No Need To Wonder Any Longer...

So, Do the Moon Phases Affect Bass Fishing?

Photo by Buddy Mays

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The short answer to that question probably is that it depends on whom you're talking to. However, it's likely that where people are fishing and what lures they are using also play a part.

It's a proven fact that our West Neck tournament stats from Saturday, June 26, were down dramatically--two days past the full moon on June 24. The same, however, could not be said for the two weekend tournaments at Bob's. Their stats fell into line with most of their other events.

While researching this subject matter on the Internet, I came across a fella who said he has experimented with the solunar theory, read all the books by the late Doug Hannon (popularly known as the Bass Professor), and followed moonrises and moonsets. With the exception of moonrise and moonset, where some patterns seemed to emerge, he never was able to hammer out any concrete lunar premises.

He went on to note, though, that the most pronounced correlation he discovered was negative.

"During full moon periods, daytime bass fishing tended to be poor," he said, "almost as bad as a post cold-front period.

"When I deer hunted with bow and arrow," he continued, "I noticed that full-moon nights always were followed by the worst hunting days. Deer would frolic all night in the moonlit fields and already were bedded down before legal hunting light, before I was able to get on my morning post. After setting up on my evening stand, nothing came down the mountain until after dark, when I was in my car driving home.

"In the same manner, I suspect that bass activity during a moonlit night can seriously downgrade daytime activity. Solution: During a full moon, bass fish at night," he concluded.

Another fella had this to say: "The bass always are biting somewhere. Your job is to find that somewhere. Not all bass do the same thing at the same time."

My research also turned up a piece written by avid angler, fishery biologist, and freelance writer Dr. Hal Schramm, who noted that while most anglers have an opinion about how moon phase affects bass catches, he usually discounts them, based on his many years of fishing. "With 20 million bass anglers in the U.S., every phase of the moon probably has some fans," he noted.

"To sort through this confusion," he continued, "it may help to divide fishing into day fishing and night fishing. I can more easily understand an attachment to a particular moon phase by night fishermen. Everything about fishing is more difficult at night. First and foremost, a full moon on a clear night provides sufficient light to navigate to fishing spots. Certainly, that was important 20 years ago, but now we have GPS. Nevertheless, a full moon still simplifies night fishing. Of course, none of these benefits accrue to 'dark moon' fans.

"For daytime anglers, support for the full moon or any other moon phase is less obvious. Not encumbered by the difficulty of navigating and fishing in the dark, I am more inclined to think that their favored lunar conditions are based solely on past catch rates.

"It would seem the moon, or more specifically the lunar cycle, would affect bass. The moon has a powerful effect on tides, and tides organize fish behavior. The dramatic spawning of the grunion that use the moon-influenced tides to deposit their eggs high on southern California beaches come to mind. Bass in tidal rivers position themselves at drains to gorge on the forage pulled from the marsh during falling tide. But there are no tides in inland freshwater systems. Does the moon affect bass in these vast inland acres where most bass anglers fish?

"The simple answer is that there is no direct scientific evidence to support a lunar effect on bass. Numerous studies have assessed largemouth and smallmouth bass movement. These studies have found that bass have home ranges, select certain habitats, and exhibit seasonal and even day-night changes in movement and habitat use. A few of these movement studies have looked for lunar effects and found none. But these are movement studies, and although feeding can be inferred from movement, these studies do not measure feeding behavior or angler catch rate.

"While there is no scientific evidence to support an effect of the moon on bass catch, I suggest there is strong evidence, at least for daytime fishing, that moon phase does not affect bass catch rate. Upper-tier bass tournaments fished by highly skilled bass anglers happen every week from early spring through late fall. Consistently, winning anglers catch limits of big fish. You don't need a calendar to verify that, collectively, these tournaments occur during every possible moon phase. Maybe someday some obsessed statistician will assemble all these tournament stats and relate them to moon conditions, but I can tell you that when catch rates vary little (which seems to be the case for the top-finishing tournament anglers), you are not going to find much of a relationship with a fluctuating variable like moon phase."

So it would seem we're left to consider that what happened in our tournament this last Saturday was just an anomaly, or perhaps the fishing gods deemed it necessary to take all of us down a notch or two. One thing is certain: We don't have very long to nurse our wounds, because our next event is this coming Saturday. 

Fishing the Day After a Full Moon Sucks

If you think I'm kidding, just consider the stats from today's tournament. Ten boats, with 16 anglers, managed to bring only 43 bass to weigh-in, with a total weight of 70.22 lbs., an average weight per fish of 1.63 lbs., and an average weight per boat of 7.02 lbs. If there is but one positive for the day, it's that at least no one got skunked.

Finishing in 1st Place was the team of (from left) Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, who weighed five fish, with a total weight of 14.21 lbs., and a big fish that tipped the scales at 3.20 lbs.

Claiming 2nd Place was the team of (from left) Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean, who weighed five fish, with a total weight of 9.35 lbs. (after a 0.50 deduction for one dead fish). They also took the day's big-fish award with a 3.32-pounder.

Holding down 3rd Place was the brothers team of (from left) Allen and Chris Napier, who weighed five fish, with a total weight of 8.66 lbs. They didn't weigh a big fish.








Here is how the rest of the field stood at the end of the day's competition:

     * The team of Mark Ingram and Bob Clarkson, five fish, 8.64 lbs. total weight, 1.99-lb. big fish.
     * The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, five fish, 7.57 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Rob Peppers, five fish, 5.40 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Rusty Girard, three fish, 5.08 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Wayne Hayes, five fish, 5.04 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Ken Testorff, three fish, 4.47 lbs. total weight, 1.76-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Fred Crawford and Gabe Himmelwright, two fish, 1.80 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

Four more anglers became eligible to fish our season-ending two-day Classic, including Dennis Dean, Steve Bailey, Mark Ingram, and Rob Peppers. For everyone's planning purposes, there are seven more Classic-qualifying tournaments remaining on this year's calendar.

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, July 3, from safe light (about 5:30 or 5:45) to weigh-in at 2 p.m. Here's hoping you can join us.

