A Little Thanksgiving Trickery

A father in Dallas calls his son, Eddie, in New York a few days before Thanksgiving and says, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your mother and I are going to get a divorce. I just cannot take any more of her moaning. We can't stand the sight of each other anymore. I'm telling you first, Eddie, because you are the elder; please tell your sister."

When Eddie tells his sister, Julie, in San Francisco, she responds, "No way are they getting divorced! I will go and see them for Thanksgiving."

Julie then phones her parents and says, "You must not get divorced. Promise you won't do anything until I get there. I'm calling Eddie, and we'll both be there with you tomorrow. Until then, don't do anything. Please listen to me." With that, she hangs up.

The father puts down the phone, turns to his wife, and says, "Good news: Eddie and Julie are coming home for Thanksgiving, and they both are paying their own way."

Here's hoping none of you have to resort to the kind of trickery described in that fabricated tale I found online to bring your family together this holiday. Just know that I wish each and every one of you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Time on the Water: My Pick as No. 1 Factor in Catching Fish Regularly

"Big lures catch big bass." I hear it firsthand all the time, and I keep reading it in magazines and online, too. This much I'll admit: There are times when big lures do catch big bass, but there also are times when smaller lures work equally effectively--even better on occasion.

In defense of the "big lures" theory, I will say that I've caught a number of nice fish (in the 3- and 4-pound class, generally speaking) over the years on big buzzbaits, big-bladed spinnerbaits, and musky-sized Jitterbugs.

However, the biggest bass I've ever boated to date (slightly better than 7 lbs.) fell prey to a 1/4-oz. Johnson's Silver Spoon. The next four biggest fish (each weighing more than 6 lbs.) went for a 4-inch Slider worm, two for 3/8-oz.  crankbaits, and the most recent a 3/8-oz. chatterbait. None of those baits hardly qualify as "big," in my opinion.

So what do I think the overriding major factor is in catching a big bass? It's the same factor I think is the most important in catching fish period--"spending time on the water."

That's a phrase you'll often hear tossed around at bass seminars. As one angler I read about--reportedly among a handful who have caught hundreds of bass over 10 lbs.--commented, "I spend lots of time on the water, take good notes, and pay close attention to the factors that truly drive the big bass to move around and feed. The weather, moon and sun are the primary factors that make big bass migrate... to feed, and the more time you spend on the water, the more you will recognize the patterns. Now, after years of taking notes and building basically a big-bass map, with a schedule of when some of those big bass should be stopping in an area to feed, you're in a better position to catch them."

Two names immediately come to mind when I consider the amount of time they spend on the water. Those two anglers are Charlie Bruggemann (right) and Bob Glass.

For example, consider that, according to Charlie's records, he has made 107 trips so far this year, with each trip lasting approximately 5.5 hours, for a total time of 588.5 hours spent on the water. His bass count to date is 760, which means about 0.77 of an hour (or 46.2 minutes, to be more precise) pass between each catch, and his average catch per trip is slightly better than 7 fish.

Bob Glass, meanwhile, simply says he has logged "a lot of hours and a lot of fish." And anyone who follows all the local tournament results like I do knows that response to my question to be true. He not only fishes all or nearly all of the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series every year, but also a major percentage of the tournaments hosted each year at Bob's Fishing Hole. And that doesn't address all the additional hours he spends pre-fishing or just fishing for the pure fun of it on both the North Landing and Northwest Rivers.

As I saw expressed by one Elite Series pro, "When the opportunity presents itself, even if it's for a few hours, it's imperative for bass anglers wanting to elevate their games to have some seat time. Time on the water just makes you a better fisherman; there's no way around it," he said. "The more time you're able to spend on the water, the more proficient you become at all the capabilities necessary to improve your game."

Both Charlie and Bob (left) meet that criteria, and that, my friends--in my humble opinion--is why both of them score so well.

I remember an occasion this latest Dewey Mullins Memorial Tournament Series in which I had seen Bob fishing a particular area in West Neck Creek the Friday afternoon before a tournament. The next morning, then, I saw him and his partner working the same stretch as my partner and I were heading elsewhere. We even watched Bob boat a nice bass as we idled by him and his partner. During weigh-in, while Bob and I were talking, he said he had located several fish in that area the day before, and they still were there tourney morning. He and his partner went on to win that particular tournament.

To paraphrase the Elite Series pro I quoted a bit earlier, time on the water gets you tuned in to the environment, and you pick up on subtle clues more instinctively. In short, you simply learn to make better decisions day in and day out, all of which leads to greater success.

Tick Tock--Catchin' Fish Was the Reason for This Clock

Photo provided by Charlie Bruggemann

Go to Google images, enter "fishing clocks" as your search phrase,  and the results you get run the gamut of people's imagination. One clock you won't find pictured there, though, is a one-handed clock, which tells best fishing times.

