Climbing Water Temperatures Are Perfect For Heavy Feeding

The big concern for anglers for the next few days is the strong winds out of the south-southwest, with speeds of 15 to 25 miles per hour and gusts up to 30 mph.

The south and north shorelines on islands will be the only places on the lakes which will provide protection from the warm winds.

Water temperatures have returned to the lower to mid-60s and will continue to climb into the upper 60s, which is the perfect temperature range for fish to feed heavily. By Saturday, the winds should decrease enough to the point where angler will be comfortable fishing all areas of the lakes - that is if two-foot-plus waves do hamper your angling style.

The primary feeding migration for today occurs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and should reach a rating of seven or higher as fish feed aggressively as the moon cycle and daytime high water temperatures combine to trigger the major feed session.

There is also a very good early-morning feeding migration from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. which should reach a rating of six. This bite period will increase in duration and intensity each day and by the weekend provide anglers with ideal conditions for boating a full-daily limit.

Nighttime anglers will experience the best bite period of the night from midnight to 2 a.m. but only reach a rate of 4-5 and decrease in duration and intensity each night.

Fishing Facts

The Florida Largemouth bass will spawn in large numbers when water temperatures are in the mid to upper-60s because they have the energy level to feed enough to have the ability to do the necessary hard-work the spawn requires.

Fishing Fiction

"Bass spawn mostly in depths of three feet or less."

This is only true in very shallow lakes where deeper water offers no protective cover.

Spawning bass being caught in depths of five to seven feet have been reported in almost all lakes in Central Florida over the last two days. Bass move into the warmer shoreline areas to feed, and return to protected deeper cover where they can safely complete a winter spawn.

Fishing Feature

Last Monday morning during the Monday Morning Lake Jackson Black Bass Tournament, Sebring's Dwight Ameling managed to locate and boat a 9.70 trophy-sized Bass, which from the photo doesn't appear to be a spawning bass.

However, the girth would indicate she might be bulking-up in the pre-spawn phase. Dwight, along with his partner, Paul Tardiff, both seem to know where all Lake Jackson's giant bass are for they seem to boat bass this size with greater regularity than most other anglers.

They've told me on several occasions that this lake hold many "monsters" if anglers are willing to do their homework.

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 second event will be Feb. 20-21. 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 on Crooked Lake. 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.