And the Question Is: "Should You Fish 'Em or Store 'Em?"

Many decades ago, the Shakespeare Company of Kalamazoo, Mich. made a dandy bass/pike lure called a Swimming Mouse (see photo above). This lure is made of wood, painted in many hues, and sports a tail made from some sort of fiber. Designed to run about 2 to 3 feet deep on a normal retrieve, this lure drove fish wild with its seductive wobble. And when pulled in front of lily pads in Indian Lake (in western Ohio), it was a real bass-killer.

Today, prime specimens of this vintage bait sell for $35 to $40 each...and sometimes higher...online. So, the question becomes, "Why would anyone in his/her right mind want to fish one of these 'treasures'?"

Well, one answer to that question came from retired history teacher, historical re-enactor, and avid outdoorsman John Bennett, who admitted that, despite the fact he might be committing heresy by saying so, he still fishes some of these great lures, because they still catch lots of fish.

Said Bennett, "Now, I do keep my best models high and dry, but the old beat-up ones hit the water on a regular basis...and still pull in the fish to this day," he added.

He went on to explain that South Bend produced many great lures over the decades, and two of his favorites were and still are the Bass-Oreno and the Nip-I-Diddee.

"The Oreno I pick is red/white, which can be used on the surface or driven about 2 to 3 feet deep by increasing the speed of your retrieve," said Bennett. "Once, up in Ontario, I saw the swirl of a northern chasing suckers in a small bay where we docked our boats. Two casts on the surface produced zilch. The next cast, though, the Oreno was driven under the water and elicited a healthy strike from a 9-pound pike. I definitely would like to know how many fish anglers have caught on this old reliable lure."

I can't speak for anyone other than myself, but I'm here to tell you that I watched my dear ol' Pop pull many a nice largemouth from the strip-mining pits in southeastern Kansas on this bait. As a result of his success with the Oreno, I still carry some in my box, too.

Back in the 1950s, Bennett's late uncle was casting a Nip for smallmouths in Lake of the Woods when a 25-pound pike engulfed his lure. After a spirited fight, with the behemoth going through the bottom of the net, the fish finally was landed and eventually ended up on the wall in his den.

"The Nip works just as swell today as it did then," said Bennett. "Early in the morning and late at night is when fish are going to bite. Cast the Nip--or a similar vintage Neal Spinner--into shallow water and retrieve with a steady cadence. If any bass are near, something is going to happen. Pause it for just a split second until you feel the weight, and then set the hook hard."

According to Bennett, he's not a wealthy man and doesn't like to lose expensive lures. He uses premium line, usually FireLine, and a quality rod and reel to fish these old standbys as carefully as he can.

"I'm very careful, but I'm not going to miss the fun of catching fish on these heroic lures from days gone by just because one might get away from me," he said. "Having a challenge is half the fun.

"Hang these on a display board at home, or cast them to the fish. Either way, appreciate these 'old-timers'," Bennett concluded.

Anglers and Their Fascination With Lures

Ever met a fisherman who doesn't like to reminisce occasionally? As I think back on the events of my life, many of the most memorable have involved moments spent on the water. Some have stuck with me because of a big fish I caught. Others were just great days to be on the water. In every case, however, one thing nearly always was involved: a fishing lure.

One bait or another usually was part of most memories, and that's why I have boxes sitting in my garage to this day filled with old lures that I haven't fished in years...until recently, that is. I got to thinking about some of those old favorites that had served me well and decided to add them back into the mix of baits I now take with me on every trip.

One of those baits...a shallow-running crankbait...already has restored my confidence in its ability to put fish in the boat. It has proven effective not only in catching bass but some of the nicest crappie, too, I have seen in many years...including a few that easily topped more than a pound.

Everyone who has fished a large portion of his or her life has baits like these...because, let's face it, we're all pack rats at heart.

For some reason, and all too often, we get away from these baits. We find something new that promises to be the next big thing, and we put these oldies but goodies away, and before we know it, the manufacturer decides to halt production. Sometimes, the local bait shop just stops carrying the baits, or they otherwise become difficult to find.

Nowadays, however, there's more typically just some kind of mere brain lapse that causes a lure to be relocated to the shelf of relics...out of sight, out of mind, you know. It's hard to find something when you can't remember its name or something telltale about its features. However, there are occasions when all it takes to jog your memory is something as simple as a day spent loafing with your significant other.

For example, I was reading the other day about an angler who was milling around a tackle shop in Mississippi with his missus when he ran across a Terminator spinnerbait. Well aware that this bait isn't an oldie with lots of fishermen today, to this angler, this spinnerbait represented one of his long-lost favorites, and he was excited to stumble upon it.

Said the angler, "This one didn't look exactly like the bait I remembered. The head had a new shine, and there was a new skirt style with an elongated center portion, which was meant to work as a built-in trailer. But I could see the trademark titanium arm that initially set the Terminator apart from all others.

