Shad Imitators: KVD's Favorite Fall Baits

According to this 33-year touring professional, fall is the season that's all about bass keying in on the baitfish you find in major creek arms.

Said VanDam, "That pattern is talked about constantly, and it's true, but not every quality bass follows bait to the back of a creek. There's still plenty of good fish eating bait on flat, shallow points along the main body of water, too."

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that all three of this pro's favorite lures this time of year are shad imitators. His starting line-up includes a squarebill crankbait, a topwater walking bait, and a jerkbait. And just as importantly as what lures he specified is knowing where and when to use them.

VanDam's first choice for a crankbait is his namesake KVD 1.5 from Strike King. "It's just such an efficient bait because the bass are moving shallow, and they'll bite it in just about any color of water," he said. "The dream scenario for a squarebill at this time of year is a rocky creek-channel swing in the back of a major tributary, with shad active near the surface of the water."

His prime choice for a topwater lure is Strike King's Sexy Dawg, which, in his words, "has magnetic qualities." You can attract bass from far away to come bite it in clear to stained water, as long as there's not too much wave action on the surface.

And VanDam's final shad-imitator selection is jerkbaits, which he noted "go together like October and falling leaves." Few lures search out bass on shallow, flat, main body, secondary points like this bait.

"Again," he continued, "not every bass swims to the back of a creek in search of shad at this time of year. There are plenty of quality fish to be caught on the shallower flat points on the main body of water, too. And by keeping your boat in about 10 feet of water and casting up there to four or five feet of water on those types of points can be an awesome way to catch 'em at this time of year," emphasized this man who has been called "one of the greatest tournament fishermen in the history of the sport."

Following Kevin VanDam's advice likely won't make you a four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion or a seven-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, but it very well may help you catch some quality bass this autumn.

Bass Fishing After the Storm

"The prelude to a summertime pop-up thunderstorm can turn the bass bite on enough for even a novice to enjoy the action," wrote John Neporadny, Jr. "However, when the thunder, lightning and rain subside is the time that separates the weekend anglers from the pros," he continued.

An accomplished angler himself, Neporadny once interviewed bass pro Matt Herren about what happens after the storm.

"Most of the time during summer," said Herren, "pop-up thunderstorms are like their own weather systems. During the dog days of summer, the heat and humidity build up to create afternoon thunderstorms."

Herren believes the prefrontal conditions of increasing cloud cover and wind, coupled with a falling barometer, can have the same effect on lethargic summertime bass as approaching cold fronts do in the spring and fall.

"That will trigger mini-feeds on those fish," said Herren, who also cautioned that while fishing can be great during this time, anglers should use extreme caution when thunder starts rumbling. He personally gets off the water when he sees the leading edge of clouds nearing him, rather than trying to judge the distance of the lightning strikes..

"You need to be cautious of summer storms," he warned, "because they just kind of bubble up during the heat of the day and are bad about wandering," adding that "they will circle and back up."

Herren usually heads back out on the water once the wind and rain subsides, but he still keeps an eye out for more foul weather.

"You may think the storms are cleared out, but there are times when you will be back out on the lake, and it will be right back on top of you," he explained.

Herren takes note of the fact that novice anglers often make a critical mistake when they get back on the water following the passage of a storm.

"Most of them fish the same way they did before the thunderstorm hit," he said. "They don't really evaluate what happens during that thunderstorm and how it changes the mood of the fish."

The Alabama pro believes a thunderstorm has different effects on the two dominant bass species in his area.

"Spotted bass in the South will go crazy in the thunder and lightning," he said, "but largemouth don't like it because they are a shallower fish."

From his post-storm experiences, Herren has noticed largemouth move off of structure or cover but still suspended close to the spots they were holding on prior to the storm.

"Fish that moved up on a hump to feed before the storm probably have moved to the side of the hump to suspend after the tempest," he explained. "So you may have to back off and position the boat differently and fish a different level of the water column.

