"Matches" That Certainly Weren't Made in Heaven

And just to set the record straight here in the beginning, I'm not talking about marriage matches. I'm instead talking about the kind of "shouting matches" (and worse) that often transpire when lakeside property owners and anglers who like to fish docks collide over each other's rights.

Read about this guy who was fishing a remote area of the North Fork on the American River for smallies. He had spent a good hour watching dozens of smallies in pools but wasn't able to hook a single one. Frustrated, he waded out in the middle of the river, casting behind rocks.

"All of a sudden, this crazy-looking guy emerges from the bushes," he said, "and starts brandishing a pistol and yelling, 'I'm Ted, and this is my river, and you're invading my home!'

"This is just great!" thought the angler to himself. "I'm not that good of a wader to start with, and I'm up to my chest in pretty fast water, and Ted's apparently identified me as a 'home invader.'

"Hey, Ted, you doing OK? I asked. Just checking on you dude."

However, Ted didn't respond, opting instead to just stare, as though he was trying to remember the angler, who, in the process, slowly waded out of the river...while keeping his eyes glued on Ted. The angler hadn't taken but two steps backward (while watching Teddy boy ever so carefully) until he was buzzed by a fat rattlesnake coiled and ready on the rocks. He subsequently fell into the water, went swimming, and didn't get out again until he was a few yards downstream.

By now, all the angler wanted was just to get out of there, but within another two minutes, he was buzzed yet again by a second rattlesnake in a tree hollow...maybe 5 feet away. He then started walking and happened across a third Diamondback half-covered in dust that he nearly stepped on.

"My car never looked so good," he remarked, as he drove away from the scene.

Also came across the story of a kayaker who was fishing along some docks on the Intracoastal Waterway. He was just off the docks, fishing the pilings, when a lady ran out, telling him that he couldn't fish there.

"Those are my fish," she complained.

In the middle of her rant, the fella caught a large sheepshead, which made her livid. While she called the cops, he kept fishing.

When the cops showed, they took statements from both parties. They also informed the lady that, as long as the fisherman didn't tie a rope to her dock, he was within his right to fish there. At this point, she went off on the cops, telling them that she had paid for that dock, that he was taking her fish, and she started throwing things in the water to scare the fish away.

One of the cops subsequently went over to the angler and asked if there was anything more he could help with.

"As a matter of fact, there is," he said.

He then pulled his phone out and cited the law that stated it's illegal to interfere with any person legally fishing. In the end, the lady got a ticket, and the angler got a fun story he could share with all his buddies.

Variety Is the Spice of Life

That proverb is especially true if you happen to be Kayaker Ron. Had a note from him last evening confirming that the XTS Minnow still is working its magic for him. Trips to the water on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday produced the fish shown in the photos above. "Chilly and breezy, but always good to be out" is how Ron characterized his trips. Click anywhere on the photos to get a full-sized version.

Local "Graveyard" Being Cleaned Up

That was the gist of a TV news segment I saw on WAVY-TV10 earlier this evening. The "graveyard" in question is the one that dots that one oxbow as you head south out of West Neck Creek...the one with all those ol' boats that have been towed in over the years and "left for dead." The plan is to get rid of every one of them, and the work already is in progress, as I understand it.

I can't help but wonder if this cleanup will be everlasting, or if the mess simply will start anew soon after the last pile of trash is hauled away. Reckon time will tell, but if I were a betting man, my money would be on a new graveyard taking shape unless there are plans for some kind of law enforcement to be involved.

Also wanted to say that I got back on the water yesterday for a few hours...the first time since this past November. Wayne picked me up between 7:30 and 8 a.m., and we headed to the Pungo Ferry launch ramp. When we wrapped things up, Wayne had put a limit in the boat, and I had started the new season with a resounding skunk. For that matter, I never even had the first bite.

Given that fact, I made a decision to make a change I once promised myself never would happen. I stripped the braid from a couple of reels this morning, then took them to Ocean's East and had them respooled with 12-pound hi-viz mono for fishing crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and such. Plan to stay with the hi-viz braid for soft plastics and topwaters for the time being. Whether I stick with this plan long-term depends on the results of this testing period.

Reckon this decision somewhat confirms that you really can teach an old dog some new tricks...or at least make him willing to try them on for size. One thing I know for certain is that I'll truly be sweating bullets the first time (if ever again) I hook up with a sizable fish on that 12-lb. mono.

