Never Give Up!

That includes even when you're down to the last 5 minutes of tournament fishing time. No bassin' pro alive today is a more vocal advocate of that philosophy than--you guessed it--bass fishing's original "bad boy," Mike Iaconelli.

For a good spell now, the fishing world has known Iaconelli as the man who nearly always screams "Never give up!" right after he has caught a last-minute bass in a tournament. However, I'll bet there are a lot of anglers out there who have pumped a fist or two high into the air, and/or maybe have done their best imitation of Ike after catching a tournament-winning fish within the last 5 minutes of competition.

This much I do know: I've certainly heard my fair share of "winning fish caught in last 5 minutes" stories during my time as tournament director for the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series. On many occasions, a 3-, 4- or 5-pounder caught just a few minutes before weigh-in has spelled the difference between walking away as winners or losers.

I found several other examples online, too. For instance, there was a young co-angler who shared that his FLW Tour pro had pulled up on a "last chance" spot that was close to the tournament check-in point. With that one final cast, the young co-angler hooked and landed a fish that helped him win the co-angler title by less than a half-pound. "Stay focused," was the young angler's advice to others. "I can't tell you how many times a fish has made a big difference for me in the final 5 minutes. If you're not focused, you can miss that chance."

In another case, a tournament duo had caught four fish early in the day, "thinking it was going to be a typically good day." To their chagrin, however, several hours then passed without a single fish. It wasn't until about 5 minutes before day's end that one of them finally boated a 2.83-pounder to win both the tournament and the big-fish pot.

I also read an account where, in the last 5 minutes of a tournament, Elite Series pro angler Dean Rojas pulled out a victory with a 3-3 and a 2-13. That success came after enduring a spell in which he had lost a fish and caught three more that didn't meet the 12-inch length requirement.

Yet another example was Winchester, VA, weekend angler Mike Callahan, who won an American Fishing Tour bass tournament on the Potomac River in the last few minutes. He already had caught 10 good keepers but culled a 2-pounder with a 3.5-pound bass in the final 5 minutes to give him the victory with a sack weighing 17.25 pounds.

And finally, we come to Boyd Duckett (left), who, at the end of each season, always tries to sum it up in one statement. For 2016, he said there's only one sentence, even though it's admittedly not original, that works, and that is: "Never give up."

As he pointed out, "Every angler has been through times when he wanted to give up, times when he felt so lost and defeated that he was ready to pack his tackle and head to the house. Whether he (or she)  was tempted to quit the sport entirely, quit on a season, or maybe just quit on a tournament or two, EVERY angler has been there."

This past year, like most others, found Duckett coming down to the final Elite Series event in LaCrosse, WI, needing a clutch performance to make it into the Bassmaster Classic. He remembers sitting under a bridge with Mark Davis and Kelly Jordan during a driving rain and thunderstorm, thinking he probably was in something like 80th place. To make matters worse, he didn't have a single fish in the livewell at that moment.

"We were hoping the weather would eventually clear enough to see 10 or 15 feet in front of our boats," he said. "But I didn't panic. I'd been there before. I just chose to focus on the hope that I would be able to establish a pattern before the day was done. I truly thought I had a chance to catch some fish, so I kept telling myself, 'Don't give up.'"

At the same time, however, neither Duckett, nor those other two anglers, were giving any thought to heading back out and fishing through the storm. As Boyd explained, "Four times in my life, I have been on a body of water where guys were struck by lightning and died. So I wasn't going anywhere, and neither were Mark or Kelly."

All three guys ended up having to get out of the storm's way twice that day, totaling about two and a half hours of lost fishing time. Between those retreats to safety, Duckett ran to a jetty break and caught a 3.5-pounder in swift water, so when the weather had cleared the second time, he ran back to the same spot, but nothing was happening. Convinced the same pattern would work, though, he kept moving and was able to catch enough big ones to stay in the game.

Duckett finished 15th at LaCrosse and 12th in the AOY event on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota and still barely made the Classic field (he finished 37th out of 39 Elite Series anglers). "It was close," said Duckett, "but the obvious lesson is: Never, ever, ever give up."

