Beware Those "Next Big Thing" Promises

Consider, for example, this ad, which accompanied a 1977 Popular Science article. The actual opening statement in that article read as follows: "Fiberglass, the core of modern hull construction, is now obsolescent."

As noted by Bryan in a Feb. 15, 2013, Bass Fishing Archives piece, "That's a pretty bold statement, surely made mostly to grab the readers' attention"--and I agree wholeheartedly. All writers usually learn that lesson early on...or spend a lot of time looking for new jobs.

In the case of the Popular Science article, it was promising that Kevlar, with its "some 25 percent lighter, 50 percent stronger, and 50 percent stiffer" qualities was going to make fiberglass a thing of the past. DuPont's invention then was recognized as the strongest synthetic fiber in the world.

"Yet, nearly 30 years after this article made print," continued Bryan, "fiberglass still seems to be alive and well in the boat-manufacturing world. Still, back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kevlar boat hulls (like the one on this 1978 HydraSports) were 'all the rage.' The promise of indestructible hulls had the bass boatin' world abuzz."

So, what went wrong?

As Bryan explained, "On the surface, it seemed like a great idea. Lighter weight meant better fuel efficiency and easier towing, a big deal back in those days of double-digit inflation and gas embargoes. Where ramming a stump or other solid object would puncture a hole in the hull of a fiberglass boat, it only would dent a Kevlar-built hull--and, in some cases, could be popped back out.

"Remember that ad where the bulldozer was running over the hull of a HydraSports boat? At one point, according to some accounts, HydraSports was building 93 percent of their boats with the stuff."

There were several problems, though:

     * Kevlar was more difficult to work than fiberglass.

     * It was trickier to prepare for lamination.

     * While it had great tensile strength, it was relatively weak in compression. And, as one expert remarked, "It is one bad mutha when it comes time to repair it." He explained you need special shears/blades, an understanding of the fabric and its madness, and a bit of masochism to boot. His advice was, "Save your money, your repair-bill hassles, and get on with it, using fiberglass. If your boat is going to be subjected to some measure of hard-lick abuse, add more glass to that area and get back on the water."

     * Finally, it was a pretty costly material, adding between $300 and $500 per boat built with the stuff (doesn't actually sound like much). Kevlar woven roving costs $14 per yard versus $1 for fiberglass.

While HydraSports was the first manufacturer to introduce the bass-fishing world to the Kevlar 49 aramid fiber in 1976, Skeeter soon joined in the venture, with the introduction of their 1977 Wrangler 16-foot model (pictured in the ad at the start of this article and at right).

In the interest of leaving y'all laughing--or smiling, at least--I dug around the Internet until I came across an angler who had posed a couple of questions in 2000 to his fellow forum members about an old Skeeter Wrangler (his first boat) he just had bought and restored. He began by explaining that, while the boat was rated for a 175-hp outboard, he had installed a rebuilt 225 Merc. The first problem, as he described it, was, "I'm only getting about 79-82 mph. I figured I'd see near 90. Should I try raising the motor?" he asked.

Then he noted that "the boat also seems to slide in the corners" and asked what he could do for that, as well.

The first response he got was as follows: "Hope you've got a good kill switch, life jacket, and a Kevlar suit with reinforced crotch, 'cause God forbid that you should flip that thing! Have you any idea what the force of water at 90 mph will do to the weakest spot if you go in feet first? Can you say 'sphincter blowout'? Good luck."

Said Bryan in closing his Bass Fishing Archives piece, "I still see where Kevlar is being used in some hulls of modern-day bass boats, usually in the more custom-built lines. Again, it seems like a case of great science, but just not at the right time."

Inflatable Life Jackets: Some Like 'Em, Some Don't

A friend of mine got a bit of a surprise Wednesday morning when he went out to West Neck Marina and climbed in his boat to go fishing. As he started to put on his life vest, he noticed it was completely open.

"It had inflated (I'm assuming) in the boat," he said. "I checked the bobbin, and it was red. I then checked the date, and it was 06. I have to wonder how many people, like me, don't check them regularly."

Then, as luck would have it, when I opened Jay Kumar's latest electronic issue of BassBlaster last evening, what should I find but an article entitled "Inflatable PFD doesn't open...again." I knew this coincidence warranted a blog post.

Kumar began his BassBlaster piece with a question: "Remember in March 2015, when two guys were ejected from their boat (on Lewis Smith Lake Alabama) and their inflatable PFDs (one a couple-years-old Stearns SoSpenders, and the other a new Mustang) didn't open?"

In that case, angler John Cox (see right) and his marshal, Bryan New, were thrown from the FLW-issued Ranger driven by Cox. He was moving to another pocket in the mid-section of the lake to do some sight-fishing, traveling about 45 or 50 mph, when the boat suddenly cut hard left.

Both Cox and New were launched into Smith Lake's 52-degree water, but their inflatable PFDs did not deploy. As a result, they quickly dropped to the bottom in approximately 10 feet of water because both were wearing foul-weather bibs and extra layers of clothing. This gear, according to Cox, may have saved both of them from suffering additional and possibly more severe injuries.

Cox ended up with a gash on his head that required staples, as well as a possible concussion. New, who already was nursing an unrelated collarbone injury, suffered a bump on his forehead.

Continuing his BassBlaster piece, Kumar cited the July 10, 2017, incident which occurred on Lake Michigan, involving Munster, IN, anglers Bobby Bergen and Ian Boston (see left).

