Paul Roberts

As a charter member of the "Noon O'clock Club", I rarely get an early start anymore, but I'm typically on the water throughout the noonish timeslot and luv'n it. The plankton hypothesis is very plausible. In addition, I believe the enhanced vision during midday is another credible theory. While young bass tend to exploit their rod-and-cone vision over preyfish by feeding during twilight (dawn & dusk), mature bass seem to exploit the enhanced vision afforded by maximal light levels (10am to 3pm). A third possibility, especially during the cooler months are gradually rising water temperatures, which can never hurt. Roger The light penetration part flies in the face of a key presentation issue -too much of a good thing. I've been circling the temperature increase thing for quite some time now. I believe it's very real. But... that doesn't explain the fact that this is a deep water phenomenon too -maybe more consistently than the shallow bite -which can be confounded by excessive temps in summer (see Roger's other post in the 'Unstable weather post'). There appears to be something going on there -just not sure yet what it is. Not sure if others agree but I see this most obviously in open water, not so much in heavily vegetated waters -although this could be due to temps in the densely vegetated shallows. In some waters, (big reservoirs) it's been attributed to shad behavior. But I've seen it with perch (as forage) too. Visibility seems to be the obvious thing. Doug Hannon claims this is the primary reason. Anyway...wasn't this a moon thread? lol Start at the moon and end up on Earth. Can't be helped. ;D

He's right, in the large scale (many waters over the course of the seasons), but as WRB mentions, and Buck also mentions elsewhere in a similar way, patterns of behavior can be found, but they rarely hold up for days on end. Don't tell Wayne P that. He consistently goes to lakes in the Central VA region and catches 40-100 Bass every time he goes. I've tried to debate him on in but several other people have shot me down. I'm in agreement though, the factors aren't likely to be identical every time. Not saying it's not possible, just unlikely. From what I know of Wayne -he really knows his stuff. Doubt he has any need to BS, and takes his lumps on occasion like everyone else. Let's not get into bashing people and close down a good thread.

Muddy, I'm seeing that pattern too (the mid-day bite -if that's what you mean), elsewhere (don't know what the ESPN top 20 is). We had a thread on that a while back. May have to do with lighting and food chain behavior. Not sure what to think of that yet.

Ditto. That's 'percentage fishing', what every angler comes to. You work with the hand you're dealt, and counter by tipping odds (every one in your arsenal of controls) in your favor. Going back to Buck Perry's comment He's right, in the large scale (many waters over the course of the seasons), but as WRB mentions, and Buck also mentions elsewhere in a similar way, patterns of behavior can be found, but they rarely hold up for days on end. Some years (not this one ) I've had the opportunity to plan my fishing days ahead. I pick days based on basic questions, and am chipping away at those questions. I am seeing patterns. The patterns I've recognized have been related to immediate conditions (sky and water mostly -in many forms). Once you've seen enough of these things you can start to see, and look for, similar things on any day. As for the moon: WRB wrote: That's the question. Now how to tease out the answer -if there really is one there to be found. I've not dropped that bone yet. I'm still very much intrigued.

Good stuff Roger.

The problem I have with a lot of fishing theories is the number of confounding factors that enter in when trying to identify and understand fish behavior, or presentation issues -much less both combined. I have not ruled out lunar effects, and have spent some time dabbling in trying to figure that out -for starters by completely removing one big bunch of mush -the fishing -and looking at behavior only. But as controlled as I've attempted to make it -nature rears her head and confounds the issue. Considering that those "prime" moon phase periods occupy chunks of a rather short lunar month, and then how much sampling effort is actually done by any one angler (how many full moons without clouds for example), makes me strongly suspect that stated definite conclusions are statistically weak at very best (putting it nicely). Plus, how many are willing to rigorously test the alternative (null) hypothesis? Equal effort on non-period nights -with and without clouds. ...etc ... There are moon theories involving every phase and position of the moon purported by impressively experienced anglers. They can't all be right concerning fish behavior. Concerning the issue of all the confounding variables involved, I'll quote one experienced angler, Buck Perry: "One thing I've learned after a lifetime of fishing and observing -I have not found any shortcuts to success, such as finding a single key as to when fish move. There are just too many variables in every category. To my way of thinking, no such key will ever be found -especially in the movements of the moon."

Good post. Love to hear the thoughts of someone that pays attention to the details. 8-) Ditto Catt. "Unstable" usually involves brilliant sun and/or a serious drop in temperature -at fish depth. This latter is rare in my experience. "Change" though can be expected.

Just don't know yet.

