Fishing

It's all about the bait

2008-04-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

The following is an article by Stephen Headrick, The smallmouth guru, Bassmaster.com

It's all about the bait

Here in the dead of winter you have to really be on your game to have a great smallmouth trip. In the spring, almost anyone can catch them. They're hungry and aggressive and more vulnerable than any other time of the year. In the fall, they can be like that, too.
Come summer, I like to go out at night and work a hair jig around deep grass beds. Catching smallies then can be challenging, but nothing like the winter. In the winter, tough fishing is expected.

One of the keys to catching smallmouth in winter is finding the bait and doing the best possible job of imitating it. Since crawfish hibernate in the winter, I don't try to emulate them at this time of year. Instead, I do what I can to imitate a baitfish. Just what kind of baitfish you want to imitate depends on the body of water you're fishing and the bait available there.

Another key is to find a way to present that baitfish imitation slowly enough to match the metabolism of winter baitfish and bass. That generally means one of two techniques — the float and fly (which suspends a small hair jig beneath a float so you can move it as slowly as possible) and the suspending jerkbait or crankbait (which can be stopped and will hold in place for long periods of time).

You need to a use a lure that won't plummet to the bottom when you're not moving it. The limiting factor with the float and fly and suspending hard baits is how deep you can get them.
A jigging spoon or blade bait could work — and you can get them much deeper — but you'll have to fish them vertically. They're great choices for when you've pinpointed the bass, but poor search baits.

It's an old truism that if you can find the bait, you've found the bass. That's as accurate in the winter as at any other time. Baitfish can be patterned just like bass and will respond predictably to weather changes.

In the winter, if there's been a warm rain, you'll find the baitfish in the backs of creeks that are dumping warm water into the lake. If the rain was a cold one, they'll be out in the main lake where temperatures are more stable. After a few warm, sunny days, you can expect the baitfish to move up shallower where the water warms more quickly. Look for them on your electronics. Typically, they'll be deeper after a front and near the main lake. Find the lure that best imitates them and that you can fish slowly, and you should be in the action.

Until next time, if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you. Please e-mail me at Stephen@thesmallmouthguru.com.

For further articles by this experienced guru, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/index

What lure to throw?

2008-04-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

The following article is by Stephen Headrick, The Smallmouth Guru, courtesy of Bassmaster.com

5 Simple Questions

Since I started doing this column for Bassmaster.com, I've been getting a lot of e-mails asking some very interesting questions. Some of the questions are so thought provoking that I've turned them into columns. Others have been expecting a little too much from me.

For example, I've had several folks ask me what lures I'd throw if I was fishing this lake or that lake. The odds are pretty good that I've never even seen that body of water, much less fished it. So, rather than try to tell you what lure you ought to be throwing, I'm going to give you a list of five questions you should ask yourself every time you go fishing or think about lure selection.

1. What time of year is it? Think in terms of "bass seasons" — prespawn, spawn, postspawn, summer, fall and winter. How bass behave and where you'll find them depends more on this than anything else. As a result, it has a great deal to do with what lure you'll want to be using.

2. What is the water temperature? Since bass are cold-blooded, they're basically the same temperature as the water. Temperature will dictate whether you can use a fast moving spinnerbait or must stick with a slow moving jig. It also tells me what retrieve speed I can use.

3. What is the water color? Water color will help me decide on a lure color. I go with natural colors (most of the time) if it's clear, and I go with bright colors or black when it's dirty. I also look at light conditions and use the same guidelines.

4. Is there any wind? Conditions might be otherwise ideal for fishing a light jig, but if the wind is howling at 40 mph, there's no way I can feel it. I'll need to change to a heavier bait and probably one that can be effectively fished on a fast retrieve. Most of the time, of course, the wind isn't a determining factor, but when it blows you have to think about it.