"As he (Bergen) zoomed into the mouth of the shipping channel," wrote Kumar, "the bottom of his boat struck a large pipe protruding inches above the water off an underwater break wall. The heavy pipe shredded the fiberglass hull of Bergen's 21-foot Ranger boat on impact and ejected both men into the lake.

"Both anglers were jettisoned across the front deck, over the bow, and into 30 feet of water. 'It happened so fast neither of us had time to react,' said Bergen, who was knocked temporarily unconscious when his face slammed into the console on his way out of the boat.

"Fortunately for both men, the boat turned sharply away as they were tossed over the nose, and neither man was struck by the propeller. The boat came to rest against channel rocks.

"Bergen had the outboard 'kill' switch attached to his life vest but had forgotten to attach it to the throttle connector. Otherwise, the engine would have shut off as he was thrown from the cockpit. Because he uses a foot throttle, the boat did slow to idle speed when his foot came off the gas.

"Both anglers were wearing life jackets. Boston had a traditional foam-filled jacket that covers the back and chest; Bergen was wearing a harness-style vest designed to inflate when submerged...but it didn't."

As Bergen subsequently related, "I just bought it a few weeks ago, and even had the Coast Guard inspect it before I used it. I'll never wear one of those inflatables again."

Kumar added that he hasn't used or carried any inflatables since the earlier FLW incident. "A PFD has to work when you need it to...period!" he explained. "Not saying all inflatable PFDs are bad--just for me, it's a confidence deal."

Another angler who quit wearing inflatable life jackets, as noted by Kumar, is Scott Rook. The last time the Elite Series came to Lake Champlain in 2007, Rook was wearing an inflatable while fighting 5-foot waves to get back to the weigh-in site.

Said the Elite Series pro, "I thought, if I go down here, it's 400 feet deep and 2-3 miles to the bank. If that life jacket fails to inflate, I can't swim that far in these waves. It was as scared as I've ever been."

If you're one of those who like inflatable life jackets, here is some do-it-yourself owner-maintenance advice from Tom Burden, senior technical editor at West Marine, you should consider:

Checking out your brand new vest. We recommend that the first thing you do with a new vest is to unfold and inflate it, using the oral inflation tube, to be sure it has no leaks in the bladder and is safe to wear. Leave it inflated overnight. If it still is holding air the next day, deflate it, refold it, and use it with confidence. If the new vest won't hold air, return it for replacement.

Regular inspections when you put on the PFD. Check the exterior for abrasions, loose thread, or other signs of wear. Make a habit of checking the service indicator that is visible inside the clear plastic window to make sure the status is green, which means your PFD is armed and ready to inflate. Red means the vest only can be manually inflated and needs service.

Detailed inspection. At least once a year, at the beginning of the boating season, inflate the PFD and go over the CO2 cylinder, the bobbin, and any other of the various pins or parts that make it work. Perform this inspection every two or three months if you wear your vest regularly, or if your boating location is hot and humid, since the inflation mechanism may be subject to corrosion.

This time, unfold the vest and carefully remove the CO2 cylinder and the bobbin. Check the bottom of the cylinder and make sure it has not been punctured or discharged, and that it does not show any sort of damage. Check the date that is stamped on the bobbin (note that some vests, like the Mustang models with the Hammar hydrostatic inflators, have the expiration date printed on the exterior of the inflator). If the bobbin is more than three years old, get a new one, regardless of how intact it appears. Bobbins have to dissolve like an aspirin pill when they come in contact with water, which is how the device activates itself, so don't mess around with out-of-date equipment.

If your vest has a safety harness, check the stitching, inspect the D-ring that clips to your tether, and be sure the whistle is still present (as well as an operational strobe light, if you've installed one). Be sure the bladder is intact, without tears or holes, and the oral inflating tube and reflective tape are in good shape.

Most vests have "care instructions" sewn inside the fabric cover that will cover all of these points in detail and, especially important, will provide the part number for the rearming kit you may need to purchase that will contain the cylinder, bobbin, and other replacement parts. Cylinders come in a variety of sizes, diameters, and thread patterns specific to each model of the jacket. Some vests also need pins or "pills" to activate. Always use the exact model of rearming kit intended for your specific model of vest.

Inflate the vest, as before, with the oral inflation tube. Leave it inflated for at least 16 hours. Consider giving the vest a quick wash in warm soapy water, followed by a rinse with fresh water, especially if you're a saltwater boater, since salt is just as gritty and corrosive to life vests as to other boating gear. You also can perform the leak test by submerging your vest in a bathtub or sink, and check it for pinhole leaks.

When you've finished, hang the vest up to dry in a well-ventilated location that's out of direct sunlight. After it dries, deflate it, using the small tool attached to the oral inflation tube, carefully squeezing out all the air so the device will fold compactly enough to fit back into its cover. Then rearm your PFD with the bobbin and CO2 cylinder (both of which have not yet reached their expiration dates) and repack the vest according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Now, with the service indicator showing green, you can wear your life vest with confidence. The point of inflatable life vests, and what makes them worth these extra maintenance chores, is their comfort, light weight, and ease of use. The best life vest, after all, is the one you will wear whenever you're on the water.

