Not So Much How They Look But How They're Hooked

That, according to Wired2Fish writer Walker Smith, will tell you a lot about the current feeding behavior and preferences during a particular day of fishing. "Sure, it's tempting to unhook your catch quickly and keep casting," he said, "but before you get those hooks out, take a few seconds to make note of a few things.

"On the day the photo at left was taken, bass were keying on small shad, and the Rapala BX Brat proved to be the ticket," continued Smith. "If you're fishing a lure, and the bass continuously suck it down toward the back of their throats, it's a safe bet you're doing the right thing. Major adjustments aren't often necessary in this situation.

"If you drill down a bit further, this also can help you determine the most productive areas on a particular fishery. When you're only getting a few bites, but the fish are choking your lure, that might be a sign that you're missing part of the puzzle, e.g., your bait selection is spot-on, but perhaps it's time to start seeking out other areas. It can be as simple as switching from primary points to secondary points, or even a slight change in casting angles can make a huge difference.

"The take-away: If the bass are choking your lure, consider yourself lucky. You've got one part of the equation figured out for sure. If the bites are few and far between, don't be afraid to branch out to different areas.

"Especially when you're fishing crankbaits or jerkbaits, you'll sometimes notice your fish being hooked in the bottom of their jaw...not in the mouth but under their chin. This isn't a huge deal for your landing percentage, as that's usually a high-percentage area for hooks to grab, but it's a sign you could be missing out on an even hotter bite.

"In my experience, this situation often means that I'm fishing a bit too deep in a particular area. I believe that bass prefer to feed upward--attacking baits from underneath--so I try to keep my moving baits a bit higher in the water column than where I believe the bass are sitting. You can certainly catch fish running your jerkbaits or crankbaits under them, but you'll catch a lot more with a slight depth adjustment.

"The take-away: As an example, if you're fishing a 10-foot diving crankbait over a point and you're seeing bass hooked underneath the jaw, try switching to a 6-foot diving crankbait. At times, the difference can be remarkable.

"Upon close inspection, you can even see an outer cheek scale stuck on one of the trebles. I caught this fish but missed several bites until I changed to a larger crankbait.

"I'm a big believer on this one, so hear me out. Nothing is more nerve wracking than to hook a big bass on the outside of the mouth, especially when you're using treble hooks. This gives bass a lot more opportunity--and leverage--to twist the hooks during the fight and come unbuttoned. But it also can be a major clue.

"When bass are hooked outside the mouth, it often means they swiped at your lure out of reaction or pure predatory instinct. It might not have been actively feeding. This can be your clue that repeated casts will produce more action on that particular day. When bass are lethargic, I've had outstanding success making up to a dozen casts to each good-looking piece of cover. There very well could be a big bass there, but you're eventually going to have to tick it off and make it swat at your lure.

"The take-away: As a kid, did you ever have someone put their finger right in front of your face and keep repeating, 'I'm not touching you?' It's irritating as heck, and after a few times, you probably got mad and swatted your buddy's finger away. Repeated casts can do the exact same thing to lethargic, neutral-state bass.

"I got lucky on this one and barely got her in the boat. In my opinion, my crankbait was too brightly colored for the lightly stained water I was fishing. I made a color change immediately following this photo.

"This is another situation that can result in lost fish throughout the day. When you're using treble-hooked moving baits, it's not ideal to hook your fish on the back hook. This means it's time for an adjustment. You've obviously figured out what lure they want, but something still isn't quite right.

"Here is where some experimentation is needed. I know it's tough to change baits when you're getting bit, but it often leads to greater things. Avoid stubbornness and try several different things. There's no cut-and-dry solution. It could be a slight color change, switching to a rattling or non-rattling model, or even adding a dot with a marker that gives the bass something to target. Heck, some people are big believers in changing your front treble hook to a red-colored hook.

"The take-away: My first change normally is color. Then I'll switch to a different sound, or sometimes switching from a 1.5- to a 2.5-sized squarebill (or vice versa) can make all the difference. Try not to be robotic or resistant to change. Small things make a big difference when you're hooking 'em on the back treble."

