On Track to Capture 2018 Angler of the Year Title

That fact describes my tournament partner, Dave Anderson. With only one qualifying tournament remaining on our schedule, he holds a 12-point lead over the nearest competitor, his friend and neighbor, Rob Peppers.

Dave's total, as of Sept. 29, is 176.55, compared to Rob's total of 164.50. Dave already has eclipsed the AOY record set in 2014, when Mark London finished the year with a total of 168.35 points, and he's done it while fishing one less tournament to date than Mark in the process.

I consider it a distinct privilege to be able to fish with one of the best and most consistent anglers around. Simply put, he knows how to put fish in the boat. What makes him so special is the fact that he's not a braggadocio. Instead, he goes about his business in a matter-of-fact way and lets his success speak for itself.

Although I've only been fishing with Dave a few weeks now, one thing that has become obvious to me is the smoothness in the way he handles a rod. He's nothing like some fellas I've fished with over the years. You know the kind I'm talking about--guys who literally rock the boat whenever they set the hook on a fish.

That's not Dave. There are times when I'm fishing with my back to him, and I won't even have a clue he has caught a fish until I hear it splashing. The boat never moves.

During our last couple of trips, I've paid particular attention to how Dave fishes his soft plastics. On some occasions, when I've happened to see Dave's line jump and start moving off, I've stopped and watched him do what he does so well. He drops his rod, reels up the slack, then just comes back with a firm and steady hand. It's the same kind of motion I learned to use with Slider worms when this light-line technique first appeared on the scene.

Dave misses a few fish, but only a few. And watching him throughout a day on the water is comparable to watching a clinic in motion.

Well done, my friend, and good luck this coming Saturday as we close out the season qualifiers.

Gorgeous Day, Great Turnout for Tournament

Twelve boats with 20 anglers showed up this morning to fish our next to last qualifier tournament of the 2018 season. All but one of the boats weighed limits. The 20 anglers weighed 55 bass with a combined total weight of 123.52 lbs. and an average weight of 2.24 lbs. per fish.

Participants who finished in the money today included all of the following:

1st Place (from left), the team of Chris Fretard and Mike Miller. Their limit weighed 16.96 lbs. They didn't have a big fish.

2nd Place (from left), the team of Ken Testorff and Dave Anderson. Our limit weighed 15.74 lbs., buoyed by a big fish that Dave caught. It tipped the scales at 5.42 lbs. and was big enough to claim the day's Lunker Award.

3rd Place (from left), the team of Don Carter and Rob Peppers. Their limit weighed 14.83 lbs., anchored by a big fish weighing 5.05 lbs.

The Mystery Weight Award went to Gary Coderre, whose limit came in at 7.06 lbs., which was closest to the drawn weight of 4.70 lbs. He didn't have a big fish.







Here is how everyone finished today's competition:

     * The team of David Dozier and Nelson Anderson, limit, 13.16 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Bobby Moore and Steve Bailey, limit, 12.12 lbs. total weight, after a 0.25 deduction for one dead fish. Their big fish weighed 4.36 lbs.
     * Wayne Hayes, limit, 9.86 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Jim Wilder, limit, 9.17 lbs. total weight, 2.90-lb. big fish.
     * The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, limit, 8.89 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Jr. Lindsey and Skip Schaible, limit, 8.02 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Stan Krason and Caitlyn Blasi, limit, 7.71 lbs. total weight, 3.07-lb. big fish.
     * Bob Glass didn't weigh any fish.

Anglers Andy Morath and Chris Fretard joined 15 others who now have qualified to fish our season-ending two-day Class tournament on Oct. 13-14.

Congratulations to all of the winners and sincere thanks to all who came out and participated today. For planning purposes, our next scheduled event is next Saturday, Oct. 6, from safe light (about 6:45 a.m.) to weigh-in at 3 o'clock.

One Last Cast

With the water level today being very similar to what we had last Saturday, Dave and I decided to try the same approach as we used last week.

