Why You Shouldn't Take Rod Selection Lightly

We're all familiar with the adage, "you get what you pay for," but we also know there are products out there that are overpriced...including fishing tackle. Like any other commodity, there are "bargains" not even worth the time it takes to carry them to your car. On the other hand, there also are some products that cost so much the fish literally should jump into your boat. Rods and reels are two of the most expensive components of fishing tackle and, therefore, are among the most scrutinized purchases we make.

Selecting a good rod can be a bewildering experience for someone who wants the most for his/her money. We ask questions like, "What makes this rod so expensive? Is this $300 rod really twice as good as this $150 rod?" With the unbelievable array of good rods available to serious anglers today, it's easy to find a great rod that is perfect for what you want to do with it. However, at the same time, you could end up with something that might not be right, and you'd be spending some good money for something that you won't use.

The most expensive rod you own is the one you never use. Even if it was cheap, it was a waste of your money if it stays at home leaning in a corner. Conversely, you may have a rod that cost a lot of money, but if you use it every time you go fishing, and you love it, then it was money well spent.

Most rods sold to bass anglers these days are casting rods, with spinning rods being reserved for specialized techniques and light lures. Today, someone just starting out often will pick a 6-foot 6-inch or 7-foot medium or medium-heavy casting rod, which will work well for most techniques and lure types. Very often, though, the choice comes down to how much you may want to spend on a rod.

The return on money you spend on your rods will vary with how often you fish, how serious you are, if you fish tournaments, and other factors. In general, the more your rod costs, the more sensitive it will be, and the more accuracy you will be able to achieve (unless you're a "hack" like yours truly). A quote from Gary Loomis, who arguably builds some of the best rods today, puts some light on this subject. "I can build a rod you can't break, but you wouldn't want to fish with it," he said. There are rods out there that builders claim won't break, but you won't see any of them on the decks of serious bass anglers, or in the hands of any tour pros, because they demand rods that are light, sensitive and powerful. Sure, these rods cost more, but they are worth every penny.

Unfortunately, a good rod won't instantly make you a better angler, but a poor rod will be a limiting factor for any angler. Your rod is a tool, and a good craftsman always will do better work with a good tool. A good rod will allow you to feel much more of what's going on with your lure. It will tell you if you're dragging it through mud, sand, rock, sticks, etc., and more importantly, it will let you know when you get bit.

Part of being a good angler is being able to place your lure exactly where you want it...as quietly as possible...and a good rod definitely will aid your casting ability. The ability to create actions for specific techniques only comes with rod-building expertise and the ability to use the best materials, which adds considerably to the expense. As a general rule, a good rod will help you, and a poor rod will hurt your fishing ability.

Perhaps the Fickle Finger of Fate Is Lifting

With events of my latest two fishing trips still fresh in my memory, I wasn't about to take any chances yesterday to demonstrate my ignorance and ineptness yet again...for an audience, no less.

For openers, I waited 'til all the other boats had disappeared down the channel before I ever started my motor. Then, I executed my plan to try and stay as far away from the rest of the crowd as possible.

With the high water, I knew I could get in all my favorite places down in Albright's, and that's where I stayed until about noon, when I ran back to West Neck to finish out my day in one of my favorite coves.

I only had been in Albright's about five minutes when I caught my first fish of the day...what proved to be the only decent one I would see. Despite all the big carp and gar wearing out the weedline, I had managed to detect one ring coming from a patch of grass that I figured had to be a bass, and I was right. As soon as my topwater reached that point, the fish immediately sucked it in. A couple of subsequent stops in Albright's yielded two more small bass that I didn't take time to measure. I had predetermined only to keep fish that I knew were solid keepers.

I went through a series of crankbaits, spinnerbaits, wake baits, and Senkos, without finding one I could get bit on. The bites I had all day came on two topwaters: the one I started with and one other (a popper). There was nothing fancy about the popper bites. In most cases, the fish would just suck it down after a pop, and I'd see the line moving off. When I'd rear back, though, there would be no fish. That pattern continued throughout the day, and it wasn't 'til about a half-hour before weigh-in that one of my hooksets finally yielded a second keeper.

Had a few gear problems during the day, but no more than I expect on a typical outing, and given the steady bites, I came away with hopes that maybe things are turning around. With another tournament next weekend, I won't have long to wonder.

Incidentally, Dave, if you happen to be reading this post, know that you were missed yesterday. Can't tell you how many guys asked me about you.

Season Re-Opening Event Draws Good Turnout

There were 23 anglers in 15 boats anxiously awaiting the "go" signal this morning from tournament director Wayne Hayes. At the end of the day, the final tally was 69 bass weighed in, for a total weight of 179.12 lbs. The average weight per fish was 2.59 lbs., and the average weight per boat was 11.94 lbs.

Today's winners included the following:

1st Place, the team of (from left) Rusty Girard and James Calhoun, five-fish limit, 18.84 lbs., and big fish 4.58 lbs.

