For Week Ending Sunday, May 3, 2020

Tuesday, April 28 (from Ron)...Scored a personal best speckled trout this evening. Was targeting bluefish and throwing topwater. Serious blast and a half! Took photo and released my first citation speck. Bluefish are starting to show their teeth.

Wednesday, April 29 (from Bob)...Afternoon Ken. I follow your blog regularly and thought I might share this with you from this morning. Fished north of the bridge on West Neck. Wasn’t expecting much with the water gauge bouncing around as much as it has the past couple of days, but nice surprise. (Glad to receive your report, Bob. Hope you find your way to keeping 'em coming in the days and months ahead. I welcome all inputs like this.--Ken)

Wednesday, April 29 (from Ron)...Fished Tecumseh this evening and caught 2 each 1-7s and a 3-5. Snakes were out in force. Had a Senko snagged in a cypress branch, gave a tug and saw something plop down in the water. Upon closer inspection, there were three coiled snakes resting on the branches, so I cut that line and went my way. Saw two swimming along with all body floating. All the bass fell to SwimSenkos. Tried some topwater, but there was no interest.

Saturday, May 2 (from Ron)...Covered just over nine miles in almost eight hours of fishing and was spent! Landed 11 bass and missed at least that many more. Was using a jig with weedguard and a craw. Bass were hitting it well, but I think the weedguard caused all the misses. Best three were a 2-14, 2-15 and a 4-8.

Saturday, May 2 (from Andy)...Had a little friendly competition today with a friend and ended up catching around 30 bass. Here are my best five of the day. I estimated the total weight at about 20 lbs...give or take. My biggest (at far right) tipped the scales at 6.76 lbs. It probably was one of my best days on North Landing. Well Done! Andy. You'd have been hard to beat if our scheduled tournament today had happened. --Ken

Martens Home From 2nd Brain Surgery

Aaron Martens' second surgery on April 22--to remove a quarter-sized tumor at the base of his skull, against the brain stem--was deemed "a total success," and he was released the following day, two days earlier than anticipated. According to the patient, the incision made in his skull during the first procedure on April 6 had almost fully healed by the time the second surgery was performed 16 days later.

And despite bouts of intense post-operative pain caused by swelling, follow-up MRIs and testing show that Martens is healing well, following the second procedure.

"My doctor says that he's never seen anybody heal like that," said Martens. "I think people know the amount of physical activity and the crazy amount of work that I do to stay fit and healthy."

Martens will continue treatment with radiation and chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining dangerous cells associated with he two tumors and to ward against similar tumors spreading to other parts of his brain. He's eating to gain weight, is walking daily with his wife, Lesley, and children, Jordan and Spencer. He's hopeful to be cleared soon for even more vigorous activity to help maintain his strength for the times ahead.

"A major part of the radiation is the healing--that's the part which is so hard on your body," said Martens. "But the fact I do heal so fast is a plus for my radiation and chemo. The healing process from radiation is what causes people to want to give up because it just makes you feel awful, but Lesley and I are working on my diet and health, so I'm as ready for it as I can be.

"A lot of people who are fighting the same things have reached out, and they've been sharing with us all the little things they've learned about it...certain things to avoid and little things you can do to help. It's been extremely humbling...the amount of love and thoughts and prayers that people have shared with my family. When I was going under the second time, knowing that so many people cared about me was just amazing. It brought me to tears," explained Martens.

"Lesley, the kids, and I are ready to get through this...I know we will...I have too much good going on in my life not to," Martens concluded.

Just learned last evening that bass pro Shaw Grigsby was scheduled to undergo surgery this morning at 7:30. According to a short article in Bassfan, doctors recently found cancer in his kindeys. With early discovery, he is expected to be back fishing in about four weeks.

I'm Back on the Water Again (Keepin' My Fingers Crossed)

With a new set of head and exhaust gaskets, it looks like I'll be back fishing sometime this next week. At least, the spark plugs no longer are showing any water, the boat idles like a champ, and it doesn't cut off when you put it under a load either. All that remains to be done now is to pay my friend for his labor bill. I've already settled up the parts bill.

When Wayne completed the work today, we both had grand plans to take the boat to West Neck Marina and take her for a ride, but it took only a cursory look around the parking lot to realize that wasn't a good decision...by any stretch. There were cars and trailers parked every which way, with no rhyme or reason to any of it...and still more turning into the parking lot nearly every minute. In short, it's what one can typically expect to happen when no one is minding the store.

Someone always needs to be in charge...and God help you if you happen to be in a foreign country, trying to communicate with local business folks when you don't understand their language, nor they yours. I still remember an occasion many moons ago when I was assigned as public affairs officer for Commander Middle East Force in Bahrain. I was tasked with preparing a "Welcome Aboard" package for the admiral to send everyone with orders to his command. After several weeks of horrible communications back and forth between the local printer and me, I was jumping for joy the morning I finally saw the printer's delivery truck coming down the pier toward the flagship LaSalle.

My joy quickly turned to disdain, however, when I realized that the considerable communications difficulties we had experienced suddenly had become a nightmare. Instead of providing the requested 1,000 copies, the printer had interpreted the request to be for 10,000 copies. And the bill was a real "bank buster." Thankfully, the admiral was a level-headed guy, and he managed to resolve the dilemma without creating an international incident.

