Forecast Nov 30-Dec 3, 2011          Highlands Today  Headline:       " Sunrise catch will improve during the week" 

The fishing forecast for the remainder of the week will give anglers a first-quarter moon phase produced late afternoon to early-evening feeding migration that will gradually weaken heading into the weekend while producing at the same time a strengthening early morning feeding migration.

The weather forecast looks to be nothing but positive for the next week, so overall, the fishing forecast for the next four days will be above average to good with Saturday morning looking to be the best morning for fishing and tonight and tomorrow night the best nights to land a “big one”.

The specific times of the migrations are centered on solar activity rather than lunar activity because the moon rises and sets during midday to midnight hours, respectively. However, the moon does play a positive role in that it leads fish to feed heavier when it’s overhead during the sunset. Then twelve hours later, after a mostly dark night holds back fish from successfully feeding, the sunrise triggers fish to feed again as light leads the way to chances for a fish & grub breakfast.

It should be stated that water temperatures are ideal for feeding-fish right now. With temps in the high-speed feeding-range of 68-78 degrees the only challenge anglers have is to “match the hatch” so to speak. Fish will feed-at-will for the next month—weather permitting—all you have to do is put the right bait in front of them.

Today the best time to fish will be from 4-9 p.m. today and tomorrow. The peak periods will happen one hour into the feeding time and continue for about ninety minutes and achieve a 8 rating today and a 7 rating tomorrow. By Friday and Saturday this feeding bite moves into the pre-midnight hours and diminishes in intensity and strength—benefits the early morning bite.

The early morning bite pick-up noticeably between today and Saturday as the evening bite drops-off. Today the migration starts out at 4:30 a.m.—six hours after moonset and six hours before moonrise—and ends at 9 a.m. The peak period should occur at safelight and continue for ninety minutes or more and reach a rating of 6 today and increase one number per day to reach a 9 rating by Saturday morning.

The worst time to fish will be from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. when the rating declines to 3-4. It will also be slow activity in the middle hours of the morning and afternoon and perhaps a slight “bump” in activity when the moonrise starts between the hours of 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.—rise times advance approximately thirty-nine minutes per day this time of year.

Looking ahead to next week anglers will have a lunar apogee and a full moon to deal with and a minor cold front in the middle. More of the same good fishing conditions on tap, plus a “full moon cold front” combination that could officially start the Bass Spawn for the 2011/2012 season.  

News & Events

Lake Istokpoga’s level is currently at 39.48’ above sea level, with two gates open .2 feet (2 inches) for the past few days to maintain a level below the maximum high-pool of 39.5’. At the time of writing this article, two gates were still open about two inches (236 cfm).

Not sure if 236 cubic feet per minute (cfm) is enough flow to influence the contact time of Aquathol K in the target zone scheduled for treatment in front of Mossy Cove which is just east of the spillway. One would reasonably think that all gates should be closed during and after the event for several days, in order to shutdown all water-flow, thereby keeping the expensive chemical in the target zones long enough to do its intended job. I’m not sure the Pros will be on top of this, but maybe I should be, it’s just that history seems to hinder my confidence.  

The FWC Lake Istokpoga fall hydrilla treatment event of 1856 total acres will be completed today and treatment zone maps will be provided at the boat ramp kiosks and can be viewed and downloaded online at Istokpoga.info.  

An FWC Istokpoga Crappie Fishing Rodeo will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the route 98 Istokpoga County Park boat ramp. Friends of Istokpoga Inc. are hosting the event. A Free BBQ Lunch and free prize drawings start at noon. All anglers must bring their own boats (with functioning live wells) as well as their own bait and tackle. For more info contact Bill Pouder at the FWC, 863-648-3805