We found fish, but not at the speed with which they came last Saturday. Instead of taking one hour to boat a limit, we spent about 5 hours finding five fish. And then the upgrades came equally slowly.

There were a couple of anxious moments today, too. The first one happened as I was trying to net Dave's lunker of the day. I failed to get the net completely under the fish and gambled on slightly flipping him into the air to make the necessary adjustment. In the process, however, I ended up catching a rod tip in the net, and the fish was hung up under the net. Both Dave and I thought the fish was going to get away, but I salvaged the day by just rolling the net over under the fish (with the rod tip still hung up). We both breathed a sigh of relief as I handed Dave his fish.

My next less-than-stellar move came just moments before we called it a day. My hands were soaking wet as I set the hook on a fish, and the rod suddenly popped up in the air out of my hands. I made about three subsequent lunges before I was able to wrap my hands around the rod handle...and learned that the fish still was attached. There was just one problem: He wouldn't cull a fish for us.

The lesson to be learned here is that, when a person is tired, he doesn't always make wise decisions, and, too, he leaves the door wide open for Mr. Murphy to show his ugly face. I was just lucky this time.

For the Week Ending Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018

Monday, Sept. 24 (from Ron)...Fished the saltwater and caught two speckled trout at 17 inches each. Had a couple more dinks. Nice to finally get something for the skillet. Should make some good tacos or maybe just a simple pan fry with lemon and butter. Bigger ones should arrive any day now, and my efforts will be shifting to the saltwater after this weekend. Can't wait for striper season.

Thursday, Sept. 27 (from Ron)...Caught another 22 inch, but this one was a bit fatter and a great fight.   Couple of dinks as well.   Perfect weather with the overcast, light breeze and temps.

Oh the Joy...and Frustration...of Fishing a Hollow-Bodied Frog

Anyone who ever has fished one of these baits knows exactly what I'm talking about. And, it's not just me, either. Check out the Internet forum threads on this topic, and the first thing you'll likely discover is that you have a whole pot full of company sharing similar feelings.

What prompted this post was something I read in Jay Kumar's latest issue of the BassBlaster. The question was asked: Wait or don't wait to set the hook on a frog?

Dean Rojas, who, as we all know, is no stranger to frog fishing, was the first to respond. "Normally, I set the hook as soon as I see the explosion or see the fish take the bait," he said without hesitation.

"Got that?" questioned Jay. "NO waiting a second or whatever."

Jay went on to note that he was OK with Dean's emphatic response...until, that is, he saw a video demonstration by "science-type dude" Jimmy Liao, who was making a good case about how it's literally impossible for anyone to react fast enough to jerk a frog out of a fish's mouth.

"Dean's statement made total sense," allowed Jay. "But then Jimmy said you should wait a couple of seconds." (Watch Jimmy's video at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4aZ2UYDWKM&feature=youtu.be&t=19s.)

While you're digesting these opposing philosophies, consider the following additional suggestions (from various frog fishermen) I found online:

     * "I don't go by feel with the frog. If I can't see it anymore, I'm whaling on the fish."

     * "A lot of times, they miss and circle back. You won't notice, though, because there isn't always a big splash the second time. Lower rod tip, point at the fish or a little above it, and start reeling 'til you feel a tug, then cross their eyes with a hookset."

     * "If you get a blowup and you still can see the frog, twitch it a few times. If no hit follows, toss a Senko into the hole the fish made and let it sink. Most times, this will work. Also remember a hookset costs you nothing. If you get a strike and the bait is gone, check quickly to see if the line is moving, then hit 'em."

Wherever you live in the USA today, a frog is one of the most popular ways to fish. With a frog, you're fishing weedless, which means you can throw it just about anywhere without any worry about getting hung up or losing it.

According to Rojas, who some say is "the world's best frog angler," that fact makes them popular among all fishermen. "Even the average weekend anglers throw these baits a lot," he said.

