A Connection I Doubt Many Have Made

If someone ever had asked me to name something with many similarities to fishing, the last thing that likely would have crossed my mind is gambling. However, that was before I happened across an Internet item this weekend.

Dr. Mark Griffiths, an English chartered psychologist and distinguished professor of behavioral addiction at the Nottingham Trent University and director of the International Gaming Research Unit, published a 2019 paper with Dr. Michael Auer, in which they examined the concept of "fishing addiction" and the similarities with gambling addiction.

Among the many references Dr. Griffiths cited was a 2013 online article (http://ongambling.org/fishing-and-gambling) by Dr. Per Binde, who describes himself as a gambling researcher who enjoys fishing in his spare time. In his words, "Gambling and fishing have many similarities, especially if you consider bait casting (spinning) in relation to repetitive forms of gambling, such as slot machines."

Another 2013 online article by Whitney James also made a similar observation that "pulling a penny slot is like casting your line. It doesn't take a lot of effort, but the payout is sometimes sweet." The same is true of a hobby like metal detecting. As my friend, Skip, noted, "The next swipe could reveal some kind of treasure, whether it be a ring, coin or pop top."

Both Binde and James noted a number of distinct similarities, as outlined below:

     * In both activities, the participant repeats the same behavior over and over again in the hope that they will attain something of material value.
     * Both activities lead to mood modifying experiences and can be both relaxing and exciting.
     * Both activities can result in the person forgetting about time and engaging in the activity for much longer than the person originally intended (because of the escape-like qualities of engaging in the activity).
     * Both activities involve "near misses" that reinforce the behavior, or as Dr. Binde says, "one reel symbol slightly out of place for a jackpot; bites and nibbles of fish that do not get hooked."
     * Success in either activity may be a combination of skill and chance, and winning or catching a fish gives the individuals concerned a sense of achievement and mastery. Furthermore, the person engaging in these activities may not be able to differentiate between what was skill and what was chance, or as Dr. Binde says, "Was my choice of bait successful, or was it just luck that I caught a big fish?"
     * In both activities, the "availability bias" comes into play. More specifically, the few big successes (i.e., catching a really big fish or winning a large amount of money) are highly memorable, while all the many other occasions when the person lost all their money or caught nothing are easily forgotten.
     * In both activities, superstitious rituals are commonplace (wearing a "lucky" cap, spitting on the lure, etc.). As Dr. Griffiths noted in a 2005 paper he co-wrote with Carolyn Bingham in the Journal of Gambling Issues, there are certain groups within society who tend to hold more superstitious beliefs than what may be considered the norm, including sportsmen, actors, miners, fishermen, and gamblers.
     * In both activities, when things are not going right (i.e., not winning, not catching any fish), the person then tries the same thing somewhere else (a gambler changes tables or slot machines, or goes to a new gaming venue; a fisherman changes his bait or tries another place in the river or a new river entirely).
     * In both activities, one win or one fish caught is never enough.
     * Both activities are potentially addictive ("ask either addict's wife, and they will confirm," said Whitney James).

Another similarity is that both activities can prove to be an expensive pastime. While this could be said, comparing any two leisure activities, in a 2004 qualitative interview study of seven male high-frequency betting-shop gamblers published in the journal Addiction Research and Theory, Dr. Tom Ricketts and Ann McCaskill, the gamblers justified the amount spent on gambling by contrasting the amount they spent on other leisure pursuits like fishing. As one gambler said, "Like some people go fishing...and that costs a lot more than what it does with gambling. So that's the way I see it, really, you pay for your hobbies."

Dr. Griffiths summarized his and Dr. Auer's paper this way: "In a nutshell, our paper attempted to examine whether, in extreme cases, fishing could be characterized as an addiction. It also attempted to argue that there are many commonalities between excessive fishing and another behavioral addiction (i.e., gambling addiction). It does appear to have addiction-like properties, and some fishermen even describe their fixation on fishing as an addiction akin to problematic drug use and/or gambling.

"However, our paper didn't argue that fishing addiction exists, just that some people (including fishermen themselves) conceptualize their excessive behavior as an addiction, and further, that a few scholars have asserted that, in extreme cases, fishing may be a behavior that can be potentially addictive."

To read the entire document (titled Totally hooked: Angling, gambling, and "fishing addiction") for yourselves, simply click on this link: https://drmarkgriffiths.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/totally-hooked-angling-gambling-and-fishing-addiction/.

Repeat Casts vs One-Cast Concept

Just how many casts should an angler make to a single target? There are different schools of thought on the answer to that question.

For example, retired Virginia pro and Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Woo Daves has advocated "throwing into the living room, then the dining room; hitting the kitchen, then the bedroom; checking out the bath; then lobbing into the den and hitting all the places bass live...not once but five or six times each."

Other pros have claimed they landed monster bass by "continuing to throw at one target more than 15 times before a fish would hit their baits," especially when using crankbaits and topwaters.

There's general agreement on the idea that certain situations warrant multiple casts to a given target. Among those occasions are the following:

     * Fishing topwater lures over and around cover
     * Fishing lipless crankbaits in grassy beds

     * Casting lures to laydowns in muddy water

     * Casting to schools of offshore fish in current

     * Fishing jerkbaits in winter

The simplest answer about when to make repeated casts is whenever you think bass are obstructed or in competitive environments, or are not moving at all.

For example, we've all seen those times, such as when you make cast after cast with a topwater, and then, all of a sudden, a fish suddenly shows up and blasts your lure. Most of the time, it could be that the fish has just grown curious about the commotion. Your job is to slowly coax him into reacting out of aggravation or because he wants to grab a continuously passing meal.

Once you get a fish to bite, it often becomes easy to catch more of them on myriad baits. Making repeated casts are necessary to trigger just that one bite, and if there's a school of them, the others are apt to react to that impulse.

Another school of thought is that if you see a good fish, or you're confident one is in an area you're working but doesn't respond to the initial presentation, or perhaps follows your bait all the way to the boat without striking, you're better off to leave and return after an extended period of time.

