A New Species Invading Virginia Waters

Alabama Bass

Read the story at this link:

https://www.nbc29.com/2020/06/29/dgif-new-invasive-species-fish-discovered-virginias-lakes/

For Week Ending Sunday, July 5, 2020

Monday, June 29 (from Ron)...Got out this evening and caught a few bass near the Beggar's Bridge. Grass is coming up nicely, and there was baitfish everywhere. Landed seven bass, with a 1-12 and a 3-2 best of the bunch. Most were in the 1-to-1.5-lb. range, and they were enjoying the Zoom Flukes and SwimSenko. Tried topwater but didn't get any bites.

Sunday, July 5 (from Ron)...Been fishing a lot the last few days, but have been chasing the flat fish, 'cause I really want a flounder dinner. Hasn't been going too well, though.

It Was All About the Heat in Today's Tourney

With water temperatures in the 80s, and an air temperature of 98 when I left the marina today for home, it's little wonder why so many of the 19 anglers in 12 boats on hand for the contest had something to say about the conditions. At least everyone managed to bring fish to the weigh-in. Our collective total weight was 123.95 lbs., which produced an average weight per fish of 2.21 lbs. and an average weight per boat of 10.32 lbs.

Standing tall in the winners' circle at day's end were the following contestants:

1st Place, the team of Mike Miller and Chris Fretard (not pictured), five fish, total weight 17.91 lbs., big fish 5.31 lbs.

2nd Place, the husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, five fish, total weight 15.85 lbs., big fish 4.61 lbs.

3rd Place, the team of (from left) Gabe Himmelwright and Mark Ingram, five fish, total weight (after 0.50 deduction for one dead fish) 15.33 lbs., big fish 4.47 lbs.

Lunker of the Day, Jim Wilder, five fish, big fish 5.40 lbs. His total weight was 14.12 lbs.

Here is how the rest of the field finished:

     * The team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter, five fish, total weight 13.13 lbs., big fish 4.11 lbs.

     * The team of Gary Coderre and Dave Anderson, five fish, total weight 12.72 lbs., big fish 5.04 lbs.

     * The team of Dave Dozier and Richard Hall, five fish, total weight 9.82 lbs., big fish 3.10 lbs.

     * The team of Jim Crist and Danny Harris, five fish, total weight (after 2.00 deduction for four dead fish) 8.25 lbs., big fish 3.01 lbs.

     * Wayne Hayes, five fish, total weight 7.89 lbs., big fish 3.17 lbs.

     * Rusty Girard, four fish. total weight 7.28 lbs., big fish 2.70 lbs.

     * Bobby Moore, four fish, total weight 5.49 lbs., big fish 1.65 lbs.

     * Ken Testorff, three fish, total weight 3.95 lbs., big fish 1.67 lbs.

Congratulations to all of today's winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Sunday, July 12, from safe light (about 5:30) to 2 p.m. Hope you can join us.

One Last Cast

You may have noticed in the above commentary that Jim Crist had a problem with his livewell in what is a nearly new boat. That being said, he was left scratching his head in bewilderment after losing four of his fish and taking a 2-lb. penalty at the end of today. After all, he had followed the textbook advice and done everything right to keep his fish alive.

I couldn't help remembering another angler a few years ago who had a similar problem. As he eventually learned, the gremlin turned out to be a short in the livewell wiring. In reality, the short had electrocuted every single fish in the livewell that day.

I'm not saying that Jim has a short in his livewell wiring, but it certainly seems bizarre that he lost so many fish today when, up 'til now, he has had a perfect record of weighing in all live fish. As depicted by the above commentary, only one other boat lost a fish today, so it's not like we had an overall high mortality rate.

It seems a pretty safe bet that Jim will have someone troubleshoot his problem before the next tournament, and I'll be anxious to find out what he learns.

What Ever Happened to Everyday Common Courtesy on the Water?

I have lived through an era when fishermen, pleasure boaters, and watercraft operators in general usually showed considerable respect for one another on any given body of water. Not so much today, though. Hence, the reason for my title on this post.

Consider the following real-life example of what can happen when someone takes their eye off the ball:

I was anchored at night, near a bridge on a local lake, when a 24-foot cabin cruiser crossed over the middle of my boat, with his hull resting on my center console and the front pedestal seat. His estimated speed was 30 to 40 mph. I took on an estimated 75 to 100 gallons of water as the other boat forced the front of my boat underwater. This whole incident took between 30 and 45 seconds from the time I initially saw him until he was on my boat and over it. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

As noted by the editor of the publication which ran that account, "We must maintain safety and courtesy if our sport and those who participate in it are to remain free of stigmas. Tournament competitors, crappie fishermen, sailing enthusiasts, and anyone else have a right to be on the water. It's up to each of us to respect the other's space. Accidents can happen, but they'll happen less if people are more courteous and conscientious while on the water. Be safe, not sorry."

As the numbers of vessels on our waterways continue to increase each year, such marine customs as common courtesy, good manners, and the golden rule on the water become prime ingredients of boating safety. Practicing these traditional amenities, Coast Guard Auxiliary instructors point out, is largely the exercising of common sense and fair play, as well as respecting the rights of other boaters. This practice also sets a great example for the novice skipper.

There are a number of boating courtesies and examples of good and bad manners covered in the Coast Guard Auxiliary boating classes. Here are some of the more important ones:

Speed. Keep your speed down in narrow channels, anchorages, harbors, near docks, and in the vicinity of fishing vessels, water skiers, small sail boats, and kayaks.