This clock--actually just a prototype, because it never was marketed--belongs to TV bass-fishing-show
host, Bill Dance, who is pictured above, along with the clock. The man who invented it, though, lives right here in Hampton Roads--Virginia Beach, to be exact. His name is Ray Scott--and, no, he's not the man who founded the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society--not even kin, as far as I know.

This Ray Scott (pictured left) is Charlie Bruggemann's good friend. He's also an avid fisherman. And last but certainly not least, he's a docent at the Virginia Beach Military Aviation Museum, where until last year, he flew the planes, instead of just telling visitors about them. (Read about his long aviation career in the article reprinted with permission at the end of this one. It first appeared in Volume 5, Issue 4, of the Museum's membership newsletter, Prop Noise.)

Ray estimates it was about 20 years ago when he got the idea for this clock. After spending a couple of years and about $10,000 of his own money researching the idea, developing a prototype, and writing a set of operating instructions, he contacted the late-Dr. Loren G. Hill, a longtime fishery academic and avid bass angler. Dr. Hill, at the time, was director of the Zoology Department and Biological Research Center at the University of Oklahoma. He's best known as inventor of the Color-C-Lector, a device that helped anglers choose lure colors based on water and light conditions.

Ray and Dr. Hill signed a disclosure statement, and Dr. Hill then went looking for financial support. At that point, however, problems arose, and without a marketing source, Ray had no choice but to abandon his venture. That's when Bill Dance ended up with the prototype in the earlier picture--Dr. Hill gave it to him after Ray pulled the plug on his invention. Ray still has one of the clocks himself, as do a few other folks who bought a limited number he assembled and made available at some trade shows he attended, but there, unfortunately, are no more to be had these days.

Ray's best-fishing-times clock, or "Strike Alert," as he named it, operated on the same principle as a tide clock, which, according to Wikipedia, keeps track of the Moon's apparent motion around the Earth. Along many coastlines, the Moon contributes the major part (67 percent) of the combined lunar and solar tides. The exact interval between the tides is influenced by the position of the Moon and Sun, relative to the Earth, as well as the specific location on Earth where the tide is being measured.

Owing to the Moon's orbital progress, it takes a particular point on the Earth, (on average) 24 hours, 50 minutes, to rotate under the Moon, so the time between high lunar tides fluctuates between 12 and 13 hours. A tide clock is divided into two six-hour-long tidal periods that show the average length of time between high and low tide in a semi-diurnal tide region, such as most areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, compared with the actual time between the high lunar tides, tide clocks gain approximately 15 minutes per month and must be reset periodically.

I honestly don't understand much of that Wikipedia explanation of a tide clock, but I assure you that the 80-year-old Ray does. He's as sharp as a tack, looks fit, has a really firm handshake, and says the only reason he retired from flying a year or so ago is because he noticed a couple of things that gave him a clue it was time to "keep his feet on the ground."

Photo by Charlie Bruggemann

Earlier, I described Ray as an "avid fisherman"--and that's no joke." He's very humble about his abilities, though--"I'm not a very good fisherman," he said. But when I
asked him what his biggest bass to date is, he perked up and quickly announced: "7-2." Then I inquired where he caught it, and his response was, "Chickahominy River." After a brief pause, he added with a smile, "I even had my name up in crayon at
the local tackle store for two days afterward."

I like Ray's style, and I told him so as we went our separate ways at the conclusion of yesterday's interview.  Now enjoy the sidebar that follows, describing his long and satisfying aviation career.

Ray Scott the Aviator

By Jacey Byrne

 

A young Ray Scott flying an early-model Mustang

In 1947, when Ray Scott was 16, he spent a lot of time at a local airport.  As veteran pilots were returning home, he got to know some of them and was given several airplane rides. It was then, while watching World
War II veterans utilizing their G.I. Bill for flight training, that he decided to
do the same thing.

 

In 1953, Ray was drafted into the Army. After basic training , he served as an instructor and then was sent to Korea and served as wire chief for the 7th Infantry Division.

 

Ray Scott in the museum's P-51 Mustang

Following his discharge from the service, and with assistance from the G.I. Bill, his dream came true as he attended flight school. After completion of that training, he built flight time while serving as an instructor and towing banners. He also started a glider school with a friend, and it's still in operation today--50 years later.

 

Scott flew as a corporate pilot during the next 24 years, primarily in turbo-props, and acquired 750 hours in a Be 18 (Army C-45, Navy SNB), which introduced him to Warbird aircraft.

