Don't Waste Time, Get To The Lake For Month's Best Daytime Fishing

The new moon occurs Monday at 7:55 a.m., which means that the best daytime fishing of the month is likely happening while you read this column.

However, you still have time to finish reading it because the peak period doesn't occur until later this morning and ends in the middle of the afternoon.

So, since I have heightened your sense of urgency to get out on your favorite lake, we now share in the common interest for me to be as concise as possible in order to achieve our objectives - yours is to locate fish, set the hook well, and put the fish in the boat and mine is to provide as much assistance as possible to enable you to accomplish this.

I'll try and be brief.

Today's major feeding migration occurs from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a peak period centered around noon. Since the major cold front has passed through our area and more seasonal temperatures have arrived, all fish will be moving back into deeper areas as they begin to migrate further along their normal daily feeding routes.

Due to the new moon happening shortly after safelight, there is also an excellent early-morning bite that should equal the midday bite in intensity and duration. It should start around 6:30 a.m. and end at 8:30 a.m.

As the water temperatures continue to rise daily by tomorrow and Tuesday, the morning feeding migration should actually become the more preferred time to be on the water. The afternoon bite will gradually decrease each day as more fish follow the lunar influence to feed at sunrise.

There is no nighttime bite to speak of because of the total lack of moonlight which makes this week's night-rating the lowest of the month.

When water temperatures climb back into the low to mid 60s, bass will spawn in the largest numbers of this winter season so far. This means post and pre-spawn activity all throughout areas close to your hot-spots. Depths of two to five feet in and around dense vegetation should provide the best habitat for all stages of spawn.

Crappie should also be moving a few feet deeper than they have been during the cold front. Many anglers have reported finding them in four to six feet and expect to locate them this week at depths of six to 10 feet.

The winds are forecasted to be mild to medium, which is welcomed news after enduring the high winds of the last week.

Well, as promised, there was your abbreviated version of my usual forecast.

Good luck - however, I'm sure the majority of you won't need much luck at all during the New moon.

Your Lake Manager's Contact Information:

Clell Ford, Highlands County Lakes Management Specialist - 4434 George Blvd, Sebring, Florida 33875. Phone: 863-402-6545, Email: Cford@hcbcc.org

Vicki Pontius, Highlands County Parks and Recreation Director - 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

The Outback USA Crappie Tournament is open to the public and will be held monthly. The second event will be in February - dates yet to be determined. 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. Store hours are from 6 a.m. - 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 inch) bass per boat, and one bass over 22 inches per angler. For information, call Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-446-1310 (cell).

The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is Jan. 28 on Lake Placid. Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon. Pay at ramp - entry fee $30.00 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 863-446-1310 (cell), email bassbutchie60@aol.com or call Dwight Ameling at 863-471-3305.