One Last Cast
It wasn't bad enough that we had to deal with the matter of last night's full moon. I also learned that a minimum of three anglers today (yours truly included) ended up with broken fishing rods. And then, about 1 o'clock, we all were treated to raindrops...falling not only on our heads but everywhere in general. They still were hanging around when I departed the marina about 3:30.

Early this morning, I once again learned a lesson about one of the hazards of using a slow-speed reel. While using a 4.7:1 oldie but goodie with my topwater bait, I had a strike in which the lure disappeared, and when I tried to set the hook, I realized the fish was running straight at the boat at breakneck speed. I did my best to catch up all the slack and try another hookset, only to have the fish leap and spit the topwater bait directly at me.

I came up two fish shy of matching my total number from a fun day of fishing last Thursday. However, the quality of today's seven fish paled considerably when compared to the nine from last week.

Perhaps next Saturday's tallies will look more like the norm. I feel pretty certain we're all keeping our fingers crossed for a better outing than we had today.

For Week Ending Sunday, July 4, 2021

Sunday, June 20 (from dmac)...Had a G-R-R-R-E-A-T Father's Day trip with my oldest son to a top secret honey hole in Suffolk. Big hollow-body frogs were the main menu item. We fished for a couple hours and stopped counting after 12 fish. Nothing smaller than 3 lbs., and the best was a 6.5-lb. bruiser. I know now what it feels like to come to a weigh-in with a 24-lb. sack. An epic topwater day!!!

Sunday, June 27 (from Ron)...I have finished chasing the mighty snakeheads. One heckuva opponent that I never did keep and cook up but maybe will the next time I target them.

Thursday, July 1 (from Ron)...Went after flounder today, and after catching a couple shorts, found a nice one.

Saturday, July 3 (from Ron)...Was targeting flounder and thought I had hooked into a record doormat. But nope, it turned out to be a big speckled trout. Did catch a couple short flounder, though.

Didn't Know They Even Made Such a Tool

Was researching some miscellaneous items on the Internet today and, while on the Jann's Netcraft website, happened across the tool in the accompanying photo. It's labeled a "D-Barb Hook Remover."

This 8.5-inch tool has a sharp stainless-steel cutting edge that enables you to cut the barb off the hook of a gut-hooked fish, making for easy hook removal with a pair of pliers. Am guessing it very well might be equally effective against a hook that's buried in an angler's finger or what-have-you.

The built-in magnet catches the cut-off barb, ensuring no metal is left in the fish. The D-barb cutter is extra sharp to easily cut through hooks, leaders and fishing line--even braid. It includes a protective sheath.

At Jann's Netcraft, as well as several other retailers I found online, it sells for $14.95.

Here's the link to a video of the D-barb hook remover in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BWXfuiBTtc.

Oh Look! He Must Have a Big 'Un!

That's what Senator Ted Cruz (aka "Lyin' Ted," so named by another liar, Donald Trump..."takes one to know one," so the saying goes) likely wanted the press to believe when this photo was taken. In reality, however, he was just reeling in a lure.

Note the position of the baitcaster here...turned on its side. Holding a rod with the reel in this position, for anything other than casting, seems super awkward and, perhaps posed. Note, too, that he has the rod butt jammed in his "plentiful" belly...again like someone fighting a big fish.

On the surface, it would seem like a typical politician trying to be normal but missing the mark. The Internet, of course, is on both sides of the fence, ranging from hatred to support. Some say at least he's enjoying himself, while others say that if you're going to be a senator in Texas, you better at least know how to reel in a fish.

The author of the online account that I read this morning went on to note that there has been no comment about the photo from Cruz. "Maybe he's hoping the hype will swim on by," he said.

The Texas senator was on Lake Ray Roberts, attending the Bassmaster Classic June 11-13, 2021, in which Hank Cherry, Jr. won for the second year in a row.

Electric Outboards...They May Be Closer Than You Think

Tesla-powered EV marine 350-hp
electric o/b by Hyper Electric Marine

"The idea of 'going electric' is a popular trend in many sectors today, and a number of companies are pursuing just that when it comes to boating." Seein' as how that word already was on the street in 2018, you might want to keep your eyes and ears open to what else some manufacturers are saying.

Among those leading this charge is Torqueedo, a German company that specializes in alternative propulsion systems, including electric outboards, electric inboards, electric pod drives and hybrids. This company already has introduced an 80-hp engine. Further, ReGen Nautic say they have a 300-hp model on the way, along with a 38-foot Cigarette go-fast boat packing 2,200 electric horsepower.

Meanwhile, Volvo Penta, a world-renowned brand, is developing hybrid solutions with electric-only modes. Volvo expects to see their technology commercially available this year. The hybrid variant will operate with zero emissions, including lower noise and reduced costs. The hybrid system is currently in beta development.

While these companies (and others) continue to develop electric and hybrid-based propulsion systems, advances in this area will be helped by improvements in battery technology by companies such as Tesla and Panasonic, as well as improved infrastructure (e.g., charging stations at marinas). (See video of pictured motor at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DD4BeAU32o).

Additionally, other advances in marine propulsion and environment technology may find their way into smaller watercraft. Here are some more examples of innovation that eventually may find its way into recreational boating.

Maersk, a Danish shipping conglomerate, is outfitting their tankers with rotor sails to save fuel costs by up to 10 percent. Rotor sails rely on the magnus effect (a spinning object moving through air experiences a sideways moving effect). Maersk is outfitting vessels with 10-story-high cylinders turned by small engines to help power the tanker, using the magnus effect.

Eco Marine Power is a Japan-based company that develops solutions for wind and power on tankers, yachts and other large vessels. Products already available are solar-powered systems with integrated computer management and solar-panel systems that can be adapted for a range of ships and boats. The company also sells a full line of marine battery packs.

So, with all these electric engines already in existence, what seems to be the problem? The cost. Some are quite pricey. The motor alone is not much more than a gasoline-powered outboard of equivalent size when adding in the savings from fuel costs. The 180-hp ReGen, for example, lists at about $25, 500, compared to a 175-hp Yamaha four-stroke, which will run about $17,000.