For Week Ending Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021

Monday, Aug. 9 (from Skip)...After a long stint as a land lubber, Skip decided he needed to log some time on the water again. Went to West Neck this morning, launched and caught the two pictured here. Also lost a couple and had a number of swirls. He was using a swimbait. "Decent for only fishing a few hours," he said, and I have to agree. Good on ya, my friend.

Monday, Aug. 9 (from Ron)...Fished from 6 to 8 p.m. Got my first bite at 7:50 and landed a little 2 -14 fatty to avoid the skunk. Slow bite but nice evening on the water.

Tuesday, Aug. 10 (from Ron)...Fished a few hours this evening. Caught two and lost two. Bite was slow, but the ones I did catch were thick and healthy. They weighed in at 4-8 and 3-3. SwimSenkos were all I threw.

Wednesday, Aug. 11 (from Ron)...Maybe it's because of the heat, but the bite this evening was very, very slow. Had two taps and two hookups in just over two hours. Caught a dink and a little 2-12 to avoid the skunk. Was very hot, even in the shade.

Friday, Aug. 13 (from Ron)...Fished Thursday evening and only caught one small one to avoid the skunk. Switched up my game plan and wet a line this morning, and the bite was better. Caught seven bass, mostly small ones, but did manage a 2-12 and a 3-12. All fell to plastic worms...nothing on topwater.

Sunday, Aug. 15 (from Ron)...Fished a solid six hours this morning (from 6:30 to 12:30). Only caught six bass, and the first tap came in at 10 a.m. Best of the bunch were a 2-13 and a 3-5, as well as a small catfish that put up a good fight. The anticipated cloud cover did not materialize until after I recovered. Darn weather man! (Boy! Have I ever echoed those sentiments...and worse...about the weather man. It's a pain in the royal rump, for sure. Their not-so-hot track record is precisely the reason I always carry rain gear every time I head to the water. To do otherwise is just inviting downpours...the kind that seemingly always find their way to running down the crack of your you-know-what.--Ken)

A Day When Fair-Weather Anglers Stayed Home

Only 11 anglers in seven boats showed up this morning to ply their on-the-water skills against one another. At day's end, a total of 23 fish had been caught, weighing a grand total 51.44 lbs. Those numbers translate into an average weight per fish of 2.23 lbs. and an average weight per boat (among the six that weighed fish) of 8.57 lbs.

Those gents who took home pay envelopes included the following:

Mark Ingram (left), 1st place, five fish, 14.62 lbs. total weight, with a big bass weighing 5.40 lbs., which was good enough to also claim the day's lunker prize.

Chris Napier (right), 2nd place, five fish, 13.38 lbs. total weight, with a big bass weighing 3.82 lbs.

Following is how everyone else lined up:

     * The team of Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, five fish, 7.45 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * Gabe Himmelwright, four fish, 7.05 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Bobby Moore and J. P. Twohig, three fish, 5.56 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff, one fish, 3.38 lbs. total weight.

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

There were no additions to the list today of those anglers qualifying for the season-ending two-day Classic in October. That leaves the number of contestants at 16.

Congratulations to the winners and to those who came out to participate, despite knowing they probably were going to get wet before the day was over. As it turned out, two rounds of rain passed through West Neck before we concluded today's event.

One Last Cast

As has been the story for several weeks now, I heard discussions among some of the competitors that it was another day of catching a number of dink bass. One fella said he had his limit of keepers by 9 o'clock this morning, then spent the rest of the day catching nothing but 10-to-12-inch fish. "Caught probably 20 or more in that size range," he said.

Meanwhile, the soft-plastic bite continues to be a bit bizarre. More so now than ever before, you genuinely have to be a line watcher, or you're apt to miss several fish.

In many instances, you won't feel a traditional thump, letting you know to get ready. More times than not, the line just starts feeling heavy. At that point, you have to keep a close eye on the line because it usually starts moving off, sometimes at break-neck speed.

