Jerkbaits in the Middle of Summer?

Most anglers think a jerkbait's usefulness is limited only to winter months, but don't try to convince bass pro Brandon Palaniuk (seen right in a Wired2Fish.com photo) to buy into that philosophy.

"These are lures I use throughout the year," he said. "The difference is simply the speed at which I present them. Now during the warm water of summer, I work them really fast, as opposed to cold water, where I fish them much more slowly.

"I still use a jerk, jerk, pause cadence in my retrieve, just as I do in cold water," continued Palaniuk. "But now the pauses are very short, and my lure never really stops moving. It's constantly darting back and forth, so it probably resembles a fleeing or injured baitfish.

"Summer bass have a high metabolism rate, so they're feeding more aggressively than they do in winter, which is why the faster retrieve works so well. Bass must think it represents an easy meal, because a lot of quality fish hit it--not just small bass."

Palaniuk's favorite color for jerkbaits is a hue he calls mossback shiner, which features a darker back with a lighter silver belly. Pearl blue is another combination he's used successfully. Overall, he prefers to fish jerkbaits in clearer water, where he feels bass feed mostly by sight.

When fishing murky water, anglers often choose a darker color or something neon.

Many prefer suspending or slow-sinking jerkbaits over floating models in summer. Suspending jerkbaits usually weigh more, which generates greater casting distance, and they also stay in the strike zone longer. Floating jerkbaits usually get the nod when fishing areas where there are only a few feet of water between the surface and heavy weeds below.

Palaniuk favors using jerkbaits in summer over wide, often featureless, flats, where bass are roaming, rather than relating to any specific cover or structure. However, he doesn't hesitate to also use a jerkbait when bass are suspended or around cover, such as standing timber or deeper ridges.

"Jerkbaits will catch bass year-round," he assured. "And the reason they're so versatile is because you easily can vary your retrieve speed to match the conditions. I always have one tied on and ready to cast."

Nothing Beats DEET for Turning Off Bass

Researchers have shown that the human odor really has minimal effect on our favorite little green friends. If anything, the amino acid in human skin, L-serine, is slightly attractive to them. However, the active ingredient of insect repellent known as DEET is an altogether different story. Noted one researcher, "If you want to catch more fish than your buddy, just spray his baits with a little DEET."

It really doesn't take much more than simply touching a lure with DEET on your hands to contaminate it. This repellent's strength is evident in statements like this from researchers, "Though specifically made to repel insects, DEET repels just about everything that swims, crawls, flies, walks, or runs." They go on to say their work has determined that bass can detect DEET at concentrations of less than one part per million. And if you get any on your hands, the effects are long lasting--up to 90 minutes after the application.

Insect repellents, though, aren't the only thing that will turn fish off. Here are some other common culprits:

     * Sunscreen. The chemicals in sunscreens are truly offensive to bass. So if you use one, make sure you rinse your hands thoroughly afterward.

     * Fragrances. Many of the fragrances in soaps, for example, contain synthetic compounds, all of which are considered negative to fish.

     * Nicotine. Many an oldtime angler undoubtedly remembers hearing the myth that spitting a little tobacco on your lure makes it more appealing to the fish. The reality, however, is that tobacco is a negative factor.

     * Surfactants. Better known as detergents or soaps, these also are offensive to fish. Surfactants make oily substances soluble in water. Some are worse than others, but when mixed with water, they can do considerable damage to a fish's gills.

Other substances bass find offensive include many food and lotion preservatives, especially those derived from benzene.

On the other hand, some substances often thought of as offensive, such as gas and oil, have been found NOT to be repulsive to bass. Researchers have offered food dipped in straight oil to bass, only to watch them eat the coated morsel with no apparent reluctance or side effects.

And finally, what about the myth that WD-40 is an effective fish attractant? According to chemists, WD-40 at best is a masking agent...of both negative and positive odors and scents.

One of the Oldies But Still a Goodie

Among those bass lures you can fish anytime of year with success are spinnerbaits. The main secret is in adjusting the retrieve speed, but there are other recommended tweaks involved, too.

Because these baits traditionally are associated with spring or fall fishing, when the standard is to crank them along a couple or so feet below the surface at a medium speed, anglers sometimes forget they also can be used in all seasons, including winter. Bass notoriously don't want to chase down a lure this time of year, though, so the smart user moves the spinnerbait along slowly, with the blades barely turning...in a "slow rolling" pattern, if you will.

With water temperatures in the 50-degree range, try slow-rolling a 3/8- or 1/2-ounce spinnerbait. Use a slightly larger Colorado or Indiana blade on the front to produce more vibration from the lure. This vibration helps the bass feel the bait and also makes it easier to keep the bait off the bottom but still in the strike zone.

If the water is clear, select a white skirt and white blades, but switch to a white-and-chartreuse model with a gold blade on the front and a small orange or red Colorado kicker blade for dirtier water. Line size for slow-rolling depends on the type of water you're fishing. When working the lure through timber, try 20-pound test. For open, clear-water areas, use 14-pound test, and switch to 17-pound test in muddy water.

And finally, add a small plastic swimbait trailer for a little more bulk and profile, without overpowering the spinnerbait. The preference is a paddletail trailer, which allows the user to slow down his/her retrieve even more, while giving off a little extra thump. The speed of a spinnerbait or any reaction lure, for that matter, is an especially important factor when fishing cold water.

In the words of Chad Warren, an Oklahoma native and 2017 FLW Tour rookie, "Just think of bass like they are people. If  I'm outside freezing and shoveling snow off the driveway and you want me to play catch, there's a zero percent chance of my running a long ways to catch a ball. But if you throw it right to me, I'll grab it. That's how I envision bass in the wintertime."