Wakes. Severe damage to moored vessels, docks and seawalls can result from heavy wakes. Keep your wake down in confined areas. It not only is good manners, but it's the law as well...and you can be liable for any damage caused by your heavy wake.

Buzzing. The "hot rodder" boater shows a lack of courtesy by buzzing piers, swimming areas, and other vessels. Such practice isn't only very dangerous but will draw the attention of law-enforcement personnel very quickly, resulting in severe penalties.

Pollution. The considerate boater retains used cans, cartons, garbage, and other debris in a container until the cruise ends.

Right of way. If the other boat fails to recognize your right of way, the well-mannered and prudent skipper will avoid a collision by giving way.

Anchoring. Only the thoughtless skipper anchors in mid-channel or ties illegally to a buoy or navigation aid while fishing.

Bow riding. An extremely dangerous practice, especially where children are concerned. Please do not allow this practice on your vessel.

Boozing. Drinking alcohol while operating a vessel can be a deadly practice, so don't do it! Very severe legal penalties await the boater who is arrested and charged with "boating under the influence of alcohol." You owe it to your family, passengers on your boat, and to other boaters who share the water with you to stay sober.

Giving the other fellow a helping hand when you spot a distress signal is the mark of a considerate boater and long has been the tradition and law of the sea. Even at the launch ramp, courtesy and good manners come into play. It may be something as simple as helping another boater launch his craft.

Your Coast Guard Auxiliary boating instructors stress that practicing courtesy and good manners is not only elementary but essential as well in developing boating skills and seamanship.

Everything Comes at a Price, Even Fishing

According to a BassFan special report from 2010, an injury crisis already existed in pro fishing. Estimates of the extent varied at that time, but pro angler Clark Wendlandt said he believed that 20-year pros over the age of 40 experienced nagging injuries at a rate of 85 to 90 percent. Scott Suggs, on the other hand, estimated that 60 percent of all anglers had some type of issue with their shoulders, elbows or hands.

The bottom line here is that, while pro fishing is a major sport, it lacks one thing all other major sports have: trainers and medical staff able to deliver immediate care and advice. There hasn't even been a major study of the toll pro fishing takes on the human body and what can be done to prevent injury.

Billy Brewer, a former pitcher who threw in the majors for seven years, developed fishing elbow in just one season with the Bassmaster Elite Series. He was a left-handed pitcher but worked the rod with his right hand.

"You're out there 14 hours a day, sometimes all week long, and you make so many casts, and use your arm so many times," said Brewer. "You see a lot of guys out there wearing braces on their elbows, but like in baseball, you have to do exercises for the elbow. I think if more guys did that, it would help prevent a lot of injuries.

"The one thing that really gets me," added Brewer, "is my lower back. You stand on your feet 12, 13 and 14 hours a day, every day, all week long, so you've really got to have a strong core for that not to hurt. Guys like John Crews and Mike Iaconelli work out during the off-season to strengthen their core, and I think that's a real smart thing to do."

Athletes of all kinds often push themselves too much during competition--in other words, play with pain--but the cumulative micro-trauma through the years escalates. As a result, injuries then can happen while doing something simple, like loading tackle into a truck or strapping down a boat.

For example, Chad Grigsby had fished hard for a week, then was on his way home when he decided to stop at a buddy's house. A 70-pound bow was there, and like all outdoorsmen, Grigsby felt the need to draw the bow. In the process, he tore a muscle in his shoulder and had to complete a rehab program.

In most cases, victims of fishing injuries are those who compete in tournaments, but recreational anglers also pay a price for enjoying their favorite sport.

Was reading a related article by outdoor columnist Bobby Peoples the other day in which he noted that many bodily injuries to both recreational and competitive anglers don't show up for years. He was in his early 20s when he began serious competitive fishing for largemouth bass, but it was 20 years later before he was diagnosed with his first serious problem: tennis elbow.

Said Peoples in a February 2020 account, "My elbow was swollen to the size of a large orange, and the injury required me to stop fishing for a few weeks. During that time, I had cortisone injections, fluid removal, and took medications to relieve the pain."

As more injuries occurred, Peoples was forced to swap competitive angling for slower-paced recreational angling. Additional injuries made him have to slow down even more. After elbow surgery, arm surgery, multiple hand and back surgeries, knee surgery, plantar fasciitis, and foot surgery, he didn't have any other choice. While not all of these could be tied directly to his fishing, Peoples felt sure that fishing played a major role in all of them.

His most recent encounter was a left-thumb problem that resulted in a visit to an orthopedic doctor and eventual surgery. The doctor asked him what type of repetitive things he had done with his left thumb, because the thumb joint was completely worn out. As Peoples explained, he had for years held his rod and reel in his left hand and thumbed the spool and put pressure on that joint. Whether holding the reel, casting, thumbing the line, or pulling in a fish, he had been applying pressure to that joint.

The surgery required removing a bone from his thumb, taking a ligament from his arm, and putting it in place of the bone that was removed. He subsequently had to wear a cast for six weeks, and once the cast was removed, take physical therapy.

"Many anglers don't realize until it's too late that they need to take care of their fishing bodies," said Peoples. "That means exercising and understanding the physics of repetitive casting and other related fishing activities. While repetitive casting accounts for most hand, arm, elbow, and shoulder injuries, standing up in the front of a bass boat for several hours can cause many back, leg, knee, and foot problems.