I would add one more thing here: I think you have to believe in yourself and your abilities, especially when it comes to making big things happen in that last 5 minutes of any given tournament day. It's too easy to say, "OK, I give up. Maybe next time." I've often said that, and I've also heard a lot of other guys make the same comment.

Time for a Fish Fry

That's what Ron chose as the subject line for his latest email.

It seems he and his son, Alex, headed to Lake Tecumseh Friday, hoping to catch enough crappie for a good fish fry this weekend. Turns out both of them had some luck.

Ron's tally included a 1-6 bass (see below left), four chain pickerel to 20 inches, and a bunch of crappie. Meanwhile, Alex claimed crappie bragging rights for the trip with one measuring 14.75 inches and weighing 1-8 (see above right). They collectively took home 10 nice ones for the frying pan.

Ron explained that the bass and chain pickerel were slamming the XTS Minnow, while the crappie were interested only in the beetlespin. He was using an ultralight rig for the crappie, which he described as "a blast."

"The weekend looks fair to middlin'," noted Ron, "so we shall see."

A Little More Twitchin', A Little Less Jerkin'

Pick up any dozen articles about jerkbait fishing, and before you've read past the first or second paragraph in about 10 of them, you've undoubtedly heard the standard advice about using a jerk-jerk-pause cadence. That's why I read a little farther here recently when I saw a jerkbait story in which Elite Series pro Fred Roumbanis (right) proposed a different cadence.

Instead of simply taking a few quick winds to get your jerkbait down to its optimum operating depth, Roumbanis suggests taking a few "winding jerks" after the bait hits the water. In his words, "This allows the jerkbait to reach its horizontal plane quickly, thus spending more time in the most productive strike zone."

When using braided line with jerkbaits, as Roumbanis does, a "twitch, twitch, pause" cadence, in which you only move the rod tip 8 to 10 inches, is preferred, compared to the traditional method. His contention is that these smaller rod movements will help you avoid ripping the hooks away from fish. Instead, you'll feel pressure and know it's time to set the hook.

It's also important to use a rod with a very soft tip, according to Roumbanis. The soft tip ensures your twitches have a less drastic effect on your jerkbait. "The idea, after all," he said, "is to keep your bait in the same area as long as possible." His personal preference is the 3-power, 6-foot 9-inch medium-action iROD Genesis II Series.

"Jerkbaits and cold water are a phenomenal combination that can load your boat in a hurry," noted Roumbanis. "If you're having trouble getting bites with more commonplace tactics, however, don't be afraid to go against the grain. Sometimes, all it takes is some simple experimentation to turn a tough day into an unforgettable one."

Ice Fishing Kayak Style

The air was warm, but the water--well, not so much. As a matter of fact, it was anything but...warm, that is.

Said Ron, "I was lucky in that my buddy got there before me and made the path you see in this photo (see left) to the unfrozen parts."

Once on their chosen fishing site, the duo went about trying to find a few fish...and a few it was. As Ron acknowledged, "We only found chain pickerel. My buddy caught a 23.50- and a 23.75-incher. Meanwhile, I managed a 16-incher. No bass or crappie, though."

The kayakers' trip back to their launch site proved every bit as challenging as the buddy's original ice-cutting trip to their fishing hole. You see, the ice had shifted since the initial path was created.

"Needless to say," said Ron in conclusion, "I couldn't troll. Maybe tomorrow will be better."

It's Doing the Limbo

I'm talking, of course, about the North Landing River. How low can she go? That's anybody's guess. However, at one point yesterday afternoon, the river scale read minus 1.09, and at 1245 p.m. today, it stood at minus 1.15.

This much I can tell you with certainty. You know it's bad when even my "Energizer Bunny" fishin' friend Ron can't get out in his kayak. In his own words, "Nowhere to launch today." Then he added, "I guess the fish would all be in the holes, but it's too windy to chase them."

Despite not being able to get the pedals on his kayak wet today, Ron ventured down to the area at the end of Old Pungo Ferry Road, where that old boat stays moored all the time. Kayakers also frequently use this site for launching. While there, he snapped the top right photo, which gives you a pretty clear glimpse of just how dismal the current water conditions are.

