From Computers to 3D Lures...What's Next?

They had to drag me kickin' and screamin' into the computer age, but as I quickly learned, that original Wang computer my boss sat on my desk wasn't nearly as intimidating as I had made it out to be in my head.

Just to be clear, though, I haven't subsequently jumped on every modern advancement to come along. For example, I still only carry a flip phone--there'll be none of those high-dollar instruments for me. I have absolutely no use for one of those things.

I mean, how many times do you find yourself sitting behind one of those "gadget idiots" at a traffic light when he/she is more intent on playing with their "toy" than driving? You're still sitting there after the light turns green, 'cause their only concern is that gadget in their hands.

There aren't enough four-letter words in even a Sailor's vocabulary to satisfy my desire for names to call those people. As a result, I usually just resort to laying on my horn--all the way through the traffic light, and sometimes beyond. I want to make sure they suffer some of the same frustration they cause me.

All that being said, however, I now have ventured into the world of 3D fishing lures. And no, I'm not saying I went out and bought a 3D printer so I can come up with my very own secret creations. I just mean I ordered my first-ever 3D baits (which ones, however, is secret) from a tackle store.

I decided to make this move after reading a couple of articles online. Here's one of them, as posted by Brian Belko, a freelance writer and blogger:

"In its simplest form, 3D printing, or 'additive manufacturing,' is a process of making three-dimensional items via a digital file. The 3D printer continually adds new layers of material to the item until the entire object has been created.

"The digital files are created using computer-assisted-design (CAD) software, similarly to how engineers design products and objects prior to any manufacturing process. It's also possible to use a 3D scanner to scan an object and create a digital file from the resulting image.

"Once the object is completed on the computer, the software virtually slices the object into hundreds, or even thousands of pieces, depending on the object's size. The 3D printer then reads each individual slice and creates the object from that information.

"There are several different types of 3D printers and even more detailed information on the process, but instead of getting into a technical discussion of the science behind the printing, let's talk about what this technology means for us anglers. Are we going to be able to print our favorite lures using these devices? Will it save us money? Will the lures still catch fish?

"The answer to all three of those questions is yes. However, there are a couple of catches. One of the main hurdles between an angler and printing their own lures is the heavy initial cost of a 3D printer and all the necessary equipment. 3D printers are currently in the range of a couple thousand dollars, which is probably too expensive for many anglers to seriously consider.

"Luckily, as the technology advances, the price of 3D printers will eventually come down. While you wait for that to happen, it may be a good idea to start learning how to use computer-design software now if you do want to eventually start designing and printing your own custom lures.

"Until then, there are companies like PrintLure (https://gust.com/companies/printlure) that will save anglers from all that trouble. This company is based on 3D printing biodegradable, artificial lures that will sell for half the price of other top-of-the-line lures. Anglers eventually will be able to design their own lures online via the company's website and have them printed, as well as share the designs with other anglers around the world.

"As for still catching fish, there is no reason that any 3D printed lure will necessarily fail to catch fish. It is simply a new way to manufacture fishing lures and has no bearing on the performance of the lure.

"The same tried and true designs and colors still will be made, only at much lower cost to the consumer. At the same time, the cheaper and more efficient method of 3D printing lures also could lead to new innovations as more companies are willing to experiment with new lure designs.

"The cost of fishing lures is nothing to be scoffed at by most anglers, and potentially losing a favorite lure also is always a concern. The 3D printing of fishing lures will help to alleviate those problems. The price of lures will continue to decrease, as the quality increases, and it eventually will be possible to have a favorite lure saved on a computer or the Internet for quick replacement in the event of a snag or other fishing mishap that leads to a lost lure.

"The benefits of the environment and the waterways that biodegradable, 3D-printed lures provide also are a welcome advantage to anglers.

"The possibilities really are endless in the world of 3D printing, and that is a good thing for anglers all over the world. The technology continues to advance every day, and it won't be long until the days of paying exorbitant prices for certain types of lures will be a thing of the past. Well...for the most part, at least."

Flashing Blue Lights Don't Always Signal KMart Specials

As a friend of Charlie's found out recently, it can mean a park ranger is pulling you over for an infraction...or two.

Boating and fishing in the U.S. national parks can be a collectively enjoyable and relaxing activity as long as one plays by all the rules, and make no mistake, there are many of them.

Charlie's friend had visited Colonial National Historical Park (also known as College Creek Park) in Williamsburg, off Colonial Parkway. As she was leaving the park premises, she glanced up to find flashing lights in her rearview mirror. It seems she had committed two federal offenses. For openers, she parked on a non-paved area in a national park. Secondly, she launched a watercraft in a national park.

As the victim related to Charlie, "At least the park ranger was nice enough not to give me two tickets, and he let me go." The worst part of all, though, was, as she noted, "I didn't catch a single thing."

