Fishing a Squarebill for Summer Bass

 

Ever heard of "worming" a crankbait? Don't feel bad if you haven't. I hadn't either until I ran across a Wired2Fish article by Walker Smith and McKeon Roberts.

"Crankbaits are a great way to catch bass," they said, "but those lures can be especially effective in the heat of summer. A shallow-running squarebill fished around isolated laydowns is a major equalizer," they allowed, adding however, that "due to higher water temperatures, a unique retrieve is needed."

Instead of casting and retrieving the crankbait as you normally would, Smith instead slowly pulls it through cover with just his rod.

"All of the lure movement comes from the rod, with the reel only used to retrieve slack line," he said. "Because lethargic summer bass don't always want to travel far to attack prey, this slower and more deliberate approach can yield extra bites.

"Repeated casts also are incredibly important, as the bass won't always eat the crankbait out of hunger. These repeated casts essentially irritate the bass into biting," which is what Smith described as "reaction strikes."

To get a better picture of how to worm a squarebill, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAYIUgMRCFw.

For Week Ending Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020

 

Tuesday, Aug. 25 (from "Doc")...My buddy got back on the water for three hours today and was rewarded for his efforts with two fish, including a 16-incher that weighed in at 1.7 and the 20-incher in the accompanying photo that weighed in at 3.7. The smaller fish fell to a chatterbait, while the larger one went for a crankbait. Both fish came out of West Neck Creek, as "Doc" worked his way south.

Friday, Aug. 28 (from Ron)...I took last Sunday and Monday off from fishing. Then Tuesday, as I was getting ready to head out in the evening, I heard a drip. Water was coming through the ceiling...kind of bad. Turned out to be A/C condensation and a serious mess. Whole week was spent on fixing the problem, which kept me off the water. Anyway, I got back out this evening to West Neck and found six small bass to 1-6. And then near sunset, I threw a Whopper Plopper near a fallen tree and caught a nice 4-7. Good to be back out and rewarded with a nice one.

Sunday, Aug. 30 (from Ron)...Fished Ashville Bridge Creek this morning and caught 11 bass, including a half-dozen dinks, plus a 1-8, 1-9, 2-8, 2-9, and a 2-14. Found 'em on SwimSenko, Pop FrogZ, and Zoom U-Vibe worm. There seemed seemed to be a lot of baitfish swimming around, and the bass were chasing them along the shoreline, where the grass was thick.

Another Day With a Li'l Bit o' Rain

That fact, however, didn't appear to dampen the spirit of those 25 anglers in 15 boats who turned out for today's tournament. Collectively, they brought 64 bass to the scales, for a grand total weight of 133.13 lbs., an average weight per fish of 2.08 lbs., and an average weight per boat of 8.87 lbs.

Those contestants who went home with a pay envelope in their pockets included the following:

1st Place, Eddie Sapp, with five fish weighing 14.32 lbs., and a 5.38-lb. big fish.

2nd Place, the team of (from left) Rob Peppers and Don Carter, with five fish weighing 13.49 lbs., and a 4.50-lb. big fish.

3rd Place, the team of (from left) Gabe Himmelwright and Mark Ingram, with five fish weighing 12.97 lbs. (after 0.50 deduction for one dead fish), and a 3.69-lb. big fish.

4th Place, the team of (from left) Chris Fretard and Mike Miller, with five fish weighing 12.92 lbs., and a 5.34-lb. big fish.

Here is how the remaining competitors lined up:

     * The team of Gary Coderre and Dave Anderson, with five fish weighing 12.80 lbs., and a 3.49-lb. big fish.

     

     * The team of (from left) Craig Jones and Wayne Hayes, with five fish weighing 12.48 lbs., and a 6.03-lb. big fish, which earned them the day's lunker pot.

     

     * The team of David Dozier and Nelson Anderson, with five fish weighing 12.04 lbs., and a 2.72-lb. big fish.

     * Jim Calhoun, with five fish weighing 10.67 lbs., and a 3.81-lb. big fish.

     * Jim Wilder, with five fish weighing 10.64 lbs., and a 3.11-lb. big fish.

     * The team of Allen Napier and Chris Napier, with five fish weighing 10.27 lbs., and a 2.99-lb. big fish.

     * Rusty Girard, with five fish weighing 9.28 lbs., and a 2.66-lb. big fish.

     * The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, with four fish weighing 7.39 lbs., and a 2.79-lb. big fish.