For the sake of comparison, take a look at the photo directly above left of the same general area, which my friend Charlie took Nov. 2, 2014, apparently before the old boat came on the scene. There's a little more water in this photo, but the difference is miniscule in the grand scheme of things.

It's times like this I've often remarked, "I wish I had an airboat--one like they use so much down in the Florida Everglades (see photo right)."

An airboat is an excellent tool for locating spring spawning beds, as well as anytime you have low water. You can get to places bass boats wouldn't have a prayer of reaching--places where the fish may never have seen a lure before.

I don't know about you, but that thought alone sends chills up and down my spine.

Remember "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena"?

You know the one I'm talking about:

...She drives real fast, and she drives real hard,

She's the terror of Colorado Boulevard...

At least, that's the way the lyrics go in that old tune Jan and Dean first recorded in the 1960s. However, in this case, I'm not talking about any granny who drives a brand new shiny red super-stocked Dodge with a four-speed stick and a four-two-six.

Instead, I'm talking about a fella who drives an immensely overpowered old red and white bass boat the length of West Neck Creek nearly every day. If you see or hear the boat coming (you really can't miss that sound because the decibels it puts out rival those of the Oceana jets), my advice to you is: Get out of the way!

I know wherefore I speak--I had my own recent close encounter. I don't remember another time when I've come any closer to needing a clean pair of skivvies than when I glanced over my shoulder and saw what was coming. Let's just say I knew in an instant it definitely wasn't Saint Nick flying in to drop off a late Christmas present.

But you know what? This guy really isn't breaking any laws that I can find. For openers, there are no posted speed limits for the waterways around here, other than for some "no wake" signs, and none of those signs were in sight the other day when I had my chance encounter. Furthermore, that "maximum horsepower" capacity plate you find on every boat is just a "recommendation"--one that's regularly gaffed off by a multitude of boaters, as I learned during my research. Some dudes even brag openly about how they remove those capacity plates and hang any motor they want on the back of their boats. According to the information I gleaned, neither the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, nor the U.S. Coast Guard will routinely ticket an overpowered boat. And, of course, Virginia is among that vast majority of states (I think the total is 48) that don't have a law requiring any boat insurance.

One occasion when an overpowered boat operator and/or owner tends to find themselves in deep trouble is if/when they're found at fault in an accident in which someone is seriously injured or killed, or there is property damage. Then the walls of Jericho very well may come crashing down around them.

As I saw posted in an online forum, "You'll probably get sued for everything you own and end up with a cellmate named Bubba. Anytime you're in an accident that involves injury or loss of life, they throw the book at you. It's not the fine you have to worry about; it's that ambulance-chasing lawyer waiting for you. And if, perhaps by lying or using some other illegal means, you've managed to obtain boat insurance, you're kidding yourself if you think the company is going to come to your assistance when they learn you were running an overpowered boat. They're going to be the ones running then--in the opposite direction."

To the best of my knowledge, my boat is legal in every respect, and I do have full-coverage insurance, including, since the company first offered it, "uninsured boaters" coverage. Because Virginia doesn't require it is just that much more incentive for me to have it--that's my logic for protecting my ASSets. I'm guessing there are a lot of folks running around the local waterways all the time without a lick of coverage, so I feel highly motivated to keep my six covered.

One way I've learned to get a feel for those who do and don't have boat insurance, without asking the obvious question, is to mention the topic in a group setting--like a bunch of anglers standing around swapping fish tales. You'll nearly always see some immediately make their way to the nearest exits, while others suddenly will run out of things to say, and a few may even readily admit that they have no insurance. Regardless, you quickly get an idea of whose boats you want to steer clear of, especially on a morning when you're both trying to pick your way through the same dense fog.

No one plans on having accidents, but they do happen. And unless you have a boatload of extra cash laying around within easy reach, the only smart thing to do is to find a reputable insurer and pay those monthly premiums.

Oh, and if you plan to spend much time in West Neck Creek, you might want to consider either carrying a change of underwear...or maybe some Depends...whichever suits your personal taste.

Launch Here Now Whenever You Like

That's right. This park now officially is open 24-7. I was tipped off about it yesterday, checked it out with the folks at Virginia Beach Parks & Rec, and received an email confirmation this morning. You indeed can launch here whenever you like.