In my desire to understand the rationale for this situation, Charlie was kind enough to provide the pertinent information, as set forth in the Park Superintendent's Compendium 2016. It reads as follows:

Boating

Except in emergencies, no privately owned vessel shall be launched from land within Colonial National Historical Park, and no privately owned vessel shall be landed on land within said park (36 CFR 7.1[a])

Providing for active recreational uses of the park, such as the launching and landing of vessels, to include canoes, kayaks and jet skis, has been determined not to be a compatible recreational use of the park and is prohibited. There are more than a dozen public boat launching sites maintained by state and local recreational facilities in the vicinity of Colonial National Historical Park which provide access to both the James and York Rivers.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted in the James and York Rivers along the Colonial Parkway, subject to licensing requirements in Virginia.

All freshwater impoundments and certain riverbank fishing areas within the park are closed to fishing and boating, to include the following areas: Wormley Pond, Jones Mill Pond, Bracken's Pond, all water areas within the perimeter of Jamestown Island, all river shoreline areas of Jamestown Island, Cove 2 and Cove 3 of the Yorktown Beach Picnic Area, fishing from any bridge or overpass in the park.

So the bottom line here would seem to be thus: If you're planning a trip to a national park, I would encourage you to contact them ahead of time and make sure you understand all the rules and regulations in force at that location. Otherwise, you, too, may be seeing blue...or perhaps red.

For Week Ending Sunday, April 2, 2017

Monday, March 27, 2017...Ron ventured into Oakum Creek this evening to avoid the wind and fished from 5 to 7 p.m. He was met with very murky water that had a ton of green slimy blobs on the surface. Eventually, though, he found a clear spot with a lone stump, and a 2-7 bass slammed the Whopper Plopper as soon as it hit the water. It turned out to be his only fish of the evening. Ron tried several lure combinations along the shoreline, as well as on cypress and structure, but the bite was off. Having forgotten his Hawg Traw measuring device, he had to hold up the bass to the paddle tape measure, which showed the length to be about 16.5 inches. The water temperature this evening, per a friend's fish finder, was 69 degrees. As Ron subsequently noted, "I'm wondering if maybe it's that time of year to go early in the morning. Time will tell."

Tuesday, March 28, 2017...It was pretty much a rerun of last Saturday is how Ray described today's fishing trip. "Thought it would be a good day," he said, "but it wasn't." Ray ended up landing one dink bass on a swimbait and hooking but losing another one when his spinnerbait broke off as the result of a knot problem. He also had a blowup on a Pop R but missed the fish. "I was retrieving the Pop R (much like a wake bait) to make another cast," said Ray, "when the fish hit." His one regret on the day was that he couldn't even catch a crappie.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017..."These single-bass-to-avoid-the-skunk trips are killing me," said Ron in tonight's email. He fished the upper North Landing this evening and caught only a 1-15 bass. His biggest excitement, however, came when he felt a tap, tap, tap, followed by a serious hookup on his XTS Minnow. The pole was doubled over, with the drag screaming, when he saw the fish jump--most likely about a 15-lb.- plus carp! It was amazing to have that fight on for a few seconds before he threw it. "Very surprising, and I wish I could have landed him," said Ron, who went on to explain that he caught one last spring on a Beetlespin that was 8 lbs., and this one was easily twice that size. "'Twas a nice display of golden-colored big fish when he jumped," he lamented. The bugs drove him off the water about 6:30. "Will have to start loading out the bug spray and mosquito netting," he concludeed.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017...I wanted to do a little tune-up for Saturday's tournament, so grabbed my hat and tackle this morning and headed to West Neck. Already had boated a limit in the first hour, topped off by four from the exact same spot on consecutive casts. Can't remember the last time I had that kind of luck. Things dramatically slowed for a long stretch afterward, but I finally managed to boat a total of one white perch and seven bass, including a 1-1, 2-3, 2-6, and four dinks. All but one of the fish came on a long-forgotten spinnerbait that I recently remembered as always working in early spring. The one other lure that accounted for one of the bass was a shallow crankbait. All the fish came from West Neck.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017..."The bite has been difficult, to say the least" is how Ron started tonight's email. He fished Hell's Point Creek this evening and only managed two wee fish: a dink bass and a dink crappie. He caught both fish on Beetlespins. The Zoom Fluke, Whopper Plopper and XTS Minnow didn't elicit the first strike.

Thursday, March 30, 2017...Seems that Ron had bad timing today. He fished Milldam this evening and suffered the skunk. Earlier, though, friends reported they had done well on Zoom Flukes, with several bass up to 4 lbs. 4 ozs. They also lost several bowfin.