Does this one-cast concept mean that you should only make a single cast while at a particular spot? No. It just means that you're probably wasting your time if you keep making the same cast repeatedly. It also means that you're not maximizing your milk run.

How does the milk run benefit from the one-cast concept? Putting together a milk run and approaching each spot with the one-cast method creates a lot of advantages for an angler. For openers, you can't have too many spots for your milk run. Consider how many times you may pull up to a spot, only to find another boat already there.

Oftentimes, too, certain areas will have associated factors, such as wind direction or shadows that enhance the potential of the spot. The timing for these enhancements may take awhile to develop, making a visit more appropriate later in the day. So, the more prime spots you can effectively string together and target with one great cast increases your ability to fish like a sniper...a specialist...an efficient big-fish hunter.

The one-cast concept actually allows you to cover more water and also know that you've convincingly tested each stop on your milk run. When you've fully mastered this concept, you'll often find yourself in the big-bass zone.

For Week Ending Sunday, May 30, 2021

Tuesday, May 25 (from Ron)...With the gauge so low, most of my launch points have been inaccessible for the past few days. Headed out Tuesday evening to Back Bay and could not get to my favorite spot but found a few along the way. Caught three bass that were all below 2 lbs. and one gar. I was doing OK with the SwimSenko, but when I tied on a weightless white fluke, everything was nipping at it in the heavy grass areas. Gauge is recovering a bit, so will venture out this evening.

Wednesday, May 26 (from Ken)...Given what has been going on with the water level over the past three weeks or so, I truly didn't expect much today, and that's exactly what I got. The water was muddy, accompanied by a lot of floating debris. I fished West Neck from about 7:30 to 2:15 and only dodged another skunk, thanks to the fact a treble hook on one of my small crankbaits found the dorsal fin of about a 3- or 4-lb. gar near the mouth of West Neck. Initially thought I had hooked a bowfin but soon saw the coloration and knew what I had. Gotta say the gar put on quite a show until I finally was able to get the needle-nosed pliers on the hook. He certainly didn't need any enticement to take off once the hook was out of him. During my last couple of hours, found that I could draw some "iffy" strikes from fishing a chatterbait dead slow. Unfortunately, that slow presentation meant I spent more time having to go free my lure than fishing, which really got to be a pain. Surprised a bass as I eased toward the hung chatterbait on one occasion. In looking for my lure, I saw the fish frantically looking for an escape route, and once he saw it, he didn't waste any time taking it. At least, I finally got out again. Just didn't accomplish anything for which I felt like writing home about. With the holiday this weekend, you won't see me on the water again 'til we're past that, and it possibly may be June 5, our next tournament date, before I return to the scene. Under no circumstances do I plan to mix it up with the crowds that are certain to descend on West Neck Marina this coming weekend. Y'all have fun, ya hear?

Wednesday, May 26 (from Ron)...Had one of those evenings where, if it could go wrong it did, and the wind didn't help. Fished Blackwater and was getting a bunch of lite nibbles, but no aggressive takers on the plastics. Managed one dink to avoid the skunk. (I have no doubt that your "lite nibbles," Ron, resembled the "iffy strikes" I mentioned in the previous report. Can't help feeling the bite was off everywhere today. I do know my friend, Skip, came up empty-handed, and the only other fisherman I saw on the water today was running constantly, which, more times than not, signals that he wasn't having much luck, if any, either. As the old saying goes, "That's the way the cookie sometimes crumbles," I reckon.)

Thursday, May 27 (from Ron)...Fished for flounder this evening, in hopes of catching dinner; however, I didn't succeed. Caught two shorts and have the itch to try and find some keepers.

Saturday, May 29 (from Ron)...After three days and a few shorts, I found a couple keepers: a 17.5 and and an 18-incher. Not huge but perfect for a nice Saturday evening dinner.   

They Don't Make Many Like This Gent

Former fish and game warden, the late Terry Grosz (left), used to recount a hilarious story from back in the early 1980s. At the time, he was working in Northern California, where they had a monster salmon population. Fishermen were using illegal tactics to pull these massive fish from the Eel River.

By law, you had to stop fishing 30 minutes before sunset, but these guys were fishing well past 2 a.m. They also were fishing in pools where salmon were resting, and they were using these special lures that glowed when hit with the beam of a flashlight. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

It always was hard to catch these fishermen because they would have spotters sitting on the roads to warn them if the wardens were coming. Terry, however, came up with a crazy idea...crazy, that is, to an outsider looking in.

His idea was to borrow a wet-suit from a friend and to stuff his 6-foot 4-inch, 300-pound frame into it. He then waited until it got late and waded into the water downstream from the spot he knew these guys were fishing illegally.

Terry then swam upstream against the current until he could see their lures and lit cigarettes, and hear them talking. He admitted it was difficult to keep from bursting out laughing, but he remained quiet as he swam ever closer in the pitch black. When one of their lures came close enough, he snagged it with his heavy-duty glove and started fighting against it like a big fish. He could hear them talking about how "this must be the biggest salmon they ever had caught."

Little did they know they were about to get the surprise of their lives.

When Grosz was close enough to shore to get his feet on the stream bed, he walked out of the water as cool as a cucumber and confronted the three men. At that point, he turned on his little three-cell flashlight, shined it in their eyes, and said, "Good morning gentlemen. State fish and game warden. You're all under arrest."

They were so shocked that they didn't say anything. One account, however, reported that one fella was so overcome he passed out. Terry wrote them all citations, then seized their illegal fishing gear, walked back into the river, and quietly swam away.

Whether as a professional in the field of wildlife law enforcement or as a prolific writer, Terry Grosz distinguished himself with passion, dedication, integrity, and professionalism. He began his 32-year career in wildlife law enforcement in 1966, with the California Department of Fish and Game in Eureka. After several years and a transfer to Colusa, he was hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, moving into increasing responsibility for conservation and wildlife law enforcement in successively larger geographic regions. In 1998, Grosz retired from the FWS and began a second career as a prolific writer, authoring and publishing more than 20 books before his death in February 2019.