Your challenge then is deciding how far to let them run before setting the hook. It's nothing unusual to feel fish momentarily, only to have the fish come unbuttoned before it gets to the boat.

If it's any consolation, my kayaker buddy, Ron, is having a similar experience with soft plastics on the water he's fishing now. Check out his input today in the Fishing Report.

With This Stuff, the Results Are Immediate

It's been several years since I used any kind of line conditioner in my fishing, and I very well may have never used it again if not for a suggestion from my new partner. 

During a recent trip, Wayne took note of the fact I was having trouble casting a weightless soft plastic with my baitcaster and asked if I ever had used Blakemore Real Magic. I answered no, and he treated all four of my rods the next trip.

The difference was amazing. Nearly all the backlashes were gone, and I was getting considerably more distance with every cast. The effects of that one treatment at the start of our fishing day lasted until we called it quits about six hours later.

As Canadian outdoor journalist, author and photographer Tim Allard explained in a testimonial, "Real Magic conditions, rejuvenates, protects, and softens fishing line. Stiff, wiry and dry line is quickly transformed into subtle string after the application of this product."

The lubricant is designed for use on monofilament, fluorocarbon, braid, superline, and fly lines in both fresh and saltwater environments.

"After treatment, line comes off the spool easier and winds on better," continued Allard. "Line memory also is dramatically reduced, which means fewer knots and tangles."

It doesn't end there, though. Real Magic also increases casting distance.

"The figures 10 to 15 percent get tossed around when I talk with fishing buddies," said Allard. "I've yet to break out measuring implements and collect the hard data myself. I just know I can cast farther with conditioned line, which is really pleasant, especially in breezy conditions. Tossing a spinnerbait into a headwind for a day is a great way to appreciate the virtues of Real Magic."

For Allard...and this old-timer, too...Real Magic is a real winner. 

Makes You Stop and Wonder...

How could anyone be oblivious to the noise that had to have been created by this kind of damage? Jay Kumar, in the latest issue of his BassBlaster, where I found this photo, suggested the possibility of a loud sound system as being the culprit.

So Many Colors...How Do I Decide Which One To Use?

There's not an angler anywhere who won't tell you that the sky's the limit on the colors, sizes and types of soft plastics you can find in tackle stores everywhere nowadays. Figuring out the one that's best for you can, as a minimum, be challenging and, at most, intimidating. However, there are a few ways to narrow the selection process, starting with understanding water clarity.

One way to meter water clarity is to rig a white-colored plastic, such as a fluke or swimbait, on a weighted head, drop the plastic in the water, and stop the bait when it no longer can be seen. Then measure the amount of line submerged in the water. Though there are different judgments, one that often is relied on is a chart similar to the following:

Depth (Feet)                                        Water Clarity Classification

                             0 - 2                                                            Muddy water

                             2 - 4                                                            Stained water

                             4 - 6                                                            Murky water

                             6+                                                               Clear water

With that sense of water clarity, let's take a look at how that information can be applied to making a color selection.

Let's all face one important fact to start with here. The infinite number of colors available in bass fishing all serve a purpose: to catch fish and the fisherman. Does this truism dismiss the fact that you may have success in your favorite pond with a black, blue, purple, orange, and red-flake worm? No! That's simply confidence. But narrowing your focus to two main color groups...natural and dark colors...for all water clarities will increase your chances of getting bit on different bodies of water, without buying a rainbow of soft plastics.

Natural Colors

When fishing clear water, natural- and translucent-colored soft plastics will excel. "What classifies as a natural color?" you may ask. This group includes shades that replicate or blend in with the fishery's probable forage or foliage. Natural colors include but are not limited to variations of translucent browns, whites, greys, green pumpkins, and watermelon-dyed soft plastics. Of these colors, the green pumpkin family is looked to as the most flexible and can be effective in most water clarities. The rule to remember is this: Always match the hatch when using natural colors, paying close attention to the color of the bait the fish are eating.

