DEVELOPING A GAME PLAN FOR UNFAMILIAR WATER
Your fishing trip has been planned for many weeks. You and your favorite fishing partner have gone over every detail to assure nothing has been forgotten. The night before leaving you will find it hard to sleep. The thoughts of where and how you will catch the fish have been filling your mind most of the night. The reasons for the meticulous planning are because you have limited time on the water and you have never been on the body of water you are about to visit.
When most anglers arrive at an unfamiliar body of water they have already obtained as much information about it as possible. Anglers are notorious for knowing what the fish are being caught on before they ever leave home. We will have our whole weekend planned around how others have caught fish at our destination. However, the information we receive may not be current or even correct. The information may have come from a newspaper fishing report that is only as good as its source. While I was on a guided trip in Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, the guide told me when the local newspaper and radio stations contact him he will either tell them the productive lures or the areas, but never both. The best way to avoid the problems of other angler's information is to listen but remember it is not etched in stone. Fishing is a very dynamic sport where productive methods can change in a very short time.
Many anglers feel that most productive fishing days are the result of a systematic, analytical approach. The best way to get started is to eliminate as much water as possible; break down the whole area into many small areas; eliminate water considered very deep for the particular body of water. Bass are generally more active when positioned in shallow water. The most important things to consider when developing a game plan are the type of water you are fishing, the time of the year, water condition, and weather condition.
The type of water will play a major role in the areas and lure types I begin with. When I refer to type of water these questions arise. Are you going to fish a shallow lake or river where anglers consider deep water ten feet or more; are you visiting a mid-land reservoirs where there are lots of small creek and a few large river channels present; or is your destination a high-land lake where there are sheer bluff walls and deep, clear water? The answer to this question is the first step in a series of items you must consider. The others, though they seem simple, are major pieces to the puzzle.
The time of year must be considered. Fish will behave certain ways during particular seasons. During winter months the water temperature is cold and the fish are lethargic. In the summer fish tend to be the most active but can become lethargic when the water temperatures rise to extremes and the oxygen levels fall. Water condition, particularly temperature and clarity, must be thought about carefully. Bass are a cold blooded creature and their metabolism is directly affected by the water temperature they live in while water clarity dictates how well and far fish can see in the water. All of these things play a part in the sport we call fishing. When you arrive at your destination consider all the things mentioned and use past experiences to get started. Also, look for areas like points, roadbeds, ledges and breaks, underwater humps, and ditches. These types of structures have proven to hold concentrations of fish.
Points have long been a productive place for anglers. Bass use them for migrations routes and staging areas when traveling between deep water. As air and water warm in the spring bass move up from deeper water into shallow areas to spawn. During the summer they will often travel from deep to shallow water on a daily basis. They will move to the shallow areas at night as the surface water cools and return to deep water as temperatures began to rise during the day time hours. Points have long been a favorite of both the bass and the angler.
Roadbeds are used by bass as migration routes and they are also easily found by anglers. A good topographical map is an excellent tool for finding roadbeds, but a keen eye on the bank of most reservoirs will most often do just fine. These areas will offer cover to the bass in the form of broken asphalt and concrete, gravel, ditches along the side of the old road, and an occasional bridge. The flat area of the roadbed becomes an avenue for both bait fish and the bass. Furthermore, roadbeds are prime spawning flats, especially the old gravel roadbeds.
Ledges and breaks are similar to points that extend into the water. They are a prime area for the angler interested in structure fishing. The drop offs may be in increments of only a few feet, but can also have vertical drops of twenty feet or more. When approaching these areas watch for bait fish, if present the bass will most likely be close by. Drop offs and ledges are perfect locations for vertical presentations like bouncing a jig or working a spoon.
Under water humps and ditches will quite often hold bass. Humps give a bass an area to locate in water shallower than the surrounding water and the security of being away from the shoreline where anglers often prowl. Ditches are usually found a short way from the shoreline and often create the subtle depth changes bass are looking for.
In your search for areas to fish don't overlook obvious targets like man made brush piles and fallen down trees. These targets are bombarded with lures every day but if you fish them thoroughly they can pay big dividends. Also, don't pass up a boat dock that has good cover or deep water close by. On many older lakes docks are a major source of cover for the fish.
Current and sun, or lack of, can influence the way a bass will hold on a particular piece of cover or structure. In most situations when current is flowing bass will be facing into the current for a better position to ambush bait fish. Therefore it is always a good idea to present your offering with the current. Bass have a tendency to swim around more when current is not prevalent. Sun light, in most cases, will cause bass to hold tighter to cover. For a long time it was thought this was true because bass don't have eyelids and the bright light hurt their eyes. However, now it is believed the reason is due to the fact it is much easier to ambush prey from a darker area looking into the more lighted area.
There are a lot of conditions to consider when putting together a plan of action on unfamiliar water. All the above-mentioned conditions play a major role in the way a bass will behave. The areas mentioned are by no means a complete list of areas to locate concentrations of bass. However, if you will take a close look at both water and weather conditions as well as the time of year when considering these areas, it will make you a better angler. Fishing is a thinking game and bass will generally react the same way as in the past when conditions repeat themselves. Bass are creatures of habit and anglers should count on the oldest and biggest ones to usually follow the same routines to get that way.
Copyright 2008, Marc Rogerswww.midwestfishingtackle.net
Midwest Fishing Tackle, Exclusive retailer of Midwest Custom Tackle
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Flipping and Pitching
FLIPPING AND PITCHING ARE KEYS TO BIG BASS
There are many fishing techniques used to catch big bass. Most anglers, if asked, would have an opinion on the most effective ways of taking big bass on a consistent basis. Most professional anglers would agree the most productive means of catching big bass is to use the flipping and pitching techniques.