Falling Hook, Line and Sinker for Everything You Read

Consider the example I found online this morning.

A fella explained that he routinely kept his drag locked down for frog fishing but had been seeing comments from fellow forum brothers and sisters, advising to the contrary. Although surprised by what they said, he decided to give it a try.

"This fall, I backed my drag down a little while jig fishing," he said. "On the first hit I got, I set the hook and d**n near unspooled my reel...lol. How do I know how much to back it off, or do I wait for the strike to make that decision?" 

Nobody likes losing a nice fish because of an improperly set drag on their reel, regardless of the reason involved. It doesn't matter if you just forgot to set it, or if maybe the drag control accidentally got bumped or kicked while lying on the boat's deck.

When you're faced with either one of these scenarios, you have no choice but to set the drag on the fly.

Under ideal conditions, though, drag is set as you prepare your gear for a fishing day.

Just know there is more than one way to accomplish this task. I've used a couple methods over the years, starting way back when I used to tie the end of my line to a straight-back wooden chair and adjust the drag on each reel until it barely would slip while raising the rod tip upward. For a long spell now, I simply adjust the drag until I can pull some line off the rod tip with a steady, hard pull by hand.

And then, of course, as mentioned earlier, you have those who simply lock the drag down until there's no slippage whatsoever.

The most accurate way to set your drag, though, is to use a spring or digital scale to measure the amount of drag slippage. Most agree that your drag should be set at 25 percent of the breaking strength (pound test) of the line you're using. You can check the breaking strength by tying the line to the scale hook, holding your rod at a 45-degree angle, and pulling down on the scale. Read the scale the moment the drag starts to slip, and then adjust the drag mechanism until the drag slips at the same weight setting of the line on your reel.

Touring pros, on the other hand, realize each fishing situation requires different tactics for fighting and landing bass, so they rely heavily on ways to control the amount of line they surrender to a hooked fish. Some veteran anglers never trust the drag systems of their baitcast reels and depend on their thumbs to release line to surging bass. Others set their reel drags according to the lures and type of cover they are fishing.

Here's how to set the reel-drag systems for the following popular bass-fishing tactics:

Pitching and flipping reel drag. Since you're using heavy line, you want to winch bass from heavy cover. Lock the drag star on a baitcaster as tight as you can turn it.

Finesse-fishing reel drag. Set your drag according to the situation you encounter. For fishing open water with light line, keep the drag fairly loose, so it allows about one foot of line to slip out if/when the fish makes a run.

Topwater-fishing reel drag. Set the drag so line will strip off about 5 to 8 inches from the reel when a 3- or 4-pound bass loads up on the lure. This will prevent you from pulling the hooks out of the fish when you jerk your rod after the strike.

"A Lure for All Seasons," Says This Pro

It should come as no surprise that Bernie Schultz (left) considers the floating jerkbait a "hidden gem of the lure world." After all, this bass pro collects old-school lures as a hobby.

While many have overlooked these lures in recent years, Schultz believes the floating jerkbait is one of the best year-round bass-fishing lures an angler can use.

"Whether you're targeting spawning fish, elusive winter fish, or anything in between, this lure consistently will produce impressive limits," he said.

What makes these baits so effective? It boils down to one word: versatility.

As Schultz noted, "There aren't too many good near-surface hard baits that can make the same claim. In the spring through the fall, it can be used at the surface or as a twitch bait, and in the winter and summer months, you can easily weight it in order to make the bait suspend on the pause. With this one lure, you're able to cover a large section of the water column, depending on the conditions."

Given Schultz's propensity for collecting old-school lures, there's no surprise in the fact he considers the Rapala Original Floater as the most popular and time-tested lure of its kind.

"Its side-to-side action, coupled with its subtle rolling tendencies, make it an attractive choice for anglers at all skill levels," he said. What many anglers don't know, he continued, "is that the Original Floater has a dual action. Not only does it move from side to side throughout the retrieve, but it also rolls on its side. We call it the 'Rapala roll'."

In the fall, as the days become shorter and the cooler nights arrive, baitfish begin their annual migration to the backs of creeks, and of course, the bass are in hot pursuit. This autumn feeding frenzy can set up nicely for some outstanding jerkbait action.

"The first consideration for anglers," according to Schultz, "is matching your floating jerkbait to the size and coloration of the prevalent forage, which, in the fall, could be shad, perch, or shiners."

Because fall is schooling season, Schultz makes a concerted effort to find areas where the feeding opportunities are the greatest. He utilizes both his eyes and his electronics to determine his plan of attack.

"I'm essentially looking for schooling activity, whether it be on, near or below the surface," he said. "Then I cater my cadence to those clues."

When bass are busting bait on the surface, it's often a matter of simply getting your floating jerkbait to the fish. Schultz will make a long cast to the activity and let the bait sit completely still. If that tact doesn't work, he'll give the lure erratic movements with downward twitches of his rod.

"If they're aggressively chasing bait, it can be hard to do anything wrong with a floater," he said. "If they're being finicky, experimentation is necessary... . I'll use a jerk-jerk-pause cadence, and I'll also try a steady reeling retrieve. As long as you're seeing schools of bait on the surface and keep the bait there, you'll crack the code."

Schultz also suggests using a slower cadence to mimic an injured baitfish and draw bass toward your bait. You can pause your lure a few seconds between every other jerk, or make your jerks less aggressive to further coax them. Keep experimenting until you find a cadence that works.

In the winter, Schultz urges the use of a weighted 13-, 14- or 17-sized Original Floater. All that's required is the addition of some Storm SuspenDots or SuspenStrips right in front of and behind the front hook hanger.

"To optimize your chances of success, you'll need to use a painstakingly slow approach to match the mood of winter bass," said Schultz. "Your twitches need to be subtle, and your pauses should be up to 20 or 30 seconds."