In the short time we were at West Neck, I witnessed several cars with trailers simply drive down around the loop, come back up the other side, and head on down the road, looking for somewhere else to launch...by far, the best choice under the circumstances.

Bass Fishing Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 Announced Two Days Ago

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 is scheduled to be inducted in ceremonies at Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, MO, on Thursday, Sept. 24. This new class includes two Bassmaster Classic winners, Bryan Kerchal (top left in the above collage) and Jay Yelas (bottom left). Also included are three bass-fishing industry innovators: lure designer James Heddon (top right), noted bass-fishing media and professional fishing figure Steve Bowman (bottom right), and fishing educator Ron Lindner (bottom center).

Bryan Kerchal was the first Bassmaster Classic champion to emerge directly from the B.A.S.S. Nation. He was introduced to the sport through a neighbor and was self-taught until he joined the Housatonic Valley Bassmasters. Through that B.A.S.S.-affiliated club, he qualified for the state championship tournament and made the 12-man Connecticut team. Kerchal qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in 1993 and 1994, as well as the 1993 and 1994 Bassmaster Classics, making him the first to defend a B.A.S.S. Nation title and qualify for the Classic, as an amateur, twice. Tragically, Kerchal was killed in a commercial plane crash just five months after winning the Classic.

Jay Yelas is one of a handful of anglers to win the Angler of the Year title on both the Bassmaster and FLW tours. He accomplished the former in 2003, fresh on the heels of winning the 2002 Bassmaster Classic, and earned the latter in 2002 and 2007. He also is one of the few to have won more than a million dollars on each tour in an ongoing career in which he qualified for 16 consecutive Classics and 11 Forrest Wood Cups. Yelas served for 10 years on the board of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation and now is executive director of the organization. He entered his fourth decade as a professional angler in 2019, when he rejoined the Bassmaster Elite Series.

James Heddon, credited with the invention of the first wooden-bodied artificial lures, helped to revolutionize bass. Many of his lures remain popular today, including the Zara Spook, River Runt, Meadow Mouse, and Lucky 13. His products' origin story--that a whittled piece of wood thrown into the water produced a vicious strike--led to creation of the first commercially-successful artificial lures, and a namesake company that has stood the test of time.

Steve Bowman, a journalist and tournament innovator, has devoted his career to promoting bass fishing. As outdoor editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, he used his popular column as a voice to rally anglers around projects that would protect and/or promote fishing and hunting. In 2000, he helped launch ESPNOutdoors.com, where he was instrumental in changing the way Bassmaster events were covered and viewed. His ideas set the tone for up-to-the-minute tournament coverage. He was one of three men tasked with creating College Bass Fishing in 2003, which evolved into the Bassmaster College Series. He is a member of the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame and the Waterfowl Hall of Fame. He has served on the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board of Directors since 2012.

Ron Lindner has been an exceptional multi-species tackle innovator and teacher in print and on TV since the 1960s. He and his brother, Al, invented and marketed numerous lures. They also created the ultra-successful In-Fisherman network, which included a magazine, radio show, and television program. The brothers also created the F+L+P=Success (Fish+Location+Presentation=Success) formula as a tool to help people catch fish. In his free time, Lindner participated in Bassmaster events and was an innovator in bass-fishing techniques on northern natural lakes and rivers. He also co-authored 10 books and owns multiple patents. Ron has been inducted into the Normark Hall of Fame and the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and currently co-owns the fishing TV show "Angling Edge." With his induction, he and his brother and long-time partner, Al, become the second set of siblings in the Hall of Fame, joining Billy and Bobby Murray.

Another Legendary Bass Fisherman Enters the Pearly Gates

I'm talking, of course, about Charlie Campbell, 87, who passed on April 19, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO.

Born March 5, 1933, in Salem, AR, Charlie was a U.S. Army veteran and served in Korea during the Korean War. On June 3, 1956, he married Wanda Mathews at Redbank Baptist Church in Goodhope, MO. They had two daughters: Susie and Cindy.

Charlie began his fishing career in 1958, as a fishing guide on Bull Shoals Lake. It was during that time that he developed the "CC Spinner Bait."

His success in topwater fishing also helped bring back the Zara Spook. He always said "the biggest error many anglers make when they work with a Spook is that they overwork it and move it too rapidly. The ideal retrieve pivots around subtle or short twitches of the wrist, and it is devoid of any movement of the forearm. He called it 'one twitch of the wrist and one rotation of the reel handle.'"

In 1974, while owner of a marine dealership in Branson, MO, he won the B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship on Table Rock Lake with 55.15 lbs. of bass on the Spook and placed fifth in the Bassmaster Classic.

In 1977, he started his employment with Bass Pro Shops, Inc., with Johnny Morris. While there, he helped design the Bass Tracker boat. He also field-tested many products for the company and represented Bass Pro Shops at national seminars.

Through the years, Charlie won 67 tournaments, had 30 top 10 finishes, and, from 1982 to 2019, co-hosted KY3 TV's "Bass Pro Shops Fishing Tips."

In addition to being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Charlie was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the Drury University Athletics Hall of Fame. He also was named an Outstanding Missourian by the state's House of Representatives.