While both flipping and pitching are great ways to fish, pitching is the most efficient because you can cover water faster. Tournament pro Tom Biffle prefers pitching because he can not only cover more water, he can make longer casts which results in less chance of spooking the fish.
Biffle uses a Quantum seven and one half foot rod with a high speed Quantum reel for most of his pitching. At times he will use a slower reel for the added power necessary to pull big fish from heavy cover. His reel is spooled with clear line in 25-30 pound test. Biffle seldom loses fish because he uses a long rod, heavy line, and ties the Palomar knot.
The rubber-skirted jig is the most popular bait for flipping and pitching. It is usually rigged with a plastic crawfish or pork frog. Traditionally the pork frog has been used for cold water condition and the plastic crawfish for warm water. This is beginning to change among anglers. Biffle says, "I have caught a lot of bass using a plastic crawdad trailer in cold water." He prefers the crawdad because it doesn't turn on the hook and cover the point like the pork frog sometimes does. Many fish have been lost due to this problem. Also, he prefers compact baits because it penetrates the cover better than large bulky bait.
When flipping and pitching with a plastic worm, I recommend using a paddle tail worm. They will fall through heavy cover better. Ribbon tail worms are the worst choice for heavy cover because the tail will wrap around a small limb or weeds and hang up. They are easy to shake free but will not fall at the intended target when you shake them loose.
After you choose your target make your presentation to the thickest part of the cover. Do not start at the outside edges and work your way into the heavy area. Biffle says when bass are holding on buck brush and brush piles the big fish will always be in the middle of the cover. When fishing heavy cover you can use the limbs to your advantage by hanging your bait over one to get a vertical presentation. This allows you to slowly move the bait keeping it in the strike zone longer.
Finding the fish is most of the battle of fishing. Once located, you can try different presentations to confirm the most effective. When looking for fish in the heavy cover you should first consider water temperature. In the spring and summer when the water is warm I look to the back of the coves and creeks with heavy cover. According to Biffle, the buck brush holds more fish in the spring when the bass are spawning. In the summer the willow trees are more productive. During late fall through early winter concentrate on points close to deep water. When fishing points concentrate on areas of the points where submerged brush piles are present. You will find the brush piles will concentrate bass and will greatly increase your success.
While fishing heavy cover treat each piece as a miniature lake, by doing so you can create a pattern within a pattern. After finding the primary pattern, (type of cover, depth, area of lake or river, etc.) I concentrate on what I was doing when a fish was caught. This involves paying close attention to things as whether the fish was taken on the outside or middle of cover; near a small point or cut in the cover; was I using a vertical presentation with aid of a limb, etc... These little differences can make the difference between success and failure.
If you have trouble with backlashes while pitching you are probably loading (flexing the rod by pulling the line tight) when holding the bait. What you should be doing instead is holding the bait in your hand and lifting the rod while releasing the bait. This will cause a pendulum effect and allow for longer and more precise casts. The faster you raise the rod tip the longer the cast will be. At the moment the bait passes over the target you should lift the rod tip while thumbing the spool to a stop. This causes the bait to stop and fall vertically for a quiet entry.
There are a few common mistakes anglers should avoid when flipping and pitching. Flipping requires the angler to be close to the target and in clear water conditions the result is often spooked fish. Pitching allows you to make longer casts to avoid this problem. With both techniques the goal is to have the bait enter the water quietly. A low trajectory on the cast will provide a quiet entry. Also, while flipping, many anglers are still holding the line after the cast is made. Since most bites will occur on the initial fall, by holding the line they leave themselves in a position where a good hook set is impossible.
During seminars Biffle stresses the importance of learning to flip with your less dominate hand. He says since most of the strikes occur on the fall a right handed person will be changing hands to crank the reel when the fish picks up the bait. By learning to pitch and flip with the less dominate hand you will become much more successful.
Next time you are on the water try flipping and pitching for big bass. They are slower than many other techniques but day in and day out they will consistently produce big bass.
Copyright 2008, Marc Rogers
http://www.midwestfishingtackle.net/
There are many fishing techniques used to catch big bass. Most anglers, if asked, would have an opinion on the most effective ways of taking big bass on a consistent basis. Most professional anglers would agree the most productive means of catching big bass is to use the flipping and pitching techniques.
While both flipping and pitching are great ways to fish, pitching is the most efficient because you can cover water faster. Tournament pro Tom Biffle prefers pitching because he can not only cover more water, he can make longer casts which results in less chance of spooking the fish.
Biffle uses a Quantum seven and one half foot rod with a high speed Quantum reel for most of his pitching. At times he will use a slower reel for the added power necessary to pull big fish from heavy cover. His reel is spooled with clear line in 25-30 pound test. Biffle seldom loses fish because he uses a long rod, heavy line, and ties the Palomar knot.
The rubber-skirted jig is the most popular bait for flipping and pitching. It is usually rigged with a plastic crawfish or pork frog. Traditionally the pork frog has been used for cold water condition and the plastic crawfish for warm water. This is beginning to change among anglers. Biffle says, "I have caught a lot of bass using a plastic crawdad trailer in cold water." He prefers the crawdad because it doesn't turn on the hook and cover the point like the pork frog sometimes does. Many fish have been lost due to this problem. Also, he prefers compact baits because it penetrates the cover better than large bulky bait.
When flipping and pitching with a plastic worm, I recommend using a paddle tail worm. They will fall through heavy cover better. Ribbon tail worms are the worst choice for heavy cover because the tail will wrap around a small limb or weeds and hang up. They are easy to shake free but will not fall at the intended target when you shake them loose.
After you choose your target make your presentation to the thickest part of the cover. Do not start at the outside edges and work your way into the heavy area. Biffle says when bass are holding on buck brush and brush piles the big fish will always be in the middle of the cover. When fishing heavy cover you can use the limbs to your advantage by hanging your bait over one to get a vertical presentation. This allows you to slowly move the bait keeping it in the strike zone longer.