Dark Colors

When fishing murky, muddy or stained water, dark-tinted soft plastics do the trick. Some popular variations include junebug, black, and black-blue. The opaqueness of darker colored soft plastics allows the bass to better see the lure in low-visibility situations. As green pumpkin proves versatile in the natural color collection, black can be a good dark color in all water clarities.

There are countless colors to choose from, but understanding the two basic color families and their correlation to water clarity will maximize the number of bites you get.

For Week Ending Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021

Monday, Aug. 2 (from Ron)...Beautiful evening. Fished Milldam Creek and was doing well on plastic worms. Caught several bass that were all 15 inches and was having fun but couldn't help wondering where the big ones were. Shifted to topwater (Pop Frog Z) as the sun set and had a very subtle swirl. Waited and watched the line run out, set the hook and...Bam!...got a nice 21.5-inch 4-7 bass to round out the evening.

Tuesday, Aug. 3 (from Ron)...Went out to West Neck in the "light rain" and realized that, after a certain amount of time, even "light rain" will get you soaked. Caught several bass but nothing over 15 inches. Zoom U Vibes and Pop Frogs worked for the small ones this evening.

Wednesday, Aug. 4 (from Ron)...Fished West Neck again this evening. Caught about four or five bass but nothing over 17 inches. The topwater bite was non-existent. Plastic worms, though, were working.

Saturday, Aug. 7 (from Ron)...Have been fishing hard this week. After the Wednesday update, I fished again Thursday, Friday and today. On Friday, did a morning trip to Milldam and caught several small bass, nothing over 17 inches. Also lost a huge bowfin. Did the long trip to Tecumseh Friday evening and got skunked. This morning, I fished the lake of stumps before the deluge and caught a dink and a 21-inch fatty. Wished I had had my scale, because that fish easily was over 5 lbs. Still no topwater bite, and the plastic worms (U Vibes and SwimSenko) seem to be the ticket, but the bite is very subtle. Green pumpkin and watermelon red fleck with a keel weighted hook seems to work best.

Sunday, Aug. 8 (from Ron)...Had to drive the kids' stuff up to Fairfax (GMU) this morning: 4 hours north and 5.5 hours south. After all that traffic and stress, I got out for a quick evening trip to de-stress. Caught a dink and a nice 4-4 bass that set everything back in perspective.

August 2021 Best Fishing Times

I Should Have Known...

Everything comes at a cost...or at least, that's my take on things. For example, last Friday night was the first time in a week I had been able to sleep in bed. It had taken me that long to overcome abdominal pain that I initially had thought perhaps was the result of a hernia trying to get started. As I learned, however, it was the result of an abdominal muscle I somehow had strained. Bottom line: It took a week for the strain to relax enough for me to sleep any way other than by sitting upright.

Then, on tournament day this last Sunday, I finally seem to have put those bouts of vertigo in my rearview mirror. Have enjoyed 72-plus hours now without once feeling like everything around me was spinning about 60 mph. Whether that holds is anyone's guess, but I'll gladly take whatever relief I can get.

With that much "positivity" happening in such a short span of time should have been sufficient warning that the roof was getting ready to come crashing down around me. It started with a giant headache that awakened me Tuesday night, followed by another one yesterday afternoon. I also had a gimpy left leg when I crawled out of bed yesterday morning, and it dogged me all day. Those events, however, as I was destined to learn, were only part of the "negativity" that would prove to make yesterday a day which I wish I could just forget.

The dominoes started falling regularly when I received a phone call from the dermatologist office I visited a week ago for my six-month checkup. The doctor had taken a biopsy at that time, and the results had come back. Seems they will have to dig a little deeper in the biopsied spot in their pursuit of clean cells. Then I'll be stitched up for a couple of weeks...more a nuisance than anything else.