"As a kid," he continued, "I remember taking one of these spinnerbaits out of my dad's tacklebox and inadvertently trying to tear it up, as most young boys often will do with anything they can get their hands on. I would pull the arm all the way down, then move my finger and let the arm snap back into place. I would pull the blades all the way behind the head, and it would rocket back into its initial position again. It wouldn't bend, and I couldn't break it...a rarity at that age."

Upon seeing this resurrection of an old classic, the angler decided he had to have it.

"I tore it from the packaging as we left the store. I couldn't wait to get it back in the water. On its maiden voyage, I took it out to my home lake for a trip down memory lane. With my "old friend" in hand, I started down the bank. The first couple of bites brought back a lot of memories; a couple of 3-to-4 pounders created new ones."

A total of around 20 bites in a short afternoon of fishing rekindled an old relationship this angler thought he'd lost. Thinking back on some of your most memorable moments on the water may help you recall growing up fishing with your dad, catching a few big fish, or maybe just spending a good day on the water. Remembering a lure at the root of it all may just cause you to dust off one that you still have and find out if it still works.

"Had Probably the Best Day Ever in 40-Plus Years"

That's how DMac characterized his fishing trip this past Wednesday. And given the fact he lipped 29 fish, with his best a 4.54, on those springtime favorites otherwise known as topwater frogs and plastics, I would have to agree with what he said in his latest email to me.

DMac continued by noting that he had another pretty fair fishing trip on Thursday, too. Seems he got invited to fish a private lake in Suffolk that day, where he caught only six fish, but four of them weighed more than 4 pounds apiece. And, yes, a frog again was the main course.

"Sounds like a few of the West Neck crew had a good day Saturday as well," added DMac. "The 9lber is certainly an eye-opener."

He wrapped up his fishing report this way, "Spring is here, and so are the bass...thank you, Lawd."

A New All-Time High Mark for the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series

A day in which all the competitors catch fish is always a good day, as evidenced by today's contest when 21 anglers in 13 boats weighed a combined total of 64 bass with an overall weight of 142.45 pounds and an average weight per fish of 2.22 pounds. However, there was only one real star today, and that was Dave Dozier (left), who brought a five-fish limit to the scales, weighing 20.48 pounds, anchored by a 9.38-pound largemouth--the largest heretofore recorded in one of these tournaments.

Should anyone be wondering, let me assure you that neither of those two numbers are typos. They are, as you say, the "real deal." Enroute to capturing today's 1st place money, the bigger of two side pots, and the tournament's big-fish honors, Dave also set a mark that will be extremely difficult for anyone to overcome during the remaining months of this year's seasonal-lunker pursuits.

One can only admire a fish of this size, as well as the angler who caught it...especially since he was fishing solo today. For anyone interested, Dave allowed that he caught this fish on a buzzbait. I dare say that undoubtedly was one "tug on the line" he won't soon...if ever...forget.

Finishing in 2nd place today was the team of (from left) Rob Peppers and Mike McCluskey who had a five-fish limit weighing 14.58 pounds, buoyed by a bass that tipped the scales at 5.55 pounds. They also took home the smaller of the two side pots.

Laying claim to 3rd place was the solo angler (left) Chris Fretard. His total weight came in at 12.83 pounds, with a big fish that weighed 5.73 pounds.

Following is how the rest of the field lined up behind these money-winners:
     * The team of Jim Leavis and Ken Matthias had five fish for a total of 11.59 pounds. They didn't weigh a big fish.
     * Solo angler Mark Ingram had five fish for a total of 11.32 pounds. He didn't weigh a big fish.
     * Solo angler Gabe Himmelwright caught five fish but mistakenly only brought four of them to the scales. They weighed 10.73 pounds, after a 0.25 penalty deduction for one dead fish.
     * The team of Gary Coderre and Dave Anderson had five fish for a total of 10.58 pounds. They didn't have a big fish.
     * The team of Jim Crist and Eric Killian had five fish for a total of 9.47 pounds. They didn't have a big fish.
     * Solo angler Bob Clarkson had five fish for a total of 8.87 pounds. He didn't have a big fish.
     * The team of Steve Bailey and his cousin, Josh Chase, had five fish for a total of 8.74 pounds. They didn't have a big fish.
     * The team of Chris Vitovich and his son, Sean Vitovich, had five fish for a total of 8.62 pounds. They didn't have a big fish.
     * The team of Colton Wynne and Ryan Rickles had five fish for a total of 7.71 pounds. They didn't have a big fish.
     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff had five fish for a total of 6.73 pounds. They didn't have a big fish.

Tournament director Wayne Hayes and I both extend a hearty congratulations to all the winners today and thank everyone who came out to participate. We would be remiss if we didn't also pay tribute to Skip Schaible, who once again provided the photos you see here. And further, when Chris Fretard experienced a problem with his towing vehicle at day's end, Skip volunteered to take the competitor and his boat home. Thanks for being such a Good Samaritan, Skip.