The real problem lies in the batteries. To jam-pack enough juice into a boat to feed a primary propulsion system for more than a few minutes, that boat needs to be loaded down with batteries...and not just your garden-variety deep-cycle batteries, either. We're talking about very expensive cutting-edge lithium-ion power cells.

That 80-hp Torqeedo, for example, equipped with four Power 26-104 LNMC batteries, will give you a "full fuel tank" at 10,740 watt-hours...enough to run an hour at full tilt, or two to three hours at about 3/4 throttle. After adding in the costs of chargers and controls, you'll be talking nearly $100,000 on the power system, and that doesn't include the cost of the boat.

Now let's look at the long-term economic view, as compared to a gas-burner in the 70- to 80-hp range. The gasoline outboard will cost you less than $10,000. Figure gas at three bucks a gallon--high for now, but in the future, who knows--and you'd have to use 30,000 gallons before the electric rig would so much as break even. That's why electric engines aren't very appealing.

This brings us to another problem: the weight of putting all that battery power aboard a boat, where space already is at a premium on several different kinds. That Cigarette boat, for example, is stuffed with batteries...to the tune of two tons. Yet that reportedly gives the boat a whopping 30 minutes at 70 mph, with "a few blasts" up to 110 mph...not exactly what you'd hope for from a "full fuel tank."

In short, until a power pack is developed that radically is better than even the best of the lithium-ions available today, using an outboard for primary propulsion on a boat will mean a radical loss of range and an epic jump in price. The bottom line: Unless you're wealthy, at least for the time being, running an all-electric boat is not a realistic option.

"What about hybrids?" you may ask. They seem to work pretty well on dry land, and cars like the Toyota Prius have proven that hybrid technology is cost-effective, right? No, boats are just too different from cars for the effective adoption of hybrid technology, in large part because they can't enjoy the benefit of regenerative braking. Plus, you can't coast after getting up to speed. The entire concept of hybrid energy on a boat doesn't make much sense at all. The dynamics of moving over a solid surface versus moving through a liquid are simply too different.

If going all-electric is beyond our current ability, are there other options? Yes, Lehr has proven that propane is a viable option, with its line of 2.5- to 25-hp outboards. And an outfit called BlueGas Marine has modified a pair of 275-hp Mercury Verados to run on natural gas and claims zero performance penalties. But truth be told, despite all the hype over alternative power sources, if you plan to run a powerboat with anything over a handful of horsepower, at least for the foreseeable future, it'll likely be powered by a gasoline outboard.

Are You Suffering From Too Much of a Good Thing?

Just be aware that burnout occurs in work, school, and, yes, even bass fishing. A case in point is the following commentary from a weekend angler, which I found online:

"I personally think that angler burnout isn't caused by the time we spend fishing, but, rather, by the stress that surrounds the activity. For me, it seems that fishing has become so much more complicated and stressful than it was a few years ago. I feel like I'm trying to make it into too much. I love looking at gear on the Web and in catalogs. I also love running up and down the aisles of Dick's Sporting Goods, checking out all the lures and tackle they have on the walls. But then I stress myself out about needing a half-dozen or so new rod-and-reel setups, as well as every type, size and color of lure.

"I've come to think there is a time when we have to pull ourselves back into reality and ask exactly what it is that we want out of fishing. Why are we doing it? The answer should be to catch fish and have fun.

"I'm no professional angler by any means. I don't fish tournaments for money. I just fish for the excitement that comes from feeling a strike on the end of your line and knowing that a fight soon will be on. I like catching fish...as many as I can...but I don't NEED to catch as many as I can.

"The problem is all that stress I heap upon myself about gear, techniques, and all the other technical stuff. It seems the less fun that fishing becomes, the more of a chore or job it becomes. The way I think we need to rid ourselves of this is just to stick to the basics.

"If you really love fishing and like going recreationally a couple times a week, all you need is one or two basic setups...maybe one for lighter line (8-to-10 lb.) for lures fished around sparse cover or open water, and another setup for heavier cover and/or larger lures (something in the 12-to-17-lb. range). With these, you'll be able to use lures from 1/8 to 1/2 oz., as well as those around 1/4 to 1 oz., for a standard medium and medium-heavy setup. Get a standard top-handle tacklebox or a couple plastic Plano containers and limit yourself to a couple dozen lures and half-dozen bags of your favorite soft plastics.

"To think you're going to keep every piece of equipment available to catch a bass is absurd. Leave the bait monkey for the guys fishing tourneys who have money riding on the line.

"Take a new train of thought toward fishing. It likely will make it more enjoyable and more challenging, too, just by sticking with the tackle you have on hand.

"If ever there was one thing on earth that shouldn't be stressful, it's fishing. And the way to do that is by employing the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) acronym."

Walker Smith, who writes for Wired2Fish, had this to say about bass-fishing burnout: "We all get in bad moods from time to time, especially when we have a tough day on the water. There's nothing wrong with that. But if you're having trouble shaking it off, consider asking yourself an incredibly important question: 'Am I having fun?'

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

"I certainly don't have all the answers, but I think a lot of anglers deal with the 'summertime blues' when it's that time of year. After all, the fishing gets really tough, it's hot as the dickens, and the wakeboard boats are doing donuts all over your favorite spots. That kind of stuff makes it easy to get burned out sometimes. But hang in there, cause cooler temperatures will come back."

For Week Ending Sunday, June 20, 2021

Thursday, June 17 (from Skip)...Skip and I shared a common fever today: We just had to get on the water or perhaps lose our sanity. So the two of us dumped our boats in at West Neck this morning and went looking for some of those green fish. We exchanged notes at the end of the day as we helped each other get our rigs back on the trailer. Skip boated a total of five bass today. Said he also lost several and had one giant blow-up that really slapped his bait but failed to get it. Water everywhere today looked really nice for a change. And best of all, the fish seemed to be in a cooperative mood.

