Showing Wounded Warriors Our Appreciation for Their Service

Today marked the third annual local celebration of USO Warrior Week and Fishing for Our Troops. As usual, it was held at Munden Point Park in Virginia Beach, VA.

Sponsored by Bassmaster Elite Series professional angler Rick Morris and Leebcor, with assistance from BASS Nation Director, Sid Ryan, this event highlighted a half-day of fishing for military members, lunch for all, and a small token of appreciation for all those volunteer boat captains (see photo above) who used their personal rigs to ferry the Warriors to various fishing sites along the North Landing River.

A Wounded Warrior and her boat captain heads to their first fishing hole this morning.

Leading the way at weigh-in today was this Wounded Warrior and boat captain duo, who claimed big-fish honors with a 5.9-lb. bass.

When the weigh-in was complete, everyone gathered for some down-home country music...

...and all the good food any group could possibly want after spending hours on the water in the boiling sun.

Then came drawings for a whole host of raffle prizes.

Not to be overlooked in today's festivities is the fact all Wounded Warriors received a fully refurbished rod and reel (of their own choosing)...spooled with fresh line and ready in all respects to go.



A fitting bottom line to the celebration today is the age-old favorite: And a good time was had by all.

I received the following note from Sid Ryan and want to share it here with everyone:

"I want to personally thank every fisherman who volunteered their time, equipment and expertise with the wounded warriors, who have sacrificed so much. Without the volunteers, this event would not have been possible. Although the fishing was tougher than expected, I think all the participants had a good time and enjoyed their time on the water."

For the Week Ending Sunday, June 2, 2019

Tuesday, May 28 (from Tom & Ken)...As I stated last week, a long-time friend and I had plans to spend a day on the water together this week, and today was that day. The conversation was good, and the fishing wasn't bad, either. Took my friend back to one of his favorite old haunts, and he demonstrated once again why he and his partner, Joe, from the old days, used to win so many West Neck tournaments. Even though it has been a long time since Tom last fished, he basically just picked up right where he left off. Between about 7 or 7:30 and 11 a.m., he boated somewhere around a half-dozen bass, including the two nice ones shown in the accompanying photos. At 11 o'clock, a slight, unadvertised shower came up, and with Tom's health issues, we didn't want to chance any downpours. Instead, we battened everything down and headed back to West Neck. By the time we arrived there, the showers had stopped. I helped Tom load all his gear, we talked a while about some more trips together in the coming days, then shook hands, and Tom headed home, while I put in some more time fishing the upper stretches of West Neck before calling it a day about 2:30. By day's end, I had boated five keeper bass, the biggest weighing only 1-8. I don't anticipate getting out again before our next tournament this coming Saturday, other than to assist with the Fishing 4 Our Troops event at Munden Point Park on Friday.

Tuesday, May 28 (from Ray and his partner)...We fished upper Albright's all the way to the end. Tried topwater, worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Nothing was happening there, but the week before, we caught several bass in the same area. We then fished other parts of Albright's and ended up with four bass, two crappie, and a bunch of perch. No size to the perch. Worms and Rattle Trap were the best lures of the day.

Wednesday, May 29 (from Skip)...He went early, knowing that he also was going to quit early because of all the heat today. He hadn't fished very long at all 'til my cellphone belched out a text alarm. Skip had sent me a picture of a 3.8-lb. bass he just had caught. Turns out that was the only fish he boated all day. I've always said, "Give me quantity or quality, but please don't give me a skunk," and that's exactly what happened today. Would imagine by now, Skip either is taking a nap, or lying by the pool, taking advantage of a little "eyeball liberty." Some old Navy habits are hard to break, and that latter just happens to be one of them. I still remember my Navy freshwater training cruise out of NTC Great Lakes boot camp to Quebec, Canada--boy! was that ever some outstanding eyeball liberty!

Memorial Day: A Time to Pause and Honor All Those Who Gave the Last Full Measure of Devotion

Memorial Day (or Decoration Day, as it used to be known) commemorates those men and women who died while in the military service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We spend time remembering those who lost their lives and could not come home, reflecting on their service and why we have the luxury and freedom that we enjoy today because of them.

If You're a Guy, and Female Store Clerks Start Calling You "Sweetie"...

It's a fairly safe bet that you have lost (even if you're like me and had very little to start with) your sex appeal. To put it another way, that voice you've been hearing in your head probably has been the fat lady starting to sing.

I got my wake-up call fairly early (or so I felt). I was only in my late 50s. At the moment it first happened, all I felt was indignation. How dare that young gal to look at me as if I was a member of the over-the-hill gang! A long look in the mirror, though, made me realize she was right. And more importantly, I knew it was here to stay, so I grew to accept it and moved on.