The rumored reason behind this move is that there has been some cases of vandalism to the entrance after hours, and the city is tired of having to deal with it. They evidently feel it's easier just to leave the gate open.

'Twould seem this change likely will influence the number of bass tournaments that launch out of there, especially if the "no launch fee" remains in effect, and I've heard nothing about that aspect going away.

I Felt Like the Fish Were Thumbing Their Nose at Me Today

If not that, they certainly were showing their butt. I spooked a big something along the shoreline down in Albright's this morning, and fish periodically were breaking the surface during my three hours in West Neck, too. I suppose I should have broken out a topwater, but I stubbornly kept throwing jerkbaits and crankbaits--I just couldn't believe the fish would hit a topwater this time of year. As a result, I had tallied my first skunk of the new year at day's end. If a fish touched any of my baits, I never felt it.

Because West Neck was muddy, I ran south to Albright's first thing this morning. During a conversation I had with Jared before launching this morning, I learned the water in the front end of Albright's had been clear yesterday morning, and he had caught some fish there. After two hours of fruitlessly fishing the front end, I pulled up the trolling motor and ran back to West Neck and attacked those areas where I've been catching fish for several weeks now, even though they all were extremely muddy. Once again, all I did was stir the water.

I found water temps in the mid-50s first thing this morning, so I was more than a little hopeful I would find at least a few, but it simply wasn't in the cards. Where I go from here depends on the weather. With the predictions I'm hearing for the rest of this week, I can assure you I won't be launching my boat again in that timeframe.

There was an email in my inbox last evening from Ron. Seems he and a buddy had made a trip to Tecumseh yesterday afternoon.

They fished from 3:30 to 5:30 and ended up in the middle of a crappie battle. His buddy managed to catch a 1-9, and Ron logged a 1-7 (see right). They each caught three nice ones. all over 12 inches, but the big ones were just over 14 inches.

Besides those crappie, Ron also logged four chain pickerel, with the biggest a 23-incher, along with a small bass that measured 11 inches and a very welcome bowfin (see left) that measured 21 inches (but which he didn't weigh). Exclaimed Ron, "That bowfin gave me a great fight!"

The XTS Silver Minnow was the ticket to all his success yesterday, except for one of the crappie, which he caught on a beetlespin. He couldn't find any takers for the Shadow Rap.

This just in: Ron fished Dam Neck Annex today with a friend. "Surprisingly, I didn't get any chain pickerel," he noted, "and my crappie catch wasn't very good, either." As he explained, he only caught two crappie (a 10-incher and a 12-incher), compared to his friend's six nice ones (pictured at right).

He won the grand consolation prize, though, with five bass, led by the 3-lb. 6-ouncer (19 inches long) (pictured below) that, as Ron said, "took a little drag."  The others included a 2-10, 2-4, 14-ouncer, and a 10-incher.

Ron indicated he actually was glad he didn't have to deal with any chain pickerel, "but I would have liked a bowfin," he added.

All the bass and some of the crappie were hitting the XTS Minnow. The crappie also were hitting live minnows.

"So far, so good for the New Year," Ron remarked, but he also took note of the fact our weather is going south.

Which Is It: Redneck or Yankee Ingenuity?

Who knows? Better yet, who cares? According to the issue of BassBlaster, though, in which I found this gem, it was referred to as "redneck genius at work." All I know is that it sure brings back a lot of fond memories for me.

I was a young Sailor at the time, chasing smallmouths in the Shenandoah River every opportunity I got. Nearly every weekend would find me driving from our apartment in Falls Church, VA, to Front Royal, where I rented a johnboat from an old fella and his daughter who lived alongside the river. And I can't tell you how many times during those trips I came across nearly identical contraptions to this one. Most of 'em belonged to old-timers I would encounter on the river as I worked my way up and down the riffles.

As related in that popular 1960s tune by Mary Hopkin, "Those were the days my friend, [I hoped] they'd never end."

605 miles, 606 hours in 190 Trips

Those are statistics that Ron put up, starting May 28, 2016, when he began using his Map My Tracks App. From Jan. 1 to that date, he already had recorded 98 trips in his fishing log, for a yearly total of 288 trips.