With the arrival of spring, bass start moving toward their spawning grounds. They hold tight to cover, which makes a floating jerkbait an ideal choice.

"I usually choose a 9-, 11- and 13-sized floater throughout spring," said Schultz. "I'm not trying to get the bait down to any particular depth. It's all about shallow water. The tougher the bite and the smaller the bass, the more likely I am to use a 9."

During the post-spawn, when females are off the beds and males are guarding fry, fishing long stretches of bank with floating jerkbaits can yield impressive results.

"We're talking about fish that have gone into an area to spawn and staked claim," said Schultz, "so they're going to attack any intruders. Look for high-percentage, shallow-water targets near potential bedding areas and experiment with surface or near-surface retrieves."

Schultz has learned that summertime bass fishing can get tough but that a floating jerkbait still can draw reaction strikes from stubborn warm-water fish.

"This is when your cadence should become more aggressive," he said. "They're starting to leave the banks, and you'll probably be forced to cover more water. Primary and secondary points, grass lines, submerged grass beds, and docks become your most high-percentage targets. I also start using the modified slow-rising or suspending models during this period."

Although it's largely dependent on a fishery's primary forage, Schultz has found confidence in two particular colors in most situations.

"Most of the time, I'm using silver or gold, with a foil finish," he said. "They'll work just about anywhere... .

"Floating jerkbaits may not be the sexy choice, but for overall year-round effectiveness and versatility, they are hard to beat," concluded Schultz.

What a Morning!

That's the thought I had while driving out to West Neck Marina in the wee hours this morning. Can't remember the last time I saw that much fog. Coupled with the fact I knew I was going to find a water level that was anything but conducive to holding today's scheduled bass tournament (one of my few birthday wishes), it made for a challenging trip.

If I hadn't made so many of these trips over that stretch of road during the past multiple decades, I would have sworn at times that I was lost in some kind of new dimension. It was eerie, barely being able to see the roadway in places. And then this sobering thought struck me: "What if I encounter some dude who was out all night partying but now is heading straight at me in all this 'soup'? Where am I gonna go?"

As it was, I nearly was driving blind. This sudden realization gave new importance to reaching West Neck and getting off any roadway as soon as possible.

Then, while standing there in the midst of all that fog at West Neck, talking to my friend, Wayne, and taking a look around at the surroundings, I saw a motion-detector light near the launch ramp suddenly come on and glow in the distance--for no apparent reason. It eventually went out, only to return for a second "spooky" showing moments later. This, incidentally, was the same light that, just moments earlier, had remained off when both Wayne and I had made separate trips around by the ramp in our vehicles to check the disheartening water level. You woulda thunk our vehicles would have activated the light, but no...not even a flicker.

And then, a bit later, I happened to glance up in the opposite direction and saw what appeared to be two huge arms extending skyward through all the fog. I might have really started freaking out at this point if not for the fact I realized this scene was being produced by a huge tree that I was only getting a partial view of in all the darkness.

Finally, about 5:30--the time Wayne had wanted to start the tournament--daylight began making its presence felt, and all the eeriness that had surrounded us seemed but a figment of my imagination. I have to say, however, that had it been Halloween, I very well might have been left muttering to myself at what I just had beheld the last two hours, as Wayne and I waited to make sure no tournament anglers showed up without getting an explanation that the event had been cancelled.

Based on what I just revealed, and the fact I'm now constrained to helping my wife take down curtains to wash, reckon maybe I'll remember this 78th birthday for a while to come--probably more so than if we had been able to hold the tournament. Such is life when you're living in a "Twilight Zone" of sorts.

Whatcha Gonna Do When the Bottom Drops Out?

I'm talking, of course, about those times when, for whatever reason, the water level at your favorite fishin' hole takes a turn downward. Granted, we've had enough water locally to keep launching and recovering boats the past couple or so weeks, despite the water level running about a foot or more below the norm every day.

For some, this matter of low water makes it tough just finding the motivation to get out there and try your luck. As one angler I read about put it, "It's like volunteering to go get kicked in the mouth."

It seems a fairly safe bet that, given low-water conditions, you won't find very many anglers running the shoreline in search of bass. For openers, most of that cover you throw at during full-pool conditions likely doesn't have more than 4 inches of water on it--if even that much. The general consensus is that when the water level falls, the bass move away from the banks and tend to suspend in deeper water--at least enough to cover their heads.

The smart angler will move farther off shore--maybe 10 feet or more--and start checking for suspended fish with something like a squarebill, making parallel casts.

If you happen to be dealing with clear and low water, it's also a no-brainer to throw a jerkbait. Chances are good that while many of your buddies will be struggling to catch any fish, you might be claiming limits nearly everytime you go. Even if the fish are lethargic, that action of a jerkbait usually is enough to grab their attention.

As with the squarebill, your best bet is to parallel previously productive shoreline with the jerkbait. Again, the fish probably will just be hanging out in the middle of the water column. Be advised, though, that this technique usually is much better on a sunny day with a little breeze. The latter is helpful in that it positions baitfish on windblown banks, and the chop on the water helps mask some of the unusual characteristics of your jerkbait.

Another bait that can work wonders in low-water situations is a walking topwater plug. Simply parallel the shoreline from a more-than-normal distance and make blind casts. It may seem strange casting to stuff you can't physically see, but if you'll stick to this pattern for a full day, there's a better than average chance you'll finish the day with a nice sack of fish.

If by some chance a walking topwater lure doesn't produce a bite, try a buzzbait first thing in the morning. It can prove to be an excellent alternative.

Anyone who chooses to fish low-water conditions needs to understand that there are no guarantees they will be able to go out and slay the fish. However, don't let that fact mess with your confidence. Stay the course, and you very well may have some of the better days you've ever recorded on the water.

Remember What Got You to the Dance

Take the fella who was visiting a lake to get in some serious practice for a big tournament. After spending a week there, he admitted the bite had been tough. Unlike most other anglers, though, he had managed to find some quality fish each day and felt like he might have a real shot at finishing high up in the scheduled competition. He based that feeling on the fact the same four baits had been the consistent ticket to his success over those seven days.