"A boat ride in even mild wave turbulence can put pressure on your back," he continued. "I recently tried to determine how many miles I had driven my boats over the years but finally gave up. It's safe to say, though, it's hundreds, if not thousands, of miles over 40 years of fishing. Riding in a boat definitely can contribute to back problems."

Most anglers think very little about personal injury to their body until an injury has occurred. Even then, most of them just shrug off the pain until it gets to the point where they have to visit a doctor. Ice, heat and over-the-counter inflammatory creams and pills may help for a while. On the other hand, you may never suffer an injury that requires surgery. If that's the case, count yourself lucky.

The No. 1 thing that can be done to help avoid injury is exercise. Most anglers, however, don't participate in any because if they're not working, they usually are fishing.

And, yes, there's no doubt that young anglers in their 20s, 30s or 40s scoff at any discussion like this one. They say to themselves, "I'm healthy as can be and don't have a single problem." As in the words of that old Western swing standard, though, "Time changes everything."

There's Bad, And Then There's Super Bad

Seems there was this angler who lived in West Virginia and planned to fish a lake in Virginia. He got up and left his house at 7 a.m. on the Saturday in question. He figured that would put him at the lake around 9 a.m., and he then would fish 'til dark.

Everything was looking good until he was about 30 minutes from the lake. Out of the blue, his stomach started making those dreadful rumbling sounds. "No big deal," he thinks. "I'll pull off at the next exit."

He pulls off as planned and quickly sees that the only thing which appears to be open is a McDonald's. "I'll take care of my stomach and grab a quick breakfast," he thinks. One problem, though: The only service is drive-thru...the doors are locked. "OK, I'll just go at the ramp"...or so he assumes.

One look around when he arrives there reveals nearly a hundred trailers in the parking lot. "Wouldn't you know I would have to pick a date when there's a Saturday tourney" was the phrase running through his head. Nevertheless, he preps the boat for launch, then walks over to the bathrooms, only to find the doors locked. "Great...that means a trip to the woods!" he thinks.

Following launch, the angler has been on the water a while without even a sniff of a bite when he looks up and sees the game wardens coming. Luckily, everything was good with them, and they were gone in no time after wishing him a good day.

Two more hours pass without a bite yet, then four more hours, and still no bite. The angler then pulls up on a johnboat with a dude and his girl, who both appear to be in their 20s, and he sees the girl catch two fish just as he passes by. He changes lures to what she's throwing but still has nothing to show for it after another half-hour has passed. This is where things go from bad to ugly.

As the angler tries to crank up the gas motor for a run down the lake, it won't even turn over. "Oh great, now I have a dead cranking battery," he thinks. Moments later, he opens the lid to the bilge to try jump-starting from the trolling battery and finds both batteries halfway under water. "What the crap is this!" he thinks as he begins pumping out gallon after gallon of water.

After an hour's troll, the angler arrives at a ramp halfway up the lake from where he launched. He ties off the boat and leaves the bilge pump running while he bums a ride with a kid back to the launch ramp. He then drives back to where the boat is and loads it up...getting all his clothes wet in the process.

Once he pulls the boat plug, he sees why the boat has been taking on water. There's a big crack in the hull in the seam of a weld on the right side of the transom. He utters an F bomb and makes the two-hour drive home. He just gets the boat parked and is walking around to plug in the battery charger when he notices the license plate on his trailer is missing...apparently having blown off on the trip home.

"What a freaking day!" he exclaims..."and all for not a single bite" as he trudges toward the house.

For Week Ending Sunday, June 28, 2020

Monday, June 22 (from "Doc")...Went out this morning and fished about two and a half hours. The heat hit me about 8:30 a.m. and ran me off the water (LOL). Fished southern West Neck Creek and caught three dinks, the biggest a 13-incher, weighing 1 lb. I'd swear two of them were the same fish, but I'm claiming I caught a total of three bass...all on a crankbait. I can't seem to make it out the creek.

Saturday, June 27 (from Ron)...Glad to be back from a business trip. Made short evening trip to upper North Landing. Caught 12 bass, but they were all small. Biggest was only 13 inches. Was fun, and I was happy to wet a line and catch a few. U-Vibe worms and Pop-R were working well. Odd I couldn't find any bowfin because this area is my go-to for them.

Should Have Known Something Was Wrong

That was the take of an angler who was going to fish a club tournament as a non-boater. The boater whose name he had drawn wasn't very popular, but he had no clue as to why. Had he known what was in store for him that day, he might have entertained thoughts about calling in sick at the last minute.

Said this angler, "The boater called me a couple of days before the tournament and asked that I pick him up. He also explained that I would have to use my truck to pull his boat because he didn't have a tow vehicle. I knew this fella was a bit down on his luck, so I decided to cut him some slack."

Unfortunately, as the non-boater would learn later, there was more to this situation. Seems that the G3 boat had a couple of holes in the hull, and, as a result, the automatic bilge pump would come on "from time to time"...which meant every five minutes or so. It also didn't pump out the side. Instead, it shot a fountain of water into the air off the port side of the transom.

Subsequently, explained the non-boater, "I had to keep remembering not to stand on that side when I needed to take a pee.

"I will give him credit for one thing, though," allowed the non-boater. "When he started catching fish on a Chug Bug (I know someone else who likes that old bait), he was kind enough to loan me one. The only problem: He never put me in a position to cast where the fish were.

"I did manage to catch a keeper on a shakey head with a trick worm in the area where he had thrown the Chug Bug," but then we left to fish docks the rest of the day, which is about all the ever does," said the non-boater. "Immediately, he started getting strikes but couldn't get hooked up with a fish. I soon became convinced that he was getting bluegill bites instead of bass bites but just kept that thought to myself."