With the passage of time has come increasing offers from younger folks to help me do this, that and the other thing. Took me a while to get used to this concept, too, but having just passed my 76th birthday, I have learned to accept all those offers of assistance with anything and everything in general.

As a young fella, I was raised to respect my elders, and I always did so without ever expecting anything in return. It was common practice for me to provide transportation for seniors to and from church on Sunday morning and/or Wednesday evening, and I also took my grandparents to different places they had no business driving to themselves. In reflecting back on these things, I realize my life just has come full circle.

One of the things that sparked this post was a remark I found last evening in an online bass-fishing forum. It read as follows:

I made a bank trip to a small lake near my house last night after work. When I got there, I noticed an older man standing on the bank, holding his rod close to his face. I came by and asked him if he needed help. Seems he had gotten a backlash and had forgotten his glasses in the car. He couldn't see well enough to fix the backlash without them.

I offered to get his glasses for him. He gave me his keys, and I made the hike to his car, bringing back his glasses. He was very grateful for the help and was casting again in a short time. He explained that he used to own a bass boat but had had to sell it. He couldn't go out by himself any more. He also said he fished a few tournaments years ago but that his fishing buddies were all gone now, so that left him, as he said, "walkin' the banks alone."

He obviously was an avid fisherman. I moved down the bank, casting as I went, too. When it was almost dark, I heard him holler "Hey there, thank you again." I said, "You're welcome."

For the young guns just getting into this sport, I hope you always respect the older anglers you meet. Give them a kind word, and help them out if they need it. One day, you, too, may need a hand...perhaps while you're walkin' the banks alone.

To those of you who fish the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series, please know that I, for one, thank all of you for the many acts of kindness and caring that's evident at each one of our events. Whether it's lending a hand to older anglers getting in or out of our boats, helping us launch or recover the boats, or any number of other good deeds, it does me proud to be in your midst. Thank each and every one of you for always having our not-so-youthful backs. May you be blessed in kind when you reach our age.

For the Week Ending Sunday, May 26, 2019

Tuesday, May 21 (from Ron)...Been fishing saltwater lately, picking through a dozen or so flounder to find any keepers (16.5 inches), as well as taking a boat trip off shore for black sea bass this past Sunday. Went home with five sea bass (nothing over 2 lbs.), and they were delicious...just the right amount for three of us. Yesterday's best flounder of the season will be tasty as well. Also caught a couple small speckled trout and bluefish to 20 inches. Too windy today, and I need a break.

Wednesday, May 22 (from Ken)...Having no stomach for the Memorial Day Weekend or the Strawberry Festival, I gave myself a birthday present today and got in what likely will be one of the last quiet days on the water for a spell. Wasn't another soul in the parking lot this morning when I launched and shoved away from the dock about 7 o'clock. Had to sit at the mouth of West Neck and wait for a couple of "big boys" to pass but then ventured out into the channel and turned south. Didn't see another "big boy" until I was where I wanted to be, so it was a pleasant ride. The fishing started really slow. Had four different topwater baits tied on, but the fish weren't having any of them. Then went through a spinnerbait and a couple of crankbaits before I found one of the latter that would work. As luck would have it, the fish stayed on that same crankbait all day long. I ended up with a total of eight bass, including three dinks, a 1-1, 1-5, 1-6, 1-9, and 2-3. I also caught a crappie and one of Ron's prized bowfins, which I quickly released back where I found him. If today's catch was any indication, I have a feeling we'll be seeing fewer of the big fish in the days ahead. Even the carp and gar were subdued today. I plan to get out one day next week again. Looking forward to that outing, 'cause I'll be accompanying an old friend from bygone West Neck tournament days. We hooked up earlier this week and decided the best way to renew our friendship is to spend a day on the water together. He wants to use his boat, and that's OK with me. Have no qualms at all about just riding and holding down his back seat. Can hardly wait to find out what all he has been up to these past several years.

Wednesday, May 22 (from Ron)...Tides were wrong for an evening in the inlet, so opted for upper North Landing for a short evening trip. Weather was brilliant, but the bass, not so much. Caught a 1-5, 1-7 and a few dinks. They hit Senko, Flukes and topwater. One huge bowfin blew up but he missed the bait as they often do. Rare to see them actually jump and get in the air.

Thursday, May 23 (from Ron)...Fought the wind and caught a few fish in the evening. Had to put away the micro spinner, as it was attracting too many li'l white perch. Lost a big bowfin, caught a rare striper, and landed two dink bass. Plastics were not working due to the wind...just couldn't fish 'em. Threw some topwater around but had no takers. 'Twas a slow bite until the mosquitoes woke up at sunset!