Thursday, June 17 (from Ken)...Got an early start this morning...right about 5:45 or 6 o'clock, 'cause my goal was to fish a typical tournament day and see how it would turn out. Ended up with a pretty decent day for an ol' fart. Boated three nice crappie, as well as nine bass, including one dink, a 1-2, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10, 1-15, 2-1, and 2-5, giving me a best five total weight of 9 lbs. 8ozs. Caught the vast majority of my fish on a topwater. To my pleasant surprise, that bite lasted until about 11:30. When it finally died, I picked up a soft plastic and pretty much picked up right where the topwater bite left off. Had only made two or three casts with it, when I fired one across a point and immediately saw something pick my line up and head toward the middle of the creek. Turned out to be my best bass of the day, and he had enough muscle to take some drag as soon as I buried the hook...always a great feeling. It doesn't happen for me very often any more, but it sure warms my soul to have a day when things go exactly as I imagine the script the night before. I had a blast!!!...even if that heavier rod I used for most of the day has flat put me at parade rest this evening. It's a "good" tired, if you know what I mean.

Friday, June 18 (from Ron)...Fiddler Crabs - $26, Variety Sweeper Jigs - $30, Two Garage Door Weather Stripping - $36, Two Rolls Gorilla Tape - $16, Son's 16-lb. 4-oz. Trophy Sheepshead - Priceless, My 12-lb. 10-oz. Trophy Sheepshead - Icing on the cake. The weather stripping and duct tape were used for making Pylon bumper, so as not to scratch up the kayaks. Unbelievable fight, and I couldn't be happier for Father's Day.

Saturday, June 19 (from Ron)...Traveled up north early this morning to try and check off another item on my bucket list. I did it, too! Got my very first snakehead at 18.5 inches and then a PB at 30 inches. Also got a little chain pickerel and crappie to round things out. Snakehead may be my new "favorite," replacing the bowfin, but too far to drive to find 'em...at least 110 miles north of here.

Sunday, June 20 (from Ron)...Wasn't planning of fishing today, but I did. Caught a 24- and 25-inch snakehead and a nice 8-lb. bowfin. I had a passenger for a while, and if I had had a rubber band, he would have been snakehead bait. The bowfin destroyed my spinnerbait. I tried to re-shape it, but it broke in the process. Oh well, hell of a fight! I picked up a lip spreader yesterday and am glad. Snakeheads do not like to open their mouths for the lip grip.

Zebco 33--A Reel for the Ages

Just think about how many boys and girls of all ages have been introduced to the sport of fishing with a Zebco 33 reel. To get some idea, consider the fact that more than 40 million of these reels have been sold since the first one left the factory 67 years ago--in 1954, to be exact.

Among those who have owned one is 2018 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee Gary Klein (above, left). Born in 1957, Klein often walked the shoreline of Lake Oroville, CA, as a kid. He also spent time at the family cabin on Lake Almanor and, while using marshmallows and salmon eggs under a bobber, reeled in many a trout with a Zebco 33.

"My dad was a fireman, and if he was busy fighting a forest fire, then Mom would take my two younger brothers and me fishing," said Klein. "Maybe she just thought it was easier to take care of us if we were fishing, but I can tell you for sure that pretty much every weekend of my childhood was spent hiking, fishing or camping, and a Zebco 33 was part of every trip."

His sentimental attachment to that reel had Klein considering use of a Zebco 33 during his 30th and final appearance in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama's massive Lake Guntersville. He was serious enough about the idea to put in some practice at a Bassmaster Open on Lake Amistad with a 60th anniversary Zebco model "33." He mounted the reel on a 7-foot medium-action Quantum Smoke rod, with a 1/4-ounce red crankbait tied to it. And he also made his first cast on Day 2 of the 2014 Classic with a Zebco 33 reel.

Maybe you've forgotten, too, what happened June 23, 1973. To refresh your memory, that's the date when Dave Zimmerlee (as seen on the cover of Sept.-Oct. 1973 Bassmaster Magaine right) shook up the bass-fishing world (and touched off the second biggest rush to California since the gold rush days) by boating a 20-pound 15-ounce largemouth at California's Lake Miramar...on, yes, a Zebco 33, using 10-pound test line. The reel was a birthday present from his aunt and uncle in September 1972. They gave him a Wright McGill rod to go with it for Christmas the same year. The bait? Night crawlers rigged on a treble hook.

It's a well-established fact that Zebco 33 spincast reels are an excellent choice for the beginning fisherman. Its many variations have lined the shores of countless lakes, streams, rivers, and farm ponds, but it began as an inspiration in a grocery store in Roten, TX. R. D. Hull, a watchmaker and inventor, had tried unsuccessfully to market his first anti-backlash reel, The Lashmaster. He got another idea while watching a strand of packaging twine fall neatly from a spool.

Hull's first reel was a double-spool model he modified from a South Bend design. From a small pool of investors, he collected $52,500 in start-up funding, dubbed his reel the Lashmaster, and quickly went out of business. Undeterred, he continued his search for the perfect anti-backlash design. With the supermarket twine as inspiration, he built a sample reel and asked his investment team for more money.

For the first spincast reel, Hull used a dozen nails to form a hub between two wooden discs. A long bolt through the middle served as a spindle, and a Folgers coffee-can lid fastened to the front wheel provided a handle for reeling in line. The crude working model would cast without backlashing but made a poor impression on R.D.'s former backers. In 1947, they turned him down. But he believed in his concept and continued to look for partners.

In 1948, the Zero Hour Bomb Company of Tulsa, OK, was looking for a new product to sell. Their mainstay since the early 1930s had been a time bomb designed to open up failing oil wells. The patent on that product was about to expire. R.D. pitched his new reel design to the troubled company, and they cut a deal. The first reel produced by ZHB in 1949, was the Standard. It sported the famous closed-face design that would lead to the 33. Standards and their successors in 1953, the Model 22, were the first reels marketed with the acronym ZEBCO.

In 1954, the Zebco 33 spincast reel debuted, selling for $19.50. The improved design was an immediate success. By 1956, reel manufacturing had become so important to ZHB that it ceased production of oil-field materials and changed its name to Zebco.

Unfortunately, that name change didn't occur until "after" they had shipped one of the reels to the then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower. As the story goes, Secret Service agents saw the words "Zero Hour Bomb Company" on the package, threw it into a tub of water, and called the bomb squad.

