Best fishing of the month is near

This week anglers can expect to have the best fishing the month has to offer with the new moon arriving Wednesday, during the lunar perigee. With the weather being clear and dry the past several days the fish have formed distinguishable feeding patterns and should be easier to locate daily.

The major feeding migration of the day occurs between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The peak period should happen during the first half of the feeding migration when the water is still not up to the daily high temperature. Once the water reaches its daily high the fish should stop feeding for the most part. The 1-10 scale rating for the next three days should climb to 8 or 9 by Tuesday and Wednesday and start out today at 6, and increase to 7 on tomorrow.

There is a secondary feeding migration that will weaken during this week but due to the lack of afternoon and evening thunderstorms over the past week it could actually strengthen and produce better than it would normally otherwise.

The secondary feeding period starts at sundown and ends new midnight with a 1-10 scale rating of 6 today and tomorrow, and 7 by midweek. The peak period should be right at the beginning of the migration as the water starts to cool on the surface. If there is a moderate wind fish will be moving into the windy side of the lake to feed.

Oppose the Proposed Federal Ban

On Aug. 23, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and four other organizations to ban all lead in fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This includes sinkers, jigs, weighted fly line, and components that contain lead such as brass and ballast in a wide variety of lures, including spinners, stick baits and more.

On Aug. 27, 2010, the EPA denied the petition for ammunition but maintained the petition to ban lead fishing tackle. Supporters of hunting and the shooting sports have been successful in having ammunition excluded from this ban.

The petition was presented with the aim of reducing bird deaths caused by the ingestion of lead sinkers and jigheads; however, a study conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that less than one percent of all waterfowl and other birds such as eagles are killed by lead sinker ingestion.

The reasons for opposing the ban are:

•The data does not support a federal ban on lead sinkers used for fishing. In general, bird populations, including loons and other waterfowl species, are subject to much more substantial threats such as habitat loss through shoreline development. Any lead restrictions need to be based on sound science that supports the appropriate action for a particular water body or species.

•Depending on the alternative metal and current prevailing raw material costs, non-lead fishing tackle products can cost from six to 15 times more than lead products. Non-lead products may not be as available and most do not perform as well. Mandatory transitioning to non-lead fishing tackle would require significant changes from both the industry and anglers.

•A federal ban of the use of lead in fishing tackle will have a significant negative impact on recreational anglers and fisheries resources, but a negligible impact on waterfowl populations.

•America's 60 million anglers generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation's economy creating employment for over one million people.

Anglers are encouraged to support voluntary angler education programs for the use of lead sinkers and should urge state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to do the same.

You can help by logging onto the Keep America Fishing website and follow the link to use the EPA provision for petitions and public comments. Please visit keepamericafishing,org today.

Fishing License Info: Phone: 1-888-Fish Florida, Website: MyFWC.com

Lake Istokpoga's Level is at 38.53 feet above sea level today

Tournament News

The Monday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public and launches at 8 a.m. with weigh-in at 1 p.m. Next event is on Dinner Lake, September 6. Entry fee is $15 per boat with a payout of 1{+s}{+t} place 2/3 and 2{+n}{+d} place 1/3 of fee.. For information, call Paul Tardiff at 863-385-8007 (home) or 863-273-4062 (cell).

The Friday Morning Lake June/Josephine Bass Tournament will be on Lake Josephine this week, September 3, starting at 7 AM and ending at 12 noon. This tournament alternates between the two lakes. Entry Fee is $20 and pays first two places. Big Bass Fee is $5 and pays first place. For complete information call Ralph Howard - 863-381-4640, or Bob Stanley - 863-458-2118.