Come Day 1 of the tournament, however, his plan immediately started falling apart. The first spot he hit, his best producer during practice, didn't give up a single fish in a whole hour. Nearly each successive spot produced the same results. With just 15 minutes remaining of the fishing day, this angler had only two quality fish in the livewell.

In desperation, he grabbed a wacky-rigged worm, the one bait that had been a steady producer over the years, and almost immediately caught another keeper. The three fish he weighed that first day came in at 7 lbs. 15 ozs., which placed him in 102nd place out of 196 fishermen.

On Day 2, before the boats even had taken off, this fella told his co-angler to tie on a wacky-rigged worm, with a promise that "it will catch hordes" of fish, and it did. Among a crowd of boats in an area that had failed to produce a single fish on Day 1, this team caught more than 20 keeper bass. And they made it look easy. Cast the worm out, let it hit bottom, lift the rod up from the 9 o'clock position to the 2 o'clock position, and repeat all the way back to the boat. The fish ate it up this way all day long.

The process even worked with small schools of bass that began surfacing as the day wore on. These two anglers would toss their wacky rigs at those schools, let them sit for about 10 seconds, then lift, and more times than not, a fish already would have swallowed the bait.

At the end of Day 2, the front-seater weighed a limit that tipped the scales at 13 lbs. 9 ozs., which was good enough to move him up 41 spots and finish in 61st place. He was proud but also regretful that he hadn't started Day 1 with the most valuable bait in his arsenal tied on then, too.

If a bait has proven itself to be a steady producer over the long haul, never go into competition without it rigged and ready to do battle.

"Oops!" Moments Can Be Abundant in West Neck at Low Water

As it turned out, I had more than one of those moments--several would be a better way of putting it--during my "fun?" fishing day yesterday, and I knew it likely would turn out that way from the time I had motored out to the main part of West Neck Creek in the morning and gotten my first glance at the shoreline heading south. I truly had forgotten what things looked like when the water is as low as it was yesterday...and, incidentally, has been for several days, and, for that matter, still is today, too.

Can't remember the last time I ever had such a strong feeling of deja vu wash over me...and not sure I look forward to having a recurrence...certainly not anytime soon. If only those throttle-happy hot-doggers and otherwise downright idiotic clowns who never have learned the right way to run that ever-dwindling number of channel markers ever saw what I did yesterday, perhaps they...a few, anyway...would be motivated to rethink the chances they take. That, though, is a story in itself.

What I'm dealing with here is just things that stand out in my mind from my day on the water yesterday. Thankfully, the wind at least wasn't blowing a gale, as it has for the most part here lately. Even though there was only a light breeze, I still managed to have a run-in or two with it, starting with one of the times I had to stop fishing and retie my lure.

I maneuvered the boat to an area I thought would be a safe harbor while I performed this chore, then got busy with the scissors. I had checked the boat's location a couple of times to make sure it still was OK and evidently then had lapsed into a false sense of security. With my back turned toward the bow, I was standing in the middle of the boat doing what needed to be done when I heard a K-R-U-U-U-N-C-H! and turned around to see that my new Edge 70 trolling motor just had contacted the exposed barnacles on one of those markers of which I spoke just a bit earlier. "So much for having that new appearance," I thought.

Sprinkled throughout the day, I also had my normal quota of errant casts to deal with...usually no big deal. But with the low water, I more than once thought, "Oh, Geez! I wonder what kind of crap I'm going to encounter getting to that lure this time." On several occasions, I got lucky and was able to pop the lure free before I had to run the gauntlet all the way to it.

Unfortunately, my luck ran out near the time I planned to call it quits for the day. I had sent one of my oldest and dearest stickbaits on a long cast that missed the intended mark by a proverbial "country mile," and I immediately knew the challenge that lay ahead of me. I didn't take more than two turns on the reel handle until the front hook engaged an old log in an area I would have to think twice about getting to on full pool, much less the amount of water that was there yesterday.

Because this lure was special to me, however, I decided to give it the old college try. After several minutes, I was able to navigate within a fishing-net handle's length of the lure and, as I've done many times over the years, plopped the netting over the free-floating rear hook of the lure. I figured the saga would all be over with just one pull on the handle...but I figured wrong. You see, the netting had engaged the free rear hook OK, but it simultaneously also had caught a sliver of the old log. Long story short: Now the lure and the net both were hung up, and I definitely was not going to leave both for some unsuspecting stranger to come across and claim for himself/herself.

Given what I could see in the water on my current path to where the lure and net was hung, I was certain I had no choice but to leave the net handle floating on the water, drop some slack in the line on my reel, and somehow make my way to the opposite side of the log, hoping all the while for a cleaner path. Thankfully, my hope was fulfilled, and I soon had both lure and net back safely in the boat.

A few minutes later, after considerable effort, the boat finally broke free from its grounded position, and I planned to resume fishing. On the very next cast, though, the plastic lip on my beloved balsa stickbait smacked a stump and snapped off flush with the nose of the lure.

I didn't need any more motivation to throw in the towel. I strapped everything down, fired up the gas motor, and headed to the West Neck ramp, which I had all to myself while getting the boat out of the water. I took that as a "positive" ending to a day in which I boated only one dink bass.

How To Beat the Skunk and Get Your Swagger Back, Too

Recently read about an angler who had accumulated a string of three or four consecutive skunks and was looking for a way to break out of his bad-luck pattern. In this case, the solution was as simple as deciding to make a trip to a big pond.

The water this particular morning was 51 degrees, with clarity all the way to the bottom--about 8 or 9 feet. The pond encompassed 5 acres and was a spot this fella usually fished a few times each year. Following is the story in this man's own words.

