on Tuesday the first-quarter moon phase arrives at 9:39 p.m. which means anglers will start to see a shift in fish feeding patterns.

Gradually over the next three days the current late evening feeding migration will diminish both in intensity and duration while the very early morning feeding migration builds in duration and intensity.

Today the hours to be on the water are centered on the sunrise and sunset which also happens to be the peak periods when the 1-10 rating reaches its highest point of 7 for the sunrise and 8 for the sunset. The total feeding migration should last for three hours and starts at 5 a.m. and pm.

On Monday the shift starts as both bite periods have an equal rating of 7, but on Tuesday the early morning bite really starts to come on strong with a rating of 8-9 while the evening bite drops off significantly to a 5-6 rating.

Fishing Facts

Bass are able to feed-at-will when water temperatures are in the mid-to-upper 60s in the morning and reach a daily high of 70. The lakes' dissolved oxygen levels are higher and so the fishes' metabolism is able to keep a high digestion speed. In the Florida fall/winter seasons the bass becomes an eating machine.

Fishing Feature

Bass fishing guides, Remo and Mark Beaver and myself, are donating half day fishing trips to be raffled off in the Wild Turkey Tavern's annual Stover Cup Highlands County Toy Drive event on December 6th. The event kicks off with a 12:30 p.m. sign-up and 1 p.m. starting time.

It is open to the general public so you don't have to participate in the dart tournament to attend. So come out for a great cause and support Highlands County children's charities by bringing a toy and buying a ticket for $10, or just a $20 entry fee. The address is 2751 US 27 North right at the Sebring/Avon Park border.

Fishing Flash

Lake Istokpoga's level is at 38.9' above sea level today. The hydrilla treatment has been completed so if you see "topped-out" areas don't attempt to fish there or anywhere in close proximity because the contact herbicide, Aquathol Super-K will be breaking down the weed for the next two weeks to a month.

If the boat ramp you use doesn't have maps in the kiosks next to the ramps, contact Highlands County Parks & Recreation and request a copy. (Refer to the lake manager's contact section of this article)

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 Jackson, November 25 Next week's event, December 2, 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, Biological Scientist IV, 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 (SunCom 761-5190), Fax: (863) 462-5194 (SunCom 761-5194), Mobile: (863) 697-6256, Email: steven.gornak@myfwc.com

Erica Van Horn, Regional Biologist, FFWCC, Invasive Plant Management Section, 2001 Homeland Garfield Rd. Bartow, FL 33830, 863-534-7074, erica.vanhorn@myfwc.com

Dave Douglass is a bass fishing guide; visit HighlandsBassAngler.com for complete information, secretary of the Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition Inc online at FLFFC.org. Cell: 863-381-8474, Email: davidpdouglass@hotmail.com

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