And the Godfather of Finesse Fishing Is...

Several names have been thrown in the hat, but the reality...to this point in time, at least...is that no one seemingly knows, or at least is willing to say definitively, who it is. Since I'm not a finesse fisherman, I didn't even realize until yesterday, while researching a different topic on the Internet, that there was any question about who should get credit for introducing this technique.

Accordingly, don't expect me to throw in my two cents' worth in this forum. Rather, I only will share what information I found online and let y'all make your own decisions.

One theory I found advanced yesterday is that finesse fishing perhaps may have "several fathers." Names mentioned included Charlie Brewer, Don Iovino, Ned Kehde, and Ray Fincke. A fella from Tennessee (who didn't offer his name), however, said he "recognizes Charlie Brewer as the father of finesse fishing, with a nod to Billy Westmoreland."

While there doesn't appear to be any simple way to determine who the godfather of finesse fishing really is, we do know who coined the term "finesse." The earliest reference to using light tackle (spin or casting), specifically for bass, was made in Jason Lucas' book entitled Lucas on Bass Fishing, which was published Jan. 1, 1949. Lucas devoted an entire chapter to the subject. Another very early example, from someone who is considered a bass-fishing pioneer (historically speaking), came from Robert Page Lincoln's 1952 book, Black Bass Fishing, and the chapter titled, "The Gentle Art of Spinning."

Billy Westmoreland's name also comes up in various newspaper articles dating back to 1958, in which the Hoss Fly is mentioned. So he was using light tackle to fish that bait at least that long ago. In fact, some of the articles even contained pictures of large trout being caught on the Hoss Fly, and Billy would later go on to become renowned for his prowess with hair jigs for smallmouth. He certainly could be considered the godfather in that specific sense: hair-jig smallies in clear highland impoundments.

It also was in the 1950s and 1960s that some Ozark greats entered the discussion. Guys like Guido (Hibdon?), Ned Kehde, Ray Fincke, Drew Reese, and Chuck Woods saw the birth of things like the Beetlespin and Puddle Jumper. That time frame, too, is where you can peg the start of maribou jigs, Bass Buster, and Virgil Ward.

In 1966, Bill Binkelman penned what might be considered the first treatise on light-line fishing exclusively, with the publishing of Nightcrawler Secrets. Though it was specifically a live-bait technique, its focus was on using the smallest hooks, the lightest split shot, and 4-to-6-pound line for trophy bass and walleye. He was centered in the upper Midwest, Milwaukee to be exact, and was the guy who created Fishing Facts magazine. In December 1963, when he started the publication, it originally was called Boston Store Fishing News and Wisconsin Spoonplugger.

It was the late 1960s when Charlie Brewer developed Slider fishing. It didn't really catch on until the first articles he was asked to write on the method appeared in Fishing Facts in 1971 and 1972. This is where we also can peg the term "finesse" to bass fishing, as Brewer and another gentleman, Charlie Ritchie of Texas, both wrote articles on Slider fishing for bass and used the term "finesse" in print to describe the technique.

According to Charlie Brewer, Jr., "The name 'finesse fishing' came about because Charlie Sr. was forced to play bridge with his wife of 56 years, and it was a term that applied to their card game. He applied it to fishing, too. The term 'finesse' in bridge goes back to the 1930s, so this makes sense."

This period also is the time that Dick Trask and Don Iovino were doing their light-line specialty fishing out West, known as split-shotting and deep-doodling. However, they reportedly didn't refer to what they were doing as "finesse fishing," at least not quite as early as Charlie.

In summary, there's just no foolproof way to peg a specific person with creating finesse fishing and being the godfather. Charlie Brewer, Sr., however, was the man who first applied the term "finesse" to his Slider bass fishing, and for that reason, gets some folks' nod for the title. As one gent allowed, "It's good enough until when or if someone comes up with something definitive."

Wanna Catch More Fish? Pay Attention to the Signs From Mother Nature

There are lots of anglers who believe...and rightfully so...that, if you stay tuned in to the signs from Mother Nature when you're out fishing, you can turn an otherwise dismal trip into a productive one. Picking up clues from various terrestrial or aquatic sources can help you determine what the bass are doing on your favorite waters.

Consider, for example, what this angler with 68 years of fishing experience had to say about the matter.

"Whether bass activity will be higher or lower than normal," he said, "seems to correlate with other wildlife. On some days/mornings/afternoons/evenings, there's not much moving. No birds, no frogs croaking, lack of insects, no surface activity; in other words, it's just plain dead. This seems to indicate poor fishing.

"On the other hand, when you see above-normal surface activity (e.g., fish breaking and baitfish moving), take it as a good indication that activity is positive. Add birds moving, particularly fish-hunting birds, such as eagles, osprey, kingfishers, and shore-stalking birds, and you have another positive indication. The same is true of frogs croaking, snakes swimming, and a variety of insects flying.

"In short, this is the kind of day when you will see and/or hear bass busting frogs or baitfish up near the shore, and small fish will continually hit your line where it enters the water. It's the kind of day when you will catch six or seven bass off that log where you usually only catch one.

"These are the times we all would like to be on the water...when things are 'hot.' Unfortunately, these kinds of days seem to be the exception, not the norm.

"When I was younger," said this veteran angler, "people used to ask me and my fishin' buddy how we caught so many bass. The answer was, because we fish every day. We would go fishing before we went to work. We would fish when we got off from work. And we would fish on weekends, rainy days, hot days, and sometimes at night. When you're spending that much time on the water, you just have to get into 'em at times."

Continued this old-timer, "I particularly remember when we would be speed-cranking Big-Os off a point and catch 25 to 30 nice bass, averaging 4 to 6 pounds...sometimes 7 pounds...one right after the other. Being at the right place at the right time...that's what it's all about."

