Possibly His Last Trip of the Season

That's how Jerry billed his outing at West Neck today. "I decided to skip some of my to-do list and hit the water one last time before securing my boat for the season," he said.

Jerry launched at 8 a.m., with the water level still at 3.6 feet and good clarity. The water temp ranged between 57 and 60. Before wrapping things up about 10 a.m., he managed to boat this bass, which measured 11.5 inches. As you can tell from the picture, the fish fell for a Culprit red-shad worm. "Had it not been my last trip, I would not have even bothered getting the camera out," said Jerry.

The only other fish he boated today was a nice yellow perch, which hit an electric-blue worm.

As Jerry was securing his boat at the store, he bumped into Jim Bauer, who had told me yesterday he likely would be back to try his luck again today. The two of them swapped a little dock talk before Jerry realized he was holding Jim up from launching. They each subsequently bid a farewell, and Jerry was on his way home.

Here's wishing him and his family a nice winter and a joyous holiday season. Will be looking forward to getting your trip reports again next spring, Jerry.

I just had finished this report when I got an email from Jim, telling me how his day on West Neck had gone. The bass seen here weighed in at 2.5 lbs. He went for a Thin N, like some other fish in West Neck have been doing here lately.

Jim told me he boated two other keeper bass, weighing 1.0 and 2.0 lbs., respectively, plus one dink bass. The bait he used to entice these other three bass was a Robo worm.

Besides these four bass, he boated four white perch, two yellow perch, four bream, and to use his own words, "one ugly, nasty, mean bowfin." All the perch, one of the bream, and the bowfin fell for the Thin N.

Actually, the bowfin (all 7 lbs. 13 ozs. of him) "inhaled" the crankbait--so badly that Jim had to net him to retrieve his lure. "Biggest one I have caught in quite a while," he said, adding, "it sure chewed up the lip on the crank."

It appears today's venture convinced Jim of the value of adding a Thin N to his regular arsenal. "I hadn't fished it much until today and don't think I had caught a fish with it, either," he noted. "I'll be keeping it tied on now, though."

Jim told me he ran across Bob Glass and Eddie Sapp on the water again today. He didn't hear how Bob had done but learned that Eddie had had a good day with crankbaits and soft plastics.

Jim closed out his email by saying, "I felt pretty good this morning but am pretty tired tonight." He was headed to the shower and, most likely, his recliner after that, then probably off to dreamland.

On a Gentleman's Handshake, We Agree Shootout Was a Draw

 

That seemed to be the best way to end our day of friendly competition yesterday--Charlie with his soft plastics, and me with my crankbaits.

En route to completing a circuit that included stops in Blackwater (Charlie's first trip there in two years), Albright's, and West Neck (in that order), Charlie caught a total of seven bass and the one striper pictured here--his first fish of the day. He also lost a couple of grindle at the boat, a fact that didn't seem to bother him all that much. As he explained to me, he's been losing a fair number of these "toothy critters" here lately because the hooks on his soft plastics fail to completely penetrate their tough mouths.

His best largemouth (pictured at right) weighed in at 1-8, and most of the others were only a few ounces off the same mark.

My tally, meanwhile, was three bass and three white perch. My best bass was a 3-14 (bottom right photo), which I hooked while using the same Bill Norman Thin N that yielded a 3-1 this past Monday.

The fish yesterday came off a wind-blown point in West Neck. As soon as he took a little drag, I asked Charlie to standby with the net, but it wasn't until I had a chance to get a look at him alongside the boat (he never showed himself otherwise) that I asked Charlie to go ahead and grab him for me.

In the final analysis, we figured numbers and size were of equal importance--hence, the reason for our decision just to call yesterday's contest a draw.

It didn't take very long for both of us to dispense with the threat of a skunk yesterday morning. Within moments of killing the gas motor and dropping the trolling motor over in the funky-to-downright-muddy Blackwater, I landed a 1-2 largemouth, and while I was getting it off the hook, I glanced up just in time to see Charlie wrestling what turned out to be the better-than-2-pound striper pictured above. We thought (hoped, actually) that this quick action might signal the start of a "stellar" day, but that wasn't to be the case.

Once we tired of looking at the yucky conditions in Blackwater, we decided to run to Albright's, where the water looked nicer, but that's about the only thing "positive" we could say for it. We fished a couple different stretches without anything happening, so we tied everything down and headed to West Neck, where the water clarity was the best we had all day. We began working an area that has proven to be productive for Rob and me on more than one occasion recently, and it didn't let Charlie and me down yesterday, either.

As luck would have it, though, and I'm not sure if Charlie captured the moment on video (you can check it out at http://vbfishguide.blogspot.com/), I managed to repeat a SNAFU like I've had with Rob a few times already. I reached back a bit too far while making a cast and snagged Charlie's line, creating one heckuva bird's nest in my baitcaster. I lifted my thumb clear of the spool the moment I felt resistance, thinking I probably had snagged Charlie's video camera. As you can imagine, braided line bubbled up on my spool about as fast as a container of Coke does if you try to open it right after it has been dropped. I took care of the matter during cleanup last evening as I usually do--breaking out the scissors and whacking away. As I explained to Charlie, the line was old and needed to be replaced anyway.