For planning purposes, our next scheduled Dewey's tournament is Sunday, May 19th. Watch for email  announcements and blog posts from me about this event in coming days. Incidentally, should anyone reading this item like to have your name added to my email contact list for all of the Dewey tournaments, as well as any open tournaments the TD decides to have throughout the year, just drop me a note at kenneth34@cox.net, and I will gladly comply.

In the meantime, Tight Lines! to one and all.

(Click anywhere on this chart for an enlarged version.)

What's the Least Understood Way to Appeal to or Repel a Curious Bass?

Veteran bass pros Edwin Evers and Randy Blaukat both believe that the answer to this question is "sound." Time and again, they've witnessed occasions where the addition or removal of a rattle from a jig, or switching from a noisy crankbait to a silent one or back again made a difference. However, they both also believe that very few anglers consider noise profiles in choosing their jerkbaits.

"They assume that noise profiles are relatively subtle and that any variations are inconsequential. That's a mistake, though," according to Evers. "Something like a lipless crankbait is crazy loud, as anyone who's ever listened to one in a pool knows."

He went on to explain that, throughout his career, he has attributed much of his incremental success to understanding the impacts all five senses have on his prey's willingness to strike.

"I'm the guy who turns his depthfinder off when he's fishing, the one who considers the differences in the sound that braid and fluorocarbon make sliding through the grass," said Evers. "It all makes a difference."

Blaukat added that even the same jerkbait can create different sounds, depending on the manner or speed at which you work it. For example, a standard Megabass Vision 110 "is noisy if you shake it end to end, but not side to side," he said. "There's a significant difference, and you need to figure that out to adjust to the mood of the fish. They have keen senses and can figure out where a minnow is in pitch-black darkness, so to them, even the hooks skimming against the bait make a difference.

"The amount of noise you want to generate has to be calibrated to fishing pressure, water clarity, and to some extent, wind, all of which work to affect the aggressiveness of the fish on a given body of water," continued Blaukat, who, over time, has become convinced that anglers don't catch near the number of fish that see their jerkbaits. "Fish will come up and study them. They'll come within inches and not hit them. When you get a fish in that sweet spot, at the point where they have to make a decision, there definitely are times when noise turns them off.

"That's why the pros got so excited about the introduction of the 110 Silent, a lure that shares the outward appearance and exquisite finishes of its predecessors, but without the built-in sound-making devices," he said. "The functional differences may not be outwardly apparent, but they are the result of concerted engineering effort by the Megabass R&D team."

"We removed the internal rattles, thereby eliminating the majority of the rattling noise," said Kenichi Iida, product manager for Megabass America. "And instead of equipping the lure with a weight transfer system, which generates a very loud 'knock' when the lure is jerked, we have a fixed weight to keep the lure balanced while remaining highly castable."

Blaukat long has been a fan of the Megabass Silent Riser, a similarly quiet lure but one which was designed to float with its head up, targeting a shallower range than the renowned Vision 110. He tried to weight the Silent Riser to get it to suspend but never could get the same action out of it as the original 110, particularly when the water was clear and under 50 degrees. Getting that storied action and extra bit of depth were key.

The Vision 110 Silent solved these issues, preserving the action, head-down posture, running depth, and suspend setting of the original. Subsequently, you often found both versions of the 110 on the deck of Blaukat's boat to see which the fish preferred a particular day or hour. When there was a strong reaction-bite, rattles could be a positive, but when the fish were fickle or had been heavily pressured, silence often was golden. Also, when the fish weren't aggressive, Blaukat frequently would reel the bait a lot, almost like a swimbait.

Bucking the preferences of many other pros, Blaukat uses spinning gear for about 98 percent of his jerkbait presentations, turning to baitcasting gear only for super-shallow, larger-than-average bass in heavy-cover situations. Spinning tackle allows him to use lighter line, which, in turn, reduces the effect of wind and current while allowing for longer casts, all of which provides a crucial advantage when stealth is of the essence.

When it comes to performance-proven colors, Evers typically has a few natural colors on the deck, including mat shad and Megabass gizzard shad, along with elegy bone. He also makes sure to have one really loud color available, and he'll go back through an area an extra time to throw that one, too, before leaving.

The 110 Silent never was meant to disparage the original 110. Rather, it was designed to help anglers learn to "maximize water." In other words, if you roll through an area with an original 110 and catch a couple, you should make a second trip through with the Silent version to maximize the area's potential.

Each bait is just a tool, and when you're on a hard-core jerkbait bite, you have to be able to offer the fish options. Nobody knows for sure what generates a strike, so you have to go through a process of experimentation with cadence, retrieve, depth, color, and sound to figure out what the mood of the fish is at the time you're there.

Consider This If You're Looking for a Safer Way to Store Baits With Treble Hooks

Some anglers subscribe to the idea that bigger and/or more is always better, but there are those who see things differently, especially when it comes to storing baits with treble hooks in plastic tackleboxes in their boats. After all, who doesn't get tired of trying to grab one particular bait with treble hooks attached, only to have six or seven more snagged onto it, with treble hooks glaring at you, just daring you, so to speak, to get in a hurry?