Charlie Campbell is revered by Rick Clunn, who says "the world of professional bass fishing would be in a state of perfection if all its participants and managers were able to acquit themselves as gracefully and honorably as Campbell has done throughout his life."

Because of the health risks associated with large gatherings during COVID-19, a private family burial is planned at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, MO. Charlie is survived by his wife, two daughters and their spouses, one brother and his wife, one sister and her husband, as well as several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

For Week Ending Sunday, April 26, 2020

Monday, April 20 (from Ron)...Went to Rudee Inlet this evening. One truck with trailer and one car were the only ones in the parking lot at 5 p.m. Was very nice out there and caught a 17- and 22-inch speckled trout. Still no flounder.

Tuesday, April 21 (from Ron)...
Launched about 5 p.m., with the howling wind. Upper North Landing was well protected with high water, but the bass had lockjaw. After more than two hours, had only gotten one bite. The fish weighed in at 2-4. A fella bank fishing said yesterday was really good, but he agreed with me that they were all hiding today. The big cell that formed this evening missed me by a narrow margin. The colors were amazing.

Friday, April 24 (from Ron)...Launched Blackwater Trading Post for what should have been a good trip. Had navigated 1.5 miles eastward when the wind kicked up, the sky turned black, and the rain came down hard! Found a port in the storm...a duck blind...for momentary protection. As I learned, though, those duck blinds leak. Got soaked and was cold as I headed back through the tempest and managed one small bass to avoid the skunk before hypothermia set in.

Sunday, April 26 (from Ron)...Revisited Blackwater without the storms this morning. Caught six bass and lost a couple. All hit the SwimSenko. Caught three dinks, a 1-15, 2-3, and a 2-9. The bites were very subtle. Tried topwater and XTS minnow, but plastics close to shoreline were the ticket.


Sunday, April 26 (from Gary)...He didn't catch anything big but had a good day. Caught 20 bass and likely would have had more but broke the bill on the one crankbait that was putting all the fish in the boat. He tried some other colors of the same bait but to no avail. The bass had their mind set on one and only one color. Nevertheless, Gary was able to satisfy a friend's request for some bass for the skillet. He showed me five fish...all good eating size...in his livewell.

Sunday, April 26 (from Ray)...He was all smiles as he told me he caught four bass and one perch today. Given the number of cars at the marina, the fish surely must have felt a bit pressured.

Fishin' in a Pourin' Rain--That's as Good as It Gets

That's the belief of some, and their reports would tend to substantiate such a claim. I would only caution anyone intent on finding out for themselves to make sure you have a darn good rainsuit in your possession before trying to prove it one way or the other. "El cheapo" gear in a pouring rain usually proves to be about as useful as--pardon the expression--teats on a bore hog.

On the other hand, if you have something like a Gore-Tex suit, complete with hood, you might end up like a fella I read about online.

It was a cold April afternoon, the sky was overcast, and the cove's rain-spattered surface diffused what little light was entering the water. The angler decided he needed a conspicuous lure--something the bass easily could see. He settled on a white half-ounce spinnerbait rigged with tandem No. 3 and No. 5 nickel Indiana blades. He was casting and retrieving it past small clumps of weeds, through lanes and openings in milfoil beds.

"The action of the blades lifted the bait in the water column," said the angler, "allowing me to retrieve it slowly. Raising the rod tip high kept the lure shallow enough for me to see any strikes.

"I barely noticed the rain beating against my hood as more than a dozen largemouths inhaled my lure that afternoon, the best seven totaling more than 25 pounds. Those were the most productive two hours I've ever spent on that lake," he concluded.

The beauty of dark skies and a rain-dimpled surface is reduced light penetration, which encourages bass to move to the edges of cover. The result is a much bigger strike zone. You merely have to get the bait close enough for a fish to see it or sense its vibration through its lateral line. The accepted contention by most is that a bass in a rainy-day mode can't/won't overlook a flashing, pulsating spinnerbait.

That lure, however, isn't the only one that will work wonders in a pouring rain. According to another angler I read about, "Bass are incredibly active when it's raining heavily, so using a topwater bait, such as a buzzbait or Jitterbug, is a great way to get attention and have bass take your bait. Fish the same common areas you would if it wasn't raining. Keep working that topwater lure as much as possible for as long as it keeps raining."

When fishing topwaters in the rain, experts agree that you should focus on classic schooling areas, like points, ditches, ledges, or current seams. "Keep a topwater on your deck all day," they say. "You never know when a group will come up schooling.

"With no sun, bass are more likely to roam when it's raining. For that reason, the bass that once were locked on that little sweet spot now are likely spread out over a much bigger area. To connect with them, speed up your presentation so you can cover more water.

"Focus on any places where you find runoff coming into the water, particularly if it's still reasonably clean. Bass will move quite a distance to line up and feed on bait along mud lines, culvert pipes, and creek inlets."

One of the realities of fishing is paying attention to the weather forecast. High air temperatures bring humidity, and humidity brings thunderstorms. While no one recommends fishing when it's lightning, don't call off your next trip just because it's raining. You very well may have one of the best days of your whole life.