Not Many Boats, But Lots of Limits

Among those 13 anglers in nine boats at today's contest, there were eight limits weighed. The 40 bass that crossed the scales weighed a total of 96.39 lbs., for an average weight of 2.40 lbs. per fish.

Those who were standing in the winners' circle at day's end included the following:

1st Place, Eddie Sapp, 16.90 lbs. total weight. He also claimed big-fish honors with a bass weighing 5.81 lbs.

2nd Place, the team of (from left) Ken Testorff and Dave Anderson, 16.08 lbs. total weight. Our big fish weighed 3.85 lbs.

Mystery Weight Award, the team of (from left) Gary Coderre and Lenny Hall. Their total weight of 7.41 lbs. was closest to the drawn weight of 7.85. Their big fish weighed 2.93 lbs.





Here is how everyone else finished the competition:

     * Jeff Garnes, 13.66 lbs. total weight, 4.50-lb. big fish.
     * Jim Wilder, 12.41 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Bob Glass and J. P. Twohig, 10.25 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Andy Morath and Zach Bubier, 9.94 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Red Bruun, 9.73 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Steve Bailey did not weigh any fish.

There were no more names added to the list of those anglers who have qualified to fish our two-day season-ending Classic.

Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29, from safe light (about 6:30 or 6:45) to an as-yet-to-be-determined time for weigh-in. Here's hoping you can join us.

One Last Cast

When Dave and I shoved away from the dock this morning, we had a plan. There was just one problem with that plan: Anglers in two other boats beat us to our starting point, so we were forced to change our plans on the fly.

We ultimately ended up at a spot where Dave had fished this past Thursday without boating the first fish. It's safe to say that today was no repeat.

Fishing nothing but topwater baits, we had a limit in the boat by the end of the first hour this morning (including three within about the first 15 minutes). Better yet, the topwater bite lasted better than three hours. At that time, we battened down and ran to a couple other spots where we checked out the action before returning later in the day to our same starting point. And wouldn't you know, the bite (albeit not on topwater baits) picked up right where it had left off this morning.

By day's end, Dave easily had boated at least 50 bass by himself and, before we quit, was culling fish that weighed more than two-and-a-half pounds. Now that's what I call a banner day of bass fishing.

Fishless Days and Rainy Nights

(Published with permission of the author, Glenn Busch, who originally posted this article Sept. 15, 2018.)

When I got up this morning, it was raining. What's new? This area of Southwest Virginia is nearly 12 inches above average rainfall, and if the forecast for the next few days proves accurate, we'll soon be way past that.

As I write, Hurricane Florence is bearing down on the coast. The governor has declared a state of emergency, people are being evacuated, and there is a good chance the storm will extend its drippy fingers deep into Central Virginia.

This is information you probably already have, but I include it as an explanation, if not an excuse, to a certain segment of my readers. I know, I know, I haven't written a single fishing story for quite some time. You don't need to remind me. That's why what follows is an apology, my mea culpa, so you won't give up and go away.

I meant to do better, honest; but if one is to write about entertaining angling experiences, one has to have them, right? But I'll get back to that below.

When this blog was established (243 posts ago; can you believe it?) my intention was to write mostly about fishing (thus the blog's title), with some essays on family, friendship and spirituality added to the mix, for a little variety.

That made a lot of sense at the time. I had recently retired and was deep into a post-retirement fantasy that saw me traveling the country while spending endless days on the water catching remarkable fish...which, of course, was going to generate an abundance of material to write about.

Ok, so the fantasy was perhaps a bit adolescent, but what serious golfer among my dear readers can say with a straight face that he doesn't indulge a similar fantasy about spending his, or her, autumn years prowling the manicured links. So let's have a little perspective here, please.

As it turns out, retirement is rife with opportunities, and if you're not there yet, you should look forward to it. But it isn't an entree to a Huckleberry Finn epoch of diminished responsibilities.

