Ever Heard of the Riveting Rig?

If you haven't, you're probably not alone, 'cause until recently, it was a fairly well-kept secret. The cat's out of the bag now, though, and I'm going to share the details here, as revealed in the latest issue of Jay Kumar's BassBlaster.

To start with, the riveting rig is designed for fishing soft-plastic jerkbaits and swimbaits. The standard way to rig these baits, of course, is with a Tex-posed hook, which often will result in only about a 65-percent hook-up ratio. You reportedly can improve that hook-up ratio with the riveting rig. Here's how it works, as explained by Mark Zona, an admitted tackle junkie. He first learned the trick about seven years back from a gentleman who promised, if he used the rig with a Strike King Caffeine Shad, "You'll never miss them (the fish)."

You first take the hollow sleeve out of a pop rivet, which basically is a tube with a circular plate on the end of that sleeve. Push it from the back side (where the "V" is on the belly of a Caffeine Shad) toward the nose, then clean out the inside of the rivet with a nail. Now slide your line through the rivet and attach a treble hook. The suggested sizes are a #2 treble hook with a 4.5- to 5-inch swimbait, a #4 with a 4-inch Caffeine Shad, or a #5 on a magnum-sized bait.

Zona is adamant that a Lazer Trokar round-bend treble hook is an important part of the equation. He will vary line size from 15- to 20-pound fluorocarbon, and he always will tie it to a split-ring rigged with the round-bend hook.

Both Zona and Bassmaster Elite Series angler Ott DeFoe use this rig, and both advise anglers not to be lazy on the hookset. "A lot of times," says DeFoe, "the good bites are a really good thump, and the line then goes limp, so I reel about two cranks, and once I feel pressure, I set the hook."

Success rates with the riveting rig may vary, depending on the angler using it, but Zona says his hook-up ratio soared to nearly 99 percent.

High Water Not Exactly a Fan Favorite

Count kayaker Ron Ameika among that legion of anglers who don't particularly care for high water. When that's the case, he has very low expectations for doing well--a feeling borne out of experience. Take Monday evening, for example. The river gauge was reading 3.3 when he launched at Indian River Road, with plans to fish upper West Neck Creek.

Between 1730 and 1930, he scored only a 1-8 on the Whopper Plopper and missed one fish. Senkos, nor the XTS minnow, were working, and there were no visible baitfish around.

Said Ron, "I think all the bass were way up in the out-of-reach locations with the high water." And he probably was right. That's why, when the water is high, especially if the river gauge is reading 3.0 or over, I usually head to Albright's. Once there, I nose my boat as far back in coves as I can get, 'cause the fish follow the water.

As we all know, the current bout with high water all started last week. For a spell, I wondered if maybe I would have to trade in my bass boat for an ark. I got so bored listening to the rain hit the windows, then looking outside to find the street in front of my house flooded, I went looking for something to do--just to break the monotony and to keep my sanity.

I settled on reviewing some statistics from the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series. For the benefit of anyone interested, here are the overall combined averages (from 2013 thru 2015) typically needed to walk away with a money envelope from one of our events: 1st place - 13.35 lbs., 2nd place - 11.43 lbs., and 3rd place - 10.00 lbs.

Ron's trip to Nanney's Creek this evening (Wednesday, Sept. 28) resulted in two bass and two lost fish. His catch included a 1-10, which measured 14.5 inches, and a 1-5, which measured 14 inches.

"I think they are getting fatter," said Ron.

The productive lure this evening again was the Whopper Plopper. Ron indicated the fish still were way back in the skinniest feeder creeks, with no action at all in the main creek.

"The wind was a bear," he noted, before adding that Mill Landing was flooded out in spots.

Looks Like Everybody Was Catching 'Em Today

Talked to my buddy, Skip, who used the new Pungo Ferry ramp for the first time today, and he was telling me that he caught a total of six bass before he called it quits about 2:30 this afternoon. All of 'em were keepers, anchored by the 3-pounder pictured at left.

