It looks as if the cooler weather typical of the fall season is finally here. This is a welcomed sign for the Central Florida freshwater angler because it means fishing will be significantly picking-up as more fish are caught in less time spent on the water.
As I have said for the past two weeks, the water temperatures will now begin to drop into the ideal feeding range for all freshwater fish. Once the temperature average reaches the middle to upper 70s, our lake's food chains will operate in high gear; fish will be putting weight on faster than any other time of year.
There is a seasonal migration happening now due to the drop in water temps. Fish move into typical feeding areas in larger numbers, being attracted by new vegetation that grew during the summer and the higher dissolved oxygen levels that cooler water sustains. Both factors combine to create an excellent feeding habitat for the entire food-chain.
This time of year, anglers who love to fish shallow lakes start to see a higher strike percentage as more fish move into thriving vegetative cover and stay there. Flippers and pitchers can now begin to see real results when combing a shoreline area for hours a day.
It is totally normal to pitch a bait into thick bulrush on one side of the boat and land a six-pound bass. Then without moving the boat, pitch the same bait into cattails on the other side of the boat and set the hook on a larger bass. As an old fishing partner of mine used to say in times like these, "Wow, they're stacked in here; get ready to get your arm broke."
The deeper lake anglers will likewise start seeing fish feeding much heavier in grass beds of medium depth that are near healthy vegetative shorelines. The food-chain will move between the two areas, motivated by the intensity of feeding activity. The sheer numbers of fish migrating at one time will be noticeable with little effort; the action should be seen at the surface and easily picked-up on any sonar unit.
It is also a fact that the overall one-in-10 scale rating average will increase from four or five to five to six, which doesn't sound like much of an increase, but I think any angler will tell you, setting the hook six more times a day is enough incentive to give it all you got. The worst time of the day to fish now becomes a good time of the day to fish, because fish will all be feeding significantly more all day long until water temps drop out of the ideal feeding range — in the 60s.
Now is also the time of year that shoreline anglers reap greater benefits. The lakes are up as high as they'll probably get this year and fish are moving into shoreline areas in huge numbers. Anglers can put supper on the table with relative ease and hardly any money invested; all you need to know is when the best time to fish is.
The best times of the day to fish over the next four days will be centered on the rising and setting of the sun combined with the placement of the moon during those two solar events. Today the highest rating occurs from 7 to 8:30 a.m. when it culminates near eight during the 7:30 a.m. peak. As the waxing full moon progresses, this bite diminishes daily by one number before stabilizing near six for the daily norm.
The other best time of the day to fish has the same rating as the early morning migration but occurs as the moon arrives overhead and the sun sets. Today this bite is slightly less in feeding intensity so the rating stays at eight for less time — 8 to 8:30 p.m. during the 7 to 10 p.m. migration. However, as the full moon nears completion next Tuesday night, this feeding period takes over as the dominant feeding migration of the day by the weekend.
The Mystery Bass Weight Contest still does not have a winner even though one person came within one ounce of the correct weight and over a dozen guesses within four ounces. Why not try your luck and guess the weight of the trophy bass featured on the Mystery Bass page on HighlandsBassAngler.com? Email me the correct weight in pounds and ounces, (Illustration: 17 pounds, four ounces) and win a half-day bass fishing trip on a lake of my choice. Lake Istokpoga's level is currently at 39.28 feet above sea level, which is up from last week's level of 39.25 feet and three inches below the maximum high-pool for the year (39.5 feet).
Lake Istokpoga will have its usual fall season herbicide shoreline treatment event throughout the month. To view and or download the maps, go online to HighlandsBassAngler.com and visit the Istokpoga-management-info page. If you need to know which of the ninety-two target areas were recently treated, or are about to be treated, contact FWC biologist Steve Gornak at 863-462-5190.
The Monday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is on Lake Francis, Oct. 10. Launch time is at 7:30 a.m. and weigh-in time is at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $15 per boat to be paid at the ramp. For information, call Paul Tardiff at 863-273-4062.
The Wednesday Morning Black Bass Fishing Tournament is open to the public. Next event is on Lake Francis, October 5. Launch time is 7 a.m. and weigh-in time is at noon. Entry fee is $20 per boat to be paid at the ramp. For information, call Jeff Balog at 863-840-3420.
The Friday Morning Bass Tournament, June, Placid, Clay is open to the public. Next event is on Lake Huntley, Oct. 7. Launch time is at 7 a.m. at the west ramp and weigh-in time is at noon. Entry Fee is $20 to be paid at the ramp. Optional Big Bass fee is $5. For information, call Chris King at 860-306-9789 or 863-659-1144.