The non-boater stayed quiet as long as he could. It wasn't until the boater started having a tantrum and screaming obscenities at the top of his lungs after every miss that the backseater pointed out they were within about 50 yards of people's homes, and he might want to tone it down a bit. The tantrums, however, continued throughout the rest of the day. That wasn't all, either.

"He kept positioning the boat where I couldn't get a cast into the good areas under the docks or in the boat slips," said the non-boater, "so I just started fishing wherever I could get a cast. I ended up with five keepers, and he never caught a single fish from the docks. He got so frustrated at one point that he told me to get on the trolling motor."

"I'm not fishing any more," came his retort, as he plopped into the driver's seat and started sulking. "I'm tired of this ****!"

The non-boater promptly caught a keeper fish on the first cast, and the boater quickly jumped back into the front seat. As the non-boater returned to the backseat, he couldn't help thinking, "At least, I won't have to fish with him again until next year."

All marriages aren't made in heaven, and neither are all tournament partnerships. In some cases, it takes a while before you realize it wasn't a good idea. Other times, as in this example, you know it from the start.

Things That Make Little Towns Buzz

Mainstreet of my home town (Oswego, KS) in the 1950s

Having been born and reared in a little Midwest town of 2,000 people, I have a pretty decent idea of what kinds of things create a stir in such places. And one thing that never fails is someone catching a big fish. Whether it was Harry Lynn, the old town barber, or my Uncle Bill Eads, when they caught a big 'un back in my day, it became the talk of the town.

Given that background, it should come as no surprise that I had my interest piqued in a hurry when I read an online story about a fella catching a 10-lb. bass from a 100-acre lake, near a town with a population of less than 600.

Seems an unknown angler with a cabin on this Pacific Northwest lake caught the double-digit largemouth, which was only about two-and-a-half pounds shy of the state record. He then stored it in a local sports center's cooler while looking for a suitable taxidermist. Didn't take more than one mention of this fish by the proprietor of the sports center to another local bass fisherman before everyone and their uncle were stopping by for a look-see.

The single concern mentioned by a few was that the fella had decided to keep the female fish for mounting. The majority, however, rationalized that the trophy fish likely was more than 20 years old, had spawned a dozen or more times, and thus probably soon would have died of old age.

After reading this account, I found myself sitting and remembering my childhood in a town where one of the biggest draws any given day of the week was the local drugstore's soda fountain, and where, every Saturday, the old-timers sat on the ledges of store-front windows, spinning their yarns of all the big fish they had caught and such. Believe me when I say that, if I could, I'd gladly return to those days in a heartbeat. Life is too complicated today for me. 

It Always Shows in Their Face

Let a young 'un catch a fish, even a tiny one, and 99 percent of the time, you can tell it from the expression on their face. D'ya think the 8-year-old lad in this photo is as proud as punch? You can bet he is...and for good reason. The largemouth bass he's cradling in his arms weighs a hefty 8 lbs. 4 ozs.

Here's the story behind it.

One February day two years ago, Anderson's dad had taken him to a local farm pond. Before they ever got there, the lad had told his dad that he was going to catch a "monster fish" today. And don't you know, he delivered on his prediction.

According to the boy's father, Anderson said, "I'm going to catch a monster because I was watching a show on Netflix this morning called 'Chasing Monsters.' The funny part," said the father, "was that we each caught one fish, and mine was 5 lbs.--a nice fish--but his outweighed mine by three pounds."

The youngster felt compelled to console his father, saying, "It's OK, Dad. One day, you'll catch a monster like mine."

I'd say that's a pretty clear-cut indication that Anderson already is showing signs of a true bass angler--prowess, compassion, sense of humor, and quite possibly, a little bit of rubbing it in. Too bad the high school fishing team will have to wait a few more years before Anderson can join 'em.

Regardless, the lad deserves a pat on the back for such a fine catch. Thanks to his dad, too, for taking him fishing in the first place.

Incidentally, if you listen to the pros, they're consistently telling you to use big lures if you want to catch big fish, but don't try to sell that idea to Anderson. Why? Because he used a black and yellow beetlespin to catch his monster. As he pointed out, "I catch my biggest (and most) bass on beetlespins and tiny torpedoes."

To each his own, but if you're having little or no luck with monster-sized lures, you might try downsizing a bit. What have you got to lose?

The Day I Earned My Angel Wings

By Bud Fields

A group of my fishing buddies and I gathered around a table in a restaurant, enjoying a cup of coffee, and of course, we were reminiscing about fishing experiences that stood out in our memories. It was a basic old geezer round table, and trust me, we catch more fish and shoot more deer in this setting than in the woods or on the water. It seems to become more prevalent as we advance in years.

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am rather quiet and prefer to listen and laugh at and with other people. I attempt to find humor in someone else's situation, but when it is my turn to share, I confess that I would rather not confess in public or forget it altogether. I tried my best to pass and allow someone else to tell their story when my friend, Doug, asked me to relate a particular situation he referred to as "when Bud earned his angel wings."

This event occurred a couple years ago, but I will share it with you. Allow me to state that some words have been changed and altered for publication.

I was attending a bass-club meeting, and we were discussing the upcoming tournament on Lake James in northern Indiana. I have always enjoyed fishing this lake for its water clarity and habitat. You also can see some fantastic homes, meet nice people, and see an assortment of wildlife while you fish.