Incidentally, if it has been a spell since you were in Ocean's East, you may not be aware that they have opened a new room to the far right as you walk into the store. This new addition is where all the spooling services take place now.

Good Intentions Sometimes Go Off Track

Came across an admission from veteran bass angler Rick Clunn's wife, Melissa (right), the other day that reminded me of some similar circumstances I've witnessed firsthand over the past many years. It took her 25 years to work up the nerve to share her story with everyone, but that's OK. I've always been a firm believer in "better late than never."

After having traveled with her husband for a few months, Melissa had had ample opportunity to watch other anglers' wives launch the boat for their husbands and felt like maybe she needed to be doing her part to help her mate. Stella Hibdon watched Melissa trying to help Rick one tournament morning and saw how frustrated he was with his wife's technique. Afterward, Stella offered to meet Melissa somewhere and give her a private lesson when Rick wasn't around. Unfortunately, Melissa didn't take her up on the offer.

Then came a tournament at Ross Barnett when the weather, at best, was questionable. The wind that first morning was blowing directly onto the launch ramp, and the waves were loud. Rick, meanwhile, was convinced that Melissa's backing technique would be sufficient to help him get his boat in the water without any damage.

It should be noted here that Melissa was scared with their vehicle: a big white van with a diesel engine. Rick reassured her, though, and explained the hand motions he would be giving her throughout the launch process. Once she received the signal to start backing, she did so, while watching the boat start floating backward off the trailer. When satisfied the boat was clear of the trailer, she hit the accelerator to head back up the launch ramp. For a split second, she felt incredible relief and a sense of accomplishment.

She was still making her way up the ramp when she spotted someone running through the darkness, waving his hands at her. That someone turned out to be angler Gerald Beck, who, like Rick, had a ritual of being the first to the boat ramp.

In the wind and spitting rain, she came to a stop and rolled down the window, only to hear Beck tell her that she had just dragged Rick's boat out of the water. "What?" she yelled back. And, unfortunately, his second response was the same as the first.

After years and years of doing things the same way every morning without any problem, the first morning when Rick tried to incorporate Melissa into the process was a failure. The problem: He had forgotten to unhook the strap at the front of the boat. When Melissa had backed up far enough to see the boat starting to float backward, she mistakenly figured all was clear. However, the boat only had floated as far as the still-fastened strap would allow. Only about half the boat was off the trailer, and it was dragging on the concrete.

Melissa was mortified. Even with Rick's assurances that it was his fault, the tears still flowed. Meanwhile, Rick and Gerald managed to get the boat back up on the trailer enough to get it launched. She just stood in the rainy, windy and dark parking lot feeling sorry for herself. It was a gut punch to her spirit that was only soothed by the fact that Rick won the tournament and collected a check for $100,000.

When word got out that week about Melissa's mistake, she was embarrassed, and a few people teased her about it. But when the tournament was over, several anglers asked her if she would be willing to drag them out of the water if it meant they, too, could win a $100,000 tournament.

"Nope," she said. "I only would do that for my favorite fisherman."

It's hard to say how many times incidents like this occur, but this much I do know: It's never any fun for those involved...or, for that matter, any eyewitnesses who happen to be on the scene. That was the case in the following incident, which involved an old fella who was launching a vintage Ranger bass boat by himself. As described by an eyewitness, "This boat was in mint condition. Obviously, the owner really had babied this thing."

The old fella had tied the slack end of his launch rope to a tree beside the ramp. He then backed in until the boat had drifted off the trailer, at which point he proceeded to jump on the gas pretty hard to pull out the trailer.

Unfortunately, the slack rope got wrapped over a bar on the back of the trailer in the process and started doing like a block-and-tackle effect. Meanwhile, the ol' guy just kept driving toward the parking area..."with that fiberglass hull making the ugliest sound I've ever heard, as it dragged completely up the ramp on super rough pea-gravel concrete," said the eyewitness. "I really was wondering if the boat was going to catch all the way up to the trailer and what would break next...when finally the rope snapped," he continued.

The poor ol' guy didn't even know anything had happened until after he had parked his vehicle and started walking back down to the ramp.

"It took eight of us to lift his boat off the ramp and set it back down on his trailer," said the eyewitness. "His hull was so heavily damaged, he was afraid to even put it in the water. Now that really sucked!"