Friday, March 31, 2017...This evening's trip for Ron was to the upper North Landing. He said he just had started finding 'em when the sky darkened, and the lightning moved in. "I got out of there," he said, but not before managing a 1-7 and a 1-9. One of the fish fell to the XTS Minnow, the other to a white Zoom Fluke. "The weekend looks good," he concluded.

Sunday, April 2, 2017...After a miserable day yesterday, fighting the wind at Milldam and catching only one crappie and one dink, Ron ventured out to Old Pungo Ferry launch today. He first dipped into Albright's, where he had a double hookup with a 2-4 and a sunfish. The bass hit the XTS Minnow, and the sunfish went after a trolled Beetlespin. He then headed south to Straight Creek. "Didn't get a bite until the S-turn, just before the straight part," he said. "Then found a couple dink bass and a small chain pickerel before I realized Straight Creek was too shallow." While heading back north, Ron was trolling the XTS Minnow and Beetlespin when he hooked into about a 15-inch striper just before the bridge. He then decided to troll around a bit and managed to catch three more stripers. One hit the Beetlespin on his ultralight rig and gave a great fight. The others hit a trolled XTS Minnow. Those four stripers put a nice finishing touch on the evening.

I Hate Putting a Damper on the Parade That's Just Starting, But...

It's that time of year again, and I figure an ounce of precaution, where these fellas are concerned, is worth a pound of cure. My kayaker buddy Ron happened across this "eye opener" yesterday and had this advice: "Be on the lookout for head high critters!"

Ron met this brown water snake while heading into a fallen tree to unhook a lure. "Seemed nice enough," he said of the healthy looking specimen. "I doubted that he wanted my lure, but I certainly didn't want to bother him, either," Ron concluded.

It's not unusual to find these critters around all the local waterways. Consider, for example, the one at right that Jack Cartin and his family found at Pungo Ferry Landing Park last September. As Mary Reid Barrow, a correspondent with The Virginian-Pilot, wrote, "They were trying out the new boat launch when they observed the dining encounter in this photo."

Said Cartin, who took this picture, "We watched the snake catch the catfish, pull it up on shore, then swallow it." Although only about 5 inches long, according to Barrow, the catfish looks to have been a mouthful for the snake.

While keeping an eye out for these non-venomous brown water snakes, you'd also be well-served to watch for venomous cottonmouth moccasins, for which water snakes often are mistaken. Here are some things to look for in telling the two apart (as revealed at this link: http://www.dausettrails.com/cottonvswater.htm):

     * Cottonmouths are relatively short and wide. Water snakes are longer and more slender.
     * Water moccasins bask on land, or on logs and stumps near the water's surface. Water snakes are good climbers and spend a lot of time basking on branches over water.
     * Water moccasins move slowly and defend their territory, while water snakes move quickly away from disturbances.
     * When swimming, cottonmouths keep their heads elevated above the water and bodies riding nearly on the water's surface. Water snakes keep their head and body low and below the water's surface.
     * Cottonmouths always cock their heads at a 45-degree angle on land. Water snakes keep their heads level with the ground.
     * Both snakes feed on fish, frogs and other prey found around aquatic habitats.

Have another enjoyable season on the water, but do it safely.

Mary Reid Barrow writes about nature, wildlife and more for The Virginian-Pilot.

Bass Tournaments Not Always About All Things Big

I witnessed a perfect example of that statement this past Saturday at the season opener of our 2017 Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series. Anglers in only half of the participating boats managed to find any keeper fish to weigh. The day's fishing produced just 10 bass, with a combined total weight of 14.18 pounds. Winning bags were as follows: 1st place - three fish for 3.49 pounds, 2nd and 3rd places, tied two fish each at 3.34 pounds apiece.

Those numbers, in and of themselves, are pretty grim. But as I learned in my subsequent Internet research, even the best of the pros have their not-so-big days on the water, as well.

For instance, the 2005 Bassmaster Classic saw Michigan's Kevin VanDam bring a five-bass limit to the scales on day 3 weighing a scant 4 pounds 13 ounces, which established an all-time record low final weight. Nevertheless, it was enough to overtake day 2 leader Aaron Martens by a mere 6 ounces.

"So he had a bad day," you might say, but the truth of the matter is that the entire Classic field had a bad three days. VanDam's Classic-winning three-day total was 12 pounds 15 ounces, compared to Martens' 12 pounds 9 ounces.

Now let me take you back to the first-ever Bassmaster Classic, held in 1971 on Lake Mead, NV. Stan Sloan won that event, but did you know there was an angler who weighed the smallest 10-bass stringer in B.A.S.S. history during that same event?

That angler--Jimmy Holt--was a friend of Sloan's and a photographer for the Nashville Tennessean at the time. The first day, he was paired with Jack Wingate and was catching these little knothead bass (wish I could tell you something about these fish, but I can't find any info) on a one-eighth-ounce Doll Fly Jig. Jack told him he'd better quit throwing those little fish back because he might need that weight to win the tournament.