As we began the partner draw, I was introduced to a brand new member of the club. He was a tall, lanky young man, who never had fished a bass tournament. We shook hands, and he told me he had attended a number of my seminars around the area. He said he was excited to be fishing as my non-boater partner. He apologized in advance for not being overly experienced and hoped to learn some fishing tips from me. He was anxious for the tournament to get here. We made our plans for when, where and what time we would meet for the trip to the lake.

I spoke with him on the telephone a number of times and had hoped that we could make a trip to the lake before the tournament so we could pre-fish and establish a couple of productive patterns for catching fish, increasing our confidence. He recently had started a new job and could not get time off, so I told him I would make at least one trip to the lake. Pre-fishing is really exciting, and it can be important. I made two trips to the lake and established a pattern that was producing fish.

As we drove to the lake the morning of, I shared what I had discovered.

We made our run to my Plan A location, and I told my partner, "This tournament will be won before 9 a.m." I shut down the motor, lowered the trolling motor, and started working the piers. On the second cast toward the seawall, I retrieved my lure along the edge of the pier, and a huge largemouth totally engulfed my lure. I set the hook, and the fight was on. I tried to remain calm. I also was trying to keep my partner calm and quiet, because we had another boat not far from us, and I did not want to get their attention.

I was fighting the bass and trying to talk my partner through the netting process without knocking the bass off the hook. After what seemed like hours, I finally got the bass in the landing net. We had the fish in the boat. It was a dandy. I had an electronic scale in one of my storage boxes, and we unofficially weighed the fish at 6 lbs. 4 ozs. It was the largest Indiana bass I had caught in years. I filled the aerated livewell with water and added a couple tablets to lower the stress on the fish. I had a feeling I was on the way to winning the tournament and the big-bass pot.

We fished at different locations and spoke to some competitors. My partner was telling everybody about the big bass. We caught a few short bass and were having fun, telling jokes and maybe a lie or two, when I felt the tap of another bass as it picked up my 4-inch junebug ringworm. I set the hook and boated another keeper bass that measured exactly 14 inches. That made two keepers, and from that point on, about the only thing that happened was casting practice and joke-telling. The fish had completely shut down...exactly the same as in my pre-fishing trips.

As we continued fishing, we talked with other anglers who either had not caught a fish or only had caught shorts. We talked with a few who had one bass that barely measured, and we started carefully watching the clock so we would be certain to arrive at the weigh-in on time. With less than 30 minutes remaining, I suggested we start heading back to the ramp to fish along the bank to end the tournament.

I was feeling somewhat better about my chances when we got there and saw other anglers already putting their boats on the trailer. I told my partner we would tie up the boat to the pier and weigh-in the fish. Afterward, I planned to back the trailer down the ramp.

I was at the front of the boat, leaning over and tying the rope to the pier, when I heard someone pull alongside my boat and say, "We hear Bud caught a 6-pound-plus bass. I have not seen a bass that big in Indiana for years."

"Well, my back was turned, and I guess my new partner decided to open the hatch to the livewell, reach in, and grab the big bass by the lip and hold it up to show the anglers. I heard a resounding splash, and I turned around and saw my partner looking down toward the water. He looked at me with big eyes and swallowed hard but never said a word.

I hoped between the two fish that he had dropped the smaller of the two, but it was the big bass. Everyone at the ramp waited for me to go ballistic. I tried my best to remain calm. I asked him, "Did you just drop the big bass in the lake?" He just nodded his head. I asked him, "Why did you take the bass out of the livewell?"

"I wanted to show them the big bass," he said.

I had all kinds of dirty, unprintable words running through my head, but I didn't use them. OK, I used a few but finished by saying, "You never take a fish out of the livewell until you are ready to weigh them in."

Well, folks, I have to confess I was furious. My blood pressure hit a new high, but I had to remember that he was an inexperienced angler and didn't know any better. He felt terrible about what had happened, and there was nothing he, nor I, could do to recapture that bass.

As we took the shorter of the two bass to the scales, I congratulated the winner for his one fish that weighed in at 2 lbs. 10 ozs., and my fish came in at just under 2 lbs. I had gone from winning the tournament and the big-bass pot to finishing in fifth...in a splash. That one fish would have won everything.

What made it somewhat more tolerable was that I had a number of people telling me that I was a saint. They would say, "I sure wish I had your ability to laugh things off." One member, who was an ordained minister, came up to me and said, "Bud, my man, today you earned your angel wings."

The author is an outdoor columnist with Indiana's Kokomo Perspective. This article, which appeared in the May 24, 2015, edition, reminded me of a couple events that have occurred in my life over the years. In one of those cases, a pastor was the one who cost me a big fish, so you can bet I bit my tongue extra hard that day.

"It's Not Over 'Til It's Over"

Baseball's New York Yankee legendary catcher and slugger Yogi Berra coined that phrase in 1973, during the National League pennant race. His team was a long way behind when he said it, but they eventually rallied to win the division title.

That phrase could be applicable to several different sports situations, including bass fishing. For example, consider an angler who is fighting a big fish, slowly working it to the boat, where his partner stands ready with the landing net in his/her hands. Not until that fish is safely in the net can the angler breathe a sigh of relief and be proud of the fact he/she just has earned some bragging rights. Anyone who's ever found himself/herself in this kind of situation undoubtedly has suffered one or two of those "aw s**t" moments...as the result of some less-than-stellar net handling. It happens to the best of anglers.