Eventually, I think I'll master this fishing-with-a-partner routine. I know a couple of people who probably are hoping it happens sooner, rather than later.

All in all, yesterday fulfilled everything Charlie and I had hoped for. We shared some laughs and caught a few fish in the process. What more could anyone want? Will there be repeat of our venture? We hope so. You'll have to stay tuned to find out, though.

Jimmy Houston Has Nothing on These Two Guys

             






The first photo I saw attached to an email was this one.

Then came this one.









I couldn't help thinking maybe these two anglers--Mitch Portervint (top photo) and Skip Schaible (bottom photo)--were auditioning for an appearance on one of Jimmy Houston's upcoming TV shows. He's famous, as you all likely know, for giving bass "a little sugar" before he releases them, just like these two fellas were doing today.

I never did find out exactly what was behind these two anglers' actions but suspect they simply were clowning around. In any event, I learned that, besides these two fish they boated, they each lost a couple more at the boat today.

Another angler who caught some fish today is Jim Bauer. If I recall correctly, he said he boated a total of 7 bass--his best, a 2-5.

I also saw Bob Glass and Eddie Sapp on the water but didn't get a report from either one on how many fish they had.

With another warm day predicted for tomorrow, I would anticipate some more anglers will try to get their licks in before the bottom falls out again this weekend. Jim told me that he plans another trip tomorrow.

Looks Like My Challenger Is Locked and Loaded

I just received this photo, along with the message: "I'm ready..." from Charlie, so guess he's all set for our shootout showdown--or should it be showdown shootout (who knows???)--tomorrow.

I've fished some "one lure" tournaments in the distant past, so I'm not that intimidated by only having one type of lure I can throw all day. However, I also know the caliber of fisherman I'm up against, and he's no slouch by anyone's standards. My work is definitely cut out for me.

All kidding aside, I truly hope we both have a great day on the water. If the weather forecast I just looked at on AccuWeather holds true, it should be a gorgeous fall day.

A Warm-Up Session for Wednesday's Shootout

My first fish today and the best one I've had in many weeks was this 3-1 that fell for a Strike King XS-1 in firetiger. I really was surprised by his size, because when I saw him take the lure, he really only looked like maybe a 1-lb. fish. As my drag started slipping, though, I realized I had made a mistake.

It was another day when I didn't see any baitfish to speak of and only a few random swirls as I worked my way above the bridge. However, I was pleased to find a fair amount of action. Besides the bass pictured here, I went on to catch three more small keepers and one dink, along with a grindle, a white perch, and two yellow perch. I also had five other fish on, three of which I know were bass because I saw them, but lost all of them before they reached the boat.

The good-looking water that showed up rather mysteriously just in time for our Classic contest a couple of weeks ago still exists in West Neck and Albright's, that I'm aware of. It very well may be as good in other areas, too, but with hunting season here, I just don't do that much running.

The XS-1 in the foreground only accounted for my first fish today. Everything else came on the Bill Norman Thin N in the background, one of the lures that worked repeatedly for me last winter. I also had some hits today on a chatterbait, but all of them were short strikes.

I had an email from Charlie earlier this evening, in which he reported that he had had a double-digit day (21, if I remember correctly) today in Godfrey's Creek. The only problem was that he caught all of them on a crankbait--not the soft plastics he has chosen for his weapon in our shootout. In his words, "I think I'm in trouble come Wednesday," but that remains to be seen.

As I explained to him, I talked to Eddie Sapp today, and he had caught a total of 12 bass between West Neck and Pocaty--all on soft plastics. Incidentally, I'd like to extend a warm "Welcome Home!" to Eddy, who just returned home yesterday from an overseas deployment. He indicated he ought to be around town for a while now, so I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of his Skeeter on the water in coming days. He said he plans to be out again tomorrow, and it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't show up for Goody's Big Bass Tournament this Sunday.

"Tight Lines!" to all.

Shootout at the OK Corral--Well, Not Exactly

The challenge was issued sometime ago, and I finally accepted it today. Kayaker Charlie, in his everlasting desire to pursue the unknown, told me that he wanted to find out if he can catch more bass with plastic worms than I can with my beloved crankbaits.

To keep the playing field level--and to make sure we both use the same math--Charlie has agreed to leave his kayak home and assume a position on the backseat of my Skeeter for this occasion. The "shootout" is set for next Wednesday, Oct. 30, at West Neck Marina. Charlie offered 0800 or 0900 as possible times for our contest to go down, but I opted for 0830 instead, just to keep things honest.