Holt subsequently started tossing those knotheads in the bottom of the boat, and at the end of the day, he took his shoestring and strung his 10 biggest (he failed to bring a regular stringer, so he improvised). He took them to the weigh-in, put them on the scales, and they weighed a pound and 13 ounces. In case you've forgotten or didn't know, there was no length limit and no livewells in the beginning of our sport.

And while digging around the Internet, I found a number of weekender circuits that occasionally experience what happened at West Neck this past Saturday. I even found a few clubs that routinely include a "smallest bass" payout among the other standard ones.

But, yeah, I understand why, more often than not, people focus on the big numbers, at the expense of those not-so-big numbers. I mean, it requires no imagination whatsoever to figure out why people would rather see, hear and/or talk about numbers like the following, which reflect the 10 biggest Classic weights to date:

     * 52-8, 1973, Rayo Breckenridge
     * 54-10, 1980, Bo Dowden
     * 54-12, 2013, Cliff Pace
     * 54-13, 2009, Skeet Reese
     * 55-10, 1999, Davy Hite
     * 56-2, 2006, Luke Clausen
     * 59-6, 1992, Robert Hamilton
     * 59-15, 1976, Rick Clunn
     * 69-10, 2011, Kevin VanDam
     * 75-9, 1984, Rick Clunn

As I indicated in my Saturday, March 18, blog post about our tournament results, if I had to name a "villain" in what happened that day, it would be the weather, most notably the dramatic drop in water temperatures from nine days earlier. A decrease of 12 degrees, in my mind, certainly would affect fish behavior, and I found some evidence to support that take during my online research for this piece.

BassResource.com had this to say: "In general, smaller fish are far more affected by water and weather changes than large ones because they reside in areas where water temperatures change first and most dramatically--shallow water. Larger fish, living in deeper zones, will not be affected by water temperature and weather changes until such time as the change reaches their area. This can be longer than what it takes to do so in shallower water."

That same article concludes with this advice, "Using your electronics and maps to locate potential big-bass areas is not that hard. Look for structure lines that are possible trails and fish them. The next time you go to the lake, don't just hug the shore all day and fish straight to the bank. Line your casts parallel to the underwater structure, and your chances for success increase. Try fishing water that's a little deeper than you normally fish. Certainly, this doesn't mean you can't catch a big bass in a foot of water, but most of the larger bass...come from mid- to deeper water."

For Week Ending Sunday, March 26, 2017

Monday, March 20, 2017..."For the first day of spring," said Ron, "the gauge was way too low, so I opted for Tecumseh. The water was a bit murky, but the temps and wind were nice." He was rewarded for his efforts with three bass (a 1-2, 1-8 and 2-14), as well as a couple of chain pickerel "slime darts" (the biggest 21 inches, with both easily unhooked--thankfully), and a nice 14.5-inch near-citation crappie that weighed in at 1-6. Ron noted that the crappie appeared to have teeth marks on him. As has been the case for most of his recent trips, all the fish today fell to the XTS Minnow. "Nice to be back on the water today," concluded Ron, referring to the fact he just returned from another ski trip.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017..."This low gauge is killing me," said Ron in his email report. Accordingly, it was back to Tecumseh this evening. He managed to catch one dink and a 22-inch chain pickerel. A friend and Ron also combined to catch eight decent crappie between them for the skillet. The crappie all ranged between 11 and 13 inches. With a slow bass bite, Ron indicated he suspects they are getting ready to spawn.

Thursday, March 23, 2017...While the sun was shining, it wasn't much help to the low temps today is how Ron characterized the conditions he found today on the water. Three hours after he had started, all he had to show for his efforts was, as he described it, "one measly chain pickerel. The bite was non-existent, but I enjoyed the low wind and sunshine," he said. In conclusion, he noted that the ospreys and eagles were having much better luck at catching than he was.

Friday, March 24, 2017...Friday evening was warm but windy, and the water was very murky. Ron fished Milldam and caught a 3-7 bass on a Whopper Plopper to avoid the skunk. His son, Alex, got a 13-inch crappie, also on the Whopper Plopper. Said Ron, "The river is a mess from all the low water."

Saturday, March 25, 2017...Ron had a goal to find some protection from the high winds today. It took a couple of launches before he found what he was looking for in the upper North Landing. From there, he headed south to No Name Creek, where he managed three dinks to 12 inches and a white perch. About 6:30, he was headed back, going through the culvert (North Landing Road at the drawbridge), while trolling an XTS Minnow behind him. Halfway through the culvert, he got a solid hookup and had to peddle like made to get through to the open water. "Then the fight was on!" he said. He managed to land the "real drag screamer," as he described the fatty, which appeared to be a hybrid or perhaps a pre-spawn striper. After managing to snap a picture of the fish, with its messed up tail, he accidentally dropped her overboard before he could weigh her but said she easily was 5+ pounds--maybe over 6. Ron said he caught everything on the XTS Minnow and noted that he also had a bunch of short strikes on the Whopper Plopper. "Am pretty sure I lost a bowfin, too" he said. Ron talked to six other people today who all reported they had been skunked.