"If you were using a crankbait that dives to 8 or 10 feet deep, you may have to go to one that dives 12 to 14 feet deep after the fish suspend. Or, if you were using a Carolina rig with a 1-ounce weight, you may have to go to a Texas rig with a 5/16-ounce weight for a slower fall."

According to writer Neporadny, "Bass in laydowns and other shallow wood also suspend at the ends of the cover, where Herren tries to trigger a reaction strike by burning a small spinnerbait, buzzbait, or crankbait. Swimming a trick worm with a 1/16-ounce weight or a Santone Rayburn Swim Jig through the limbs of a laydown is one of Herren's favorite ways to coax inactive post-storm bass into biting."

When the wind dies and blue skies prevail after a storm, Herren resorts to a light Texas-rigged soft plastic or other finesse tactics, since the fishing slows considerably. If the clouds continue to linger, though, big fish still will bite.

Said Herren, "Fishing around those storms will present an angler some pretty good opportunities to catch some pretty good fish."

Just make sure you're off the water well in advance of and for quite a while after the storm's light show.

2023 Classic-Qualifying Season Is History

There were 15 anglers in 8 boats who showed up at West Neck Creek Marina in the wee hours this morning for what was a windy day of tournament bass fishing. Of course, choosing which was windier...the weather or the anglers...is, at best, a matter of conjecture. After all, fishermen in general, and bass fishermen in particular, have a reputation for S-T-R-R-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G the truth from time to time.

I assure you, however, it's totally true that these 15 fishermen brought 35 bass to the scales for a combined weight of 64.19 pounds, or an average weight per fish of 1.83 pounds.

At the end of the day, the scoreboard included the names of the following winners:

In 1st place (will miracles never cease?) was the team of  (from left) Jim Crist and Eric Killian, who, believe it or not, actually made it back to the weigh-in site on time for a change, with a five-fish limit weighing 13.53 pounds. Their big fish weighed 3.85 pounds. (Please know I'm only kidding around here. These two guys, without question, are A-OK, in my opinion.)

Finishing in 2nd place, also with a limit, was the team of (from left) Don Carter and Rob Peppers (glad to have you back with us, Rob). Their five fish weighed 11.55 pounds, including a big fish that tipped the scales at 4.29 pounds, which was good enough to claim lunker-of-the-day honors. Because the first-place team opted not to participate in the side pot, Don and Rob...by default...also claimed that pay envelope.

And finally, in 3rd place, was the team of (from left) Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff. Their limit came in at 9.89 pounds, with a big fish that weighed 4.07 pounds.

It's truly nothing out of the ordinary for my partner to put on a clinic, and today was no exception. Besides all the bass he brought to the net was a whole bunch of white perch, a bluegill, a catfish, and a puppy drum (yes, you heard me right). That says nothing of the other day, when we were out for a fun day, and he boated a flounder and a crappie, along with a bunch of bass and some white perch. I assure you my days on the water with Wayne...from the git-go...have been and I'm certain will continue to be anything but boring.

The other anglers who participated in today's tournament finished in the following order:
     * The father-son team of Ralph and Ryan Land weighed a limit, totaling 8.46 pounds, with no big fish.
     * The team of Dave Anderson and Skip Schaible weighed a limit, totaling 7.49 pounds, with a big fish weighing 2.21 pounds.
     * The team of Bobby Moore and J. P. Twohig weighed a limit, totaling 7.13 pounds, with a big fish weighing 2.83 pounds.
     * Andy Morath, fishing solo today, weighed a limit, totaling 6.14 pounds, with no big fish.
     * The team of Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean didn't weigh any fish.

Five more competitors sealed their eligibility to fish our one-day Classic tournament on Saturday, Oct. 14 as a result of participating in today's event. These anglers include Skip Schaible, Bobby Moore, J. P. Twohig, Ryan Land, and Eric Killian. These additions bring the total number of Classic-qualified anglers to 21. Others already on the list prior to today include Craig Jones, Rob Chatham, Jim Leavis, Ken Matthias, Andy Morath, Diana Morath, Steve Bailey, Dennis Dean, Rob Peppers, Don Carter, Dave Anderson, Gary Coderre, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Crist, Wayne Hayes, and Ken Testorff.