Bass Pro Gears Up for a New Kind of Battle

Photo by Shimano

As reported by BassFan Friday, April 17, Aaron Martens is back home in Leeds, Ala., after undergoing an operation to remove one of two lesions from his brain.

The other one is located in a less accessible area, and so doctors and family await the outcome of pathology tests.

Because of the seizure medication Martens is taking, he's not allowed to drive a vehicle, but his boat is a different matter. He's been out fishing a couple of times with two-time Bassmaster High School national champion Tucker Smith and Robbey Stanford, who is Smith's uncle. Tucker attends Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham with Martens' daughter, Jordan.

Unfortunately, though, doctors have put the kibosh on Aaron's workout routine, which annoys him, because he was closing in on hitting his goal of running 30 miles and doing 1,000 push-ups a week. "I feel good physically," said Martens, who long has been an avid hiker and runner.

The April 4 seizures which sent Martens to the hospital in the first place continued after he arrived there. And two days later, doctors operated to remove the one lesion. "They went in and opened up my skull," he said. Until last Thursday, he had about 30 staples in there, creating what he described as "a zipper on the front of my head." Those now have been removed.

The three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year expressed his gratitude for all of the the well wishes and support he's received over the past two weeks. "It was an humbling experience to know that many people were thinking about you," he said. "I can't believe the number who messaged me and have been praying for me."

For now, the wait for a definitive diagnosis continues, but Martens said he's ready for whatever is in store. "I'm just trying to stay active," he said. "I'm not going to let it knock me down. Sounds like no matter what route we're going to take, I'll be getting chemo or radiation. We'll see how strong I am."

Deadsticking: Not for Anyone Who Lacks Patience

I remember an occasion a few years ago when a tournament partner and I were fishing Milldam. I had hung a nice fish, and my partner laid his rod down on the rear deck so he could net my catch.

It took a while to get the fish in the boat, and when my partner returned to the rear deck, he no longer could see his topwater bait on the surface. It wasn't until he started reeling that he realized his topwater bait was snagged on the bottom. The only explanation we could come up with was that a fish had grabbed the topwater and subsequently dived to the bottom while we were wrestling with my fish. Bottom line: My partner got his lure back, but we both were left wondering how big a fish had gone after it. Neither one of us had seen or heard a thing.

I was reminded of that incident today, while reading an online account by bass pro Dale Verts. He was fishing a plastic worm at the base of an impoundment's dam one day when he had a similar experience. Seems he had an overrun with his baitcaster, and by the time he had picked it out and started reeling up the slack, a bass was making off with his bait.

A little later, his friend also made a cast toward the same dam, and then, for whatever reason, decided it was time for a dip of chewing tobacco. It took a few seconds to get the pinch between his cheek and gum, and when he tightened up on his worm, a bass grabbed it, too, and took off.

Turned out they were onto something. Their otherwise tough day up to that point suddenly became productive. Several bass picked up their worms before they had a chance to do anything, and the rest hit their baits as soon as they moved 'em.

Deadsticking, or the "do nothing" technique, often is associated with cold-water fishing, but Verts contends it will work all year long. "It's as viable in the heat of summer, as it is in the coldest part of winter," he said. "And it works in all depths. I've done it with a jigging spoon in 45 feet of water, as well as for spawning bass with a plastic tube less than a foot deep. In fact, it can be used with a variety of lures, and is a go-to for me with plastic worms, jigs and grubs. What it takes is patience and confidence, and the only way to build confidence is for an angler to give it a fair shot."

Verts adds that deadsticking is not a technique for finding bass--not in the least. "Anglers must know bass are in the area first," he said, "or it may be a very long and frustrating day on the water. This method is best employed when anglers have been catching bass, and for whatever reason, they have shut down. This is when deadsticking shines.

"Keep in mind," he continues, "deadsticking doesn't necessarily have to be done at the very start of a cast. In fact, I include it as part of my retrieve by simply 'killing' the lure and letting it die for a bit, maybe several times during a retrieve. When I encounter an obstacle underwater, such as a rock, brush pile, or anything I think may hold a bass nearby, I'll stop my bait and try to wait out the fish.

"This also is a killer technique when fishing pressured waters. While everyone else is chunkin' and windin', a lure left standing in a bass's face may be more than it can stand."

And finally, to maximize your hookups, deadsticking afficionados urge that you keep a little slack in your line. "This way, once a bass picks it up and starts to run, they won't feel any instant resistance," they say. "Throw your bait out and let it sink or sit, keeping your rod tip pointed down, directly at the bait. To detect a bite, you'll feel the line start to rip away, as most bass will hit your lure before trying to run away with it."

For Week Ending Sunday, April 19, 2020

Tuesday, April 14 (from Ron)...Couldn't wait. This 7-lb 3-oz, 23-incher is a personal best. Later, Ron added, "After yesterday's howling wind, I had to get out. Fished Ashville Bridge Creek, and about 10 minutes after launching, caught the personal best in the photo at left and below. Got him on an XTS Minnow. In three hours of fishing, I didn't catch another one, but I'm not complaining."