Saturday, March 25, 2017...I knew I was going to be pummeled by the high winds today, but after being shut in for the most part of two weeks with that doggone cold, I simply decided to "go for it," 'cause cabin fever fast was overcoming me. With it being Saturday, I headed straight to Albright's this morning to get away from the usual weekend West Neck traffic. I checked out three of my favorite areas down there without so much as a bump, then retreated to the cut-through ditch where I had some action a couple or so weeks ago. Finally, I felt a strike and set the hook on a dink bass about 10 o'clock. Subsequently, I picked up a spinnerbait and stayed with it about 80 percent of the time for the rest of the day. I had two hits and set the hook both times but didn't get hooked up. In hindsight, I realize I should have been fishing a trailer hook. I ran across Rob and Dave while I was in Albrights and later learned that Ray had been down there, too. Ray told me he had a serious skunk going until about 10 minutes before he quit, when he caught a couple of dink bass and two bluegill in quick succession. Am hoping to get in another trip this coming week ahead of our next tournament on Saturday. Will have to wait and see what the weather does, though.

Sunday, March 26, 2017...Today's nice weather was just too good for Ron to pass up. He and a friend headed to Tecumseh, with plans to go to the burrow pit. However, they started catching fish in Tecumseh and decided to stay there. Ron ended the day with a mixed bag, consisting of a dink and a 1-6 bass, three decent white perch, a tiny yellow perch, an 18-inch chain pickerel, and three crappie between 11 and 13 inches. He also lost a good sized gar alongside the yak. "The osprey and eagles were doing very well, too," Ron noted. "From what I could see, they were getting shad or white perch...whole bunch of them just tearing it up." He wrapped up his email by saying he didn't see any snakes today but that his friend did.

What a B-I-I-I-G Difference a Year Makes

As I reported just a couple days ago, 21 tournament anglers in 14 boats put up these record-setting numbers on March 19, 2016: 59 bass for a grand-total weight of 143.29 pounds (2.43-lb. average per fish).

Now fast forward to today, March 18, 2017, when 18 anglers in 12 boats showed up to fish this year's season opener. It seemed reasonable to me to figure, at day's end, the final tally would be something at least comparable to last year's numbers. But, man, was I ever more than a little wrong! That mere half of the competition boats which managed to find any fish at all brought a grand total of 10 keeper bass to the scales for a total weight of 14.18 lbs (1.41-lb. average per fish).

You could have knocked me over with a feather. I even heard some of the contestants say they not only didn't catch a fish, but they furthermore didn't even get a strike all day. That's anything but consolation for a bunch of guys who sat through multiple periods of showers and drizzle throughout the whole day, which--at the very best--maybe reached a high of 50 degrees, and I seriously doubt that figure.

So what happened? My money is on the recent nosedive in temperatures locally. More than one angler today spoke of the fact the best water temps they could find were running only 46 to 48 degrees. That compares to a water temp of about 60 degrees I could find just nine days ago. Other factors may have been at play today, too, but whatever those might be, I'm here to tell you that the handful of anglers who claimed money envelopes at the end of the day more than earned their rewards, plus some.

Here are today's winners:

(From left) Skip Schaible and Mitch Portervint, 1st Place, three fish, 3.49 lbs. total weight, 1.50-lb. big bass

David Dozier, 2nd Place, two fish, 3.34 lbs. total weight, 2.50-lb bass (today's lunker)

Steve Bailey, 3rd Place, two fish, 3.34 lbs. total weight, 1.71-lb. big bass

Chris Fretard and Mike Miller (not pictured), Mystery Weight winners with one fish weighing 1.48 lbs., which was closest to the drawn weight of 5.85 lbs. (excluding place weights)







The only other competitors to weigh fish today were as follows:

     * Ronnie McLaughlin, one fish, 1.42 lbs. total weight
     * Jim Wilder, one fish, 1.11 lbs. total weight

Those not weighing in today included the following: Gary Coderre, Rusty Girard and Andrew Bornholdt, Eddie Sapp and Al Napier, Mike Speedy and Stephen Hardwick, Luke Cooper, and Zack Rhodes and Alec Wommack.

Congrats to all the winners and thanks to everyone who braved the wet, cold day to come out and help kick off our 2017 tourney season. For planning purposes, our next scheduled event is Saturday, April 1, from safe light to 3 p.m., or as posted later. I hope you can and will join us.