2nd Place, the team of (from left) Mike Miller and Chris Fretard, five-fish, 18.50 lbs., and big fish 5.32 lbs.

3rd Place, Wayne Hayes, five fish, 17.28 lbs., and big fish 6.13 lbs, which was good enough to lay claim to the day's lunker pot.

4th Place, the team of (from left) Steve Bailey and Bobby Moore, five fish, 16.52 lbs., and big fish 5.04 lbs.






Here is how everyone else stacked up:

     * Gary Coderre, five fish, 14.68 lbs., big fish 5.65 lbs.
     * The team of David Dozier and Richard Hall, five fish, 13.60 lbs., big fish 4.15 lbs.
     * The team of Fred Crawford and Gabe Himmelwright, five fish, 12.81 lbs., big fish 3 lbs.
     * Eddie Sapp, five fish, 11.91 lbs., big fish 3.62 lbs.
     * Mark Ingram, five fish, 10.81 lbs., big fish 4.83 lbs.
     * Jim Wilder, five fish, 10.31 lbs., big fish 2.41 lbs.
     * Andy Morath, five fish, 9.65 lbs., big fish 2.67 lbs.
     * The team of Jim Crist and Eric Killian, five fish, 7.75 lbs., big fish 2.09 lbs.
     * The team of Colton Wynne and Cory McAlea, four fish, 6.41 lbs., big fish 2.62 lbs.
     * The team of Zech Morath and Zach Bubier, three fish, 6.00 lbs., big fish 2.36 lbs.
     * Ken Testorff, two fish, 4.05 lbs., big fish 2.66 lbs.

In case you would like to see a sampling of today's catch, here are a couple of them:

(From left) James Calhoun and Rusty Girard pose with their five fish that paved the way to their 1st place finish.

Wayne Hayes caught these two (weighing 6.13 and 5.11) within about three casts of each other. The bigger of the two earned him the day's lunker prize money.








Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate, as well as those who had a hand in ensuring the success of today's event. For planning purposes, our next scheduled tournament is next Saturday, June 6, from safe light to a 2 p.m. weigh-in. Hope you can join us.

One Last Cast

The story of today's tournament wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention something that occurred during weigh-in. Thankfully, the victim wasn't injured, or I would not even bring the matter up.

Anyway, it seems that while Gary Coderre was reboarding his boat after weighing his fish, his impression of "Twinkle Toes" hit a snag, and he ended up taking an unplanned dive over the side in the boat basin. The angling team of Steve Bailey and Bobby Moore quickly grabbed hold of Gary's boat, to prevent it from floating away, and provided their boat as a platform for Gary to board before stepping back aboard his craft. As the saying goes, "All's well that ends well," and that fortunately was the case today.

I also should point out that angler Eddie Sapp was at the helm of a new Skeeter FXR bass boat today...one fine-looking piece of equipment. They just keep making 'em all better.

Evinrude E-TEC and E-TEC G2 Outboards Headed out of Production

That was the news released last night by BRP and reported by Wired2Fish Editors. The BRP announcement noted that it is re-orienting its marine business by focusing on the growth of its boat brands with new technology and innovative marine products.

Said BRP officials, "We will discontinue production of these outboard engines. Our Sturtevant, Wisconsin, facility subsequently will be repurposed for new projects to pursue our plan to provide consumers with an unparalleled experience on the water.

"We remain committed to our Buy, Build, Transform Marine strategy, which has been underway since 2018, with the acquisition of Alumacraft and Manitou boat companies in the U.S., followed by the acquisition of Australian boat manufacturer Telewater in 2019.

"Our outboard engines business has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, obliging us to discontinue production of our outboard motors immediately," said Jose Boisjoli, president and CEO of BRP. "This business segment already had been facing some challenges, and the impact from the current context has forced our hand. We will concentrate our efforts on new and innovative technologies and on the development of our boat companies, where we continue to see a lot of potential to transform the on-water experience for consumers.

"Following our decision to discontinue E-TEC and E-TEC G2 outboard engines, we have signed an agreement with market leader Mercury Marine to support boat packages and continue to supply outboard engines to our boat brands.

"We will continue to supply customers and our dealer network service parts and will honor our manufacturer limited warranties, plus offer select programs to manage inventory. These decisions will impact 650 employees globally."

With this announcement, BRP will be positioned to expand its presence in the pontoon and aluminum fishing markets through technologically advanced solutions. In their words, "We will leverage our track record of ingenuity through our R&D resources to enhance the boating experience with unique new marine products, such as the next generation of engine technology with Project Ghost and the next generation of pontoons with Project M, code names for new products we expect to transform the industry.

"Lastly, we will consolidate Alumacraft operations from two sites to one. All Alumacraft operations will be transferred to St. Peter, MN, and our site in Arkadelphia, AR, will be permanently closed. In addition, we want to upgrade the boat-production facilities to reorganize manufacturing sites and apply the modularity model used elsewhere. This move is designed to enhance productivity and efficiency and to allow us to respond with even more agility to demand."