Slow-rolling a spinnerbait may take a boatload of patience, but the reward is worth the wait.

For Week Ending Sunday, March 1, 2020

Monday, Feb. 24 (from Ken)...If my luck--actually, the lack thereof--today is an accurate barometer, anyone who chose to do anything other than go fishing made a smarter decision. Between about 8:45 and 1:45, I fished both directions in West Neck without a single tap on anything, including jerkbaits, crankbaits and a chatterbait. I didn't feel real good about my chances after taking one look at the water color this morning. With a threat of rain in the forecast and lacking a rainsuit, though, I wasn't about to make the run to Albright's, which likely would have put me on some better looking water. Accordingly, I just made do with West Neck and came up with my first goose egg of the season. The water temp when I launched this morning was 39, and it had risen to 43 by the time I quit. Only one other boat launched at West Neck after me, and he, like me, quit about the time a second round of light showers showed up. The idea of getting soaked on a day like today is anything but appealing to most folks, or so I would think. Sure don't want to come down with the crud, not with a new tournament season just around the corner. Need to stay healthy.

Monday, Feb. 24 (from Ron)...Returned to Milldam. Launched this afternoon, and the conditions were similar: dirty water. After about a mile, heading east from Blackwater Road, started to find some clearer water. Lost two fish and caught two bass: a 13-incher at 1-4 and a 15-incher at 1-14, both on the micro-spinner. The bites came in the main creek. The feeder creeks didn't produce a nibble. Sure was nice to be out, and the rain stayed away, so that was a bonus.

Friday, Feb. 28 (from Ron)...Caught the skunk at Back Bay Wednesday evening. Made for the third skunk out of the last four outings, so when I launched today, I wasn't expecting much. Fished Ashville Bridge Creek from 3 to 6 p.m. The bass were definitely biting, and I caught 10 between 3:30 and 4:20 p.m. (bite shut down after 4:30). Among them were a handful of 1 to 1.5 pounders, as well as a 2-5, 2-7 and a 3-7. Was pleasantly surprised to have the rod bent and some drag paying out. Nine fell to the micro-spinner, and one was foul-hooked on the XTS. Lost about three, and had a nice crappie on near sunset that threw the beetlespin. It was very cold and windy and the sunset recovery found me without much feeling in the fingertips, as I forgot gloves. But all was worth it.

Sunday, March 1 (from Ron)...Launched Munden Point Park at about 0900. Caught a single 1-14 bass at 1241. Covered almost six miles and didn't find a single panfish, which was the target. Of course, the bass hit my trolled beetlespin under a bobber on the ultralight, so was a great little battle. Rested a bit, then launched Ashville Bridge Creek (low water) at about 1600. Right about sunset, caught the targeted crappie at 10.5 inches. After the sun went down, it got cold, but overall a nice day.

IMO, the Price of Men's Toys Is Getting Out of Hand

Received an email from my friend Tom yesterday, asking if I would help him research the cost of some spiral-wrapped rods. Seems the best he could find to date was $199. I agreed to see if I could help and set about doing some online research.

As most of you probably recall, I recently did a blog post about the new line of KastKing spiral-wrapped rods that are coming out, supposedly with a price tag somewhere under $149. My latest research last night and today revealed a price range of $99.99 to $129.99 for a Spiralite Maverick spiral-wrapped rod. That was the best news I could give Tom today.

Now get a hello to the bad news I had to give him. Edge Black Widow spiral-wrapped rods (see photo top left) are currently retailing for...take a deep breath now...as much as a whopping $560 apiece. This much is a certainty: You either would have to think very highly of your skills on the water, or you must "have more money than brains," as the old saying goes, to make a purchase like that.

It's evident to me that Tom sees his status the same way I do mine, 'cause we neither one jumped online and filled out an order form.

Granted, I have paid $25 apiece for a few fishing lures, but that's a far cry from $560 for one fishing rod...even if it would enable me to cast from one bank to the other without a backlash. There simply isn't a soul on Planet Earth that could talk fast enough to persuade me to make such a purchase.

Tom thanked me for my help, then added, "It seems that I am better off using my Mojo bass rods." In similar fashion, I'll stick to my St. Croix Premiers. They're more than satisfactory for catching anything I've encountered to date on the North Landing.

Two Schools of Thought...So Which One Is Right?

Everybody seems to agree that, for best results when pumping a primer bulb, you should hold the bulb vetically--in the direction of the arrow on the bulb. And most also appear to agree the bulb's arrow never should be pointed downward.

Once the outboard is running, however, two schools of thought emerge. One says the bulb should be positioned so that it continues pointing upward (see photo right). The other school says there's no problem whatsoever with just laying the bulb horizontally in the splash well. Who's right remains a topic of discussion.

According to what I read in an online article titled A Primer on Primers, "It's advantageous if the primer bulb can be positioned in such a way that, during priming, it can be oriented vertically, with the direction arrow pointing skyward. This will allow gravity and the weight of the fuel inside the primer bulb to help with the operation of the one-way valves. If the primer bulb is oriented with the flow arrow pointing downward, gravity and the weight of the fuel in the line above the inlet check valve may spoil its operation, and the primer will not work properly. (If anyone would like to read the complete online article, here's the link: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/primer.html.)

"This subtle but important point--orienting the primer bulb skyward--is often overlooked in many installations, but it really helps the primer bulb do its job. In most pre-rigged boats delivered these days, the primer bulb is located within 12 to 18 inches of the engine." 

I will admit that this article is of particular interest to me. As you probably remember from last year, I had considerable problems that took up a lot of my boat mechanic's time trying to sort it all out. And I'll be the first to tell you that, except for one little problem, my Yamaha is running better now than ever before.