5. What is the available forage? Most often, I want to mimic the same food that the bass are eating. If they're targeting shad, I want to use something that looks like a shad. If they want crawfish, I'll probably throw a dark jig or crankbait. I want my lure to fit into their environment and look like food.

If you can answer these five questions, you can go a long way to figuring out just what you should be fishing with and why. Until next time, if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you. Please e-mail me at Stephen@thesmallmouthguru.com.

fishermen needed

2008-03-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

"Never a fisherman need there be, if fishes could hear as well as see"

author: unattributable
source: Notes & Quotes, ser. IV, ii, 94

Smallmouth Guru

2008-03-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

The following is an article by Stephen Headrick, The Smallmouth Guru, Bassmaster.com

A question I get asked a lot when I'm traveling around the country doing seminars is "What's the most common mistake smallmouth bass anglers make when they're fishing a jig?" It's a really good question, and I've had a chance to think about it for several years now, so my answer has changed a little over time.

I used to tell people that the biggest mistake was that they didn't fish the jig often enough or that they didn't fish it slowly enough. Both of those answers are true, by the way.
But now I think the biggest mistake most anglers make when fishing a jig is that they don't keep their rod tip low enough when they fish it. Instead they keep the rod tip up at 11 or 12 o'clock, which is a great position for detecting strikes, but a poor one for setting the hook.

If you watch your line carefully, like I do, you'll soon realize that you can see more strikes than you ever feel. And since that's true, you'll do yourself a big favor by keeping your rod low during a jig retrieve — from about 9 to 10 o'clock.You might be able to get away with a high rod angle when largemouth fishing or even when the smallmouth are really tearing it up, but on slow days or when you need to turn every strike into a catch, keeping your rod tip low will pay off for you with more bass.

The reason is simple. When your rod tip is low — nearly parallel to the water — you're in a
better position to set the hook, and you need to be able to do that very, very fast. Smallmouth are curious creatures, but they don't have hands. The only way they can check something out is by picking it up in their mouths. When they're curious and not really feeding — which I think is a big majority of the time — you don't have as long to set the hook as when they're eating heavily and sucking that lure all the way to the backs of their mouths.

By keeping your rod low, your eyes on the line and by having a hair trigger hook set, you're going to catch a lot more smallmouth.And remember to set the hook just as soon as you feel something different, something you can't recognize. The strike isn't always a solid thump or even a mushy feeling. Sometimes it's the complete loss of feeling because a fish has picked up your bait and is moving toward you with it. Other times it's completely different from any of those. Watch your line closely, and set the hook just as soon as you see it move or feel something different.

Almost as important when you're setting the hook on a good smallmouth is to get your hand on the reel right away (better yet, never take it off) and get cranking on that fish to keep the line tight and the bass moving toward you. Slack line is your enemy, and you need to keep that fish coming after the hook set.
Finally, don't wait when you have a strike! It's a guarantee that the bass doesn't have your lure in its hands!

For further articles by this experienced guru, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/index

How about fly-fishing in Northern Spain

2008-03-10T10:13:00.001-07:00

For the fly fishermen there is a beautiful place in Northern Spain, along the Mino, Labra, and Tamoga Rivers. With Brown trout plentiful, you will be fishing with Kingfishers, Eagles, Kites and Storks. More wild life abounds here including deer and wild boar. For further information visit www.flyfishinggalicia.co.uk/

Bull Shoals Lake

2008-03-06T05:04:00.000-08:00

An impressive 71,000 acre lake, situated on Arkansas-Missouri border south of Sundown, Missouri, the Bull Shoals Lake is one lake you should consider for your fishing and camping vacations. For a family fishing vacation, you can choose any water sport you like, bring your water skis, scuba diving equipment, camping gear, fishing tackle, as well as hiking equipment. Swimming is great mid May through September.

The Bull Shoals Lake has numerous boat ramps in both Arkansas and Missouri areas. Fishing is great year round, but the peak action is during March, April and May, for bass, crappie, catfish, and many other species.