(NEW) Received the following comment from Don M: COVID-19 my arse! Evinrude tried to keep the two-stroke dream alive for us baby boomers who grew up fishing in a boat with an OMC two-smoke. Unfortunately, that costs $$$$$$. I spoke to a fella on the NW River Saturday that was running a 25 E-TEC and asked how he liked it. His response was, "Great motor, aside from the $500 fuel pump that crapped out on a motor 4 years old." I was contemplating a 25 E-TEC for a small jon boat. It was 1K more than a comparable Merc or Yami four-stroke. The sad part for me is seeing a 35-plus-year trusted name evaporate. I've had at least one Evinrude motor since 1987. The one consolation I offer is that when I'm fishing, the Evinrude is off, and the Minn Kota is in charge.

For Week Ending Sunday, May 31, 2020

Monday, May 25 (from Ron)...Got out this evening and fished Tecumseh. When I launched at about 5 p.m., got a couple bass, then by 6 the bite stopped and nothing else. A 1-9  and  1-4 were all I found on the jig 'n' pig. Weather was pleasant, and I floated around, thinking about the friends and brothers in arms that I have lost over the years.

Tuesday, May 26 (from Skip)...If you can't go bass fishing, then go blue fishing. They are fun to catch.










Wednesday, May 27 (from "Doc")...Ran into him at West Neck Marina today while dumping some gas in my boat. Learned that he had been out a couple hours this morning trying to entice some bass with a crankbait. He said he only had boated one dink but lost a nice one at the boat while trying to handle the net and his rod at the same time...a feat that has seen a lot of fish go AWOL from a lot of anglers. "Doc" also told me he had another fish on for a couple minutes but never got a look at it, so didn't know what it was. Gotta hand it to my friend...he definitely has a sense of good timing. While we were "chewing the fat," felt some raindrops start falling, and they kept shutting on and off most of the time we both were out there. As I told him, I usually wait too long to come in and end up getting soaked by a downpour, rather than just a few sprinkles.

Wednesday, May 27 (from Ron)...Working nights this week, so got to fish in the morning and re-visited Milldam, which I haven't been to since 6 April. Water was clear in the main creek, but the feeder creeks were very murky, and no noticeable grass has come up yet. Started with micro-spinner and XTS Minnow, but only the panfish were interested. Caught about a half-dozen small white perch, a sunfish, and a crappie. Switched to SwimSenko and couldn't find a sniff. Dug through my bags of plastic and decided on a good ol' White Fluke. Bam! Seems that was what the six bass I caught wanted. First five were all scale-worthy at 1-6, 1-10, 1-12, 1-15, and a 2-2, and then a wee dink to finish out the morning.

Friday, May 29 (from Ron)...Fished Ashville Bridge Creek this morning. Caught three bass. A 2-2 hit the Pop-R, and then I got a 1-8 and a 1 -9 on the Senko. Very murky and high water, but at least the rain wasn't cold.

The "Lighter" Side of Fishing

That's the title of an article written 10 years ago by journalist David A. Brown for Bassmaster. It chronicled the fact that pro angler Terry "Big Show" Scroggins has three uses for a cigarette lighter, none of which involves tobacco. One involves tackle preparation, one addresses rod repairs, and the last one extends the life of plastic baits..."all presenting insightful wisdom that will keep anglers in the game and fishing efficiently," according to Brown.

This author's piece continued, "For starters, Scroggins is a noted tinkerer, so it's no surprise that he makes his own bait-keepers. He starts with a bare 5/0 spinnerbait hook--preferred for its length--and clips a 1/4-inch section of spinnerbait wire to form the keeper. He positions the wire on the hook shank to allow room for his snell knot, then he slides a 1/4-inch piece of heat-shrink tubing (the kind with interior glue) over the bottom half of the keeper, applies the lighter's flame for a few seconds, and--voila--homemade bait-keeper.

"Scroggins notes this operational point: 'It's important to bend the wire before cutting out your piece  (for the bait-keeper), because you have more leverage than you will with a small piece that's hard to hold.'

"One of the most common gear damages for anglers is a broken rod tip. Truck doors, ceiling fans, ill-placed feet, the causes are many, but what if you desperately need that broken rod before you can get it repaired? If you're Terry Scroggins, you'll grab your trusty lighter, heat the end of a similar sized rod and transplant the tip on the one with the needed action.

"Of course, rod guides break, too, so Scroggins plans ahead by stripping the guides and tips off his retired rods and keeping these components handy. Heating the wraps loosens the original bindings enough to remove damaged guides. Scroggins secures the replacements with 6-pound fluorocarbon, topped with super glue.