While that may be OK for some of you dudes with the "look, ma, no brains" mentality, others prefer to take a more carefully charted course to success. One of those is Jason Sealock at Wired2Fish.

Seems that Sealock watched a video a few years ago about an ice-fishing angler who stored his lipless crankbaits for ice fishing in a peanut-butter jar, using rubber bands to keep the baits from tangling. While not wanting to convert all his crankbait boxes to peanut-butter jars, Sealock started playing with how to make a similar plan work in his current tackleboxes. You see, he likes to add and/or replace boxes in his boat as the bite changes over the course of a year.

Sealock came up with a rubber-band trick of his own. He found he could store a lot of baits in smaller boxes without them getting stuck together. His idea worked equally satisfactory for bigger baits in bulk boxes as well. In addition, the new way alleviated his worry about having stuff in divided slots in tackle boxes. Now he could sort of pile various baits in together by color if he wanted, and they all stayed pretty much in place without tangling.

Heck! Sealock even could dump all his baits onto the deck of his boat, pick out the ones he wanted, and throw all the others back into the box without them getting hung on each other.

And best of all, there was only the negligible cost of a package of small rubber bands...a mere buck in the craft section at a local Walmart. "They were about the diameter of my finger and worked perfectly for looping treble hooks together," he said.

"If it's a two-hook lure," explained Sealock, "just fold back the hook under the belly, and pin it to the body, then bring the front hook back and face the treble hooks back-to-back. Finally, wind the rubber band around several times to hold the hooks together.

"For a three-hook lure, fold the first two back-to-back and wrap a couple times together, then bring the back hook under the tail and loop the rubber band onto there (see photo at left). Then all you need are some boxes to store them in. I still use tackleboxes, but I also played around with putting them into other plain storage containers."

Sealock went on to note that he keeps extra rubber bands in his boat, as well as his shop and the house.

"They will break, dry rot, and such," he said. "But so far, I usually can store them this way for months.

"I was getting some jerkbaits out the other day, and one band had broken, allowing that bait to get stuck on everything nearby. The other baits, though, all came right out with no problem. That example solidified for me how effective my way of storage is...for jerkbaits, crankbaits and topwaters. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to take out the lure I want without having to shake everything else loose for 5 minutes every time I want to swap colors, sounds or size of my treble-hooked lures," he concluded.

Just Blame It on the Weather...

The "it" here is a bad day of fishing. And the person making the comment is Jason Sealock of Wired2Fish.

"The longer I fish," he said, "the more apparent it becomes to me that the most important factor in the day-to-day activities of a bass is the weather."

He keeps an eye on a few factors, starting with sky conditions...in other words, whether it's sunny, cloudy or somewhere in between. His general rule of thumb for its effect on bass is that, under sunny, bright conditions, bass will pull tighter to cover, and under cloudy, darker conditions, bass will roam more.

"For example," said Sealock, "if I am fishing a row of docks on a sunny day, the fish most likely will be in the shadiest part of the dock, a perfect situation for pitching a jig. On a cloudy day, though, those same fish will move to the outside edges of the dock, and I may throw a spinnerbait to catch the fish."

Sealock also keeps an eye on the barometric pressure, which is tough to monitor unless, as he says, you pay attention to the local weather.

"Generally speaking," he noted, "high-pressure systems have a tendency to bring tough fishing, while low-pressure systems usually lead to more active fish. When pressure drops, organisms become more buoyant and float off the bottom, which makes plankton more vulnerable, and baitfish can go into a feeding frenzy. This, in turn, can stimulate predators like bass to feed on the baitfish.

"When the pressure rises, the plankton is pushed back toward the bottom, where it's less vulnerable to baitfish. Thus, the baitfish, who are full of plankton, go into a less active state, along with the predators. I implement these ideas into my strategies by targeting fish with bottom-bouncing baits like jigs on high-pressure days and cover the upper section of the water column on low-pressure days with a spinnerbait or topwater."

Another factor that Sealock watches is wind, which can make it tough...and even dangerous...to be on the water. However, it also can make a huge difference in an angler's catch.

As he related, "I have always felt that wind makes bass more active. Spinnerbaits on windy banks always have been one of my favorite techniques. I feel like the wind pushes the plankton toward the bank, which, in turn, brings in the baitfish and bass. It also breaks up the surface of the water, thereby making it harder for the bass to get a clear look at your bait. I go to heavier baits in the wind...they simply are easier to throw."

Sealock went on to note that "although you may not always be able to count on the weatherman to predict your weather accurately, you can be sure that the bass are tuned into what's happening. An entire book could be written on how different aspects of weather affect bass, and these factors often work in conjunction with each other.

"You can rest assured that these three factors have been important to my fishing, and I keep a constant eye on the weather every fishing day, as well as the days preceding."

Does a Solar Eclipse Affect Bass Fishing?

