Every Once in a Great While, I Get Lucky...

And am fully prepared for trouble before it has a chance to strike. Lucky me! Today was one of those days. It went down like this.

I had planned for a few days to fish today, and while Wayne originally had planned to fish yesterday, a job on his boat trailer dictated that he, too, wait until today to "scratch that itch" we fishermen all get from time to time and try to catch a few fish.

We both were ready to put in at West Neck about 5:45 this morning...in our respective boats. We planned to stay in contact by phone throughout our fishing hours, so we could cover more water and perhaps get some idea of what we want to do for the next Dewey Tournament. Neither one of us could have known how our day was going to turn out when we launched. As far as we knew, we were going our respective ways, in hopes that we both would be wailing upon some bass in a little bit of no time.

At Wayne's suggestion, I launched first this morning, and while I was parking my vehicle, he tied off my boat at the catwalk and jumped in to start 'er up, so she could warm up a tad before I shoved off. In short order, I was on my way to my planned first spot.

Before I could reach my destination, though, I already was on my phone to Wayne, asking for...you guessed it: H-E-L-P-P-P! You see, without warning, my rebuilt motor had gone into alarm mode. In the short time he subsequently spent walking me through a couple of checks, I reached down and got the motor to restart without going back into alarm mode.

With an agreement I would let Wayne know if I had any more problems, I went on to my first spot, as well as three other spots without any more alarms. Then, about 11 o'clock, as I prepared to return to West Neck, I called Wayne and let him know I was headed his way. Without any alarms rearing their ugly head again in the first 10 minutes or so of my return trip, I decided to step on it a little bit, since the boat hadn't been run in two or three weeks. In a matter of only a few more seconds, that dreaded alarm once again sounded.

I waited about five minutes to call Wayne again. The alarm kept sounding, and I figured I likely might need a short tow back to West Neck. However, Wayne found the source of my alarm, pulled the plug (on a sensor), then reengaged it, and I was on my way under my own power.

We got both boats back on their respective trailers without another hiccup, and Wayne already was making some phone calls before we either one pulled away from the ramp. He since already has formulated a game plan for getting me back in the hunt with minimal delay (while waiting on a part). In the meantime, he plans to do some other troubleshooting to ensure there's nothing more involved than just what meets the eye.

Can't tell you how glad I am that Wayne was just a phone call away this morning when I needed him.

Beyond my trouble, both of us managed to catch a couple of keeper fish before we quit today. I started my pursuit this morning with a topwater bait that I hadn't thrown in ages, and for a short time, thought I might have stumbled onto something. On just my second cast, after letting all the rings settle, I had a fish swirl underneath my lure...no connection, though. I twitched the bait four more times while it was in a productive-looking area, and each time, that action solicited another giant swirl but no connection.

I decided to extend my pursuit with this topwater bait for a few more casts and eventually boated my first keeper with it. My second keeper finally came on a soft plastic.

In talking to Wayne, I learned that both of his fish came on soft plastic...didn't even get a smell with his choice of topwaters.

All in all, it wasn't the best of days...not so much a result of my outboard problem but more because of how quickly it got unbearably hot, with barely a breath of fresh air stirring only rarely. We weren't the only ones looking for cover and a cold bottle of water when we returned to the ramp, either. The three other rigs in the parking lot wasted no time recovering right behind us and heading for home.

P.S. My "Harry 'n' Charlie" Moment Today

I at first wasn't going to include this little story as part of my blog post today, but then I remembered that I've always thought it's important that people be able to laugh at themselves. So here goes.

I had just started using my worm rod, which I fish with 40-pound braid, when I engineered a horrible overrun in my baitcaster. As I've said before, my accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, but on this particular occasion, I had surprised myself by getting the cast to drop right beside a nice stump. Therefore, I had gone into warp speed, trying to undo the overrun mess, so I could really work the worm.

I had my head down, stripping braid off the reel as fast as I could go, paying no attention whatsoever to where the coils of line were falling. Finally, as I got to the last of the overrun, I looked down to find that most of the coils were now ensnared in the reels on my other three rods. One of the last coils, however...and I'm still not sure how...had settled, of all places, around my neck.