What's worse than being cold and wet and not catching any fish--or, for that matter, not even getting a bite? How about losing a brand new lure on the first cast--would that make the short list of possibilities?

I was talking to a friend today who told me his first cast with a brand new chatterbait also turned out to be his last cast with it. He couldn't figure out why he wasn't feeling any of that all-too-telltale vibration on the retrieve until he saw only the blade hanging from the end of his line when he got it back, thanks in no small part to shoddy workmanship at the factory.

That's about as demoralizing as some of the tales I've read about folks who lost big fish with Whopper Ploppers because of inferior split rings used in their production. Ain't no danger of that happening to me, 'cause I've "super" upgraded all my Plopper split rings. My only problem to date is finding a fish big enough to test the new split rings--and, NO!, I'm not talking about any of those toothy critters. I'm leaving all those for my kayaker buddies--Charlie and Ron.

For Week Ending Sunday, March 19, 2017

Thursday, March 16, 2017...A mixture of strong winds and low water had kept Ron grounded until today. The wind and cold still was an issue today, but he managed to spend a few hours on the water this evening. His efforts resulted in a 21-inch chain pickerel, as well as a 2-10 and 3-6 bass. Both of the latter were very fat and healthy. Ron's one regret was the fact he caught no panfish. He caught everything by casting the XTS Minnow to shallow water with old lily sticks. He didn't get anything trolling around as usual. His hope is that it warms up next week.

Will It Be Another Record-Setting Season Opener?

That's one of two--actually, make that three--pressing questions on my mind at the moment. The other two are as follows: Will there be enough water to launch the tournament in the wee hours Saturday, March 18? And last but not necessarily least: When am I going to get over this @#$%!!! "dog rot" I've been battling all week long? By the way, did I mention that I hate a cold?

Getting back to the original question in the title of this post, though, here are the numbers 21 anglers in 14 boats put up on March 19 last year. They weighed a total of 59 bass for a grand-total of 143.29 pounds. The previous record was 140.18 lbs., set back on Aug. 23, 2014, by 25 anglers in 16 boats. The most significant fact about last year's new record is the fact the competitors did it with 16 fewer fish than they caught in 2014. That's right: It took 75 bass to amass that 140.18-lb. mark.

Here are the winning bags from last year:

     *1st Place - 20.39 lbs., caught by Mark London and John Goodman. Mark also weighed the lunker at 7.14 lbs.
     * 2nd Place - 15.66 lbs., caught by Rob Peppers. His big fish weighed 4.06 lbs.
     * 3rd Place - 12.91 lbs., caught by Gary Coderre and Lenny Hall. Their kicker weighed 3.14 lbs.

It's anyone's guess how this year's contest will turn out, but it appears we will have about the same number of anglers as last year. There's also a big question mark about whether we will have enough water to launch. An even bigger question mark, however, hangs over my head as to when this "dog rot" will release its hold on me. I truly hate having to sit out a season opener but don't reckon I have much choice this time.

Oh well, here's wishing everyone Tight Lines! Hope they all catch a big 'un for me.

Some People Lose That Lovin' Feelin'...

I just wish I could lose that naggin' feelin'. This past Wednesday, for example, I posted an article titled "Little Things Mean a Lot," which detailed a couple of tools (Rapid Line Guide and Rapid Line Clip) available to help anglers manage their fishing line. As I was putting that item together, something kept nagging at me, but it wasn't until this past weekend, as I was digging around in some old tackle in the garage, that I discovered why I had that nagging feeling.

My only hope is that I can remember this incident for the next time my wife goads me about "always hanging onto so much junk that you know you'll never use again." Anyway, here's what I discovered while rummaging around in the garage.

My first find was right out in clear view. All I had to do was open my eyes a little bit and look around. There in front of me was one of those tiny red and white slip bobbers. It still was attached to an old 5-and-a-half-foot rod with a pistol grip (OK, so I do hang onto some relics too long) that has been laying in a rack along the wall of my garage for a very long time.

In any event, that slip bobber was my "ancient" answer to the Rapid Line Clip I wrote about in that aforementioned blog post. When I used those little bobbers on all my rods back in the day, fellow bass clubbers used to rib me something fierce. They always facetiously accused me of "conveniently" using them on all my rod tips so I could fish live bait during tournaments.

The other item from my past that I ran across in the garage this weekend was a crochet hook. It served only one purpose for me: to pick out backlashes in my braided line (and it worked pretty well, as I recall).

However, I suggest to you that it also could be used in exactly the same manner as the Rapid Line Guide is intended to be used: to prevent line from retracting back through all the rod guides in the event that you accidentally happen to drop it during a respooling operation.