I now always prime the bulb with the arrow pointing skyward, and it nearly always starts right away. It also idles good, with absolutely no coughing, which it used to do constantly. And when I romp on the hotfoot to get on step, the response is instantaneous.

Once I arrive at a fishing spot, though, and spend a couple or so hours on the trolling motor, the outboard sometimes won't start very quickly when I get ready to change locations. After re-priming, the outboard usually fires, and I'm off to the races.

To this point in time, my primer bulb always has lain horizontally in my splash well, but I plan to rearrange everything to resemble the accompanying photo and find out if that makes a difference. All it can cost me is a couple of zip ties.

For Week Ending Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020

Monday, Feb. 17 (from Ron)...While I was gone, new fencing was installed in my yard, and the workers left a 3-to-4-inch gap between the fence and ground...more than enough for the little dog or cat to escape. I spent all day Saturday installing varmint wire along about 100 feet of backyard fence, all the while wishing I were fishing. Launched this morning about 0830 and fished Milldam Creek. Caught two small bass at 11 and 13 inches by 1030. The wind proved more than I expected, and because I was under-dressed, decided to transit the two miles back to launch site. Threw a micro-spinner all the way and caught a 2-4, 2-14 and 3-11 as a reminder of how much fun it is to feel a bend in the rod. During the trip, I threw 3-inch jerkbaits (XTS Minnow), beetlespins, and a shallow crankbait, but the bass only were interested in the micro-spinner. Lost one medium-sized chain pickerel alongside the yak but still was fine with the overall outcome.

Tuesday, Feb. 18 (from Ken)...Given the miserable weather forecast for the remainder of this week, I wasn't about to sit home today. Besides, my boat needed to be run a little bit. It has been several weeks since it was out of the shed. Took a little bit of crankin' to get it to fire this morning, but it eventually took off, and I eased up above West Neck Bridge and started fishing. Went through six different baits without having the first pass at anything I was throwing. That all changed, though, when I tied on a red craw crankbait. Before I quit about 2:45, I had boated a total of seven bass, including four dinks, plus a 1-2, 1-8 and 1-12. Also had a couple more pull off on this bait before I could get them to the boat. 'Twas a nice day, and I really enjoyed myself. Saw about three other boats on the water, including Rob P. and Dave, who were fishing together today. Don't know how their day went.

Wednesday, Feb. 19 (from Ron)...Missed the nice warm weather yesterday because of a doctor's appointment. Figured I would get out today while the getting was good but chilly. Fished Milldam from 3:30 to 5:30 and ended up with two dink bass, plus a 1-2, 1-4, 1-5, and 2-3, as well as a decent crappie and a nice slime dart. Was surprised the bite was good, considering the conditions, but I'm not complaining. XTS Minnow and micro-spinner were all I threw, and both were working. Oddly, the bass were in the bends of the main creek. I never even ventured into my comfort zone of the feeder creeks.

A Li'l Mo' Country-Boy Humor

If you happened to enjoy the item I posted yesterday, you hopefully will like this one, too. I'm going to begin with a couple of Minnesota jokes.

Ole is driving by his fishin' buddy Sven's place when he notices a crudely painted sign in the yard that says "Boat for Sale." Knowing that Sven doesn't even own a boat, 'cause they always had rented one, Ole turns around and drives into the yard. There, sitting next to the sign, is an old combine and tractor.

Ole says to Sven, "What da heck do you have dat sign for? It says 'boat for sale,' but it's a dang ol' combine and tractor!"

Sven replies, "Yeah, so what? Dey are boat for sale!"

In this next joke, a city fella goes down to Mankato to fish for walleye, and he's getting skunked. He switches to spoons for pike, but he still is getting skunked. He then throws some dip-bait for cats, and don't you know, the skunk was just continuing. About this time, he notices an old man in a rowboat a few yards away, catching a 3-foot-long fish that fights like mad and looks like a cross between a pike and a crocodile.

"That looks like fun," he says to himself, as he goes over to talk to the guy. "Say, whatcha catchin'?" he asks.

"Gar," says the old man.

"You eat 'em?" asks the city fella.

"Nope," came the reply.

"Why ya fishin' for 'em, then?" continues the city fella.

"Fun," said the ol' man.

"Hmm...would ya mind tellin' me how to catch 'em?" inquires the city fella.

"Fraid not," came the ol' man's response.

By this time, the city fella is gettin' a bit frustrated, so he reaches into his wallet and pulls out a $20 bill. He holds it out and says, "I'll give ya this if you tell me what you're usin'."

The ol' man looks him in the eye, takes the $20 bill, and says, "Fraid not."

Well, now the city fella is ready to climb into the ol' man's boat and beat him up about the same time as the ol' man's rod goes nuts, and he reels in another big gar. He reaches into its maw and pulls out a ragged wad of multi-colored rope.

"What the heck is that thing?" asks the city fella.

"As I've been tryin' to tell ya," said the ol' man, "it's a frayed knot."

And finally, there's this true-life story I plucked from an online website. It's about a man and his two sons who went on a fishin' trip with a Ranger bass boat they borrowed from the dad's boss, who just happened to own the company the dad worked for. The one son described this fella as "loaded--I mean millionaire!"

Said the one son, "We got to the lake, unloaded the boat, and made it halfway across the lake at midnight, only to have the boat then die. Naturally, we called the bossman right away...to no avail. After all, it was midnight."