Finding the fish is most of the battle of fishing. Once located, you can try different presentations to confirm the most effective. When looking for fish in the heavy cover you should first consider water temperature. In the spring and summer when the water is warm I look to the back of the coves and creeks with heavy cover. According to Biffle, the buck brush holds more fish in the spring when the bass are spawning. In the summer the willow trees are more productive. During late fall through early winter concentrate on points close to deep water. When fishing points concentrate on areas of the points where submerged brush piles are present. You will find the brush piles will concentrate bass and will greatly increase your success.
While fishing heavy cover treat each piece as a miniature lake, by doing so you can create a pattern within a pattern. After finding the primary pattern, (type of cover, depth, area of lake or river, etc.) I concentrate on what I was doing when a fish was caught. This involves paying close attention to things as whether the fish was taken on the outside or middle of cover; near a small point or cut in the cover; was I using a vertical presentation with aid of a limb, etc... These little differences can make the difference between success and failure.
If you have trouble with backlashes while pitching you are probably loading (flexing the rod by pulling the line tight) when holding the bait. What you should be doing instead is holding the bait in your hand and lifting the rod while releasing the bait. This will cause a pendulum effect and allow for longer and more precise casts. The faster you raise the rod tip the longer the cast will be. At the moment the bait passes over the target you should lift the rod tip while thumbing the spool to a stop. This causes the bait to stop and fall vertically for a quiet entry.
There are a few common mistakes anglers should avoid when flipping and pitching. Flipping requires the angler to be close to the target and in clear water conditions the result is often spooked fish. Pitching allows you to make longer casts to avoid this problem. With both techniques the goal is to have the bait enter the water quietly. A low trajectory on the cast will provide a quiet entry. Also, while flipping, many anglers are still holding the line after the cast is made. Since most bites will occur on the initial fall, by holding the line they leave themselves in a position where a good hook set is impossible.
During seminars Biffle stresses the importance of learning to flip with your less dominate hand. He says since most of the strikes occur on the fall a right handed person will be changing hands to crank the reel when the fish picks up the bait. By learning to pitch and flip with the less dominate hand you will become much more successful.
Next time you are on the water try flipping and pitching for big bass. They are slower than many other techniques but day in and day out they will consistently produce big bass.
Copyright 2008, Marc Rogers
http://www.midwestfishingtackle.net/
Monday, July 21, 2008
Fishing Vertical Edges Can Be Very Productive
Many anglers pass by some very productive areas in lakes while traveling to their fishing destinations each and every day. Some head off to shallow flats while others prefer long extended points in deeper water. To some extent the type of water available in each lake determines the type of areas fished. In Florida most waters are shallow due to the make up of the surrounding terrain. Lake Okeechobee has common lake level at 14 feet above sea level. However, Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri has a normal summer pool of 915 feet above sea level. Anytime bluff walls are available in a body of water anglers should give serious consideration to fishing them.
Bluff walls have most any type of situations anglers may be looking for when fishing. Bluffs can be fished shallow by targeting the areas where the surface water meets the bluff as well as fished deep by presenting a lure in a vertical presentation. Many submerged points and rock edges (shelves) are also available on bluff walls. Furthermore, they generally are located on an outside river channel swing, which is sometimes an ideal area to catch fish.
Most bluff walls don’t fall off into really deep water immediately. They have a stair step process down to the deepest water. This is where the edges are created and often time hold concentrations of fish. This allows the fish to move in the water column to their preferred depth without having to move long distances. They can move up and down while still having the luxury of maintaining a close distance to cover. Keep in mind that most bluffs also have submerged trees that once grew out of the sides of them before the lake was impounded. These trees are great cover for most any game fish.
A variety of lures can be used while fishing bluff walls. Both crank baits and spinner baits are ideal for retrieving along the face of a bluff while maintaining a preferred depth.
Allowing these lures to deflect off the submerged trees can often trigger reaction strikes from fish as well.
Jigs are also a great lure to use in these areas. Jigs can be cast perpendicular to the water’s edge and worked slowly out into deeper water while allowing the lure to rest on the submerged rock shelves. The most common mistake made when fishing bottom bouncing lures on bluff walls is an angler may take up to much line during the retrieve. With a jig resting on a rock ledge the angler will lift the rod tip and turn the reel handle while the lure is falling. This will bring the lure out into deeper water and often keep it from resting on the next ledge.
To eliminate this problem the angler should allow the lure to fall on a semi-tight line until it makes contact with the next ledge. A semi-tight line is necessary to allow the angler to feel strikes while the lure is falling. Also, it pays to be a line watcher in this situation. Many times a slight twitch in the line will indicate a fish has picked up the lure on the fall.
The draw backs of using any bottom bouncing lure on bluffs is the tendency for them to get hung up on the edges of rocks as well as lodged in the many crevices in the structure. I have found a football type jig head is the least likely to get stuck in these areas. A jig head with a 60-degree bend in the hook eye will also lessen the chance of your line and knot from getting damaged by the rough terrain. My jig of choice for this style of fishing is an All-Terrain Tackle Rock Jig. The All-Terrain Tackle jig also features a waffle type surface on the bottom of the head, which I believe creates better feel of the bottom.
A shaky head jig presentation has become very popular over the last couple of years. I have incorporated this presentation into bluff fishing as well. These types of jig head used in combination with a small worm or crawdad lure are excellent choices for bluff fishing. A spinning outfit is best used in this situation because it allows anglers to opt for lighter line and the bail of the reel can be easily opened to allow a lure to free fall along the bluff. Keep in mind that a shaky head presentation is really just a different form of fishing a more traditional jig.