     * Skip Schaible, with three fish weighing 4.50 lbs., and a 2.23-lb. big fish.

     * The team of Jimmy Crist and Eric Killian, with two fish weighing 3.20 lbs., and a 1.92-lb. big fish.

     * The team of Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean didn't weigh any fish.

Three more anglers (Wayne Hayes, Jimmy Crist and Dave Anderson) completed requirements for competing in our annual, season-ending, two-day Classic.

Congratulations to all of today's winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 6. As the old saying goes, "Y'all come, ya hear?"

One Last Cast
There have been five bass over 6 lbs. weighed thus far during this coronavirus-shortened tournament season, including one today by the team of Wayne Hayes and Craig Jones. The latest tipped the scales at 6.03 lbs. For the sake of comparison, consider that my records reveal big-fish honors back in 2010 and 2011 usually were awarded for fish in the 2-to-4-lb. class. Quite a difference, huh?

Of course, a lot of things were different back in those early days. We usually didn't have but about half as many anglers as show up for events today. And there were a lot more older boats in the arena than there are now. A lot of fellas drive state-of-the-art bass boats today, whereas 10 years ago, johnboats, Carolina skiffs and the like constituted a lot of the platforms.

As for the lineup of participants, we often fished tournaments with only 10 or 12 fellas back in the day, compared to the 20 to 25 that often show up for the events now.

Yessir, the sport has grown by leaps and bounds. Remember when the uniform of choice for most bass tournaments--club events, that is--was a jumpsuit, decorated with all kinds of patches? If a guy was to show up for a tournament in one of those today, I can well imagine the ribbin' he would be forced to take. It likely would rank right up there with what would happen if I were to show up for an event wearing a cheap hairpiece. I'd be forced to leave town and change my name if I ever wanted a moment's peace again. Just so you know, I have no such intentions.

For Love of a Big-Fish Story

When was the last time you were fishing along, all of a sudden felt a bite, and set the hook on what you quickly knew, beyond any doubt whatsoever, had to be a big fish? After all, only a big fish can strip drag at an incredible rate. Let's also not forget the exhilaration--and, yes, fear, too--you feel growing each time the fish surges, causing your reel's drag to scream even louder.

Whether you're a novice or a salty veteran angler, you never forget such a moment. And it's a fairly safe bet to say you also genuinely appreciate hearing similar stories from others. Don't mind tellin' y'all that I got a bad case of giant goose bumps this morning as I read the online account of a fellow writer and fisherman who decided to share his account.

Seems he was bluegill fishing a shallow, clear-water cove with an ultralight rod, casting a 1/32 oz. jig head tipped with a wax worm when a hefty bluegill smacked the worm. The angler set the hook, and as the bluegill started circling, the angler spotted a surge of water coming from the right. Driving that surge was a big bass intent on grabbing the bluegill. On the third pass, the bass inhaled the bluegill and headed for deep water, with the angler's reel singing.

Subsequently, the angler hit his trolling motor, swung the boat around, and started following the fish. After 15 or 20 seconds, though, the mad dash ended. The angler figured the huge bass only had clamped down on the bluegill and after tiring of the "tug of war" game, opened its mouth and released what could have been its next meal.

As the angler sat there, dejected and mulling over what just had happened, however, he got a big surprise. The bluegill, which now was about 50 feet from the boat, again ran to the surface and started swimming furiously...with the huge bass once more in hot pursuit. After five or six vicious passes, though, the water's surface grew glassy and calm, as the now lifeless bluegill floated nearby.

It would have been easy pickings for the big bass, but he/she never returned. The angler suspected the bass wasn't necessarily hungry...just excited by the bluegill's frantic actions and went into a search and destroy frame of mind. Once satisfied with having killed the object of its rage, the bass simply eased back into the depths...or so the angler theorized.

And speaking of big fish, check out the one highlighted in this video: https://www.wired2fish.com/big-fish/caught-on-video-angler-catches-huge-double-digit-bass/. Incidentally, thanks, Jim.

For Week Ending Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020

Tuesday, Aug. 18 (from Skip)...Received a note earlier today, telling me that he had gotten "a wild hair" and decided to go see if he could catch a few fish. Turns out that he did find three, the biggest of which is pictured here.