On top of that, yesterday's passing rain made me aware that it's once again time to hire someone to clean my gutters. They were full to the brim yesterday with water, thanks to all the pine needles from my cantankerous old neighbor's pine tree in the back clogging the downspouts. This problem now forces me to go through this evolution about three times a year.

And then, as if that wasn't enough, the freezer part of our three-year-old refrigerator-freezer decided to go belly-up yesterday, too. Had to do a "reset" on it for the same reason a year ago, but this time, the "reset" failed, so that undoubtedly will mean searching for a new refrigerator.

Can't say I've had this much fun since the company commander ripped off my face mask in that gas-filled room at boot camp and told me to find my way out the best way I knew how...if you get my drift.

For Period Ending Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021

Sunday, July 25 (from Ron)...Just got back from a two-week business trip. Was anxious to get out on the water, but the wind was a struggle. I did manage to get one small white perch and one small bass to avoid the skunk. Only threw Zoom U Vibe and swimsenko, as I couldn't get a hit on any topwater this morning for more than an hour. The water was murky, and it was too windy for my liking.

Thursday, July 29 (from Ron)...Visited a small pond to avoid the wind. Caught a half-dozen dinks and a 2-11. Weightless plastic worms and plastic topwater both produced this evening. Was good to be out without Thor throwing lightning bolts at me.

Saturday, July 31 (from Wayne and Ken)...Decided we wanted to see if we could develop a game plan for the next tournament on Saturday, Aug. 7, so dropped Wayne's boat in the water at 0-dark-30 this morning and began searching. First thing we learned was that, like last Sunday, there was no topwater bite this morning. Eventually found something the bass would eat, though, and stuck with that for the rest of the morning, even though the bite was very slow. Fished until a few minutes after 12 noon and ended up catching about nine keepers. Seems there must have been a small tournament out of West Neck today, because there was a fella walking toward the ramp with a weigh-in bag in his hands when we got back to the dock, and there was a collection of anglers saying their farewells as Wayne pulled his rig past the front of the store to tie everything down for the trip home.

Sunday, Aug. 1 (from Ron)...Got out early before the storm. Caught two bass at 15 and 17 inches, respectively. May go back out this evening, depending on the weather. Zoom U-Vibe worms were the ticket to success this morning.

Best Turnout of the Season Thus Far

Not sure what the motivation was, but today marked a recovery in a big way from the dismal totals at last week's tournament. The 26 anglers in 16 boats were the high point of the current season. These gents collectively weighed a total of 58 bass for a combined total weight of 122.89 lbs., which gave us an average weight of 2.11 lbs. per fish and an average weight per boat (of those 12 boats that brought fish to the scales) of 10.24 lbs.

Standing in the winners' circle at day's end were the following anglers:

1st Place, the team of (from left) Don Carter and Rob Peppers, five fish, 17.71 lbs. total weight, with a 4.77-lb. big bass.

2nd Place, Jim Calhoun, five fish, 16.53 lbs. total weight, with a 4.89-lb. big bass, which was good enough to also claim the day's lunker prize.

3rd Place, the team of (from left) Chris Bogan and Eddie Sapp, five fish, 12.99 lbs. total weight, with a 3.76-lb. big bass.

4th Place, Chris Napier, five fish, 12.11 lbs. total weight, with a 4.39-lb. big bass.

Here is the order of finish for all the other competitors:

     * The team of Andy Morath and Aaron Leigh, five fish, 10.59 lbs. total weight, with a 4.83-lb. big bass.

     * The father-son team of John and Anthony Harmon, five fish, 10.53 lbs. total weight, with a 3.19-lb. big bass.

     * Rusty Girard, five fish, 9.95 lbs. total weight, with a 3.81-lb. big bass.

     * Gabe Himmelwright, three fish, 7.45 lbs. total weight, with a 3.51-lb. big bass.

     * The team of Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, five fish, 7.14 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Mark Ingram and Bob Clarkson, five fish, 6.89 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff, five fish, 6.36 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The team of Edward Cooke and Keith Klotz, five fish, 4.64 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

     * The father-son team of Billy and Bentley Elliott, one fish, 0.78 lbs. total weight, but disqualified for trailering boat before weighing fish.