For the Week Ending Sunday, July 30, 2017

Tuesday, July 25 (from Ken)...The most accurate way of labeling my trip today is a "mixed bag." Caught a total of 14 fish, including two bluegill, one white perch, one pickerel, and 10 bass. The latter included three keepers (1-0, 1-7, and 1-14) and seven dinks. My most productive lure was a shallow-running crankbait; it accounted for all but my first bass today. And all but that first bass came out of the S-curve in West Neck. Fished both sides of the bridge, but that one area was the only place I could find any action. Reckon there was some kind of party goin' on.

Wednesday, July 26 (from Jim)...Caught a total of two bass and at least a dozen crappie. This bass weighed in at 2.10 lbs.; the 2nd one was a 12-incher. Both were caught on a Whopper Plopper. All the crappie came via the fly rod. Only three made it to the livewell. Got a late start and came in about 2:30. It was 83 degrees at launch and 87 when I came out. Skip was out today, too. Said he caught two wee fellers. Also saw Rob P. but didn't talk to him.

Wednesday, July 26 (from Skip)...Fishing was slow. However, I was using some new and old lures to see how they fared. I'm not sure if you can really learn anything in only four or five hours, though. Stayed in West Neck and went to the bridge. Caught only two fish.

Thursday, July 27 (from Ken)...'Twould appear the party at the S-curve in West Neck had ended sometime before I got back there today. I'm guessing the ones I gave a sore mouth to on Tuesday also may have told all their buddies to keep their mouths shut the next time they saw me. As a result, I had to go searching today. Finally found some fish up near the mouth of West Neck but could only muster a total of five bass, including a 2-2 and four dinks. Also landed one decent white perch before the day was over. Could only get one fish to go for the type of crankbait that worked so well for me Tuesday. Their choice today was a topwater bait. Had several blowups with no connections, and lost a decent fish shortly before I quit that I saw for a second or two as he came alongside the boat. He only had the rear hook in his mouth and eventually managed to escape.

Ever Wonder How a Lobster Feels in That Pot of Boiling Water?

Well, wonder no more if you are one of the 21 anglers in 13 boats who fished today's tourney in those scalding temps. Suffice it to say we all were "well done"  by the end of eight hours on the water, when we weighed in our 56 bass for a combined total weight of 117.57 lbs. and an average weight of 2.09 lbs. per fish.

Here are the anglers who took home a pay envelope at day's end:

Capturing 1st place was this team of (from left) Wayne Hayes and Al Napier, who brought a five-fish limit to the scales, weighing 17.58 lbs. Wayne also had the day's lunker, with a bass that tipped the scales at 6.82 lbs. 'Twould appear that Wayne has this "big bass thing" figured out. In case you haven't heard, he just recently took Region 7's Lunker of the Year honors for 2017 with a 7.80-lb. bass he pulled from the waters of Kerr Reservoir earlier this year. Bravo Zulu!

Claiming 2nd place was this team of (from left) Nelson Anderson and David Dozier, who also had a limit. Their five fish weighed in at 15.37 lbs., anchored by a bass weighing 4.64 lbs.

Finishing in 3rd place was this team of (from left) Don Carter and Rob Peppers. Their five-fish limit weighed 11.43 lbs. They had no big fish.

Today's mystery-weight prize went to Gary Coderre, who made his first appearance since having knee surgery here a few weeks ago. He weighed four bass (no big fish), with a total weight of 5.94 lbs., which was closest to the drawn weight of 6.15 lbs.






Here is how everyone else finished the competition:

     * The team of Andy Morath and Diana Mendez, five bass, 11.17 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Chris Fretard and Mike Miller, five bass, 9.52 lbs. total weight, 3.79-lb. big bass.
     * Jim Wilder, five bass, 9.04 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Duane Kessel, three bass, 8.60 lbs. total weight, 5.17-lb. big bass.
     * Zack Rhodes, five bass, 8.03 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Bruce Taylor and John Harmon, five bass, 6.58 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Paul Celentano and Paul Higgins, five bass, 6.47 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Randy Conkle and Bob Glass, two bass, 4.94 lbs. total weight, 4.13-lb. big bass.
     * Ken Testorff, two bass, 2.90 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

Three more anglers joined the ranks of those now eligible to fish our season-ending two-day Classic in October.

Congrats to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. I have to admit I was a little surprised at how many turned out for today's event, given the weather conditions. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5, from safe light to approximately 2 p.m. I hope you can join us.

It has taken me a long while, but I've finally figured out it's smarter just to lock my boat up after a tournament, then go back two or three days later when I'm well rested to clean up everything. Today marked the third tournament in a row in which I've applied that mindset, and I can't tell you what a difference it has made in the way I feel when I get home. Not spending that extra hour or hour and a half wiping the boat down from stem to stern allows me a chance to jump on these tournament blog posts with a lot more enthusiasm than I ever had before. Just wish I would have gotten smarter a little faster.

Now all I have to do is figure out a way to start putting some quality fish in the boat on tournament days. I'm not sold on the idea that ever will be anything more than a pipe dream, but alas, I haven't given up yet. I've always been a believer in that saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way." That's my motivation to keep trying.

For the Week Ending Sunday, July 23, 2017

Monday, July 17 (from Ron)...Fished Milldam. Caught three dinks and a slew of small white perch, with two near 12 inches. Also caught one crappie. Tried a micro crankbait and a Strike King Mini, which attracted "mini" fish, but it was fun.

Tuesday, July 18 (from Ron)...Fished Lotus Garden and Muddy Creek. Caught a 1-2, 1-4, 1-15, 2-6, and 2-14 for a good evening. One fell for the Pop ShadZ. All the rest were caught on the Whopper Plopper. 