There was a lot of fishing when I first retired, certainly more than I was used to when I was working; but then came the realization that certain obligations just don't go away. And besides, an enjoyable activity practiced too often runs the risk of becoming routine, undercutting its capacity for refreshment and renewal. I suspect that the not-yet-retired are rolling your eyes at that comment. But just wait. You'll see.

As time passed, I was drawn to volunteer activities that addressed issues that concerned me--the environment, hunger, poverty, substandard housing--and I began writing about them, too. But fishing remained my first and favorite choice.

Then along came Trump. No-no-no-no-no, we're not going there today. Those of you who have hung in with the blog know that I have had more than a little to say on that subject. Some readers didn't care for the deviation, but I remain unapologetic for raising issues that trouble me deeply, and would feel remiss if I hadn't. But again, it wasn't fishing.

Work interfered, too. It began with a little part-time fill-in stuff; then recently, I took on a 30-hour-a-week interim gig that consumes the bulk of my week. I can't say that I'm not enjoying the work, because I am; but it does cut into time that might otherwise be spent deceiving trout and smallmouth bass.

Despite all that, I still might have eked out a fishing story or two if I had something to write about. But there has been so much rain this summer that the rivers and streams have often been too high to fish, at least when I've been able to go. And a much-anticipated trip planned for next week looks like it's going to be washed out, too.

I can't remember a summer when I've fished less than I have this one. And while I'm not circling the pit of despond, it has been disappointing.

So, brother and sister anglers, that's my compendium of excuses for not writing anything about our sport recently. But don't lose hope. Surely fresh material is soon to be discovered.

Well, there is the hurricane that is headed this way, which is likely to flood the streams for weeks to come. And by the time the water recedes, I'll have all those fall church activities to attend to, which will put us on the cusp of winter, when the fish go dormant. And I've got that hip surgery in January that's going to limit my mobility for a while.

Wait a minute here. I'm beginning to sound like somebody who needs an attitude check...somebody who needs to lighten up...and go fishing.

About the author: Due entirely to his father's military service, Glenn was born in Kissimmee, FL, just months before his dad mustered out, and the family returned to their Pittsburgh, PA home. A graduate of Penn State University, he began a career as an Episcopal priest in 1971, and served churches in Virginia and North Carolina, before retiring in 2008, as rector emeritus of St. Mary's Church in High Point, NC, after a pastorate of more than 27 years. It was during the High Point years that he also became a college teacher. While still serving as rector of the parish, High Point University asked him to become an adjunct faculty member, where, for 18 years, he taught for the department of religion and philosophy. Glenn and his wife, Kathleen, have two children and two grandchildren upon whom they dote as often as time and distance will allow. They retired to Lynchburg, VA in 2008, where Kathleen paints and he writes. "Thanks once again, my good friend, for allowing me this opportunity to share another one of your always well-written blog posts with my readers."

I was feeling a little down until I happened across Glenn's blog post above and realized there are lots of us in this "Fishless Days and Rainy Nights" boat. His words served to pick me up, and here's hoping they have a positive effect on some of you, too.

For the Week Ending Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018

Monday, Sept. 17 (from Ron)...With the gauge at 4.5, had only a few options for launch. Many roads are flooded out, and the high water is tough. Decided on Tecumseh and fought the wind to eek out a lone bass to avoid the skunk. It was the only tap I had for a two-hour effort. Wonder how much higher the gauge will get? Certainly will impact the fishing for a spell.

Wednesday, Sept. 19 (from Ron)...The gauge is dropping, but not enough yet. Fished Tecumseh in an old panfish favorite spot but couldn't find any. Did manage two bass: a dink and a 1-14. A rather large snake was crossing the creek ahead of me when he suddenly stopped, turned and came at me. I paddled in reverse, and he paused and got in a strike pose. We stared each other down for a few minuets, then he bolted off. At least it was cool and breezy.

