A sudden change in weather patterns may change the way fish are feeding; a really hard change, such as a cold front with freezing temperatures, may give them lockjaw.

Fluctuating water levels can hurt, or even help, fishing. A sudden drop in the lake level can pull fish off their normal habitats and make them suspend, thus harder to find and catch. Conversely, a rise in water levels can open new feeding territory for fish and make them easier to catch sometimes.

The price of gas can also have an adverse effect, often determining how much an angler will run in a day of fishing to reach a prime fishing spot, or even if he goes fishing at all.

This time of year another factor enters the picture. It’s deer season across most of the South and a lot of guys who normally would be casting from the deck of their bass boat on Saturdays find themselves sitting in a tree stand waiting on a big buck to walk within range.

All of that figures into the Accent Marine Tournament Trail Classic this weekend on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, said tournament director Ted Meyer.

However, one of the problems foreseen by Meyer apparently is not longer a threat to fishing this weekend. Meyer thought the cold front that blanketed the Carolinas earlier this week was on the way to Florida, but it apparently has fizzled out and dissipated.

“This will be the first major weather change we are supposed to have. It’s the one coming down from the North and it might change things a little bit if it gets cold here,” he said Tuesday.

However, the Weather Channel now shows temperatures ranging from 85 to 87 degrees on through the weekend, with nighttime temperatures almost as steady, 65 degrees tonight, up to 71 degrees by Saturday.

The water level problem, however, could have an effect on the outcome of the tournament.

“We’ve been having rain something fierce,” Meyer said, “4-5 inches at a time, like in the summertime. So far the rain has not bothered them too much. The water is way up. They have been letting it out during the week, then close it down on the weekend, which changes the whole attitude of the fish. When the water is running they get active and when it stops they don’t know which way to go.”

Fishing has been good, with most anglers finding success by flipping the outside edge of the grass lines and casting into the hydrilla, he noted

Meyer said that although the series has been very successful this year, the down economy and the rising cost of gasoline has hurt the series more than anything else.

Teams had to fish at least seven of the nine regular season tournaments to make the Classic and 38 teams have qualified, Meyer said.

“Of that 38 maybe 35 will show up this weekend. Some will probably go hunting,” he said.

Those that do come will need to bring their A-Game. Although there are factors at play that could affect fishing, Meyer predicted it will take around 55 pounds for the two days to win the Classic.

“A couple of weeks ago it took almost 29 pounds, to win our last tournament,” he noted.

 

Accent Marine Tournament Trail Classic

Oct 13-14, 2012

Kissimmee Chain of Lakes

Camp Mack’s River Resort

Call 813-620-1042 or 1309