The short answer is "yes," based on  some reports I found online, including the following piece, which was penned by Eric Hofmann for Slamming Bass on March 26, 2024.

"To understand the impact of a solar eclipse on bass fishing," he said, "it's crucial to comprehend the behavior of bass and how it might be influenced by sudden changes in light and temperature. Bass are known to be highly responsive to changes in their environment, which can alter their feeding patterns and habitat preferences.

"During a solar eclipse, the rapid decrease in light levels can trick the internal clocks of bass, leading to changes in their behavior. Typically, they are more active during dawn and dusk, the times of day when light levels are lower, and they feel safer from predators while hunting. The eclipse-induced darkness can create a similar effect, potentially making bass more active and willing to feed during the unexpected nocturnal conditions.

"The temperature drop associated with the shadow of a solar eclipse, albeit brief, also can affect the water temperature slightly. This sudden change can disrupt the thermal structure of a water body, influencing fish behavior. Bass might move to shallower waters or become more active as they adjust to the rapid changes, providing anglers with unique opportunities during the eclipse period.

"The lunar cycle, especially the full-moon phase, long has fascinated anglers for its profound effect on fishing success. The full moon's luminosity not only transforms the night into a realm of silver glow but also significantly influences fish behavior and feeding patterns. Under the full moon, light penetrates deeper into the water, sparking increased activity among aquatic creatures, including baitfish, which in turn, stimulates predatory fish like bass to feed more aggressively.

"This heightened activity is not just limited to nighttime. The gravitational pull of the full moon affects tidal movements, which can lead to stronger currents and more pronounced tidal highs and lows. Such conditions redistribute nutrients and small fish, making areas that might usually be less active, suddenly teeming with life. For anglers, this means adapting tactics to target these dynamic environments, whether it's choosing brighter lures for night fishing or focusing on areas with pronounced tidal changes. Understanding and aligning with the lunar cycles can unlock exceptional fishing opportunities, making each full moon a much-anticipated event in the angler's calendar.

"To maximize the potential benefits of fishing during a solar eclipse, anglers might consider adjusting their tactics. For instance, using lures that are effective in low-light conditions or targeting areas where bass are likely to seek refuge or hunt can be advantageous. Additionally, being on the water before the eclipse begins could allow anglers to observe and adapt to the changing behaviors of bass as the eclipse progresses.

"While scientific studies on the direct impact of solar eclipses on bass fishing are limited, anecdotal evidence from anglers who have fished during these events suggest a noticeable change in fish behavior. Reports often mention increased bites and catches, especially during the peak of the eclipse. Such testimonials underscore the potential for unique fishing experiences during solar eclipses, encouraging anglers to explore these opportunities.

"For those planning to fish during today's solar eclipse, preparation is key. This includes understanding the timing of the eclipse, choosing the right fishing spots within the path of totality, and preparing equipment suitable for low-light conditions. Additionally, safety measures for observing the eclipse, such as proper eye protection, should not be overlooked."

A California angler who once fished during a solar eclipse had the following tips for anyone choosing to do likewise:

     * Timing. Solar eclipses are relatively short events, so timing is crucial. Research the exact time and duration of the eclipse in your location, and plan your fishing trip accordingly. You'll want to be on the water during the eclipse to take advantage of the potential changes in bass behavior.

     * Location. Choose your fishing spot wisely. Bass tend to move into shallower water as light levels decrease during an eclipse. Look for areas with structure, such as tulles, submerged vegetation, or rip rap. Bass may move to the edges of the mats where Senkos, chatterbaits, or pitching to the outside edges can be productive.

     * Lure Selection. During an eclipse, bass may become more active and opportunistic feeders due to the sudden change in lighting conditions. Experiment with a variety of lures, including topwaters, buzzbaits and poppers, as well as soft plastics, crankbaits and jigs. Be prepared to switch lures if one isn't producing results.

     * Retrieve Speed. Vary your retrieve speed to find out what the bass are responding to best. Sometimes, a slow and subtle presentation can be effective, while other times, a faster and more aggressive retrieve may trigger strikes.

     * Observation. Pay close attention to any changes in bass behavior as the eclipse progresses. Bass may become more active or move closer to the surface as the light levels decrease. Be ready to adjust your tactics accordingly.

"The phenomenon of a solar eclipse presents a rare opportunity for anglers to experience potentially enhanced bass-fishing conditions," continued Hofmann. "While the exact impact can vary, the combination of altered light levels, temperature changes, and bass behavior during these celestial events suggests that fishing during a solar eclipse can indeed be fruitful. With  today's eclipse, anglers have a unique chance to witness and leverage these effects, blending the art of fishing with the awe of a natural spectacle."

It Was Anybody's Tournament to Win

Just one bigger fish in nearly any one of the boats competing in today's open tournament out of West Neck Marina could have produced a different set of winners.

As it was, however, the first-place winners were the team of (from left) Ken Matthias and Jim Leavis, with a five-fish limit weighing 13.24 pounds. Their big fish, which tipped the scales at 3.78 pounds, was good enough to claim the big-fish pot. They also walked away with the day's side pot.