Great story. Old fogies often nod off at inopportune times. ;D But you've still got those reflexes! 8-)

I once read a marketing study in which the researcher's found that MOST people read advertisements about products AFTER they'd already purchased them. Looks like a lot of purchases are impulse purchases based on hopes and dreams rather than research and reality. This R&R comes a bit too late for many -including me at times lol. If it's important, and/or expensive, I research it. Lots of info out there on most things at the tips of our fingers. The internet has become truly useful.

Worse comes to worse, I can modify a long arm, and whip (or heat shrink) in a weed guard. Will call 'em anyway and see what's up.

That is a BIG bass. Congrats. Well deserved after the year you've had. Glad to hear you're back on the water.

Yeah, I guess if you look designs go back further than most us us do lol. I'm an archer, and I make my own bows from scratch. Designs gets really complicated (stickbows, not even including wheeled bows), and interestingly a bow was pulled, well preserved, from a marsh in Oregon that was dated at 9000 years! It was a reflex-deflex design with flat limbs! People have been taking tool design to the nth degree for a very long time. 8-)

I used them too, but lost my last a long while back. I have a vivid memory of my first "buzzed" bass (I now call "bulging") I was probably 14 and got permission to fish a private un-fished pond. I threw a Scorpion and "buzzed" it by an old pallet floating in the water -BAM! My Dad called me "Buzz" all that summer -I think hat's all I did, or needed that summer lol. Funny I don't "bulge" much anymore. One more vivid memory (etched into my brain) -I was probably 10. I got bored not catching and tied a Mann's Woolly Bully (long arm) on (light spinning rod (6lb line, lol) and started aggressively ripping it up off bottom and letting it fall, rippin and falling, ... and came into a heavy weight! The head came out -it was the biggest bass head I'd ever seen! I got my Bully back, but that was all. Now this I still do on occasion -hence one use for the Aggravator.

Short arm. I'm aware of the other short arm baits -but none have the weedguard, which is important for a short arm where I throw them -weeds and wood. I have emailed the company. The site indicates they are in process of getting product out. I'll have to call 'em. Thanks all.

Can-nards: The innards of a can. And they are NOT fancy, readily available: Dinty Moore, Progresso, Campbell's, ... Seriously...Canards are small wings used (as far as I know) on submarines and jet fighters. I guess they act as stabilizers too, which I suppose is not what you'd want on a crankbait. They would add diving plane area, but probably not allow much wiggle. Unless Big M gets busy and get's creative with 'em. Who knows? A 2" plug that can achieve 30feet on 17# and a 30 foot cast?! Like those little wings on the old Timber Cranks? That's them! Leave it to Tom Seward. Creative guy he is. Don't want to stir any pots here but I didn't see any reason NOT to include custom designs in this thread. The quick descent design used on Rapala DT's were brought into mass production through David Fritts. Anyway...interesting thread.

I can't find anyone who carries them. I've contacted the new owners but they are wholesale only. Anybody point me in the right direction?

Can-nards: The innards of a can. And they are NOT fancy, readily available: Dinty Moore, Progresso, Campbell's, ... Seriously...Canards are small wings used (as far as I know) on submarines and jet fighters. I guess they act as stabilizers too, which I suppose is not what you'd want on a crankbait. They would add diving plane area, but probably not allow much wiggle. Unless Big M gets busy and get's creative with 'em. Who knows? A 2" plug that can achieve 30feet on 17# and a 30 foot cast?!

Somebody forgot to tell Rapala......I can get a DT-16 almost 18' deep. I have a couple other balsa cranks that get into the low-mid 20's. I believe Rapala's claim on the DTs is the rapid descent, which I believe has to do with it's nose down starting position, as Big M mentioned, and the sharp edged lip -thus the use of micarta and chip boards. Not so sure Raul's list is all there is to it. I'm still wondering about canards -Big M??

1:22 -not bad. IMO, Hank would be the lucky one.

I have some Rebel Deep Wee-R's, and I also have some Rebel Xtra-Deep Wee-R's -the difference being a bearing molded into the plastic lip out beyond the line tie.

Ahhh...Roger and I go way back. Did you know the original Slider Heads were made of stone? True.

I just unedited your pic Roger! (Did you know there's software out there that can do that??) I thought so! It's the hat isn't it. We knew you had a trick up your sleeve. You use your wife's lucky hat. Does she know??

Good stuff here.

Guess we can't call smallies sissies, can we. Aggressive, competitive...sounds like a lot of he-men I've known. Maybe pink is just misunderstood -not the forte of most he-men I suppose. OK...who's gonna be the first to get a pink fishing hat?