Subsequently, the dad left a voicemail. "Dave...Uh..." stuttered the dad. "We started up your boat and made it halfway across the lake, but then it died. We know it has fuel, 'cause we topped off both tanks. Where is the switch? If you could call us back, we'd sure appreciate it." But just as he's getting ready to hang up, the dad adds, "We were nowhere near rocks." He thought by saying this the bossman would call back faster.

This threesome just had gotten towed back when Dave called and said the switch was between the dad's legs, just below the seat cushion. "OMG!" said the one son. "We felt so bad for the guys in the pontoon boat that had towed us all the way across the lake, we tried to pay them and explain that the boat wasn't ours, and we thought it was engine trouble. They just laughed at us (as they should have)."

The next day, the threesome headed back out to the shallows, where they lowered the trolling motor and went about catching some small ones. "Eventually, though," said one of the brothers, "we wanted to get on some bigger fish, so my brother got behind the wheel, with my dad in the passenger seat, and me lying on the front casting deck. I signaled to my brother we were good to go, so he started the 250-hp outboard. As it roared to life, and we got to moving, the bow started lifting up. Here we go," I thought, "but then water started dumping on me, and I couldn't see a thing. Meanwhile, my brother at the helm floors the hotfoot, and that 250 now is screaming, but the only thing really happening is that a lot more water is coming aboard. At this point, none of us could see anything.

"When my brother finally cut the engine, I glanced at him, sitting there, squinting his eyes. And my dad was all scrunched over in the passenger seat, with water running full stream off the bill of his hat. A full cigarette he just had lit is now broken in half, soaking wet, but still dangling out the corner of his mouth. There is not even the hint of emotion on his face. You might say he looked as though what just had happened was utterly normal.

"It finally dawned on us what caused the problem. We simply hadn't raised the trolling motor, and it was scooping water from the lake and dumping it all over us.

"To this day, I never have laughed harder than when, all was quiet, I took another look at Dad, saw that deadpan look on his face, and heard him say, 'Gosh darn it, boys! What happened to my smoke?'"

Laughter: A Good Tonic for Cabin Fever

Lacking for anything better to do, I was digging around the Internet today when I came across a fishing joke I'd never heard before. It went something like this:

A good ol' Alabama boy won a bass boat in a raffle drawing, and as he brings it home, his wife chirps, "What ya gonna do with that? There ain't no water deep enough within a hundred miles of here to float a boat."

He responds, "I won it, and I'm a-gonna keep it."

Several days later, his brother comes over to visit. He asks the wife where his brother is, and she says, "He's out there in his bass boat," pointing toward the field behind their house.

The brother heads out to see his sibling, who is sitting in the boat with a rod in his hand. He subsequently yells out, "What ya doin'?"

His brother replies, "I'm fishin'. What does it look like I'm a-doin'?"

The other brother then yells back, "You know it's people like you who give us Alabamians a bad name...makin' everybody think we're stupid. If I could swim, I'd come out there and whip your butt."

OK, maybe you've heard that one before. If so, perhaps one of the following true-life accounts will perk you up a little bit.

During a tournament, a co-angler bent down to push the boat away from a tree limb as she and her boater trolled past. Unfortunately, the branch broke, and she spun around, landing in the water. Said the boater, "For about half a second, it scared the crap out of me, but when I saw she was OK, I laughed my butt off. The bad thing was that it was pretty chilly out, and she was soaked. Being the kind of smarta** I sometimes am, though, I told her to look on the bright side."

"What's that?" she inquired.

"Riding 20 miles downriver in a 75-mph blow dryer," I cracked. "Needless to say, she didn't find nearly as much humor in that statement as I did."

In another incident, it was the middle of summer as an angler dressed in nothing but a pair of cutoff shorts fished the middle of a stump field full of Florida-strain bass. He was hammering them with a Culprit tequila sunrise worm, just 40 yards from a couple of old guys who were wearing out monstrous lake bream. Suddenly, a big ol' bass nailed the angler's worm and wrapped his line around an underwater limb.

"Being that I was standing on the very front edge of a 14-foot Ouachita johnboat with a casting deck," noted the bass angler, "I should have thought twice about putting the hand-controlled trolling motor on high to reach the fish, but I didn't. Consequently, I didn't see all the underwater obstacles. I got slungshot off the front and made a dive that would have impressed even an Olympian. I was only in about 3 feet of water and don't think my foot ever touched the ground.

"With rod in hand," he continued, "I dragged myself back into the boat...to a standing ovation from the two old guys who had witnessed the whole thing. I acknowledged them with a bow, as I laughed with them. Unfortunately, their laughter turned to dropped jaws when I finally got the 7-lb. 4-oz. bucketmouth that still was hung on the limb. I thought it was worth getting wet, as I slipped her back into the water, with those two old guys yelling for me the whole time to let them have her."

And finally, there is this account of an angler who was fishing by himself, with the wind howling at 40 mph or so as he pulled alongside the dock to tie up and get his truck.

Noted the angler, "I stepped onto the dock and reached back for the boat, only to find that it already had floated away from me. Now mind you, there easily were 40 people standing around. Looking in the direction of my runaway boat, I saw it was heading toward rip rap, downed trees, and tons of crap that could screw up the boat. It easily was between 9 and 11 feet away from me when I decided to throw caution to the wind, make a run, and leap toward the boat. I subsequently found myself with elbows hooked over the side and legs underneath. I kicked and clawed my way into the boat and managed to get it tethered to the dock.

"So, here I was, with people everywhere laughing. My jeans, sneakers, etc., were soaked. I had no choice but to go squishing my way to the truck totally embarrassed. And as if that wasn't bad enough, I had some guy hand me a flyer that read: 'We are giving a safe-boating course next weekend if you are interested.' For a moment, I wished I could plant that flyer where the sun didn't shine. However, I instead just laughed at myself, recovered my boat, and headed home."