Friday, May 24 (from Ron)...Fished No Name Creek this evening. The micro spinner was catching panfish, but I didn't want any. Also caught three dink bass and a 1-12. The action was kinda slow, but at least there was no river traffic or jet skiers to deal with.

Standing Up for Those Who Have Stood Up for Us

Received the following note and poster in my email yesterday from Sid Ryan (see poster below for Sid's phone number and email address), who still needs volunteers to help make the 2019 USO Warrior Week and Fishing for Our Troops events a success. As Sid noted, he's still looking for boat captains for the May 31 gathering at Munden Point. In his words, "This is an opportunity to take a service member fishing for a few hours and enjoy a day on the water." Here are all the details:

     * Volunteers need to be at Munden Point Park by 7:00 a.m. on Friday, May 31^st.

     * Please bring spare life jackets for the FFOT participants to use.

     * You are also asked to have a fishing rod and reel for the participants to use.

     * DO NOT PAY for the boat ramp at Munden Point. Boat ramp fees are covered by the sponsor.

     * Lunch will be served for ALL volunteers.

     * Last year, there were door prizes for the volunteers, and each boat captain was given a $50 Bass Pro Shops gift card by the sponsor. I anticipate that the boat captains will receive an appreciation gift again this year.

     * They are adding LIVE MUSIC at this year's event.

Psst! It's That Time of Year Again

Water mosscasin. Photo by John White.

With the warm weather, the fishing is heating up, and increased numbers of people are flocking to the water on weekends. It's in everyone's best interests to remember, however, that this time of year also is when lots of other critters start heating up and becoming active. Among those critters are watersnakes and cottonmouths (aka "water moccasins"). Here is some helpful tips on identification and behavior of these often misunderstood animals, as published in the latest Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries The Outdoor Report.

The distribution of cottonmouths in Virginia is primarily limited to the southeastern part of the state, particularly the southern regions of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, with isolated populations in Brunswick, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, and York counties, as well as the cities of Suffolk and Newport News. Watersnakes, on the other hand, are found statewide, in every county and municipality. They also occupy a wider variety of aquatic habitats, including lakes and reservoirs, streams, rivers, ditches, and even ornamental backyard ponds.

In Virginia, there are three species of watersnakes: brown, northern and plain-bellied. The northern watersnake is the most widely distributed, and the brown watersnake is the largest. It can reach a length of nearly 6 feet. Of the three species, the northern watersnake is, by far, the most misidentified as a cottonmouth.

Northern watersnakes (Nerodia sipidon) are brown to gray, with varying amounts of red, yellow and white. The body is thick and robust, with several blotches and crossbands on the back. Although the head is rounded in shape, they often will flatten their head as a defensive response, giving it a more "diamond-shaped" appearance.

Northern cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) also are a heavy-bodied snake. However, their coloration is more dark green to almost black, with several dark brown to black hourglass-shaped bands. The head is flattened and angular in appearance. Another common way to identify cottonmouths from watersnakes is how they swim. Unlike watersnakes that swim with their body just below the surface, cottonmouths float on the water. However, other species of nonvenomous snakes, such as the eastern hog-nose, also will float on the water.

Although cottonmouths put on a well-known defensive display, known as "mouth gaping," their aggressive behavior is the stuff of folklore and fish tales. Stories of them attacking boats and water skiers is pure fiction and the imagination of Hollywood movies and television. Those of you who are a little longer in the tooth may remember the famous scene in Lonesome Dove where a cowboy falls into a river and is attacked by a "nest of cottonmouths." This perhaps was the beginning of the urban legend of water skiers falling and being attacked by cottonmouths. In reality, cottonmouths are quite reluctant to strike and will usually choose flight over fight.

Something that many freshwater anglers have experienced is a snake falling from a bush or tree into their boat. This experience can be quite startling to even the most hardcore angler. However, an overwhelming majority of these incidents involve harmless watersnakes. Brown and plain-bellied watersnakes are particularly notorious for this behavior, as they can be found 20 feet up a tree, basking on limbs overhanging the water. Being heavy-bodied, cottonmouths are not very good climbers and seldom are seen more than a few feet up in a bush.

In the end, snakes just want to be left alone. According to naturalist Clifford Pope, from back in the 1850s, "Snakes are first cowards, then bluffers, and last of all, warriors."