 

The corporate job he had required him to take regular FAA flight checks, and he knew most of the FAA people in the Richmond office. Those same FAA pilots who had given him flight checks recommended him when there was an opening for an aviation-safety inspector in the Richmond office. Although this is a difficult and coveted position, Ray passed through the process quickly--and with flying colors.

Ray Scott in the museum's Curtiss P40.
Photo by Charlie Bruggemann

After his retirement, he received a call from Ken Laird, asking if he would be interested in flying his Tora Tora Tora Val in airshows, which started him in another aviation direction... Warbirds. During an airshow at Oceana, he met someone at the Military Aviation Museum and was offered a flight in the SNJ.

Later, Ray sent a letter to the museum, expressing his desire to become involved as an airshow coordinator with the Fighter Factory, where the aircraft are maintained for the museum. He spent the next 8 years flying many of the Warbirds you see there today and serving as the airshow coordinator, which Ray describes as "the most enjoyable part of his aviation career." After 56 years of flying and more than 13,000 hours, he says he wouldn't change much and is thankful for his time with the Warbirds. He enjoys the Spitfire because of its historical factor and the Yak because of the excitement of its power and acceleration.

 

Ray now is an active museum docent and loves to talk about all the aircraft they have, especially the P-51 Mustang, which, he says, "is the most pleasurable to fly." He can't pick a favorite, though--he loves them all!

The Not-So-Fishy Tale of an Out-of-Luck Heron

You know it's a tough day when you see a great blue heron perched like this one at the base of a big ol' cypress tree without being able to catch a thing for lunch. Yet, that's exactly what I witnessed firsthand today down at the point beside the ramp at West Neck Marina.

The heron stood in this same spot for nearly 45 minutes--with no joy--before taking off for another location. And that was after I initially had watched him stealthily stalk a long stretch of shoreline, also without finding any lunch.

With less than 2 feet of water showing on the gauge at the ramp, I thought this heron surely would leave with a full belly. And, he very well may have found some tasty morsels somewhere else, but while I observed from a distance, there was no sign of any fish-catching going on by this bird.

Now the same couldn't be said about this old-timer, who was braving today's elements to fish from the bank. I saw him bait up with worms, cast his line out into the channel, and moments later, catch a small bream on several occasions. He tossed all of his fish into a bucket, so I feel sure they were destined to become table fare--if not tonight, then at some point in the future.

The only other activity at West Neck Marina today was a kayaker--and, no, it wasn't Charlie--who launched at the ramp this afternoon. The last I saw of him was when he turned and headed for the area I like to refer to as "Charlie's Point." Perhaps he's been reading your blog and looking at your videos, Charlie.

In any event, I only could conclude that it was a slow day--one in which there seemed to be a lot more fishing than catching going on overall.

For the benefit of those who like to look at pictures, here are some more shots I took of the heron today. As I said, he stayed in the same spot for several minutes.

A Day on the Water With...

Now everyone knows. My friend, Mark Ingram (pictured above at the helm of his Nitro bass boat, with his 18-year-old son, Colton, riding along during an event I photographed some time ago), is the angler I asked to kick off this new series on my blog. He graciously accepted my invitation and proved to be an equally gracious host yesterday, as we tested the waters in both West Neck and Pocaty. Although I originally envisioned spending my day just taking notes and shooting some pictures during my interview with Mark, he insisted that I bring along a couple rods, and I happily obliged. As it worked out, I was able to get everything I needed for this story and do a little fishing, too. The way I see things: That's one of those always welcome win-win situations.

The 51-year-old Mark is a husband, father and grandfather. Besides son, Colton, Mark and his wife, Bonnie, have two daughters: 15-year-old Isabelle and 28-year-old Tara, who is mother to her parents' only grandbaby so far, Ella.

A native of Norfolk, VA, Mark has fond recollections of his youth, especially spending the summers with his late-dad, a retired Navy master chief machinist's mate at the time. The senior Ingram lived at a marina on the James River in Williamsburg, VA, and when Mark visited, his dad obtained weekly fishing passes for him. "I fished all day every day, only coming home to eat," said Mark, who also shared the story about when he caught his first bass. It was during one of those summer visits with his dad.

"I was 7 or 8 at the time," Mark explained, "when I caught this fish I couldn't identify. It weighed about 2 lbs. I ran around holding it up, asking everyone what it was until someone finally told me it was a bass. Back in those days, I didn't care what I caught; I just liked to fish."

The rest of the time, Mark lived with his late-mom, who owned and operated a hat shop in Granby Mall. He graduated from Norfolk's Brewbaker Academy--"in a class of only 48," he added. Shortly thereafter, he set out to learn life's lessons as a roadie, traveling on tour with different bands.