In digging around the Internet, I found a short primer for everyone on the basics of how to use a fishing net the right way. It (and the photos) come from Karl's Bait & Tackle website. Here's how to bag your partner's fish of a lifetime...and ensure you have a ride home at the end of the day:

Make sure the net is ready. There is nothing worse than you or your buddy hooking into a nice one, only to realize that the net is caught in a cluster of fishing line, rod tips, treble hooks, or a host of other things NOT supposed to be in a fishing net. Make sure to have your net ready. For tournament fishermen, it is common practice to have the net laying on or near the seats, so it is up and off the floor and ready for use. The whole idea of this fishing thing is that you're going to use it, right? Be conscious of where the net is at all times...and I would add, let your partner know if you move it to a new location.

Stay out of the way. If you're fishing with a partner, make sure to give him/her enough room to fight the fish. All too often, people get excited and want to get up on the front deck or near the angler that is hooked up to see the fish, only to get in the angler's way in some fashion and cause him/her to lose the fish. Wait until your partner says they are ready for the net before getting too excited and entering his/her personal bubble.

Don't rush the net. Probably one of the worst things a net person can do is try and rush the landing. Don't chase the fish around with the net. Let the rod and reel do the work until the fish isn't quite as energized and is ready to be landed. Rushing this process can cause the fish to take unnecessary runs toward deep water, causing a more drawn-out landing process and putting additional stress on the fish. It also gives the fish more opportunity to spit the hook.

Don't stab the fish. Don't stab at the fish with the net either. When net people get antsy, they tend to lunge forward, directly at the fish, with the net, instead of using a scooping motion undernearth the fish. This is a terrible practice. Not only could you injure the fish by accidentally hitting it with the net frame, but you potentially could knock the hook out of its mouth or cause the fish to run for deeper water.

Scoop it up. Use a scooping motion that goes down and below the fish and then bring the net upward toward the surface. If the fish runs for deep water, it will swim directly into the net. If it decides to jump, your net already is directly below the body, so you have a better shot at catching it in mid-air.

Be a sporting angler. Once the fish is in the net, make sure it doesn't spend all day in there, especially if you don't intend to harvest it. Get the fish out, take your pictures, and either put it in the livewell or turn it loose.

Too much time in the net can cause the fish to become overstressed and thus reduce the chances of a healthy existence after the fight. Furthermore, some nets can cause damage to the fish's slime coating, so be conscious of this when landing fish, as well as when buying your next net.

It's That Time of Year Again To Keep One Eye on the Sky

Was reading in the latest issue of Jay Kumar's BassBlaster where a 36-year-old B.A.S.S. Nation angler from Italy was killed Monday, June 6, 2020, when he was electrocuted by a lightning strike.

The victim and a friend were fishing on Lake Golsena at the time. The friend was unharmed, though "greatly shaken" by the lightning.

I reckon bass pro Greg Hackney is someone else who also can relate to being shaken by lightning. I recently read his account of a tournament he fished back in September 2016. Seems that event was beset by its share of lightning, too.

"On Friday, we had rain early in the morning, but it didn't amount to much. Later in the day, some really nasty stuff started rolling in toward us, though," said Hackney (left). "I fished as long as it was safe, but then I went to the bank. I measured how close it was by watching the flashes and then counting the seconds before I heard the thunder.

"That's not real scientific, and I'm the first to say that it might not have been enough," continued Hackney. "I'm told that if you can see lightning, you should get off the water immediately...so, anyway, we--my marshal and I--went to the bank and sat in the bottom of the boat to get as low as possible. We probably should have curled up in the fetal position, but there was all kinds of water in the bottom of the boat, and it was cold. We stayed that way for about an hour and a half. It was so bad at one point that you couldn't hear the individual claps of thunder. It was just a constant roar above us.

"Once it got real quiet for a few minutes," explained Hackney, "and I thought it was over. I stood up and dropped the trolling motor over when, all of a sudden, without warning, the sky exploded. I just about jumped out of my skin. I thought later that it would be a heck of a thing to sit on the floor of a wet boat for over an hour and then get killed when you thought it was over.

"Afterwards, I found out that several of the guys fished through it. That was crazy. As much as I would have liked to up my placing in the tournament, I want to fish again more. I can't do that dead or horribly disabled.

"If I'm honest with you, I'd say that when I was young, I probably would have fished through it, too. We all think we're invincible when we're young. My thoughts about the other anglers continuing to fish come from a man who once lived in a glass house. I'm careful about throwing rocks. Nevertheless, fishing in a lightning storm just doesn't make sense. It's not worth the risk.

"To give you an idea of how wild it got, I'll tell you this: One angler--I'll not name him--made the decision to continue fishing. His marshal demanded to go to the bank. The angler complied. The marshal wasn't seen again. I told the angler straight up, 'Your marshal had it right.'

"I feel the need to say all of this because I know that the desire to fish can be overwhelming. I've been there...I am there. But some things just don't make sense. If you doubt what I say, check around the Internet and look at the pictures of things that have been struck by lightning. They'll get your attention and give you a fresh perspective on the matter."

According to the National Weather Service, there are steps that can be taken to avoid increasing the risk of being hit by lightning. They encourage you to avoid open areas and the tallest objects in the area, especially tall or isolated trees. The best safety measure, however, is not to get caught in a thunderstorm in the first place. Listen to weather forecasts and get off the water at the first indication of any storm. Then find shelter in a building or hard-topped car. Whatever you do, don't make one more cast; it very well could be your last.