A really nice lunker, Ron. Looks like that new yak is exactly what you needed to really get you on track. Here's hoping this is just the beginning of a lot of good luck throughout the coming season. Go get 'em! my friend. -- Ken

Thursday, April 16 (from Ron)...Fished West Neck north of the bridge from 5:30 to dark. First two hours, I couldn't find a bite. Near sunset, got a small bass on the SwimSenko and was gonna call it a night as the temps dropped with the setting sun. On the way back, I threw a Pop-R to shoreline and had three misses before landing a nice 3-0. (Sorry, folks, but the photo originally accompanying this item became corrupted and had to be removed.)

Sunday, April 19 (from Ron)...Battled the crowds at Rudee Inlet this morning and caught a 17.75-inch puppy drum and a 17-inch speckled trout, but no flounder. Fished upper West Neck this evening and started out with the SwimSenko that I had on my line. Was working well--caught a dink and lost one. Went to change out the tattered Senko and realized I still had my saltwater load out. All my plastics were back in the garage! Other rods had a spinner and a Pop-R, but the bass were not interested in those.

There Are 3 Things Certain in Life: Death, Taxes...And Fishing Slumps

Some refer to it as "going through the motions." The results, though, whatever you call it, are all the same. When you're in a "fishing slump," you're really just slinging lures. As Walker Smith of Wired2Fish put it, "I have royally stunk this year. I couldn't catch a bass out of a mud puddle right now."

It was March 27, 2020, when Smith made that statement. As he explained, "I normally am catching my biggest bass from December through March, but I can count the number of big bass I've caught this year on one hand--because the number is zero. I'm not sand-bagging or anything like that. I just cannot catch fish this year.

"Have I had opportunities? Yes, I definitely have. I had one over 6 pounds come totally out of the water on my frog last night after work. And guess who messed up? That would be me. I had another big bedding fish yesterday bite my lizard, and guess what happened when I set the hook? Yep, my line broke. My line never breaks.

"With all of that aside, I've been thinking about writing this article all month long. I've been trying to figure out what exactly to say that will help anyone in a slump claw their way back to the top. After lots of thinking and note-taking, here is my list.

Limit social media. "This might sound silly, but the quickest way to get spun out when you're not catching 'em is to constantly scroll through your social-media feeds. When you're not catching a dang thing, it really can mess with your head to constantly see photos of big bass every time you get on your phone.

"Remember that social media is simply a highlight reel of people's lives. Most of your buddies aren't posting photos of the days when they got their teeth kicked in on the lake. They're not posting pictures when they're in a slump--only when they're catching big fish, and then they'll pose a thousand different ways with it and post those photos for weeks.

"As a result, you start thinking everybody is catching them, and you subsequently start putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You'll doubt what you're doing, and before you know it, you'll find yourself in 40 feet of water, drop-shotting a tiny worm in the middle of the spawn.

"I'm not saying don't get on social media. It's a huge part of our lives now. But maybe limit your time, or at least realize that, again, it's just a highlight reel. Don't let external factors put pressure on you to perform on the water. It's always going to be just you against the fish.

Don't start chasing your tail. "This is something I really have been struggling with this year. I've always prided myself on my hookup ratio. In the past, I rarely have lost fish. But man, I have a legitimate bruise on my left rib cage from setting the hook and missing so much--like a real black-and-blue bruise. I don't care what I've been throwing or where I've been fishing; if a fish bites my cricket, I'm more than likely going to whiff on the hookset.

"I've been through these slumps before, and I have to keep reminding myself not to chase my tail. It's so tempting to try and start haphazardly changing things in order to reverse your string of bad luck. Your mind starts freaking out, and you start wondering if you should change line diameters, line types, weights, rod actions, hook styles, hook diameters, bait colors...and the list goes on. If you start trying to dissect every little part, you'll find yourself in an overwhelming hole of confusion and frustration.

"Instead of chasing your tail, double-down on what you're best at...in my case, frog fishing. That's the only way you're going to get your confidence back.

Clean your boat. "De-cluttering your boat tends to help de-clutter your mind and decision-making. While you're at it, wash it and wipe it down. This helps put you in the right psychological frame of mind. Get that boat vacuumed out, polished up, and smelling good. Get rid of all those torn soft plastics, water bottles, and random pieces of line. Get it looking sharp, and your mind will clear up, and you'll feel like a new person.

Stick with your strengths. "Don't go looking for the "golden bullet." You can buy all the crazy lures and gear you want, but you'll never replace time on the water...period. Stick with what you know and what your strengths are. And whatever you do, never go experimenting with new techniques when you're struggling, because your confidence already is down. The only acceptable time to experiment is when the fish are biting, and you're really on 'em.

"If you're lucky enough to have dodged a fishing slump thus far, stick around long enough, and it's going to happen to you. Nobody is immune to it...not even professional anglers. Accept a slump for what it really is: a temporary string of bad luck. Don't take it personally, and don't get down on yourself. Remember this: Good luck happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Text modified from original article by Walker Smith, who also took all the accompanying photos.

If Your Crankbaiting Is Mired in Only Ho-Hum Success...

Photo by Wired2Fish.com

Maybe it's because you're just "mindlessly reeling a lure," noted Walker Smith, managing editor and social media director of Wired2Fish, the world's most popular freshwater-fishing website. "There are several important caveats that, when considered, will take your cranking game to a whole new level," he said. Here's his advice, as reported back on Aug. 23, 2016.