Last but certainly not least, let me further take note of the fact that Dave Anderson (left) has won the dash for 2023 Angler of the Year. He finished this season with 99.91 points over the course of fishing nine tournaments. I also should note that he first won this prize back in 2018, when he set the all-time highest mark to date for AOY. That year, he accumulated 185.77 points, spread over the course of fishing 15 tournaments.

Runners-up for this year's AOY title included the team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff (only ones to have fished all 10 tournaments) with 91.51 points, and Don Carter with 89.70 points.

Congratulations to all of these winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate.

Final Overall Statistics

(Note: Seasonal lunker pot winner(s) can change yet during Classic tournament.)

About Our Last Dewey's Qualifying Tournament

The once-postponed tournament is scheduled to occur this coming Sunday, Sep. 24th. All would-be participants are asked to be signed in, fees paid, and boat in the water no later than 6:15 a.m. (deadline for registrations). The tournament director then will release everyone in random order at safe light (probably about 6:30 a.m.). Weigh-in is anticipated to take place at 2:30 p.m. While every effort will be made to stage this tournament out of home base (West Neck Creek Marina), there is a very real possibility, due to predicted strong northeast and east winds on Friday and Saturday, that we may have to launch out of Pungo Ferry. Accordingly, you are urged to check your email Saturday afternoon (in the 4 to 5 p.m. timeframe) for the tournament director's final decision to have or not to have the tournament and if so, where the launch site will be. Refer all questions to Wayne at 757-478-3387.

Incidentally, be aware that Sunday, Sept. 24th, also marks the beginning of teal duck-hunting season in Virginia. 

How Do You Define "Elderly"?

As one angler replied, "When cute 20-something cashiers start calling you 'sir'." Personally, I like the way a young hospital worker recently referred to me: "punkin'."

In any event, it doesn't take much of an imagination to come up with many responses similar to the preceding. However, let's look at some common indications that a person is elderly, old, decrepit, over the hill, or however else you choose to delineate someone who is past their prime. The following slightly edited list was devised by veteran angler Bud Kennedy:

* Hitting the boat when you try to pee off the deck.

* Going to bed right after the tonight show was over.

* Suffering retribution from eating spicy food.

* Paying more for a new boat than you did for your first two houses.

* Talking about after-school jobs that you once worked.

* Listening to music that didn't all sound like noise.

* Looking at a face in the mirror that you hardly recognize.

* Can't sleep through the night without having to go to the bathroom.

* Doing jobs around the house now takes days, instead of hours.

* Picking your fishing days carefully--comfy temps with no rain and little wind.

* Having trouble reading the fine print on your prescriptions.

* Going to college graduations and marriages of your grandchildren.

* Getting haircuts and shaves no longer seem important.

* Visiting a doctor who's younger than you.

* What you're hearing isn't what's being said.

* No more candles on your birthday cake...because they set off smoke detectors.

* Unable to recall the last time you ever had sex.

Kennedy went on to note that he remembers a time when it was believed that you didn't have to get old if you just exercised mind over matter.

"That turned out to be a bit of bovine excrement," though, he said.

While accepting the realities of his age, Kennedy is quick to point out he still plans to get the most out of life, especially when it comes to fishing.

"I don't go blasting down the lake at 70 mph any more," he said, "and I suppose the day is coming when taking the boat out at all will be just a memory, but hopefully that won't be for a while yet."

Kennedy went on to note that he already has plans to do some pier fishing when he has to give up his bass boat.

"I'll have a nice comfy chair, a snack to eat, and drinks to keep me hydrated," he said. "I'll set up my rods and just watch the ocean roll by."

Kennedy also had this message for all folks hitting the elderly ranks:

"Hang in there. Sure you ache a bit, and your physical condition may not be all that good, but keep going as best you can. At least, you still can get in the great outdoors, even if it is only for a few hours. As has been said by others, 'Getting old ain't for sissies,' but don't let that bring you down. This is the time to enjoy the day the best you can and remember what once was. Just think: If they ever invent a time machine, we can all go back and do it all over again."