Wednesday, July 19 (from Ron)...Fished Tecumseh, with the dreadful launch. There was a boat pulling around a water skier! Ugh! Fished 6 to 9 p.m., and the only bite I got was a massive gar that drug me around for a bit. Easily was over 40 inches, but I couldn't get a grip on him, and he threw the hook yakside.

Wednesday, July 19 (from Ken)...Intent on getting a day on the water before the tournament this Saturday, and having to fit it in with other commitments, today was my best opportunity, so I went for it. The trip wasn't very productive, but I managed to boat a total of five bass (one dink, a 1-12, 1-3, 1-4, and a 1-5), along with a small striper. I also had a couple other fish on but lost 'em en route to the boat, and there were some blowups without connections. Caught everything in West Neck on big topwater baits. When a small shower moved in about 1 p.m., the raindrops felt so nice I decided to leave my rain gear in the storage compartment and just soak up all the moisture. Only two rigs were in the parking lot when I launched this morning, and both of those had packed up and left when I came in at 2 o'clock. Another rig launched just ahead of my return to the ramp, but that was the extent of my company today.

Thursday, July 20 (from Ron)...Launched at Indian River Road, with the gauge reading 2.4. Fished from 6 to 9 p.m. Got a 1-0 on the Whopper Plopper, a 2-2 on the new crankbait, a dink on a Pop-R, and a dink on the Swim Senko. Also caught a fat little 10-inch white perch on the crankbait. Had a bunch of misses on the WP, as they seemed to be short striking and not committed. Maybe it was too hot!

Friday, July 21 (from Ron)...Launched from Blackwater Road and fished from 1700 to 2100. Caught four bass, including a 1-10, 2-3, 2-15, and a dink. Also caught three nice white perch. My lucky lures included a Whopper Plopper, Pop-R, and a Fluke.

Saturday, July 22 (from Ron)...Launched at Munden Point Park and crossed to Milldam (Snake Creek South) this morning. Nary a nibble between 0730 and 0930, then they started biting. I caught a huge bowfin on a Pop-R. Got him yakside and the lip grip on him, then he about twisted my arm off. I dropped then recovered him and once again grabbed hold with the lip grip. Was holding him up and trying to get the hook out when he decided to spin around, twist loose, land in my lap, and jump overboard, all the while throwing the hook and lip grip. Buddy I was with saw him. Definitely citation at 30 inches plus, maybe 10 lbs. "Shucks!" I said. Buddy caught a 13.5-inch citation white perch on the Whopper Plopper and added several crappie. I caught a dink bass, a 1-8 bass, and three white perch to 11 inches. By 1045, the heat had driven us back to Munden.

Sunday, July 23 (from Ray)...My son, Barry, and I fished West Neck today, as hot as it was. Ended up with an assortment of 12 fish, and all were very small, but it still was fun. Water was high and clear, and the surface temperature was 88 degrees. Grubs and small spinners were the only thing that worked for us.

A Purr-Fectly Warm and Fuzzy Fishin' Story

When Jason Frost and Brandon Key launched their bass boat on the Warrior River in Hueytown, AL, back on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, it's a fairly safe bet they had no clue about the unusual twist their fishing day was going to take.

After all, how many times have any of us had a couple of orange tabby kittens jump off a bank in the distance and swim toward our boat? Yet, that's exactly what happened to these two fellas, who have known each other since they only were kids.

Said Frost, "We were sitting there fishing, facing the bank, when behind us we hear a splash. I thought it was a fish jumping out of the water. I turned around and saw something swimming in the water. Then we heard it meow. This is by far the craziest thing I've ever seen," he added... . "Who even knew cats could swim?"

As Frost pulled the kitten to safety, his buddy, Key, heard another splash and looked up to see a second kitten also making its way to their boat.

"There were no houses for miles," he said. "So somebody probably dropped them off there in the middle of the night. They were so desperate they swam all the way out to us and almost jumped in the boat." (See the whole rescue on the video at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8WFqM9wMrQ.)

Frost and Key dried off their furry little friends, gave them some water to drink, then spent some time hanging out with them.

"They played with us all day," said Frost. "They were loving on us, and people who went by looked at us as though they were wondering, 'Who are those crazy people who took their cats fishing?'"

The angling duo continued fishing for three more hours, catching only one bass, "which we threw back," explained Frost. By the time they got to shore, a family with two little girls saw the kittens and instantly fell in love with them. They subsequently adopted the little felines and named them "Warrior" and "River." At last report, these kittens had been fixed, received their shots, and were enjoying a warm and loving home life.

Go Ahead: I Dare You to Think Winter!

Now tell me, doesn't a sight like this...

...or this make you feel just a little bit cooler on a day like today?





That's why I make sure I always have at least a random sampling of such shots saved in my screensavers folder. I keep all the photos in this folder rotating automatically on three-minute intervals, so that, on any given day, I get to catch a glimpse of a couple of these during my stints at the keyboard. Speaking only for myself, it takes at least some of the edge off those heat advisories like we've had for the last three days.

When Bass Fishin' Turns Deadly

History has an unfortunate way of repeating itself on Lake Conroe in Montgomery County, Texas, and it's not entirely unpredictable, either--at least, that's my opinion.