Thursday, Sept. 20 (from Ron)...Tried again for the specks or maybe a puppy drum. Caught three dink speckled trout and two small bluefish. Nothing for the skillet, though.

Friday, Sept. 21 (from Ron)...Was hesitant to head out this evening with the high water, but glad I did. Fished Lovitts from 5:30 'til dark. First bass was a nice 2-4, followed by a 3-4 and two dinks, all on Zoom U Vibe worms. Right at dark, I also got a 1-2 on a Whopper. Caught everything in the main, nothing in the feeder creeks. That seems odd, because the water was high, and I thought they would be in the feeder creeks. Felt good to have some drag taken.

Saturday, Sept. 22 (from Ron)...After a good Friday evening trip, went out for a long haul this morning but didn't get a repeat. Fished five hours and only caught one dink. It was horrible, with the usual "what could go wrong did" kind of day. Pretty sure I had a gar on that bent the pole for a few seconds and then threw the lure.

Sunday, Sept. 23 (from Ron)...Launched at dawn this morning, and the topwater bite was OK. Found a 4-14 that made my day. Just as it clouded up, I had a peddle cable fail but not before I landed a 1-14 .

It's Deja Vu All Over Again!

This photo came from Tom at West Neck earlier this morning. At the time, he said the water still wasn't in the store, but I almost would bet you it is now. The worst part of all is that, according to the weather forecast, we aren't due for any northerly winds until tomorrow night. Let's all hope the meteorologists are wrong as usual, and those northerly winds show up today.

Also be advised that, according to "Gadabout" Skip, Indian River Road is closed between Pungo and West Neck. He says West Neck also should be closed but isn't. In his words, the rerouted traffic from Indian River "is flying down West Neck."

Take It Easy, Greasy!

I used to hear that phrase a lot as a kid. And although I never learned the origin or meaning of it, I've always figured it had something to do with slowing down whatever you happen to be doing and get it right, so that you don't injure yourself and/or damage something in the process. In this case, I'm taking the phrase as a self-admonishment to be extra careful when it comes to launching and recovering my boat, especially since I frequently am performing the task solo.

As Wayne, my boat mechanic, reminded me a couple of times yesterday, it's going to be in my best interests to be extra careful during boat launch and recovery now that I have Caliber bunk wrap on my trailer. He especially cautioned me about always backing down to the water's edge before unhooking the bow strap, as well as hooking up that strap before pulling the boat up the ramp at day's end.

I read about a fella who just had redone the bottom of his bass rig and applied a fresh coat of wax before taking it to a local lake. He climbed into the boat, with his wife behind the wheel of the tow vehicle. All was cool until she accidentally popped the clutch a little too hard while pulling away. The wet boat slid off the wet bunks and smacked the concrete. She stopped before it was all the way off the trailer, so he hooked up the bow strap and tried to winch the boat back on. That effort failed, however, so he ended up pushing the boat down the ramp with the trailer. Then it was back to the shop for more fiberglass repair.

While digging around the Internet this morning, I happened across a couple of links that I'm including here. They both offer guidance about how to launch and recover a boat when you're alone.

https://scout.com/outdoors/bass-fishing/Article/3-Step-Process-to-Launch-a-Boat-by-Yourself-101453129/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4bSrjOuVD4

There are plenty of scratches on the bottom of my boat to prove I've had personal encounters with a host of West Neck and Pocaty stumps and laydowns. However, I plan to keep going out of my way to avoid dumping my boat in the middle of the ramp.

Wanted: Your Ideas for Ways to Find People in the Water

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center are sponsoring a $255,000 multi-phase prize competition. They are seeking concepts and solutions that help make it easier to find people in the water.

This competition challenges companies, universities, students, and citizen innovators to develop effective and affordable concepts for a new or updated lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD), an attachment to a lifejacket/PFD, or something recreational mariners and boaters use in addition to wearing their lifejacket/PFD.