My favorite shaky head is the Gambler Giggy Head with a Gambler Giggy Stick or Crawdaddy attached. The Gambler Giggy Head is designed so the head of the lure is pushed onto a barb, which is molded, into the head and then the hook is inserted into the bait. This design allows the lure to easily come free from the jig head when a fish strikes and keeps the lure from balling up on the hook point. This jig head has helped me to catch more fish where other jig heads would have had the hook point covered with the lure due to it sliding down the hook.
There are countless ways to present lures on bluff walls. Use your favorites and don’t be afraid to experiment with others. Bluffs can be fished on the water’s surface down to the dark depths. Just remember these area hold almost all of the type of cover and structure anglers like to fish but concentrate them into much smaller areas.
Copyright 2008, Marc Rogers
Many anglers pass by some very productive areas in lakes while traveling to their fishing destinations each and every day. Some head off to shallow flats while others prefer long extended points in deeper water. To some extent the type of water available in each lake determines the type of areas fished. In Florida most waters are shallow due to the make up of the surrounding terrain. Lake Okeechobee has common lake level at 14 feet above sea level. However, Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri has a normal summer pool of 915 feet above sea level. Anytime bluff walls are available in a body of water anglers should give serious consideration to fishing them.
Bluff walls have most any type of situations anglers may be looking for when fishing. Bluffs can be fished shallow by targeting the areas where the surface water meets the bluff as well as fished deep by presenting a lure in a vertical presentation. Many submerged points and rock edges (shelves) are also available on bluff walls. Furthermore, they generally are located on an outside river channel swing, which is sometimes an ideal area to catch fish.
Most bluff walls don’t fall off into really deep water immediately. They have a stair step process down to the deepest water. This is where the edges are created and often time hold concentrations of fish. This allows the fish to move in the water column to their preferred depth without having to move long distances. They can move up and down while still having the luxury of maintaining a close distance to cover. Keep in mind that most bluffs also have submerged trees that once grew out of the sides of them before the lake was impounded. These trees are great cover for most any game fish.
A variety of lures can be used while fishing bluff walls. Both crank baits and spinner baits are ideal for retrieving along the face of a bluff while maintaining a preferred depth.
Allowing these lures to deflect off the submerged trees can often trigger reaction strikes from fish as well.
Jigs are also a great lure to use in these areas. Jigs can be cast perpendicular to the water’s edge and worked slowly out into deeper water while allowing the lure to rest on the submerged rock shelves. The most common mistake made when fishing bottom bouncing lures on bluff walls is an angler may take up to much line during the retrieve. With a jig resting on a rock ledge the angler will lift the rod tip and turn the reel handle while the lure is falling. This will bring the lure out into deeper water and often keep it from resting on the next ledge.
To eliminate this problem the angler should allow the lure to fall on a semi-tight line until it makes contact with the next ledge. A semi-tight line is necessary to allow the angler to feel strikes while the lure is falling. Also, it pays to be a line watcher in this situation. Many times a slight twitch in the line will indicate a fish has picked up the lure on the fall.
The draw backs of using any bottom bouncing lure on bluffs is the tendency for them to get hung up on the edges of rocks as well as lodged in the many crevices in the structure. I have found a football type jig head is the least likely to get stuck in these areas. A jig head with a 60-degree bend in the hook eye will also lessen the chance of your line and knot from getting damaged by the rough terrain. My jig of choice for this style of fishing is an All-Terrain Tackle Rock Jig. The All-Terrain Tackle jig also features a waffle type surface on the bottom of the head, which I believe creates better feel of the bottom.
A shaky head jig presentation has become very popular over the last couple of years. I have incorporated this presentation into bluff fishing as well. These types of jig head used in combination with a small worm or crawdad lure are excellent choices for bluff fishing. A spinning outfit is best used in this situation because it allows anglers to opt for lighter line and the bail of the reel can be easily opened to allow a lure to free fall along the bluff. Keep in mind that a shaky head presentation is really just a different form of fishing a more traditional jig.
My favorite shaky head is the Gambler Giggy Head with a Gambler Giggy Stick or Crawdaddy attached. The Gambler Giggy Head is designed so the head of the lure is pushed onto a barb, which is molded, into the head and then the hook is inserted into the bait. This design allows the lure to easily come free from the jig head when a fish strikes and keeps the lure from balling up on the hook point. This jig head has helped me to catch more fish where other jig heads would have had the hook point covered with the lure due to it sliding down the hook.
There are countless ways to present lures on bluff walls. Use your favorites and don’t be afraid to experiment with others. Bluffs can be fished on the water’s surface down to the dark depths. Just remember these area hold almost all of the type of cover and structure anglers like to fish but concentrate them into much smaller areas.
Copyright 2008, Marc Rogers
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Fishing to Win
Fishing to Win
There are countless fishing tournament circuits from the ones that attract the touring professionals to the small regional circuits that generally consist of avid week - end anglers competing for bragging rights and enough winnings to cover their costs. Many of the smaller circuits have “buddy” events where anglers compete for total boat weight. Almost all of these circuits conduct some kind of year-end event where qualifiers compete for money and prizes. To qualify the anglers accumulate points based on their finishing position in each qualifying event.
Points are generally awarded for participation in each event (10 points is common among most) and additional points for where the angler(s) finish. An example would be 100 points for a first place finish plus the 10 participation points for a total of 110 points for a win. Second place would be 109 points and so on down the list of anglers who were able to weigh in fish at the event. This is where many amateur anglers get caught up in catching a “points” fish instead of setting out to win each event. I am not suggesting that winning is easy but if the angler(s) don’t set out to do so they generally don’t bring a limit of fish to the scales at the end of the event.
Many anglers are happy with their first legal fish caught because it secures them a chance to accumulate points for the event. These points will certainly help them qualify for the year-end event and keep them in contention to win the points championship. After the first legal fish in boated it tends to take some of the pressure off the anglers(s). They will be more relaxed and then sometimes tend not to fish as competitive as they may have the ability to do.