                                        * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"After taking out a bait, I mentally talked myself out of using it and put the lure away. Then I stood there for several minutes until I remembered an article I had read in a magazine, which talked about how amateur fishermen often will throw a good bait a few feet into the 'crap, slop, veggies, etc.,' but a pro will launch it much further without hesitation. And that's why they catch more bigger fish a lot of the time.

"All I could think of was all those trees on the bottom of this pond. I decided to go weedless, rigged up a weedless 10-inch worm, and cast as far into the nastiness as I could get. A little later, I changed to a weedless grub, but still nothing. Then I tied on a 'Dinky Rig' for the first time that year and got hung up, losing my rig after only a couple of casts.

"At this point, I was more determined than ever to beat another skunk, but what to throw? Settled on a spinnerbait in a shad color, with gold blades. Found one in my box and said a little prayer while tying it on, half resigned to lose the bait.

"My first cast was at 3 o'clock. I let it flutter down a little before working it back, then made another cast, this time at 2 o'clock. Halfway back, it felt like I was going through some moss. I could see the blades turning. I sped up the retrieve in hopes of getting the weeds off, and to my surprise, found there was a fish hanging onto the bait. I went to set the hook...albeit late...and the bass promptly stopped, turned loose of my lure, and sped away.

"I then decided to walk the bank a ways and found a group of several trees in the water. I made another cast with the spinnerbait and let it flutter down as before, hitting every branch as I brought it back, but still nothing. Made another cast to the same spot, though, and halfway back, a fish smoked it hard.

"From that moment on, it was a game of seeing how many fish I could catch before I got snagged and lost the lure. I tied on a similar bait, and the action continued about another hour. I caught a grand total of eight bass...ranging in size from about a half-pound to a pound.

"That experience taught me that, in order to catch fish, beat the skunk, and get some of your swagger back, too, you just gotta go hard into the slop and drag those fish out kickin' and screamin'."

For Period Ending Sunday, May 23, 2021

Saturday, May 15 (from Ken)...Just had to get on the water today, no matter what. Launched behind my good friend Wayne Hayes, who called an early halt to his fishing, given the low water and the fact a bite was nearly nonexistent. He did find some white perch, and I found one tiny bass about an hour or so after we hit the water. That, though, was the extent of the "action"...if we dare call it that. I spent time both above and below the West Neck Bridge today but couldn't say one was any better than the other. Threw a variety of baits, but that didn't seem to matter either. Didn't pay much attention to my electronics today but did see a water temperature reading of 66 degrees at some point this morning. Saw stumps and what-have-you today like I haven't seen in a month of Sundays. It was a major relearning day for me. Was taking it extra easy when running because of the "skinny" water but still managed to pick up a wad of someone's braided line before I put the boat on the trailer and called it a day. Already have talked to Wayne about taking care of that matter for me. Got my fingers crossed the water level returns to normal and all the mud I saw in places today disappears before our next tournament on May 22nd.

Tuesday, May 18 (from Ron)...Low water had me scratching my head about where to go. Decided on Tecumseh, and even the water there was very low. Started with the XTS Minnow and caught a couple of dink white perch and a foul-hooked shad. Switched to the SwimSenko and found a 1-5, 1-7 and a 4-5 bass, which made my evening. Switched over to topwater and couldn't find anymore.

Saturday, May 22 (from dmac)...Had a Crikey day earlier this week on the bottom end of the Northwest River. Caught some good fish (10) on top. Best was this 23-incher. Looks like a post-spawn female. Woulda liked to have weighed her two weeks ago. Lookin' forward to the water coming back. This extended low-water phase is a kick in the balls.

My Apologies to All Who May Have Been Trying to Access This Site

You likely were greeted with a big red screen that warned you about something hazardous on my site. After running a couple of security scans, I was able to isolate the problem and remove it. Please know that I most assuredly will make every effort to prevent any further such occurrences.

Sincerely,
Ken

Keep an Eye Out for Tagged Largemouth Bass on Chickahominy River

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has started a project of tagging 650 largemouth bass throughout the Chickahominy River. This project aims to estimate catch-and-release parameters and movement of largemouth bass in both the Chickahominy and James Rivers.

Anglers who catch a largemouth bass with a red dart tag on these two bodies are asked to take a photo of the tag, record the number, and release the fish with the tag still attached. Report the tag to the phone number on the tag and claim a $5 reward. Tag reports will be entered into a lottery for a chance to win $50.

This Lady Angler Speaks Her Mind

Growing up in a home unimpeded by the restraints of a television, native Nebraskan Kristine Fischer (left) had a natural inclination toward the outdoors. Her adolescence was spent fishing the various ponds and creeks around her hometown (Weeping Waters) or exploring the woods in her backyard.

Later, she worked in the hunting and fishing department at a large retailer for five years, trying to work her way up the corporate ladder to be able to identify with the world's view of success. However, she couldn't ignore an insatiable desire to live a different type of life--one deemed unsustainable by conventional society. As a result, she quit her job, gave up the benefits, and became self-employed, so she could be the boss of her own life.

In 2015, she began kayak fishing and started competing in tournaments across the Midwest to both gratify her competitive nature and to serve as an humbling ego check. Besides fishing against some of the best anglers in the area, she enjoyed the genuine camaraderie among those cut from the same cloth.

"Being a part of the tight-knit community of kayak anglers," Fischer wrote, "has provided me the opportunity to volunteer in the community, become a guide with a reputable company, and host youth fishing tournaments. More importantly, though, it has given me a voice to inspire others to pursue their passions and spend time outdoors."

Fischer has fought for many years (25 plus) to prove that she's truly passionate about the sport.

In her own words, "I have pushed myself well out of my comfort zone and faced adversity on many levels, trying to tell the world I'm not just a blonde chick who likes to be outside. It's something I have grown accustomed to, and I want to share some insight and thoughts on being a female angler."

To her male counterparts, who knowingly or unknowingly stereotype her, she says this:

"I don't blame you. Anytime I am introduced to a fellow lady angler, I catch myself doing the same thing. In a world where the scantily clad 'female anglers' are featured provocatively posing with sub-par catches, how can anyone not doubt the legitimacy of the rest of the ladies claiming to be true outdoor enthusiasts? While we are entitled to our suspicions, please keep in mind that, though our numbers may be few, there are women out there whose passion for the sport rivals and could possibly trump your own.