How Light Affects What Bass Eat

By Gene Gilliland

Conventional angling wisdom says to use "natural looking" lures in clear water. On bright days, use light colors; in low light or more turbid water, use darker colored lures. But do bass pick and choose what they eat, based on the same criteria? Does their diet change, based on water clarity?

Researchers have known for some time that changes in turbidity can influence fish behavior. It all boils down to light penetration and "visual acuity." In general, under more turbid conditions, prey species have a harder time seeing their own food. And more importantly, detection of predators and their reaction distances are reduced, which also can lead to early mortality--being eaten.

Predatory fish like bass are just the opposite. As light intensity decreases, either from reduced sunlight or increased turbidity, the advantage shifts from the prey fish to the predators. In clear water, many prey fish can see and recognize bass as a threat much farther than the bass can see and recognize the prey as a meal. Reduce the available light or dirty up the water a bit, and bass gain the edge. Think dawn and dusk? Reduced light equals advantage bass. A plankton bloom that provides a nice green tint to the water and reduces visibility to a few feet equals advantage bass.

But just how does that change in light availability or water clarity affect predator feeding? Studies in the laboratory, later confirmed by field evaluations, show that, although darker water offers an element of concealment for the predator, the trade-off is a reduced ability to discriminate targets and accurately strike the prey. Since bass are basically sight feeders, in clear water, they can see a greater distance and have a higher capture efficiency--better vision equals greater success. But as the water gets darker or increasingly turbid, their ability to accurately locate a target and capture it goes down.

Keep in mind, however, that just how dark it looks to you, or how turbid you think the water is may not be the same to a bass. They have excellent vision and can see objects at surprising distances. They probably do not know if the object is a shad or a crayfish--it might be too dark or turbid to allow them to see the details. The visual outlines, however, coupled with other sensory information, such as vibration, often will lead them to closer inspection and eventually to an attack on the object. They often will engulf an object, then decide if it is really food and make a decision to swallow or spit it out.

From an angling perspective, one interesting observation that biologists have made is that a bass' diet may change significantly as water clarity changes. In clear water, bass will stalk and attack the abundant, easily located schools of shad. But although shad may make up the bulk of their food, crayfish intake often will increase during periods of increased turbidity. The same holds true in low-light conditions. Is it any wonder that a jig or soft plastic creature bait often is the bait of choice in dark water?

It appears that science can support conventional wisdom. Clearer water means more light and better vision, so color, size, shape, and detail really may make a difference in what lure you should choose. In dirty water, or low-light conditions, detail may be less important, and dark or fluorescent colors may be seen more easily, presenting a contrasting silhouette that entices the bass to strike first and ask questions later.

Gene Gilliland is a widely respected bass biologist and conservation advocate. He spent 32 years as a bass-research biologist and, eventually, assistant chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation before joining B.A.S.S. as national conservation director.

I'm No Purist When It Comes to Old Fishing Lures

As baits go out of production, a lot of folks will salt them away and wait for their market value to increase. That's all fine and dandy for those interested in owning a bunch of antiques, but I'm with that other crowd--albeit a likely minority--that prefers getting some use out of things, even old things, as long as they make it worth your while. And as long as a bunch of old lures still catch fish, I see them as definitely worthwhile.

If that philosophy makes some people get all snooty with me, that's OK. At my age, I'm really not too concerned about those who go around with their noses so far in the air it's a miracle they don't drown when it begins to rain. In the meantime, I'll just keep on fishing my Jitterbugs, Dalton Specials, and TD Mouthwashers. I even plan to add my collection of Bass-Orenos to this list. Watched my dad catch a whole bunch of quality bass with the latter over the years, while fishing the clear water of Kansas strip-mining pits. My feeling is, "If they worked for him, they oughtta work for me, too."

What say we take a look at a couple of these lures of yesteryear, starting with the discontinued Team Daiwa Mouthwasher (left), which was made in Japan. One of the most exciting new offerings to be introduced circa 2005, this topwater popper displayed incredible detail.

Measuring 3 inches in length and weighing 15/32 ounce, the lure came in eight colors and generally retailed for about $16.95. Daiwa spiced up the bait by adding a prop inside the mouth (see below, right), water-thru gills, and a feather-dressed rear hook. It didn't end there, either. The TD Mouthwasher also had a larger lower-jaw design and a curved tail, both of which added to its overall appearance, as well as its performance.

In case you're wondering if it catches fish, the answer is an unequivocal "yes." It tricked all four of the keepers I put in the boat last Saturday. Further, anyone who knows my fishing habits knows that I often tag-team the TD Mouthwasher with another big Japanese topwater bait throughout the whole year.

Makes my hands cramp some kind of bad if I use one or both all day long, but if that's what the fish want, that's what they get. As in the old Camel 66 Express trucking logo, I'm "humpin' to please."

As for the Bass-Oreno (left), it's one of many great lures produced by South Bend over the decades. Nip-I-Diddee is another. The red/white Bass-Oreno has been and still is a favorite among anglers. Regardless of color, this lure can be fished on the surface, just below, or, by increasing the speed of your retrieve, driven about 2 or 3 feet deep.

Be advised, though, that bass aren't the only specie that targets this bait. Toothy-critters like pike also will pounce on the Bass-Oreno...same goes for the Nip-I-Diddee. I read about a a fella back in the 1950s who was fishing the latter for smallmouths when a 25-pound pike happened to snatch his lure. After a spirited fight with the giant, clean through the bottom of his net, no less, the fish eventually was landed and ended up as a wall mount in his den.