Today's Zebco 33 Authentic is still patterned after the original 33. The simple and rugged reel has ball-bearing drive, thumb-wheel adjustable drag, and double stainless-steel covers. A recommended line weight of 10 pounds puts it in the medium fishing class.

Redesigned in 2004, the Zebco 33 Authentic includes an ergonomically correct casting button. Dual ceramic pins improve the line pickup, and bearings, drag system, and gear train also are modernized. An Auto Bait Alert gives audible notice that a fish is tugging on the line, and the new 33 carries an extra 45 yards of 10-pound test. Both the 33 Platinum and 33 Gold offer improved performance in the same classic style.

As if we needed any proof that "what goes around comes around," Zebcos, along with Abu Garcia and Shakespeare reels, are now made in China. But quality still can be had. According to one spincast review, the ZO3Pro is the best of the bunch. It sells for around $65, considerably less than most baitcasters. With seven bearings, a 3.4:1 gear ratio, and a triple-cam drag system, this reel is a top-notch product.

Some portions of text came from works by Alan McGuckin/Bassmaster, Ray Scott/B.A.S.S., and James Young/Gone Outdoors.

I Have Just One Question: Why Ain't Anybody Talkin' 'Bout the Soft Plastic?

As originally reported (at this link: https://www.newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2021/04/did-upstate-ny-angler-catch-and-release-a-state-record-largemouth-bass-i-think-so-he-said.html), the 42-year-old upstate New York angler in this photo is John Firstium. He's holding a 27-inch largemouth that he caught and released in April 2021.

Firstium was trout fishing a couple of Albany County streams with his 15-year-old son and a buddy at the time. They weren't having any luck, so decided to try a local pond, which the elder Firstium knew contained panfish and bass. He tied on what was labeled "a red and yellow diver," which, as best I can tell from the accompanying photo, appears to resemble a Smithwick Rattlin' Rogue.

However, I invite you to look closely at the photo because it looks like there's something else besides "a red and yellow diver" in the mouth of this fish. Unless I'm mistaken, there's also a piece of watermelon(?)-colored soft plastic present. It tends to pique one's curiosity why there's no mention of that soft plastic anywhere in the original article or any of the other versions I checked online. Seems to me that perhaps would make for some interesting dialog if the fish indeed had another lure in its mouth at the time of this angler's catch. {UPDATE: I decided to contact the author of this original story, and after blowing up the photo, he let me know he thinks that what is hanging from the lower jaw of the fish is some of the grass that's visible near the bank, and I agree.}

Of note here, too, is the fact Firstium was fishing 4-pound-test line on an ultra-light rod. It reportedly took him "nearly 10 minutes to tire and beach the bass on the side of the pond," which he asked the reporter to keep secret (divulging neither name nor location).

The only measuring tool Firstium had available was a 10-inch ruler on the back of a package of hooks that he had. He measured the fish three times before releasing it back into the pond. Was the fish a state record? No one ever will know, because Firstium didn't take the fish to an official weigh site, as required for determining a state record in New York. The current state record is an 11.4-pound largemouth that measured 25-and-a-half inches.

When questioned by the reporter, Firstium said he "put the fish back in the water so it can live to get bigger. I don't eat bass," he added. "And if I don't eat it, I ain't killing it."

I appreciate Firstium's sentiments, but I'd sure like to know if that piece of soft plastic I see in/near the fish's mouth played a part in this story.

When a Game Plan Falls Apart

Come tournament day, you're so confident in your ability to catch a 20-pound limit of bass, you think to yourself, "All these other guys better have brought their 'A' game because I'm about to put the smackdown on some bass."

After all, you've spent pre-fishing time on the water and found bass, determined their food sources, and dialed in their travel routes. You now only have to go where they are and give 'em what they want.

Following blastoff, you arrive at your first hot spot, and it looks great. A big grin crosses your face as you walk to the bow and drop the trolling motor. As usual, your first cast is out in the middle because you're a bit superstitious about catching a bass on the first cast of a tournament. Your second and third casts with a frog don't produce. On your fourth cast, though, a nice 3-pounder engulfs it, but as you're bringing it to the boat, it jumps free, and your frog comes flying back at you.

"No biggy," you muse. "This just proves the bass still are here. And besides, that bass wasn't one of the 4-pounders I need to make a 20-pound stringer." As an afterthought, however, you admit to yourself that it would have been nice to put your hands on the 3-pounder.

The morning proceeds to become a torment of bass-tournament failure. Bass after bass come off in the slop you're fishing. Six strikes later, you've only managed to put one 2-pound bass in the boat. You keep verifying your hooks are sharp and then start analyzing the mechanics of your hooksets. Are they too fast? Too slow? Too weak? Sideways versus vertical?

All kinds of thoughts are now racing through your head, and eventually your confidence plummets. You continue missing one strike after another. You stop to change frog color, style and actions, but nothing seems to matter.

"These bass want a frog and don't care what it looks like," you say to yourself. "I just can't keep them buttoned."

With the sun high in the sky and your confidence in the toilet, you're now four hours into the tournament and have just one small bass in the livewell to show for two-limits worth of hookups. Time for a change.

"I spent too much time on a failing hollow-body-frog bite, and my options are quickly dwindling," you think. "I need a viable pattern to cover a lot of water and find four hungry bass to at least fill a limit."

Since it's fall, and the bass are feeding heavily on shad, you pick up your favorite squarebill crankbait and start hitting shallow-water ambush points. Your torment only mounts, however, as you quickly hook...but lose...three quality bass before you can get them in the net. At this point, you honestly feel the only person to beat you in this tournament is yourself. You do a quick check of hook sharpness, verify you're using the proper equipment and realize the only thing that's left at this stage is fundamentals.

As a last-ditch effort, you head across the lake to a spot where you found several 2-pound bass holding during your prefishing. They aren't home, though...not a surprise since you're likely the fourth or fifth boat to pound that school of fish.

At 1 p.m., you still have only one bass in your livewell, and you've exhausted all your fall patterns for this lake. With two hours remaining, you decide to trust what you learned in your prefishing and head back to your starting area. You know bigger bass are using this area. After all, that's the reason you started there.

"If I can manage to hook and land just a couple of them, I can salvage the day and make a decent showing at weigh-in" is your thought.