Taking second place was the husband-wife team of (from left) Diana and Andy Morath, with five fish weighing 11.52 pounds and a big fish that checked in at 3.52 pounds.

Following is how the rest of the cold, windblown field of eight boats and 12 anglers finished the day's competition:
     * Chris Fretard, five fish, 11.46 pounds total weight, 3.07-pound big fish.
     * The team of Gabe Himmelwright and Jim Sumrell, five fish, 10.53 pounds total weight, 2.81-pound big fish.
     * Mark Ingram, five fish, 9.46 pounds total weight, no big fish.
     * Steve Bailey, five fish, 9.29 pounds total weight, 2.86-pound big fish.
     * Bob Clarkson, five fish, 9.14 pounds total weight, 3.60-pound big fish.
     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff, five fish, 9.02 pounds total weight, no big fish.

My sincere thanks go to Skip Schaible for taking care of photographic duties today, seein' as how yours truly forgot to grab his camera before leaving the house this morning. I also wish to express my thanks to Jimmy Vaughan for ensuring we had electric power this morning. For those who aren't aware, he's in the midst of a dramatic remodel of the West Neck Marina Store, now that finishing touches are in progress on the house that sits next door.

Not a Fish Story: Bass Learn to Avoid Lures

My first thoughts when seeing the above headline the other day was, "Boy howdy! Do they ever! And to think we're the ones who are supposed to have a bigger brain...but note, I said bigger, not better."

Don't mind tellin' ya, though, that I have days on the water when I get the distinct feeling that even the young 'uns in the bunch have figured me out and are layin' down there just laughin' their tails off at me. But I digress.

Fact of the matter is that the headline I saw online the other day and used on this post introduces a 10-year-old technical piece written by Meredith Rutland, in which she reported that there's now scientific evidence to back up the bass anglers' age-old assumption that bass "learn" to avoid lures.

That was the published result of research performed by University of Florida professor Mike Allen and two graduate students from the university's Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences program.

"Anglers have always been curious whether changing lures helped them catch more fish, or whether it was just coincidence," said Allen. "There's really strong evidence that fish were recognizing this lure and learning to avoid it," he continued.

The project, which spread over four weeks, involved two anglers who fished six hours a day in Devil's Hole Lake, a 27-acre lake that has little fishing pressure because it's on private land. The anglers used only two lures: a lipless Rat-L-Trap crankbait and a Senko stickbait.

Said Allen, "The bass that were caught and released figured out pretty quickly that they should avoid the crankbait. The anglers were catching about 2.5 fish per hour at the start of the experiment, and that rate had dropped to about 0.5 fish within three days of fishing. By the end of the four weeks, the catch rate consistently was 0.25 fish per hour.

"Meanwhile, the Senko fared slightly better," noted Allen. "The catch rate started at about 1.8 fish per hour and dropped to about 1 fish per hour at the end of the month."

Allen, an Orange Park resident and an avid bass angler, said he'd had days when he couldn't catch a single bass after a few hours with a lure but brought in a huge catch after switching to another lure.

"There's a lot of truth in what they're saying," he explained, "but I don't know that you could base everything you know off just one study like that. There always are caveats to any research. Since only two lures were used here, it doesn't necessarily represent fishermen who have access to a wide variety of lures."

Nevertheless, Allen indicated he felt the research seemed to indicate that bass can wise up pretty quickly to avoid getting hooked. He suggested switching up lures to keep the bass guessing, and he said it'll probably be more difficult to catch bass in lakes that are very popular because those fish will have seen many more lures before.

By and large, the findings of that University of Florida research project were confirmed by another science project five years later at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS).

"The mechanism for how an individual fish learns to avoid lures still is largely unknown," said INHS fish ecologist Jeff Stein. "What if they see a neighbor getting caught? Are they learning from other bass that disappear? Do they learn by sight or by a chemical or other signal?"

To answer those questions, the INHS researchers stocked four small ponds with 160 fish that had not previously been caught (demonstrators) and one large pond with 152 experienced bass (observers). Then they fished two of the smaller ponds so that the demonstrators would have experience with lures and placed the observers into all four small ponds and fished in all the ponds again over several days.

After observing how many fish of each type were caught in each pond, they found no difference in the catch rate of the observer fish, whether or not they shared a pond with experienced demonstrators. So, in heavily fished areas, largemouth bass are unlikely to learn to avoid capture simply by being in and around other fish that are captured.

A significant number of fish were caught more than once, showing that fish may have to experience being caught several times before they learn that chomping the bait is a bad idea.

When the bass were introduced to unique lures, more were enticed to bite. By simply using a different color lure, more fish were captured initially, but the catch rate soon fell off as fish learned from experience to avoid the recognizable bait. The number of fish declined steadily over 12 fishing sessions.

When the researchers used a radically different lure--in this case, a spinnerbait--they received a much more dramatic result.