"'If you've fished, you've broken rods at some point, and spare rod tips and guides are something you easily can keep in your boat,' Scroggins (left) noted. 'They don't take up a lot of room, and when the day comes that you need them, you've got them sitting there. Avoid overdoing it with the heat. If you see smoke, you've gone way too far. Think scalpel, not chainsaw. Be careful not to heat your rod too much because it will weaken the rod,' Scroggins said. 'The rod will start to discolor (after excessive heating). You don't want to heat it more than about five seconds. It doesn't take much at all.'

"Lastly, Scroggins knows that sometimes the bass only want a certain color of a particular soft plastic. The good thing about an active bite is, well, it's an active bite. However, the downside is that you'll often burn through your supply and reach that dreadful moment of realizing the fish still are biting, but you're out of ammo.

"'Not to worry,' says Scroggins. 'Just keep those torn pieces and perform a little waterside reconstructive surgery. If you get out there and you have one pack of worms, and they get to biting on them really good, you may run out when the bass tear them in half,' Scroggins said. 'But you can take that lighter and put some of those worms back together and keep fishing. Plastic heats up really quickly, and it cools down really quickly, so it doesn't take long.'

"Although he's not particular about brands or styles, Scroggins takes care to protect his lighters from rain or impact damage by storing them in his flipping tackle tray. Safe and orderly storage keeps the tool ready for action.

"'A lighter is very important,' Scroggins said. 'If you have a lighter, a bottle of super glue, and a roll of duct tape or electrical tape, you can fix a lot of things on your boat.' [I gotta admit one thing, this guy sounds like a regular McGyver.]

"And when those rigging or repair moments arise during inclement weather, Scroggins has a fix for that, too.

"'If it's extremely windy or rainy, I lay a rain coat over my steering wheel to make a canopy, so I can stay out of the wind or rain,' he said. 'It's only going to take about 5 to 8 seconds with the lighter to do whatever you need to do.'"

For Week Ending Sunday, May 24, 2020

Friday, May 22 (from Ron)...Weather cooperated, but the bite was so slo-o-o-ow. Fished upper North Landing and found a 1-9 and a 2-5, and I was happy with that (no dinks). Plastics were working, but the bite was very subtle, and they were tight to shore and structure with the high water. Threw some topwater near sunset but didn't get a sniff.

Saturday, May 23 (from Ron)...Fished Back Bay this morning, and the bite was non-existent. Did find one 1-9 bass to avoid the skunk. High water and very murky. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

Too Much of a Good Thing Has Its Drawbacks

Have spent the better part of two days now looking for something to post on my fishing blog. And just as I was starting to lose hope, I happened across the following Wired2Fish article by one of my favorite writers: Walker Smith. He always presents things in a straightforward style that's easy to understand and doesn't try to "snow" you with a bunch of 50-cent words. A guy like that gets my attention every time, especially when the topic discussed here happens to be one that's been troubling me personally for a while now. Perhaps there are others out there who also will appreciate what Walker has to say. Read and enjoy.

Photo by Walker Smith

"If you do anything long enough, you're going to get burned out. It can happen with work, school or even--dare I say--bass fishing. It took me a long time to catch onto this, to be quite honest. I don't do anything halfway, so when I discovered fishing as a young boy, I was obsessed. I quit all other sports and pursued this career for the better part of a decade.

"But I'm guilty of pushing it too far; I think many of us are. We love this sport so darn much that we just don't know when to stop. It consumes every inch of us, at almost a cellular level. It becomes part of our DNA.

"If we're not careful, however, it will burn us out. I see it happen in both the fishing industry and with a lot of the weekend anglers on social media. An angler will land a dream job, win a few derbies or nab a few partnerships, and they're on top of the world. They're gung-ho and unstoppable...for a few years, that is. Then they disappear.

"The travel gets old, they don't win a tournament for several months, money gets tight, the summer or winter doldrums set in, or whatever the reason. They flat get burned out.

"To be honest, I think that's OK. It doesn't make someone more or less of an angler if they take a break to recalibrate things, or even make a career change. It happens. But I do think there are some things that can help us--myself very much included--beat the burn out and help stoke the fire a bit. Most of it revolves around unnecessary pressure and stress.

"Fish for something else. Sealock and I have both written articles revolving entirely around this subject. We harp on it all the time, but that's because it works. People can fall so fast and so hard for this sport that they have a hard time handling periods of tough bass fishing. They need to feel the tug of a fish, and they're craving it--but it's tough to come across with a 96-degree water temperature. So they go get their teeth kicked in for six weekends in a row and get soured.

"My suggestion? Target another species. If you're a boat angler, leave your boat at the house, grab your family, and go sit under a shade tree on a pond bank for a few hours. Drown some crickets or nightcrawlers. It's good for you to take a few trips without the stress.

"Take a break from social media. I'm going to let you in on a little secret: A lot of social media accounts re-post old photos of big fish throughout the year. So if they caught five good ones in a day, they'll post each one over the span of a month. Sadly, this industry--and society in general--can be quite vain.

"This practice can make you think everybody's always catching 'em. They're not. Nobody is always catching 'em. Social media is just a highlight reel.