All kidding aside, I'm truly looking forward to this setting. If we enjoy the banter this day on the water as much as we do our "dock talks" at the local Starbucks, we neither one will be disappointed, regardless of who catches the most fish. I promise to let y'all know the final outcome, so stay tuned.

It's That Time of Year Again

"What time?" you may be asking. Time to drag out those baits that you only use during the colder months.

Many years ago, when I lived in Northern Virginia and often fished Lake Anna, this time of year found me rummaging through tackleboxes, looking for all my Little Georges and Rat-L-Traps. Those were my two primary lures for the colder months, and I wasn't alone. Several of my fellow Commonwealth Bassmasters fished these same baits from fall through winter, along with jigs and some other lures.

When I received Navy orders and moved to Hampton Roads in the late '70s, I quickly figured out that fishing the North Landing River really wasn't conducive to throwing a chunk of lead like the Little Georges. I did, however, continue throwing Rat-L-Traps for a number of years, along with Shad Raps, and I still occasionally use these baits during the winter months, but they're not my favorites.

Today, I prefer using this assortment of Bill Norman Thin N crankbaits. Their flat-sided design gives these baits a tight wobbling action. That feature, coupled with their coffin-style lip, which helps them deflect off cover, makes these baits ideal for shallow-water fishing.

In case you're wondering why I prefer flat-sided crankbaits in colder water, it's because of comments I've heard from accepted experts on the matter. They say that "the flat-sided narrow profile of these baits more closely resembles the shape of shad and bluegill than do rounded crankbaits. The profile closely resembles that of a lipless crankbait; however, they produce more wobble and can be fished much slower than a lipless crankbait...

"Strikes usually come when these baits are pulled through cover. Deflection triggers strikes, and tight-action baits seem to deflect off cover better than those with a wide wobble. Try to keep the bait in contact with some type of cover as much as you can."

Most of the same experts seem to agree that flat-sided crankbaits are a good bet until the water temperatures reach about 40 degrees. They all suggest, though, to keep throwing the baits as long as you're catching fish with them.

Another preference of mine for cold-water fishing is this selection of chatterbaits. While some anglers seem to score well year-round with these baits, most of my luck with them is confined to cold weather.

I can't describe the joy I get from cranking a chatterbait as slow as I can go on a crisp day, with that blade just thumpin' away below. And then, suddenly, all heck breaks loose as the thumpin' stops, the line jumps sideways, or a fish (and, yes, I regrettably have to admit it's sometimes one of those "toothy critters") slams the bait so hard he nearly snatches the rod from your hand. What an adrenaline rush! To say nothing about the fact it helps wake you up from one of those frosty-morning, sun-shining-ever-so-warmly-on-your-back naps.

Those "violent" strikes I just referred to was mentioned in an account I recently read about online. The expert in question said he wasn't sure why the bass strike so angrily at this bait, but he's glad they do.

The same expert went on to note that fishing the chatterbait in cold water really is no different than any other time of year. "I pretty much target the same types of good-looking areas as I would if it was not so cold," he said. "However, I will keep an eye out for baitfish and focus on areas where there is a good transition between shallow and deep water, giving the bass some flexibility to move when needed. I like to target flats with scattered cover, either submerged or visible, that also have some definition in regards to irregular features. One thing I will try to do when faced with cold-water situations is to slow down and make repeated casts to cover or areas where I think there should be a fish, or perhaps where I previously caught one. This will increase your odds of catching a sluggish bass.

"I also like to experiment with different trailers," continued the expert, "and although the one it comes packaged with works just fine, I like the profile of adding a Yamamoto shad-shape worm as a trailer. It has a very subtle action and really makes the bait compact."

I, too, have experimented with different trailers, especially Stanley Ribbit frogs, which I think I like as well as the pre-packaged trailers. I also occasionally use single or double Twister tails.

When it comes to generating strikes from nonaggressive bass when the cold winter winds start blowin', success often depends on just how willing you are to experiment. For someone like my kayaker buddy, Charlie, "experimentation" is no problem--it's his middle name. For others, it can be a major hurdle. We all come with varying degrees of willingness to venture into the unknown.

The First 5 Minutes Proved to be Misleading

In that length of time this morning, I boated a 12-inch bass and had a couple more fish swirl under my topwater bait. I certainly never expected to get anywhere near Charlie's 17 bass of yesterday, but I did think this kind of start might be the precursor of a respectable day. No such luck, though. From the 6-minute mark to the end of the day, more than 6 hours later, the only action I had was four more swirls under the lure. And there wasn't the first sign of any baitfish, from one end of Albright's to the other.

As I thought about my day on the ride back to West Neck this afternoon, I realized that I still had some things to be grateful for, even though I only boated one fish. I had spent the day on the water, instead of cooped up here in front of my computer. I never suffered any injuries--unless you consider a headache an injury; if so, I had that "injury" all day--from before my feet first hit the floor this morning. And, too, I didn't feel the first raindrop today, even though it looked like it could dump on me any minute. So, in a sense, I guess I proved you nearly always can find some "positives"--all you have to do is look hard enough.