Speaking for myself, there are a few things I'd like to change if possible before hopping into a time machine.

Last 2023 Dewey's Qualifier Tourney Postponed

Because of the low water (and it's still dropping), the tournament director is postponing the tournament to Sunday, Sept. 24. Watch your email on Thursday, Sept. 21, for times, etc.

How Could I Ask for a Better Tournament Partner?

Short answer is:

I couldn't.

After all, Wayne fixes my boat.

He works on my old car.

He administers first aid when I need it.

In short, he's simply the best...

at everything he does.

Just look at what he did this morning.

Went out and bought this helmet for me,

so that the next time I tangle my feet

and do a face-plant on the dock

in front of the West Neck Marina Store,

I won't bang up my ol' noggin.

Good Lord only knows I don't need

another trip to the ER.

Yessir! Buddies like Wayne

are hard to come by.

All kidding aside,

thanks for being my good friend.

DMac Remains Da Man

(As a result of what happened to me this past Sunday, I've been slow in getting anything done on the blog. Am feeling better now, though, so things should be getting back to normal soon, starting with the fishing report below from DMac.)

He slipped out Sunday for a few hours before the skies got UGG-LEE and had a nice day top-waterin'. Ended up with the teeth of 10 bass on his thumb, plus lost two more when they jumped. Even had a couple swirl under his bait but didn't take it.

"Best one was just over 5 pounds," he said, adding that "I didn't mind losin' those two fish since they were less than chunk size."

DMac went on to say he fished a bunch of baits but kept gravitating to his ol' reliable frog.

Only 4 Boats, But We Still Fished

That's the story in a nutshell for today's open tournament held out of West Neck Marina. We fished from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with only very minor sprinkles of rain at various junctures. All the heavy stuff, fortunately, held off until all boats were loaded on their trailers this afternoon, and the fishermen were headed home.

At day's end, the seven anglers in four boats weighed five-fish limits for an aggregate total weight of 39.86 pounds, and an average weight per fish of 1.99 pounds. Less than a pound marked the total difference between first place and fourth place today.

There were only a couple of winners today, starting with 1st place. (From left) The team of Dave Anderson and Skip Schaible claimed those honors, with a total weight of 10.21 pounds. Their big fish weighed 2.85 pounds.

In 2nd place with 10.14 pounds was the solo angler Steve Bailey (left), who had today's lunker at 3.50 pounds.

The other two boats finished as follows:
     * The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath had a total weight of 10.10 pounds, including a big fish that weighed 2.70 pounds.
     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff had a total weight of 9.41 pounds, with no big fish.

Congratulations to the winners today. Look forward to seeing y'all at the next West Neck open tournament scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1. Watch this blog for a reminder about this event, as well as the times involved.

Hey Andy! Take a Look at What Wayne Does to Partners Who Don't Catch Any Fish

Naturally, I'm kidding. Wayne had nothing to do with what happened to me yesterday after the tournament ended. In reality, I did it all to myself. Just wanted to have a little fun.

Even enlisted the help of my wife to take this picture when I got home yesterday.

The real truth of the matter is that Wayne and I, as usual, had returned to the West Neck store early to set up for weigh-in, which went off without any hitches. When it came time for presentation of money to the winners, though, I realized I had misplaced my camera. All I knew is that I had grabbed it out of the storage box on Wayne's boat, so I reboarded to do a search.

Everything was OK up to this point, but then came the moment when I had to step back off the boat onto the deck in front of the store. That's when disaster struck...in fulfillment of the premonition I had had yesterday morning before I ever left the house. That's right...I had a feeling I was going to reap the rewards...make that punishment...for something I had done Friday.

You see, as noted in an earlier post, I had given up on the little rescue kitten my wife and I had adopted a few weeks ago and taken her to our son and daughter-in-law to raise, along with the one cat they already had. I owned that mistake and figured I was going to pay a price.