While you're keeping an eye on Mother Nature, make sure you don't overlook two particularly good indicators of "live" water. When you pull into a cove and hear frogs croaking, it's a good sign that the area holds active bass.

Scanning the water's surface for turtles will help you find brush piles that usually are bass magnets. The turtles usually rise from the brush piles and then dive back down into the cover to feed. Some pros have said they rely on rising turtles to help them find underwater logs and brush in a hurry when fishing vast flats on reservoirs.

Concentrating on your line will help you detect more strikes, but there are times when nature-watching becomes a key to catching more bass.

In Keeping With the Spirit of the Season

I'm talking, of course, about the spirit of giving. And while I was digging around the Internet yesterday, I happened across a good example of that, which I decided to share with everyone who reads this blog.

Seems there's this fella whose wife has a friend, who is a retired school teacher. Her husband is gone, and she lives alone.

"I've helped her out over the last four years," said the fella, "fixing things around her house...a new disposal, storm door, and more recently, some new boards on her back porch. She always has offered to pay me, but I always say no. When I finished the porch job, though, she handed me a Christmas card, and inside was an Academy Sports gift card for $100.

"As I started thinking about what to buy, I thought of an old friend, with whom I fish quite often. Mike, as he is named, was wounded in Vietnam and has walked with a limp ever since 1970. I kind of helped him get back into fishing after 12 years. When his wife passed on, he gave up on things. He lives alone in a two-bedroom senior apartment complex in town.

"I'm happy to say he's back into fishing full bore. However, with a fixed income, he doesn't always have a lot of extra money for fishing tackle. So, last Saturday, my wife put together a tray of Christmas cookies, and we went to Academy, where I bought a new Lew's LFS casting reel. We then visited Mike, who was quick to ask, 'Oh, did you get a new reel?'"

I replied, "No man. It's for you. It's your reel, Mike. Merry Christmas! You should have seen the look on his face as he opened the box and saw that new reel. Yes, it's only a reel, but it made all the difference in the world to my old friend."

"So, in the spirit of Christmas, I passed on a gift to another person and felt very good about doing it, too. Now I'm looking forward to Mike catching some fish with his new reel this coming spring. I'm sure he'll put it to good use. While it's only a fishing reel, it's one of the best gifts you ever can give to a fisherman."

New Year's Resolutions: Made by Many but Kept by Few

It's that time of year again when people make New Year's resolutions at the drop of a hat...and then break them just as quickly. And fishermen are anything but the exception to this rule.

After spending a few hours yesterday and today perusing the Internet, I found countless numbers of anglers who said they were resolved to do such things as exercise and get in fishing shape, catch more fish, catch bigger fish, win a couple or more tournaments, start eating healthy and/or lose 20 pounds, give up smoking, drink less booze, stop chasing wild women...you get the picture, right?

In one forum I was reviewing, though, parked smack dab in the middle of a bunch of these well-meaning-but-short-on-stick-to-itiveness anglers was the following commentary from an old-timer:

"Well, let me tell y'all something now. Last Thursday, I turned 95 years old, and I've never exercised a day in my life. Every morning, I wake up and smoke a cigarette. Then I eat five strips of bacon. And for lunch, I eat a bacon sandwich. For a mid-day snack, I have more bacon...a whole plateful, to be exact. I then usually drink my dinner.

"According to all of them flat-belly experts, I should've taken a dirt nap like 30 years ago. But each year comes and goes, and I'm still here...while they all just keep dyin', you know?"

It wasn't until near the end of my second day of reviewing that I happened across someone who could honestly say he had made a New Year's resolution and stuck to it. Best of all, he felt extremely glad he had been successful.

His resolution wasn't what you would call a run-of-the-mill idea. What prompted him to do it in the first place was knowing there are too many nice things about people that go unsaid during their lifetime.

"All the eulogies I've ever heard and obituaries I've read have left me wondering whether the subjects knew how respected they were," he said. "These people should get to hear such kind and complimentary things."

As a result, he decided to sit down and write letters to the most important people in his life--his wife, family and friends--to explicitly tell them the things that he likes and respects about them.

"I thought it was a small thing but a nice way to make their days a little better.

"I don't think it changed anyone's life," he acknowledged, "but the response I got was bigger than I expected. Everyone appreciated it. Some cried. A few sent me letters of their own, outlining what they admire about me (which absolutely wasn't my objective). A couple said my letter came at important times for them, reinforcing their confidence when they were feeling low about themselves, or encouraging to back themselves at a crossroads in their lives."

As the gent explained, "The whole exercise did not take me very long (maybe 10 to 15 minutes per letter). I found myself reusing a lot of material. Turns out I like a lot of my friends for similar reasons. But it seems to have meant a lot to the people I wrote to. Ever since then, I've tried to make sure people know when I have something nice to say about them. I'm always on the lookout for other small, simple and easy ways to make others feel better about themselves."

Back when I knew Dewey Mullins didn't have long to live, it was this philosophy that guided me to initially name our West Neck tournaments the "Dewey Mullins Tribute Tourney Series" and to convince David and Teresa Winfree to post those two signs at the marina's entrance. I've always felt that far too many people leave this mortal life without ever knowing how much they and their efforts are appreciated.

She's B-A-A-A-C-K...And Running As Good As It Ever Has

I'll have to admit I was a bit disappointed with my Skeeter's performance this past Friday, the first day of break-in for the rebuilt motor. But after some additional TLC today by Wayne, I've gotta say that I couldn't be happier.

On Friday, we experienced some hesitation...all the way from about 3500 rpm to wide-open throttle. It lasted throughout the half-day we were on the water.