I hadn't even noticed this particular coil until I suddenly felt something causing the line to jerk. At that moment, I took stock of where my line in the water was and saw it heading away from the stump at a pretty good clip. This development stirred me into desperation mode, as I wondered: Was this a dink bass, was this a big bass, or worse, was this a giant toothy critter looking to extract a bit of revenge on me for the sore noggins I've given some of them over the years?

I was all thumbs, as I wrestled to get the coil of line from around my neck and off the reels. At long last, I was free...but, then, so was the fish when I pulled off a hookset that came closer to throwing my butt out of the boat than burying the hook in the fish.

It indeed was one of those moments when you take a quick look around afterward, just to make sure no one was filming you at your very worst. Had to admit to myself later, though, as I related the tale to a friend during a phone call, that it was at least a little funny. Hence my reason for sharing here.

Getting Back Into Bass Fishing Again

Had been wondering what had happened to my kayak buddy, Ron, and now I know. He's been spending all his spare time chasing snakeheads and saltwater species. However, he has decided to get back into the bass-fishing game, as evidenced by the accompanying photos.

In the report that was in my inbox early this morning, Ron explained that he had been out and caught a half-dozen mid-teens bass on a SwimSenko before it started getting dark. He then tied on a Pop Frog topwater bait and landed a nice one to end the evening.

"Should have brought my headlamp and scale," said Ron, who evidently had to deal with a little more darkness than what he was prepared for.

A Day When Expectations Exceeded Realization

Heard from blog contributor DMac this evening. Here are the details of a trip he and a buddy took in his own words:

Ga-day, Mate. Hope all is well. Brutal fishing times fo sho.

Just an FYI for any folks gettin' a wild hair to travel south. Today, a bud o' mine and I took a road trip to fish the Roanoke River...first time for me. We got to the ramp in Hamilton, only to find out the river appears to be down 7 or 8 feet. Also muddy as hell, but that's probably the norm, and the fish are used to it.

At any rate, we punted on launching the boat and headed back north to Winton to fish the Chowan. We cruised and found some very pretty water, but that very pretty water was 89.4 degrees F...'bout the same as West Neck right now. Threw everything but the tacklebox. Did manage a few fish, topped off by a 4.7-lb. toad.

DMac included a couple pics of what he and his buddy found in Hamilton. See for yourself.

August 2022 Best Fishing Times

Lizards Always Have Tails...Right?

At least, that's what I thought until yesterday. Had just arrived at the marina and planned to grab my gas cans and head to downtown Pungo for some gas to pour into my boat. Haven't run the Skeeter for a few weeks now, and figured I probably should drop it in the water a time or two this next week.

Had just put the cans in the back of my van when I happened to look down on the ground and noticed that I had a "little" unexpected company. A lizard, looking pretty similar to the one in the accompanying photo, was lying on its back near the track where the bottom of the door to my shed rests all the time. The one thing that first grabbed my attention was the fact this lizard was missing most of its tail.

However, I also didn't observe any movement in the little critter at first, so I lightly nudged him and got an immediate response. Despite all of its movement, though, the lizard appeared unable to right itself. With a little help from me, it soon was on its feet but didn't go anywhere. There was some head movement, and I could see it kept opening and closing its mouth...but that was all.

After moving the little fella to a safe location, out of my way, I went about doing the job I had planned to do all along. As I was getting ready to come home, I checked on the little critter and found that he no longer was where I had placed him. Subsequently made a mental note to go online and see what, if anything, I could find out about tail-less lizards.

My research revealed that tail loss is called "tail autotomy," "caudal autotomy," or "tail-shedding." Many species of lizards are able to lose part of their tail to help them escape from a predator. The broken part of the tail falls to the ground, where it continues to wriggle like a living creature, distracting the predator away from the lizard's vulnerable body, sometimes for as long as five minutes. This distraction allows the lizard to escape while the predator is left holding or trying to catch the detached tail.

Since lizard tails often are used to store fat, they will provide some energy to a predator that eats it, and this might help the lizard by keeping the predator from searching for it again. Some lizards, such as skinks, also are known to eat their own severed tails for the energy stored in them.

Some lizard species can voluntarily lose their tails, even if little external force has been applied to the tail. They accomplish this by contracting muscles at the base of the tail, which break the vertebra. Often, though, the tail loss is the result of a predator grasping the tail and breaking it. Sometimes a lizard will thrash around a damaged or partly-broken tail until it breaks off completely. It's hard to know if a lizard is intentionally trying to detach its tail, but it often appears so.