Anyway, as I was stepping off Wayne's Ranger the second time, my left foot did like it was supposed to. The toe of my right foot, however, caught the mooring rope, and I ended up making a headfirst splat that, before I ever left the marina, gave me reason to pause. I took the pictures of the winners OK, had helped restow all the weigh-in gear, and was getting ready to go get in Wayne's vehicle to back it down the ramp for recovery when I suddenly got dizzy, nauseated, and evidently passed out for a few moments, with no one around.

I remembered only this morning that I had been sitting on one of the barstools out in front of the store telling Wayne, who already was in his boat and moving away from the storefront, that I would be a few minutes because of my dizziness. However, when I finally came to my senses, I was lying on the dock right beside the barstool where I had been seated, with no knowledge of how I got there.

In any event, the accompanying photo is how I looked when I arrived home yesterday from the tournament. I cannot thank Wayne enough for always looking out for me and rendering on-the-spot first aid yesterday. I also need to thank all those who have called and texted me in the hours since my accident happened.

Because of the concern I had for a possible concussion, my wife took me to Patient First yesterday evening. They put bandages on all my wounds before sending me on to Sentara Leigh for a CT scan of my ol' noggin' and some X-rays of my bruised hands. The good folks there at Patient First also gave me a bottle of antibiotics to take for another fall injury I had sustained a few weeks ago when out fishing alone in my own boat. My wife thought the injury looked infected...and, as it turned out, so did the Patient First doctor.

The Sentara Leigh doctor explained to me last night that my CT scan showed no bleeding on the brain, but he also cautioned me to understand that that could change in the next 48 to 72 hours. He told me to avoid any heavy exertion during this time and to make sure there is someone who can observe me constantly. And if any changes occur, I'm to get back to Sentara Leigh in a hurry.

Once the doctor came to my room and told me he was dismissing me, I mentioned I wanted to fish another tournament next Sunday. He said OK, but then turned toward me, smiled, and said, "Just don't trip again."

P.S. While I was sitting in my room at Sentara Leigh, waiting to be treated, a young lady came in to get me hooked up to the machine that displays all your vitals. The only problem was that the machine wasn't working. She told me she was going to get some help and soon returned with another young lady coworker. The second young lady first tried the conventional approach, and when nothing happened, she started pushing every button on the machine. I'm watching this operation and can't help chuckling a bit when I hear the second young lady say, "This is what I always do when the right way fails." The second young lady happened to hear my chuckling in the background and turned around to look at me--this old guy in dirty, blood-stained tan pants, with bandages all over his tired face--and she said, "You know Punkin', you're kinda cute." That sweet comment really took away some of the hurt I was feeling at the moment.

I Couldn't Sleep At All Tonight...And for Good Reason

These words above say it all for me this night, as I lay in bed, unable to get a loving little creature's face and sweet but occasionally testy personality out of my mind. And no, I'm not talking about my wife. Instead, I'm talking about the little rescued kitten we got recently when she was just five weeks old.

Willow (right, with one of her favorite toys in the background), as my wife lovingly named her, came from a situation in which she and a sister kitten had survived their mother's demise at the hands of a ruthless low-life. Whether because of that beginning and/or something else we're not familiar with, little Willow was slow to warm up to us after we brought her home. And at the slightest loud noise or quick movement on the part of my wife or I, she would dive for the nether regions under our love seat in the family room. We also were concerned at first about the fact she never made any meowing sounds. However, she did have one sweet-sounding little motor inside her tiny frame that purred ever so loudly when she was happy.

And, in due time, she started making different sounds, especially as she bounced around playfully in the family room or along about 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning, while telling my wife and I it was time to get up and feed her breakfast. Part of that morning ritual usually involved her weaving in and out between our legs and expecting a dose of petting...sometimes more than others, depending on how hungry she happened to be.

My wife and I had had to adjust our nightly routine from going to bed at midnight and later to about 10 o'clock in order to meet Willow's needs, which wasn't difficult. However, as the days and weeks moved along, yours truly found himself being his ornery ol' self toward both the kitten and the Mrs. Moreover, I began making the kitten my scapegoat too many times.