Tuesday, Aug. 18 (from Ron)...Fished Beggars Bridge area this evening. Had two hits and landed only one at 1-6. Not sure what was going on, but they were not interested in what I was throwing. At least no thunderstorms and no skunk, but it was close.

Wednesday, Aug. 19 (from Ron)...Another squeaker to avoid a skunk. Fished upper West Neck (lauching at Indian River Road) from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and had one that I lost and one dink. Not sure what is going on, but they are not biting well for me. Sure was a beautiful evening, though.

Thursday, Aug. 20 (from Ron)...Fished an old honey hole that should have held some better bass. Caught four, with the best a 2-1, but the bite was slow. Weather was great again and sure beats the last two trips of only one bass. The fish I caught represented a "little" bit of everything size-wise.

Friday, Aug. 21 (from Ron)...Fished Oakum Creek for a couple hours this evening. Had a few very small taps on the plastics (sunfish maybe?) but no hookups. After an hour or so, caught one bowfin on a Zoom U-Vibe worm, and that was the sum of it. Threw a variety of lures, but the bite was non-existent. At least, it was another beautiful evening and no skunk! Happy enough with my bowfin.

Saturday, Aug. 22 (from Ron)...Fished Blackwater this morning. The bite was intermittent, but not too bad. Caught eight bass with a couple about 1-10. Used a variety of topwater and plastics. Surprised to get a decent crappie on a SwimSenko.  

West Neck Gives Up Another Nice One

Near the end of the tournament day last Saturday, Aug. 8th, my long-time friend, Ralph, who had been out for a day of fun-fishing, stopped by while I was wrapping up and getting ready to go in to give me a piece of good news. He said he had caught a dandy that day. This 8.25-pounder came from West Neck Creek. Congratulations! my friend. Didn't catch it on one of those old Hildebrandt's, did you?

For Week Ending Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020

Monday, Aug. 10 (from Ron)...Still searching for a lunker but not having any luck. Fished Ashville Bridge Creek after the storms rolled through. Caught 13 bass but nothing over 13 inches. A few fell to topwater, but the majority hit the SwimSenko. Am surprised and disappointed that I still haven't found a bowfin. Am seeing a bunch of gar swimming around, but they haven't been hitting anything, which is fine by me.

Tuesday, Aug. 11 (from Ron)...Took a day off and fished this morning. Caught six bass, but nothing over 2-4. Was one of those "Murphy" kind of mornings where everything seemed to go wrong. Had a few nasty wind knots, with loss of line; battled the wind, and lost two lures to snags. Onward I go, though.

Last Week (from Don Mc.)...Had a good day on Northwest last week. Caught nine fish while froggin', including one bruiser, a 23-incher. Didn't weigh it (forgot and left the scales at home), but the fish felt like a 6.5.-to-7-pounder. It was good enough for a release citation and a $5 debit on a credit card. The rain seemingly has cooled things off. I'm OK with a bunch of rain, as long as Jim Cantore doesn't show up for a newscast in Chesapeake. If he shows up, head for the hills. LOLOL.

Thursday, A.M., Aug. 13 (from Ron)...I had the same problem catching stumps last evening. Lost two hooks with plastics. Not sure how they give a decent tap-tap, the line starts to move, and Bamb! you're snagged. Catching a bunch, but they are on the small side. Landed six Wednesday evening and four this morning. Topwater has not been productive the past two days. Thursday, P.M., Aug. 13 (from Ron)...Fished West Neck this evening. Caught six small bass on topwater and Zoom U-Vibe worm. Had a few big wakes follow the Whopper Plopper, but they turned away. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

Friday, Aug. 14 (from Ron)...Fished Back Bay this morning. Caught 11 bass. The best included a couple close to 2 lbs., a 2-4, and a 3-0, along with the usual dinks. The wind got bad and forced me to retreat.

Sunday, Aug. 16 (from Ron)...Launched at Munden point and headed to Milldam east. Caught a few on topwater and a few on SwimSenkos. The total was 11 bass, with the scale-worthy ones weighing 1-6, 1-9, 2-3, 2-8, and 3-3. Milldam was surprisingly clear, and the weather was near perfect: overcast with a slight breeze. Best part of all was that the threat of rain kept the jet skiers away. Overall, a very enjoyable morning, but I would have liked to catch a bowfin.