The problem starts with Lakeview Marina, which is located near Houston. They sponsor a yearly bass tournament series that generally runs from February to October. Unlike a lot of other similar events around the country, designed for the run-of-the-mill working man/angler, however, their event hours aren't conducive to running a safe event.

Their CONROEBASS Tuesday and Thursday Night Tournaments, as they call them, for 2017, were held every Tuesday between Feb. 7 and March 7, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. (well after official sunset, which, on Feb. 7, was 6:04 p.m. central time). Starting Tuesday March 14, and continuing every Tuesday and Thursday through Thursday, Sept. 7, the hours are 6 to 9:15 p.m. central time, compared to official sunset averaging two hours ahead of the scheduled weigh-in time. Those same 6 to 9:15 p.m. hours also continue every Tuesday between Sept. 12 and Oct. 10, when sunset for the latter date is 6:56 p.m. central time.

Anytime boats run around on a big lake like Conroe after dark, the chances of a mishap occurring increase significantly. Just last night, at 9:22 p.m., for example, 911 operators received a call from a child, saying there had been a boat crash on Lake Conroe, and her father was injured seriously.

Units were dispatched to the scene, where multiple victims from one of two bass boats were found in the water, including a 39-year-old male, along with a 12-year-old girl and her mother. The 39-year-old male was in traumatic arrest when medics arrived, and they immediately started working on him, but he succumbed to his injuries on the scene. Two other adult males also were in the water with another bass boat that had flipped over, but they reportedly were not injured.

Preliminary information showed the bass boat with the family aboard possibly was sitting still in the water and fishing. Marker lights were illuminated. Meanwhile, the two fishermen in the other bass boat reportedly were headed back for tournament weigh-in (most likely, one of the Lakeview Marina events, although the reports don't say). Their boat also was lit. Both said they did not see the family's boat ahead of them before slamming into it at the center, where the 39-year-old was sitting at the steering console. The boat with the two tourney anglers continued forward before rolling over and ejecting them. Game wardens did a field-sobriety test on the tourney anglers, who did not appear to be impaired.

Now let's back up in time to 9:07 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2014, when another Montgomery County 911 call was received, saying there had been a collision on Lake Conroe north of the dam.

One woman reportedly had gone into the water and had not been seen since the crash. Another male passenger pulled several children out of the water, all with severe injuries. The 911 caller also reported two men from another boat in the water.

Investigation revealed a 29-year-old female had been thrown from a pleasure boat after it was struck by a Skeeter bass boat, which reportedly was involved in a fishing tournament (again, I tend to believe, a Lakeview Marina event). The anglers supposedly had just left a fishing area and rounded a point when their boat crashed into the large pleasure boat. Both anglers were ejected but were wearing life vests. The impact cut the pleasure boat (which was underway) in half.

The two bass anglers initially said they did not see any lights on the pleasure boat, but further investigation was deemed necessary to make a determination. There were four adults and four children on the pleasure boat. No alcohol appeared to have been involved in the crash.

Divers found the body of the 29-year-old woman thrown overboard in this mishap two days afterward. The crash also claimed the lives of two others who were aboard the pleasure boat: a 30-year-old female and her 9-year-old son.

Boating in the dark is tough, and even if you've never gone cruising at night before, you can guess why: You can't see much of anything. And that includes the stuff you're about to hit.

To safely run a boat at night, you must know boating laws, among which one exists requiring boaters to operate craft at a speed that is "reasonable and prudent" for conditions to avoid collisions. The responsibility to avoid hitting something in or on the water rests clearly with the boat operator.

Nighttime boaters should be extremely familiar with the body of water they are traveling. Landmarks clearly visible during the day can disappear in the darkness. Operators need to learn a whole new set of nighttime landmarks (e.g., like lighted water towers or radio towers from nearby cities). Tall trees, rocky hillsides, valleys, open fields, shore lights, and wooded shorelines can all provide good navigational clues. Communications equipment and electronic positioning gear also can help you navigate with more confidence.

For the Week Ending Sunday, July 16, 2017

Monday, July 10 (from Ray...Caught five bass, including two at 1-14, a 1-13, and two youngsters. Also picked up one perch. Don't know what happened to the bream, but I always enjoy the ultralite. Tools of the day were the Pop ShadZ, Yum Dinger, and small spinnerbait. I wanted to fish Albright's today, but the fish keep biting in West Neck.

Monday, July 10 (from Ron)...No Name Creek may as well be called "no bass creek." Fished there from 1830 to 2100. Lost one dink yakside. Caught two small white perch and a warmouth on the Bomber Square A. No topwater action to speak of. Still nice to be out there for a long trip.

Tuesday, July 11 (from Ken)...I decided to make today the 2017 "coming out" day for my INT bait. Fished it all day long in West Neck Creek and had action throughout the whole eight hours I spent on the water. Unfortunately, I will have to go through the same issue that befell me last year: getting my hooksets timed correctly. Easily missed at least 15 serious strikes today. Ended up boating a total of five bass, including three dinks, plus a 1-14 and a 2-4.

Tuesday, July 11 (from Ron)...Launched in the oppressive heat and fished North Landing River from 7 to 9 p.m. Bite was OK, and I managed five "larger" dinks. Lost as many, but they may have been warmouth or panfish. Caught everything on Pop Shadz, though I tried shallow crankbaits and Zoom Flukes to no avail. The heat was awful, and I didn't expect to go but decided to try my luck. With no wind, it was like a heat vacuum out there. Think I will take Wednesday off, as it will be even hotter.