And just like he's been doing trip after trip for several weeks now, he was using only one bait--you guessed it, a Whopper Plopper. Said Skip, "They only wanted it one way today, and that was S - L - O - W."

Also talked to Dave, my "E. F. Hutton guy," and he likewise had a good day. He caught a total of 11 bass, including five keepers. He also boated some crappie but indicated he couldn't find any concentrations of them. They were scattered hither and yon.

Rob Peppers and a partner I didn't recognize were on the water, as well. I chatted briefly with Rob but didn't find out what kind of day they were having.

My day was pretty decent. I already had matched my Saturday total of three bass an hour after I started this morning and even had a small crappie thrown in for good measure. By the time I wrapped things up, I had caught a total of nine bass, one crappie, and a bowfin that would have gone about 3 lbs. Only two of the bass were keepers: a 1-3 and a 1-6 (pictured right). All of the bass and the crappie came on a Pop R.

The bowfin picked on my Senko and paid for it with one wild ride when I set the hook. I had incurred a giant bird's nest and had been picking braid for about 10 minutes. As I was taking up the slack line in the water, I felt a tap-tap. I hesitated, saw the line move a little, then felt another tap-tap. After a third tap-tap, I decided it was time to set the hook on whatever it was. I stood up for extra leverage and drove the hook home so hard that the toothy critter came flying about 3 feet out of the water. After grabbing my boga grips and ramming 'em in his mouth, I took the pliers, removed the hook from the middle of his lower lip, and released him to fight someone else another day.

I have to agree with Dave. The day was perfect after the cloud cover moved in this afternoon. The bite subsequently picked up and made a good day even better. Too bad they can't all be like this.

Day Proves Surprising in a Couple of Ways

When I left home for the marina this morning, I would have bet that we would see a lot of floaters today and, too, that it would be a tough fishing day for everyone. As it turned out, though, I was wrong on both counts. Maybe it's just that the 19 anglers in 12 boats who showed up to fish today are all better than I thought they were. If that's the case, I sincerely apologize to one and all for selling you short.

Today's money winners included the following competitors:

Taking 1st place was the team of (from left) Mike Miller and Chris Fretard. They brought a limit of five bass to the scales with a total weight of 13.39 lbs. Their catch was anchored by Mike's lunker of the day, a nice 5.32-pounder.

Walking away with 2nd place was this team of (from left) Bobby Moore and Duane Kessel. They, too, had a limit, with a total weight of 13.13 lbs. Their big fish weighed 3.88 lbs. 'Twould seem Bobby's new boat is bringing this duo some good luck.

Going home in 3rd place today was the team of (from left) Don Carter and Rob Peppers. Their limit weighed in at 12.48 lbs., buoyed by a big fish weighing 2.60 lbs.

The mystery-weight winner today was yours truly. My two dinks weighed a whole 1.97 lbs., which was closest to the 4.25 tab that was drawn.








Here is how all the other contestants finished the day:

     * The team of Randy Conkle and Bob Glass, five bass, 10.91 lbs. total weight after 0.25 deduction for one dead fish, 3.32-lb. big bass.
     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Sean Vitovich, five bass, 10.38 lbs. total weight, 3.97-lb. big bass.
     * The team of Jim Sumrell and Cathy Brandt, five bass, 9.30 lbs. total weight, 2.59-lb. big bass.
     * Jim Wilder, five bass, 8.83 lbs. total weight, 2.16-lb. big bass.
     * Gary Coderre, five bass, 6.95 lbs. total weight after 0.25 deduction for one dead fish, no big bass.
     * Skip Schaible, Eddie Sapp, and the team of Mike Speedy and Stephen Hardwick didn't weigh any fish.

Overall, today's anglers weighed a total of 42 bass for a total weight of 87.84 lbs. The average weight was 2.09 lbs.