     * James Bowes, Bobby Moore, and the team of Dennis Dean and Steve Bailey didn't weigh any fish.

Three more competitors became eligible today to participate in our season-ending two-day Classic tournament. Those who joined the 13 others already on the list include Jim Calhoun, Rusty Girard, and Bobby Moore.

Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 7, from safe light (about 5:45 or 6 a.m.) to weigh-in (about 2 p.m.). I hope you can join us.

One Last Cast

Heard more than one person today comment about the number of dinks they caught that wouldn't make the 12-inch minimum length for a keeper. My partner was among that number; however, he managed to put together a limit before weigh-in.

And for the second time this year, I came oh so close to losing another rod and reel over the side. The circumstances were pretty much identical to those which led to the loss a few months ago of a rod, reel and lure.

As was true then, I again had put my rod down so I could net a fish for my partner. As in the earlier event, it was a baitcast rig, with a chatterbait tied on. I turned around from netting the fish to find only the handle of my rod visible a short distance from the boat. Fortunately, I got to the rod and reel this time before it had a chance to sink out of sight.

For the benefit of all, I must point out that, with today's tournament in the record books, only four qualifier tournaments remain on the schedule. Accordingly, those who have fished only one tournament thus far don't have enough time left to complete eligibility requirements to fish the Classic.

What Fisherman Isn't Always Looking for a New Tackle Store?

Can't say for certain, but I tend to believe that most anglers pretty much keep at least one eye open for a new place to drop a few bucks on some good deals. As a result, let me give you one more to add to your list that a good friend introduced me to just yesterday when he stopped by for a visit. The name is Omnia Fishing.

Located in the land of 10,000 lakes, this is the first e-commerce store that allows anglers to find, buy and organize their fishing gear on the specific bodies of water they fish. Among the many items currently advertised in their "bargain hut" are the following: $3.99 for a 10-pack of 3-inch Senkos, $5.83 for a 10-pack of 4-inch, and $5.99 for a 10-pack of 5- or 6-inch.

As they advertise, "We make finding the right tackle easy by presenting a refined list of relevant tackle, based on the relationships between species, style, lake characteristics, season, community fishing reports, patterns, and products. We make sure you only see the products that make sense for you, on the lakes you fish, at the right time of year. Omnia is the most personalized tackle shopping on earth!"

For the first time ever, you can shop for fishing gear online, based on the specific bodies of water you fish with the Omnia shop-by-lake platform.

In their own words, "We take details of each lake like water clarity, species present, time of year, and fish patterns and match those details with styles and products that are most relevant. For each recommended style, you'll see the products by category and the colors that match the water conditions. We then provide content that matches the style in case you need to brush up or want to see the way a pro fishes the recommended technique. Each water body has a unique shopping experience to make sure you head to the water with confidence and a tackle box full of relevant gear.

"For each lake, we present a list of products by category and style that match the fish patterns at that time of year. Our Omnia community and ambassadors file fishing reports for the lakes they're fishing to indicate what style worked best, what type of structure they fished, and what products they used. You can use these recommendations to refine the products you'll purchase for your next trip to the water. You also can use these recommendations to refine the products you'll purchase for your next trip. You also can file your own fishing report and give back to the community of anglers who follow that lake. No locations ever are given away...just products and techniques. In addition, you can win a wide range of weekly gift cards and prizes from a random draw of anyone who filed a fishing report that week."

From the Omnia dashboard, you can follow your favorite lakes, file fishing reports, follow your favorite brands and be the first to know when new products get added, as well as follow your favorite ambassadors and guides so you know when they file fishing reports, check your store credits, and review your order history. Once you've built your profile, you'll have full control over your shopping, content, and tackle discovery online.