Fishing for points generally leaves the angler(s) finishing in the middle of the pack at each event. They probably will not win the points championship and they will seldom cash a check at any event. I have watched fellow anglers allow themselves fall into this situation several times while fishing regional tournament circuits and had it personally happen to me as well. My partner and I led a circuit in points all the way until the last event only to end up in third place in the point championship race.
I must admit he and I spent a lot of time watching the point standings and relaxed after catching our first “points” fish. We only cashed a check in one event with a second place finish and big bass honors. However, the big bass was the only fish we caught during that tournament and just happened to be enough weight to also take second place.
This situation now makes me look at each tournament in a different way. My thoughts have changed and I now fish to win instead of worry about the points. When trying to win an event I know I will fish harder and be much more intense throughout the day. If winning is the goal I believe most anglers will finish higher in the standings at each event and the points will come as well. When the event starts anglers should count on catching a limit of legal fish and then start culling them with bigger fish. Make a limit your minimum standard and don’t relax until each one has been replaced with a larger one.
As it turned out the team who won the points championship and beat my partner and myself truly deserved to win it. They also had brought the most weight to the scales during the qualifying events. They even won the last event securing a one point lead over second place and three point lead over third place.
Learn from others mistakes and don’t get caught up in the “points” race in any tournament circuit. It will cost you at the end of the year in both the point standings and winnings.
Copyright Marc Rogers 2008, all rights reserved
www.midwestfishingtackle.net
There are countless fishing tournament circuits from the ones that attract the touring professionals to the small regional circuits that generally consist of avid week - end anglers competing for bragging rights and enough winnings to cover their costs. Many of the smaller circuits have “buddy” events where anglers compete for total boat weight. Almost all of these circuits conduct some kind of year-end event where qualifiers compete for money and prizes. To qualify the anglers accumulate points based on their finishing position in each qualifying event.
Points are generally awarded for participation in each event (10 points is common among most) and additional points for where the angler(s) finish. An example would be 100 points for a first place finish plus the 10 participation points for a total of 110 points for a win. Second place would be 109 points and so on down the list of anglers who were able to weigh in fish at the event. This is where many amateur anglers get caught up in catching a “points” fish instead of setting out to win each event. I am not suggesting that winning is easy but if the angler(s) don’t set out to do so they generally don’t bring a limit of fish to the scales at the end of the event.
Many anglers are happy with their first legal fish caught because it secures them a chance to accumulate points for the event. These points will certainly help them qualify for the year-end event and keep them in contention to win the points championship. After the first legal fish in boated it tends to take some of the pressure off the anglers(s). They will be more relaxed and then sometimes tend not to fish as competitive as they may have the ability to do.
Fishing for points generally leaves the angler(s) finishing in the middle of the pack at each event. They probably will not win the points championship and they will seldom cash a check at any event. I have watched fellow anglers allow themselves fall into this situation several times while fishing regional tournament circuits and had it personally happen to me as well. My partner and I led a circuit in points all the way until the last event only to end up in third place in the point championship race.
I must admit he and I spent a lot of time watching the point standings and relaxed after catching our first “points” fish. We only cashed a check in one event with a second place finish and big bass honors. However, the big bass was the only fish we caught during that tournament and just happened to be enough weight to also take second place.
This situation now makes me look at each tournament in a different way. My thoughts have changed and I now fish to win instead of worry about the points. When trying to win an event I know I will fish harder and be much more intense throughout the day. If winning is the goal I believe most anglers will finish higher in the standings at each event and the points will come as well. When the event starts anglers should count on catching a limit of legal fish and then start culling them with bigger fish. Make a limit your minimum standard and don’t relax until each one has been replaced with a larger one.
As it turned out the team who won the points championship and beat my partner and myself truly deserved to win it. They also had brought the most weight to the scales during the qualifying events. They even won the last event securing a one point lead over second place and three point lead over third place.
Learn from others mistakes and don’t get caught up in the “points” race in any tournament circuit. It will cost you at the end of the year in both the point standings and winnings.
Copyright Marc Rogers 2008, all rights reserved
www.midwestfishingtackle.net
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Carolina Rig
Carolina Rigs Are Not Just For Lizards
When the term “Carolina Rig” is said most anglers think of a soft plastic lizard on 3 – 4 foot leader behind a ½ to ¾ ounce sinker. The leader is usually 8 – 12 pound test line while the main line is 14 – 20 pound test. This presentation has been very effective for catching bass for many years but the Carolina rig doesn’t have to be limited to lizards.
The popular Senko style baits as well as tubes, worms, grubs, crawdads and flukes are very effective when used with the Carolina rig. Generally the presentation is the same with these lures as it is with the lizard. However, the Carolina rig gives these baits a different look than their regular presentations.
The Senko style baits on a Carolina rig allows the angler the dead-stick presentation in the deep water of extended points and submerged humps. A lift and drop presentation with the heavy sinker causes the bait to rise from the bottom quickly and slowly fall similar to a dead shad. Rig it on a light wire hook wacky style for a dead-shad look.
Tube baits are generally fished on a jig head for open water or Texas rig for flipping to heavy cover. Anglers should not pass on tube baits for the Carolina rig. I have had great results fishing 3 – 4 inch tubes on a Carolina rig on long points and flats. A light wire hook inserted in the head of the tube and brought back outside like a Texas rig has proven the most effective for this presentation. When fishing clear bottoms with mostly rocks I leave the hook point against the side of the tube but do not insert it back into the bait. If cover requires, I rig it weedless by skin hooking the bait just under the outside of the tube. For added action from a tube place a foam ear-plug (or small piece) inside the tube to add flotation to the bait. A tube rigged this way will move erratically when retrieved with a lift and drop motion. However, make sure the foam material doesn’t interfere with the hook finding its mark when a fish bites.