Losing the tail does not seriously harm a lizard and may save its life, but the loss of a tail might have some negative effects besides a loss of stored energy. It could impair the lizard's ability to run quickly or balance itself while climbing. Further, a male lizard's attractiveness to the opposite sex might diminish with its social standing. Tail loss in juveniles also can delay growth and sexual maturity.

Broken tails do grow back, but these regenerated tails often are not as long as the original. Regenerated tails are made of cartilage, instead of bone, but they also can be broken off. It is not uncommon to find lizards in the wild with no tail or with a partly regenerated tail, so tail autotomy apparently works.

The tail of a juvenile skink usually is bright blue or pink. This helps the tail to be more visible to predators, which lets the lizard use its tail-loss defense. But the bright color on the tail often disappears when a juvenile becomes an adult. This is because adult females need the extra energy stored in the tail for the production of eggs or young, and adult males need the energy to court females and fight off other males. The needs of reproduction become more important to adults than the extra survival benefits of the tail-loss defense.

For that reason, everyone who handles a lizard always should be careful of the tail while handling one of the little creatures.

Are You One Who Has Been Known To Get a Little Hot Under the Collar?

Yessiree! There's no denying that I've been known to blow off a little (ahem, better make that a "lot of") steam from time to time. However, I've not yet procured one of those newfangled portable neck fans I see folks wearing nowadays, including some fishermen.

I gotta admit that when the weather gets like it has been around here the past few weeks, with daytime heat indexes running into the triple digits, one of those gadgets likely would feel pretty darned good, especially when it's one of those times I've gotten mighty worked up about something. You know what I'm talking about...one of those times when I have steam coming from my neck, as well as my ears.

Sure would beat one of those ol' local funeral-parlor hand fans like the grown-ups at the First Baptist Church where I grew up used to wear out in the summer. 'Tweren't nothing that could compare to a hot summer Lord's Day, along with a Baptist preacher intent on getting his message across to the congregation in a church with nothing but those antiquated ceiling fans. On second thought, there was one thing that could be hotter, and that was sitting through a service at my maternal grandparents' Fire Baptized Holiness Church. As a very young boy, I once attended an Easter service at their church that lasted for hours...yes, plural.

However, I digress, so let me get back to these neck fans, which you simply place on your neck. Designed without wings, they can be used safely by children and the elderly. When using them, you don't have to worry about your hair getting caught on the fan blades. With 78 (or so) air outlets around the neck, it can be used for the entire face.

Designed like some headphones, these hand-free fans...in the opinion of some...make you look cool, and the best part of all...you can take it anywhere in hot weather. Standard models have 4,000mAh large-capacity batteries, which can run between four and 16 hours, depending on your choice of speeds.

Most personal neck fans are of lightweight construction, usually weighing approximately 8 or 9 ounces and thus exerting minimal strain on the neck.

Might have to check these out here one day soon.

A Warning To Stay Alert to the Weather While on the Water

Saw a reminder from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources officials earlier this week about thunderstorms and lightning. In short, the warning was that, while there is much disagreement about both items, there is one universal agreement, and that is to avoid them entirely, if at all possible.

According to these officials, you always should check the official weather forecast before you go boating and watch for development of any of the following dangerous conditions while on the water:

     * Fog, dark clouds, and lightning
     * A falling barometer (a signal you can expect rain)
     * A noticeable halo around the sun or moon (also usually indicates rain)
     * Changes in the direction and temperature of the wind (a drop in temperature indicates a storm)
     * Puffy, vertically rising clouds
     * Any changes coming in from the West (usually portends foul weather) or East (storms from this direction are usually the most powerful)

Knowledge of upcoming weather (regardless if from the National Weather Service, a VHF-FM marine radio, a small battery-operated weather radio, or your cellphone) is vital to ensuring a safe trip on the water. Advance knowledge can offer a means of advance preparation, which could mean survival of your property and/or life of yourself and your passengers.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides the following warning levels:

Small Craft Advisory. A warning of weather conditions that may be dangerous for small boats. This warning indicates winds of at least 18 knots (24 mph) and rough wave conditions.

Gale Warning. A warning of strong winds within the range of 34 to 47 knots (39 to 54 mph).