It's readily apparent that I've fallen into a horrible slump, and all I can do is to keep "swinging" until I once again find my stride. I've never been a great fisherman, but I know I'm better than this. Even my wife asked me earlier this evening, "What's happened to you?" Just wish I had an answer for her. The best I could do today was shake my head.

It's not like I didn't try--I fished some 14-lb.line for the first time in many years. I'm not sure where I'll go from here, but this much is certain: I'm not about to give up.

A Couple of Common Themes Emerged from Anglers Today

"Lots of small bass" and "lots of muddy water down south"--that's what you heard coming from the fishermen in those seven boats that participated in the inaugural event of the 2013-2014 Goody's Big Bass Tournaments today out of West Neck Marina.

Walking away with all the marbles with this 2.79-lb. bass was Kevin Love (left), who was waiting here for tournament director, John Goodman, to get the scales zeroed out.

The other competitors finished as follows:
     * Mike Burgess, 2nd place, 2.44 lbs.
     * Patrick Cunningham, 3rd place, 2.11 lbs.
     * Dave Meers, 4th place, 1.81 lbs.
     * Ed Balko, 5th place, 1.79 lbs.
     * Gary Coderre, 6th place, 1.21 lbs.
     * Steve Bailey, 7th place,  0.61 lbs.
     * John Harmon, 8th place, 0.00 lbs.

The folks I talked to said both West Neck and Pocaty had nice water, but that areas down around Blackwater, Milldam and points farther south were "about the color of chocolate milk." The consensus seemed to be that the steady flow of "big boys" returning south for the winter is likely the culprit in these muddy conditions. I saw that procession for myself last Thursday when I spent the day on the water, and there was no end to it.

In case you're interested, the next three Goody's Big Bass Tournaments are all scheduled for launch out of West Neck. Here are the dates and times: Sunday, Nov. 3, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 17, 7 a..m. - 2 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 24, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Succeeding tournaments in the schedule are slated to launch out of Bob's Fishing Hole.

Other pertinent details about these tournaments are as follows:

Cancellations. Tournaments will proceed as scheduled, unless a majority of the fishermen present at the tournament site vote otherwise.

Entry Fee. $10 per angler. May fish alone or with a partner, but no more than two fishermen per boat.

Ramp Fee. $5 payable to the host ramp facility.

Tournament Hours. The tournament hours as outlined above are considered final. Registration will end no later than 10 minutes before blastoff. Failure to register prior to that time will render the offending angler(s) ineligible to fish the tournament. Failure to return to the weigh-in site at the time announced by the tournament director is further grounds for disqualification.

Fish. Each angler who has paid an entry fee is entitled to weigh in one largemouth bass only.

Payouts. 10 percent of each entry will be held back and paid to the angler who catches the largest bass of the tournament season. 90 percent of the entry fees will be paid to 1st place only if there are 2-9 anglers. 10 or more anglers will share the tournament pot as follows: 1st - 60 percent, 2nd - 30 percent.

If you have any questions, call John Goodman at 427-0659 or email him at johngoodman3@cox.net.

It Wasn't a Repeat of the Classic, But...

My trip today wasn't anything to write home about, either. Before I explain, though, let me pass along a couple of reports I got from other folks on the water.

The first person I ran into was Charlie's buddy, Ray Scott. When I saw him, he had boated a couple of dink bass and about a half-dozen white perch.

Later this afternoon, then, I saw Jim Bauer, who had caught eight bass--his biggest a 2-1. He also had landed about four more that weighed a pound or better. Most of his fish had fallen for a topwater bait this morning.

When I came across Bob Glass as I was quitting this afternoon, he had gotten into some stripers--one of which nearly had ripped the rod from his hands. He had been fishing a spinnerbait when that happened, but he was experimenting with a crankbait when I talked to him.

My tally for the day was five bass and three white perch, all of which fell for one of the Bandits Footloose or the spinnerbait pictured here. Three of the bass would have made 12 inches, but the other two only would have gone 10 or 11 inches. I found nearly all of the bass buried deep in super shallow water.

Having fished Albright's Creek both days of the Classic, I decided to stay in West Neck today and take whatever it had to offer. The fact that I boated five today was a huge improvement over the two total that I scratched out during the Classic. Perhaps I'll get lucky and hit double digits again one of these days--I hope so.

Why It Pays to Fish Tournaments with a Partner

My decision to start fishing tournaments with a younger partner initially stemmed from a discussion my wife had with me. She reminded me that, at age 70, I'm no longer a "spring chicken." Because I had been having some thoughts along the same lines, I decided to follow my heart and also listen to what my better half was saying. I subsequently hooked up with my friend, Rob, late this tournament year and have been enjoying every minute of it.

That being said, we both entered this past weekend's Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Classic, hoping we could find a productive pattern. Day 1 dawned with high, good-colored water and a sky filled with clouds and morning mist. Given those conditions and the time of year, topwater baits were the No. 1 consideration. Identical conditions set the stage for Day 2, and so topwater baits again was the logical pick for Rob and me.