Bass Fishing Hall of Fame

2008-03-03T06:38:00.001-08:00

A five-time Bassmaster Classic contender, Charlie Campbell of Forsythe, Missouri, is one of four men who were inducted recently into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Campbell competed in 229 Bassmaster events from 1971 to 2002. He scored 27 top-20 finishes, including fifth place in the 1974 Classic. He is also known for creating the Charlie Campbell CC Spinner Bait and contributing to the design of the first Bass Tracker Boats.

Three other pioneers of the sport will be inducted posthumously, including Nick Creme, who with his brother invented the first soft-plastic worm and founded Creme Lure Co. in Texas. Lure inventor and TV show host Virgil Ward of Missouri also will be inducted, as will Elwood Lake "Buck" Perry, the North Carolina angler widely acclaimed as being "the father of structure fishing."

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization based in Hot Springs, Ark.

courtesy Fishing World.com

WackyBass on Hit and Run for Bass

2008-02-27T05:03:00.001-08:00

I found a site that I am sure you guys will enjoy, Fishing.US, along with this post by WackyBass, check this out.

Hit And Run For Bass
By WackyBass at Fri, 2008-02-08 12:39 Bass Fishing
For the past 33 years I have been on the lookout for an all around bass lure that can be used in the hundreds of ponds, park district and forest preserve lakes that surround my urban world called the Chicago land area and I have found it. I needed a bass lure that would be suitable for just about any bank fishing situation and one that can be carried in my pocket if need be.
My current fast paced lifestyle forces me to be selective in the amount of time that can be dedicated to my favorite hobby and past time, bass fishing. When I see a new body of water I pull over, grab my medium action spinning rod that is rigged with a rabbit hair wacky worm, and cast for 15 minutes or so. When I am on the road whether doing errands or on business, I have a great opportunity to explore new places, possibly catch a bass at a new fishing hole close to home. No matter the time of year (excluding winter); I make my first cast parallel to the shore, no more than 3 feet out. I gradually work my casts further and further from shore until I get that first strike. After the first bass is landed and released, I concentrate on the same distance from shore, still working the lure so it moves parallel to the shoreline. After 15 minutes is up I get a firm understanding of the quality of fishing spot it is, and what my next planned trip will entail.
The trick to this “hit and run” largemouth bass fishing tactic for busy people can only be successful if you are prepared at all times and you travel light. Traveling light means that you have a medium action rod with a spinning reel and a plastic, slow sinking lure such as a rabbit hair wacky worm already tied on ready to go. It is important to have a slow sinking lure since most park district or forest preserve bodies of water are rather shallow and full of vegetation, near the very mucky bottom. If you used a diving or heavy lure such as a crankbait, you will spend the majority of your fifteen minutes removing algae, weeds and other debris from your lure. The slow sinking rabbit hair wacky worm will sink and find the proper depth for you. You will enjoy yourself immensely and have a much better chance of success if your lure is spends a majority of its time fishing rather than snagging.
It can be extremely challenging finding the time to do some quality bank fishing let alone catch some fish with your favorite bass fishing lure, but with a little time management and planning, you will find that there is way to hit and run for bass.

courtesy of Fishing.US

BASS Federation news blog from BASS Masters Magazine, Bassmasters.com

2008-02-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

February 13, 2008
Rhode Island Renaissance
BASS Federation Nation Youth Senior Manager Stacy Twiggs, author

Aside from those die-hard ice fisherman, most of us thin-blooded bass fisherman are grinding our teeth into tiny Chiclets® as we eagerly await the approaching fishing season. The promise of warmer weather and giant bass has every serious bass fisherman chomping at the bit and slobbering over some new secret gizmo bait or unexploited fishing technique. The season of snow leaves plenty of time to prep for the promise of spring, but it's also the most popular time for state BASS Federation Nations to host their annual awards banquets and general membership meetings. My recent trip to the smallest state in the country revealed a spirit bigger than the Montana sky.