A Lure That's Still Available, Still Catches Fish, and Still Is Reasonably Priced

(Lenny, in case you still read my blog, this one's for you.)

Read about a guy who was fishing an old Storm Rattlin' Chug Bug one morning when, within three casts, he tied into a nice bucketmouth. He quickly set the hook, and the fight was on. However, the battle was short-lived. With one jerk of the fish's head, the fight was over because the line broke just as the largemouth leaped from the water...taking the angler's favorite topwater bait with him.

This angler's feeling of loss was tremendous until, just a few seconds later, he got a break that few fishermen ever receive. The bass he had hooked jumped a second time and spit the gent's favorite bait back at him. Because the Chug Bug is a floater, the owner had only to putter over to the bait in his boat and pick it off the water. Can't beat that for a fisherman's luck.

This lure has been around for a long time...dating back to 1990, as a matter of fact. During this time, it has endeared itself to fishermen nationwide with those tell-tale blowups, so it's no surprise the earlier fisherman would have felt so bad when he thought his bait was gone for good. Nearly all of us have had similar experiences and likely shared some of those same feelings.

The "chug" in Rattlin' Chug Bug comes from the primary action produced by this bait's mouth. When twitched along the surface, the cupped mouth makes a chugging or gurgling sound as the bait pushes a small wave of water forward. The Rattlin' Chug Bug was one of the earliest baits to produce this kind of action.

Anglers also can walk one of these baits by twitching it a little slower than usual. When fished this way, the mouth doesn't dig in as much, but there's still a noticeable chug at the front of the bait. It's not as pronounced as when chugging the bait along in a straight line, but the subtler gurgling action is still there, and that sets the bait apart from other topwater lures like a Spook or Sammy.

The Rattlin' Chug Bug has a serious rattle inside of it.

According to Wired2Fish writer Shaye Baker, "The sound is loud and sharp, on the opposite end of the spectrum from what you'd hear out of a one-knock style bait. And it takes very little movement for this bait to make noise. Even if you pause it, and there's just a ripple on the water, the beads inside it will still roll around and create a bit of noise."

This bait comes in two sizes: a 2 1/2-inch version and a 3 1/4-inch version. These baits are noticeably different in size and "certainly plug into two completely different bites," said Baker. "For instance, if you're looking for more of a finesse popper during a tough post-spawn bite, go with the smaller bait. If you're fishing around a mayfly hatch, where big bass are crushing bluegill, step it up to the bigger version."

The Rattlin' Chug Bug is more elongated than most poppers, especially the larger model. And both of these baits have more of a squashed oval shape to their bodies if you look down them from nose to tail, compared to other popping-style topwaters, which are typically rounder when viewed from this angle. These two attributes give the Rattlin' Chug Bug a different look and action in the water.

This bait also comes in a wide variety of color choices. Many of the color schemes are super detailed, with tiny scale patterns incorporated into the paint jobs. Several colors also have a chrome finish to them, which do a great job of mimicking the reflective scales of a shad.

Besides not having a super deep cup to the mouth, this bait also doesn't have a split ring added to the line-tie eye, which you'll see on some topwaters.

As noted by Baker, "The absence of a split ring keeps the nose of the bait up. Simply tie this bait on as is, and you're good to go. However, if you want to walk the bait more, it might be a good idea to tie it on using a loop knot. This will create a similar hinge to what you'd get from a split ring, without adding any weight to the bait. Finally, if you just want to pop the bait along, whatever your preferred knot is will do just fine."

Storm also went with a light-wire, round-bend treble hook for the Rattlin' Chug Bug.

"The round bend is a good selection for most topwaters," continued Baker, "since bass have a tendency to swipe at these baits instead of eating the whole lure. Round-bend hooks give you a better chance of the fish hooking itself on the swipe, compared to EWG trebles that have more of an inward curled bend to the hook points. The thin wire allows for these hooks to be super sharp and requires minimal effort to hook the fish. However, you'll want to be careful not to bend them on the hookset or the fight, especially if you're fishing the bait on braided line. Just be sure to set your drag a little looser, and you'll be fine.

"The back hook on the Rattlin' Chug Bug is a feathered hook, although it isn't a feather like you'll see on the back of some topwaters. This is more of a coarse material, like nylon, which makes this teaser tail hook a lot more durable than a feather would be. A true feathered treble hook looks great, but a few good fish catches and a hard day of fishing can destroy a feathered tail. This one will last a lot longer."