Hope you're all feeling better now.

KastKing Unveils New Series of Fishing Rods

As reported by BassResource.com, KastKing, which is based in Garden City, Long Island, NY, has launched a new series of Spirale (French for spiral) spiral-wrapped casting rods. These rods feature American Tackle Microwave Air snagless guides on all-new-design KastKing rod blanks that are thin, light, sensitive, and incredibly powerful.

Five models comprise the new series. Power angler Cliff "Cajun Baby" Crochet of Pierre Part, LA, played a key role in their design for power-fishing techniques, jarring hooksets, and fishing heavy cover. All five rods in the new series accommodate a wide variety of techniques. Three of the rods use a new Toray high-strength IM8 graphite blank. The other two Spirale rods use a proprietary 70/30 complex composite material to enhance performance with moving baits.

According to Crochet, "Rods with spiral-wrapped line guides are nothing new. They've been around but usually were really expensive and/or only available from custom-rod shops. They always were a sort of 'underground thing'," he said. "What KastKing has done is to make them universally available at a reasonable price--an especially affordable price, considering their high-end engineering.

"The light weight of these Spirale rods is astonishing," Crochet continued. "There's nothing else like them. What's more, they don't give up anything on power. The advantages for the angler are more line control, less backlash, and more distance. The spiral wrapping of the guides allows the fishing line to follow its natural course, keeping your line away from the blank and eliminating slack. The result: increased sensitivity, right down to your fish hook, and the line hangs on the guides, making it even more sensitive... ."

KastKing Spirale casting rods reportedly will be available to the general public later this month, with an anticipated retail price "well below $149." KastKing also will continue to produce their Speed Demon Pro bass-fishing rods.

A Valentine's Day Poem for Fishermen

Collards is green,

My dog's name is Blue,

And I'm so lucky,

To have a sweet thang like you.

Yore hair is like cornsilk,

A-flappin' in the breeze,

Softer than Blue's,

And without all them fleas.

You move like the bass,

Which excite me in May,

You ain't got no scales,

But I luv you anyway.

Yo're as satisfy'n as okry

Jist a-fry'n in the pan,

Yo're as fragrant as "snuff,"

Right outta the can.

You have som'a yore teeth,

For which I am proud,

I hold my head high,

When we're in a crowd.

On special occasions,

When you shave under yore arms,

Well, I'm in hawg heaven,

And awed by yore charms.

Still, them fellers at work,

They all want to know,

What I did to deserve,

Such a purdy, young doe.

Like a good roll of duct tape,

Yo're there for yore man,

To patch up life's troubles,

And fix what you can.

Yo're as cute as a junebug,

A-buzzin' overhead,

You ain't mean like those far ants,

I found in my bed.

Cut from the best cloth,

Like a plaid flannel shirt,

You spark up my life,

More than a fresh load of dirt.

When you hold me real tight,

Like a padded gunrack,

My life is complete,

Ain't nuttin' I lack.

Yore complexion, it's perfection,

Like the best vinyl sidin',

Despite all the years,

Yore age, it keeps hidin'.

Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie,

With an RC cold drank,

We go together,

Like a skunk goes with stank.

Some men, they buy chocolate,

For Valentine's Day,

They git it at Wal-Mart,

It's romantic that way.

Some men git roses,

On that special day,

From the cooler at Kroger,

"That's impressive," I say.

Some men buy fine diamonds,

From a flea market booth,

"Diamonds are forever,"

They explain, suave and couth.

But for this man, honey,

These won't do,

Cause yo're too special,

You sweet thang you.

I got you a gift,

Without taste nor odor,

More useful than diamonds...

It's a new trollin' motor!!!

Attaching Some Numbers to the Bass Fishing Industry

According to published research (November 2018) of pro blogger Brandon Gaille, there are about 30 million active participants in the sport of bass fishing, which creates an industry worth $60 billion.

Gaille's research also shows the typical freshwater bass angler in the U.S. is 42 years old, earns a salary of $60,000 per year, and is married. He/she owns 14 rods/reels, a bass boat, and spends more than $2,300 on the sport each year.

Here are some other statistics revealed in Gaille's research:

     * The economic impact of bass fishing in the U.S., including economic output and indirect contributions, is more than $115 billion each year. (Bassmaster)

     * More than 828,000 jobs are directly supported in some way by the bass-fishing industry in the U.S. Anglers also generate more than $48 billion in retail sales because of their fishing activities. (Bassmaster)

     * Since 2006, the number of anglers who say they are going bass fishing has risen by 11 percent. (Reel Adventure Fishing)

     * To support his/her bass-fishing habits, the average angler spends more than $1,400 on fuel, hotel rooms, and restaurant meals over the course of a year. (American Sportfishing Association)

     * The FLW Outdoors College Series has more than 700 registered bass clubs today, compared to just 90 a few years ago. There are 8,000 student anglers who compete in 17 annual events within the organization, which includes a national championship. (Gear Patrol)

     * The Carhartt Bassmaster College Series has another 235 registered clubs and more than 1,100 registered student anglers. (Gear Patrol)

     * About 1 percent of the 8,000 anglers who participate in college bass-fishing events eventually will make it into the professional ranks. Money is one of the biggest obstacles that student anglers face. You need a boat, your own equipment, and the financing necessary to get to and from tournaments. (Gear Patrol)

     * In 2016, the nine pro Bassmaster Elite Series events had a $658,000 purse. Winners got to take home $100,000. Every angler placing through 52nd place won at least $10,000 from the event.