Once we were back at the ramp, Wayne called the mechanic who did the rebuild, and they collectively agreed on a course of action to solve the problem. Subsequent to their conversation, Wayne installed all new fuel hoses today, along with a new set of spark plugs and a new water-separator filter, and as a result, the boat is running as good now as it did when I first bought it.

Am keeping my fingers crossed that we've finally turned the corner on getting the Skeeter back to what it was when I bought the boat from Robert Stamey. Have no doubt that Wayne's hoping for success, too...if for no other reason than the fact he won't have near as many phone calls from me, hollering H-E-L-P! That routine has to be getting old after so many months.

I look forward to completing the break-in and getting on with some extra fishing while this weather continues holding.

A Common Theme Today: "Out of Stock"

Found a comic strip (of B.C. By Mastrolanni & Hart) in the morning newspaper that repeated the same situation you see in this photo of a tackle store's shelves. It showed a couple fellas sitting in their boat on a lake. Each had a line out, with a sign hanging from one that read "out of stock." The caption on the comic strip read: "I think we've overfished this lake."

Instead of bringing a chuckle, though, the comic strip served as just another reminder of how screwed up things in this world are at the moment. Everything imaginable is "out of stock." And as if that isn't enough, there are countless people whose brains appear to have taken a serious leave of absence, but that's a story for another day.

Getting back to those things that are "out of stock," I routinely do a fair amount of research on the Internet for one thing or another and usually can find what I'm looking for at several different outlets. But those days are more often than not becoming a thing of the past...as a good friend of mine learned when a new lure he had been waiting on finally made its debut recently. It no sooner hit the shelves 'til...you guessed it...those "out of stock" signs started cropping up faster than you could sneeze. He ultimately found the colors he wanted and successfully placed his orders but had to jump through a fair number of extra hoops to make it happen.

That, however, is the realities of life in this COVID pandemic. It seems like everything from soft plastics to fishing reels are out of stock these days. And when you're lucky enough to find products in stock, they're marked up higher than usual.

Shimano Southeast Regional Manager Robert Dufek explained the situation this way during ICAST 2021. "The gear shortage is caused by the perfect storm of lingering and resurging COVID-19 restrictions, rising shipping costs, and a huge increase in demand."

The pandemic and the government restrictions that come with it are causing massive shipping delays in Asia, where most fishing gear is manufactured. "Some of the Chinese ports are operating at 40, 50 or 60 percent capacity," said Dufek. "These ports are significantly larger than the Los Angeles port, which is the largest one in the U.S. So, containers are arriving at the port, but can't get out the door."

The cost of shipping those containers has gone up significantly as well. "A normal 40-foot-high cube container that would cost $4,000 to ship to California from China is now $14,000 to $18,000," Dufek explained. To make matters worse, bidding wars for containers and space on ships are common.

It's not that companies like Shimano aren't producing products or getting those products to retailers. It's that the products are selling out in minutes and demand is outpacing supply. "We're manufacturing far more products than we ever have in the history of Shimano," said Dufek. Shimano has factories throughout the world, including Japan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the U.S., all of which are operational. "We're setting record shipping numbers every month. It's not that we're not shipping as much as we did a year ago. We're shipping more...far more," he added.

According to a 2021 study by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), 55 million Americans went fishing in the last year, and 4.4 million went fishing for the first time...a 42 percent increase. The obvious solution to this increased participation is to ramp up manufacturing, but expanding a manufacturing facility isn't a simple task.

"The other problem is our manufacturing facilities are very large buildings," said Dufek. "In order to expand the capabilities of that particular facility, it doesn't happen in three months." Instead, it would take about two years.

So how long will these issues last? Unfortunately, much of it depends on factors out of the manufacturer's control. If COVID-19 restrictions imposed by various countries are relaxed, then ports and factories can operate with a full workforce. Product flow from Asia to America is improving, but congestion in U.S. ports is worsening.

The other factor is how long the surge in demand will continue. The RBFF study found that 55 percent of people who tried fishing in 2020 likely would continue the activity in 2021, thereby keeping the demand for fishing products high. As the pandemic already has taught us, there's no good way to make any predictions about what the future holds. One thing is certain, though: Shimano and other companies like them will be doing their very best to get all the gear we want and/or need to us so we can continue our adventures on the water.

The Latest Threat to Holiday Traditions

Anyone who read "the daily break" section of this morning's The Virginian-Pilot undoubtedly saw the piece by Alyson Krueger of The New York Times. The item was titled "Skipping Traditions."

Among the examples cited by Krueger was a family that, because of differing views on religion and politics has given up on spending time with family over the holidays. Krueger also cited another family that had such a good time at Thanksgiving with a best friend and her family that they've decided "if we don't want to spend time with family, we don't have to."

As yet another person interviewed by Krueger allowed, "What the pandemic has taught me is that family doesn't have to represent those who are blood-related. Family is made of those people who support you and love you. So when I think about who I want to spend the holidays with, it's those people."

In short, the dreaded COVID-19, in addition to already having killed more than 806,000 Americans, has teamed up with Father Time to cause an even farther and faster decline in holiday traditions.

Well do I remember the holidays of my youth and gathering at Grandma and Grandpa's house, along with all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and such, for a scrumptious meal that simply was out of this world, along with gift exchanges, and the nonstop fellowship one with another. Back in those days, too, the Christmas card exchanges among friends and relatives were immense, compared to what it is today. I remember my mom addressing cards for days on end and writing personal notes inside each one before mailing all of them.

The one thing that neither Father Time, nor COVID, has been able to touch (thus far, at least, and I pray forever) is my memories of those earlier days. They are tucked away in a special part of my brain that I truly hope will remain alive and well to my dying day.