As the Worm Turns

In the midst of what has turned out to be a super bad pandemic, I'm having an equally bad fishing year. The joys of last season with topwater baits long have faded into the sunset. Replacing them have been the frustrations of experimenting with a lot of different baits, most of which simply didn't work. I finally, however, have come to realize I really only need one tackle box every time I head to the water now. And that one box contains my soft plastics.

I'm finding the bites again, but a new problem has arisen. This past Saturday, for example, I had three really good bites, where the fish picked up my plastic as soon as I took up the slack after a cast. None of those bites, though, translated into a fish. Each time, the fish ran with the bait, and I set the hook, only to find that the hook was buried in a piece of wood. On one of those occasions, I followed the failed worm cast with a creature bait offering that the fish immediately took but with the same results.

And yet, despite that turn of events, I had four other occasions where the fish immediately took the bait, and when I set the hook, the barb found their mouths. I'm left to ponder this question: What was different and/or what did I do wrong on those failed attempts to catch the fish? Everything felt the same.

Reckon I should be content with just getting bites again. There was a long time when all I was doing was thrash the water. However, my goal is to get to the point where I can be a "tournament contender," which means putting five in the livewell. It's OK to be a "tournament contributor" part of the time, but a steady diet of the same thing eventually gets old...and I'm fairly certain bass fishermen, in general, feel the same way about that point.

Seein' Is Believin'

Here's the rain that doused West Neck tournament anglers during the weigh-in process yesterday. Coincidentally, yours truly was frantically recovering my boat as the deluge first started, and upon hearing the initial resounding clap of thunder break overhead, I came very close...let me be politically correct here...to rendering my skivvies in a horrible state.

For Week Ending Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020

 

Friday, Aug. 7 (from Ron)...Fished West Neck north of bridge, and the bite was pretty good from 6:30 'till about 8 p.m. Was great to be back on the water. Caught eight bass, with a 3-1 and a 3-3 as the highlights. Was very surprised to get a nasty ol' catfish on the Whopper Plopper. I have caught cats on Beetlespins in the spring but think this was a first for topwater. The topwater bite was the ticket, and the Whopper Plopper was eliciting the strikes. Missed a few and had two nice ones throw the hooks.

Saturday, A.M. Aug. 8 (from Ron)...Fished Tecumseh, and the bite was pretty good. Caught 13 bass, with a 3-0, 4-0, and a 4-6 the best ones. Also caught a bunch of dinks and a 1-10 to round it out. After I recovered and drove away, the sky opened up, and all hell broke loose with the thunderstorms. Swimsenkos were the ticket. Saturday, P.M. Aug. 8 (from Ron)...Fished West Neck Saturday evening and caught six bass, including a 1-15 and five dinks.

Sunday, Aug. 9 (from Ron)...Fished Ashville Bridge Creek this morning. Caught 15 bass, the majority of which were dinks. Best four were a 2-13, two at 2-2, and a 1-10. Bite didn't pick up until about 10 a.m., even though I launched at 0700.

And the Rain Came...And Came...And Came Some More

Granted, the weatherman had called for late afternoon and/or evening rain, but he never mentioned any gully-washers like we received at West Neck. Compounding the situation was an abundance of sharp lightning and, at times, deafening thunder.

These conditions, however, in no way stopped the weigh-in. The returning 23 anglers in 14 boats brought a collective total of 50 bass to the scales for a combined total weight of 124.19 lbs. Those figures translated into an average weight of 2.48 lbs. per fish and 8.87 lbs. per boat.

Here are those anglers who took home some rewards for their efforts today:

1st Place, the team of (from left) Rob Peppers and Don Carter, five-fish limit, 15.15 lbs. total weight, 3.72-lb. big fish.

2nd Place, the husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, five-fish limit, 15.00 lbs. total weight, 6.93-lb. big fish, which also earned them the day's Lunker Award. Furthermore, that fish gave them the lead for the year's Seasonal Lunker Award.

3rd Place, Eddie Sapp, five-fish limit, 13.66 lbs. total weight, 3.68-lb. big fish.

4th Place, Wayne Hayes, five-fish limit, 12.11 lbs. total weight, 4.03-lb. big fish.

Here is how all the other participants ended the day's contest:

     * The team of Rusty Girard and Gabe Himmelwright, five-fish limit, 11.80 lbs. total weight, 3.18-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Allen Napier and Chris Napier, five-fish limit, 11.79 lbs. total weight, 3.24-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Gary Coderre and Dave Anderson, five-fish limit, 11.73 lbs. total weight, 6.02-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Richard Hall and David Dozier, five-fish limit, 11.19 lbs. total weight, 3.49-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Chris Fretard and Mike Miller, five-fish limit, 10.93 lbs. total weight, 3.31-lb. big fish.
     * Jim Wilder, five-fish limit, 10.83 lbs. total weight, 3.41-lb. big fish.