A farrier by trade today, Mark told me he got seriously hooked on bass fishing about 10 years ago, when he started entering tournaments--"and I've been serious ever since," he noted. Competition, though, has been in his blood a long time. To wit: He used to enter a lot of different horseshoing competitions.

When asked what his biggest bass to date is, Mark was quick to tell me he caught one from a local private pond about five or six years ago that had to have weighed about 8-6 (see photo at right). He didn't have any means to weigh this fish at the time, but using the length-and-girth-measurements formula, he came up with that approximate figure.

He also proudly points to another bass that tipped the scales at 7 lbs. (see photo at left), one which he caught a few years back in Albright's Creek--and to think that y'all have the nerve to keep asking me why I spend so darn much time down there during the spring and summer. Don't reckon I'll have to explain myself ever again, huh? After all, I know Mark is a catch-and-release man, so I'm still on the prowl to "catch this one another day," as they always say. Good golly! Now I'm a poet and didn't even know it.

Only joking around with those comments, folks, so please forgive me. I'm just trying to keep the mood light--like I feel pretty sure Mark would want it. By the way, for the benefit of anyone who thinks you can't catch fish in the rain, take note that Mark caught this fish in what appears to have been a drenching downpour. To say he's wet would be an understatement--on that, I think we all would agree.

"Do you have any aspirations to turn pro?" When I asked Mark that question, he simply turned to me, grinned, and responded, "Doesn't everyone?" He went on to explain, though, that he's realistic about his chances. "Given my age, and the fact I once had some serious back surgery (including some metal rods and a fusion procedure), I know my odds aren't very good." That realization, however, in no way affects his passion for the sport, and he takes advantage of every opportunity that presents itself to spend time on the water, trying to improve his skills. And if there's a little competition involved, so much the better.

Take yesterday, for example. Granted, I had asked Mark when it would be convenient for him to go fishing , so I could glean the information and photos I needed for this story, but as luck would have it, there was a Goody's Big Bass Tournament yesterday out of West Neck, and Mark's competitive drive quickly kicked into overdrive. Both of us tossed a few bucks in a pot for the chance of bringing the biggest fish to the scales. I realized my odds--at best--were a long shot, but it was a whole different ballgame for Mark.

I watched him methodically pick the water apart for seven hours with all kinds of baits, including a Pop R (once the sun had been out a spell), some jigs, a spinnerbait, different soft plastics, and an array of crankbaits, looking for a big bass. Among the crankbaits I saw him throw yesterday was a Spro Crank 25, which had me mesmerized by the way it E-V-E-R so slowly rises when you pause the retrieve--and, wouldn't you know, they don't even make the lure any more. Just my luck! His most productive lure yesterday, however, was another crankbait--a Bomber Square A in lemon lime, a color that, as I reminded him, has to date failed to put a fish in the boat for me. He ended up with four fish, including two keepers and two dinks, and he also missed a couple, but he was totally engaged in what he was doing the whole time.

He refers to himself as a "junk fisherman," but the way I see it, Mark is considerably better than that. He's driven to excel, and that never was more evidenced than weekend before last when he and his partner won their club's annual Classic, two-day tournament on Chickahominy River with more than 14 lbs. total weight.

In an effort to further improve himself, Mark has decided to fish the 2014 regional tournaments as a boater, rather than as a backseater for another year. His brother-in-law has agreed to hold down the backseat of his Nitro for him, and I look forward to following their numbers.

Mark explained that he and his brother-in-law think a whole lot alike when it comes to bass fishing--to the point that they often reach for the same bait at the same time, without ever saying a word to each other. Sounds like a good partnership in the making to me, and I wish both of them well. Tight Lines!

Incidentally, Mark, thanks for the ride yesterday. I enjoyed every minute of it. You're truly a gentleman, a scholar, and one heckuva bass fisherman.

5 of 9 Competitors Weigh Fish

Eddie Sapp (left) holds up the 3.64-lb. bass that won today's third event of the 2013-14 Goody's Big Bass Tournament series, as John Goodman, tournament director, looks on. With today's win, Eddie takes over the top spot for big bass of the season.

Here is how the other competitors finished today's event:
     * 2nd place, Steve Bailey, with a 3.54-lb. bass
     * 3rd place, John Harmon, with a 3.11-lb. bass
     * 4th place, Kevin Love, with a 1.53-lb. bass
     * 5th place, Mark Ingram, with a 1.18-lb. bass
     * 6th place, Paul Celentano, Ken Testorff, Brian Skeens, and Bob Glass, none of whom weighed a fish.

Today's tournament added another $9 to the seasonal big-bass pot, bringing it to a current total of $29.

The next tournament in this series is once again scheduled for West Neck Marina next Sunday, Nov. 24. Start time is 7 a.m., with a scheduled weigh-in at 2 p.m. After this event, the series will move over to Bob's Fishing Hole on the Northwest River for the remainder of this year's tournaments.