Four more anglers joined the ranks of those qualified to fish our season-ending two-day Classic on Oct. 15th and 16th.

Congrats to all the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our last regularly scheduled tournament of the current season is next Saturday, Oct. 1st. We will fish from safe light (probably about 6:40 or 6:45 a.m.) to weigh-in at 3 o'clock. I hope you can join us.

In actuality, I was one of only a handful who found the fishing tough today. Then, about an hour and a half before weigh-in, I happened across Dave, the same fella who introduced me to my INT bait.

We chatted for a couple of minutes, during which time I learned that he had caught a limit this morning. He told me what he had been using (in general terms only), and I soon decided to try it for myself.

Don't you know I immediately started getting strikes. The truth of the matter, though, is that, as usual, my hookset timing sucked, and I only ended up boating one fish on the bait he had shared with me today. If I had connected with all the strikes I had, however, I would have had a limit. In fact, I would have been culling fish before I had to head back for weigh-in.

Dave is fast becoming my "E. F. Hutton" guy--surely you remember those old TV commercials that used to go like this: "When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen."

A Man With a Death Wish?

(As sometimes happens when you do a piece from a report based on another report, I've got eggs all over my face as a result of not double-checking my facts before publishing this post in the first place. Accordingly, I'm going to try setting the facts right in the revised account that follows.)

From all outward appearances, the angler in this photo very well could be setting himself up for a trip to the mortuary. For the benefit of those who may not have received the latest issue of Jay Kumar's BassBlaster, I'll let you know that the not-so-smart pro angler pictured here is none other than Skeet Reese.

The thought that immediately sprang to mind when I saw this photo was: "Better him than me." I also wondered why anyone ever would be crazy enough to put himself in this position. Turns out that I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Greg Hackney is another. He was in this tournament with Skeet, as well as several others who chose to keep fishing through the lightning storm. Meanwhile, Greg and his marshal went to the bank and spent more than an hour and a half in the bottom of the boat, waiting for the storm to pass.

As Greg admitted in a Bassmaster interview, "If I'm honest with you, I'd say that when I was young, I probably would have fished through it, too. We all think we're invincible when we're young. My thoughts about them continuing to fish come from a man who once lived in a glass house, so I'm careful about throwing rocks. Nevertheless, fishing in a lightning storm doesn't make sense. It's not worth the risk."

The same interview revealed that one of those anglers who decided to continue fishing through the storm happened to have a marshal who demanded to go to the bank. The angler complied, and the marshal wasn't seen again. Said Greg, "I told the angler straight up, 'Your marshal had it right.'"

According to NOAA, over the last 20 years, the United States has averaged 51 annual fatalities from lightning strikes, placing it in the second position, just behind floods, for deadly weather.

Granted, a lot of money is on the line in those pro tournaments, and it may be difficult to take a break, especially if the fish are biting, but what good will that be if you don't live to see tomorrow? My philosophy is simple: As soon as I see that first flash of lightning and/or hear that first clap of thunder, I'm headed for cover.

Here's what a fishing rod usually looks like after it has been hit by lightning. I personally hope I never experience the sensation that accompanies such an occurrence.

West Neck Marina Under Siege

That's a polite way of putting what is happening out there. I talked to Steve a little earlier this evening, and he agreed to send all these photos to me for posting on my blog. It's been a while since things were this dire, but if anyone had any doubts, you certainly can understand that history truly does keep repeating itself.

A Li'l Bit More o' Classic History

Since the first two-day Classic in 2011, no participant in this event yet has brought a big bass to the scales weighing 5 lbs. or more. Here is how the Class big-fish winners stack up to date:

2011

Rob Peppers

2.75 lbs.

2012

Duane Kessel

3.67 lbs.

2013

Rob Powell

4.78 lbs.

2014

Jared Allbritten & Chris Napier

4.30 lbs.

2015

Bob Glass & Randy Conkle

4.23 lbs.