Still Waiting for a Picture-Perfect Tournament Day

Wind, rain, low water, high water...one or more of these ingredients have figured into every single one of our tournaments thus far this season. Today, it was high water. Nevertheless, everyone found some fish to bring to the 2 o'clock weigh-in. The 18 anglers in 12 boats weighed 57 bass, with a total weight of 138.53 pounds. The average weight per fish was 2.43 pounds. Our average weight per boat was 11.54 pounds.

The following anglers took home money envelopes today:

Eddie Sapp, 1st place, five-fish limit, 17.53 pounds total weight, anchored by a 5.29-pound big fish.

The team of  (from left) Richard Hall and Dave Dozier, 2nd place, five-fish limit, 16.68 pounds total weight, anchored by a 5.58-pound big fish, which captured lunker honors today.

The team of  (from left) J. P. Twohig and Bob Glass, 3rd place, five-fish limit, 15.41 pounds total weight, anchored by a 4.37-pound big fish.

The husband-wife team of Nathan (not pictured) and Marjorie Gottsch won the mystery-weight award with four fish weighing a total of 5.98 pounds, which was closest to the drawn weight of 6.25. Their big fish weighed 2.44 pounds.







Here is how everyone else finished today's competition:

     * Steve Bailey, five-fish limit, 14.53 pounds total weight, 4.29-pound big fish.
     * The team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter, five-fish limit, 14.06 pounds total weight, 4.76-pound big fish.
     * The team of Dave Anderson and Ken Testorff, five-fish limit, 13.49 pounds total weight, 3.83-pound big fish.
     * Zack Rhodes, five-fish limit, 9.33 pounds total weight, no big fish.
     * Stan Krason, four fish, 9.17 pounds total weight, 4.13-pound big fish.
     * Skip Schaible, five-fish limit, 8.94 pounds total weight, 3.04-pound big fish.
     * The team of Gary Coderre and Josh McCord, four fish, 8.20 pounds total weight, 4.13-pound big fish.
     * Jim Wilder, five-fish limit, 5.21 pounds total weight, no big fish.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. Thanks, too, for the assistance of all those who helped me orchestrate today's event.

For planning purposes, our next scheduled event is Saturday, June 1, from safe light (somewhere between 5:30 and 6 a.m.) to weigh-in at 2 p.m. I hope you can join us.

One Last Cast

When I woke up this morning and realized the water conditions were very similar to our tournament a week ago, I was hopeful we might have a repeat performance. However, it took only our first stop to make me realize that idea was just wishful thinking. The fish came very slowly at first, and the baits that worked a week ago were nothing more than tools of futility today.

At day's end, I had no regrets, for we managed to catch some respectable bass, and when you've been on the receiving end of as many skunks as I have, you learn to appreciate days like today.

With all the North Landing big-boat traffic I saw today, you can be sure you won't see me on the water next weekend, which, of course, is the long Memorial Day weekend. You might find me cleaning up my boat, or putting some gas in it, but that's as close as I'm going to get to the water. The memory of our tournament on Memorial Day weekend last year still is vivid enough to make me cringe every time I think about it. Suffice it to say I didn't have much fun. However, here's wishing everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend 2019.

What's Cookin'?

A young Florida woman's temper would be the correct answer in an incident that recently occurred down in Pasco County, Florida.

Seems her boyfriend had been fishing for a few days, and when he got home, she hurled a large kitchen pot at his head while he wasn't looking. They were in the backyard at the time. Her reasoning? He had been fishing too much and not doing enough around the house for their young child.

The victim subsequently called 9-1-1 and reported the assault. As a result, 25-year-old Katie Lou Gottlich was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. She allegedly fled the house after the incident occurred, but Pasco County officers did find the pot in the backyard. They did not, however, see any signs of injury on the man.

Gottlich was held on a $250 bond and was later released from custody. According to Newsweek, she has been arrested multiple  times for domestic battery.

Wired2Fish Editors claimed the original byline on this item. According to them, "This (account) is completely factual."

When a Moment of Fame Hits a Snag

Maybe you saw the news report about a North Dakota angler's record-breaking catch. Tom Volk was fishing the Heart River on April 21, 2019, when he caught a massive 16-pound 9-ounce walleye.

Initially, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department posted an item on their Facebook page, congratulating the fisherman for "besting the old record by three-quarters of a pound." However, witnesses then came forward about how the catch was made, and an investigation ensued. The department found sufficient evidence to disqualify Volk's catch. They concluded the fish was foul-hooked and therefore could not be recognized as a state record.

The angler denied that his catch was foul-hooked, but that didn't sway the Game and Fish Department officials.