"I fished a 24-hour, run-and-gun-style kayak tournament against 39 men. We fished nine different bodies of water, including a giant reservoir, in the middle of the night, with no sleep. I caught 11 different species and came in second...and I did it alone. I am usually the first one on the water and the last one to leave. The weather plays no role in my decision to fish.

"When you think about discriminating, remember that there are also men out there who can't catch a bass in a 10-acre farm pond but collect pro staffs like Rosie O'Donnell collects pounds.

"I may speak for myself here, but I believe true women of this sport don't necessarily want extra attention just because they are females. I remember fishing the Tournament of Champions at Lake Fork, TX, and one of the directors asked if I'd talk to the camera because I was one of four women. I politely declined and said, 'If I win this tournament, heck yeah, give me that spotlight. Until then, I'm just a regular angler.' When I go to an outdoor event or tournament, I'm not looking for compliments or true love. I'm there to share tips and stories with fellow anglers from all over the country who are cut form the same cloth, and I'm there to compete."

To the men and businesses who lift up and encourage the bikini babes, she says:

"Basing a woman's talent on the size of her waist and bust typically is not the best method. I've had several companies contact me regarding a 'pro staff' if I would pose for a calendar...Ha! You can keep the free flat bill and decal. I'll keep my integrity.

"Speaking of pro staffs, I met a highly decorated female athlete in Florida who is sponsored by a number of large companies. We talked fishing for a few minutes, and I learned that her knowledge of the sport was comparable to that of an infant child. Male or female, are these the types of people you want representing your brand?

"I have had several comments from several of you keyboard warriors regarding the lack of effort put into making myself look presentable on the water or in the field. I must be mistaken because I thought we were here for the sport. I hash tagged #diehardangler, not #dothesewadersmakemelookfat, but again I do appreciate all the time you spend in the dark on the computer letting the real, bold, outdoor women out there know what you think of their wardrobe selection, while they are outside relentlessly living this life. You will have a much better chance at meeting a girl if you get off the computer and out of your mother's basement."

To the bikini babes, she says:

"I can't write this without giving you some credit. I have no doubt that many of you saw this market as a giant opportunity to make money and gain a massive following. We've known ever since Pearl Tobacco Co. featured a naked woman on their packaging in 1871, that sex sells, and it sells well.

"I also cannot write this without clarifying something. Wearing a bikini and fishing isn't something I'm condemning. I get it: It's summer, it's hot. You spent a lot of time on the treadmill. You're proud of the way you look, and you should be. You're out fishing and happen to be wearing a bikini and hook into a decent fish. Absolutely, take that picture and share it. It's when the focus of the picture shifts from the catch to the female anatomy that eyebrows are raised, and many question your intentions.

"Explain something to me. What does straddling the side of the boat, staring off into the sunset in a thong bikini, with the caption 'I just looooove fishing' do for your image? I can tell you what it doesn't do, and that's earn the respect of serious and professional anglers in the community. Don't you want to be taken seriously? Or is it just about the paycheck?

"Lastly, remember your audience. Though much of your following consists of middle-aged, single men and pre-pubescent teens, there are also young women who view your page. While I support encouraging women to be themselves and to be proud of how they look, I do not support the superficial, sell-your-soul message that some lady anglers portray by posting seductive images that highlight everything that the outdoors is not. What message do you want to send to them?"

To the few and far between, the unabating lady angler, she says:

"Let me tell you: My first time fishing tournaments, I was a nervous wreck. I felt like I had something to prove because I knew I had eyes on me. If a guy zeros, no one notices, but I felt if I did, everyone would attribute it to my gender. I felt like I needed to do this thing on my own. I turned down fishing advice from others, and I wouldn't let anyone help me load my kayak on top of my vehicle. All of that was foolish. We are in this sport to teach and to learn, to listen and to be heard. When a guy offers help, don't take offense to it. The majority of the guys in the sport are genuine and are proof that chivalry isn't dead and has a place in the outdoors.

"Though you probably share the same opinion when it comes to bikini anglers, I would encourage you not to tear them down. When it comes down to it, they are human beings and also are women in this sport, whether they choose to represent it as we would or not. There is a much more constructive way to get a message across than hateful comments. I have found that your voice is the loudest when you choose not to use it in a way that is degrading.

"We all strive to be taken seriously. It's easy to get offended when people doubt your abilities, but allow your actions to prove them wrong. It may take time to earn the respect of the majority, but isn't that the fun part?

"I hate to break it to you, but the majority of the messages you will receive on social media won't in fact be about acquiring information on the giant bass you just posted a picture of but rather your marital status. Many guys who ask to go fishing with you probably don't care to hear about your tricks on working a shaky-head jig. Be selective and be careful. Don't let the attention that comes along with being a rarity in this field get to your head or discourage you. Stay humble and grounded.

"Let's face it: We do get more attention on social media and outdoor companies because we are females. It's the raw truth. Instead of using that as an ego booster, use it as a platform to let your voice be heard. It is an opportunity for us to not only get free products but, more importantly, to let the world know that we are here, and our passion is real.

"Lastly, I want to thank you...thank you for staying true to you...for taking the high road...for turning down easy money...for defying the odds and overcoming adversity...for helping me grow the sport and pave the road for young women across the country. You all inspire me, and I pray I continue to lift you up."

Ya Ain't Fishin' 'Til Yer Line Is Blowin' in the Wind

Reckon that probably sounds like something out of the old Harry 'n' Charlie series of Bassmaster fame. Actually, though, it just seemed like a good way to introduce an article about those days we all have every once in a while when the wind picks up and blows a gale all day after we've launched our boat for a day of bass fishing.