"If you feel like you're the only one not catching 'em, you'll start putting more pressure on yourself. So just sign off for a few weeks. Keep practicing and don't compare yourself to others. Let them do their thing, and you do yours. Don't let silly social media posts plant doubts in your head.

"You don't have to fish every weekend. I went through a month-long period in which I almost resented fishing. I chose to fish a small tournament instead of attending one of my best friend's wedding. He died a week later, and I never saw him again. I was so focused on fishing that other areas of my life started to suffer.

"I was mad as a hornet. Although it wasn't fishing's fault, I felt like it was at the time. I wouldn't even look at my boat or a fishing rod. For those 30 or so days, fishing made me sick.

"I hope that someone reading this connects with that and understands that it's OK to take a break for a weekend or two. We all love fishing, but if you don't make plenty of time to love on your family and friends, it could lead to issues in your personal life. It has happened several times with me, and it took some hard lessons to drill this point through my own skull.

"Ask yourself the golden question. We all get in bad moods from time to time, especially when we have a tough day on the water. There's nothing wrong with that. But if you're having trouble shaking it off, consider asking yourself an incredibly important question: Am I having fun?

"If the answer is 'yes,' you're good. If the answer is 'no,' take a break. I'm not saying you should sell your rods and not fish for a year. But just take a break for a week or two. The time away from fishing will remind you what that craving and primal urge feels like. The next time you hit the water, you'll feel like a brand new person.

"I certainly don't have all the answers, but I think a lot of anglers deal with the 'summertime blues' this time of year (summer). The fishing gets really tough, it's hot as the dickens, and the wakeboard boats are doing donuts all over your favorite spots. That kind of stuff make it easy to get burned out sometimes. But hang in there, and try some of these tactics if you're feeling a little 'blah' about fishing; they should hold you over until those cooler temperatures come back."

Such a Deal I've Found for All of You!

For a few grand, you can have one of the latest and greatest props available anywhere.

One average price tag I saw online was $9,000. And the same ad went on to describe the price of one for an E-TEC engine of, say 200 hp (hold on to your hat now), just $18,000...or roughly 30 times the cost of a conventional prop.

Anyone who is on Jay Kumar's distribution list for the latest issue of his BassBlaster already knows about this revelation, but I figure there's at least a few readers who probably haven't heard or read the news yet.

The prop we're talking about here is the Sharrow Propeller. It's billed as the first major advancement in propeller technology since the 1930s. Its design, according to the manufacturer, has solved the most basic problem of rotary propulsion. Specifically, tip cavitation and vortices have been eliminated or significantly reduced, providing the following benefits over traditional propeller designs:

     * Nine to 15 percent more efficient, dramatically reducing fuel costs
     * Higher top-end speed
     * Superior handling in tight turns and better overall maneuverability
     * Planes at a lower RPM
     * Significantly reduced vibration and noise
     * Less wear and tear on engine systems
     * Safer, stronger and more durable

The Sharrow Propeller Model MX-1 is the recent winner of the prestigious 2020 Miami International Boat Show Innovation Award. It is specifically designed for high performance on sterndrives and outboard motors from 100 hp through 450 hp.

The Sharrow Propeller Model MX-1 is custom designed for your vessel and made to order. It is CNC machined to perfection and delivered 9 to 12 weeks after your purchase.

In September 2019, BoatTEST.com conducted a thorough review of the Sharrow Propeller and compared the performance to industry-standard stainless steel blades. Results from the review of this testing prove that this new propeller demonstrates the following advantages over high-performance comparison blades:

     * Performs significantly better at idle
     * Planes at lower RPM
     * Is faster at all RPM settings
     * Gets significantly more mpg at 3,000 and 3,500 RPM
     * Is more fuel-efficient at every speed-through-water setting
     * Is as much as 18 percent more fuel efficient at 26 to 28 mph
     * Produces the highest top speed
     * Creates noticeably less vibration
     * Is generally quieter
     * Has superior handling in tight turns at high speed
     * Improves handling in reverse
     * Provides the greatest range at all speeds

Custom-manufactured, made-to-order versions of the Sharrow Propeller Model MX-1 are available in stainless steel or aluminum. Each propeller is CNC machined to perfection on a 5-axis router and made just for you...provided, of course, you can afford one of 'em.

When Raindrops Are Dancing on Your Head

One of the realities of fishing is paying attention to the weather forecast, and if you live locally at the moment, it's a pretty safe bet you're going to see raindrops all week long. Now mind ya, high air temperatures bring humidity, which brings thunderstorms, and no one in their right mind would urge you to fish with lightning popping. However, if what you're seeing is what we're getting today, it's entirely possible to have a successful fishing trip.

Rain breaks up the surface, creates current, and flushes nutrients into a waterbody...all of which can turn on the bite in a big way. And besides, if you're going to be wet anyway, you might as well make the trip worth your time and catch a few fish.