Storm Warning. A warning of winds within the range of 48 to 63 knots (55 to73 mph).

Hurricane Warning. A warning that indicates hurricane winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher. This warning identifies a combination of dangerously high water and rough seas are expected to impact a specified coastal area.

Thunderstorms usually mean a triple threat: (1) heavy, flooding rain, (2) unusually heavy and sudden winds, and (3) potentially destructive lightning.

If you get caught in a storm, take the following actions:

Step 1. Make sure every passenger is wearing a life jacket.

Step 2. Reduce your speed and maintain your forward movement.

Step 3. Turn on your required navigation lights. You may not be the only boater out there.

Step 4. Seat your passengers on the bottom of the boat, along the centerline. This will help stabilize the boat and prevent your passengers from falling overboard.

Step 5. Stow away any loose gear. A wakeboard or fishing pole can catch the wind and fly at you or your passengers.

Step 6. Cut through large waves at a 45-degree angle. This will reduce the chance of your boat being swamped. If you're operating a personal watercraft, cut through the waves at a 90-degreee angle to help maintain lateral stability.

Step 7. Keep the bilges free of water in order to stay well above the water level. Make sure you have a good bailer or working bilge pump onboard.

Step 8. If it's safe to do so, head toward shore.

If you get caught in a storm, and you're unable to return to shore safely, you should anchor your boat, according to the following instructions:

Step 1. Angle the boat as though you're still moving, at a 45-degree angle, headed into the waves. This positioning will prevent the boat from drifting or being swamped by waves.

Step 2. Drop the anchor from the bow of the boat.

Step 3. Stay low in the boat and turn off electrical equipment while you wait for the storm to pass.

Step 4. Use your sound signaling device to indicate to other boaters that you're at anchor. To do this, sound a signal rapidly for about five seconds, in intervals of not more than one minute.

Step 5. If you find yourself in need of rescue, use the appropriate visual-distress signal equipment.

Step 6. If you find yourself without an anchor, the Coast Guard recommends using a bucket and rope as an emergency anchor.

If you cannot reach your destination safely, seek shelter for the duration of the storm. Safe shelters include marked areas for mooring or bays and docking areas that are protected by breakwaters.

Knowing that weather is on the horizon and being prepared for running into storms while on the water can help keep you, your passengers, and your vessel safe.

Wanna Find Out Just How Fragile Life Can Be?

Have someone die in your arms, simply because he wasn't wearing a life preserver. That's what happened to Wired2Fish President Terry Brown (right) a few years ago.

He had taken his Ranger 106 to a local lake one Monday to test the engine and to take photos of some lures for an article. He had chosen that day because it wouldn't be crowded. As he was destined to learn, though, less crowded is great when fishing but not so good when an emergency arises.

While launching his boat, Brown heard an elderly gentleman hollering that he was stranded and needed to be pulled in. The engine in his boat wouldn't start. A couple other anglers went to pick him up and pull his boat back to the dock.

Problems started when they began trying to get the elderly gentleman out of his boat, which was quickly filling with water. To make matters worse, he wasn't wearing a life jacket, and there wasn't one in his boat.

It soon became clear that the elderly fella was too disheveled and unbalanced to get out of his boat on his own or with help either one. Brown subsequently ran to the scene to try and calm the man down and help tie his boat to the dock. In that process, however, the elderly gent fell into the water and quickly went out of sight.

Brown felt around in the muddy water and soon was able to grab his arm and pull him back to the dock. He spit out a bit of water, looked up at Brown, and when asked, said he thought he was going to be OK. Brown then said he and a helper would move him down the dock toward the bank a little at a time when he was ready. Simultaneously, though, Brown noticed the gent was getting glassy eyed and confused. Because he was so heavy and waterlogged, they couldn't lift him, so the helper went to get additional assistance.

Brown kept reassuring the elderly gent that he wouldn't let him go, but he also noticed that he looked more and more confused. Suddenly, he saw the gent's eyes roll back, and he knew he was having a heart attack.

"He died in my arms," said Brown, "and although EMTs, lifeguards, and others performed CPR, he never came back. In a weird way, I was glad I was there, because I don't think anyone ever should die alone."

In the days following, Brown said he couldn't stop thinking about what, if anything, he could have done differently.