One interesting note here is the fact I heard Duane Kessel predict he was going to win the Classic big-fish pot in 2012 with a 3+ pounder, and he went out and made good on his word. Coincidentally, that was the last year he was able to get ol' Dewey to touch his Winner bass boat for luck before he left the dock that Day 2 tournament morning. Dewey died Nov. 8, 2012. The connection there was that Dewey had put that boat together many years earlier while working at Princess Anne Marine.

My question at the moment is: Will this be the year that someone finally shatters our Classic 5-lb. barrier? Quite a few fish exceeding this mark already have been logged this year, including the following: John Goodman & Mark London - 7.14 lbs., Skip Schaible & Mitch Portervint - 5.10 lbs., Jim Wilder - 5.32 lbs., Gary Coderre & Nathan Gottsch - 5.31 lbs., Paul Celentano & Hal Scott - 5.28 lbs., Wayne Hayes & Jared Allbritten - 5.04 lbs., Rob Peppers & Don Carter - 5.23 lbs., Al Napier - 5.43 lbs., and Mike Evans - 5.84 lbs.

All of these competitors are/will be eligible to fish this year's Classic, and I already know several who plan to participate, so a good dogfight may be in the making. Time will tell.

A Li'l Bit o' Classic History

It was October 2011 when we started holding two-day season-ending tournaments that have come to be known as the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Classic. These events have continued unto the present day, with another one planned next month.

Just like former New York Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson, who so frequently shined for the "Boys of October," we have one angler who notoriously has led the way through the majority of our Classics to date. That angler is none other than Chris Napier (pictured right). Fishing with a partner or solo, he has dominated four of the five contests.

The lone exception was the first Classic in 2011, which was won by the team of Wayne Hayes and Jared Allbritten. They had a total weight of 15.37 lbs. The 2012 Classic was won by Chris and Al Napier, with a total weight of 16.78 lbs.

Beginning in 2013, the top numbers jumped dramatically. Chris teamed with Michael Sims that year and walked away in 1st place with a total weight of 26.37 lbs. He teamed with Jared Allbritten in 2014 and posted a two-day 1st-place finish with a total of  25.32 lbs.

In 2015, Chris fished solo and set the highest two-day total to date: 29.63 lbs.

Chris lacks one tournament of being qualified for the 2016 Classic, but he has assured me that he plans to complete the requirements and fish that event with Jared Allbritten, who also still needs to fish one regular tournament to qualify. It would seem reasonable to believe they very well may prove to be the team to beat this year. The smart angler certainly won't take them for granted.

A new perpetual plaque honoring all of our two-day 1st Place Classic winners soon will be found alongside the Angler of the Year plaque in the West Neck Marina Store.

Last Day Totals on Lake Gaston About Like Rest of Week

Jim Bauer wrapped up his final day for this trip yesterday with a total of four fish. His catch included two dinks, one bream, and this big fish of the week, which weighed in at 1-8 (see photo left). Everything came on the Whopper Plopper,.

The water temperature ranged from 80 to 81 degrees. It also was overcast and a bit breezy, with a chill in the air from the north wind.

"I was hoping for some good action, but it never happened," said Jim. "I fished toward the mouth again and called it quits after four hours at noon," adding, "I talked to a few tourney fishermen who hadn't done much either."

All in all, it was a pretty frustrating week for him, who went on to say he's thinking about reducing the number of Gaston trips next year to just one, given the lack of action he has experienced the last two years.

He pulled his boat yesterday, cleaned it up, and arrived home safely earlier today.

Low Expectations Rewarded With Great Day

Ron had a recent day when falling-water conditions prompted less-than-stellar overall totals. For that reason, he expected day before yesterday to be a duplicate affair. However, he happily learned his low expectations were wrong.