     * The top 50 in the Bassmaster Elite Series earn between $80,000 and $100,000 annually. Many are struggling weekend fishermen who max out their credit cards to pay the entry fees... . (Gear Patrol)

Gaille contends that "bass fishing is one of the strongest sports-related industries in the U.S. Although the number of issued fishing licenses is going down, the number of people who count themselves as bass anglers is going up.

"To offset the cost of fishing licenses (reportedly as much as $47 a year in a few locations), some states have begun having free fishing days, weekends or weeks to encourage more local outdoor activities... .

"There is one issue of concern for the industry. The average age of an angler continues to rise. Although 1 in 6 anglers is a minor, the number of children aging into adulthood and maintaining their love of bass fishing is declining. If that trend continues, there could be millions of dollars in losses and thousands of jobs cut out of the economy.

"For the next 5 to 10 years, however," concluded Gaille, "expect the bass-fishing industry to continue growing at the 2 to 4 percent pace that it has experienced for the past decade."

For Week Ending Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020

Monday, Feb. 10 (from Dave and Ken)...We figured we'd better hit the water before this next slug of rain arrives. Launched at 9 a.m., with the water temperature at 46 degrees and a wind that seemed to only get stronger as the day wore on. We spent the first three hours checking out the off-colored to downright muddy water in West Neck and points north before finally heading to Albright's, where we found the only clear water of the day. However, there were some spots in Albright's that also were off-colored. Before ending our day at 3 p.m., we had caught a total of five bass, with an estimated total weight of about 10 lbs. We started with a double--Dave had about a 3.5-pounder, and mine would have gone about 2 lbs. Productive baits were soft plastics and a Rapala Sub Walk. Saw Rob P. and Mike M. throughout the day. When we talked last, they had put two fish in the boat, but we never compared notes at the end of the day, so have no idea what their final tally was. Water temperature when we quit only had inched up three degrees to 49.

Memorializing the Mistakes of Anglers

You know those State Farm TV commercials where the guy says, "We know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two?" Well, Gary Nye (right), a physician assistant in the emergency room at Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, NY, makes a similar claim after having removed more than 100 lures from anglers' body parts over the last 20 plus years.

He has removed treble hooks from thumbs, arms, legs, noses, eyelids, lips, sides of necks, backs of heads (yip, I've been there, done that one and have the T-shirt)--in short, nearly every body part. "I've even taken lures off several patients' penises and scrotums," said Nye, adding, "those incidents usually occurred when the individuals were fishing and wearing small bathing suits, or skimpy, loose-fitting shorts with nothing on underneath. Alcohol usually had something to do with it," he noted.

And just like the State Farm TV commercials memorialize events with a trophy, the medical center staff memorializes the incidents by asking the anglers involved to let them keep the lures for posting on a bulletin board (left) for all to see. They began that practice back in 1990.

"Today," as noted by award-winning newspaper journalist and outdoors writer David Figura, "the more than 100 lures are displayed on two, side-by-side bulletin boards in the main lobby. One board shows lures taken from anglers from 1990 to 2000, and the other, 2000 to 20??. On top of the display boards is a sign that reads, 'The Ones That Didn't Get Away.'"

The display boards also include a hunting arrow with a razor-sharp broadhead, but Nye, nor other staff members, could remember the story behind it.

The lure display was the idea of Dr. Michael Pond, the former medical director, who is a fisherman as well. "Sometime in the late 1990s or 2000s," he said, "someone stole four or five antique lures from the case," which he went on to note were "absolutely gorgeous and expensive lures." As a safeguard against further thievery, the two display boards now are encased in glass and under lock and key.

According to Figura, "Nye has removed lures embedded in patients ranging in age from 2 to 90. In 95 percent of the cases, he claims to get the hook out without snipping the barb and pushing the hook all the way through. Instead, he usually begins by putting tape over the lure's other hooks to prevent further problems, then injects an anesthetic into the wound. The anesthetic serves two purposes. It deadens the pain, and it also results in fluid around the wound and the barb. He said he then grasps the hook with a needle-holding device, and with a little twist and flip of the wrist, the hook comes right out.

"Nye said not all the lures could readily be removed by emergency-room staff. There were a few cases where a hook went into the globe of an individual's eye. In those cases, the patients were immediately referred to an eye surgeon."

Every patient is asked if they want to donate their lure afterward, but not all do. Some anglers say it's their "lucky lure," and they don't want to part with it.

The Only Bass Lure Ever Banned Because It Was Too Good

With a single cast during a Feb. 22, 2014, tournament on Lake Austin (Texas), two brothers boated more than 20 pounds of bass, including one fish that weighed more than 7 pounds and two that were over 6. Furthermore, they went on to cull all three of those fish with bigger ones in claiming victory with a better-than-40-pound sack. The nearest competitors in the field of 137 other teams finished more than 14 pounds behind them.

Their winning lure? A YUM Flash Mob Jr. or FMJ. In other words, an umbrella rig--the only bass lure in history to ever be banned from top-level tournament fishing.

And for the benefit of anyone who hasn't bothered to read the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series rules, please know it also is banned from our tournaments.

As published in a Dec. 2, 2014, New York Times article, B.A.S.S. spokesman David Precht made it clear that it was the vote of the pro anglers that had led to the ban. "They feel it sometimes can be too effective and takes away some of the skill," he said.

While the umbrella rig has been banned from top-level tournaments, anglers across the country have learned that, just like other lures, there's a right time and a wrong time to fish one.  It's most effective during colder-water periods, from late fall until prespawn bass invade the shallows during the spring.