New recreational mariner safety solutions have the potential to greatly improve the chances of a successful rescue. Current technologies, such as dyes, personal locators, and reflective materials in lifejackets/PFDs, can help the Coast Guard better find people and are shown to improve rescue rates. However, adoption of these technologies remain low, due to factors like cost, comfort, style, and awareness.

With the Coast Guard Ready for Rescue Challenge, the USCG and DHS S&T call upon innovators from a wide variety of fields--from public safety, maritime safety, recreational sports, consumer goods and materials, wearables, texteiles, smart technologies, and the Internet of Things--to develop concepts for a new or updated lifejacket/PFD, attachment to a lifejacket/PFD, or something recreational mariners and boaters use in addition to wearing their lifejacket/PFD that will enable search and rescue personnel to more readily find a person in the water. The USCG and DHS S&T intend for this work to be the first step in the design of new, improved or adapted technologies that can be leveraged by current USCG Search and Rescue assets to make it easier to locate a person lost in the water.

This is a three-phase prize competition, with a total cash prize purse of $255,000. These phases pay as follows:

     * Phase 1: $25,000
     * Phase II: 120,000
     * Phase III: $110,000

To learn more about this challenge, rules, terms and conditions, and to register to participate, visit the official challenge website at https://www.dhs.gov/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Freadyforrescuechallenge.com%2F.

For the Week Ending Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018

Tuesday, Sept. 11 (from Ron)...All hurricane preps are complete, so got out for a quick trip to upper North Landing. Caught eight dinks. Was nice to be out and may be the last trip for a few days.

Wednesday, Sept. 12 (from Ron)...Evening trip to Blackwater. Caught three shorts, with biggest a 1-6. Lost several more. Very "timid" bite; they seemed to nibble, instead of "strike" the plastics. Two of them hit the worm dragged over thick grass, and that is an interesting topwater strike. Nice breeze made for cooler conditions, and I enjoyed the cloud cover. Not
looking good for the next few days. Be safe, and best of luck with this storm.

Friday, Sept. 14 (from Ron)...When I decided to launch at Milldam, the wind was steady at 13.8 mph, with some gusts. By recovery at dark, it was blowing 20-plus, with gusts near 30 mph. The showers made for a cool and refreshing trip. I always keep some towels in the car for just such an inevitability. Kayak and gear got a good rinsing. Threw Z Mann Pop Shad Z weedless topwater over the grass and tight to shore. Caught two, each about 14 inches, and lost two more before the wind and rain forced a retreat. Was nice to get some topwater blowups. Water was amazingly clear. Found a few spots that I could hide from the wind, but Milldam runs east/west, and the strong easterly wind was hard to avoid.

Sunday, Sept. 16 (from Ron)...Tried some saltwater this weekend but only managed a few dink speckled trout and a few small bluefish. A few more weeks, and it should improve.

What a Difference New Bunk Boards Make

Actually, I should have said, "What a difference new bunk boards make if you wrap them with something like Caliber Bunk Wrap."

Spent about four hours with my boat mechanic yesterday, watching him replace my old carpeted bunks with new ones. The old ones likely had been on the trailer since it was new, six years ago.

At the urging of my mechanic, I compared the weight of the old bunks with the new ones, and it was amazing how much heavier the old ones were, as a result of the water that had been retained in the old boards and carpeting. The difference easily was a matter of several pounds.

Along with the new treated 2-by-6s, covered by gray-colored Caliber Bunk Wrap, I have all new hardware holding everything together, so I should be good to go for a long spell. This much I already can tell you: It will be a joy launching and recovering my Skeeter with these new bunks. I just have to remain alert to the fact it takes far less oomph to drive the boat to the nose stop now. I feel totally comfortable saying the days of having to "gun it" are long gone.

Another advertised benefit of Caliber Bunk Wrap is less strain on arms, ropes, pulleys, and bow eyes. And, too, it mounts directly over bare wood. In fact, buyers are cautioned NOT to install it over carpet.