A rule has foiled more than one angler's moment of fame. For example, back in March 2012, a man named Paul Crowder pulled a 16-pound 5-ounce record largemouth from Lake Dunn in Arkansas. It was a bigger fish by one ounce, but a problem soon surfaced. In the course of verifying the new record, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission discovered Crowder's fishing license had been purchased hours after he'd claimed to have caught the fish. This fact immediately made the catch illegal.

Furthermore, officials hit Crowder with charges for fishing without a license. While he told authorities he didn't set out to fish without a license intentionally, that didn't matter in the eyes of the law, nor the record books.

There's also the case of Rob Scott, who was ice fishing with a tip-up when he caught a massive 52-pound 3-ounce lake trout. This fish would have shattered the word record for a tip-up-caught trout by almost 20 pounds, but just like the Crowder bass, there was a legality problem.

First, rules are tricky on Lac la Croix, where Scott caught the fish...mostly because the lake straddles the line between Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. On the Canadian side, one is limited to one lake trout per day. On the Minnesota side, anglers are allowed two.

In this case, Scott was fishing on the Canadian side, and before he caught the record fish, an Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources officer had checked his fishing license. That same officer noted Scott already had his limit with a 4-pound trout he had laying on the ice. It wasn't illegal for him to keep fishing, but it definitely was illegal to keep the massive trout he caught later.

When the officer learned of the record catch, Scott's story started falling apart. He confessed to giving the 4-pound trout to another angler to make his catch appear legit. However, the record fish was confiscated, and he was denied world-record status. Scott later pleaded guilty to the crime and paid $475 in fines and court costs.

The sad thing is, had Scott been just 100 feet away, across the Minnesota line, the catch would have been perfectly legal.

There's also the case of a world-record muskie catch back in 1969. Art Lawton caught this reportedly 69-pound 15-ounce toothy monster on the St. Lawrence River in New York. At the time, Field and Stream magazine kept the records for freshwater fishing, and they required a lot less proof than what is required now. Basically, all you had to do was submit the measurements and weight of the fish.

Lawton died in the 1970s, but the fish stayed atop IGFA records until 1991, when suspicions arose about a photo of the record fish. Detailed photo analysis seemed to indicate the fish was nowhere near the 64.5-inch length Lawton had claimed. In fact, it seemed the fish wouldn't even have hit the magical 60-inch mark.

During the investigation, a previously unknown photo of the alleged record muskie surfaced--one with a caption that indicated a weight of 49.5 pounds. What was more, interviews with some of the remaining witnesses, including Lawton's own family, didn't seem to back the near-70-pound muskie story, either.

With this much evidence, the IGFA and Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame struck the Lawton muskie from the record books forever.

One final case involves a monster smallmouth that David Hayes reportedly caught from big-bass factory Dale Hollow Lake in 1978. The recorded weight was 11 pounds 15 ounces until 1995, when an old affidavit surfaced, which claimed the Hayes fish only weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces. A local guide, named John Barlow, claimed to have stuffed three pounds worth of weight into the fish's gut. Hayes supposedly was unaware of the tampering the whole time. Barlow even passed a lie-detector test when questioned about the incident. With this new evidence, the IGFA disqualified the Hayes bass in 1996.

However, something didn't add up about Barlow's story. The Hayes bass just didn't look like a smaller fish. Critics pointed out how the fish's length and girth were consistent with a 12-pound fish. Further investigation turned up a witness who said Barlow wasn't even at Cedar Hill Resort, where the fish was weighed, on the day Hayes caught it.

The investigation also revealed that Barlow and the other men involved with the affidavit all had a bone to pick with Cedar Hill Resort. Most of the other men allegedly involved had passed by the time the claims against the Hayes bass were made. The kicker came in 1998, when Barlow's brother made a deathbed confession that Barlow's story was a fabrication, and the fish was real.

A lack of eyewitnesses and other evidence contrary to the Barlow story and affidavit claims led the IGFA to reinstate the Hayes smallmouth as the rightful world record in 1999.

The obvious moral of these stories is that things sometimes aren't always what they seem. Events happen either in or out of an angler's control that can turn a great catch into a total headache. I gotta admit one thing, though: They all sure make for some good reading. Hope you agree.

For the Week Ending Sunday, May 19, 2019

Monday, May 13 (from Ron, in Nawney's Creek)...Fished from 5 p.m. 'till dark. Water was flowing out at a good clip in the cool north wind, but it didn't seem to help. Got saved from the skunk with a pole-bending, drag-screaming, 7-pound bowfin. Also caught one dink white perch that barely put up a fight.