Baker went on to say that the Storm Rattlin' Chug Bug had done what few early artificial lures have been able to do.

"It has stood the test of time," he explained. "This means that, even though it's been around for a while, it's not a bait you should sleep on. The bait's body style and durable teaser tail hook are a couple of the design features that set this lure apart. Then the two size options and vast color selection really round this lure off as a topwater to contend with. And at just $7.99 from Tackle Warehouse, the Rattlin' Chug Bug is a reasonably priced topwater that will catch fish and last a long time."

Getting His Licks in When Others Won't Even Try

Had an email in my box this morning from Kayaker Ron that read: "XTS catches everything, even when it isn't working on the bass." Along with it was the accompanying photo at left.

Granted, it's one of those "toothy critters," but it's still a fish, and when you're having a super slow day, it gives you a tug on the end of your line and, more importantly, beats a skunk all to crap...er, so, that's my opinion. I made it a point this past season to keep a small crankbait ready every time Wayne and I hit the water, just so I could break it out if pushed to the wall to avoid having a skunk myself. That crankbait always has been good for at least one or more white perch.

As Ron explained, "I had three hits in three hours at Lake Tecumseh yesterday morning, and the gar was the only one I landed. Caught him on a green XTS Minnow. The water was very murky, and the wind was no fun, either," as is readily apparent in the photo below, which Ron also provided.

For the benefit of those who aren't familiar with Lake Tecumseh, it's a shallow 261-acre lake next to the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach. It is connected to the Back Bay estuary, which feeds into the ocean via the Asheville Bridge Canal. Owner of this lake is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ron has been fishing Tecumseh since 2014...and for good reason. For openers, he caught his recent personal best (that 9-lb. 9-oz. bass) there. And as he explained to me in today's email, he saw a recent article which highlighted the fact several 9-pound citation bass were caught in this lake just last year.

Deez Ol' Baits Done Hit da Road and Ain't Comin' Back No Mo', No Mo', No Mo'...

OK, I admit it. I happen to like Ray Charles' ol' tune titled "Hit the Road Jack," which is the reason behind the headline I attached to this post. What I'm really gonna talk about, though, is the fact that we, as avid bass anglers, also are big-time lure collectors.

While we see much of the newest bass-fishing tackle each and every year, we still often rely on some of our older, time-tested options to put fish in the boat. The only problem, of course, is knowing that there's always the risk we one day may exhaust our supply of "oldies but goodies" as a result of hanging them in a tree, on the bottom, or, worse, through breakage.

Following are some old fan-favorites that no longer are in production and thus deserve our being ever so careful with anytime we decide to get 'em wet again.

Strike King Wake Shad. This bait was only discontinued six years ago but is already missed. A tremendous search bait, the Wake Shad is great when burned over submerged grass, and it also works well around smallmouth and spotted bass on clear-water lakes. Rumor has it that the mold for this bait got broken and, because of the cost to repair, it was decided to just discontinue the lure.

Cotton Cordell Rattlin' Spot G-Finish Craw. This lipless crankbait was dynamite for young folks growing up on the Arkansas River, especially when bass were feeding on crawfish and shad. Something about that color and G-finish was the hot ticket back in the 1980s. It still works well around stained water.

Mann's Super George. This tail-spinner combined the allure of a deep tail-spin with the noise and larger profile of a lipless crankbait. It also gave anglers a larger shad profile for ripping baits out over deep-water schooling fish. (I never fished the Super George, but used the Little George with some success on Lake Anna back in the day.)

XCalibur XCS 100 Square Lip. This was always one of those special lures that caught big bass everywhere. Whether fished on a river, a big reservoir, or a small pond, it consistently produced good bites, especially the "baby smallmouth" and "smallmouth green" colors. Color consistency with this lure wasn't always good. Some had thicker black stripes, while some were nearly all brown. Either way, it remains a great clearwater crankbait, and it looks just like a small bluegill in the water. The entire XCalibur line folded, and it's too bad. They had some really nice, higher-end lures that you occasionally can find on the second-hand market today for upwards of $40 a pop.

Berkley Powerbait Thief. This soft plastic may not look like much, but it's been a big producer when pitching and flipping. The body was thin, but the plastic formula seemed to be a bit firmer than most other baits on the market. This led to outstanding durability, and those legs had an excellent action and were triggered by even the slightest water movement. It also punched through cover very easily. They used to retail for just $4.49 per 8-pack, so it was a great value for the angler.