The larger, original YUMbrella rig can weigh up to 4 ounces when rigged with jigheads and swimbaits and is preferred when fishing for big bass late in the season when baitfish are at their largest. The main issue anglers have expressed about the YUMbrella is its weight. Often requiring longer, stronger rods, braided line, and the strength to heave it all day long, the full-size YUMbrella truly is a big-fish bait.

The lighter-weight FMJ is much easier to cast and fish throughout the day and is capable of fishing in water as shallow as a few feet. This feature, combined with willowleaf blades positioned at the halfway point of each outer arm, makes it more versatile, effective and appealing to anglers almost year-round. The FMJ can be rigged with 3- or 4-inch curly-tail grubs on 1/4-ounce jigheads, or with smaller swimbaits, such as the 2.5-inch Money Minnows.

One tip most FMJ anglers suggest is to use a swimbait that is slightly longer for the middle bait. It lags a little behind the rest of the school, and it or the bottom-riding bait is the one that will catch 80 percent of the fish. Some anglers suggest using four of the same color swimbaits around the outer wires and using a slightly different colored one for the middle wire to call out more attention.

Plus, there is no other bait better at taking advantage of any fish-schooling situation than the FMJ. Try it rigged with white grubs in the spring, and you'll out-catch everyone else 10 to 1. Or go after big striped bass, if you dare. Beasts weighing more than 40 pounds have been reported caught on both the YUMbrella and FMJ.

Staking Current and Future Tournament Success on Past Memories Is a Mistake

Anglers often reminisce about the mind-blowing action they once had, using a certain technique at a specific location. But planning your next tournament based on those memories is a mistake...or so says outdooor journalist and author Tim Allard.

"This way of thinking is a slippery slope that can lead to countless wasted hours," he noted. "Fishing memories also can stunt your learning. That time with Uncle Bob when the bass crushed football jigs is a distant memory, and today is different. In short, it's time to fish the present, analyze the facts, and make systematic decisions. Here's why.

"Water systems are dynamic. Weed beds change, forage levels go through ups and downs, fish move, temperatures and currents fluctuate from year to year, and so on. It's critical to forget about last time's success and focus on today. Here are a few things to consider when putting a pattern together for your next outing.

     * Spend time exploring with your electronics before wetting a line. Observe water temperature and fish location on structure and their preferred depth range. Also use electronic charts, like Navionics, to get a big-picture view of the underwater landscape and the structures likely to hold fish. Apply this data to start forming a fishing strategy and picking areas to start your search.

     * Begin fishing at a fast pace that you're comfortable with. Many times, covering water quickly with large lures will catch more and bigger fish. When this doesn't work, it's a hint that fish likely are inactive, and it's time to change tactics. Also try different speeds and styles of baits in both horizontal and vertical presentations.

     * Cover a range of water depths when sleuthing for fish. Same goes for exploring a variety of habitat areas. Certain days, fish hold on very specific areas. The trick is dialing in on their whereabouts.

     * Remember, too, that not all fish in the lake all do the same thing at the same time. Someone always takes home the win in a tournament by finding fish that will bite. Stay agile, but be thorough when exploring areas, and you'll eventually be rewarded."

Bass Fishing Gives Me a Pain

I'm speaking in the literal sense here, so don't go getting your hackles up, thinking that I'm getting ready to dump on our sport. I just wanted to get your attention. All I really want to talk about in this setting are the different kinds of injuries--some pretty darn painful--we may encounter while enjoying our favorite pastime. OK? Is your blood pressure back down to normal yet?

What got me to thinking about this topic was an item I read in Jay Kumar's latest issue of BassBlaster, in which he was relating the experience of an angler who started serious competitive bass fishing in his early 20s. He was only in his 40s when doctors first diagnosed him with fishing elbow. Following surgery for that condition, he went on to have arm surgery, multiple hand surgeries, multiple back surgeries, knee surgery, foot surgery, and an operation for planter fasciitis.

Said the victim, "All of those surgeries may not be the direct result of bass fishing, but I know it was a major contributing factor. And it ultimately caused me to stop competitive angling for slower-paced recreational angling."

Kumar subsequently issued this warning: "All you young dudes--these things creep up on you, man. Body's good 'til all of a sudden, it's not. Take care of yourself."

And I'm here to tell you that once you turn 60, all bets are off as to what kind of toll fishing may start taking on you. A lot is going to depend on how you've treated your body up 'til that point, coupled with just how lucky you are. Everyone experiences different things.

For me--and I've said this for several years now--an average 8-hour day on the water normally requires about 48 hours of recuperation time. It takes all those sore, aching joints and body parts that long to restore themselves to the point where I feel ready to go again.

In doing further research for this item, I happened upon an angler who explained his experience this way. "As I've gotten older, I have found more and more places where pain simply develops--through no specific accident or injury. It just happens. With a few visits to a physical therapist and an orthopedic surgeon, I've learned a few tricks that can help prevent these aches and pains."

Following is a digest of the advice the angler received from these professionals.

Fishing elbow. To relieve the pain associated with this condition, find an OTC anti-inflammatory medication that works for you. It's also suggested that you alternate between applications of heat and cold. Use cold to reduce swelling of the tendon; conversely, use heat to draw blood to the injury to promote healing. A variety of exercises have proven effective in preventing or reducing damage from fishing elbow. One such exercise is to hold your arm straight out in front of you, with your fingers pointed at the ground, and use your opposite hand to pull against the back of your hand pointed toward the ground. Next, rotate your hand, pointing your fingertips to the ceiling and again pull against it. This exercise stretches the forearm muscles and tendons. By stretching, you're also lubricating them, which allows them to slide and move properly, preventing the tears that cause pain...and can lead to a long recovery. Victims often will have to put the fishing rod down for two or three months.