Here's hoping each and every one of you have a blessed holiday season and may 2022 prove to be bountiful in every positive respect.

For All You North Landing Lovers...A Prediction

You'd be well-served to plan on kissing this body of water goodbye...again...for the near future, given the current weather forecast. In case you haven't checked recently, the weather dudes are calling for some pretty strong northerly winds all the way through Thursday. Consider, for example, that at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19th, the online gauge showed the water level at 1.08, and the trend for the past several hours has been nothing but downward. Reckon you could call this a "watershed moment," 'cause it's likely the river is going to be "shedding" a whole bunch of water the next few days. So, what's new? Right? Yo-Yos have nothing on our favorite fishin' hole.

UPDATE: At 11:30 p.m., Mon., Dec. 20th, level is at 0.80.

UPDATE: At 11:30 p.m., Tues., Dec. 21st, level is at 1.29.

UPDATE: At 11:30 p.m., Wed., Dec. 22nd, level is at 1.54.

Just goes to prove that I don't think there's a human being who can predict, with any degree of accuracy, what the winds are going to do around here. I don't feel too bad, given the fact the weather forecasters around here seldom get it right, either. Oh, well, as a couple of my readers have pointed out, at least that was a pretty set of lips I chose to introduce this post.

She's B-A-A-A-C-K!

After 4-plus months, my Skeeter is back in the storage shed at West Neck Marina, complete with a rebuilt Yamaha outboard that will be ready as soon as the break-in is complete. Brought it "home" from the mechanic's shop today, with the help of my long-time friend and tournament partner, Wayne Hayes.

Turns out that the crux of all my problems leading up to the boat going to the shop to start with was a pinhole leak (see arrow pointing it out at left) that allowed water to get to a lot of places it shouldn't have been.

The mechanic also said he had fixed the problem that had caused numerous overheat alarms many moons ago until I had Wayne remove all the thermostats. My YammerHammer 150 now has a new set of thermostats, which the mechanic assured me will operate like they're supposed to.

As I was leaving the mechanic's shop today, he left me with a couple other considerations, too. First of all, he made certain that I understood the necessity of using double oil during the break-in period. (If any mosquitoes are still alive in Virginia Beach, they won't be for much longer...I assure you.) And secondly, he cautioned me to be alert to the fact my outboard is apt to have a lot more giddy-up-go than I've been used to for quite some time. "No hot-doggin'" were his exact words to me.

In any event, I'm feelin' good again...albeit a bit out of practice. Felt like a fool this afternoon as we were running the outboard for a few minutes at the West Neck ramp (yes, in all that cold rain) and Wayne told me to check all my pumps. I flipped on the two livewell fill valves but didn't see the lights in the switches, at which point Wayne hollered, "Might help if you turn on the master power switch first."

Tough Fog Delays Start of Yesterday's Tournament

The 29 anglers in 20 boats had to wait an extra hour (until 9 o'clock) yesterday morning to get the "go ahead" from tournament director Gabe Himmelwright to start the Boundary Bass Club tournament out of Pungo Ferry. At day's end, these competitors brought a combined total of 76 fish to the scales. The overall total-weight tally was 139.80 lbs., for an average weight per fish of 1.83 lbs.

Those folks who claimed a spot in the winners' circle included the following:

1st Place, the team of (from left) Mark Ingram and Gabe Himmelwright, five fish, total weight 15.10 lbs., and a 5.53-lb. big fish, which also gave them the Lunker Pot.

2nd Place, Steve Bailey, five fish, total weight 11.14 lbs., and a 4.54-lb. kicker fish.

3rd Place, the team of (from left) Stan Krason and Dustin Alley, five fish, total weight 10.43 lbs., no big fish.

A $30 gift certificate to Bob's Fishing Hole store also was awarded as a raffle prize yesterday. Holding the certificate here is Ethan Welch, who fished with his dad, Nate.

Here is how everyone else lined up at completion of the weigh-in:

     * The team of Kevin Massie and Sid Ryan, five fish, total weight 10.33 lbs., and a 2.87-lb. big fish.
     * Jim Calhoun, five fish, total weight 10.01 lbs., no big fish.
     * The team of David Dozier and Nelson Anderson, five fish, total weight 9.97 lbs., and a 3.22-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, five fish, total weight 9.73 lbs., and a 2.84-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Andy Morath and Aaron Leigh, five fish, total weight 9.71 lbs., no big fish.
     * Don Carter, five fish, total weight 8.95 lbs., no big fish.
     * Rusty Girard, five fish, total weight 8.03 lbs., no big fish.
     * Fisher Bryan, five fish, total weight 7.92 lbs., no big fish.
     * The team of Leo Boisvert and Vince Stuccio, five fish, total weight 7.45 lbs., no big fish.
     * Jim Leavis, five fish, total weight 6.93 lbs., no big fish.
     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff, five fish, total weight 6.30 lbs., no big fish.
     * Greg Bryan, two fish, total weight 4.33 lbs., no big fish.
     * The team of Nate and Ethan Welch, four fish, total weight 3.47 lbs., no big fish.
     * Austin Kirk, Ronnie McLaughlin, Red Bruun, and Chris Napier didn't weigh any fish.

The next scheduled Boundary Bass Club tournament is set for Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, on the Pasquotank River, launching out of Elizabeth City, NC.

A Bernie Schultz Tribute to the Late Aaron Martens

Here's a great little story that I found in the latest issue of Jay Kumar's BassBlaster:

"As the minutes turned to hours, he (Aaron) kept culling, while I watched, unable to catch even a bare 14-inch keeper," said Schultz. "He eventually must have felt sorry for me, 'cause he called me over to get one of his special baits...a 'Scrounger,' which was relatively new at the time. Rather than simply tossing me the lure, he sat down and began to assemble and modify it--custom trimming its transparent lip and soft-plastic body.