"My heart told me he was someone's dad or grandpa, and I'll never get his face or look of desperation out of my head," Brown explained. "I truly believe an angel came and got him that day. That doesn't make it any easier, though.

"Should I have had a better plan? I don't know, but in that moment, I know I did my best and tried to settle him. I told him I wouldn't leave him and held on to him until they got him out of the water. I do know I was there for a reason. Had I not been on the scene and able to grab his arm, I believe he would have drowned. I did not know him well or even his name until his obituary came out, but rest assured he will be with me the rest of my life. I still see his face both when awake and when asleep."

When Brown got home that night, he sent a company-wide email with one simple message: Wear your life jackets, even on the dock. Even if you're young. Even if you're always on the water. Wear them. Period.

Would that have saved the elderly gentleman? "Maybe or maybe not," responded Brown, "but it certainly would have kept his head out of the water and not put him into shock. It would have, at a minimum, given him a fighting chance."

As Brown learned that fateful day, the difference between life and death truly is the blink of an eye.

Pulled Away From the Dock at Safe Light...

 

And by 9 o'clock, Wayne and I already had gotten a limit. The goal was to catch a few fish and call it a day before the hot sun had a chance to turn us to toast. With a visit to my dermatologist scheduled for next Wednesday, I wasn't prepared to put myself in line for a lecture from my doctor.

We managed to catch a few fish...plus some. By the time we quit about 11 o'clock, we had put together a bag that would have weighed somewhere between 16 and 17 pounds, anchored by two fish that would have gone about 4 or 4.5 lbs. apiece.

We returned to the dock at the same time all the pleasure boaters were showing up and trying to drop their craft in the water. It would be safe to say we wasted no time getting Wayne's rig on the trailer and heading for home. Considering the number of other boats we met on the road, we definitely got out while the gettin' was good.

With the weather forecast being what it is for the next week, I don't foresee us spending any whole days on the water anytime soon. More likely, any fishin' trips will resemble today's venture.

Flipping Pioneer Dee Thomas Has Passed

The California tournament angler we know as "Dee" Thomas (left), who is renowned for refining the flipping technique and spreading it eastward in the 1970s, has died at the age of 85. Despite being on bottled oxygen for well over a decade, as the result of lung cancer, Thomas continued to fish seriously and competitively, even after the disease was diagnosed as inoperable.

Among his many accolades was membership in the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, and the California Outdoors Hall of Fame. He won the 1975 Bassmaster Arkansas Invitational on Bull Shoals, competed in the 1975 Bassmaster Classic on North Carolina's Currituck Sound and the 1996 Red Man (now BFL) All-American in Arkansas.

Despite all those achievements, Dee is best known for revolutionizing the sport by taking the technique then know as "tule dipping" and transforming it into the flipping and pitching techniques that now are standard. As such, his influence extended not only to mentees like Gary Klein and Hank Parker, but also to the Hall of Fame careers of anglers, including Denny Brauer and Tommy Biffle.

While Thomas elected to stay primarily in the West, his influence was felt on the national stage through others' success. After returning to California, he tutored his friend Dave Gliebe on the technique, and Gliebe used it to win B.A.S.S. invitationals on Toledo Bend and the Kissimmee Chain in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Gliebe also qualified for three consecutive Bassmaster Classics.

Thomas' most profound long-term influence, though, came in the form of Gary Klein, who went on to become a 30-time Classic qualifier and a co-founder of Major League Fishing. At the time of their first meeting at Lake Oroville, Klein was a confident and impressionable 15-year-old.

"I was a cocky kid and walked up to him and pretty much told him that one day I'd be as good as him," Klein recalled. "He looked me in the eyes, gave me a big bear hug, and said, 'Bring it on.'"

Beyond his family, tournament fishing, and mentoring (and occasionally hectoring) younger anglers, Thomas had few other interests. He was a passionate dog owner who, in later years, said that the only reason he was staying alive was for his pets.

While Thomas had his own extended family, Klein was proud to say that they "developed a father/son relationship." Klein made it a goal to educate others about his mentor's legacy, since "a lot of anglers who have a flipping stick on their decks never have heard the name Dee Thomas."

Dee's wife, Terry, his partner of more than 40 years, passed away in 2016. Between them, they had five children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

(Adapted from a special to BassFan from Pete Robbins. To read his entire tribute, click on this link: https://www.bassfan.com/news_article/10551/flipping-pioneer-thomas-dies-at-85.