Here are three tips the pros employ for fishing in the rain:

Try topwater. Because the surface is broken up by the raindrops...and the clouds are obscuring the sun...rainy days are some of the best times to fish topwater baits...all day long. Fish are more willing to roam and actively pursue bait, which makes them much more likely to demolish a topwater bait, as it skitters along the surface. On the famed blueback herring lakes of Georgia and the Carolinas, anglers can have epic days with big stick baits, while spotted bass push baitfish up against the surface as it rains. When fishing in the rain, focus on classic schooling areas like points, ditches, ledges, or current seams, but keep a topwater on the deck all day. You never know when a group will come up schooling.

Fish faster. With no sun, bass are more likely to roam when it's raining than when it's sunny. For that reason, the bass that were once locked on that little sweet spot are now likely spread out over a much bigger area. To connect, speed up whatever presentation you are fishing, so you can cover more water in a day. If you're fishing in the rain and throwing a spinnerbait, start burning it. If you are fishing in the rain and throwing a worm, don't soak it as long. The fish are more aggressive during the rain, so you don't need to work as hard to make them bite.

Look for drains. Surface runoff brings nutrients into the water, which attracts baitfish, and in turn...bass. Focus on any places you find where runoff is coming into the lake, 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. Focusing on these areas when fishing in the rain can be extremely effective when it really starts coming down.

Adapted from a blog post on Karl's Bait & Tackle.

No More Lite Braid for Me

After several years of using nothing but 40-pound braided fishing line, I decided a couple of weeks ago to spool up one of my baitcasters with 20-pound braid. If I ever had any doubts about how this trial run would turn out, they've all been eliminated now.

In only two trips to the water, I have lost two lures, courtesy of the 20-pound braid. And rather than continue this disastrous trend, I'm calling a halt to it...before I end up losing a big fish in the process.

I figured I was kidding myself from the git-go, but I wanted to give the idea an acid test. Sometime tomorrow, I will be unwinding all the 20-pound braid and replacing it with new Stren Superline 40-pound test.

The event that brought my hair-brained idea to a sudden close today was when the 20-pound test developed a knot during a cast into the wind. When that happened, I heard a pop, followed by watching a length of line with my lure attached go sailing off in the distance.

It's entirely possible that part, if not all, of my problem with 20-pound braid rests with the operator. Irrespective, I'm throwing in the towel before something really bad happens. I like line I can count on all the time, and 40-pound Stren Superline fills that bill.

For Week Ending Sunday, May 17, 2020

You've Heard of Feast or Famine?

Well, take a look at what "Doc" pulled off (see right). As outlined in my post below, he and I blanked yesterday...neither one even got a bite.

"Doc" went back today (Thursday, May 14) and made up for lost time. He launched at 7:30 a.m. and fished until 11:30...staying in West Neck Creek the whole time. For these efforts, he was rewarded with a total of five bass, including one 2-pounder, three 1-pounders plus, and a dink.

All the fish fell for a crankbait. "Doc" also said he missed several on topwater. He released all the fish alive that he boated.

Just goes to prove the adage, "What a difference a day makes!"

Wednesday, May 13 (from Ken)...Can't say how the rest of the fishermen did today, but as for "Doc" and me, let's just say one dink would have been an improvement on our otherwise lackluster day. I tried topwaters, a spinnerbait, a crankbait, a jerkbait, and a creature soft plastic...all to no avail. Also came home with two rods in need of respooling, thanks to a continuation of the same kind of chaos that greeted me last Monday. Anyone within earshot of me today got more than an earful of four-letter words. After two back-to-back trips like I've just had, what little patience I had before starting today quickly faded, and I just turned loose and let it fly...high, wide and handsome. Don't know when my next trip will occur, but if it goes like the last two, I very well may deliver a wake-up call...in the form of TNT. In all fairness, I probably should note here that I talked to a fella this afternoon who had fished West Neck all day long with live minnows and had only three bass between 10 and 12 inches to show for it. So, the post spawn isn't being kind to anyone I've talked to in the last couple of days. Hopefully, better days are ahead for everyone.

Wednesday, May 13 (from Lenny)...Katy and I ran out of West Neck and turned north. We fished one of the creeks up that way, where we boated a total of 15 bass, 2 grindle, and 1 pickerel. Eight of my 11 bass were keepers, as were three of Katy's four keepers. The biggest bass weighed two and a half pounds. We caught almost all the fish on one bait, which I'm calling my INT. It came in a bag I got from you last year. All in all, it was a good evening of fishing and getting out of the house.

Thursday, May 14 (from Bob)...After two dink-filled days at West Neck this week, I launched at Back Bay for a switch. Had eight fish by 8 a.m., with the biggest at 4.8 and some quality three pounders mixed in. No complaints today. Text book bass, all right where they should’ve been.