It was with northeast winds gusting to 21 mph and lowering water that Ron launched at Beggars Bridge Thursday evening. Between 5 and 7:45 p.m., he then caught a total of 14 bass and two white perch--all, as you've probably already guessed, on the Whopper Plopper. "North/South creek with a strong north wind usually makes for tough conditions," he said, "but the bass didn't seem to notice this particular evening.

His count on the trip was eight dinks, plus a 1-4, 1-8, 1-15, 2-0, and a 2-2, complemented by a very nice 3-15 (see above right) to end the day. "I wanted to venture out to the edge of the Bay, but the wind told me not to do that," noted Ron.

"I lost something that was BIG," he added.

The picture to the left shows the end result of the battle Ron had. "And to think this poor lure had caught me many fish--maybe 150. Oh well, at least I was able to save one of the upgraded hooks," he explained. [UPDATE: In a later email, Ron told me that he thinks the "BIG" fish was a grindle, based on all the twisting and such he was doing. I don't think anyone who ever has had hold of one of these fish will have a problem believing that possibility. We've all seen what grindle can and will do to baits.]

"Some drag screaming and a noticeable bass thumb should make for a sound night's sleep," concluded Ron.

As for Jim Bauer's Thursday on Lake Gaston, he caught a total of six dinks, all of which measured about 11 inches, and all but one came on the WP. Two of them fell for a Munky Butt at the pump station riprap. The last fish of the day grabbed a French Fry.

"I also had a nice keeper smack the WP right at the boat, as well as a couple more blow ups," he said. "There was a dead spell for close to two hours this afternoon. Called it a day around 2 o'clock.

"I had thought about making a trip to the back, but once I cleared the cove and that north wind got my attention, I turned and floated with it. Flags were flapping pretty good. The forecast said 8 mph, but I assure you it was stronger. Also still have the low water," Jim continued.

"Tomorrow will be a 'game time' decision, probably depending on wind direction. It would be nice to find something besides dinks," he noted, before adding that there appeared to be some pre-fishers out Thursday, probably getting ready for a weekend tourney.

"Yer Da Man Today! Skip"

I say that because he and his "monkey butt" Whopper Plopper single-handedly beat the combined total today for both Ron and me. Skip accounted for 11 bass (one is pictured at right), split between Haynes and Cow Creeks. He pulled three out of Haynes this morning before the bite died. It was the same way in Cow until about 12:30, when the bite turned back on, and he went on to catch another eight bass in the next two hours.

Meanwhile, Ron also made a quick trip to Cow Creek this evening. Between 5:30 and 6:45, he only managed two dinks--one on the Whopper Plopper and the other on a Senko. On his way out of the creek, right at sunset, though, he found a 1-3 and 2-8 bass, as well as a 3-7 bowfin (see below), also on the Whopper Plopper, for a total of five.

Said Ron, "The 2-8 was a welcome change, and I always enjoy a bowfin. Forgot my measuring device, though."

With the water level coming back up overnight last night, I decided to head back to Albright's this morning. From about 7 a.m. to 2 o'clock, I only boated a total of four bass, all on my INT bait. The best fish in the group was this 2-0 (see below right). The other three all were 12-inchers.

Then, between 2 and 2:30, the bite turned on for me, too, but they weren't committing fully. As a result, I couldn't get a hook in 'em. I also lost a decent fish this morning, when he got tangled in a stump as I was trying to bring him by it. He still was hanging there with one hook in his jaw until I nearly was ready to reach down and get him. At that point, he shook his head and was gone.

Said Jim about his Day 3 at Lake Gaston, "I was late 'getting to the party' and had to settle for this 1-5 as my big fish of the day. I stuck it out until 3:30, fishing toward the mouth, and managed to boat four dinks, two of which measured 12 inches.

"I had several schools of bass follow the Whopper Plopper to the boat, but they weren't much bigger than the lure," he continued. "I also was in the back of a cove and spotted a big 'un cruising that was at least 4 lbs. I dropped the WP in front of her, but all she did was follow it about halfway to the boat. All of today's action came on the WP."