"Our boats sat rail to rail, as Aaron meticulously tweaked the lure," continued Bernie. "Dissatisfied with the initial effort, he scrapped the lure's transparent lip and started over.

"As he was trimming the second one, a school of fish erupted on the far side of his boat. Impulsively," allowed Bernie, "I fired a cast across his deck into the melee and hooked up with my biggest fish of the day. As it cartwheeled across the surface, Aaron realized its size and shouted, 'Dude! Here I am making a bait, and you're catching fish on the other side of my boat. That's not cool, bro.'

"Our marshals and I broke out laughing," said Bernie..."all while I'm trying to battle this fish without setting foot on Aaron's deck."

"Name one other dude who would stop catching biting fish to make a bait for another competitor," said Kumar. "If you know one, you're blessed."

My Wish for Each and Every One of You

Wishing you peace, joy, and all the best this wonderful holiday season has to offer. May this incredible time of giving and spending time with family bring you the joy that lasts throughout the year.

'Twas the Week Before Christmas

By Scott McGehee

'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the South,

The weather was warming, time to catch a largemouth;

I should be out shopping for gifts with care,

But instead I have hope that the bass will be there.

The water's too cold for the bass to bed,

So I'll just have to catch them, fishing slow instead;

While momma's at the house, wrapping gifts with class,

I'm on the lake, a fishin' for bass.

When up on the shore arose such a clatter,

I ran to the bank to see what's the matter;

Away from my weedline,

That'd been producing just fine.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a sleigh, pulled by eight whitetail deer;

I have to admit, I was a little confused,

St. Nick was here early, which left me bemused.

I told him, "Please be aware,

Gun season is open, so your deer should take care;

There's hunters about, even though there's no chill,

Looking for fresh venison, all ready to grill."

He replied, "They'll have to chance it, alone in the wood,

I'd love to go fishing, if I could join you, I would;"

Turns out old Santa's a bassaholic at heart,

Catches bass to unwind, has done so from the start.

So back to the weedline we flew,

To see if I couldn't help old St. Nick catch a few;

Thus we drove to my spot, in my nimble BassCat,

Where he sat at my side, all jolly and fat.

And he whistled and shouted and called out his wishes,

"Fish crankbaits and worms, to catch some fishes;

Spinnerbaits and jigs, we must all try,

We'll catch us some bass, to grill or fry."

We had quite a day, with cast after cast,

It passed way too fast, I wished it would last;

I came to find out that St. Nick's a good stick,

When it comes to cold water, he knows every trick.

I wanted to beat him, but then I thought twice,

If I do that, it might not be nice;

If I'm naughty, I'll get switches and coal,

Not what I wanted: a new Power Pole.

So catch them we did, all the way to dark,

Till he said he must go, it's been quite a lark;

There's still work to be done, before my big night,

Back to my eight deer, I must take flight.

Back to the elves, before they start to fight,

A delay in getting ready just wouldn't be right;

So left me he did, then took to the sky,

He and his reindeer, north did they fly.

And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name,

But since he's been fishing, their names aren't the same;

"Now, Rayburn! Now, Martin! Now, Falcon and Fork!

On, Pickwick! On, Sardis! On, Mead and Norfolk!

To the end of the dam! To the top of the trees!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away, please!

But as they flew off, I did hear him call,

"Merry Christmas to you, and Bass Wishes to all."

This poem was first published by BassFan on Dec. 23, 2009. At the time, the author was a Bassmaster Open angler from Mississippi.

More Than Just a Piece of Plastic

The author and his son.

By Blaine Matray

My family was in the midst of opening presents and the calamity of a typical Christmas morning. Buried amidst the pile of shredded wrapping paper and bows was the smallest, yet last of the gifts--MINE!

I tore through the wrapping paper like I was a child again, only to be brought back to reality by what my eyes beheld--a Bass Pro Shops gift card. My kids howled with laughter, wishing me a Merry Christmas and hours of fun with my piece of plastic, with the misunderstanding that a gift was useless unless it had batteries in it.

I was thankful for the gift card, content in putting it into my pocket and spending valuable time with my wife and kids the rest of Christmas Day.

Months passed, and I forgot that I even had my gift card. It was summer, and warm evenings brought opportunities to get outside and fish farm ponds around Oklahoma...the best time to put that simplistic piece of plastic to use.

With minimal convincing, my son, Mason, deemed it necessary we head to Bass Pro Shops to pick up new tackle to ensure successful fishing. We spent what seemed like an eternity in Oklahoma City looking at the essentials that every father and son should have in their tackle boxes.

We scoured over aisles and aisles of Biffle O's, Hula Poppers, floating Rapalas, Jitterbugs, and plastic worms in every color of the rainbow. Each different lure brought a memory of mine to light, potentially helping my son understand the depth of how largemouth bass can change a person's life forever.

Calm June winds one evening brought an opportunity for Mason and me to get out and put our new lures to the proverbial test. We had access to our friends' aluminum boat, so we took full advantage of the fishing endeavor.

As we motored out to our first spot on the pond, my son asked, "What should we fish, Dad?"

I gave him the autonomy he so desired at age 7 and replied, "The water is warm, so the bass will be more active than spring. What do you think, Son?"

We recently had read a feature in the Sunday Oklahoman about the Biffle O and its tournament success. The Biffle O it was. Having never fished the lure, Mason assertively convinced me to follow his lead.

The poor bass never had seen anything like that lure. We lost count of the fish we caught and released. As the sun began to set that evening, I introduced my son to the art of topwater plugs. We both tied on Hula Poppers and cast toward the weed edges near the bank.