Robot mode. As much as we'd love to experience hot and heavy action each time we hit the water, it's simply not practical. Regardless of your preferred technique, you'll often fish for hours without a single bite. This lack of action can create a bad habit for crankbait fishermen.

Crankbait fishing is all about making the fish react, which often means making your lure do something different or erratic. Pay close attention the next time you see a school of shallow baitfish--they rarely swim in a straight line. They're extremely fidgety, and every few seconds, they'll dart or dash to the side. You want your crankbait to do the same thing.

Photo by Walker Smith/Wired2Fish

Instead of going into "robot mode" and simply casting and winding without much thought, make an effort to impart erratic actions into your retrieve. You can speed up your retrieve speed with the reel or incorporate sudden jerks and twitches with your rod tip--anything to draw extra attention to your lure. There's no easy recipe for a successful retrieve cadence because the bass' preferences can change by the day or even by the hour. One thing is certain, however; you'll catch a lot more bass if you make your crankbait act erratic by taking matters into your own hands.

Fishing too quickly. There's no doubt that crankbaits are an effective tool for quickly covering large expanses of water. They allow for long casts, quick retrieves, and they spend a lot of time in the optimal strike zone. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't thoroughly saturate a key piece of cover.

Ninety-nine percent of my crankbait catches over 5 pounds have come after several identical casts to the same piece of cover. I started keying in on this several years ago, and since then, I've enjoyed a lot of success whether I'm tournament fishing, guiding, or fun-fishing.

I'm no biologist, but here's what I think it comes down to: The biggest bass on a body of water are both smart and lazy. I don't think most people catch big bass because they find some magic honey hole. In my personal experience, most of it comes down to ticking them off and making those suckers bite.

The next time you see an isolated piece of cover that seems like it should hold a bass, I challenge you to make five casts to it before moving on, even if it's just a single stump. A lot of times, that big bass will be sitting down there watching your plug swim by for the first few casts. Finally, after several repeated casts, it's going to get mad and take a swipe at it.

Think of it like this: If I flick your ear once, maybe even twice, you'll give me a dirty look, but you'll probably let it slide. If I flick your ear much more than that, you're going to punch me in the mouth. That's what repeated casts with a crankbait do to a bass.

(All last year, I watched my tournament partner, Dave Anderson, surgically cover every square inch of a piece of isolated cover with his soft plastics and, more times than not, be rewarded with a chunky bass. I'm sold on the philosophy of "repetition works." -- Ken)

Improper rod angles. When most of us started fishing, we were taught to set the hook with an upward motion. It's just the most natural feeling, and for most bass-fishing techniques, it works just fine. But when you're crankbait fishing, you never should set the hook upward.

Photo by Walker Smith/Wired2Fish

Proper hookset mechanics begin with the appropriate rod angle throughout your retrieve. Not only will it increase sensitivity, but you'll also be in prime position when it comes time to set the hook.

After a long cast, keep your rod tip low to the water, at a 45-degree angle to your crankbait. If you're a right-handed angler, put the rod butt against your left side. If you're a left-handed angler, put the rod butt against your right side. I call this "strong-side fishing." When you get a bite, you can use your rib cage as a fulcrum to set the hook, which gives you more leverage for prime hook penetration.

When  you set the hook, do not set the hook upward. This drives the top of your crankbait--the part with no hooks--into the roof of the fish's mouth and can lead to pulling the lure away.

Instead, let the rod load when you get a bite. With that rod tip low, keep reeling until your rod tip begins to bend. At this point, without incorporating any slack into the line, sweep to your side in order to drive the hooks home. Keep your rod tip low for the entirety of the fight, and you'll notice an immediate improvement in your hookup ratio.

Using a rod that's too stiff. If any bass-fishing technique calls for a specialty rod in your collection, it's crankbait fishing. I see so many people who have perfect mechanics constantly lose crankbait fish. It's honestly not their fault--it's the rod's fault.

I like to use a pretty wimpy rod for crankbait fishing. For shallow-running flat-sides up to 1.5-size crankbaits, I like to use a 7-foot medium-action rod. It doesn't have much backbone, but its tip is what I'm most concerned with.

When a bass bites your crankbait, it's important to give them a split-second to really eat it. While switching to a higher-stretch monofilament line can help, I've found lighter-action rods to be the most effective way to facilitate a solid hookup.

If your rod is too stiff, you'll pull the lure away from the fish. If the bass simply swats at your lure and is hooked outside the mouth, you won't have enough shock absorption to avoid pulling the hooks. If you're having issues turning your bites into catches, I'd suggest going one step down in rod actions. If you're using a medium-heavy--a very common action--for shallow cranking, try a medium action. You'll be able to feel more throughout your retrieve, and you'll find that a lot more of the bass will have both trebles in their mouths.

Squarebills aren't a cure-all to snags. There's a lot to be said for squarebill crankbaits. They're essentially the four-wheel drive of reaction lures. Their lips are designed to allow them to glance off hard cover while protecting the hooks, thus reducing annoying hang-ups. But let me be very clear: You can't just smash 'em into cover and expect them to make it through unscathed. They're not the magic pill that will end all snags. It takes some work on our part to maximize their effectiveness.