The Rhode Island BASS Federation Nation annual awards banquet has flourished over the years and become a fine example of the BFN founding principles. A collaborative effort designed to unite their members brings together adult and youth for a special combined awards banquet. Both adult and junior state teams come together to celebrate the past year's accomplishments complete with award presentations and enough pictures to keep Kodak busy until next year's banquet.

Imagine a large group of peers applauding a select team of adult anglers being presented with awards and confirmation of their upcoming trip to the BFN Divisional. Now take a moment to envision the same room interspersed with Junior Bassmasters, fully complemented with decorated jerseys and cheering for their adult mentors. Twenty minutes later, when the roles were reversed, every person in the banquet hall was standing with applause equally flattering for the Junior Bassmasters receiving their awards.

The principle behind a combined banquet is a noble mark of respect for both the adult and youth programs, but it's also a tribute to their goal of integrating their two programs together to the best of their ability. To see the Rhode Island adult state team members along with other adults show the same admiration for their young anglers was an extremely gratifying experience.
In addition to recognizing youth and adult state teams, they honored Rod Hammond with one of the greatest distinctions any BASS member can earn. After reading through a long list of accomplishments they presented Mr. Hammond with the Rhode Island BFN Sportsman of the Year Award. The Northern Rhode Island BASS Anglers were also recognized as Team Club Champions. The club competed the weekend after Independence Day with 8 anglers (4 boaters and 4 non-boaters) competing in a team format where all 8 weights combined together to determine the Team Club Champions. In a theme consistent with the spirit of the Rhode Island BFN, Junior Bassmaster clubs can also team up with their adult sponsoring club to compete in the same event.

This was the second year the state conducted a joint banquet. "The event represents a special opportunity to show appreciation for the people who roll their sleeves up and make things happen within the state," said Roy Costa, Rhode Island BFN president. "There's no way we can possibly thank everyone, but their contributions and support are never taken for granted."
The adult and junior state teams help set up the banquet, hang banners and conduct various fund raisers. Raffle proceeds from the banquet raise money to help support the adult state team as they advance to divisional competition. On the youth side, proceeds go toward funding an entire year's worth of activities, events and awards. "We're very thankful and proud of the support the adults provide to the youth program and their support as boat captains for our events," said Mike Broggi, Rhode Island BFN Youth Director.

Looking across the room, I recognized a familiar face and past Bassmaster Classic qualifier, Joel St. Germain. Bearing the same smile he always has, you could see his support for the youth. He graciously shared products from his personal sponsorships, contributing what he could to the entire Rhode Island BASS Federation Nation. "He's been an unbelievable supporter of the organization and is always willing to contribute," said Costa.
The Rhode Island BFN has worked tirelessly to integrate the youth and adult programs. Broggi is extremely gracious for the overwhelming adult support of the state youth efforts. "Fundraisers like the annual awards banquet help the Rhode Island Junior Bassmaster program fund its annual activities without leaning on the adult treasury," said Broggi.
As I prepared to head back for Florida, Costa proudly reminded me of how special the past year had been. "It's been a great year for the Rhode Island BASS Federation Nation! We hosted the 2007 Eastern Divisional, and the state team stepped up to make it a successful event for all the Eastern Division states in attendance. The team helped coordinate, organize and step up wherever needed."

One glimpse of the Rhode Island BASS Federation Nation and you know that the next 35 years of this grassroots organization is in prepared and well-groomed hands.

Article from Bassmaster.com

Salt Water fishing in the Gulf of Mexico

2008-02-14T09:34:00.000-08:00

The season for salt water fishing is fast approaching in the Gulf of Mexico. Between now and June 1st is an opportune time to take advantage of the weather before the hurricane season is upon us. All along the coast of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida you can find guides to take you on an ideal fishing trip out into the Gulf. For the seasoned fisherman, you can book a fishing trip down to Cancun and even further into the Bay of Campeche, where you can really get your teeth into strong arming the big ones.