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

Homemade Spinnerbait Makes His Day

I received an email from Charles Murdock earlier this afternoon, and it had a photo attached of this nice 3.9-lb. bass that he caught today while fishing south in West Neck Creek. He said he also caught a dink earlier this morning.

Charles' bait of choice in both cases was a 1/4-oz. spinnerbait that he made himself. As he explained, he even hand-tied the skirt.

I'm learning there are quite a few anglers making their own baits these days. I don't know if it's because Dewey isn't around to do it for us anymore or what, but I think it's great that some folks have the talents and skills to do things on their own like this, especially when it produces results like you see in the photo at right.

I've sometimes been known to alter baits for one reason or another, but I never have tried to make one from the bottom up. I've always prided myself on knowing what things I'd best leave to someone else, and making homemade lures certainly fits in that category. Believe me when I say it's in everyone's best interests that I stick to trying to write stories that others find interesting.

"Changes to Fuel Rules Coming"

Thus read the headline to a small article buried at the bottom right-hand corner of page 7 in the national section of the morning newspaper. The gist of that article was this: Seems the biofuel law adopted in 2007 isn't working as well as expected. As a result, the Obama administration has proposed a change that would reduce, by almost 3 billion gallons, the amounts of ethanol and other biofuels blended into gasoline in 2014.

It's no secret that many industry and interest groups, including powersports and marine manufacturers, have spent significant effort opposing the standards, while simultaneously arguing that the high-ethanol fuels will damage small engines, void warranties, and confuse consumers along the way. A spokesman for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) commended the EPA for its temporary action and noted that the NMMA and boating-industry partners remain committed to exploring alternative biofuels, including isobutanol, which can be derived from corn.

"We have serious well-documented data-driven concerns with safety of high ethanol fuel blends, which have proven to cause damage in marine engines," said the NMMA spokesman. "This damage puts consumers at risk, and it hurts manufacturers during this important time of economic recovery."

Some feel the move to reduce the ethanol numbers in 2014 will help stall the introduction of E15 into the marketplace, which is a major concern because of its potential harm if accidentally used to fuel motorcycles and outboards.

In the course of looking into some additional facts related to this story, I learned that, in June 2013, the governor of Florida signed a bill, nullifying the state's 2008 Renewable Fuel Standard Act and, thus, removing the requirement that all gasoline sold in the state contain 10 percent ethanol. Service stations there now have the option to decide whether they want to sell fuel that contains ethanol.

And looking a bit further, I found this website: http://www.buyrealgas.com/, which shows listings in all states of stations where you reportedly still can find ethanol-free fuel. Check it out for yourself.

A Little Peek at What "May" Lie Ahead

I don't know how many of you subscribe to the predictions found in this age-old publication. I only know that my late-pop used it regularly to, among other things, schedule his annual vegetable plantings. And I can't begin to tell you how many times, as a kid, I'd hear "those ol' codgers" (of which I now am one) stand around on Main Street in my little hometown on Friday or Saturday night, jawin' about something they just had read in this publication.

I'd dare say probably not even 1 in 10 kids today have even heard of "The Old Farmer's Almanac," much less be able to tell you what kind of information it contains. However, I thought perhaps some of you "mature" folks might find this freebie snapshot of predicted weather for Virginia Beach interesting. I found it online today while researching another topic.

NOVEMBER 2013: temperature 53° (2° below avg.); precipitation 4.5" (1.5" above avg.); Nov 1-8: Heavy rain, then sunny, cold; Nov 9-19: Rain, then sunny, cool; Nov 20-22: Showers, warm; Nov 23-30: Rain, then sunny, cool.

DECEMBER 2013: temperature 43° (4° below avg.); precipitation 2.5" (1" below avg.); Dec 1-5: Sunny, cold; Dec 6-11: Rain and snow showers, then sunny, cold; Dec 12-16: Rainy periods, mild; Dec 17-20: Sunny, cold; Dec 21-25: Rainy periods; warm, then cool; Dec 26-31: Sunny, cold.
 

Annual Weather Summary: November 2013 to October 2014

Winter will be colder and drier than normal, but with above-normal snowfall in much of the region. The coldest periods will be in early and late December, early to mid-January, and early February. The snowiest periods will be in early to mid-February and in late February. April and May will be a bit warmer than normal, with near-normal rainfall.Summer will be hotter than normal, with above-normal rainfall, especially near the coast. The hottest periods will occur in mid- and late June and in mid-July.September and October will be slightly cooler than normal, with near-normal rainfall. Expect a hurricane threat in mid-September.