I was in the midst of explaining to Mason about letting the motion rings dissipate away from the popper when the unimaginable happened--WHAM! The water exploded from below, and a monster bass flew out of the water higher than the edge of the boat.

We both momentarily froze in disbelief before coming to our senses. I set the hook as he ran with the Hula Popper and handed the rod to my son. "Your turn, Mason," I told him.

Mason grabbed the rod and held on for his dear life. "Keep your rod tip up, up, up!" I exclaimed. "That bass is going to make a run under the boat." The monster shot under the boat as my son kept fighting.

With one last pass, the bass blasted out of the water again, revealing its imposing yellow eyes and shook the Hula Popper right out of its mouth into the boat. It came to rest right between my son and me. We both stared at each other in utter disbelief. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, we simultaneously erupted into laughter.

It was at that moment that I realized how special that gift card from my wife really was. That simple little gift card had transformed itself into the greatest Christmas present a father could have ever asked for--a priceless moment with his son that undoubtedly would last forever.

The author is a distinguished multiple award-winning senior sales executive with more than 23 years of successful biopharmaceutical/pharmaceutical sales experience in Blanchard, OK.

Beginning To See Daylight at the End of This Tunnel

After what will be two weeks tomorrow, the recovery from my run-in with a headboard is coming along nicely now. Still have some bruising, which expanded immensely from the photo I originally published on this blog, e.g., it ended up spreading all the way down the back of my left leg into parts of my foot. Treatments with heat and cold packs, use of epsom salts, and elevation of my feet appear to have been the ticket to the success I'm starting to enjoy.

My knee still shows bruising, coupled with a fairly good-sized knot on the side of it. Fully suspect a trip to an ortho specialist is in my future, but will deal with that when the time comes. Already can wear my jeans again, and that's what matters to me. And after the reduced swelling that has occurred in my left foot today, I suspect I'll be able to wear my regular shoes, starting perhaps as early as tomorrow.

Have been using Tylenol tablets tinged with a little codeine for sleeping the past few nights, but think I likely have taken the last one of those, since last night's pill didn't seem to provide much help. Besides that, I'm not a fan of taking any more meds than absolutely necessary.

Along with the improvement from the damage I did to myself two weeks ago, I am finally getting word that it'll probably only be a few more days before I get my boat back from Craig, ready to hit the water again. I know there first will be the matter of about 10 hours of break-in time, but with any luck, I hope to accomplish that in a couple of days. Plan to leave all my fishing gear at home during those two days, so I won't get distracted.

Barring the unforeseen, I have plans to join Wayne this coming Saturday for a trip to Pungo Ferry, where we will participate in the tournament the fellas with Boundary Bass Club have scheduled.

Had to take a rain check this past Saturday for the event at Bob's, 'cause I was in a bad way with my leg that day. As the doctor at Patient First, whom I saw on my second trip there last week, explained, I have a bad case of arthritis in my left ankle that was stirred into more action than usual by my accident. At least I now understand why my left foot often is puffy...even when not injured.

In any event, I'm looking forward to getting back to some degree of normal healthiness in coming days and be able to log some time on my rebuilt motor, too.

"It Is Christmas Time, a Halting of Hate Time"

That's a line from Dr. Maya Angelou's Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, which she penned for the 2005 tree-lighting ceremony at the White House. Hailed as a global renaissance woman, Dr. Angelou was a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. She passed away on May 28, 2014, but her works live on, as depicted in Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, which follows in its entirety.

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes

And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.

Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche

Over unprotected villages.

The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.

What have we done to so affront nature?

We worry God.

Are you there? Are you there really?

Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,

Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope

And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.

The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,

Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.

Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.

Flood waters recede into memory.

Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us

As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children

It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.

Hope spreads around the earth, brightening all things,

Even hate, which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.

At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.

We listen carefully as it gathers strength.

We hear a sweetness.

The word is Peace.

It is loud now. It is louder.

Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.

It is what we have hungered for.

Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.

A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.

Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.

We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.

We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.

Peace.

Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.

We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,

Implore you, to stay a while with us.

So we may learn by your shimmering light

How to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language

To translate ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ

Into the great religions of the world.

We jubilate the precious advent of trust.

We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.

All the earth's tribes loosen their voices

To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We Angels and Mortals, Believers and Non-Believers,

Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves

And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.

Peace, My Sister.

Peace, My Soul.

It's a shame that some folks don't see the world as Maya Angelou did. I cite, for example, these three Christmas-card photos that politicans saw fit to publish...on the heels of a recent Michigan high-school shooting incident, no less, in which four people (to date) lost their lives:

My question is: Do these demonstrate Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men?

I Fish You a Merry Christmas

By Kimberly Squyres

While clawing and gasping my way through the holiday hustle and bustle of the store the other day, I wasn't exactly feeling the holiday cheer...that is, until I saw someone wearing a T-shirt bearing a message that rang clearer than the silver bells of Christmas. It read: "Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden."

Maybe it's because I was at a Target store and saw symbols of red bulls-eyes all around, but I temporarily was transported from my retail hell and actually took a moment for a little chuckle. And for that moment, I almost forgot about the overplaying of "Deck the Halls" on the loudspeaker and, for that matter, about decking the people around me.

Don't get me wrong; I'm no Grinch or Scrooge, but I can only take so much pushing and shoving and temper tantrums of spoiled children screaming all around. Nothing like a little bit of tinsel and a limited supply of hot holiday toys to bring out the best in everyone. Instead of holiday cheer, however, it brings me holiday tears...but I digress.

Back to the shirt that read "shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden." Now I'm not here to dispute that fact--we all know it's true--but it made me think about a related parallel. I realized that hunting (or fishing, in this case) is really a lot like Christmas shopping (with or without the game warden).