Tuesday, May 14 (from Dave & Ken in various locations)...With another tournament in the offing this coming Saturday, we decided to go on another scouting expedition. Can't say the results measured up to last week's standard, but we did catch fish (as evidenced by the accompanying photo of Dave holding up one of the largemouths he boated today), and that, after all, was our goal in the first place. At least now, we know what our options are and will finalize our plans come Saturday, after we get a look at all the conditions that greet us. The weather folks certainly had today pegged correctly; there were several tiny showers that lasted, at most, five minutes. Our bigger concern was those occasions when the wind would shift and start "blowing cold." We both appreciated the fact we had left home this morning with our jackets in tow.

Tuesday, May 14 (from Ron in Milldam)...Fished from 6 to 8 o'clock tonight, and the bite was very good. Was chasing panfish for the first hour, with way too many white perch in the 8-to-10-inch range. Surprisingly, caught two yellows perch at 10.5 and 12 inches. Got a couple crappie to 10 inches. Bass were hitting the SwimSenko; caught five at 1-1, 1-3, 1-7, 1-11, and 1-15. The bites were very subtle. At first, I thought they were nibbling panfish. Had to wait what seemed like forever before the line would move. Lost several as a result.

Thursday, May 16 (from Skip)...First, I received a text from Skip this morning, telling me how much he hates "bluebird" days. A little later, I received another text from him, showing off the 3-pounder (pictured at left) he just had boated. And finally, I got yet another text, explaining that he caught his first fish at 10:45, and then, between 1:05 and 2:30, he boated a total of six fish. Not sure if these numbers have changed Skip's opinion about "bluebird" days, but I certainly got the feeling he was more than a little satisfied with the day overall.


Friday, May 17 (from Ray in Albright's)...Spoke briefly with me after he had come off the water today. Said he used a drop-shot rig to elicit two strikes and land two bass. Couldn't get a strike on anything else. As I told him, at least he batted a thousand for the day and, most importantly, dodged a skunk.

Today Marked Our Biggest Turnout of the Current Season

Tell a fisherman that he/she is apt to get wet if they go fishing, and they will flock to the water like a band of mosquitoes. Take today's Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney for example.

Despite all the predictions we had heard for days, 22 anglers in 15 boats showed up for this morning's blastoff. And as I learned this afternoon, about four or more anglers showed up this morning for the tourney after all of us had shoved off for our honey holes.

And as for those anglers who fished today, they, for the most part, were generously rewarded for their efforts. Collectively, we boated 65 bass, for a grand total of 143.14 pounds, which translates into an average weight of 2.20 pounds per fish and 9.54 pounds per boat.

Here are the folks who finished in the money today:

(From left) Rob Peppers and Don Carter claimed 1st place with five fish weighing 17.40 pounds, anchored by a 5.09-pound bass, which garnered them the day's lunker prize.

(From left) Dave Anderson and Ken Testorff finished in 2nd place with five fish weighing 16.92 pounds. Their kicker fish was a 5.06-pound bass.

(From left) Steve Bailey and Bobby Moore secured 3rd place with a five-fish limit weighing 13.67 pounds. Their big fish tipped the scales at 3.58 pounds.

Zack Rhodes claimed 4th place with a five-fish limit weighing 11.62 pounds (after a 0.25 deduction for one dead fish). He didn't weigh a big fish.

Winner of the mystery-weight award was Nathan Gottsch. He had two fish weighing 3.17 pounds, which was closest to the weight drawn: 2.95 pounds. He didn't have a big fish.




Here is how everyone else finished the competition:

     * Stan Krason, five fish, total weight 11.55 pounds, 3.17-pound big fish.
     * Chris Napier, five fish, total weight 10.80 pounds, no big fish.
     * Gary Coderre, five fish, total weight 10.50 pounds (after 0.25 deduction for one dead fish), 4.82-pound big fish.
     * Skip Schaible, five fish, total weight 9.45 pounds, 3.00-pound big fish.
     * Wayne Hayes and Mike White, five fish, total weight 8.57 pounds, 2.55-pound big fish.
     * Andy and Diana Morath, five fish, total weight 8.55 pounds, no big fish.
     * Chris Fretard and Mike Miller, five fish, total weight 7.82 pounds (after 0.25 deduction for one dead fish), no big fish.
     * Rusty Girard, five fish, total weight 7.16 pounds (after 0.25 deduction for one dead fish), no big fish.
     * Jim Crist and Eric Killian, three fish, total weight 5.96 pounds, no big fish.
     * J. P. Twohig didn't weigh any fish.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. Let me also express my gratitude to all those who helped orchestrate today's event.

For planning purposes, our next scheduled event is next Saturday, May 18. Tournament hours will be safe light (about 5:45 or 6 o'clock) to weigh-in at 2 p.m. Hope you can join us.