Many anglers think plastic worms are for Texas rig presentations. However, a small shaky style worm (the ones with a flat side create more darting action) on a Carolina rig is ideal for sluggish bass. This worm can be used with the lift and drop presentation as well as a slow-dragging motion for quick side-to-side action with this worm.
Grubs are also a great choice for using with the Carolina rig. A 3 – 5 inch grub is a great way to imitate a swimming shad. Again, a light hook and light leader will allow the bait to look more realistic to the bass. When using a grub I have found a lift and drop presentation has proven the most effective.
The fluke (soft plastic jerk bait) is very effective for imitating shad just below the surface. This same lure can be used on a Carolina rig and create the same action well below the surface. It should be rigged the same as traditional methods for sub-surface use but on a 3 – 4 foot leader for increased action in deep water.
The soft plastic crawdad is traditionally used as a flipping lure on a Texas rig. When swimming to escape from a predator the crawdad with jump off the bottom and swim a short distance with the claws up in the defensive position. The Carolina rig creates this exact action with the crawdad when used with the lift and drop presentation. Most strikes occur on the fall as soon as the sinker makes contact with the bottom.
If your choice is generally a lizard you should not forget about the floating lizard made by Gene Larew Lures. This special formula of soft plastic will float a light wire hook on an 8 - pound test leader well off the bottom. This particular lure is great where submerged weeds are present. You can adjust your leader length to keep the bait just above the top of the weeds.
I have even experimented with using floating jerk baits like the original floating Rapala minnows on a Carolina rig with some success. Once, I located spotted bass holding just above the bottom on an extended main lake point holding close to large boulders. The fish were too deep for a crank-bait to reach and I was having no luck on any lures that would reach the depth. This method is difficult to cast and can be dangerous if care isn’t used. This particular situation called for a quick dragging presentation but was effective in catching fish from the school in about 45 feet of water.
There are many advantages to using the Carolina rig but the best one is that an angler can cover a lot of water more quickly with soft plastic baits and greater depths than other methods. This isn’t to say the Carolina rig is the best soft plastic presentation, but when fish are scattered on long points and flats and are biting on soft plastics there isn’t a better way to cover the large areas quickly and thoroughly. However, don’t be afraid to experiment with the Carolina rig.
Copyright 2008, Marc Rogers; Midwest Fishing Tackle
www.midwestfishingtackle.net
When the term “Carolina Rig” is said most anglers think of a soft plastic lizard on 3 – 4 foot leader behind a ½ to ¾ ounce sinker. The leader is usually 8 – 12 pound test line while the main line is 14 – 20 pound test. This presentation has been very effective for catching bass for many years but the Carolina rig doesn’t have to be limited to lizards.
The popular Senko style baits as well as tubes, worms, grubs, crawdads and flukes are very effective when used with the Carolina rig. Generally the presentation is the same with these lures as it is with the lizard. However, the Carolina rig gives these baits a different look than their regular presentations.
The Senko style baits on a Carolina rig allows the angler the dead-stick presentation in the deep water of extended points and submerged humps. A lift and drop presentation with the heavy sinker causes the bait to rise from the bottom quickly and slowly fall similar to a dead shad. Rig it on a light wire hook wacky style for a dead-shad look.
Tube baits are generally fished on a jig head for open water or Texas rig for flipping to heavy cover. Anglers should not pass on tube baits for the Carolina rig. I have had great results fishing 3 – 4 inch tubes on a Carolina rig on long points and flats. A light wire hook inserted in the head of the tube and brought back outside like a Texas rig has proven the most effective for this presentation. When fishing clear bottoms with mostly rocks I leave the hook point against the side of the tube but do not insert it back into the bait. If cover requires, I rig it weedless by skin hooking the bait just under the outside of the tube. For added action from a tube place a foam ear-plug (or small piece) inside the tube to add flotation to the bait. A tube rigged this way will move erratically when retrieved with a lift and drop motion. However, make sure the foam material doesn’t interfere with the hook finding its mark when a fish bites.
Many anglers think plastic worms are for Texas rig presentations. However, a small shaky style worm (the ones with a flat side create more darting action) on a Carolina rig is ideal for sluggish bass. This worm can be used with the lift and drop presentation as well as a slow-dragging motion for quick side-to-side action with this worm.
Grubs are also a great choice for using with the Carolina rig. A 3 – 5 inch grub is a great way to imitate a swimming shad. Again, a light hook and light leader will allow the bait to look more realistic to the bass. When using a grub I have found a lift and drop presentation has proven the most effective.
The fluke (soft plastic jerk bait) is very effective for imitating shad just below the surface. This same lure can be used on a Carolina rig and create the same action well below the surface. It should be rigged the same as traditional methods for sub-surface use but on a 3 – 4 foot leader for increased action in deep water.
The soft plastic crawdad is traditionally used as a flipping lure on a Texas rig. When swimming to escape from a predator the crawdad with jump off the bottom and swim a short distance with the claws up in the defensive position. The Carolina rig creates this exact action with the crawdad when used with the lift and drop presentation. Most strikes occur on the fall as soon as the sinker makes contact with the bottom.
If your choice is generally a lizard you should not forget about the floating lizard made by Gene Larew Lures. This special formula of soft plastic will float a light wire hook on an 8 - pound test leader well off the bottom. This particular lure is great where submerged weeds are present. You can adjust your leader length to keep the bait just above the top of the weeds.
I have even experimented with using floating jerk baits like the original floating Rapala minnows on a Carolina rig with some success. Once, I located spotted bass holding just above the bottom on an extended main lake point holding close to large boulders. The fish were too deep for a crank-bait to reach and I was having no luck on any lures that would reach the depth. This method is difficult to cast and can be dangerous if care isn’t used. This particular situation called for a quick dragging presentation but was effective in catching fish from the school in about 45 feet of water.