Temperature and Precipitation November 2013 to October 2014

It's too bad the Almanac can't tell me what kind of fishing success I'll have this next year. But then again, maybe it's better that I don't know, 'cause I'm not sure I could stand the thought of having another year like the one that's fast drawing to a close.

Anyway--hope you enjoy.

A Few Words About Boating Safety

During one recent slow day on the water, I watched folks in two different boats doing some really foolish things, and after thinking about it a bit longer, I couldn't resist saying something about what I had observed. The boats in question weren't high-performance watercraft like the one in this photo, but that difference in no way removes the responsibility that befalls all boaters to operate their craft in a safe manner--for their own sake, as well as that of all passengers and everyone else on the water.

The one outboard-powered aluminum boat in question was running every channel marker in West Neck Creek on the wrong side, and neither the operator, nor the passenger, was wearing a life jacket. (And, yes, I know the Coast Guard rule only calls for having a life jacket in the boat, but if you have any care or concern for the folks in your boat, why not "make" them wear the life jacket? It might help you avoid a lawsuit.)

To compound this situation, the water level this particular day was dropping steadily. Many stumps were barely submerged, and others had only the tips showing. (Check out the prop trail in the photo at right--provided by Charlie--showing where a boater decided to take a shortcut to the main creek, instead of following the channel around to it. What can you say, besides "NOT SMART!)

In the other case, I watched a man motor by my partner and me in a V-hull with a young girl and young boy as passengers. As in the first example, no one was wearing a life jacket--and that's despite the fact the young girl on board was sitting on a raised pedestal seat in the bow. The only thing positive about this example was the fact the man was running the boat on the correct side of the markers.

As I thought about these two examples, several questions crossed my mind. Were any of the people involved familiar with the rules of safe boating? Were they even thinking about what they were doing at the time? Had any of them ever seen West Neck and Pocaty during low-water periods?

It's people like these who often become U.S. Coast Guard statistics. In 2012, for example, there were 163 nationwide boating accidents involving collisions with submerged objects, resulting in 12 deaths and 56 injuries, with a price tag of $1,019,215 in associated damages. The No. 1 event in boating accidents and casualties nationwide in 2012 was ejections from vessels--1,085 cases were reported, with 269 deaths and 1,018 injuries, and a price tag of $5,120,544 in damages. We also need to consider falls overboard, which, in 2012, amounted to a total of 360 cases, with 210 deaths and 183 injuries, and a price tag of $201,491 in damages.

Perhaps you're like a lot of other people I used to interview when I worked at the Naval Safety Center--people who had been injured and maimed in mishaps. I can't tell you how many times I sat and listened to them describe what had been an "it can't/won't happen to me" attitude--before their day of reckoning occurred.

My day of reckoning came back in the late '70s/early '80s timeframe (I honestly don't remember exactly). At the time, I owned this little Glasstream boat, with a 35-hp Johnson on the transom.

And just so no one has to ask the question, my buddy, Charlie, is the man who shot this photo oh-so-many years ago. We both were in Godfrey's Creek this particular day. We have spent a lot of time bumping into each other over the years.

And, yes, I know how "junked up" this boat was--I took plenty of ribbin' from my wife the whole time I had it (and I have to admit I even got to laughing as I was looking at the boat just now). But that's not the point I want to make here.

I had taken my stepson to Pocaty, and after fishing all day, we were making our way back out on the gas motor. Thankfully, I just was making headway at the time we came to where a big ol' submerged stump--one I hadn't learned yet--lay in wait. The motor's shaft hit that stump with enough force to shatter one of the bolts holding the motor on the transom, and I don't recall ever hearing a worse noise until several years later, when I witnessed a guy in a Ranger hit another stump in Pocaty while running on step.

No one was injured in either incident, and we all made it back to West Neck Marina on our own, but some folks aren't as lucky. Instead, they turn what was supposed to be a day of fun into a tragedy. Acquaint yourself with the Rules of the Road (one place you can start is here: http://www.boatus.com/foundation/guide/navigation_1.html) and do as the slogan says: "Boat Smart!"

All Those Familiar With "Nagging," Raise Your Right Hand

I'll bet the hand of everyone who reads this shoots up like a rocket, 'cause, after all, the word "nagging" has an awfully wide variety of possible applications.

For example, who among us hasn't, at one time or another, had a "nagging" headache, toothache, backache, etc.? Maybe our malady was a "nagging" cough, or, perhaps worst of all, a "nagging" spouse. In some of these cases, there are pills and/or medicines we can take to alleviate the discomfort.