Great White Sturgeon

2008-01-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

Fishing in the Snake River for the mighty Sturgeon which reaches lengths of 10 feet or more, is an adventure of it's own. After an hour of reeling you start to wonder who has who! There are also trout and bass available in these waters.

Season for Trout, Bass and Sturgeon is open all year, also you will need an Idaho fishing license.

Idaho, USA fishing and outdoor recreation

2008-01-22T10:57:00.000-08:00

Idaho, USA is one of the most beautiful states I have ever visited. It has unbeatable weather in the Lewiston Clarkson Valley, called the "banana belt", a place where you can enjoy year-round sunshine for retreats, conferences and sightseeing adventures. Two rivers join at the Lewiston and Clarkston border, the Clearwater and the Snake, making recreation the heart of the lifestyle. Few places offer the amount, variety and accessibility of recreation that are offered. White water rafting, hunting, fishing, boating, water-skiing, and sandy swimming beaches offer endless possibilities. Miles of levee pathways follow the rivers for walking, jogging and biking.

The Lewiston and Clarkston communities are named for the famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who journeyed through this area twice during their 1804-1806 expedition. The expedition traveled over 8000 total miles over a period of 2 years, 4 months and 10 days.

I will share more of my story of Idaho in my next post. See you then.

Need a Bass lure?

2007-12-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

You may have many years of Bass fishing; on the other hand, you may be just setting out to explore the excitement this sport has to offer. You have made a wise decision to invest your skills and spare time in this very exciting sport. If you are a beginner, you should study the different species of Bass that you will have the opportunity to catch. Then you can study the different kinds of lures that are best suited for fishing Bass. As you gain experience, you will be a better judge for yourself as to which lure is the best for Bass fishing, eventho' there are many manufacturers that claim to have the best lure for Bass fishing.

A tried and true way to find the best Bass fishing lures, techniques, etc. is to join an amateur fishing club and mix with the more experienced anglers. The association with experienced fishermen, will allow you to learn a lot about your chosen sport, Bass fishing.

Youth fishing in Florida

2007-12-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

Young children and young adults need encouragement and an alternative to many of the influences they encounter in their busy lives. A single fishing trip could be the turning point in a young life and the rewards are endless. Florida offers many opportunities for kids to fish and experience the thrill of catching even a small fish. The secret to making a fishing trip a success for youth is to plan the entire trip around their interest level. If they get hooked on catching, they will grow to enjoy the fishing experience. Keep the scheduled trip simple, and have a plan. Begin by fishing for pan fish or catfish. The trip doesn't need to be long, make it a reasonably short trip, maybe two hours. Share a lunch by taking a picnic prepared ahead, and make it a part of the experience. Use simple tackle at first, and focus on praise of their participation rather than their catching a big fish. Share the beauty of the outdoors with them and be ready to end the experience if they are tired, but if they wish to stay a little longer, be ready to extend the time. Adapt to their wishes, and you will be a winner. One thing to remember, teach them "Catch and Release" when appropriate. Not all kids are destined to become fishermen, be satisfied that you have presented them with the opportunity to fish and see if they enjoy it. Happy fishing in Florida.

2007-12-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

Being from Texas originally, my family has a long history for fishing, both river and Gulf of Mexico waters. One of my favorite lakes is Lake Fork, 80 miles east of Dallas, with 27,000 acres. It is said to be the best place for Bass fishing in the state of Texas.

My father used to have a shrimp boat for his fishing hobby, and he loved the Gulf and made a number of trips down to the Bay of Campeche for some deep sea fishing. My son-in-law has invested his life into fishing, has attended lots of tournaments across the country, and well on his way professionally, living now in Kissimmee, Florida. The state of Florida has many, many lakes and rivers to fish, not to mention the entire Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic side as well. With spring coming up before you know it, there will be fishermen lining up for their chance to hook a big one.