Original Cotton Cordell Big O. One of the first effective squarebills that was used in and around cover, the Big O still has a very strong following with collectors, and those who have them still fish 'em due to their fish-catching power. The molded bill seemed small, but the tight wobble was a difference-maker. Included in the earlier models was a unique built-in rattle that called fish from under blowdowns and vegetation. The Big O came in a multitude of colors from shad to chartreuse, and Big O aficionados liked that it could be cast long distances and run from top to nearly 4 feet deep. Although it's still made today, the first models are always thought of as the best. (I used these with fair success on both Lake Anna and the Shenandoah River. On the Shenandoah, I often fished them early morning, just twitching them as a topwater in the current.)

Original Arbogast Mud Bug. Shaped like a World War II bomb, the Mud Bug was built to imitate a crawfish scurrying away. The flat tail was metal and had an adjustable line-tie that could be moved to dive deeper. It worked great in depths of 10 to 12 feet and, due to its backward shape, could also be cast a mile. The unique hook hangers would cause it to bind a bit and allow fish to get leverage at times, which was a downfall of this bait. The Mud Bug was easily tuned and deflected well off of stumps and hard cover. It was especially good in the post-spawn period.

Limberneck Spinnerbait. Made by Brothers and Company, the Limberneck incorporated a cable, instead of a wire, for the blades, allowing it to work well in and over grass. It first was used on river systems to catch bass and was particularly effective on rip-rap as well. Brothers had a unique split-tail trailer that matched well with the bullet-shaped head, and all the skirts were hand-tied with thread for better staying power. The 3/8- and 1/2-oz. models were easier to cast, and the unique head deflected well off cover. Although the willow blade was most popular, the twin Indiana blades was a killer on the river. They came in every color of the rainbow. Brothers also made a bent-shaft buzzbait called a buzzard that was loved. The business side of the arm, where the hook was, was bent down for better hookups. The 1/2-oz model was best as it was easier to throw.

Flooding and Sea-Level Rise Projects Coming to VB's Biggest Watershed

That's what I learned earlier today after my friend, Skip, texted me, asking if I knew why the West Neck Marina's boat ramp was going to be closed this next Monday. I didn't have a clue, so I went straight to the man I figured would know: Jimmy Vaughan, the owner. Seems he recently received a letter from the city, outlining some major work projects that will affect the marina and a whole lot more real estate.

The Southern Rivers Watershed, encompassing approximately 205 square miles (or 67 percent of the area within the city limits of Virginia Beach), is set for three projects as part of the Flood Protection Program. Those three projects will include Pungo Ferry Road improvements, Sandbridge/New Bridge intersection improvements, and West Neck Creek Bridge improvements.

Included in the West Neck Creek Bridge project is design, property acquisition, and construction of a series of in-water miter gates spaced similarly to the existing bridge piers. These gates would be tied into West Neck Road with earthen levees. To ensure floodwaters do not flank this gated system, the bridge and sections of West Neck Road on either side of the bridge will be raised (about 9 feet), according to what Jimmy Vaughan told me earlier today. Plans call for the gates to remain open outside of storm events and are expected to have a minimal impact on the everyday creek flow and habitat.

Design of this estimated $69 million project began in December 2023 and is scheduled to continue through July 2028. The period then from July 2028 through June 2032 is programmed for the site-acquisition, private utility-adjustments, and construction phases.

Can't help but think that something this far-reaching is going to meet with some resistance from those who will be directly affected by all the planned work. If you're interested in obtaining a more complete picture than what I've presented here about the entire scope of all these projects, I invite you to click on the following link: https://pw.virginiabeach.gov/stormwater/flood-protection-program/southern-rivers-watershed/west-neck-creek-bridge.

In the meantime, let me explain how Skip's text message from this morning ties into this post. Jimmy Vaughan explained that he has elected to close the ramp to normal business on Monday, Feb. 9, because he has been advised to expect some barges to be using the ramp that day. As I understand it, workers will be taking some measurements and readings. Skip saw the "closed" sign Jimmy has posted on the premises and was just curious why. Ain't the first time Skip has tipped me off on a story, and I'm sure it won't be the last time either. Thanks, my friend.

Learning To Get Over a Loss Quickly

According to an Alabama bass pro I was reading about the other day, that's an important matter for weekend anglers and tournament pros alike.