There also were some occasions when the young kitten, in an effort to have things her way, got a bit testy and lashed out with her claws or her sharp little teeth. As a result, both my wife and I started incurring some scratches and bites. On two occasions, my wife suffered infections from these episodes, which required medical care.

Then came a discussion between my wife and I, in which she asked me what I thought we should do. In haste, I suggested that we call our son and daughter-in-law (who had orchestrated our getting the rescued cat in the first place) and ask if they would like to take the kitten from us to raise it along with the other cat they currently have. A couple phone discussions between my wife and daughter-in-law ensued, culminating in our taking Willow to her new home in Moyock this afternoon.

Call me what you want, but despite all my crustiness from the past 80 years, I get teary-eyed and upset when, for whatever reason, I lose a person or a pet that I love, and that includes the sweet, little, soft, furry four-legged friend my wife and I called Willow. Granted, we still will be able to see her when we visit the kids, but that's not like having her for our own, watching all the little things she does, and hearing those sweet sounds she makes.

That photo I used to introduce this item definitely says what I'm feeling this night. And I'll let you in on a little secret, too. If our son and daughter-in-law were to offer letting us have Willow back, I gladly would pay them for the privilege. "But it's only a cat," some of you probably are saying. For both my wife and I, though, it was so much more, and the hurt just isn't going away.

While sitting in the doctor's office earlier today, waiting to undergo my annual wellness check, I kept replaying our short life with sweet Willow and kicking myself for what I did. I even asked the doctor for a prescription to help me overcome my often quick and sharp tongue, which has gotten me into trouble more than once over my lifetime. He obliged, and starting Monday, I will begin taking the new medication. The doc explained that he's starting me on the mild dosage to see how it works, but if need be, there's a stronger version available that definitely will take care of my problem.

Some of you may be wondering why I waited so late in life to take this step. I truly don't know for sure but think it likely was because I never had seen my problem in the same light I saw it in today.

"You never know what you've really got until you lose it"...or as in my case, give it away. I deserve to have my butt kicked. For one foolish moment on my part, a little kitten that had a rough start to her life may very well be traumatized again because of what I did. I should have stayed the course I chose for the long haul.

I know this is a fishing blog, but there are some times when I feel a strong need to speak about something outside of bass fishing...something that's really weighing on my mind, and this is one of those times. In short, there are other things in this life besides bass fishing, and when I mess up, I feel I need to 'fess up, which is what I've done here tonight.

This Piece of News Oughtta Strike a Nerve...

Was just checking my cellphone before plugging it in to recharge for the night and found a note from Skip concerning the Wakefest event at Pungo Ferry Bridge this coming Saturday, Sept. 9th. Seems he was down at Pungo Ferry today and was talking to the Marine Police. Event organizers apparently got a permit to void the "no wake" zone for this event. Here's a suggestion. Every bass fisherman, pleasure boater, and what-have-you in this area should flood the city offices with a request that we also have the same entitlement...permanently!!!

Following is the reply I received 9/7/2023 from the Parks & Recreation Supervisor:

"Thanks for your inquiry regarding the Wakefest Event scheduled at Pungo Ferry Park this Saturday. Parks and Recreation is aware of the event and has been working with this group for several months through the permitting process. They have received an approved permit through Parks and Recreation to hold the event. Throughout the event permit process the maps, plans and scheduled activities for the event have been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, Va. Wildlife Resources, Va Beach Police, Fire and EMS services. There will be VBPD Marine Patrol and Wildlife Resources Marine Patrol patrolling the waterway area. The event organizer is also providing course marshals that will monitor the area.

The facility itself will not be closed to the public and the ramp will still be accessible. (Anyone naive enough to show up at Pungo Ferry Saturday, looking for a place to park, likely will need a lot more than just good luck. Personally speaking, I wouldn't be surprised to find cars filling the Pungo Ferry lot and extending all the way down Pefley Lane.) Boaters can also launch at Munden Point Park, just a mile or so south of the Pungo Ferry Launch, at no cost.