When it comes to knowing how often you need to replace trailer bunks, there doesn't seem to be anything close to a one-size-fits-all answer available. My Internet research revealed some folks who say they have to change theirs every two years, while others claim to use the same ones for 15 or 20 years. It stands to reason the answer likely depends on how often you use your boat and, too, what kind of water you use it in. The one common response I saw throughout my research was that most people like to check their trailers once a year, usually before the start of a new season. And those checks usually include items such as straps, tires, axles, bunks, brakes--in short, everything.

You can't afford to try cutting corners with your trailer, 'cause after all, it's what takes you to the dance and brings you home afterward, as well.

Meticulous? or Anal? It Just Means You Always Walk Away Satisfied

Had a phone call this morning (Saturday, Sept. 15th) from my boat mechanic and long-time friend Wayne Hayes. He was asking if it was a good time to finish the bunk job on my boat trailer. At first, I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. I thought that job was complete.

As Wayne explained, though, there were a couple bolts he wanted to install. With the boat back on the trailer, he hadn't been able to put these two bolts back where they belonged. He ended up handing them to me and asked that I keep them handy.

The reason Wayne does all my boat-related work in the first place is that he's what I call "meticulous." Wayne simply calls it being "anal." The fact of the matter is that he doesn't do anything halfway, and that's true whether he's working on his own rig or yours. He keeps going until he's completely satisfied...and you are, too.

When Wayne works on my boat, I know it will be done right. Can't begin to tell you what a joy it is to have that peace of mind.

By All Accounts, It Was a Mighty Tough Day

Didn't hear a single dissenter among the 14 anglers in nine boats today. To the last man, they said it was one of the toughest days they've had in a long while. Today's field only weighed a grand total of 30 bass for a total weight of 57.04 lbs. and an average weight of 1.90 lbs.

Those who took home place envelopes included the following:

(From left) The team of Al Napier and his son, Chris Napier, took 1st Place. They weighed a limit of five fish that tipped the scales at 13.77 lbs., anchored by a 4.36-lb. big bass, which claimed the day's lunker award. Incidentally, today marked Al's fourth 1st Place finish in as many consecutive tournaments. He's on fire! I tell ya.

(From left) The team of Ken Testorff and Dave Anderson finished in 2nd Place. We also weighed a limit, with a total weight of 9.96 lbs. We didn't have a big fish.

Stan Krason walked away with the Mystery Weight award. He had one fish that weighed in at 2.72 lbs., which came closest to the weight drawn, which was 2.65 lbs.






Here is how everyone else completed the day's competition:

     * The team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter, five fish, 9.30 lbs. total weight, 3.80-lb. big bass.
     * The team of Bob Glass and J. P. Twohig, four fish, 7.79 lbs. total weight, 2.88-lb. big bass.
     * Gary Coderre, five fish, 7.08 lbs. total weight, 2-lb. big bass.
     * Jim Wilder, five fish, 6.42 lbs. total weight after a 0.25 deduction for one dead fish, no big fish.
     * Steve Bailey and the team of Jim Crist and Eric Killian didn't weigh any fish.

As a result of today's contest, four more anglers, including Chris Napier, Jim Crist, Eric Killian, and Don Carter, joined the list of those eligible to fish our season-ending two-day Classic. That list now stands at 15 fully-qualified anglers.

Congrats to all the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, provided Hurricane Florence doesn't have everyone running for cover then. Start time, as usual, will be safe light, with weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. I hope you can join us.

One Last Cast

No one in their right mind got very far from their water and Gatorade bottles today. It was so sultry you already could slice it with a knife when we pulled away from the dock about 6:20, and it only went downhill from there.

What little breeze we eventually got didn't materialize until we had been fishing for two or three hours. By that time, Dave and I already had moved locations three or four times, just so we could cool down a little. And we weren't the only ones who appeared to be playing that game. We heard and/or saw several boats moving around fairly constantly.