Thursday, May 14 (from Skip)...Received a note from Skip this evening, telling me that he, too, had made a fishing trip today. He said the fish in the accompanying photo is the bigger of the two that he boated between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 17 (from Ron)...I was reminded of that warning on the sideview mirror that says objects may appear closer. Likewise, the thought that fish may feel larger than they actually are crossed my mind. Fished Back Bay this morning, and launching conditions were great. Conditions started deteriorating, though, as the wind picked up. Managed to find six bass, with a 2-5 and a 3-10 topping out as best of the day, thanks to topwater baits and the SwimSenko. Had one fight with rod pulling and all, which led me to think I had a big one, but he was wrapped in a branch! Even managed a small crappie that hit the topwater but no bowfin yet. Really good to be back in freshwater, and the launch and recovery were a breeze!

Honoring Moms Everywhere on Mother's Day

Ask a mom what she wants for her birthday, Christmas or Mother's Day, and you're likely to hear, "I don't know. Just spending time together is the only gift I need."

In some instances, that "time together" can end up involving a fishing trip.

Consider the example above of a son who took his 86-year-old mother fishing  at his childhood pond for Mother's Day last year. Said the son, "She never had been fishing before and ended up catching 15 bluegills. I will never forget it." The son went on to note that it was his deceased dad who had taught him to fish at the same pond.

If you decide to plan a fishing trip with your mom, just be realistic about her abilities and desires and plan accordingly.

In other words, don't overdo it. A small dose is likely to go a long way. Get her some gear that matches her skill level and appropriate apparel to make her time outdoors more comfortable.

And above all, stay safe and have fun. She likely won't care as much whether she catches fish as she does about just spending time with you.

I think...or would hope...that most folks will agree that moms indeed are very special people, as noted in the following poem:

"A Mother's Love"

By Helen Steiner Rice

A mother's love is something

that no one can explain,

It is made of deep devotion

and of sacrifice and pain,

It is endless and unselfish

and enduring come what may,

For nothing can destroy it

or take that love away,

It is patient and forgiving

when the world around condemns

And it glows with all the beauty

of the rarest, brightest gems,

It is far beyond defining,

it defies all explanation

And it still remains a secret

like the mysteries of creation,

A many splendored miracle

man cannot understand

Another wondrous evidence

of God's tender guiding hand.

Let us pay tribute tomorrow to mothers all across this land. Simultaneously, let us be prayerful for those who have lost family members to the coronavirus.

Wish I Was Better at Reading Subtle and Sometimes Not-So-Subtle Hints

UPDATE, 2:52 p.m. Friday, May 8...Good news. Looks like my wife is finding her stride again. Was up and about at her usual morning routine today and trying to do things around the house. I reminded her it might be in her best interests to just take things slowly for a spell. With this stay-at-home situation, I see no reason to get in a rush. Barring the unforeseen, this likely will be the last update. Again, thanks to everyone for all your kind thoughts.

UPDATE, 4:09 p.m. Thursday, May 7...After another good night's rest, my wife has been up all day so far without the first nap and seems to be doing fine. She had a light breakfast, followed by a virtual appointment with the family doctor. His office arranged the appointment as a means to get him completely up to date on what had happened. For the first time since this past Tuesday, her voice sounds normal again, and the soreness appears to be improving, too. Unfortunately, she still is having trouble getting pills down, which may force a consultation with the doctor who did the endoscopy to investigate whether we can arrange to get the new medicine in liquid form.

UPDATE, 1:53 p.m. Wednesday, May 6...After a good night's sleep, my wife is up and moving slowly as she deals with a lot of soreness. Had a small breakfast, thanks in no small part to my ineptness in a kitchen. Fully expect to see her taking a series of naps throughout the day, 'cause I can tell she's still tired. Plan to stay close by until she's moving better. You might say we're just following the Governor's order and staying home. Have shared all the well wishes from everyone with her and will continue to do so. We both thank you for all the thoughtfulness.

UPDATE, 2:57 p.m. Tuesday, May 5...I'm getting too many phone calls, emails and texts to ever hope to be able to respond to all of them individually, while simultaneously taking care of my wife. Thus I'm going to use this venue, in hopes no one gets offended. I truly am not trying to be difficult in any way, shape or form. That said, the doctor who ran the scope down my wife's throat and checked everything told me that she only uses surgery in these cases as a last resort. She used a small balloon to help open up one part of my wife's esophagus today. And she has put her on a prescription which treats a couple of the most annoying and painful aspects of a hiatal hernia. For the moment, she is going to see how that and her continued personal monitoring goes. We are hopeful that things will improve in the next few days, but at the moment, Fran is just hurting from today's invasive procedure, she's extremely tired, and she's hungry, which means I need to get to the kitchen in short order. Please know that I sincerely appreciate everyone's concerns and will do everything in my power to keep adding updates here in a timely fashion.

Little did I know that my bad day on the water yesterday was just the precursor for even worse things to come after I got home yesterday. It started with my wife getting choked at dinnertime, then lapsing into several hours of vomiting.