Here's a fella who describes bass fishing as "a weird sport." He goes on to explain, "You're fishing against 100 or more of the nation's top bass anglers in most tournaments you enter. You must realize that you'll lose more times than you'll win.

"So to be a successful tournament angler," he continues, "you must develop a system that allows you to get over a loss quickly and to be mentally prepared for the next tournament."

In his way of thinking, it doesn't matter if he finishes second or dead last. Either way, it's a loss...over which he "gets very mad"...his words, not mine.

"I think the only way I can get over my mad is by depending on past experience, knowing I have another chance to win at the next tournament," he said. "I like to fish tournaments back-to-back...leave one and go straight to another one, with no breaks in between. I prefer to keep on fishing every day, because that's what I get paid to do and how I earn my living. The more tournaments I get to fish in a year, the better my odds are for winning one."

This Alabama pro doesn't think the joy of winning is nearly as great as the pain of losing, but wanting to win is what drives him and keeps him going, especially after a loss.

"Professional bass fishermen are not only competing against the other fishermen," he noted. "We're also competing against the bass. Even if you finish in the top five and have beat the majority of anglers in a tournament, you still may not have beat the bass and caught enough of them to win.

"I'm convinced that being a tournament bass fisherman is what I was put on this earth to do. So, I realize I must get over a loss quickly and get my mind right for the next day of bass fishing."

He likes to compare being a tournament bass pro to being a professional bronc rider.

"When you get thrown off a horse before that 8-second buzzer sounds, you must get up quickly, dust yourself off, and get ready to throw your saddle on the next bronc," he explained. "And that's how professional bassers do...keep on keeping on, no matter what."

My 2 cents' worth: I can't speak for anyone other than myself, but if this pro angler is representative of how the vast majority of pro bass fishermen and women feel about their chosen sport, I think I might be looking for a different job. Granted, there were plenty of times during my 48 years of full-time employment when I had some bad days, but by and large, I truly enjoyed what I was doing for a living...and, for the most part, had some fun along the way, too, even if I didn't "win" every day.

Sometimes You Have To Trick Bass Into Biting

When bass are in a funk and/or otherwise won't respond to standard presentations, you sometimes have to trick them into hitting. It may take a new look...something sexy, vulnerable, or exciting...to draw them out and trigger strikes when the mundane won't work.

Following are a couple specialty techniques not well-known among the masses that are advertised to maybe produce results. File them in your memory bank for use the next time when the situation dictates.

The floating worm is an offering for those times when bass are hanging in shallow cover, and they're ignoring spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits, etc. Bass pro Danny Joe Humphrey (left) says these fish can be goaded into biting by dropping a weightless worm over their heads, then twitching it as it sinks ever so slowly.

"The fish lie down there in the cover, watching this thing until they can't stand it any longer, then explode on it," he said.

This Kinston, NC pro has an amazing record of victories in local tournaments, most of which have come on his no-weight Original Floating Worm. He says this bait and subtle method for presenting it are deadly whenever the water temperature is above 55 degrees, the bass are holding in shallow cover, and water visibility is clear to slightly dingy.

"You have to fish a floating worm with spinning tackle," he says. "I use a 6-foot medium-heavy rod and 10- or 12-pound-test line. I rig it with no weight whatsoever...only a 3/0 or 4/0 worm hook. I thread a floating worm on the hook Texas-style, with the point buried in the belly so it's weedless. I can throw this rig into a rose bush without hanging it up," he assured.

Humphrey also targets submerged treetops, brushpiles, willow trees, stumps, grass, etc.

"I'll cast right into the heart of the cover, and I'll wait while the worm starts sinking slowly toward the bottom," he explains. "Then I'll twitch it slightly with my rod tip. I'll let it sink and twitch it several times before it leaves the cover."

Humphrey detects bites by watching his worm or the line.

"I like bright colors for better visibility: pink, yellow, pearl, sherbert. Also, I always wear polarized sunglasses for better visibility underwater."

Humphrey usually sees the flash of a bass taking the worm, or he notices a twitch in his line.

"When I get a bite, I'll wait three to four seconds before setting the hook to see which way the fish is moving, and then I'll set the hook hard in the opposite direction," he notes. "This way, I get a high percentage of good hooksets. Then I have to figure out how to play what many times is a big fish out of the heart of the cover."