There was just one problem: While Rob consistently was knocking fish down from the start of Day 1, through the conclusion of Day 2, with topwaters, I was struggling to find any kind of lure that would help me contribute to the cause. My total support for the two days amounted to just a couple of small bass--and only one of them was a 2nd-day keeper.

I realize I'm not the first, nor will I be the last, angler who at least occasionally has a bad day on the water. Even the pros have a bummer day once in a while. The results are all the same: We start fishing too fast, we don't fish the water thoroughly, and we miss bass we should have caught. The trick is realizing our mistakes early enough to salvage our day. Here are the thoughts of one seasoned pro on this subject:

"I have learned that the most important thing you can do when you are having a bad day on the water is to stop, think about what is going on, decide what you need to do, slow down your fishing, and attempt to get back into the rhythm that you need to have when you catch bass. There's a natural tendency among anglers, myself included, to fish faster when we are not catching bass or when we have very little time to catch bass. However, I've learned over the years that when you are not catching bass, you need to slow down your fishing, instead of speeding up.

"Fish the cover more thoroughly and try to catch each and every bass that takes your bait. Treat every bass that is big enough to measure as though he's a 10-pounder. Use your angling skills, not brute force and speed, to get the bass in the boat. Many times, if I can fish the opposite way from the way my brain is telling me to fish, I can overcome a disaster and find and catch more bass. When you're having a bad day on the water, the bass are not biting, or you only have a few more minutes to fish, slowing down, instead of speeding up, is the prescription you need to help catch the bass you want."

These comments echoed exactly what Rob had been saying to me last weekend as he watched my frustration growing by the minute. It wasn't until Sunday, though, that I really started listening to him, but even then, he had to keep reminding me to "slow down." Given the slower bite we encountered Sunday, it was absolutely necessary that I keep my lead foot off the trolling motor a lot more so Rob could maintain his rhythm. It he hadn't been on the back seat, keeping me under control, there's little doubt in my mind that our final tally would have been considerably less.

It really does pay to fish with a partner, and I look forward to next year and a chance to make it up to Rob for such a dismal showing in this past weekend's Classic. He carried the entire load, in more ways than one. I'm just happy to know he doesn't seem inclined to run the other way, looking for a different partner. He evidently genuinely believes in that "Team Testorff" concept he keeps espousing, and for that, I'm indeed grateful. Reckon I'd better be working on some new ways to keep him laughing this next year while we're on the water. There's nothing worse than "stale" jokes and funnies.

Chunkin' and Windin' His Way to the Top

There's a WWE Hall of Fame wrestling champion who used to claim he was "the excellence of execution." The same thing could be said of Bob Glass, who became the first-ever Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Angler of the Year in the 2013 tourney series. His recognition came during the presentation of awards at this past weekend's annual, two-day Classic tournament held at West Neck Marina.

Bob weighed fish in all but one of the 17 events he participated in during the 2013 Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series. He finished the season with three 1st-place awards, five 2nd-place awards (one of which was the Classic), and one 3rd-place award, which easily eclipsed all the other anglers, except for one--his partner and brother-in-law, Randy Conkle. Randy would have shared Angler of the Year honors but for the fact he missed one tournament that Bob fished.

En route to catching 82 tournament bass throughout the year, Bob amassed a total weight of 168.97 lbs., including one fish that weighed in at 6.89 lbs., which earned him braggin' rights to the Seasonal Lunker Pot for the second year in a row. His average weight for the year was 9.93 lbs. per event and 2.06 lbs. per fish.

If these stats don't show that Bob is "the excellence of execution" with a fishing rod in his hands, I don't know what would. My hat's off to him for a superb tourney year, and I wish him well next year, too. As he already has demonstrated, he's a hard man to beat. "Tight Lines!" my friend.

Remembering a Man Who Did Things His Way

I was studying this photo the other day and thinking about what I was going to do for a first-anniversary story about Dewey's passing. For those who weren't there or otherwise don't remember, I took this photo during the pig roast on day 2 of our 2012 Classic tournament--the last time many folks saw Dewey. He went back into the hospital just days later, where he fought his final bout with cancer.

As I stared at the eyes and facial expression of this man, who, over the years, became my good friend and mentor, the lyrics to an old Frank Sinatra tune sprang to mind. The tune I'm talking about is "My Way." When I read those lyrics, I knew I had found the perfect opening for my anniversary story.

My Way
 

And now, the end is here,

And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and ev'ry highway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way.
 

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do and saw it through, without exemption

I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way.
 

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way.
 

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way,

"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way."
 

For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!
 

Yes, it was my way.
 

Paul Anka rewrote those lyrics for Ol' Blue Eyes from a French song he discovered. Anka's lyrics changed the original song's meaning to be about a man looking back fondly on a life he lived on his own terms, and that description seemed to fit Dewey to a T. If I'm mistaken, I beg his and the family's forgiveness. I never would do anything to disrespect any of you.