In the latter case, however, I really don't have a clue about anything you can take. I only would urge you to tread lightly when it comes to a "nagging" spouse--unless, that is, you don't mind bunking with and sharing a feeding bowl with Fido. Or perhaps your threats are similar to one I've personally heard a few times: living and sleeping in my bass boat. Now don't get me wrong--I love spending time in my bass boat as much as the next guy, but the idea, especially this time of year, of camping out in it leaves me feeling a bit "cold" (pun intended).

But none of these possible implications of the word "nagging" fits what I want to talk about here today. Instead, I want to talk about a "nagging" feeling to try something different. And listen, fellas--I'm not talking about anything sexual in nature. The only "love affair" involved in these comments is my love for bass fishing.

With that much cleared up, let me explain exactly what I deliberately took a circuitous route to describe as being on my mind.

I'm talking about situations where you find yourself sitting out on the water, having a miserably slow fun-fishing day, when you experience one of those Tareyton moments. For the benefit of those who haven't been around as long as me, there was an old commercial for Tareyton cigarettes that went: "I'd rather fight than switch." That's where I found myself yesterday.

I had nothing but crankbaits tied on when Rob and I launched yesterday morning, and I was determined to live or die with those baits--all proven fish-catchers for me--no matter how they performed yesterday. And I stayed true to that determination, even though I started having a "nagging feeling" I should try something different--like a spinnerbait or jerkbait. I even asked Rob at one point if he had tried a spinnerbait but didn't tie one on myself. I repeatedly brushed that feeling aside, but it kept recurring. And even while I was cleaning up the boat yesterday afternoon, I couldn't help wondering, "What if...?"

Then, this morning, I read a comment on my fishing report of yesterday from fellow-blogger and bass fisherman, Caleb, who also had been on the water yesterday. He urged me to take a peek at his blog post on the day he and a friend had yesterday on West Neck and Pocaty. I complied and have been kicking myself ever since. Here's how his post read, in part:

"The day started off hot for me again (in West Neck), as I put two in the boat within the first 30 minutes. I landed both on an X-Rap suspending jerkbait in firetiger... We then headed for Pocaty... I had a limit in the boat by 0900 and had seven bass in the boat by 1030. Brandon (his partner) had added three bass and a pickerel in the same time... My bait of choice was a War Eagle spinner in sexy shad with double willow blades in gold and silver. My luck changed when I unexpectedly lost this bait... Always remember to retie your baits, especially after a few fish and when throwing in heavy cover... In total for the day, I had eight bass (biggest he said weighed 1.9)... and Brandon ended up with five bass and one pickerel..."

The lesson here is simple: You can't let yourself fall prey to one of those Tareyton moments when it comes to bass fishing. If they're not hitting what you're offering, try something different, especially if you have a "nagging feeling" to do so.

If It Hadn't Been for This Lure...

I would have recorded my 5th skunk of the current season. But as luck would have it, I wheeled around and sent a cast off into the middle of the S-curve in West Neck today, and about a 1.5-lb. bass jumped on this Bomber Square A while working it back to the boat. Actually, the fish didn't "jump" on the lure. It was more like he just reached out to touch it as it passed in front of him, and my reflexes were fast enough to get the hooks in him.

As I'm sure my partner, Rob, would tell you, this was about the only time today my reflexes were very quick. I missed two other strikes because of my sluggishness in reacting. And, on one of those occasions, the fish hit the bait twice during the same retrieve, and I couldn't pull the trigger to save me. It was like I was frozen or something. As Rob reminded me when he saw what happened, "The idea is to jerk--not just keep winding."

Meanwhile, Rob managed to boat two bass and a white perch today, but we'll both readily tell you it was a tough day--and we're not alone in that assessment. I just had an email note from our friend, Charlie, who went to Stumpy Lake today, and he said he didn't boat the first fish. Now when Charlie has a day like that, I don't feel bad at all with my one.

In closing this post, I'd just like to apologize to everyone for not getting an updated photo of the water-level gauge today for my blog. I tried, but the camera had gotten turned on accidentally in my coat pocket today, and the battery was dead when I tried to get a shot of the gauge this afternoon. I barely was able to get the photo above. If my memory serves me correct, the level was down to about 3 feet when we came off the water about 1 o'clock, and if tomorrow's predicted strong north winds become reality, there probably won't be much water at the ramp by day's end.

Howling Winds Find Bass in Feeding Mood

Such was Jim Bauer's luck today, as evidenced by this 2.11-lb. bass that he boated. His final totals were eight fish, seven of which were bass, and six of the seven bass were keepers. His best five included the one pictured here, along with two that weighed 1.3 and two that weighed 1.7, for a total weight of 8.11 lbs.

Jim's first three fish today fell for a Thin N. The remainder went for two different colors of Roboworms. He started the day by pointing his boat into the wind but quickly gave up on that idea and let the wind push him up West Neck Creek. Pausing only briefly at the bridge, he managed to boat a small bream but nothing else.