Once there, however, the same luck that doomed you to start the day picked up right where it had left off. The first bass to hit your frog stays hooked up just long enough for you to know it was a quality fish and then pulls free. Two casts later, you finally land one--a solid 3-pounder. This fish sends your confidence level back through the roof, but you know you don't have time to risk losing more bass to bad hookups, bad hookset timing, or rod position. All of these strikes were coming from specific locations in the slop, so you pick up a punch rig and start punching the slop in areas where you would expect a hollow-body frog strike.

With renewed confidence and a technique you were born to fish, you proceed to catch a bass every 10 minutes the last two hours of the tournament. Culling several times, you manage a decent stringer and finish in 4th place.

"I never did find those 4 pounders I was looking for," you say to yourself, "but 3 pounders were enough to earn a paycheck... . When I conceded to just catch a couple of bass in the final two hours, it all came together."

And in reality, the day was tough for everyone. A 17-pound sack won the event.

A New Reason Why This Bait Is...And Always Has Been...on My Favorites List

The Buzzjet Jr. is a high-dollar Japanese topwater/wakebait lure that debuted in America at the 2006 ICAST Show. I only paid the $25-a-pop price for a few of the "real deal" before I began searching for some knockoffs, along with a reputable person to do some custom painting for me. Once I found both, I began having a few painted at a time until I had the kind of stash I wanted...and still have today.

I've not left more than one or two of these lures behind, and only then simply because I couldn't wrest them free from the bottom. I've never left one hanging somewhere in the open.

Until last Saturday's tournament, I always had been like the vast number of other anglers who routinely fish a Buzzjet Jr. with a steady retrieve, which yields a wide-wobbling action. As I learned entirely by accident that day, however, there's a slower, more suspenseful, more exciting, and often more productive way to fish this lure. That method is with a pop and pause for a lingering moment between each pop.

Using this pop-and-pause retrieve, most hits come during the pause or within the first few pops after the lure splashes down. Many hits also will come the instant it splashes down on the surface, before you even get a chance to take a turn on the reel handle. For this reason, it pays not to be in a hurry to start your retrieve. Just let it sit and soak for up to 10 or 15 seconds before moving it.

Once you begin the retrieve, pop and pause the bait all the way back to the boat, exactly as if using a traditional dish-faced popper. Be prepared for a blast at any moment. Last Saturday, for example, I had worked the Buzzjet Jr. back to within 3 or 4 feet of the boat and was lightly popping and pausing it there beside the boat to watch the action, when out of nowhere, a bass knocked the fire out of it...not once, but twice, because he missed it on the first pass.

Although these Deps lures, including the BJ Jr., the Buzzjet 96, and Spiral Minnow, don't have a cupped mouth like a traditional popper, the upper-jaw and lower-lip juncture forms a wide vee-shaped slot that throws a mouthful of water and creates a loud splashing noise when you pop one. You can pop the bait softly or forcefully to make it chug loudly, and because these are all propbaits, you even can rip one harder than is possible with a traditional popper.

Given the water pressure against the lip, these lures also will roll, flash their broad sides, and wake whenever crawled a few feet between pops...another action that isn't possible with a traditional popper. So you get the splashing action of a popper or chugger, the action of a proptail, plus the rolling, waking side-flashing action of a lipped surface crawler...all in one bait.

There's yet another triggering action, too. All three of these Deps lures have an internal rumble strip and a large rattle bead inside that rolls forward when you pop it, and then when you pause it, the bead rumbles back down the rumble strip toward the tail, causing the bait to move tail down, flashing its proptail below the surface.

When spot-casting to specific, fish-holding cover features, you may rely on using lighter pops. When blind-fishing broad expanses of featureless flats, open water, or wherever bass may be scattered, you always should mix in some loud chugs and forceful rips to call bass from quite a distance. Popping these Deps lures is a slow approach, so you're not moving one very far or very fast. You accordingly can use the loud chugging sound and long pause to give roaming or resting fish enough time to find their way to the struggling surface commotion.

Since many bass will hit a popped Deps lure during the pause, you may see a blow-up on the bait but feel nothing in your rod or line. Smart anglers wait until they feel the weight of the fish to set the hook. Otherwise, you'll miss more fish than your hook.

Smart anglers also should replace the No. 6 hooks that come on a Buzzjet Jr. right out of the box with a high-quality brand No. 4 treble, such as an Owner, Gamakatsu or Mustad.

Have had occasions when this bait worked all day long, in bright sun, as well as heavy overcast. One thing is certain: You could make a far worse choice.

About That Vertigo...

It's still hanging around and very well may continue to do so for several months, if I can believe what I'm reading online. I can report, however, that it's considerably better than when it began last Sunday. For openers, I'm now off the pills the doctor gave me this past Monday.

Generally speaking, I go through most days pretty much as I did before any of these spinning episodes started. The problem only arises when I forget and do something that entails a sudden movement of my head, or as I learned Thursday during a run to the NAS Oceana Commissary, when I get a cluster headache.

One online subject-matter expert likened the situation that goes on in my head to one of those Christmas snow globes...the kind you activate by turning it upside down, and all the white snow flakes then slowly settle back to the bottom when you sit it down. That's the sort of thing that has to happen with those crystals that have come loose in my inner ear and get activated whenever I move my head too fast. Once they've all settled back down, things around me stop spinning.

I currently seem to average two or three of these episodes per day but have no intentions of letting them sideline me from fishing. I most likely will just wear my life preserver full-time when on the water and trust that it will do what it's designed to do if/when I ever need it.

If It's Not One Thing, It's Something Else

Just a week shy of the 3rd anniversary of the date I had an episode of what the doctors called transient global amnesia, I'm having bouts with what they call benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, for short.

And, once again, I learn that this condition, like the earlier, is one that most often affects people in middle or older age. (Oh boy! Let me hear three cheers for us ol' farts! I'd be doin' cartwheels, except for the fact I generally can't even walk straight at the moment. My wife jokingly likens it to a crab walking sideways.) There is one difference, though: Whereas patients with the earlier problem usually recover in only a few hours, this BPPV normally hangs around for a period between three and five days...and may even recur again later. (Another oh boy! if you please.) Today marks my third day with it, and I can't say I'm any better yet than I was on day one.