This is the first event of this type that has been permitted for this site. We will be having an after action meeting to discuss the event as a whole to determine any future use of Pungo Ferry for events like this."

Highlight of My Fishing Day Wasn't What I Wanted...But Oh Well

When I launched my boat at West Neck about 6:30 this morning, I expected to catch a few fish, even if they didn't prove to be worthy of writing home about, and I managed to do just that. However, none of them individually or all collectively were what I would call the highlight of my day. As a matter of fact, that "highlight," as you will, didn't come until I arrived home this afternoon.

I had unloaded my van, moved everything into the garage, and immediately had set about updating a replacement lure that I plan to put into action at the open tournament this Sunday (yes, truth is I had to leave one behind today) . All was going well until I pulled out one of my bigger tackleboxes to retrieve some of the items I needed for the update. Even that went swell, too. Things quickly went south, however, when I grabbed the bigger box to put it back from where I had gotten it.

There was just one problem. I had absent-mindedly forgotten to secure one of the latches on that bigger box...and, as a result, I dumped nearly all of the contents onto the garage floor. No one could have been any more surprised than yours truly when I didn't blow my top. Reckon my self-control could be attributed to a couple of factors, starting with the fact I had no one to blame but myself. And secondly, the incident brought back a painful reminder from the distant past in which I had pulled a similar trick. The only difference that other time was the fact it happened on the water, and I still remember ever so vividly that I immediately stopped and looked around to see if anybody else on the water had been watching when I pulled that earlier trick.

On that occasion, I just had purchased a huge, new double-sided case to hold my giant collection of Charlie Brewer slider worms. I just had opened the case and grabbed one of the worms, hurriedly put it on the slider hook, and was putting the case back when the only half-snapped latch turned loose, dumping the entire contents of one side on the front deck and floor of my boat.

I wasn't about to take the necessary time out of my fishing day to put all those worms back. Instead, I looked around and found a large plastic bag in one of the storage boxes and just threw everything in there for the time being. It was two or three days later before I got around to restoring all the worms to their rightful places.

It has been a lot of years since I pulled that earlier trick, but the memory of it returned with blinding speed this afternoon. And you know what? I couldn't help pausing for a moment and chuckling to myself. I've always said that a person has a problem if he/she can't laugh at themselves once in a while. Besides, just like the earlier time, I managed to catch a few fish today, so what the hey? Right?

West Neck Open Tournament Moved to This Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023

In the interest of safety, the tournament director has moved the open event originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9th to Sunday, Sept. 10th. This change is the result of learning that a "Wakefest" is scheduled to be held at Pungo Ferry Bridge on Saturday the 9th. Tournament participants must be signed in, paid up, and have their boats in the West Neck boat basin no later than 6 a.m, which is when registration closes. Following final directions from the TD, we will shove off in random order at safe light (about 6:15 a.m.). Weigh-in will take place at 2:30 p.m. Do not trailer your boat before weighing your fish, or you will be disqualified. You also will be DQ'd if you are not in the boat basin by 2:30 p.m. Refer any questions to the TD at 757-478-3387.

Don't Let the Early-Fall Transition Be a Continuation of the "Dog Days"

As bass pro Russ Lane (left) opined, "If you fish the same honey holes you did during the summer heat and use the same techniques, chances are you won't put many bass in the livewell."

He didn't stop there, however. Lane went on to provide some tips for achieving success during the summer-to-fall transition.

"The water temps still will be high," he explained, "but the shorter duration of daylight always corresponds with fall patterns. On most lakes, a good time to start employing fall tactics is late August to early September. That's when the water temps begin to cool, and bass move from their deeper summer haunts to shallower water."

In continuing his explanation, Lane pointed out two primary patterns during late summer and early fall.

"Bass on the main body of a lake will suspend and school around shad and alewives near long points, humps and breaks," he noted. "The depth of those suspended schools will be relative to the water color. Typically, the clearer the water, the deeper the schools of bait and bass will suspend.