Meanwhile, the late-bass pro Ricky Green (right) had a reputation for catching big bass on surface lures, specifically walk-the-dog baits like the Zara Spook. However, he did something different with these lures than most anglers do.

"I'll make a long cast," he began, "then when the lure hits the water, I'll start it jumping and skipping, like a shad trying to get away from a pursuing bass. I'll do this for 6 to 8 feet, fast and erratic, then I'll just stop the bait totally for three to four seconds. Most strikes come with the bait at rest. However, if a fish doesn't hit it, then I'll pick the retrieve back up with a normal walk-the-dog action."

"The initial skipping motion excites the bass and makes them think another fish is trying to catch the 'shad,'" he continued. "If a bass thinks a competitor is feeding, it gets excited. Then suddenly here's this easy target floating right overhead, and wham!"

Green said this presentation is best in warmer months, when some surface feeding is evident. In deep, clear lakes, he used it to work around points where shad were evident. In flatter mainstream reservoirs, he used this method around logs, stumps, bushes, and other isolated-cover objects.

"I'll cast past an object, jump and skip the bait up to it, then kill it right by the cover," he explained.

One place where Green's technique proved super effective was on Lake Guerrero in northeastern Mexico.

"I don't know how many 8-pounders I've caught there doing this," he mused. "Those Mexican largemouths just had to have it."

How Much Is Too Much Fishin' Tackle?

If we're honest with ourselves, we all likely start out as "wanna haves" in our youth and just gradually transform into "gotta haves" as we grow into adults and have the means to satisfy at least some of our desires. As with anything, though, problems can arise when we aren't able to determine when "enough is enough."

Anglers, for example, can find ourselves turning into "tackle junkies" or "hoarders." And if we aren't careful, we might not even realize we have a problem until that day comes when we discover there's no longer room to store just a couple of life preservers in the boat. Pro angler Kevin Short found himself in a similar situation while loading his BassCat (right) for a weekend tournament that the wife and he were going to fish.

"Not a high-dollar affair, by any means," he said. "Just a little, one-day, 25-boat couples derby that we get to fish on a rare occasion when we're home and the schedules line up."

Short hadn't paid much attention until he wanted to add one more box of crankbaits but didn't have room.

"I truly didn't have room to put one more 3700 box in the front storage compartments," he said. "I counted 48 boxes of different sizes in the front three compartments, containing various crankbaits, Zoom plastics, and Jewel jigs, with more stuff in the rod box on the starboard side and even more in the storage behind the seat. I remember thinking at the time, 'This is crazy! How much does this stuff weigh. I went to get the scales, and would you believe it weighed 150 pounds?'

"In other words, I had the equivalent of a full-grown man stashed in the front of my BassCat," he continued. "And that didn't include the weight of my Lew's rod-and-reel combos (another 15 pounds), the spare MotorGuide (another 27 pounds) in the starboard rod box, along with the anchor and enough Vicious fishing line to spool half the field for a day. Again, did I really need all this stuff?

"Did I really need to carry 46 DD22s stuffed in that 3730 with the lid that barely would latch? Maybe I could just carry one of each color I felt I would need in the boat, with the rest in the truck. What if I lost the one I was using? Oh, the dilemma of tackle selection.

"It's like a drug--a guy's gotta have his 'stuff' with him at all times. Don't leave home without your 'stuff.' I gambled on one of each color, and as it turned out, we never even threw a DD22. But I had them, just in case the deep crankin' bite was on."

Flipping through some of the boxes, Short was surprised at how many of the baits he never had thrown. He hauls many of them from coast to coast and border to border, chasing little green fish, and they never leave the comfort of the plastic boxes where they reside.

"I seem to catch fish everywhere we visit on the trail with the same handful of baits that would probably all fit in eight boxes, instead of 48," he said. "I still buy new baits, stuff the compartments of the BassCat full, and lug around way too much stuff. Maybe I need to thin out some of it and get down to the basics of what I know I need to have in the boat every day on the water. That might not be such a good idea, as I'll probably need a bigger boat to hold all the stuff I think I'll need."

In case you're wondering, Short and his wife caught all their fish in the derby on four different crankbaits on four different rods.

Said the pro, "We could have left everything else on the bank and shaved 146 pounds of weight off the boat and been nicer to my Mercury Pro XS. I just gotta have that 'stuff' though, man!"