Omnia officials consider all customers as members of the Omnia community, an entirely free service. However, they do have a premium membership that offers free shipping with no minimums, early access to new products and promos, and a 10 percent credit back on all purchases during your subscription period. This Omnia premium membership is available for $29 a year. All customers get free shipping on all orders over $50, but premium members get free shipping on all orders, with no minimum. The membership 10-percent rebate works like this: Spend $300 and get a $30 credit in your account, which pays for your membership and gains you free shipping on all your orders. Spend $500, and you're basically getting paid to buy fishing gear.

Omnia ships all products out of their giant Golden Valley, MN warehouse, and all orders receive same-day service when placed before 1 p.m. central time.

Check out Omnia online by using this link: https://www.omniafishing.com/. You also can email them at hello@omniafishing.com. Or, if you prefer, call them at 763-710-5581.

Learn To Be a Bubble Watcher, As Well As a Line Watcher

Early morning, a few fishing trips ago, I began seeing pockets of bubbles along the shoreline, just like I've often seen over the years. As in all those other trips, I didn't hesitate to start firing casts to each and every one of those areas of bubbles. And, just like has happened a fair number of times, I started catching fish...bass, that is.

I'd toss my topwater to one of those pockets, twitch it a couple of times, and bam! I'd have a fish blow up on the bait. In quick order that morning, I put three keepers in the livewell.

Saw some more pockets of bubbles this past Saturday but didn't attain the same degree of success. As a result, I decided to do some online research and find out what the meaning really is behind those bubbles I've seen so many times.

Come to find out that many of them are not caused by fish at all but, rather, by natural underwater processes. For example, pockets of gas form naturally in the substrate of all waters. These result from bacterial breakdown of organic matter, and any disturbance of the substrate, be that by fish, wild fowl, or water movement, cause it to be expelled...in the form of bubbles on the surface.

Bubbling is certainly more prevalent in areas of organic matter, such as silt, where bacterial activity is at its greatest, but it's common over hard gravel substrates, too. The nature of the gas released varies, depending upon the nature of the substrate, particularly whether the breakdown is aerobic or anaerobic.

In addition to bacterial generation of gases within the substrate, bubbles also are formed by the feeding and regulatory processes of fish themselves. Release of bubbles through the gills is part of the sorting process, whereby fish separate food from nonfood items, and depth-regulation mechanisms often require fish to release gas from their swim bladder as they rise in the water column.

Differentiating between those bubbles created by fish and those arising from natural means is part of the learning process. Watercraft comes with experience, and the more you study the water the better you get, but there are some clues to help you along the way.

Bubbles produced by the physical feeding process and depth regulation tend to be relatively large and short-lived. In other words, they "pop" shortly after breaking the surface. In the case of larger feeding fish, two lines of bubbles sometimes may be observed, one emanating from each gill, although it's not always evident. Smaller, more persistent bubbles, often producing a thin foam, tend to be caused by fish feeding over silt, and often are interspersed by occasional, larger bubbles, resulting from physical expulsion from the gills amidst the release of the gases trapped in the silt.

The key to differentiating feeding fish bubbles is that they "move" as the fish moves across the substrate. Naturally released gas bubbles tend to be static, often emanating from a single source, where an area of silt has become ruptured.

You can, at times, observe huge "sheets" of fish bubbles rising to the surface, often covering a large area. These usually are caused by a fish rolling on the lake or river bed, and it is typical carp or catfish behavior, where the length and bulk of a big fish burrowing through or rolling on silt disturbs large areas of trapped gas.

The size and nature of the fish bubbles can be related to the species of fish causing them to a certain extent. Bream beds in the summertime, for example, display a bunch of tiny bubbles coming to the surface. Carp and catfish bubbles, on the other hand, are noticeably larger and have a tendency to be shorter-lived. Veteran swampers can even locate big snapping turtles by seeing a certain kind of bubbles. And, if you happen to be in an area with alligators, such as Louisiana, keep a close watch for a trail of big bubbles heading off in a straight line.

So, the next time you're on the water, don't pass up the chance to throw at some bubbles. It just might make your day.