"Good numbers of bass also can be found toward the backs of major feeder creeks at this time of year," he continued. "Concentrate on stained water near the creeks and depths of one to four feet. That's where the threadfin and gizzard shad tend to bunch up."

As for what to throw, Lane likes to use bladed swim jigs to entice bass during the summer/fall transition.

"The bass are usually very aggressive," he said. "All of their habits and movements are based around pursuing baitfish, so I like to work a chatterbait with a fast, erratic retrieve. That's not to say this technique works in every situation. If it doesn't produce, experiment and let the fish tell you what type of retrieve best gets their attention.

Lane also advocates staying focused on the bait.

"Remember, for bass, it's all about chasing schools of bait during this period," he said. "And since baitfish are constantly moving, you'll need to cover a lot of water to find and keep up with them. Don't waste your time working in areas without signs of forage fish. If the shad aren't around," he concluded, "you probably won't put any fish in the boat."

What's Your Goal This Fall?

To be more specific, do you want to get bites, or will you just be satisfied seeing activity on the water? I gotta believe that, in most cases, anglers will be looking for bites.

While topwaters, crankbaits and spinnerbaits will be many anglers' first choices throughout the season, there are some other--often forgotten--lures that, as I learned from a Wired2Fish report I happened across recently, will help you catch fish this fall, starting with micro lipless crankbaits.

While many anglers will focus their attention on such lures as the 1/2- and 3/4-ounce Rat-L-Traps and Red-Eye Shads, out-of-the-box thinkers more likely will opt for smaller 1/4-ounce models. Because baitfish notoriously are small this time of year, tiny lipless baits do an admirable job of mimicking the forage.

Besides being the right size, these lighter lipless crankbaits are better suited for probing shallow depths in which bass are targeting shad and other baitfish. The lighter lure is less obtrusive in skinny water and can be fished around myriad cover types.

There's nothing whatsoever fancy about this presentation. You simply locate baitfish congregating around shallow cover, cast your lipless plug, and slowly reel it in, bumping the bottom as you go. A 1/4-ounce lipless can be fished in the same areas where anglers are fishing topwaters, spinnerbaits and squarebills, but it shows pressured bass something different. Many times, this difference puts those bass in the boat.

And while some anglers are reaching for their favorite topwaters or squarebill crankbaits during the fall months, others grab what often are left out of the conversation: wakebaits. These latter baits come in all shapes and sizes...from big, jointed options to small plugs that resemble traditional crankbaits. They dive anywhere from a foot deep to merely inches below the surface, depending on line size and rod angle. Furthermore, they're an excellent choice when bass won't commit to topwaters.

Wakebaits are perfect for fishing around shallow grass, rocks, laydowns, or other types of shallow structure in a scenario where bass are keying in on baitfish.

Finally, another often overlooked great option for fall bass is the floating jerkbait, whether it be the Rapala Original Floating Minnow or the Shadow Rap Shad. The Original Floating Minnow has been a proven fish-catcher for many years.

Floating jerkbaits can be twitched slowly on the surface or jerked to deeper depths before their buoyancy forces them upward. Bass spend a lot of time looking up at baitfish this time of year, and a floating jerkbait appears to be fleeing from the fish hiding below, which ignites a predatory response bass hardly can resist. Like suspending jerkbaits, floaters need to be seen by bass to get them to react and therefore are best suited for clear to slightly stained water.

While topwaters and soft-plastic jerkbaits are among anglers' favorite fall-fishing lures, there are days when it seems bass merely will swipe at these offerings. Floating jerkbaits, on the other hand, excel in this particular scenario. With two or three treble hooks dangling from their slender body, floating hard jerkbaits typically will get at least one hook in a fish that swipes at them.

The hard baits mentioned here can help you have some unforgettable days of fishing this fall. Head toward the the backs of creeks on your favorite local fishery, find schools of baitfish, follow the wind, and enjoy the fall madness many anglers miss out on each year.

September 2023 Bass Fishing Forecast