In the year since Dewey passed, I've continued spending a lot of time at West Neck Marina, and his name still comes up in many conversations. I personally always have a lot of reminders at my fingertips because, you see, my tackleboxes still are filled with many of the baits he made. From chatterbaits to spinnerbaits, I have examples of 'em all and likely will for a long time to come. It's comforting to have those reminders. In many cases, they trigger memories of discussions he and I used to have about different lures and little tricks he suggested I try for better results.

A few months back, a friend filling the backseat of my boat happened to see me using one of Dewey's creations--a little twin-armed spinnerbait. After watching how smoothly it came through the water time after time, he asked me where I had gotten it. He figured I had purchased it from a commercial tackle store. When I told him it came from Dewey, we got into a fairly lengthy give-and-take about Dewey's creativity and the lengths to which he went to ensure his creations worked right. I often stood and watched him testing new lures in the water off the deck there in front of the marina store.

Besides creativity, Dewey was blessed with a knack for running bass tourneys. Whether it was regional contests that he ran in earlier days, or the West Neck tourneys that he oversaw until his passing, Dewey always, above everything else, insisted on fair play. He gave new meaning to the term "no-nonsense type of guy."

Another quality Dewey had was an ability to mask his pain. I never heard him complain, even on days when I knew he was hurting badly--thanks to reports I got from Jane. Most days, all the way to the end, he came out to the store and opened up for business. On occasion, usually after he had undergone a cancer treatment, you might find Jane or Brian minding the store while Dewey rested in the house, but that was the exception, not the rule.

Then came the time when, as I would leave the store to come home, I'd tell Dewey I'd see him again in a couple days or so, and he would respond, "I'll try to be here." Before those last days, he always would say, "I reckon I'll be here." It was a subtle change, but I picked up on it right away. He also started making it a point to shake my hand each time as I left. I knew what it all meant and, at times, struggled to keep my cool, but I did, because I knew that's how Dewey wanted it: his way.

Dewey left this life on Nov. 8, 2012, at the age of 75. He may be gone, but as far as I'm concerned, he'll never be forgotten, especially not after the events of the past few days. The river water in the weeks leading up to our 2013 Classic had been about the color you'd expect to find in a farm pond used for watering cattle. And then early last week, with the arrival of strong northeast winds and daily rain, the level predictably dropped to only 2.2 feet on the ramp gauge. But as quickly as it dropped, it came surging back in, and by day 1 of our Classic, was some of the prettiest water any of us have seen in a long while. And it stayed high through both days of our 2013 Classic, despite the fact all the weather forecasters were continuing to call for strong northeast winds.

We've all been befuddled, trying to figure out how the water could stay so high with these winds, and what caused it to come back so clear, especially after all the rain that has fallen in recent days. There should have been a lot of muddy runoff, but there wasn't. As a bunch of us sat on a picnic bench at West Neck Marina last afternoon, enjoying the good food at our Classic cookout, we were talking about this situation, when one of the guys said, "I think ol' Dewey was sitting Up Yonder and decided to work a little bit more of his special magic to give us these unbelievable conditions." I truly believe those sentiments--they echo exactly what I've been thinking for days.

If you're Up There listening, my ol' friend, here's a big "THANK YOU!" from a bunch of grateful guys who always will have warm memories of your days here with us.

Another Classic and Tourney Season in the Record Books

It oft has been written that "all good things must come to an end," and so it was with the 2013 Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Classic that launched out of West Neck Marina yesterday and today, Oct. 12-13. This two-day tournament, with its 16 boats and 23 anglers, officially brought the 2013 Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series to a close.

Laying claim to 1st Place today was the team of (from left) Chris Napier and Michael Sims. Their two-day total was 10 bass with a total weight of 26.37 lbs. Their big fish weighed 4 lbs. even.

Finishing in 2nd Place was the team of (from left) Bob Glass and Randy Conkle. They weighed a five-fish limit each day, with a grand total weight of 22.05 lbs. Their big fish for the two-day contest weighed 3.39 lbs.; however, Bob claimed the Seasonal Lunker Award with a bass that weighed 6.89 lbs. He caught that latter fish back on Sept. 7, 2013. Bob further walked away with the first-ever Bass Angler of the Year Award for the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series.

Capturing 3rd Place in the Classic was Jesse Munden. He likewise weighed 10 bass during the two days for a total weight of 22.01 lbs. His big fish tipped the scales at 4.14 lbs.

And last but not least was the Classic Big Bass Award, which went to Rob Powell, with a fish weighing 4.78 lbs. His total weight for the two days was 16.75 lbs.