According to the folks at Mayo Clinic, BPPV is "the sudden sensation that you're spinning, or that the inside of your head is spinning (yeah, like about 100 mph!!!)." They warn that you should expect "brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. This might occur when you tip your head up or down, when you lie down, or when you turn over to sit up in bed...and let me add stand up or sit down too fast. Although BPPV can be bothersome, it's rarely serious, except when it increases the chance of falls.

"Often, there's no known cause for BPPV," say the Mayo types. "However, it's often associated with a minor to severe blow to the head. Less common causes include disorders that damage your inner ear or, rarely, damage that occurs during ear surgery or long periods positioned on your back, such as in a dentist chair. BPPV also has been associated with migraines."

The only one of those causes I can relate to is the migraines. However, I didn't have a headache when this mess started.

As described by the Mayo doctors, "Inside your ear is a tiny organ called the vestibular labyrinth. It includes three loop-shaped structures (semicircular canals) that contain fluid and fine, hairlike sensors that monitor your head's rotation.

"Other structures (otolith organs) in your ear monitor your head's movements--up and down, right and left, back and forth--and your head's position related to gravity. These otolith organs contain crystals that make you sensitive to gravity.

"For many reasons, these crystals can become dislodged, and when they do, they can move into one of the semicircular canals, especially when you're lying down. This causes the semicircular canal to become sensitive to head-position changes it normally would not respond to, which is what makes you feel dizzy."

So, in a nutshell, that's where I find myself today...fearful of doing much of anything, unless I don't mind perhaps going on my face or butt, falling down the stairs, or, as happened last evening, nearly taking out my wife while just trying to sit down beside her. Just know I'm taking the pills the doctor gave me yesterday, in hopes that my world will stop this incessant spinning real soon.

For Period Ending Sunday, June 13, 2021

Saturday, June 5 (from Ron)...Water was very high when I fished Back Bay this morning. Zoom Flukes, Senko and Silver Minnow all helped catch six small bass to 1-11 and a decent chain pickerel. Water was surprisingly clear, considering recent weather and swings in the gauge.

Sunday, June 6 (from Ron)...I found a big school of fish this morning, holding up in the grass line, and I limited out pretty quick. I launched slick, with no fishing gear and didn't have a knife to puncture the inner tube. Luckily, I had extra tie-down straps to secure my "catch" for the trip home. Of course, when I got home, I realized I could have deflated by simply opening the fill valve!

Monday, June 7 (from Ron)...Fished upper West Neck this evening. In the shade, it was beautiful, with just enough breeze, and it was very nice out. Caught several dinks and then a surprise 4-lb. 7-oz. bass. All fell to a weightless purple Zoom U-Vibe worm tossed to shore and structure. Tried topwater near sunset and had several blow-ups but no hook-ups. Saw a shiny thing in the tree line and retrieved a nice brand-new Pop R that someone had lost. I'm no wildlife photographer, but the ospreys were a sight to see. I think they were eyeing my dinks for dinner!

Tuesday, June 8 (from Ron)...Had one of those days. Fished Milldam. Barely had limboed under the bridge and, as I was rearranging my rods, got a hook in the index finger past the barb. Dug it out with the pliers and cleaned it up as best I could. On first cast then, caught a shoreline thorn bush. Then all my plastics were getting destroyed by gar. After about an hour, I found a 3-4 bass and switched to topwater, which produced a small white perch. An hour later, as the sun set, caught a 3-10 bass on a Whopper Plopper.  

No Goose Eggs on the Scoreboard Today

Everyone caught fish today. The 21 anglers in 12 boats weighed a grand total of 59 bass for a total weight of 140.93 lbs. Those numbers translate into an average weight per fish of 2.38 lbs. and an average weight per boat of 11.74 lbs. Anglers who laid claim to pay envelopes at the end of the day included the following:

1st Place, the team of (from left) Rob Peppers and Don Carter, five-fish limit, 19.07 lbs. total weight, 5.08-lb. big fish.

2nd Place, the team of (from left) Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, five-fish limit, 17.23 lbs. total weight, and they also claimed the day's lunker pot with a 5.68-lb. big fish.

3rd Place, the team of (from left) Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean, five-fish limit, 15.33 lbs. total weight, 4.14-lb. big fish.

Here is how the rest of the field finished the day:

     * The team of Jim Calhoun and Mark Ingram, five-fish limit, 14.92 lbs. total weight, 4.23-lb. big fish.

     * Rusty Girard, five-fish limit, 13.02-lbs. total weight, 4.59-lb. big fish.

     * The team of Craig Jones and Rob Chatham, five-fish limit, 10.34 lbs. total weight, 4.15-lb. big fish.

     * The team of Fred Crawford and Gabe Himmelwright, five-fish limit, 10.32 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, five-fish limit, 9.56 lbs. total weight (after one-lb. penalty for two dead fish), no big fish.

     * The team of Doc Murdock and Ken Testorff, five-fish limit, 8.84 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Mat Ramirez and Fisher Bryan, five-fish limit, 8.27 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * Bobby Moore, five-fish limit, 8.07 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * Wayne Hayes, four fish, 5.96-lbs. total weight, no big fish.

The following personnel, as a result of having fished six tournaments thus far, have qualified for our annual two-day Classic finale: Wayne Hayes, Ken Testorff, Fred Crawford, Gabe Himmelwright, and Dave Anderson.

Congratulations to all of today winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next scheduled event is Saturday, June 26th, from safe light (about 5:30 a.m.) to weigh-in at 2 p.m.

{Editor's Note: Starting with this tournament report, you'll find the year-to-date-standings update at the bottom of each tournament report, instead of in the area at the bottom of the blog main page. The yahoos at Google have once again been messing with the template for my blog, and rather than wage a losing battle with those dudes, it's much better for my blood pressure to just make this change and move on. Be prepared, however, not to see this standings update until the day after a tournament, 'cause I'm usually not alert enough at the end of a tournament day to be working with numbers. You're lucky just to get a somewhat coherent narrative, and even then, I'm often sitting here with my head bouncing off the keyboard, trying to stay awake long enough to finish it.} 

One Last Cast

The day for "Doc" and me started slowly, but things picked up quickly once we figured out that fish appeared to be holding on a certain type of grass. We went to work with a couple of topwater baits and soon had put three keepers in the livewell. That pattern held up until about 9:30 or 10 o'clock before we had to shift gears and find some different baits that would work.