"The number of fish caught shot up but then dropped within four angling sessions," said Stein. "Anglers have known for years that they need to change their lures in response to changing conditions, but now we have the data to show that even if conditions are stable, making regular lure color and style changes make for a better day of fishing...but there are no guarantees!"

In conclusion, let's consider an analogy once made by fisheries biologist Bob Lusk.

"Think about it," he said. "Fish live, eat, reproduce, and avoid being eaten...that's it. Nothing more.

"The lateral line sends messages to the brain. When they detect movement, bass instinctively move that direction. Vision takes over. If it looks familiar, they continue the rapid investigation. Then, if it fits inside their mouth, that's where it goes.

"Spawning is instinctive, not thoughtful. As a matter of fact, a huge female bass in the ShareLunker program in Texas met its demise during spawning one year, several years ago. It was repeatedly rammed by a much smaller male, less than two pounds. A 2-pound guy beat up an 18-pound female. What were they thinking? Reproduction is survival and procreation. That's it...nothing more.

"It's absolutely true bass will return a long distance to its safe haven. How does it find its way? Instincts, combined with sensory conditioning allows the fish to navigate its way back. Its living space is distinct to the creature...distinct because of smell, water quality, tastes, light...things only a bass can interpret.

"Ask any good fisherman what it takes for a bass to bite, and most will tell you the same things. The fish is hungry or angry...or both. If you can't make it bite from hunger, make it mad by throwing something noisy in its house. A bass will protect its habitat from intruders.

"Research has proven a bass has 'memory,' which lasts no longer than 15 minutes. But repetitive behaviors condition fish. That's why they become 'hook smart.' It's also why they 'learn' to come to fish food. Conditioning...nothing more, nothing less. Take away fish food, and they still will come where they are conditioned. They don't think about it at all."

According to Lusk, "Fish want food, sex and survival. Hmmm...sounds like about half the human population," he opined. "Think about that."

Doesn't Look Like Much, But It's a Jack-of-All Trades

Writer Rob Newell was getting ready to fish his first FLW tournament. If the prespawn bass in Florida's Lake Toho weren't enough to get him pumped up, then drawing Peter Thliveros as his first-day pro partner was.

Thliveros, or Peter T., as most people in fishing circles call him, had cultivated his professional fishing career on Florida's bass waters.

Lake Toho, not far from his hometown of Jacksonville, happened to be one of the lakes he had fished for many years. Newell understandably was grinning from ear to ear.

Thliveros rigged up a few rods for the day's fishing as he and Newell waited for morning takeoff. With Peter T. having a reputation for being a Carolina-rig enthusiast, it was no surprise that he assigned that rig to several of his rods. Then the fellow Floridian pulled out a large bag of what looked like lime green crinkle-cut French fries.

"I'll be throwing a centipede today," he said, while threading the stubby plastic onto a hook. "I have plenty of them if you want some."

The smile suddenly fell from Newell's face. "Was Peter T., the master of the Carolina rig, going to use that worthless stub of plastic? he wondered. "Everyone knows you use a lizard on a Carolina rig."

"No thanks," answered Newell in disbelief. A few hours later, as the gregarious pro checked a couple of 2-pound bass on a balancing beam, he culled the smaller one and deposited the bigger one into his full livewell, right next to Newell's empty livewell. Only then did the latter utter those dreaded words, "Uh, Pete, do you think I could get one of those centipedes from you?"

Thliveros laughed heartily and then proceeded to help Newell secure his first FLW Tour five-fish limit on a centipede.

This bait, or French fry, as it sometimes is called, is the dullest-looking bait in the bass-fishing business. In the world of soft plastics, where slender worms and creatures with legs or tentacles regularly take the spotlight, the centipede might be considered physically impaired. Yet, despite its squab appearance, the lackluster-looking centipede is a jack-of-all-trades.

One person you don't have to convince about the usefulness of a centipede is Virginia Beach angler Len  Hall (right). When he was fishing regional tournaments on Kerr Lake, he would rig a really small split shot about 6 inches above a green pumpkin centipede, noting that "this bait was deadly."

On the other hand, anytime Len fished tournaments on the Chickahominy, he would throw a kudzu-colored centipede. "I would just let it drift down with the current," he said.

And to this very day, a centipede still is one of Len's go-to baits for fishing the trees in West Neck Creek on the North Landing River.

"I catch a lot of fish on it," he said, adding that he also still fishes slider worms there, too. "Sometimes, you just have to keep it simple to catch fish," he concluded.

Another Virginia Beach angler who has a boundless appreciation for Zoom centipedes is Jim Bauer (left). He was introduced to this little but mighty bait during his first-ever trip to Lake Gaston, NC. A friend convinced him that he needed to hook up with a guide friend of hers.

Said Jim, "I took her advice and met up with the guide the day before I was scheduled to fish with him. I wanted to know what he would recommend in the way of lures and colors in soft plastics. His suggestion was short and sweet: 'shades of green and centipede-type plastics.'"