Here is how everyone else finished the Classic competition:
     * Mark London had a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 20.85 lbs. His big fish weighed 4.07 lbs.
     * Chris Carmell had a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 19.41 lbs. His big fish weighed 3.37 lbs.
     * The team of Lenny Hall and Gary Coderre had a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 19.38 lbs. Their big fish weighed 3.60 lbs.
     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Red Bruun had a two-day total of 9 bass weighing 16.78 lbs. Their big fish weighed 4.07 lbs.
     * The team of John Matyiko and Mark Cable had a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 16.67 lbs. Their big fish weighed 3.34 lbs.
     * The team of Rob Chatham and Ken Testorff had a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 14.73 lbs. Their big fish weighed 2.58 lbs.
     * Bryan Dear had a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 14.12 lbs. His big fish weighed 3.08 lbs.
     * Duane Kessel had a two-day total of 7 bass weighing 9.90 lbs. His big fish weighed 2.39 lbs.
     * Jeff Stemen had a two-day total of 5 bass weighing 7.36 lbs. He didn't weigh a big fish.
     * Jim Bauer had a two-day total of 4 bass weighing 6.06 lbs. He didn't weigh a big fish.
     * The team of Mitch Portervint and Skip Schaible had a two-day total of 3 bass weighing 3.77 lbs. They didn't weigh a big fish.
     * Steve Bailey had no fish to weigh the first day and didn't return for day 2's competition.

Those 22 anglers who participated in the weigh-ins accounted for 124 bass with a combined total weight of 236.12 lbs., or an average of 1.90 lbs. per fish.

Winner of the free T-shirt in today's raffle drawing was again Wayne Hayes.

The final tally for our 2013 donation to the Amercian Cancer Society in Dewey Mullins' name was $971.

The final event in this weekend's season-ender was a Sunday cookout, hosted by the marina manager, Steve Winfree, and his assistant, Kim. Here are some photos from that event:

While this weekend's contest concludes the current season for the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series, a new one kicks off next Sunday, Oct. 20, at West Neck Marina. John Goodman will launch his 2013-14 schedule of Goody's Big Bass Tournaments. Fishing hours for this and the three other events of this series planned to be held at West Neck are as follows: Oct. 20, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Nov. 3, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Nov. 17, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Nov. 24, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. If you have any questions, call John at 427-0659, or email him at johngoodman3@cox.net.

These Shoes Are Made for Fishin'

That's my take on these shoes after seeing a pair of them firsthand today at the VA BASS Region 7 Open Team Tournament at Munden Point in Virginia Beach. The manufacturer denies these shoes were designed for fishing but quickly admits they are suitable for anything from fishing during a summer downpour to lounging around at weigh-in.

Made of waterproof or water-resistant components, Zekos have a strap with hook-and-loop fasteners that hold these machine-washable shoes securely to the foot. Meanwhile, a microfiber wicking mesh upper provides good ventilation. An EVA sole makes the shoes slip-resistant, and they're "as comfortable as flip-flops," says the manufacturer. Perhaps the best feature of all, though, is the fact the shoes weigh in at only 5.5 ounces.

As shown in the accompanying flyer, you have multiple colors to choose from, including the newest color--red (second from left in the flyer and the color I saw today). They're all available online from www.zekoshoes.com at a cost of $74.99 a pair. I'm sorry to say there currently are no retailers in Virginia.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I plan to get a pair or two of these Zekos to wear next year. I have no choice in the matter, since I just recently had to toss my regular fishin' shoes. I had sliced the heel nearly wide open on something (I know not what). I came real close to slicing clear through the rubber into my foot. Fortunately, however, Lady Luck must have been riding shotgun for me that day.

VA BASS Region 7 Hosts Open Team Bass Tournament

This was the scene at Munden Point Park in Virginia Beach today about 2:15, as competing anglers in the open tournament started returning from their day on the water.

Discussion with some of the early-returning participants revealed that a few of them had encountered tough conditions--to the point where not everyone even had a single fish to weigh. I heard one angler comment that he had logged a whole hour of running time in pursuit of Mr. Largemouth, only to come up empty-handed at the end of the day. And there were others registering similar remarks.

In a tournament that allows each team to weigh eight keeper bass, I saw several bringing bags to the scales with only two or three fish in them, but this wasn't one of them.








Among the common "thorns in the side" I heard expressed today were murky to downright muddy conditions and the fact the water was coming in hard all day. Predictably, however, a few found better conditions and managed to put together some dandy limits. Here are the day's winners:

1st Place - (from left) Joe Glazebrook and Mike Evans, led by their cheering section, Noah (with Mike's arm over his shoulder) and Ben Mayfield. These two boys, both of whom are anglers in their own right, are Mike's grandsons. Joe and Mike had a bag of eight bass weighing 22.73 lbs.

2nd Place - (from left) Chris Carmell and Charlie Reed. Their eight-fish limit, after a dead-fish penalty, totaled 18.48 lbs.

3rd Place - (from left) Kevin Mills and Rex Shell. Their eight-fish total weight was 15.98 lbs. This team also walked away with Big Fish honors for a bass that tipped the scales at 5.33 lbs.