I can't truthfully say I ever found another bait that worked as well as my topwater choice this morning, and it took some experimenting by "Doc" before he found a couple that produced some fish. He put on a clinic of sorts with the second alternative bait, catching a few of several different species, including bass, catfish, white perch, pickerel, and even had a big gar hooked up for a brief spell.

For that matter, he and I both had a big gar hooked momentarily today before they both gave us an early release.

Overall, it was a nice day...certainly far better than the wind-blown event from a few weeks back.

June 2021 Best Fishing Times

Aging Anglers: Learning To Adapt

From a 63-year-old: Last summer, my bad knees finally gave way, and I fell out of my boat. I since have purchased an auto-inflatable life vest and wear it all the time. I'm gonna be a lot more cautious than I have been, starting with not having as many rods under my feet. I thank God for taking care of me one more time. Getting old sucks!

From a 69-year-old, who said he feels like he's 109: I've always had a bad back, just didn't know it. The stupid stuff I did as a young guy didn't help...stuff like picking up Ford and Chevy V8 motors and moving them to and from the beds of pickups, as well as picking up the back ends of VW bugs, just to show off. I was a dumb country boy, built like an ox (at 15, I stood 6-foot 1-inch and weighed 185 pounds...all pure muscle). I didn't know any limits on how much I could lift. My calves were tree trunks, which made it hard to find pants that fit in the waist and legs, too. I usually had to buy pants with larger legs and have the waist taken up a few inches. At 16, I had a 33-inch waist and a 44-inch chest, with a well-defined six pack. Not many dared to mess with me in school...definitely had no worry about school bullies. Today, though, my body is repaying me...with interest. I haven't had any back surgery yet but know it's not too far in the future. With the arthritis in my hands, neck, back, and knees, my old body is about worn out. All that, plus a couple of stints in the heart, and I no longer jump into the boat from the dock. Instead, I step into it, while being careful and holding on when there's something to hold onto.

From a 64-year-old: I've had balance issues for several years now. All of us need to be aware of changes that occur as we get older and learn to compensate as best we can. I still stand the entire time I'm in my canoe, but I have to keep the back of my legs braced against the canoe thwart to stay steady. I always wear a PFD 100 percent of the time I'm on the water. I have to be careful and move slowly when bank fishing along uneven or sloped shorelines because I've already fallen several times while doing things that were no problem when I was younger. As for falling out of the boat, I'm always extra careful, 'cause I'm not sure I still possess the upper body strength necessary to get back in if I ever do fall out, especially with water-soaked clothes and perhaps being cold, too, from the immersion. We all should think through a reboarding plan...e.g., using the motor, installing a boarding ladder...whatever. The idea is to assess, adapt and overcome.

Accounts like these unfortunately are more the norm, rather than the exception, as aging anglers try to maintain what, in many instances, is the one and only hobby they really care about yet in their "golden years."

Let's face it: Time on the water is precious. Whether you prefer fishing or leisure, being in a boat on your favorite lake or river, under the open sky, with the rhythm of the waves rocking beneath you, is one of the best feelings in the world.

Too often, difficulties caused by aging make it harder to get on the water. And rather than enjoying a fishing trip or day boating with the family, the affected senior decides to stay home.

The key to not letting this happen is to find ways to continue doing what we love without compromising health, safety or comfort. With some out-of-the-box thinking, plus the help of others, as well as new products on the market, we can limit the number of days we have to stay home.

Far too often, senior boaters are limited by accessibility. Thankfully, facilities at most boating-access sites now are more convenient than in the past. However, there's still the issue of getting into and out of the boat, as well as movement around the boat. One of the more recent inventions to help take care of boarding issues is an array of trailer steps, similar to the arrangement found in the accompanying photo. Movement around a bass boat's interior can be enhanced with the addition of a step-up to the front platform. My good friend and boat mechanic recently built and installed one of these devices in my boat, and I'm here to tell you that, after just one trip to the water with it, I've never been happier.

Other ways to make your boat more accessible could include equipping it with extra seating and handrails. The latter is always a welcome alternative to anyone who uses a boat's windshield to pull himself/herself out of his seat.

Hydration and energy factors (e.g., food and drinks) also need to be considered anytime you're planning a day on the water. Too often, a boat trip is cut short because people are hungry or thirsty. Packing good food and plenty of liquids helps ensure everyone stays hydrated, energized and happy.

For a chilly day, it's hard to beat a thermos of hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate. You might take along a thermos of hot soup, too. A simple snack of good bread, cheese and meat can be fun to share, as well. Likewise, cut-up fruits and vegetables make an easy snack, as do tasty finger foods. And last but not least, make sure you take along several bottles of water. Pack a couple extra, just in case you think you might need it.

Among the safety considerations for any and all boat trips should be the following:

     * Make sure your boat is equipped with a first-aid kit. Routinely check the kit to make sure everything is in place and up to date.
     * Make sure you have a charged cellphone.
     * Bring along a multi-tool. You never know when you'll need pliers, a knife, or even a screwdriver when you're on the boat.
     * Make sure you have enough life vests, and make sure everyone knows where they are located.
     * Take along extra clothes (e.g., jackets and extra layers) in colder months. It nearly always is colder on the water than you expect. Extra things, like gloves and hats, also are a good idea.
     * Finally, it's imperative to make sure you take along any and all necessary medications.

Do all that you can now to take care of yourself, 'cause who knows? You might live to be 104 and still fishing, like the World War II veteran I was reading about online yesterday. Having served under Gen. George S. Patton, he has been fishing since he was 8 years old. Though a gust of wind has knocked him over a time or two while fishing, this ol' vet said he has no plans to hang up his fishin' pole anytime soon.

"When I'm pushin' up daisies is when I'll quit fishin'," he assured.