Waiting. One way or another, fishing or shopping, you wait...and wait...and wait some more, whether waiting for the fish to bite your line,  or waiting in a checkout line with a big wish list in hand. They both take patience, whether you're trying to find just the right fishing spot or just the right (and closest)  parking spot. It also takes patience whether you're refraining from jerking the line too soon, or lining out that jerk who just cut you off in line at the store.

Timing. Both can, and often do take ALL DAY, whether you want it to or not (fishing--yes, please, but no to shopping all day--my feet just can't handle it). And even more, you may end up throwing it (fish or gifts) back (too small to eat) or returning it (also because it's too small--probably from all those second helpings of holiday food and Christmas cookies).

Stuff. Either way, you end up with lots of stuff, mostly that of which you (or others) don't really need. It's nice to have, but you can do without, or at least without a lot of it. Whether it's the 47 different spinnerbaits in your tackle box, or the 47 different boxes under your tree, you end up with a lot of stuff. And it often all ends up sitting around, unopened or unused, forgotten, or regifted, whether it's in the tackle box or the gift box.

Planning. For both, battle tactics are required, as is a plan and armor, whether you're battling for bass or bargains. I'm talking selecting your baits to lure in big bass, mapping out your escape route from other shoppers that are being an a** (I'll let you fill in the two blanks), cutting coupons, bargaining with retailers, checking the Solunar Tables to the sales advertisements, you gotta know what you're looking for and plan accordingly. Bring your game face, your running shoes, waders--whatever it takes. Just be ready for action.

Despite these metaphorical parallels, I'm more into "reel" life. I'll be glad when all the holiday hoopla is over, and I can get away from the stress of shopping malls and get back out on the lake and in the woods. And better yet, just save yourself some trouble...and money. Don't see red. See the beauty of the blue lake and skies, instead. Maybe instead of partaking in all the commercialism of Christmas, give a gift that no nature- or lake-lover can turn down, or, for that matter, return the one on everyone's wish list--fish.

Forget the lines and get a life, or change one. Take someone fishing--a little adventure they won't forget, or heck, you could even give them a fish. Start a family Christmastime tradition on the lake. Gather your friends and family for a weekend at a lake house, take pictures water skiing with Santa hats on, or go Christmas-light looking or caroling.

Besides, that's what this day is all about--family, friends, traditions, memories, and of course, Jesus is the reason for the season. And it's always the season to celebrate that, whether it's Christmas or hunting season. Good luck out there with whichever adventure you choose to take on. Merry Fishmas!

About the author: Kimberly Squyres is addicted to all things outdoors. She has dedicated her life to meeting the people that make up the place called Deep East Texas, and telling their stories and promoting their causes through pictures and the written word. When not writing, rescuing dogs, or riding horses, in her spare time, she is a full-time lecturer of communication and director of debate at Stephen F. Austin State University.

For the Man Who Hated Christmas

This true story was originally published in the Dec. 14, 1982, issue of Woman's Day magazine. It was the first-place winner out of thousands of entries in the magazine's "My Most Moving Holiday Tradition" contest in which readers were asked to share their favorite holiday tradition and the story behind it. The story inspired a family from Atlanta, GA, to start The White Envelope Project and Giving 101, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth about the importance of giving.

By Nancy W. Gavin

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so.

It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas--oh, not the the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it--overspending...the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma--the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son, Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended, and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged the shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears.

It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly. "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them."

Mike loved kids--all kids--and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting-goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, with a note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.

His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in the succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition--one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there, either.

You see, we lost Mike last year, due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.

Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further, with our grandchildren standing to take down the envelope.

Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, always will be with us.

Boundary Bass Club Fellas Take Their Game to the North River

Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, dawned clear and bright, but there still was a bite in the air that greeted those 17 anglers in 10 boats who blasted off from Waterlily at 8 a.m. for their tournament day on the North River.

As the day wore on, temperatures rose into the 60s, making for comfortable fishing conditions. At day's end, a total of 26 bass were brought to the scales, weighing a combined total of 54.56 lbs., which translates into an average weight of 2.09 lbs. per fish.

Those who claimed pay envelopes when all was said and done included the following:

1st Place, the team of David Dozier and Nelson Anderson, with a limit of five fish, for a total weight of 11.58 lbs. Their big fish tipped the scales at 2.96 lbs.

2nd Place, the team of Ken Matthias and Jim Leavis, with five fish, for a total weight of 11.40 lbs. Their big fish tipped the scales at 4.03 lbs.

Lunker Prize for the tournament, weighing 5.47 lbs., was caught by Vince Stuccio. He and his partner, Leo Boisvert, had a limit, which weighed in at 8.81 lbs.

Here is how the rest of the field finished:

     * The team of Mark Ingram and Gabe Himmelwright, five fish, 9.76 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Bob Clarkson and Dustin Alley, four fish, 6.91 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Sid Ryan and Kevin Massie, three fish, 4.67 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Richard Woods, one fish, 1.43 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * James Calhoun, Red Bruun, and the team of Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean didn't weigh any fish.

The next Boundary Bass Club tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18th, at Pungo Ferry.