Fourth Place today went to the team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter, who brought in a sack of eight fish weighing 15.77 lbs.

Once the fishing was over, all hands were ready to "chow down" on the hamburgers and hot dogs being prepared.

While some were polishing off their burgers and dogs, others were getting set for the usual raffle drawing that follows one of these events.

Some of the lucky raffle winners claim their prizes.







Sponsors for this tournament included: The Glass Baron, Surface Technologies Corporation, Ocean's East 2 Tackle Shop, Murphy's Prop Shop, Little Creek Bass Anglers, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Miller Oil Co., Lance, and Pepsi.

Today's event once again demonstrated the precision I've come to recognize as the norm for Region 7 tournaments. For what it's worth, I salute everyone who had a part--it was a job extremely well done.

Everybody Seems to be Catching Fish

Proving that a furlough isn't altogether bad, Charles Murdock holds up a 2-lb. 3-oz. bass that he caught in West Neck Creek yesterday. "It (the furlough) has given me time to catch up on my favorite hobby," he told me in today's accompanying email. "I've been fishing all week"--twice yesterday, he added in a phone conversation with me this evening.

Charles' email also noted that he caught two more bass yesterday, weighing 1.1 and 1.2. Rounding out his day on the water were two stripers that tipped the scales at 1.6 and 1.7.

In closing his email, Charles thanked me for my blog, saying, "It has made me a better fisherman. May God bless you for all that you are doing."

I sincerely appreciate your kind words, Charles, and as discussed during our earlier phone conversation, I'll be looking forward to all your future fishing reports. Inputs like yours always are welcome. "The more the merrier" is my motto.

Rob Powell also sent me a report on his trip today. He launched at 7:30 this morning and, by 9:40, had boated his first keeper. A bit later, while fishing the east bank of West Neck Creek, he found a spot that was strange in the respect that it lacked cover. However, he had a big fish break him off while working that spot. He quickly retied and nailed a small keeper, plus a dink and a huge mullet. "I caught two of those things (mullet) today," he said.

Sticking to his usual habit, Rob stayed on the east bank until he reached marker No. 6, then crossed to the other side. The "all-day steady action" he described resulted in a total of seven keepers, with his five best weighing 3 lbs. (pictured here), 2 lbs., 1-13, 1-7, and 1-4. He also lost another fish that he estimated at 2 lbs. Said Rob, "The problem here was a handling error on my part."

All of Rob's fish fell for a 4.5-inch Roboworm in pumpkin punisher color. Incidentally, he Texas-rigs these baits and uses a 1/8-oz. pegged weight. "I've caught more fish on this bait this year than all the others put together," he explained.

The final report here today is a digest of my day on the water. The fish you see here is one of the two 1-5 bass that I boated. My other three keepers included one that weighed in at 1-3, one at 1-1,  and one at 1-0. Besides the five keeper bass, I had four dinks, plus two stripers and one pickerel.

My only successful lure this morning was a Bandit Footloose in an out-of-production color (chartreuse with a gray back and an orange belly). That bite lasted until about 11 o'clock, when I shifted to a Bomber Square A in a honey-mustard color and continued catching fish. I lost a couple nice fish today when they hung me up en route to the boat. My line didn't break--the fish just ran into some wood and pulled off.

Weather-wise, it was another one of those days that was nearly picture-perfect. Any day that I don't have to wear out the trolling motor is a good day, and this was one of those.

Until next time, "Tight Lines!"

I Missed More Than I Caught, But...

It still was a good day, as far as I'm concerned. This fish, which weighed in at 1-12, was my best of the day. I also got two that tipped the scales at 1-6, one that weighed 1-1, and a 14-incher that only went 0-15. I weighed this latter fish three times, because I couldn't believe that a 14-incher could be such a lightweight, but the scales showed the same numbers each time.

I also caught three dinks and had a sixth keeper bass at the side of the boat, but he came unbuttoned as I tried to swing him into the boat. I lost track after about a dozen blowups on my Bandit wakebait that ended without a hookup. These topwater strikes were fairly consistent until nearly noon. I then shifted to a Strike King XS-1 and kept getting hits until I quit at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

During the heat of the action this morning, I tossed my wakebait between a couple of stumps where I just had seen a fish swirl. I let it rest just a couple seconds, then twitched the bait, and a fish with some real muscle snatched it. Unfortunately, I saw it was one of those ol' toothy critters, so I dropped a lot of slack in the line, the grindle jumped, and I got my bait back without a struggle.

Most of the water I saw today still had a murky color, but I did find a little clear water, which was where I caught most of my fish. My hope is that we have fairly stable weather patterns between now and Classic weekend, so that the water everywhere will have a chance to clear up and stay that way. If that happens, there should be lots of fish caught by everyone. To date, I've received negative feedback from three of the Classic-qualified anglers, but that still leaves the potential for a field of 35 anglers taking part in our season-ender Oct. 12-13.