Photo by Walker Smith/Wired2Fish

When your squarebill collides with a piece of cover, you always should pause your retrieve, even if it's just a split-second. This short pause allows the lure to float above the impediment so you can resume your normal retrieve without any issues.

Learning how to "worm" your crankbait through cover is a skill that, in my opinion, every angler should know. When you're fishing gnarly cover, such as laydowns, reel your crankbait until it hits the first branch, then stop your retrieve.

Instead of moving the lure with your reel, slowly drag it with your rod tip. This will allow your crankbait to tick the tops of the cover without diving too deep and becoming snagged. When you get a bite with this technique, it often will feel like the sudden "thump" of a jig or Texas-rigged worm bite.

Crankbaits are one of the most effective big-bass lures you can use. If you make an effort to utilize these tips, you'll unleash an entirely new dimension of your bass-fishing arsenal.

Braided Treble Hooks--Heard of 'Em Yet?

They're the latest and greatest in newfangled fishing gear designed to catch and hold fish, regardless of how big they are and how much fight they can muster. All the would-be buyer has to decide is whether they're worth dropping $10 for a package of four. Given the current economic crisis, it's hard to say how fast these hooks will be flying off store shelves...if at all.

In the meantime, let me fill you in on a few of the pertinent details.

Savage Gear has drawn a line in the sand with its patent-pending Savage Grip Treble (see photo right)--a hook designed to beat fish at their own game. The goal is simple: Make the word "unbuttoned" completely disappear from anglers' lips forever.

Sounds challenging, I'll admit, but the all-new braided treble is no ordinary hook. From today's crankbaits to jerkbaits, walkers to poppers, reaction-style baits with dangling treble hooks can provide fish just enough movement and leverage to often times dislodge those points. This often occurs when a fish jumps or thrashes at boat side. Thanks to a creative problem-solving design, however, Savage Gear has significantly reduced the likelihood of losing fish to thrown treble hooks.

The key to this new hook's amazingly high success rate is found in its innovative eye. With traditional one-piece rigid hook designs, the intense pressure and erratic directional changes a fish imparts on a hook's point naturally extends up the shank to the eye, which links the treble to its lure. In a nutshell, what happens on the hook is directly transferred to the lure.

Not so with the Savage Grip Treble. Traditional hook design finds the eye formed from a continuation of the actual hook material. Savage Gear, though, creates its durable and flexible eye from 120-pound braid linked to the hook with an epoxy coating. The result is a hook that reportedly spins freely on the lure to absorb all the fight a fish can mount.

Available in sizes 4, 2, 1 and 1/0, the Savage Grip Treble is made with a black nickel finish. This high-performance wide-gap hook is a good choice for retrofitting any lure with treble hooks...including those used in the pursuit of fish like muskie and snook.

Savage Gear products are developed by a team of worldwide anglers driven by a passion for capturing the largest predatory species in whatever waters they fish. The synergy of their collective experience and insight yields superior tools that allow every angler to pursue the same objective. Savage Gear--for those who dare to catch bigger fish!

To see a Wired2Fish video of the new hook in action, just click on this link: https://www.wired2fish.com/terminal-tackle/a-first-look-at-braided-treble-hooks-for-hard-baits/.

With thanks to the anonymous reader who brought this item to my attention.

A Word of Explanation

I know it's been a few days now since my last post on this site, and I just wanted everyone to know that it is NOT because I have contracted a dose of this coronavirus. Both my wife and I are well and doing everything in our power to avoid coming into contact with this stuff. We will be celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary tomorrow and have every desire to see our 50th as well--God be willing.

With tourneys all across this land, as well as locally, coming to a screeching halt, the bass-fishing news is hitting the skids, too. You know things are bad when I see a TV commercial about Allstate coming up with a program to put money back into the pockets of people who have car insurance with them. Heard the commercial a couple of times in recent days before I went and checked it out last night. Turns out they plan to return 15 percent of each insured's monthly premium for April and May. Granted, that won't translate into a lot of money for most folks, but in the case of those who aren't seeing a paycheck at the moment, I doubt you'll hear many complaints.

Just be assured I'm scouring the Internet every day for something I can turn into a new post. In the meantime, if any of you find something interesting, by all means share the link with me. I'll check out anything and everything.

For Week Ending Sunday, April 12, 2020

Monday, April 6 (from Don Mc)...The governor said we can fish, so I slipped out to NW River yesterday before the storm hit. The north wind slapped me around a little bit, but managed seven fish on topwater...one a noteworthy 6.6-lb. bruiser. Yes, I caught it on a frog...exactly which one and which color, though, must remain my secret.

Tuesday, April 7 (from Ron)...I think the bass are in self-quarantine. Fished Milldam Monday evening for 2.5 hours and tried all my favorite spots. Trolled a beetlespin and the XTS, all the while trying micro-spinners and various plastics pitched to submerged trees and base of cypress, as well as shoreline. However, did not get a single tap, nibble or strike. After doing the limbo under the bridge, managed to find one crappie on the trolled beetlespin to avoid the skunk, but it sure felt like a skunk. This evening, went grocery shopping in Rudee Inlet and caught a nice speckled trout for tacos. Sunset topwater bite was great, but the storm rolled in and cut my fishing short. Hightailed it outta there as the lightning started. Seem to keep catching the same under-slot puppy drum.