Now, in the interest of fairness, I also should point out that Bass Pro Shops advertises what they call a Baitcast Pic that is designed specifically to help fishermen get rid of frustrating backlashes. This two-piece tool can be unscrewed and screwed back into the handle for safety, and it easily fits into tackleboxes and bags.

I have one of these tools and have been known to use it, especially on some really tough backlashes, but I'm not too fond of it. My experience has been that the sharp point often nicks some of the braid and immensely weakens its holding strength. I've even lost a few fish as a result of nicks I didn't realize I had until it was too late. But, then, who knows? Maybe I'm just a bit more of a klutz than most folks. I do know that, on more than one occasion, I've been likened unto "a bull in a china shop."

Please let me make one thing clear here. I'm not advising anyone to run out and buy any of those Rapid Line Guides and Rapid Line Clips. Neither am I urging you to rush out and buy a handful of tiny bobbers, a couple of crochet hooks, and/or one of those BPS Baitcast Pics. Instead, I'm just providing some different options, leaving the ultimate decision up to each of you to decide for yourself what is right or wrong.

A Picture-Perfect Example of "Going Nowhere in a Hurry"

My friend Skip happened to be at West Neck Marina around 3 p.m. yesterday and captured this photo of a boat that just had departed from the dock in front of the West Neck Marina Store. Everything from this vantage point looks normal, but I'm willing to bet that wasn't the case aboard the boat pictured in the distance. You see, the craft had run aground, thanks in no small part to the current low-water conditions. According to Skip, a bass boat had hooked to the stranded boat and tried to pull it free, with no luck. I don't know the outcome of this predicament. If the skipper has to wait for more water to return to the creek, it may be a few days before he can get underway again, based on the winds forecast I've been looking at today.

No Matter How You Spin It, a Spinnerbait in Spring Is Hard to Beat

When I first heard those two reports this past Thursday about some guys catching a lot of fish with spinnerbaits, I had flashbacks to the year when I didn't fish anything but spinnerbaits from start to finish. I carried "tons" of those baits--in every blade style and size, varying colors, different weights, etc.--all season long, and, yes, I caught lots of fish with them.

I still carry a few spinnerbaits in my tackle bag but only rarely throw one these days. More than anything else, I have to admit that I've lost confidence in them--a problem that, as revealed in my Internet research, is common among a number of anglers.

According to bass pro and fishing guide Larry Wilcox, though, "The spinnerbait is (or should be), without question, the primary weapon in your arsenal, whether you are competing in a tournament or pleasure fishing. If you don't hone your skills with this bait, you will be left behind at weigh-in," he says. "A spinnerbait can be fished from top to bottom, in clear or muddy water, in thick brush, or on a slick bank. There is no other lure as versatile as the spinnerbait, especially for anyone fishing a tournament."

Wilcox notes that you don't need to spend 200-plus days a year on the water to become proficient with a spinnerbait. However, it's his first choice for finding fish on practice days for tournaments. And for the record, he doesn't "stick" the fish on practice days. He instead cuts off the hook or collapses it against itself.

"The fish will be far easier to catch when you return on tournament day if you don't hook them the day before," he explains. "Bass are generally shallow this time of year, and you can either see or feel most strikes."

So, what can you do to a spinnerbait to add a little more weight to your bag of fish at the tournament scales? Here are some suggestions from Wilcox:

     * Use a trailer hook
     * Add a rattle or two (especially helpful in muddy water)
     * Use outrageous colors or color combinations (especially helpful when there's a lot of fishing pressure)
     * Try waking a big-bladed spinnerbait, especially in deep water (works best in clear water with temps in the 60s).

Another pro who relies heavily on a spinnerbait, especially around the prespawn, spawn and post-spawn periods, is Elite Series angler Keith Combs.

"Prespawn is easily my favorite time to throw a spinnerbait," he allows. "The big females suspend up in the water column to sun themselves in cold water. They're not ready to spawn yet, and I generally catch them best around standing timber or over other cover in stained water."

It's Combs' contention that many anglers miss a lot of fish--and heavy ones, at that--by staying with crankbaits and bottom-bouncing baits like jigs when the fish are up in the water column. The spinnerbaits he throws at this time are usually 3/4-oz. models, with a willowleaf-Colorado blade combination, and he slow rolls them. When the bass move to the beds, he shifts mostly to 1/4-oz. models with small blades. These baits, in his words, "give him an advantage over flipping and pitching because he can target a lot of cover on a single cast and find active fish without even having to see them."

At the same time, Combs admits that the spawn still is very situational for spinnerbaits. "I like those dark, cloudy days with some wind when they are bedding for using a spinnerbait," he explains. "It's a lot more effective when you can't sight fish or flip well because of wind."