There are many advantages to using the Carolina rig but the best one is that an angler can cover a lot of water more quickly with soft plastic baits and greater depths than other methods. This isn’t to say the Carolina rig is the best soft plastic presentation, but when fish are scattered on long points and flats and are biting on soft plastics there isn’t a better way to cover the large areas quickly and thoroughly. However, don’t be afraid to experiment with the Carolina rig.
Copyright 2008, Marc Rogers; Midwest Fishing Tackle
www.midwestfishingtackle.net
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Fishing The Busy Summer Time
Avoid the Crowds of Summer by Fishing at Night
As summer gets into full swing the lakes and waterway become full of everything from large boats to personal watercraft. The waters get churned up and running a fishing boat becomes more trouble than it seems worth at times. When this change begins to take place it is time for the avid angler to resort to fishing at night.
Many bass tournaments are held at night during this part of the year due to the increased watercraft traffic during the day. When an angler uses good judgment operating their boat at night it is sometimes safer for them than operating a fishing (bass) boat during the day. Also, the catch rate can be better as well.
I personally take the time to plan my fishing trips during the nighttime hours in the early to late summer. I find this time to be more relaxing than trying to contend with the other recreational boaters that use the daytime hours for their enjoyment.
While bass fishing during the night I tend to rely on a large plastic worm of 10 – 12 inches in length as well as a jig. Most often the angler is more productive to fish baits that allow for a slow moving presentation. There have been times when a crank bait or spinner bait will be more productive but generally this isn’t the case. Spinner baits can be used in the ¾ ounce size with a large single Colorado blade to get great vibration and still work them slowly.
If I had to settle on one lure for all of my night time fishing it would be a 10 inch plastic worm rigged Texas style with a 5/0 offset hook and a 5/16 ounce bullet sinker. I always use dark green colored line but many anglers prefer the florescent blue line and add a black light on the side of their boat for better line visibility. If you were a line watcher during your daylight fishing it would be a good idea to try the black light and florescent blue line.
My second choice for a nighttime lure is the ¾ ounce spinner bait in dark colored skirts with a large single Colorado blade. This lure is best worked very similar to a jig with a more pronounced lifting action. I lift the bait until the blades can be felt turning and then allow it to fall on a tight line. Many times a bass will pick up the bait on the fall and the tight line is needed to detect the strike. This presentation allows the angler to gain the advantage of both the jig and spinner bait using just one lure.
The third choice would be a football head jig for nighttime bass fishing. I choose the football head jig design due to its ability to avoid getting hung up in the many rocks that make up the bottom composition of the Ozark lakes that I regularly fish. With the jig I will vary my presentation between a bouncing off the bottom to a slow drag along the bottom until the fish show which presentation they prefer.
Anglers prefer a wide variety of lures when fishing during these hours, but despite the lure, the best presentation is usually slow. While the bass can easily detect the presence of a lure at night the sense of sight is still less useful than that of the bass feeding during the day.
As long as good sound judgment for safety is practiced by the angler nighttime fishing in the mid-summer season is the best way for anglers to avoid them many crowded lakes in the busy recreational season. Furthermore, the fishing can be excellent as with many night tournaments the winning weight of a five bass stringer can exceed 20 pounds.
www.midwestfishingtackle.net
Copyright 2008 Marc Rogers
As summer gets into full swing the lakes and waterway become full of everything from large boats to personal watercraft. The waters get churned up and running a fishing boat becomes more trouble than it seems worth at times. When this change begins to take place it is time for the avid angler to resort to fishing at night.
Many bass tournaments are held at night during this part of the year due to the increased watercraft traffic during the day. When an angler uses good judgment operating their boat at night it is sometimes safer for them than operating a fishing (bass) boat during the day. Also, the catch rate can be better as well.
I personally take the time to plan my fishing trips during the nighttime hours in the early to late summer. I find this time to be more relaxing than trying to contend with the other recreational boaters that use the daytime hours for their enjoyment.
While bass fishing during the night I tend to rely on a large plastic worm of 10 – 12 inches in length as well as a jig. Most often the angler is more productive to fish baits that allow for a slow moving presentation. There have been times when a crank bait or spinner bait will be more productive but generally this isn’t the case. Spinner baits can be used in the ¾ ounce size with a large single Colorado blade to get great vibration and still work them slowly.
If I had to settle on one lure for all of my night time fishing it would be a 10 inch plastic worm rigged Texas style with a 5/0 offset hook and a 5/16 ounce bullet sinker. I always use dark green colored line but many anglers prefer the florescent blue line and add a black light on the side of their boat for better line visibility. If you were a line watcher during your daylight fishing it would be a good idea to try the black light and florescent blue line.
My second choice for a nighttime lure is the ¾ ounce spinner bait in dark colored skirts with a large single Colorado blade. This lure is best worked very similar to a jig with a more pronounced lifting action. I lift the bait until the blades can be felt turning and then allow it to fall on a tight line. Many times a bass will pick up the bait on the fall and the tight line is needed to detect the strike. This presentation allows the angler to gain the advantage of both the jig and spinner bait using just one lure.
The third choice would be a football head jig for nighttime bass fishing. I choose the football head jig design due to its ability to avoid getting hung up in the many rocks that make up the bottom composition of the Ozark lakes that I regularly fish. With the jig I will vary my presentation between a bouncing off the bottom to a slow drag along the bottom until the fish show which presentation they prefer.
Anglers prefer a wide variety of lures when fishing during these hours, but despite the lure, the best presentation is usually slow. While the bass can easily detect the presence of a lure at night the sense of sight is still less useful than that of the bass feeding during the day.