In short, those numbers mean he was wetting a line about 78 percent of the available days. He admits, though, that this figure is skewed a bit because, as he explained, "I often went twice in the same day on weekends."

As detailed in his latest email, Ron caught a total of 554 bass in 2016, his biggest weighing 6.1 lbs. He also bagged five bass in the 5-lb. range, eight in the 4-lb. range, 18 in the 3-lb. range, and 66 in the 2-lb. range. The difference between the total of those groups and the 554 grand total represents those bass he caught that weighed less than 2 lbs. As he explained, "I don't enter the weight of bass in my log if they are less than 2 lbs. I just enter inches. I would guess that most of those fish weighed around the 1-pound mark."

Ron also logged two citation chain pickerel and one citation gar at 13 lbs. 11 ozs. and measuring 44 inches. "Not a great year for bowfin, though," he lamented. "A highlight of my year was the 8-lb. carp I caught on my ultralight last spring." (See accompanying chart below for further details. Click on the chart, and it will expand big enough to see everything.)

During the 2016 season, Ron further suffered 41 skunks, which amounted to a ratio of 14.236 percent. Since I didn't get a big red drum, those skunks at the refuge and pier certainly hurt my average.

"With this being my first year for keeping statistics," said Ron, "I now know how to better detail them. We shall see what 2017 has in store."

Not content to let today's nasty weather keep him off the water completely, he launched from Bob's Fishing Hole (for only the second time) about 12:30, when he noticed the rain was light and diminishing. He was searching for panfish, especially yellow perch. Unfortunately, he only caught one (a 5-incher)--too small to keep. 

The good news, though, despite the fog, dampness and mild temps, was that he found some bass and chain pickerel. He caught four bass, including an 8-incher, 10-incher, a 1-7, and a nice 2-9 (above). He also caught two 18-inch chain pickerel (one of which is pictured left).

Said Ron, "'Twas nice to have a pole-bender bass that was worthy of the scale."

Incidentally, folks, Charlie has a new post up on his blog, showing his numbers for the last three years. In case you're interested in taking a look at those, just click on this link: http://vbfishguide.blogspot.com/.

Starting a New Year With the Same Ol' Drive

Having pedaled his kayak more than 8 miles in the cold Saturday, only to come up empty-handed, Ron was intent on starting 2017 on the right foot yesterday.

He met with two guys from the kayak club and fished Muddy Creek from the Lotus Garden launch. "I faired OK but was frustrated by the very low water," he said.

His catch included three nice yellow perch for a taco dinner, two chain pickerel, and a 13-inch bass. Meanwhile, one of the guys with him landed a nice 5-pound bass that measured 21.5 inches.

"This tells me they still are out there, and that's why I keep going," Ron explained.

Everything he caught yesterday fell for a shallow-running Shadow Rap Shad in silver/black. Nothing hit the beetlespin or XTS. Ron concluded his email by saying he lost one Shadow Rap to a snag yesterday, adding, "glad I have extras."

A Parting Look at Patience

(Anyone who ever has tried backing a tandem-axle trailer for the first time after having backed nothing but single-axle trailers all their life can relate to the account that follows. I accidentally stumbled across it shortly after I had published the previous item on the same subject matter.)

As described by Cubby O'Brien, "I have seen some insane, almost mental--to the point of madness--patience in my grandfather and other anglers out there. Some of us fish the same spot for hours, knowing there is nothing but moss and tadpoles in the water, yet we persist.

"I have seen myself, as a father, willingly lose one XD crankbait after another just to teach my daughter how to fish them, with only joy in my heart. I also personally have spent hours deciphering the network of cables in the hull of my boat, just to install a single transducer, and was in a state of calm and peace that only an angler could understand.

"Yet, I observed a young angler totally lose his mind while attempting to back his new used boat into his driveway. I should have recorded what I saw because it really was funny to watch, but I felt so bad for him.

"He had spent about 20 minutes trying to get the dual-axle trailer to line up for the turn into his driveway. He was yelling at everyone but himself and, in my estimation, was about to hit his breaking point. The mailbox and a flower pot already had become casualties.