Wednesday, July 12 (from Ron)...Fished a military installation pond. Launched at 1900, as the sun was below the tree line and less of an issue, but not really. First three casts accounted for a miss, a catch, and another miss, all on Pop ShadZ. Then came an hour of nothing. Managed two more before I quit for a total of a 1-1, 1-2 and a dink bass.

Friday, July 14 (from Ron)...Launched at West Neck Marina at 0530. By 0700, it already was way too windy. Managed a dink and a 1-4 bass on the Whopper Plopper. Left at 0730. Oh, almost forgot, I also got another personal best this morning--a gizzard shad about 1/4 inch bigger than one I got last year. Sure glad I didn't go to Back Bay this morning.

Saturday, July 15 (from Ron)...Fished Milldam Friday evening and caught two panfish before being stormed out. Was just putting the yak on the car when the sky opened up. Those two panfish were not enough, so this morning, after the thunder had passed, decided to try and add to my taco fare. Went back to high-water Milldam and the rip rap launch and fished from 1200 to 1330, without getting much. Broke out a new crankbait that mimics those gizzard shad and soon had more panfish and then some. Then, as I was looking down a feeder creek, I saw a great no-grass channel and decided to throw a Whopper Plopper, and, wham! a nice 4-14 bass (my biggest of the year) smacked it. Later, while trolling a beetlespin for more panfish, my pole doubled over on a feisty 6-10 bowfin. In the ensuing battle, the bowfin got all tangled in my trolled line. Have never seen such a fat bowfin--really made my day. And the new crankbait is a champ, too. Was a great day. Recovered about 1600, the same time the sky darkened and the bolts arrived once again. Was happy to get my bowfin and some more taco fare, as well.

Sunday, July 16 (from Ron)...Fished Milldam from late morning 'till 3 p.m., with Alex. Caught five white perch, seven dinks, and a 1-8--all on topwater (Pop ShadZ and Whopper Plopper). Alex scored a few but nothing tipping the scales. His catch included a lot of panfish and some big sunfish on micro crankbaits. Two of my dinks hit the Swim Senko.

Food for a Fisherman's Thoughts

Last year, a friend shared a bait with me that turned around all my struggling ways on the water. All he asked in return was that I not divulge what that bait was. For a year now, I've been silent about what has come to be known as my INT bait, and that will continue to my dying day. Here's why.

Growing up as a boy, I, like my father before me, never had a lot of material wealth. However, I was rich in other ways, one of which was having a mother and father who genuinely cared that I grow up with a set of morals that would withstand the test of time. On many occasions during my childhood, I would hear my dad say, "A man's word is his bond," and I've made a concerted effort to live my whole life by the same standard. So when someone asks me (or I know enough, by virtue of the subject matter involved) to keep my mouth shut, I do it.

It thus should come as no surprise why I would want to share the following philosophy, which simply fell into my lap. According to the fisherman who authored this piece, "There are three things in this world that can wreck a friendship like nothing else: money, women and fishing holes. The first two are easy to understand, so let's concentrate on the latter."

Sharing a fishing hole is a sacred bond. OK, maybe not a "secret bond," but sharing a spot can be kind of a big deal, and if you don't handle the gift with respect, you could put a damper on your friendship. An avid angler will only share one of his favorite spots with someone he trusts. When someone shares a fishing hole with you, you must understand that you have been entrusted with a secret that was meant only for you (unless otherwise stated). Your friend trusted you enough to share a personal secret with you. Treat the spot with respect.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you. You've been given a great gift. Don't blow your gift up by sharing it with others. When someone puts you on fish, you keep that secret to yourself. I don't care if your brother needs fish today, if all you have is what your friend gave you, you don't kiss and tell. Keep your gifts under your hat. You were given a spot by a friend, and you need to protect that spot as if it was your younger sister at prom, and every guy you know is trying to take advantage of her. Lie if you have to. I don't care what boat ramp "they" said they saw your truck at, you weren't there, and you don't know what they were talking about.

Don't burn your gift. If a buddy puts you on fish, and you visit the spot and do well, don't burn it by hooking every fish there. Don't go back to the spot the next day and sore lip every fish that is stupid enough to take your offering. Catch a few and move on. Studies show, and guides will tell you, that fish will shut down if they feel too pressured. Don't ruin a good thing by wearing it out.

Don't get possessive. The water doesn't belong to you or the guy that put you on that spot, but you didn't know about those fish until your buddy put you on them. So, don't freak out, and don't get possessive about a spot when you show up to it, and your buddy's buddy is there. They aren't your fish, and you have no right to complain if he shared that spot with someone else. For God's sake, don't idle your boat over to "him" and ask how he knew about those fish.

Return in kind. If you have a buddy who has ever done anything good for you on the water, make sure you return the favor. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Don't take from one hand and refuse to give from the other. That's a sure way of being left out in the future.

Don't ask, don't tell. One way to be put on the "that guy is not my friend" list is to ask other people where the fish are. Don't call people and tell them you're not catching anything and ask them if they can throw you a bone. If someone wants you to know where fish are, they'll tell you without your having to ask. If you do happen to get lucky and they happen to let you in on some info, don't ever tell another soul about it. If it ever gets back to the guy who gave you the info that you've been running your mouth, you can bet you won't be able to go back to that well for info again.