As long as good sound judgment for safety is practiced by the angler nighttime fishing in the mid-summer season is the best way for anglers to avoid them many crowded lakes in the busy recreational season. Furthermore, the fishing can be excellent as with many night tournaments the winning weight of a five bass stringer can exceed 20 pounds.
www.midwestfishingtackle.net
Copyright 2008 Marc Rogers
Post Spawn Bass Fishing
FISHING THE POST SPAWN FOR BASS
The cold months of winter are only a memory while the spawn is just ending. Catching bass during this transition from spawn to post-spawn is one of the most difficult times for many anglers to catch fish. The female bass have moved off to deeper water while the males are just finishing up guarding the nests.
While the males were aggressive guarding the nests and some were caught on lizards and crawfish lures the females were somewhat less aggressive in the deeper water between spawn and summer patterns.
A very good starting point for catching post-spawn bass is to find areas where the fish will travel from spawning areas to the post-spawn areas. Submerged timberlines are great areas where fish travel from spawn to post-spawn areas. Midwest Fishing Tackle Pro Staff Member Aaron Hunter says “I watch for timber lines, ditches and roadbeds that will provide cover for the larger females while making their move from spawning areas to the post-spawning areas.” Aaron says he learned this technique from a guide while fishing the first time on Lake Fork in Texas.
In lakes void of timber the angler should concentrate on submerged ditches that offer a couple of feet depth change from the surrounding areas. I agree with Aaron because just this last year while fishing Lake Patoka in Southern Indiana I found the bass to be almost non-existent for the first day of fishing. However, on the second day I located an old creek channel that was about 8 feet deeper than the flat it ran through and was able to catch bass consistently.
The creek channel in Lake Patoka was about 1 mile long and meandered through a flat so I used marker buoys to mark the channel about every 50 yards and fished the drop of the old channel. A ¾ ounce jigs was the lure to produce the most fish this day in late May. This lure was heavy enough to allow me to stay in contact with the bottom of the lake and feel the drop in the creek channel.
Aaron says he prefers to use spinner baits in these areas so “I can slow roll it through the timber and hop it along the ditch line.” He reports he allows the spinner bait to free fall from the top of the drops into the deeper water while still maintaining feel of the lure. “You must be able to feel the blades spinning or you are not keeping the line tight enough.” Locating a good shad population in there areas is the key to success. While the females will use these areas to travel most will not stay there long if an abundance of food is not present. They are in need of food after the spawning process.
With shad present in the areas a white or chartreuse spinner bait is ideal. The white lure will be similar to the shad while the chartreuse will be a closer match of bluegill. The angler should let the blade color be decided by the water color and light conditions.
Aaron is a regular on a few tournament circuits including the Joe Bass Team Trail where his father Alton is his partner. The two of them will target the more aggressive males while first trying to fill a limit during a tournament. After they have caught their limit they will move out to the areas Aaron calls “highways” where the females travel to deeper water after laying their eggs in the nest.
The father/son team has found a tournament can’t be won on a limit of legal male bass. The winners must have at least one good kicker fish that is usually a large female. Aaron says “I don’t feel comfortable going to the scales without at least two good females in my live well at the end of the day.”
Copyright 2008 Marc Rogers,
The cold months of winter are only a memory while the spawn is just ending. Catching bass during this transition from spawn to post-spawn is one of the most difficult times for many anglers to catch fish. The female bass have moved off to deeper water while the males are just finishing up guarding the nests.
While the males were aggressive guarding the nests and some were caught on lizards and crawfish lures the females were somewhat less aggressive in the deeper water between spawn and summer patterns.
A very good starting point for catching post-spawn bass is to find areas where the fish will travel from spawning areas to the post-spawn areas. Submerged timberlines are great areas where fish travel from spawn to post-spawn areas. Midwest Fishing Tackle Pro Staff Member Aaron Hunter says “I watch for timber lines, ditches and roadbeds that will provide cover for the larger females while making their move from spawning areas to the post-spawning areas.” Aaron says he learned this technique from a guide while fishing the first time on Lake Fork in Texas.
In lakes void of timber the angler should concentrate on submerged ditches that offer a couple of feet depth change from the surrounding areas. I agree with Aaron because just this last year while fishing Lake Patoka in Southern Indiana I found the bass to be almost non-existent for the first day of fishing. However, on the second day I located an old creek channel that was about 8 feet deeper than the flat it ran through and was able to catch bass consistently.
The creek channel in Lake Patoka was about 1 mile long and meandered through a flat so I used marker buoys to mark the channel about every 50 yards and fished the drop of the old channel. A ¾ ounce jigs was the lure to produce the most fish this day in late May. This lure was heavy enough to allow me to stay in contact with the bottom of the lake and feel the drop in the creek channel.
Aaron says he prefers to use spinner baits in these areas so “I can slow roll it through the timber and hop it along the ditch line.” He reports he allows the spinner bait to free fall from the top of the drops into the deeper water while still maintaining feel of the lure. “You must be able to feel the blades spinning or you are not keeping the line tight enough.” Locating a good shad population in there areas is the key to success. While the females will use these areas to travel most will not stay there long if an abundance of food is not present. They are in need of food after the spawning process.
With shad present in the areas a white or chartreuse spinner bait is ideal. The white lure will be similar to the shad while the chartreuse will be a closer match of bluegill. The angler should let the blade color be decided by the water color and light conditions.
Aaron is a regular on a few tournament circuits including the Joe Bass Team Trail where his father Alton is his partner. The two of them will target the more aggressive males while first trying to fill a limit during a tournament. After they have caught their limit they will move out to the areas Aaron calls “highways” where the females travel to deeper water after laying their eggs in the nest.
The father/son team has found a tournament can’t be won on a limit of legal male bass. The winners must have at least one good kicker fish that is usually a large female. Aaron says “I don’t feel comfortable going to the scales without at least two good females in my live well at the end of the day.”
Copyright 2008 Marc Rogers,
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