Don't get me wrong. I don't discount the value of these lures. Quite the contrary, as a matter of fact. I can't tell you the last time I left one of them hanging in the brush or bottom, where someone else could come along and find it. For starters, I'm always using 40-pound braid. And, too, I always carry an extendable lure retriever in the boat...just in case all else fails. I won't say never, but I will say never without one heckuva battle.

For Week Ending Sunday, June 14, 2020

Monday, June 8 (from Skip)...Received a text from Skip this morning, saying that he was headed north on the main river to fish one of his favorite spots. Found out moments ago that he found at least a couple of fish, as evidenced by the accompanying photos. He said what you see here is the biggest and smallest fish he caught today.

Monday, June 8 (from Ron)...Fished the far reaches of upper North Landing in hopes of finding some bowfin, but didn't find any. Near sunset, returned to the vicinity of the drawbridge and found six dink bass, one warmouth, and one sunfish that hit the Pop-R. Not great but still fun, and it was nice to be out fishing.

Tuesday, June 9 (from "Doc")...Today's trip yielded five bass (a 1.13, 2, 1, 1.7, and a dink). Also caught 1 white perch, and a 5-lb. gar. Caught everything on various baits, including topwater, chatterbait, and crankbaits. The 2-lb. bass and the gar came on a swimbait in Pocaty Creek. Caught all the others in lower West Neck.

Saturday, June 13 (from Ron)...Got out this morning and fought the wind around Beggars Bridge. Water was high but clear, and the wind was a bit much for me. Caught four bass: a dink, 1-3, 1-14, and a decent 3-0. Throwing plastic in the wind, with the current of the north wind outflow, was frustrating. At least, there was no skunk, and the 3-pounder was fun.

Sunday, June 14 (from Don Mc)...That uninvited guest, Mr. Sciatica, finally hit the road after two months, so was able to go fishing and set the hook without screaming. Despite the crappy 15-20 steady NE winds yesterday, I went anyway. Am thankful I didn't look at the weather first, because I woulda stayed the heck home. Dropped the boat in Back Bay, where the water was warm and clean, and not terribly low, either. Managed to lip a total of 14 fish, with the best three being a 6-pounder and two right at 4 pounds. What can I say other than frogs...frogs...and more frogs. Even caught one on a 35-year-old Strike King Grass Frog. I was itchin' to try a Johnson spoon but was having too much fun froggin'.

Looked Like Rain Most of the Morning, But Nary a Drop Fell

As long as the clouds stuck around, the day wasn't too bad. When that sun started popping through the clouds, though, it really warmed up fast. Nevertheless, all 18 anglers in 11 boats today managed to catch some fish. As a matter of fact, yours truly was the only angler who didn't weigh a limit. In the final analysis, we weighed a total of 54 bass (including three dead ones), for a combined total weight of 136.37 lbs. Those numbers translate into an average weight per fish of 2.52 lbs. and an average weight per boat of 12.39 lbs.

Following is a rundown of those anglers who went home with a pay envelope today:

1st Place, the team of (from left) Andy Morath and Eric Hubbard, total weight 18.40 lbs., big fish 4.32 lbs.

2nd Place, the team of (from left) Rob Peppers and Don Carter, total weight 16.60 lbs., big fish 4.98 lbs., which gave them the lunker pot today, as well.

3rd Place, the team of (from left) Jim Crist and Eric Killian, total weight 14.40 lbs., big fish 4.78 lbs.







Here is how everyone else finished the competition:

     * Gary Coderre, total weight 14.01 lbs., big fish 4.28 lbs.
     * The team of Steve Bailey and Bobby Moore, total weight 13.98 lbs., big fish 3.07 lbs.
     * The team of Fred Crawford and Gabe Himmelwright, total weight 12.39 lbs., big fish 3.92 lbs.
     * The team of Mike Miller and Chris Fretard, total weight 10.59 lbs. (after 0.50 deduction for one dead fish), no big fish.
     * Jim Wilder, total weight 9.64 lbs. (after 0.50 deduction for one dead fish), big fish 2.69 lbs.
     * The team of James Calhoun and Rusty Girard, total weight 9.42 lbs. (after 0.50 deduction for one dead fish), big fish 2.84 lbs.
     * Ken Testorff, total weight 9.37 lbs. (for four fish), big fish 4.29 lbs.
     * Wayne Hayes, total weight 7.57 lbs., big fish 1.87 lbs.

And, as promised in an earlier blog post, Wayne Hayes presented Gary Coderre with his "I Survived My North Landing Plunge" Club plaque.






Congrats to all of the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next contest is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, from safe light to 2 p.m. I hope you can join us.

One Last Cast

With the overcast skies this morning, I pulled out a couple of my favorite topwater baits and started wearing the water out with them. Had my four keepers by 10 o'clock but, for the life of me, could not find a fifth keeper the rest of the day. Once the sun came out, also started fishing a tandem spinnerbait, which accounted for four dinks today. The highlight of my tournament day was when that 4-pounder-plus hit my big popper. He hit it twice and missed but totally crushed it on the third pass. By that time, I was a basket case, after watching those giant blowups.

I also had my flippin' stick in the boat today and was fishing a baby brush hog on it. Only had one bite with it. The fish picked it up in front of a tree and started swimming off with it. I thought for sure I had let him go far enough, but when I tried to lay fire to his butt, the bait just came flying back over my head. That likely was the first time in about three years that I have tried to catch any fish on my flippin' stick.