Follow the "Golden Rule." It comes down to a couple of simple rules: "Treat others as you would have them treat you," and "to whom much is given, much is required." If people go out of their way to help you, help them back, and don't burn them by giving away the secrets they give you. Also, know how to recognize when you've been given a gift, and don't be stingy with giving back. You'll have longer lasting friendships if you follow these simple rules.

Not Many on Hand, But That Didn't Dampen the Enthusiasm

With a predicted heat index of 107 to 110 for today, a number of the regular tournament participants decided to sit out today's competition. Nevertheless, we still had 13 anglers in seven boats on hand for the event. They brought a grand total of 25 bass to the scales, with a combined total weight of 46.34 lbs. Those figures translate into an average weight of 1.85 lbs. per fish.

Here is a look at those who took home a pay envelope at the end of 8-plus hours of fishing:

(From left) First place went to Mitch Portervint and Steve Bailey, who weighed a five-fish limit totaling 10.01 lbs. Steve also claimed the day's lunker prize with a bass tipping the scales at 4 lbs. even.

(From left) Taking second place was the team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter. Their five-fish limit weighed in at 9.94 lbs., anchored by a 2.25-lb. bass.

(From left) Claiming the mystery-weight award today was the team of Andy Morath and Zech Morath, who had 5.70 lbs. total weight for three bass. That number came closest to the drawn tab of 5.10 lbs. Their big fish weighed 2.65 lbs.





Here is how everyone else lined up today:

     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Al Napier, five bass, 8.36 lbs. total weight, 2.39-lb. big bass.
     * Chris Fretard, four bass, 7.92 lbs. total weight, 3.40-lb. big bass.
     * The team of Rob Chatham and Ken Testorff, three bass, 4.41 lbs. total weight, no big bass.
     * The team of Rusty Girard and Josh Fenneman didn't weigh any fish.

One more angler qualified today to participate in our season-ending two-day Classic.

Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next scheduled event is Saturday, July 22, from safe light to 2 p.m. Here's hoping you can join us.

I know of at least one team today that had an all-day topwater bite, and they were fishing the same basic water where my partner and I spent most of the day. I do know they were throwing a different bait than all those we had tied on at different points throughout the day, but whether that spelled the difference in our results is anyone's guess.

At one juncture this morning, my partner and I hailed a couple of young fellas in a johnboat and asked how their day was going. As the one fella explained, "We had a pretty decent topwater bite going for the first couple of hours, but then it was as though someone turned off a switch. We couldn't buy a strike." That pretty well described our day, too.

It may have just been my imagination, but as I looked around today at the grass population in the water, it appeared the spread has slowed in recent days. Some areas that I thought might already be socked in really didn't seem all that choked today. I certainly don't mind the apparent slowdown, 'cause I enjoy fishing some of the affected areas.

4th of July Fireworks Don't Always Just Happen at Night...

Some happen during daylight hours--at (you guessed it) the ramp--as evidenced by the following accounts:

A husband was in the boat screaming instructions to his wife, who was struggling to back the trailer into the water. After she got the rig jackknifed, the husband went ballistic. So what did the wife do? Turned off the car's ignition, got out, threw keys into the water, and walked off, leaving trailer and truck jackknifed on the ramp and the husband still screaming in the boat.

A guy was trying to back the trailer, while his wife held the boat's rope. When she started telling him how to do it, he began yelling back at her. After three or four tries, with her giving him instructions the whole time, he hollered, "Fine! You do it!" She subsequently hopped in the truck and backed down the ramp like a pro.

A fella by himself pulled up to the dock, launched his boat, then hopped in and guided it up on a sand bank opposite the dock, just as he had done a hundred times before with no problem. He then went to park the truck. As he was returning to the dock, he noticed that the boat was floating. Luckily for him, though, it was moving directly toward the dock. As soon as it was alongside, he simply hopped in and took off..as though that's the way he had planned the whole evolution.

A guy was getting ready to recover his Ranger on a busy lake. As he started to walk across the street to get his truck, he saw a young man pushing on a Sea-Doo, trying to get it off the trailer. By the time he had gotten back with his truck and backed the trailer in, the young man with the Sea-Doo was on it, revving the motor in reverse. Once the guy had his Ranger on the trailer, he walked over and told the young man he might have better luck if he removed the tie-down straps and bow hook. The young man responded, "It still will come off the trailer with them hooked." The Ranger guy simply smiled, got in his truck, and went home, muttering under his breath, "You just can't make this stuff up."

One 4th of July before camera phones and digital cameras, a very intoxicated man was trying to pull a ski boat off a ramp in Decatur, AL. The boat was heavy, his pickup was new...and only two-wheel drive, and the ramp was slick. After smoking his tires, the truck caught fire, and then the need to call the fire department went away as quickly as it materialized because the whole thing slid into the river. It made for some interesting fireworks for all the bystanders, what with sparks from the rims shooting 15 feet into the air. The idiot still was standing there screaming at the top of his lungs as the cops cuffed him. "My truck, my &$#%^#@ truck..." he kept saying. It was rumored he ended up with a bill for all the recovery efforts that far exceeded the cost of his new truck.