How Many Times Do I Have To Tell You There Aren't Any Fish Up There?

That's the question I often get from my Dewey's tournament partner. The "up there" Wayne keeps referring to are trees that get in my way when I'm trying to make a cast.

Go ahead and laugh if you're so inclined. Wayne and I both get a kick out it, too. I don't repeat the spectacle every cast, but I have to admit that it happens a lot more regularly than I would like.

I bring up this matter because of a Wired2Fish article I was reading the other day...one that addressed a number of lessons everyone who fishes would do well to learn from the pro anglers. The second item on that list was this: Be a more proficient caster. It went on to note that "anglers know that casting matters. You have to be able to land close to targets, but it's often not good enough to just land near targets. Quietly putting your baits into places other anglers cannot is the ultimate goal.

"The shallower the fish go, the better and quieter your casts must be. Sometimes you have to keep a lot of distance between you and your targets, and you have to be able to skip, roll cast, flip, pitch, and present your targets quietly, with minimal splash to get the bites that everyone else misses. A very accurate, quiet cast in shallow water catches a lot more fish."

I agree with everything stated above...but p-l-e-a-s-e don't expect ME, of all people...to be able to demonstrate, especially when it comes to things like being able "to skip, roll cast, flip, pitch, and present your targets quietly, with minimal splash." Look at it this way: I'd have better luck trying to drive a boat blindfolded.

That being said, let me now share some of the other lessons discussed in that Wired2Fish article.

Stick to your strengths in tough conditions. When it seems like you can't buy a bite, how often do you find yourself digging through your tacklebox looking for the magic lure? Common logic tempts us to assume that a simple process of elimination would be enough to eventually remedy even the toughest bite.

Mark Davis stresses the importance of sticking with your strengths on slow days of fishing. Experimenting is great, but if you're looking to gain confidence in a new technique, why try it when the bite stinks? Davis argues this will do more harm than good in the long run. You'll be better served just putting a few baits on the front deck that you have confidence in and hunkering down.

Timing is everything when you're targeting big bass. According to bass pro Bryan Thrift, "Big bass don't stay in specific, shallow-water areas for very long. They'll be somewhere in the surrounding area, but they're most accessible and predictable during very short feeding periods throughout the day. The window of opportunity is sometimes just a few minutes."

His advice is to find multiple big-fish areas and fish them in a systematic rotation. They'll let you know if they're there. If you don't get any bites, move to the next area and repeat the process throughout the day.

Hookset mechanics are critical. Problems with fish getting off more often than not have more to do with the act of hooking the fish than it does the equipment being used.

Muddy-water bass are like humans in a dark room. In the words of Dion Hibdon, "If someone cuts the lights off in your house at night, the first thing you're to do is get to a hard wall and feel your way around. When rain dumps a bunch of mud into an otherwise clear fishery, the bass will do the same thing."

They can't see very well, so they cruise tight to the bank in order to counteract the low-visibility conditions. The importance of making repeated casts...perhaps as many as 20 or more...in these situations can't be overstated.

Hard-color contrasts can result in more reaction strikes. Throughout the manufacturing process, some lures will get different amounts of colors than others. It thus pays to sift through dozens of the same crankbait models to find one with a hard-line color contrast between the back and sides of the lure. The quick flash of that stark color contrast may just prove to be a major triggering mechanism for otherwise lethargic bass.

Fish deep earlier than other anglers. Looking for them deep earlier than usual in the post-spawn period can lead to some really big catches.

Fall rate is often the determining factor. Fish can get really picky, especially in the winter, and the difference between a 1/4-ounce jig and a 3/8-ounce jig can be huge. Never write off a good flipping bite until you make sure to change your weight size and give it a fair shot.

Land your jig on top of something when fishing laydowns. Dave Lefebre has a little secret when it comes to fishing laydowns. Instead of aiming for the water right next to the limbs or trunk, he lightly lands his jig on top of the actual laydown and slides it into the water. You also can use this technique when frog fishing. Cast the frog on top of a seawall or onto dry land and slowly pull it into the water. This does two things: It virtually eliminates any splash and also makes it seem as if a frog is jumping into the water from dry land.