You might say Short is like the fella in that old tune written by Merle Travis and Tex Williams back in 1947...the one that had this popular refrain throughout:

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette

Puff, puff, puff, and if you smoke yourself to death

Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate

That you hate to make him wait

But you just gotta have another cigarette

And if you happen to be getting a lot of flack from your better half about all your fishin' tackle, you might want to consider adding these two possible defenses to your usual arsenal:

1. The average woman owns about 19 pairs of shoes. While this number may seem high initially, it's alright, considering that women regularly use only 4-5 pairs of shoes. And this number is likely to be even higher for women who are "shoe crazy."

2. The average woman also owns about 9 to 16 purses that she uses for her different activities of the day. These purses usually include three main types: everyday purses, tote bags, and mid-sized bags.

Tight Drag Equals More Fish in the Boat

Back in the day when I was fishing Charlie Brewer slider rigs, I was careful about setting the drag on my spinning reels. Didn't want to stress that 6-lb.-test mono line I was using at the time, especially if I happened to get hold of a bigger fish.

These days, though, when I'm fishing all baitcasters, with a minimum of 30-lb.-test braid, I really don't concern myself that much with the drag setting.  As long as it's snugged down pretty tight, I'm good with it. However, I still always loosen the drag at the end of each day, so that I don't wear out the drag washers.

Like a lot of other things in life, drag is a matter of personal choice. Wired2Fish angler and writer Walker Smith happens to like really cinching his drag down tight.

"This method just works for me," he said. "If you don't agree, I totally respect that. To each their own.

"I spool my casting reels with fresh line and turn the drag star as tight as it will go. I have a great deal of confidence in all of my reels. I wouldn't use them if that wasn't the case. I have lost very few fish since making this switch. When they bite, they very seldom come off now."

Smith's reasoning revolves around two very important variables: control and feel.

"I'll start with the most obvious application for this method: pitching and flipping shallow water," he explained. "Big bass love to get in the thickest cover they can find. Not only does it offer them a sense of security, but it also provides a strategic ambush point from which they can attack unsuspecting prey. For these two reasons, I fish a lot of thick over.

"Once I get a bite in these areas, my main goal, actually, my only goal, is to get them out as quickly as possible. Just one extra head shake can allow them to wrap your line and break you off, so I don't play around. I want to put the proverbial ball in my court and immediately put myself in control of the situation.

"If my reel is stripping any amount of line when I set the hook in heavy cover, I am not in control. It may just be for a split-second, but that is plenty of time to lose a big bass. It has happened to me in the past, and this mistake cost me thousands of dollars."

Smith likes to skip a jig underneath docks. In response, some people say, "Sure, that's cool. But what happens when you get a bite so far under a dock? There're no way you can get 'em out."

"My response is simple," he said. "You'll get the fish out 80 percent of the time if you tighten your drag. Put on your hook-setting shoes, use some stout 20-lb. fluorocarbon, and horse 'em out. Don't give that bass any choice but to come in your direction. Put yourself in control.

"I'm also a big proponent of cinching my drag when I'm fishing treble-hooked lures, such as crankbaits," Smith continued. "That's probably not the most popular method, but it works great for me.

"I prefer very flimsy rods when using these lures. I want the tip to act as the shock absorber, both on the initial bite and throughout the fight. There's a lot more finesse involved in fighting and landing treble-hooked bass, which means even the slightest mistake can cause the hooks to pull free. If my drag system delays in dispensing line, even a millisecond, that fish can turn its head the wrong way and come unbuttoned."

According to Smith, the lighter-action rods allow him to feel every head shake and tail kick the bass makes throughout the fight. Instead of relying on a drag system that could potentially fail or temporarily seize, he prefers to manually press the thumb bar and control the output of line by applying pressure directly to the spool with his thumb.

"When the bass makes a quick run, and I start feeling those quick tail kicks, I can quickly depress that thumb bar and rely 100 percent on my feel and instincts, not an inanimate object. If the bass is running circles around the boat, and I have to lift my rod over the trolling motor, big motor, or Power-Poles, this allows me to do so without increasing the pressure on the fish.

"If done correctly, this can result in fewer bent hooks and warped split rings, which are both recipes for disaster when you're fighting big bass."

Smith knows not everyone will agree with him. However, he's noticed a big increase in his landing percentage and feels it's something to think about.

February 2024 Bass Fishing Forecast

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