In the post-spawn, Combs opts for 1/2-oz. spinnerbaits with big blades. He purposely tries to get the fry around bushes and wood cover to scatter, so he can draw the attention of mama.

Combs really beefs up his tackle for spinnerbait fishing around the spring spawn. He likes 25-pound Seaguar Abraz-X when fishing wood cover in the prespawn, then afterward drops down to 20-pound Seaguar Tatsu. He also goes for a stouter rod, namely a Power Tackle PG144, during the prespawn because of the fish being much bigger then. All the rest of the time he uses a medium-heavy Power Tackle PG143, with a 7.3:1 gear-ratio reel.

Although he acknowledges switching to a vibrating or swim jig at times, Combs always comes back to the spinnerbait because he has developed a lot of confidence in it as a springtime big-fish bait.

The months of February, March and April definitely provide the best chance to catch a personal best or citation bass locally. The water then usually is stained, with temps in March running between 40 and 50 degrees, and bass usually are feeding heavily on emerging crawfish, shad and bluegill. Strong winds are the norm this time of year, and big females are increasingly aggressive, as they prepare for the spawn. Those are all ingredients that call for one thing: spinnerbaits.

There are many little tricks that will make this bait the most productive lure you can use this time of year. The variations are limited only by your imagination. The only question you have to ask yourself is this: How big do I want to or dare to dream?

For Week Ending Sunday, March 12, 2017

I like the new format for these fishing reports. However, I've decided to change how I publish them. I'll retain the weekly schedule but will add new data to each week's report as it becomes available to me, rather than holding up everything for en masse publishing each Sunday.

Monday, March 6, 2017...Freshly back from his West Virginia ski trip, Ron took to Tecumseh this evening, even though it was a bit chilly and windy. He trolled the water there from 4 to 6 p.m. and managed a stringer of five white perch and a decent 12-inch crappie. He also caught one 18-inch chain pickerel but no bass. The bait responsible for all the fish this evening was the XTS Minnow. The Beetlespin didn't even draw a single hit--"surprising," offered Ron, "with the abundance of panfish." He closed out his email by saying, "Forgot my measuring board, so no pictures."

Wednesday, March 8, 2017...According to tonight's email, Ron and a buddy fished from 4 p.m. 'till dark. Ron managed one 11-inch dink to avoid a skunk, but his buddy scored a total of five bass, including two dinks, two that weighed 2+ lbs., and a big 'un that measured 23 inches and tipped the scales at 8-0 (see accompanying photo). Both were fishing the same area with an XTS Minnow, but only the buddy was on fish. Ron said he spent most of his time "catching grass." Of special interest about this evening's trip is the fact that, while tangling with the monster, his buddy's trolled Whopper Plopper also caught a decent crappie.

Thursday, March 9, 2017...With snowflakes predicted for the weekend, and knowing I have another appointment with my dermatologist tomorrow, I decided to get my licks in today. It got rather breezy before the day was over, but I still managed to catch some fish. Probably should interject here that, with the water low, I decided to stay in West Neck. Fishing from about 8:15 to 2:30, I managed to catch one white perch and six bass, the biggest two of which weighed 1-6 and 1-4. Everything went for a wakebait. Meanwhile, I learned from Ray S. that he caught one pickerel, one bass and nine assorted bream between West Neck and Pocaty today. I also heard that spinnerbaits were working well for some fellas. One guy fishing solo reportedly caught more than 20 bass, and a couple of other guys fishing together boated more than a dozen bass--all on spinnerbaits. Sure hope the nasty weather doesn't stick around very long, 'cause a lot of folks are getting the itch now. The West Neck parking lot was fuller today than I've seen it in a while.

Thursday, March 9, 2017...I'm not the only one who had a little more wind today than he would have liked. Ron echoed the same sentiments in tonight's email. Ron and his son, Alex, both scored some fish tonight. Alex came away with two bass: a 2-14 and a dink. Meanwhile, Ron caught a 2-2 and dink bass, two crappie, and a sunfish, all while trolling the XTS Minnow. Ron noted that the wind died down about 4:30, but the bite became intermittent about the same time. He said the water tonight was very murky. "Weekend weather is not looking very good," concluded Ron, and I agree.

Friday, March 10, 2017..."Suffered a miserable launch and bite this evening at Milldam," said Ron. The gauge was point five zero! Only managed one 14-inch dink bass.

Saturday, March 11, 2017...Ron went on an adventure today from Northwest River Park, south to North Carolina on the Northwest River. The wind-driven shore was producing with small bass (eight dinks and a 1-14), one sunfish and a yellow perch...but no keeper panfish. Ron started getting chilled and opted to fish the wind-protected shore on the return trip...without a single bite. All in all, it was "seven miles of fun in the cold sun!" as Ron described it. Lures that produced today included the XTS Minnow, a Shadow Rap, and Beetlespins.