While on the water, Jim ran into Eddie Sapp, who said he was slaying bass on soft plastics. Eddie came off the water right behind Jim and told him that his best five today tipped the scales at 10.5 lbs. That compares to a figure just over 6 lbs. yesterday that he and his partner, Paul Celentano, had during a tournament at Bob's Fishing Hole. They plan to return there tomorrow for a special Veteran's Day tourney.

The water temp at Jim's late-morning launch time was just over 55, and he said it only showed a tad over 56 when he came in at 3:30 this afternoon. The water level was 3.8 feet at 3 o'clock today when I captured a photo of the gauge at the ramp, and the water color was very good. As Jim noted in his email to me this evening, he caught most of his fish today "off the bank in about 4 feet of water."

On a final note, Jim said he also ran into Rob Powell and his wife just as he wheeled into the marina this morning. Rob had told me last week that he and his wife were in the final stages of packing up and moving to Florida with a set of Navy orders in hand. He had stopped at West Neck this morning to collect his bass boat for the trip south.

The worst part of Jim's whole day was launching and recovering his boat. Anyone who ever has used the ramp on a windy day like today without someone to help them knows exactly what he's talking about. It can be a real challenge.

A Big Day for Justin--And He Did It By Keeping Things Simple

How simple? you may be asking. This simple: a green and black swimbait on a beetle-spin frame. I don't know how everyone else feels, but in my opinion, folks, that's pretty basic.

A buddy of mine who paddles around a lot in a kayak--Charlie is his name--often resorts to the same sort of rig for catching bass. He's had many double-digit days with such a rig, and in the distant past, so have I.

The problem is that, over the years, I've let tackle manufacturers "lure" me into believing I need fancy baits with a big price tag to catch fish. As a result, about the only thing they haven't been able to sell me yet is a piece of oceanfront property in Arizona.

All kidding aside, I'm leaning toward at least a partial return to some of the basics after receiving my latest email from Justin Reese, who incidentally, gets my heartiest congratulations on his selection for Navy chief petty officer.

Here's a pretty good reason, as I see it, for getting back to the basics when it comes to bass fishing. This "hoss" is just one of two that Justin boated yesterday in West Neck Creek, while fishing that bait in the photo above. He was working the eastern shoreline above the bridge at the time and just had caught a dink when this bruiser hit.

An important part of this story is the fact that Justin had shoulder surgery three weeks ago. He only had planned to run the boat a little yesterday, get in a few casts, and then call it a day.

For that or whatever reason, he didn't have any scales in the boat to weigh his fish yesterday. He was upset with himself over that situation but was able to put it in perspective by noting, "She was a nice catch for a guy who hasn't been able to fish lately."

He snagged another dink, then got hold of this good 'un in the photo at right. With his shoulder getting sore, he decided he should call it a day and headed to the ramp.

I watched Justin recover just ahead of me, but he already had left the parking lot by the time I got my boat on the trailer. As he explained in his email this morning, he was in a rush yesterday--a situation we've all been in at one time or another.

I'm just happy he decided to share the details of his day yesterday with me, so I, in turn, can share them with all of you. If ever you needed a reason for getting back to the basics with your bass fishing, Justin's story from yesterday certainly should suffice. Way to go, Chief!

I Had an Itch I Just Had to Scratch

When I went to bed last night, the wind had laid flat, so I figured some water would come back in West Neck Creek overnight. Knowing that, I readied all my gear before I called it a night, because I knew I would be heading to the creek this morning and at least try to launch. I had it figured spot on--the water had come in 0.6 feet overnight, so I got to scratch the itch I had had ever since my outing last Wednesday.

This 1-8 bass was my best of the day, but I ended up with five more that were within ounces of being the same size. I also boated three dinks during the day.

The magic bait for the first half of the day was a Strike King 1XS in firetiger. When they got tired of that, I picked up a Bandit Footloose in white with a chartreuse back, and they started hitting it every bit as good as they had the 1XS. I missed several strikes besides the nine bass that I managed to catch by day's end. My final tally also included two white perch, one yellow perch, and one pickerel.

My friend, Charlie, launched his kayak right behind me this morning. We talked briefly before he departed the parking lot this evening, and I learned that he had boated about 15 today, with one of them a bit better than 2 lbs. I saw him catch that fish and weigh it.

If the weather forecast I heard this morning holds true, tomorrow will be a wet one, which means I'll be staying home. The weather forecast this evening indicated southwest winds for tomorrow but swinging to the north and northwest after the rain passes and kicking up to 15-25, with a drop in temperatures. Reckon I'll have to take a wait-and-see attitude for my next trip.