One Last Cast

I felt certain I would get wet before today's tournament weigh-in results were recorded, and while I ultimately did get wet, it was my own fault. As usual, I got involved in conversations with some of my friends afterwards, and before I realized it, raindrops were falling on my head.

I hustled around and quickly had my boat parked in its storage shed and was headed home for a much-needed shower.

As "Dynamo" Dave and I learned today, it sometimes does help to pre-fish some areas before a tournament. We went on a scouting expedition this past Tuesday, and then returned to those areas today. To our delight, quality fish were still hanging around. In looking back at how today turned out, I'm convinced part of our success can be chalked up to the fact we didn't wear the fish out last Tuesday. Instead, we moved on to a new spot after catching only a couple of fish at each site. If we had sat there and tried to give all the fish a sore jaw, I feel certain today would have turned out much differently.

For the Week Ending Sunday, May 12, 2019

Monday, May 6 (from Jim, on Lake Gaston)...Had a total of six today--four keepers and two dinks. Also had two come off on the way to the boat--perhaps a result of my being a little rusty. All but one came on the ol' reliable French Fry. One of the two 1-9s grabbed the Whopper Plopper. Only fished about five hours, from 2 to 7 p.m. I saw 79-degree water today. It's a bit stained/off-color, especially in some coves. Weather-wise, it was a nice day, with a bit of a breeze but very few boats. They have dropped the water a little. Felt good to finally get on the water and find some fish.

Tuesday, May 7 (from Jerry, in West Neck Creek)...My friend Eddie and I fished today for the first time since 2017. We fished from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from the bridge north, even past the Indian River Bridge. We only managed three fish. Eddie got a nice keeper (as reflected in one of the attached photos), and I got a 13 3/4-incher (also in one of the photos) on a watermelon fluke. Nearly wet my britches when I saw what I thought was a gator coming toward us. Thank God, it turned out to be only a stump. [Happy to hear from you again, Jerry, after a long absence. Here's wishing you and Eddie Tight Lines! Bless you, my friend.]

Tuesday, May 7 (from Dave & Ken, who ran all over the place)...That's what you do, though, when you're checking out potential spots for this coming Saturday's tournament. Gotta be careful here, as Dave cautioned me, to not give away the farm in tonight's recap of our trip today. Let's just say we caught some fish, the best five of which would have weighed about 12 lbs. 'Tweren't any big ones in the bunch, so our game plan is subject to last-minute changes, in hopes of being able to find a kicker fish somewhere Saturday before the scheduled 2 p.m. weigh-in.Weather was gorgeous, conversation was light-hearted, and "Dynamo" Dave (as I have come to think of him), as always, was good company.

Tuesday, May 7 (from Skip, who isn't saying where he was)...Had another good day on the water. Caught a total of six bass--all keepers--but no large ones. I had some nice bass on but lost them. I had one come up behind my lure, and it looked like a submarine coming after the bait. I got excited and tried to set the hook too fast.

Tuesday, May 7 (from Ron, at ???)...Caught over 20 panfish this evening (lost count after the first 20), including yellow perch, white perch, crappie, and sunfish. They were on fire. None were over 10 inches, though. They were hitting beetlespins, micro spinnerbaits, and a small Pop R. Was surprised there were no bass or chain pickerel, as they tend to hang out in the same area. Am ready to shift to salt water and get some food!

Wednesday, May 8 (from Jim, on Lake Gaston)...Things sure picked up after 4 o'clock today. I fished until 7 p.m. and ended up with 10 total, including the two pictured (a 2-12 and a 2-14), plus a 1-2, 1-6 and 1-7. The other five were 10-to-11-inch dinks. Every fish came on the French Fry. Water temp was 79.8 degrees. They were bringing the water up a bit all day. Oh, I also should mention that I missed my share of fish today. The sneaky devils were just swimming along with the FF off to the side, and I was slow to realize they were there. I happened to notice the wind went slack calm after 6 p.m., so I grabbed my double-action side cutters and headed back to a buoy that claimed one of my Whopper Ploppers Monday. Cut off the hook points, so all I need to do now is replace the hooks, and I'll be back in business. All in all, it was a pretty good day. The predicted nasty weather never did show up. Hope to make it to the mouth of Pea Hill in the morning. Still looking for Bubba. I'm tired, but it's a good tired. Enjoyed my day. {A much deserved one. Well done, my friend!}

Wednesday, May 8 (from Ron, at ???)...Still chasing the panfish, but got a couple I wasn't expecting. Thought I had a snag while throwing the Johnson Silver Minnow, but it turned out to be a drag-screaming 4-3 bass. Also caught an 11-inch white perch, as well as a few 8-inchers, and ended the night with a 2-13 bass on the Whopper Plopper. Gar were swiping at the WP, but none of them got hooked. I knew the white perch love the Silver Minnow, but didn't expect that big, drag-screaming bass.