Of course, they legitimately may just have been trying to find some active fish, cause to say the bass were stingy with their bite would be a gross understatement--at best.

It remained that way throughout the day. Things were so slow I nearly had fallen asleep on the back of Dave's boat when my biggest fish of the day grabbed my chatterbait. Fortunately, I snapped out of it in time to set the hook on a bass that refused to stay in the water column. He easily leaped three or four times before I could bring him to the net Dave was holding for me.

I heard several fellas comment that they hope we get a break from some of this heat by next Saturday. Of course, we may have a new problem to deal with by then, in the way of Hurricane Florence. Reckon we'll just have to wait and see what Mother Nature deals us.

For the Week Ending Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018

Monday, Sept. 3 (from Ron)...Fished PAWMA this evening. Was a half-fishing, half-touring kind of trip. Caught a dink, a 1-6 and a 1-8. The 1-6 was the very first "tagged" bass I ever caught. The picture of the 1-8 has my all-time favorite catch in the background.  Caught that 71-inch, 135-pound back in 1997. She doesn't fish...yet. Spouse is getting her sea legs on the paddle board, and we had an enjoyable trip.

Tuesday, Sept. 4 (from Ron)...Made a quick evening trip from 6:30 'til dark. Final tally: five dinks, plus a 1-4, 1-5, and 1-10. Not too bad. Bite really turned on at dark, but the bugs were a pain. All fell to Zoom worms. Still no bowfin in my Bowfin Honey Hole...can't figure out why. Doesn't make any sense.

Wednesday, Sept. 5 (from Skip and Ken)...We both knew from the git-go that it was going to be a short day, if no other reason than it was hotter than blue blazes. With only an intermittent breeze, it quickly became unmanageable, and we subsequently threw in our towels and called it a day at 12:30. Each of us were able to boat a dink and dodge a skunk on the day. Skip caught his on a finesse worm; mine fell for a chatterbait. There were five or six vehicles in the parking lot today, and I saw several of them while I was out, but I truthfully never saw a single one set the hook on a fish. While I had hoped today's trip might provide some ideas for this coming Saturday's tournament, I must conclude that I'll be forced to follow my gut instincts. Maybe if we get the predicted rain, it may prove to be a decent "catching" day--hopefully better than today.

Wednesday, Sept. 5 (from Ron)...Fished 6:30 to 8 p.m. and only found a 1-9 in West Neck Creek on the U Vibe Worm. Buddy I was with caught a 19-incher, but that was all. Both hit right at sunset.

Thursday, Sept. 6 (from Ron)...The upper North Landing was a dinkfest from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Caught a 7-, 8-, 11-, 12-, and 14-incher (1-2). Also had something take drag before I got bit off. It most likely was a gar, as I saw a few in the area.

Saturday, Sept. 8 (from Ron)...Fished Tecumseh this morning from 7 to 11. Near the shoreline was an odd green slime that had the consistency of finger paint. It was sticky and tough to clean off my kayak. The water was very low and very murky. Only managed one 1-6. Spouse was out and about with the nice weather. Would have liked a few more clouds. Storms are coming, and we shall see what that brings.

Sunday, Sept. 9 (from Ron)...Got out before the weather goes south. Fished Milldam from Blackwater Road from 0700 to 1100. Very clear water and little debris, considering last evening's rain. Found a couple crappie on the XTS and Micro Spinnerbait. Two each 15-inch bass at 1-4 and 1-5, as well as two healthy dinks on the worms. The first two bass were gut-hooked, but I was able to set 'em free, and they swam away just fine. Gun shy, I ended up loosing about four, and one was a monster blow up as I dragged the U Vibe worm over the grass. Feeder creeks are healthy, with thick grass...and lots of action. Doesn't look good for an evening trip; think I will watch the weather!