For Period Ending Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021

Saturday, Dec. 4 (from Wayne and Ken)...We journeyed down NC way to participate in today's regular tournament out of Bob's Fishing Hole. It didn't take long after the 8 a.m. blastoff to figure out today's fishing was going to be different than last week. Where we already had boated six bass in the first hour and a half a week ago, we only had a couple of pickerel and a dink bass to show for our efforts in the same span of time this morning. It ended up taking us six hours to amass a limit of three small keeper bass today, along with about four pickerel. Two of the keeper bass fell for mid-level crankbaits, and the other one went for a jerkbait. A quick look at the weigh-in board before we headed home this afternoon revealed that the vast majority of anglers had a lackluster day. While the weigh-in process still was in progress as we bid our adieu, it was easy to detect only three totals in the 5-lb. range and several in the 3-lb. range, which is where we fell in the grand scheme of things. Ran into Andy and Diana Morath at Bob's today, as well as my former West Neck partner, Paul Celentano. Had a call from Gabe Himmelwright after arrival at home, letting me know it'll probably be tomorrow before he can get me the results of their Boundary Bass Club tournament today. Will post those results on the blog as soon as I receive them, so stay tuned.

Saturday, Dec. 18 (from Ron)...Landed back in town from a business trip at noon yesterday, went home, prepped my gear, and launched (at HRBT) at 3 p.m. Caught a couple of small stripers before landing my best of the day...a 34-incher! With that fish in my lap, and arm fully extended to try and get the photo, I took a bunch of poor pics. May need to get one of those selfie sticks.

December 2021 Best Fishing Times

Gotta Watch a Bed's Runaway Headboard

I was trying to change the frame settings on our bed today to accommodate a queen-sized mattress when the headboard got away from me and took a bead on my left knee. What you see in this picture is what the doctor and x-ray tech at Patient First saw a little earlier when I went in to find out if I had broken any bones.

Turns out all they found tonight was a lot of tissue swelling that, as the doctor explained, is going to take a lot of ice and probably a lot of months before it resumes any semblance of normal. And if the current swelling happens to double overnight, I'm directed to go see an ortho specialist tomorrow and have them drain the excess blood off my knee. Had that done to my eye once before, so I know what it's all about.

Not sure how this is going to affect my fishing. I very well may find that Wayne would just as soon not have anything to do with me for a spell, and if that happens, I'll understand. This problem may be a bridge too far for anyone to undertake.

A Whole New Ballgame

I have to admit that I can't remember the last time I had to look for anything other than shallow-water crankbaits...ones capable of reaching only 5- or 6-foot depths.

That has all changed, though, since my tournament partner, Wayne, persuaded me to get a North Carolina freshwater fishing license and accompany him to the tournaments out of Bob's Fishing Hole on the Northwest River. Now I need crankbaits that will reach depths of 12 to 15 feet. There's more to it than just that, however.

As bass pro Greg Hackney outlined in an article for Bassmaster, "The first factor that affects running depth is line size. The thinner the line, the deeper the bait will run. As a practical matter, you should think about fluorocarbon line in the 10- or 12-pound-test size, which will handle most situations and give you a reasonable depth for most lures.

"The next thing you need to consider is your reel. The faster your lure is moving, the deeper it'll run. Gear ratios can be misleading," he continued. "A 7.3:1 reel only works at that ratio when the spool is full. After a long cast, or if your reel isn't full, it's cranking at a much lower ratio." (On this point, I found some differing views among the pros. Some say a slow-speed reel is the best choice for crankbaiting. One with about a 5:1 gear ratio is going to help you get your baits to their maximum depth and also give you superior feel, so you know exactly what's going on with your lure.)

Hackney contends that the size of the spool matters, too.

"A 300 size spool will pick up a lot more line than a 200 size or a 100 size," he said. "Not all manufacturers size their spools that way, but you can look at a reel and compare it to other models before you buy it. This isn't brain surgery...it's common sense.

"A third factor," said Hackney, "and one that many anglers misunderstand, is that for a bait to reach its maximum running depth, it must run true. Lots of times, a lure that's being brought back at a medium speed will look like it's running perfectly straight. But, if you increase the speed to superfast, you'll find it's running slightly to one side. That will affect depth, even when you can't see the difference on a normal retrieve.

"The final thing is the length of your cast. The longer the cast, the deeper the bait will run. Most professional anglers can cast farther than most recreational anglers. That's one reason our baits get deeper.

"If you think about these things, you'll realize that manufacturers aren't misleading you when they estimate running depth. It's just that most of us--including pros--don't put everything together just right. We can overcome those shortcomings by doing a number of things.

"The obvious is to pick a bait that'll run a little deeper than what we need to reach the bottom. If we're fishing water that's 10 feet deep, we can pick a crankbait that'll run 12 or 14 feet. That'll get us down to the bottom, even if we don't have all our ducks in a row.

"Another trick is to add a little weight to the lure by swapping out the hooks. Replace the factory ones with a bigger size and a shorter shank. That helps more than you'd think.

"Think about these things the next time you're trying to get a crankbait down to the bottom. They'll help you avoid frustration and help you catch more bass," Hackney concluded.

Like I said in the beginning, I find myself in a whole new ballgame. How it turns out is anyone's guess.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

By Helen Steiner Rice

Thank You, God, for everything...

The big things and the small,

For "every good gift comes from God"...

The Giver of them all.

And all too often we accept

Without any thanks or praise,

The gifts You send as blessings

Each day in many ways.

And so, at this Thanksgiving time,

We offer up a prayer;

To thank You, God, for giving us

A lot more than our share.

First, thank You for the little things

That often come our way;

The things we take for granted

And don't mention when we pray.

The unexpected courtesy,

The thoughtful, kindly deed,

A hand reached out to help us...

In the time of sudden need.

Oh, make us more aware, dear God,

Of little daily graces,

That come to us with "sweet surprise,"

From never-dreamed-of places.

Then, thank You for the "miracles"

We are much too blind to see,

And give us new awareness

Of our many gifts from Thee.

And help us to remember

That the "key" to "life" and "living,"

Is to make each prayer a "prayer of thanks,"

And every day THANKSGIVING.