Here are those people who didn't weight any fish:

     * Ken Testorff
     * Steve Bailey
     * The team of Jim Crist and Eric Killian
     * The team of Raymond Allen and Tim Clark

The following people completed eligibility requirements today to participate in our season-ending two-day Classic:

     * Rob Peppers
     * Don Carter
     * Steve Bailey
     * Jim Wilder
     * David Dozier
     * Rusty Girard

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone who particpated. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22. Start time, as usual, will be safe light (probably about 6:30 a.m.), which likely will push weigh-in time to 2:30 p.m. The final decision, though, will be announced by the tournament director before we leave the boat basin.

One Last Cast
Andy Morath has paid his dues by spending a lot of time on the water, and he's fast becoming an angler who consistently finds himself in the winner's circle at the end of the day. Going into today's contest, he was just a tad under 4 points out of taking over the lead for the annual Angler of the Year challenge. In addition, he took over the lead for Seasonal Lunker today. I suggest that he's one everybody needs to take seriously and watch in the remaining weeks. If you don't, there's a better than average chance you'll find yourself in his rearview mirror when the season comes to an end.

In the way of an explanation, this post is later than usual tonight in making it into publication. The problem is that Google has changed its blogger format again, and the new one is really giving me a giant headache. Just about the time I think I've figured out one thing, something else pops up, and I'm left scratching my head yet again. Tonight certainly has been no exception to that rule. My friend, Kayaker Charlie, warned me when I began this blogging adventure that there would be times like this. He, too, had his share of problems getting used to all the newfangled ways those folks at Google think of to challenge us. I have every hope that I'll eventually conquer this new format, but until then, please allow me the necessary time to figure out all these new nuances. After all, I'm just a high-school graduate.

Old Topwater Lures See Rebirth at July 2020 Virtual ICAST

That's the word from Frank Sargeant at BassFan. The two that PRADCO has given a facelift are the Jitterbug from Arbogast and the Slopenose from Heddon. Of course, the modern versions of the lures have some significant upgrades, including durable synthetic bodies, complex multi-coat paint jobs, and upgraded ultra-sharp treble hooks. The original action and shape of both, however, are still there.

Said Sargeant, "The Slopenose is designed to perform as something between a popper and a stickbait. The weird looking collar acts to catch water and make a satisfying splash when jerked, a plus for aggressive schooling bass, and it can be bobbed up and down in place to fool more cautious bass in flat-water situations.

"This is not a lure that pops easily like a Rebel Pop-R, however. It takes a bit of a touch, but with just a little practice, it's possible to make it dance in place while fluttering and splashing. Best action comes from three short twitches, followed by a 10-second pause, then three more twitches.

"The new jointed Jitterbug 2.0 not only has a wobbling jointed tail section but also a large feathered treble as the tail hook. It comes across the surface much like a buzzbait, with a classic "bobbling" sound that identifies this iconic lure. However, the Jitterbug has the advantage of being a floater--you can stop and pop it in place now and then, adding to the attraction. The long feathered tail makes a sinuous after wake behind it. Offered in cool-looking crackle-paint patterns, with an anodized aluminum headplate, the lure won't corrode when used in brackish water."

Sargeant also went on to note that Berkley has come out with the new Choppo, which likewise qualifies as a weird-looking lure. The separate tail has an off-center fin or blade that rotates as the lure is cranked...in the same fashion as a Whopper Plopper.

The Choppo comes in 90-, 105- and 120-mm versions, all three of which can function as topwater jerkbaits, with plenty of splash when twitched along steadily. As with all topwaters, the action is brought out best with no-stretch braided line and a fast-action reel. "All of these lures," according to Sargeant, "have the new Berkley Fusion 19 trebles, some of the sharpest and 'stickiest' hooks on the market."

I've Been Known to Ding Up a Few Props...

But I don't recall ever causing one to look like this, with the skeg gone, too. MLFer Cody Meyer did this while "tryin' to turn rocks into gravel" on the upper Mississippi. So said Jay Kumar in his latest issue of BassBlaster.