Too often, when that happens, anglers will just pack it in and head home, which can be a big mistake. Sure, windy days can bring on some tough fishing conditions. After all, who enjoys those countless backlashes you'll usually encounter or the effort it takes to control a boat while wresting your lure from the shoreline as a result of multiple overcasts?

What you have to remember, however, is that the same wind causing you all those headaches also activates the fish and, more times than not, makes for some killer days on the water. Why? Because the wind causes baitfish to be pushed into the shallows, and the bass follow and start feeding heavily. Choppy water also reduces light penetration, making it tougher for bass to find imperfections in your lures and/or presentations.

Having the "right" lures tied on in these conditions is key to maximizing your fishing success on such a day. These "right" lures include ones that allow you to cover a lot of water, are easy to cast, and are heavy enough to feel in the water. A random sampling might include spinnerbaits (probably the most effective wind-fishing lure of all time), lipless crankbaits (a highly versatile bait), chatterbaits (noted for its action and vibration), jerkbaits (nothing beats it on windy banks and points), crankbaits (does a great job at imitating baitfish), and heavier jigs (never a bad time to throw one of these).

On those points, anglers from all the pro ranks generally will agree.

So, the next time the wind gets to blowin', forget looking for protected areas. Instead, head for those windy banks and points. At the same time, don't overlook windy flats, mouths of creeks, and weed beds.

Sure, it'll be challenging and tough at times, but if you use the "right" lures and focus on these key areas, you'll likely still have something to brag about when you get home, instead of bemoaning how the wind kicked your butt.

What Do You Reckon the Odds Are?

After winning a Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, Brandon Palaniuk was returning phone calls and congratulatory text messages when he came across a text message from a phone number he didn't recognize.

The man wanted to know if Palaniuk had lost a pair of sonar units while competing at Lake Champlain, where strong winds toward the end of the final day had made for a rough ride to the weigh-in.

"No," replied Palaniuk, "but I know exactly whose they are."

The 10-inch Humminbird Solix and 12-inch Humminbird Helix belonged to Seth Feider. They had been knocked off his boat after spearing a wave on the bumpy ride to weigh-in.

"I didn't really stuff the wave," said Feider. "When I clipped it, I got spray in my face, and I kept getting spray in my face. I assumed my graphs still were hanging by the cables over the side of the boat."

When the spray finally went away, Feider figured his front graphs were gone...likely 100 feet down at the bottom of Lake Champlain.

Actually, however, they eventually washed ashore at Isle La Motte, a big island on the northern end of Lake Champlain. A lot of stuff washes ashore there, especially after strong winds. The sonar units still were bracketed together, just like they were when ripped off Feider's bow.

"That whole setup weighs about 15 or 20 pounds," said Palaniuk. "And somehow, I guess they float. I gave the kid who found them a hundred bucks. He had a power cord for the Helix, and it still works. The Solix, though, had some water in it.

"The whole story blew me away. The fact that those two sonar units would float ashore, that one of them still worked, and that a guy I had met at the 2011 Classic would be the link to recovering them was just unbelievable."

Feider was blown away by the story, too. "The odds of that happening have to be a million-to-one," he said.

Just goes to prove you never should underestimate the exponential power of the bass-fishing network. In this case, it performed a miracle of sorts.

The original version of this article (slightly different from the above) appeared under the byline of Steve Wright of Bassmaster.

Lady Angler Steals Today's Spotlight

Lovely Lady Diana Morath (at right) had ample reason to be celebrating today when tournament director Wayne Hayes passed out pay envelopes to all of the winners. For lack of a better way of putting it, she flat kicked all the guys' collective butts by flopping a 7.53-lb. bass on the scales at weigh-in. And hubby Andy was perfectly agreeable to letting her have her moment of fame.

It indeed was nice to see both Diana and Andy share the spotlight at the end of a day when they led the way among a field of 21 anglers in 13 boats. A total of 50 bass were brought to the scales, for a combined weight of 110.57 lbs. Those numbers translate into an average weight per fish of 2.21 lbs. and an average weight per boat, among those 11 that weighed fish, of 10.05 lbs.

Besides Diana walking away with today's big-fish pot, as well as the lead in the 2021 lunker-of-the-year honors, she and Andy also claimed 1st place with a bag that tipped the scales at 18.10 lbs. It would be a gross understatement to say they brought their A-game.

Finishing in 2nd place was Chris Napier, also with a five-fish limit, weighing in at 15.24 lbs. His big fish was a 4.48-pounder.

Rounding out the money-winners today was Eddie Sapp, who took 3rd place with 13.54 lbs. He didn't have a big fish.

Here is how the rest of the field stacked up:

     * The team of Raymond Allen and Tim Clark, five fish, 13.29 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter, five fish, 10.64 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, five fish, 9.49 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Fred Crawford and Gabe Himmelwright, five fish, 9.12 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Bobby Moore and Skip Schaible, five fish, 7.70 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * Mark Ingram, five fish, 7.20 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of "Doc" Murdock and Ken Testorff, four fish, 4.37 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * Wayne Hayes, one fish, 1.78 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * Jim Calhoun and the team of Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean didn't weigh any fish.

Congratulations to all of today's winners. And many thanks to everyone who participated in today's event. Sincerely hope you will try to join us again on Saturday, May 22, when we assemble once again at West Neck Marina for another tournament. Until then, Tight Lines! one and all.

One Last Cast

Most times, if an angler makes a cast with a topwater bait and immediately sees a giant swirl under it, followed by a strike that makes the rod bend pretty good, you usually can take it for granted that you've just hooked up with a decent-sized keeper fish. As I learned today, however, that isn't always the case.

My partner and I were in Albright's chunkin' and windin'  this morning, when such a set of circumstances materialized. In my mind, I was certain that I was going to boat a 2- or 3-pound bass. Not so, however.

As my partner netted the fish and lifted it aboard, it was abundantly evident the fish might not even measure 12 inches. I suppose a larger fish could have been in the same vicinity as the dink, but it sure seemed like a giant twist of fate that will make me think twice if the same thing ever happens again.