Shoulder pain. This condition is a lot more complex than fishing elbow. The list of possible injuries to the shoulder joint is endless. Two very simple exercises help greatly and only take a few minutes. First is to rotate your arm around in a 360-degree rotation, trying to max out your reach from straight down to out in front of you, then over your head, and finally behind you. The reach behind you is the one that will give the greatest pull, and in the beginning, take it easy on your shoulder until you build up some range of motion. The next exercise involves taking a rag and throwing one end of it over your opposite shoulder, reaching behind your back with the arm you want to stretch the shoulder on, and grabbing the rag. With your other arm, pull the rag over your head, stretching the affected shoulder. Again, in the beginning, take it easy on this exercise because it can get really painful in a hurry.

Forearm tendonitis. This condition normally materializes in the form of a radiating pain or burning sensation that runs across the top of your arm between your elbow and wrist. This form of tendonitis is common in anglers who already have had fishing elbow and now are compensating with the use of their forearm through a change in casting or pitching tactics. Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done for tendonitis in the forearm, except immobilization. Downtime is the prescription. You either take a break, or it's going to hurt. Luckily, this condition is not as severe as joint tendonitis and will take only a week to 10 days to correct. You can use heat and cold applications to help the healing process along.

Back pain. More anglers suffer from this condition than any other problem. One of the best things you can do to help your back is to have a trolling-motor-pedal recess installed, thereby improving your posture immensely. Other things that can help manage back pain are core body strengthening, walking and stretching. Crunches, leg lifts, and pushups will help your core-body strength--nothing extravagant, just a few of each a couple times a week will help tremendously. Walking, the simplest thing you can do, will help improve your stability and strengthen your hip and leg muscles, allowing them to help support you better through the day. Stretching also has huge benefits. There are a multitude of possible stretches, with each designed to help different regions of the lower back. You should see a physical therapist before deciding on a stretching regimen to ensure you are working the areas that are going to benefit you the most.

Bottom line: As you get older, your tendons don't work as well. You have to start stretching before the pain to prevent it. If you're not in pain now, don't wait. Build a stretching program, and use it. Hopefully, you'll never know how important it is because you didn't learn what these aches and pains are. Learn from what all the anglers around the country are saying: Bass fishing has injuries, just like any other sport. However, most of these injuries are preventable if you start early. It's hard to believe when you're 25 years of age that, by the time you're 40, a simple pitch to an overhanging tree can hurt, but it will if you don't take preventive measures now.

In the words of one seasoned angler, "When I was 20, I could fish all day and be slightly tired. When I was 30, I'd get tired, but after a little nap, I was ready to go again. Now that I'm 40, there is a healing process, as well as a recovery time. Stretching, exercising and staying very hydrated seem to help with pain associated with fishing... . And, finally, always consult with your family doctor before taking on an exercise program."

It Pays To Look Where You Stick "It"

The "it" in this case is a gas nozzle. Seems a fella down in Florida got so excited about going fishin' with his buddies that he absent-mindedly stuck the gas nozzle in a fishing-pole hole. He already had pumped 30 gallons before he saw fuel filling the cockpit of his 18-footer.

At that point, he removed the nozzle from the holder and put it in the right place, then pumped another $40 worth of gas into the tank.

Hazmat technicians were able to siphon out most of the fuel. There were no evacuations and no injuries.

Turns out this fella's story is one of many similar accounts. One dude swears the same thing happened to him at a marina in North Carolina...with one major difference. When he figured out what he had done, he got scared and decided to unhook the battery so it wouldn't create a spark. The only problem was that, in the process, he accidentally touched the wrench across the two posts and blew himself clean out of the boat.

The good news is that the victim apparently lived to recount the story to all his friends. Thank goodness for guardian angels everywhere.

Found this item in the latest issue of Jay Kumar's BassBlaster.

For $19K, This 2004 Ranger VS22 Can Be Yours

This boat has no hotfoot, nor electronics. However, it does come equipped with a 36-volt Minn Kota trolling motor, new live well pumps, a Ranger cover, new seats and pan. The hydraulic steering also has been repacked. Bottom line: The boat is ready to fish.

For more information and/or to arrange to see the boat, contact Brian Stump at 757-438-3396 (cell) or 757-625-0736 (office).

For Week Ending Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020

It quickly became evident this morning, from the number of boats launching at West Neck Marina, that a lot of people were playing "hookie." As Dave said, "Appears nobody is working today." There easily were seven or eight rigs in the parking lot at 9 o'clock this morning and probably nine or ten at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Can't blame anyone for taking the day off, given the gorgeous weather we had.

Monday, Feb. 3 (from Red)... As anyone who knows Red Bruun will tell you, he's one mighty fine fisherman. At 9:15 this morning, he already had two fish, and when he quit at 3 o'clock, he had boated a total of seven. His haul included a 6-lb. big bass, plus a couple of 3-pounders--a good day by anyone's standards. So, my friend, I tip my hat to you on a job well done. You finished head and shoulders above yours truly, as well as anyone else I talked to on the water today.

Monday, Feb. 3 (from Dave and Ken)...The water color was pretty much what we both expected this morning, considering the weather we've had here lately. Lots of off-colored, dirty water most places. We spent the first three hours this morning, trying to find some fish in West Neck and Pocaty, to no avail. We finally headed to Albright's, where we found some good-looking water, and each of us managed to put one keeper bass in the boat on jerkbaits. Other than that, we couldn't find a bite anywhere, on anything. At least we got out of the house for a spell, which makes it all worthwhile. The water temp when we started this morning was about 46 degrees, and I saw 50 before we tossed in the towel at 3 p.m.