Jim just so happened to already have some watermelon seed centipedes in his arsenal when he hit Lake Gaston by himself that first day. He also had some paper charts of the lake.

When he launched that first morning on Gaston, he started by throwing a Pop-R topwater lure, which proved to be nothing short of an exercise in futility. It wasn't until he rigged up a centipede on a wide-gap offset worm hook, along with a sliding bullet weight, that things suddenly began happening.

As Jim explained, "I started hitting every Gaston boat dock and stump I could find...not just that day but for a period of days every spring and fall for several years...and I always had a rod rigged up with a centipede. That bait always was my go-to favorite following a morning topwater bite."

It should come as little surprise then that the centipede accounted for Jim catching a 6-pound female off a stump in one of the Lake Gaston coves.

"I still could take you to that spot today, and I wouldn't be surprised to hook up with another nice fish," he said.

Jim's centipede fever has spread to other members of the Bauer family, too, including his son and a brother.

While this bait always was Jim's preferred lure during his annual trips to Lake Gaston, he has a different choice for those times when he fishes West Neck Creek or other tributaries of the North Landing. Here his go-to bait (introduced to him by a friend) is the Charlie Brewer Slider Worm...and I would mention his all-time favorite color, but then he probably would come lookin' for me with a billy club. And we've been good friends for far too many years for me to allow something like that to happen.

Suffice it to say that, to this very day, there are two rods in the rod box of Jim's Skeeter that always have a centipede rigged on one and a Slider worm on the other.

Fisherman, writer and blogger Pete Robbins (left) of Vienna, VA, is sold on Zoom centipedes, too. He still remembers a tournament practice day on Lake Gaston some 20 or so years ago when he skipped a centipede far back under a boat dock and felt it get heavy long before he expected it to hit the bottom. The fish he felt turned out to be a scale-certified 8-pound largemouth...his largest Virginia bass to date.

Back then, Robbins fished a little Charlie Brewer slider head hard...first with a finesse worm and later primarily with the centipede.

"I think it was my friend Duncan Maccubbin, who first showed me the centipede in that context," said Robbins. "Fishing primarily out the back of the boat, he won more than his share of club derbies and typically caught many more fish than his partners. Sometimes he fished it deep, too, letting it fall endlessly on a 1/16-ounce head. He'd look at the sky, check out the birds, eat a sandwich, and eventually pick up his rod to feel a bass moving off with his lure," continued Robbins.

Up until that time, he had thought of the centipede mainly as a Carolina Rig staple. In the late '80s and early '90s, David Fritts used it a lot on Virginia/Carolina lakes like Gaston and Kerr to mop up where his crankbaits left off.

"When the baits still were comparatively unknown," said Robbins, "my good friend Bill Roberts once fished as an amateur in a BASS event on Kerr and proceeded to wax his partner, the famously-named Dusty Pine. Tired of it, Pine finally turned around and asked him, in total seriousness, 'How much do I have to pay you to get one of those worms?'

"In the late '90s," continued Robbins, "I fished with Randy Dearman at Rayburn, and he outfished me three to one with a similar looking Bass Pro Shops caterpillar stud fry versus my lizards. When he finally gave me a fry, I started to catch up. A few years later, I showed it to a friend when the scenario reversed, and he paid to overnight a bunch of them to the open (tournament) he was fishing."

Robbins still fishes French fries and centipedes but admits "probably not as much as I should. As I learned repeatedly in those early days, something about them makes them limit-getters but doesn't rule out big fish"...hence, a "jack of all trades."

April 2024 Bass Fishing Forecast

(Click anywhere on this chart for a slightly enlarged version.)

With More Rain and Wind Comin', I Just Had to Get on the Water Today

Have been kinda busy with various odds and ends here lately, and that, coupled with all the rain we've been getting, has had me in a bit of a funk. Had planned to fish with my tourney partner today, but when he texted me this morning that he would have to take a rain check, I decided to drop my ol' Skeeter in at West Neck and go see if I could find a few fish.

As it turned out, it didn't take me long to find some satisfaction. Stopped in one of my favorite West Neck coves, and within the first hour had boated seven fish, five of them keepers. By the end of the day, I had caught a total of 11, with a grand total of seven keepers, along with a couple of swings and misses...oh, and just for good measure, one small pickerel that I helped obtain an early release. There weren't any big ones in the lot, but I had enough tugs that put a smile on my face.

A bonus on the day's activities was the fact that I seemingly had the water all to myself...well, almost, that is. Saw one kayak angler at my second stop of the day, but that was it, as far as "company" went. Not sure where he had launched from, but as I fired up the gas motor to return to West Neck this afternoon, I observed that the kayaker was having to pedal pretty hard to maintain his momentum against the wind that had picked up through the early afternoon hours.

Given that there's an open tournament this coming Saturday, today's excursion likely will be it for this ol' man until then. I had an itch that got scratched, and for that, I'm grateful. Who said I was hard to please?