Tuesday, April 7 (from Ken)...Yes, I finally got back out on the water at long last. Unfortunately, my suspicions quickly all came true--the "ring rust" already had set in. The day was full of errant casts, backlashes, and, in general, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even the idle on my outboard had slipped back over the winter, and the motor stalled nearly everytime I came off step. It simply would not run at idle...period. Have already sent a text to my mechanic but haven't heard anything yet. Only managed to catch three bass in 5.5 hours of fishing, the biggest the 1-11 pictured here. Two fish, including this one, came on a spinnerbait. I also boated one on a topwater and missed two more on the same bait. One of those "misses" was a good fish, 'cause I felt him for a couple of seconds before he shook free. Stayed in Albright's all day, even though I found only one short stretch (less than 50 yards) of decent looking water. And given the fact we're looking at still more rain this week, I have to believe it's going to be a spell before the fishing improves appreciably. Had hoped this would be a "red letter" day for topwaters, but not so. Maybe next time will be better.

Friday, April 10 (from Ron)...Wind has been blowing too hard these past few days. Finally got out. Waited 'til 6 p.m, but the wind still was a bear. Fished upper North Landing and found a variety. Two dink bass and a crappie on the Pop-R and a 1-13 bass and a warmouth on the SwimSenko. Had a huge gar on the SwimSenko, but he threw the hook as I tried to get a picture.

Saturday, April 11 (from Ron)...Took the maiden voyage in my all-new 2020 Outback. Fished Albright's where I never do well, but wanted to test the new ride in the open water and wind. Managed to find a 1-2 and a 2-0 bass on the SwimSenko, but that was all. Jet skiers and crowds at Ol' Pungo launch reminded me why I don't like that area when the weather is good.

Aaron Martens to Have Brain-Tumor Surgery

The following was originally published earlier today in a Wired2Fish news report:

Aaron Martens is a household name in professional bass fishing. But those of us who know him know him for being one of the most genuine people and a person with the biggest heart. Today we're asking all of the fishing community to keep Martens and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

We got word yesterday afternoon that Aaron Martens collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors found two lesions in his brain and have scheduled brain surgery for tumor removal on Monday, April 6, 2020.

He also underwent a full-body scan this morning. Biopsy results will be available in approximately a week.

"This is a difficult time, as you all can imagine. Due to current hospital protocol, his wife Lesley can't be near her husband. Martens is functioning well under the current circumstances. Lesley has specifically asked that we all PRAY for him and her family!

"Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules and commitments to pray for the Martens family. The outpouring of love has been amazing," said David Swendseid of DUO International.

From April 7, 2020 USA Today Sports, this update: "Carol Martens, Aaron's mother, told For the Win Outdoors that surgeons removed one tumor and collected biopsy samples of the other on Monday. Doctors will treat the other tumor at a future date."

Thanks, Jim, for bringing this to my attention.

Still Saving Lives--Just in a Different Way

Mustang Survival, the Canadian brand known for innovative solutions for the most demanding marine environments, has been saving the lives of water professionals for more than 50 years. Now, however, they're shifting their focus to front-line healthcare workers...providing protective gowns to those professionals putting their own lives on the line every day to save victims of the global coronavirus pandemic.

As of 11 a.m. April 1, the Mustang Survival factory in Burnaby, BC, officially went into production of the first 500 isolation gowns, a level 3 certified, fully waterproof gown designed and engineered to bring new levels of safety to individuals tirelessly fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. This achievement followed two weeks of collaboration with innovative and cutting-edge BC manufacturers and apparel companies (Boardroom Clothing and KenDor Textiles).

"With increased demand for PPE, there was a need to get ahead of problems in the supply chain and look to local sources to solve it," said Mark Anderson, chair of the BC Apparel & Gear Association and director of engineering at Burnaby-based Mustang Survival. "Our 50-year history of developing innovative solutions for both military and public-safety profesionals, combined with the unique advantage of being part of a cutting-edge design community in Vancouver, provided us with the ability to adjust and pivot our focus on developing a solution," Anderson added.

Diving into prototyping to rapid testing, Mustang Survival flipped the Waterlife Studio--their innovation lab in Burnaby--into a rapid-response facility dedicated to finding a solution for the public-safety crisis. Backed with the support of local healthcare officials to reach safety-certified status, what has resulted is a gown not only offering a local solution to depleting supply chains, but an increased level of safety for the workers themselves.

Once the plans are approved, Mustang Survival looks forward to taking their initiative global. By sharing their technical specifications for level 3 and level 2 medical gowns, manufacturers all over the world will be able to rally their own communities and unite suppliers with workers to produce gowns for their own local healthcare teams. The technical packages will be shared through the BCAG website (https://www.bcapparelandgear.com/covid19) and will include the pattern, technical details, and a list of certified materials approved for level 2 and level 3 gowns.

If all goes well in their first run, Mustang Survival intends to convert their Burnaby factory to full-time gown construction. With other local sewing houses and other manufacturers reopening to support the project, Mustang Survival is confident they can make a significant contribution to those putting their lives at risk every day fighting the virus.