The next time you find yourself struggling for a bite...or as in my case, just trying to stay out of the trees, think back on some of these memorable fishing tips from some of the world's best pro anglers. Their ideas may just open up a whole new dimension to your fishing game.

The Toilet Seat Is Fixed Now!!!

So what does that line have to do with today's tournament? Well, look at it this way. For a period of many months now, those who have needed to avail themselves of the marina store's facilities were forced to face the distinct reality that they might come away from the experience in a bit worse shape than when they started. Why do I say that? Because, you see, the toilet seat wasn't attached, and thus folks were forced to sit real still when taking care of business, or run the risk of ending up in the floor...need I say more?

Thus, there was somewhat of a run on the restroom today, as folks took their turn on the "throne" and, as in that one TV commercial for toilet paper, "enjoyed the go."

 All kidding aside, we do thank the management for making this upgrade to the restroom.

Let me now get down to the real business of the day: letting you know who came away from the tournament as winners and who finished as also-rans. A total of 15 anglers in nine boats showed up this morning. They brought a total of 40 bass to the scales, weighing a combined 72 lbs. That figure translates into an average weight per fish of 1.80 lbs.

Finishing in 1st place was the team of (from left) Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean. They, like all the other participants who weighed in today, had a five-fish limit weighing 13.61 lbs., anchored by a big bass that tipped the scales at 3.98 lbs.

Claiming 2nd place was Heath Parker, who also brought in a limit, weighing 13.29 lbs. His big fish was a 4.81-pounder that also earned him the big fish pot. He further walked away with the 1st side pot.

Taking 3rd place honors was the team of (from left) Ken Testorff and Wayne Hayes. Their bag weighed 9.60 lbs. They didn't have a kicker fish. They also won the 2nd side pot.

Here's how all the other participants finished the day:

     * The team of Andy Morath and Gabe Himmelwright had a total weight of 8.80 lbs. They didn't have a big fish.
     * The team of Bobby Moore and J. P. Twohig had a total weight of 7.48 lbs. after a 0.50 deduction for one dead fish. Their big fish weighed 2.42 lbs.
     * Rob Peppers had a total weight of 6.72 lbs., with no big fish.
     * The team of Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre had a total weight of 6.30 lbs., with no big fish.
     * The team of Craig Jones and Rob Chatham had a total weight of 6.20 lbs., with no big fish.
     * Ken Matthias didn't weigh any fish. He had an emergency at home and had to leave early.

Two more competitors, in the person of Craig Jones and Rob Chatham, joined the list of those anglers eligible to fish our season-ending two-day Classic tournament in October.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next scheduled event is set for Saturday, Aug. 13th. Hope you'll make plans to fish with us.

One Last Cast

It doesn't matter how much time you spend pre-fishing. When it comes to tournament day...the time to put up or shut up...one's success more times than not will depend on just how closely the conditions you faced during pre-fishing is duplicated on the big day.

After two successful pre-fishing days, one of which we stayed in the same area all day and one in which we only verified the fish hadn't moved from that area, Wayne and I felt fairly certain we could go back today and come away with a really respectable tournament-day limit.

While some of the pre-fishing conditions were right in line with what we found today, others had changed...and, more importantly, so had the bite. And thus, we were left to ponder whether to stay put or make a move. Considering that we had been able to ascertain that the fish still were there, we decided to stay put and avoid the pitfall some anglers make of leaving fish in hopes of finding other fish.

There undoubtedly are those who would say we probably made a mistake in sitting tight, but Wayne and I both feel our decision was the right one. We both lost a couple of nice fish over the course of the next several hours, but in the end, we ended up with a respectable limit. And the last three fish all came within a few minutes of each other, utilizing those methods that had been so successful during our pre-fishing trips.

In the final analysis, I think both Wayne and I agree we would probably repeat what we did today if we had it all to do over again.

Current Overall Statistics

About As Ready As We Can Get for Sunday's Contest

As planned earlier, our second trip of the week to North Landing took place on schedule. Despite an early-morning lightning show, along with a few showers, they collectively weren't enough to put a damper on our spirits or intentions. Of course, we waited out the lightning show before launching.

By 9 a.m., Wayne and I already had boated a limit that would have tipped the scales at about 12 lbs. We stayed on the water, though, another couple hours, which allowed us time to check out a couple other spots. At least we have a game plan for Sunday's tournament, which, after all, was the purpose for our two trips this week.