Wednesday, May 8 (from DonMc on Back Bay)...Yo, Ken, hope you've been spankin' 'em. The big nannys are on the beds. I fished Back Bay today. Started off slow, then it turned on, and I lipped 16 fish, including one at 4 lbs. and another at 6 lbs. Sorry for the Ninja selfie. I don't want to deal with skin cancer (don't blame you, 'cause I just handed the dermatologist another pound of flesh from my face the same day you were fishing). Trying to get in another trip Thursday morning, but got a couple of honey doos first.

Thursday, May 9 (from Skip; he's not saying where he was)...All he is saying is that he caught eight fish, with seven of them keepers. He also says he lost a bunch of fish. Accompanying photos show his smallest and largest (2.6 lbs.) today.



Thursday, May 9 (from Ron, in Albright's)...Picked the wrong location for the stiff SE winds. Fished 'till just before dark (forgot my headlamp) and caught two bass (a 1-1 and a 1-2), one 10-inch crappie, and several 8-inch white perch. Think the bite would have improved if I had stayed out later. The dereaded jet skiers were out in numbers. Haven't fished there in a long time, and now I remember why.

Friday, May 10 (from Jim, on Lake Gaston)...In this final report of the trip, boat is on the trailer but still needs to be wiped down. I fished from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stayed way in the back of Pea Hill. Was going to the mouth, but when I found a stiff breeze coming up the creek, I turned and ran with it. Caught a dink and a 1-4. Got to "fess up": I lost/missed more than I caught. Had two good keepers come unbuttoned on the way to the boat. Both were acrobats. One was nearly under the boat before I felt him. Another one got tangled up in the Yamaha's lower unit. It didn't take long to realize it was Friday when I found myself shadowed by two jet skis, one with three gals on it, the other with three dudes on it. They both were trying to tow a skier, so they of course had to take turns running back and forth alongside me. I finally ducked into a cove to get away from them, even though it meant I had to give up the pleasant scenery. There were lots of fishermen, and the crazies were arriving. My plan is to pack and load all I can tonight, because showers are in the morning forecast and most of Sunday.

Friday, May 10 (from Ron at ???)...Fished from 6 'till 8:30 p.m. Soon after launching, caught a 2-1 on a Senko, and it looked promising. An hour later, caught a world-record tiniest crappie. That was all. High water is not my friend.

Saturday, May 11 (from Ron at ???)...Fished from 0730 to 1230. From about 0830 to 1030, the bite was on fire. Had beetlespins trolled port and starboard while throwing the micro spinner. Had double and triple hookups for a sold two hours. Must have caught 60 or 70 small white perch between 5 and 8 inches. Did manage five of 'em at 10 to 11.5 inches for the stringer. Caught five 11-inch crappie, as well as a few shorter ones. Also caught three bass (not targeted) at 1-12 and two dinks. Ended the day with a gar that destroyed my beetlespin. Incidentally, I learned that Munden Point Park now allows boaters to launch for free.

Saturday, May 11 (from Don Mc on the Northwest River)...Water was a bit high, which makes the places I like to fish accessible. Surprisingly, the boat traffic was way below normal for a Saturday in May. They all must have gone south to Tulls Bay and beyond. Tried out a 30-year-old frog bait that hadn't seen water in 27 years but still commands top-tray tackle-box honors: the Strike King Grass Frog. Caught one real quick, then put it back (gar were everywhere doing their spring shoreline torment). Caught eight more, with one being a decent 4-pounder. This frogging thing is an unhealthy obsession. My first bass-fishing experiences were in Back Bay in 1978, when it still was in its heyday. Didn't have two nickles to rub together, but I had a paper route and collected aluminum cans (Budweiser in a can was REAL popular in Bay View and Ocean View in those days). Borrowed a 9.8 Mercury and rented a wooden boat from Davis's for five clams a day. No trolling motor, which didn't matter, 'cause the grass was so thick. Johnson's Spoon and Devil's Horse were the main players. What I wouldn't have done to have had a couple modern-day hollow-body Live Target frogs back then. These 40+ years later, I still love that topwater smash (nothin' better is the way a lot of guys see it). To quote a local celeb from the past, Jeff Dane, as he always ended his TV fishin' show, "Tight Lines!"