A fella opted to pay for using a private boat ramp, since he knew all the public ramps would be busy. As he went to launch his 12-foot aluminum johnboat, with a 15-horse outboard, all the usual preppy kids were hanging out around the marina. They already were smirking as he backed up, jumped out, and put a piece of concrete behind the back wheel (his parking brake didn't work). Once the boat was launched, he pulled it back onto the concrete ramp and went to park his truck. When he got back, he helped his girlfriend load their newly adopted rescue German Shepherd and Eskimo Spitz dogs onto the boat. It was the first time on the boat for the dogs, so there was no way to know how they would act. With the girlfriend holding the Spitz, the fella moved into position to start the boat's motor. It should be pointed out here that the fella was standing on the Shepherd's leash, with the dog's head next to his leg. The motor started on the first pull and revved really high, scaring the Shepherd so badly that he bit the owner's crotch. The owner screamed, then fell out of the boat, with both dogs jumping in behind him, leaving the girlfriend to float away in the boat without knowing how to control it. By now, all the kids on the dock were rolling on the ground, laughing at these events. The fella and the dogs finally got back in the boat and shoved off. They didn't return to the marina until they were sure all the kids had gone home. That Shepherd never bit another soul and turned out to be the best dog the owner ever had. Meanwhile, he lost the girlfriend and made sure she took the Spitz with her.

For the Week Ending Sunday, July 9, 2017

Monday, July 3 (morning)...From Ron: Launched out of West Neck before sunrise. Found a total of 9 bass, all on topwater. Was getting a decent bite on Pop Shadz, but they were mostly small ones (1-1 and six dinks). Decided to throw the Whopper Plopper, and a few casts later, caught a pole bender that weighed in at 3-4. Just as I was thinking, "Gee, the Whopper Plopper really does attract the big ones," I ended up catching the smaller one pictured here.

Monday, July 3 (evening)...From Ron: Ventured back out in the heat to try my luck once again at West Neck. Launched at 6 p.m. and fished till dark. Got a few on the Pop Shadz, a couple more on the Whopper Plopper. Also trolled a Mann's Minus-1 crankbait that got me a dink and a decent striper. My totals included four dinks, a  2-4, a 16-inch striper, and a 19-inch (2-11) striper. These fish really know how to fight! Enjoyable trip...but still no bowfin.

Tuesday, July 4...From Ron: Got ahead of the horde and fished Albright's from 6 - 9 a.m. When I recovered, parking lot was half full, with about eight jet skis launched or launching. As I drove north on Princess Anne, saw about 30 vehicles with various watercraft on their tops or on trailers. There was an accident at Princess Anne and Indian River. Appeared that the pickup truck involved had transferred two kayaks to another truck that was in the Red Barn parking lot. Intersection was a mess. Bite was nonexistent. Tried everything everywhere. Caught a 1-2 on the Pop Shadz and finally found a bowfin on the Whopper Plopper, but he was small--smallest I've ever caught. Happy 4th!!!

Tuesday, July 4...From Ron: After the storm passed, decided to try Milldam for an Independence Day evening trip. Was throwing Whopper Plopper and Pop ShadZ, while trolling a Bomber Square A. Didn't intend to target panfish, but they were biting well. Only caught one dink bass on the Pop ShadZ, but got a stringer of taco fare between 7 and 8:30 p.m. Bigger White Perch were hitting the Whopper Plopper.

Wednesday, July 5...From Ron:  Made a short trip to upper North Landing this evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Weather cooperated, but the fish didn't. Caught a 1-1 and a dink bass, as well as two warmouths, on the Pop Shadz. Tried Flukes, shallow crankbaits, XTS Minnow, and Whopper Plopper. Had a few short strikes from little ones and missed a gar. Still was nice to be out.

Thursday, July 6...From Ron: Fished House Cove from 6 to 8:30 p.m. I didn't get a single tap until 8:10. At least, it was a 1-14 bass, followed a few minutes later with a white perch, then a 1-12 bass. Everything came on the Pop ShadZ. I tried everything in my arsenal to no avail for two hours.

Friday, July 7...From Ron: Fished upper West Neck from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The wind died down to non-existent, and the bite was similar. Ended up with three dinks and a 1-9. Gorgeous evening. Should have gone elsewhere.

Saturday, July 8...From Ron: Fished out of West Neck Marina from 0545 to 0800, north of the bridge. Caught eight dinks, a 1-2 and a 2-8. Few of the dinks were 14 and 15 ozs. Caught half on the Whopper Plopper, including the 2-8; the rest came on the Pop ShadZ. Everything came off main channel points and structure. Ventured into feeders to avoid the wind but couldn't get any hits in them. My topwater addiction could be hurting my numbers. I should try something else for a change.

Sunday, July 9 (morning)...From Ron: Made an early morning trip to Beggars Bridge and headed to Landing Cove about 0500. The entrance offered up two dink bass, and things were looking up. However, couldn't find another bite in the cove. Back at the entrance, managed two more dinks and a 12-inch crappie on the Whopper Plopper. When I got back to Lovitts about 0830, there were four kayaks and two boats fishing in vicinity of the creek entrance. Parking area was full. Very muddy and murky today--may have been why they weren't biting very well.

Sunday, July 9 (evening)...From Ron: Alex and I fished Milldam. Talk about grass! All the feeder creeks are pretty much chock full, some with distinct narrow channels in the middle. I went into Snake north in search of white perch, and Alex went to Snake south looking for bass. I managed one dink bass and one dink white perch--very different from my last venture in there. Alex found a 1-9, 1-5 and a two dink bass on a Fluke and Pop ShadZ. It was comfortable weather, with the most amazing moon rise. As it rose in the east, it started out bright orange--a sight to see, but my phone camera doesn't do it justice. We fished from 6 to 9 p.m. Not a tacos night.