It's the day after the 11:37 a.m. New Moon, and because of the late morning lunar timing, the intensity and duration of the nighttime feeding migration diminishes significantly with many fish participating in the daytime feeding migration. This is good news for the daytime angler who has been dealing with the majority of lunar events happening at night during the fall and early-winter seasons. Another benefit to the lunar timing is the fact that virtually all day, the fish will be feeding on and off instead of migrating in one major and minor feeding pattern. ...more

January 9, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - When Earl Gamber moved into his home off Hale Road in 1964, he could float a sailboat in the canal behind his house. ...more

January 9, 2008

To start off the new year, the Central Florida largemouth bass angler better dig deep into his closet and put on his Canadian thermo-wear. The first major cold front of the year and winter season arrived Tuesday and does change the approach anglers will need to use to set the hook on a decent catch. Time and patience is needed in order to entice bass under the current conditions. The best times of the day to get out on the lake is from sun-up to 2 p.m., with the peak period being from noon to 1 p.m. ...more

January 3, 2008

SEBRING — Charles Vealey's boat sat in his garage for two years. He and his fishing buddy, Aaron Seward, used to take the boat out to Lake Jackson or Istokpoga, sometimes going elsewhere in the state to catch some bass. ...more

December 19, 2007

Regional water authorities today extended a once-a-week irrigation restriction through June, but warned more drastic measures, including a total outdoor watering ban, might be in store if the current drought continues into next year. ...more

November 26, 2007

Lake levels in Highlands County have remained low, and now, as we head into the winter dry season, all lake levels are expected to drop to near record numbers. In some cases, the levels will clearly break the old marks. ...more

November 21, 2007

SEBRING — So just how little water could remain in lakes Anoka and Placid without disrupting the lakes' environment? How low can Lake Verona go without making Donaldson Park any less enjoyable? The Southwest Florida Water Management District, which monitors those lakes as well as lakes Tulane, Denton and Angelo, wants to get public input Tuesday evening on that and other questions as the district determines new rules on the lakes' minimum water levels. Those levels are set by SWFWMD to determine the point where further drops in the lake level –– from natural causes or from people drawing water out –– could affect the surrounding environment as well as the lake's recreational use. As Chief Environmental Scientist Douglas Leeper wrote in a letter from SWFWMD's Resource Conservation and Development Department, the minimum levels "protect lakes from impacts associated with ground water and surface water withdrawals." ...more

November 19, 2007

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum and guidance levels for selected Highlands County lakes. A minimum flow or level (MFL) is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance between meeting human water needs and those of Florida's natural systems. Minimum lake levels are used as guidelines in district permitting programs, for development of water resource projects and as information for development bordering lakes. These workshops will allow local governments, citizens and others to be part of the development of minimum levels for area lakes. ...more

November 10, 2007

The aging earthen dike around Lake Okeechobee - the only barrier between the second-largest freshwater body in the contiguous United States and thousands of residents - presents an "urgent and compelling" need for repairs, stated a report released Friday. ...more

November 4, 2007

The weather early this morning is closer to the necessary variables needed to cause fish to migrate in larger numbers for longer periods — something that hasn't occurred very often lately. Get to the lake as early as possible and there is a very good chance you might catch the larger fish at the tail end of their feeding spree. The barometer should be near the bottom of the drop that happened Tuesday night, or already starting to rise — but only slightly. For this reason, start your presentation in close to the vegetation, or in the shallows working your way out. There's a great possibility of a "top-water" bite, so give that a try before switching to other methods. I prefer working top-water retrieves at top speed at first, then gradually slowing it down if it doesn't produce any strikes. ...more

October 17, 2007