When we realized things probably weren't going to get better without her going to the emergency room, I made the call, knowing full well that I would not be allowed to go with her, in view of this coronavirus pandemic. Now I've learned that she has a rather large hiatal hernia, which in itself explains a whole bunch of other symptoms my wife has had to endure for a good spell.

The doctor now wants to send a scope down her throat for closer examination of the problem, causing both her and me even more anxiety than we already have over the fact she is in a hospital at one of the worst possible times.

I can't help but feel like the good Lord was trying to send me a signal yesterday while I was on the water, 'cause too many things just kept happening one right after the other. I certainly have had my fair share of days when things went wrong, but nothing like I encountered yesterday. I also further wish that both my wife and I had been savvy enough early on to take a good look at the symptoms she has been having, rather than waiting 'til now.

The phone calls I've been getting from my wife in the last two hours suddenly illuminate for both of us the pure torture being experienced by people all across the land at this moment, as we struggle to make any sense at all of the situation in which we find ourselves...where married couples simply can't be together if one goes to the hospital. Our hearts are aching over having to be apart after so many years as one, especially when we know and fear how this nightmare could end.

At this stage, we can only pray the Lord sees fit to allow us to celebrate our 50th Anniversary next April, which suddenly seems like a lifetime away. I can only hope believers everywhere will join me in this prayer.

For Week Ending Sunday, May 10, 2020

Monday, May 4 (from Ken)...Returned to the water today after a month-long layoff, and it was as though I was staring the year all over again. The day proved to be a long chain of misadventures like I haven't seen in ages. Errant casts, hangups, getting line hung up in the prop of the trolling motor, and having to keep one eye on watch for moccasins were only some of what happened. It was little wonder to me why I only boated two 12-inch bass. Caught both on topwaters. Also had two blowups on these baits and one fish that pulled off moments after I had set the hook. My only other catch was a tiny white perch that went for a crankbait. My one positive for the day was a boat that worked for a change. Verified that with a run to Albright's. Thankfully managed to dodge all the big-boy traffic that was headed north today. Shortly after I launched this morning, met up with Stan Krasson and a friend who showed me a nice 5.5 pounder they had caught. They also indicated the fish to that point in time had been hitting pretty good. Skip also was on the water today, but I'll wait for his photos to hit my inbox before I talk about his day.

Monday, May 4 (from Skip)...Skip told me that he ended the day with a total of 11 fish. He caught them on a variety of baits and in a couple different locations.

Tuesday, May 5 (from Bob)...I was out early on Monday and got a few small bass but noticed bluegill popping bugs left and right in a couple of coves, so brought the 2 weight out this morning and had a couple fun tussles before the wind came up. Went back to bass once it started blowing and was surprised with this bowfin on the first cast. Had a few small bass after that, but none pulled close to this dinosaur.

Thursday, May 7 (from Ron)...Just wanted to let ya know that I am still fishing daily, but all my efforts are in the saltwater trying to catch the bluefish. This afternoon, I was trolling for bluefish and got a nice flounder for dinner.

Lesson Learned: "I'll Never Judge Any Person Involved in an Accident"

That's the bottom line as seen through the eyes of friend and fellow fisherman Chris Napier, who was the victim of a traffic accident last month.

Said Chris, "I was driving down Virginia Beach Boulevard, getting ready to turn onto the street where I live when, out the corner of my eye, I saw a truck that just had failed to stop at a stop sign. My initial thought was that the driver was going to catch the passenger side of my truck, but he didn't. Instead, he hit the driver-side front tire of my boat trailer.

"I was doing about 35 mph," continued Chris. "I don't know how fast the other driver was going. The collision launched my boat off the trailer, and all I could do was watch helplessly as my Skeeter went sliding about 80 feet down the boulevard...that was after it had impacted the driver-side rear corner of my pickup.

"Needless to say, I was OK but devastated to see my trailer and boat lying in the middle of the road.

"After three weeks, my truck has been repaired, and the trailer totaled. I just received the estimate for my boat...still not sure what is going to happen with that."

As Chris tries to decide what he's going to do next, he laments the further tragedy he has experienced from this situation. For openers, not a single person stopped to see if he was OK.

Later that night, though, said Chris, "My accident made it to several social-media pages. Typical remarks ran the gamut from saying 'I didn't know how to tie down my boat' to that 'I just wanted insurance money.'"

Chris went on to explain that he let some of those "anything but Good Samaritans" know how he felt about their cheap shots, including a "thank you" for all their concern about his well-being at the scene...NOT!

Chris also has a word of caution for boaters everywhere. "I had just replaced my boat-saver straps, but during my accident, one broke off completely, and a hook on the other one was straightened. So, if your straps are old, I suggest that you replace them. You also should know that the accident broke the safety chains to my truck, as well as the ratchet strap on my trailer."

If this account is any indication of how far the morals in this country have degraded, I suggest that a drastic reset undoubtedly is in our future...if it's not already occurring. We best all get our heads out of the sand.