"I went over and asked if he needed some help, and the first look I got was that of someone about ready to jump off a bridge. He explained that he only had owned a single-axle trailer up to this point in time and never had backed a trailer like this dual-axle model.

"Throughout this explanation, he remained adamant about his manhood...but finally conceded defeat. Rather than do it for him, I asked him to follow me to a food market around the corner, whereupon I tossed out a few traffic cones. I also told him what my grandfather had told me many years earlier: 'Be patient, take your time, and who gives a [expletive deleted] if you have to do it twice?' He would go on to tell me, 'It's fishing, son, so relax and have fun, or find another hobby.'

"The fella seemed to understand and, after 'killing' a few cones, he had the knack of it. I left and later saw him washing the new used boat in his driveway. I couldn't help noticing it was parked perfectly.

"And so I must ask, 'Why are we so patient with a rod and reel in our hands but let little things cause us to lose our mind?' In my opinion, fishing makes me a better person at all levels.

"This incident just really made me stop and think about how, if we all practiced a bit more patience in life--like we do trying to catch a bedding bass--we would be in oh such a better place."

To which I only can add, "Amen, brother!"

The photo used here is only representative.

"If At First You Don't Succeed...

"Try, try again." I'd venture to say nearly everyone has heard that old saying, but retired Missouri pro angler Basil Bacon (right) gave it real meaning.

Basil, at the time, was fishing with another guy who was having trouble with his tackle and had let the boat drift against a log. "There were a half-dozen other logs laying around this area that I'd fished with a spinnerbait," said Basil, "but I hadn't done any good. We had been fishing for two or three hours, and I'd flipped and crankbaited--we had done everything but just couldn't get a bite."

While the other guy fiddled with his tackle, the boat was positioned so that Basil only could throw at one log, so he threw the spinnerbait across it, then waked the bait across it, but nothing. Next, he threw across the log and ran the bait about six inches deep. When that didn't work, he threw across the log and just let the bait come down and bump it...but still nothing.

On the next cast, Basil threw across the log yet again, let his bait come back and bump it before killing the lure and letting it drop six inches, then reeled it on in, still with no success. On the very next cast, the determined Basil threw back across the log, bumped it, and then let the bait drop about two feet. At that point, it started swimming sideways.

From that point on, Basil and the other guy fished every log in the river the same way. "We would pull the spinnerbait up to the log, let it bump and drop two feet, then reel in another 5-pounder...from every stinking log," said Basil.

Given that example, don't reckon I have to remind anyone that patience is a virtue when it comes to fishing for bass that don't want to bite. Most anglers get antsy, though, and start fishing faster--many times right through potential "hot spots"--in an effort to cover more water. "That tactic can work against you," insists bass pro Jay Yelas. "You really have to discipline yourself to slow down."

Fellow pro angler Shaw Grigsby agrees with that take on the situation. "Anglers who pitch or flip lures to shallow targets need to take longer between pitches and flips," he says. "The bass aren't anxious to eat, so don't rush to take your lure away from them. It's a matter of soaking the bait for longer periods in the same spot.

"Make multiple presentations, especially to those areas where a bass is likely to hide," urges Shaw. "The strike zone is much smaller, so cover every inch. Try everything from deadsticking the lure on the bottom to shaking it, or better yet, a combination of both.

"You have to understand that you're not going to get a lot of bites, but the ones you do get are going to be nice fish, and that will make the day worthwhile," he explains.

Retired pro angler Denny Brauer offers this suggestion: "Present your bait from different angles, too. There are times when a bait presented from a different direction can trigger the reactionay bite you're looking for.

"The biggest thing about this sport," he continues, "is patience--regardless if the conditions are good or not so good. Stay positive and persistent, and sooner or later, something good will happen."

On those not-so-good days, it's going to behoove you to remain patient and, as Basil Bacon so aptly demonstrated earlier, run through a gamut of different presentations until you hopefully find one that works. At the same time, be mindful that, in spite of your best efforts, there simply are going to be some days when you'll go home with nothing more than maybe a sore arm to show for it. When that happens, just stay positive and remember: There's always tomorrow. Even the pros have a few fishless days.

Some of the information above came from the BassBlaster website.