Hellbenderman

Went to Black Hills yesterday. Water stained, temp 52-56. Got there about two. Put the boat in and battery was bad. Took boat out and went to Walmart and got a new battery. By the time I got back on the water it 4:00. I asked some other people how they had done and only one guy had caught anything. They were using spinnerbaits mostly. Figuring I had about 3 hours to fish, I made a decision to haul butt and go all the way back under the bridge to the rock barrier. I didn't stop a long the way. There was nothing going on on the rocks. I saw no little fish, no minnows, no bait fish of any kind. I tried a spinnerbait and a jerk bait on behind and in front of the rocks and got nada. Switched tactics. To the right as you face the rock pile, there are some sunken trees about 75 feet (?) down and 75 feet out (?) from the rocks and shore. As I could find no fish out and roaming around, or shallow, I targeted that timber which sits in about 8 feet of water with a senko. I caught three dinks off that lumber in a half hour by just casting to that string of stumps and timber over and over and working it very slowly. I was hoping a monster would stop by, but...So, I think the little ones are out and about, but sluggish and holding tight to whatever, and have to be coaxed out. I didn't see any sign there was big rush to shore, but I was way back there and there may have been more fish in the coves I passed up. I hope this cold spell doesn't last long. We need about a week like the last couple days and the place will explode.

The answer to the question, "Can a recreational Bass angler (with no boat but rents a boat occasionally) get away with not having a Finesse game...??" Sure, and you can catch less fish, as well! If you have enough weapons in your arsenal to satisfy the requirements of the water you fish on a regular basis, and a "finesse technique" is not appropriate, don't bother. On the other hand, there is a time on your lake where it is probably appropriate. Let me get windy cause I got nuttin better to do today. The lake I fish the most is crystal clear. Like most mid-Atlantic lakes, it has die off/back of vegetation so that in the early spring weeds are not a factor. At this time of year, I can use a Carolina rig, if I choose. But, by May, the weeds in this lake will be up a couple feet and a carolina rigs is useless. By June, the fish have moved into 10-20 and the weeds are up to five feet and thick. Particularly in the heat of the day, if I want to catch bass, I have to make contact with those weeds, because that is where the bass are hiding that time of year, down in that shady dark water where they blend in with those weeds and move silently through those weed stalks....like sharks. Now, I can use big heavy jigs or pin a beaver with 1oz weight, and drop down into the weeds, but you are going to get very tired pretty quickly and I only do that when I know there is a log or a rock or some other specific thing down in the weeds. I can also rip a lipless through the weeds, but baring regular success, that get's tiring as well. What I do a lot of the time, particularly through June, is, I work a 5" Senko on heavy #4 hook, with a 10 foot fluoro leader on 15 lb. Spiderwire, across the tops of those weeds...hehehe. It is natural for those fish to be looking up, and here comes Mr. Senko tickling the tops of the weeds or floating done into the first foot. The senko allows me to make contact with the weeds without constantly having to pull them off the other choices. So, in my situation, this finesse thing makes sense. It may not be for you. That said, a senko is a great shallow water bait that can be worked at just about any speed you can think of, and is much less prone to getting hung up on logs, etc., than even a spinner bait. As for expense, I'll bet if you go over to the flea market forum and state your case and tell people you need a spinning outfit, someone will put you into a decent rig for under a $100. Then go out and get a pack of Zoom or anyone's flukes, and a five, I think I use, extra wide gap hook, and rig it weedless. Throw it down a bank and work it back to you in rhythmic short jerks so it darts from side to side, and then you tell me you don't want that in your arsenal come spring time. It is not a search and destroy weapon. It is not a crankbait fan casted across a great area to see if you can scare up a fish. It is more subtle, but I can't imagine what kind of water you are fishing that wouldn't have a period of time where Senkos and such would be appropriate. Take the leap. You won't be sorry, and you have this entire board to help you through the rough spots....hahaha.

Great looking fish! I'm going Saturday and hope to do the same.

Should I be reasonable and not go dashing down to Black Hills this weekend when it hits seventy degrees...stay tuned!

Dead heat of summer, by far. First, there is so much pressure on the waters I fish during spawn, that I wish they would close everything for two weeks to give some of the fish a chance to spawn in peace. I think it would do wonders for the fisheries! By June, the bed jumpers are gone, and by July and August, it's so hot, I can fish all day and only see one or two other boats. I do quite well fishing deep in the dead heat of summer.

It's times like these I turn to the Flying Lure. I swallow four or five Flying Lures with several shots of Jack Daniels, and after a few minutes I don't care any more. Seriously, I feel your pain! Your luck is about to change, though. Looks like the temperature is going from highs of 55 to highs in the 70s by Friday. Have you just had a nasty cold front? Have you guys been getting a lot of the rain that has come east? I don' t know what kind of winter you've had or what the water temp is, but I'm betting if the weather stays warm you will do better. For whatever reason they aren't where you think they should be. That said, I'd be looking for the route the fish take to get onto that flat and the routes into those coves. They will take specific routes into those places. Find them, find fish. At the same time, all that timber...a jig with a trailer....work it shallow, a foot, to deep over all that timber....sheeeesh....bingo!

...where did the dam go...I've not seen it that high...the Monocacy is way out of it's banks...I was thinking about you trying to fish...hahahaha

Yes, Bobby, there is, of course, a slot limit! you can't keep a midget between 3 feet and 3.5 feet inclusive...and don't forget, no metal hammers until May 1.

While you are all engaged in line winding and rod selecting and lure choosing and are generally chomping at the bit to get out there and fish for ten hours a day, you may have forgotten the most important tool in your arsenal...you. How many of you have done any sort of exercising and strengthening of your back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and arms? And, you are going on a three day all stops pulled out trip next week where you will fish 12 hours a day? Are you nuts? You are likely to blow a shoulder and ruin your fishing for months! Take the time right now to start working on your cannon or it won't fire when you want it to! I have a series of exercises I do to keep the machine well oiled, and I will share them with anyone, but I am not a fitness specialist. I am sure there are some folks here who have far more knowledge than I about this subject and for all our sakes, please give us some hints as to how to prepare our bodies for the coming onslaught.

I am going to say a nasty...live bait...

Have you seen the weather report? I'm not thinking there is going to be a lot of fishing this weekend. They are talking 2 to 4 inches of rain. Thank God it's rain!

Midget hunting with mallets is always entertaining.

GO BRIAN!

Try this thread...Old Timers Round Up Part 2 Deep Water Fishing...lot's of good info for you, especially nice piece about the relationship between food supply and depth.

I thought it was odd that the barriers weren't there, but maybe they just open it March 1 no matter what. Just as likely someone stole them...hahaha. Today was soooo nice, but I am not going to jump the gun....maybe late March if we don't have another cold snap. Farmers Almanac says we are going to get another big storm in March. Thank God I'm not a farmer...sheeeesh.

For years, the only time I got to go fishing was when my brother went trout fishing and took me with him. The first thing I did when I got my drivers license was to go fishing all by myself for the first time. Imagine my surprise when I actually caught a trout that day. Going fishing by yourself is a big step. So much going on, so much to remember to do, being on the water by yourself the first time can be very imposing. The most important thing is that you established a pattern of sorts and put a fish in the boat! All by yourself! Unfortunately, you didn't come to us first. We would have advised you take up bowling or cricket or knitting. You poor guy. Now you have nothing but decades of frustration to look forward to. Congratulations!

On a trip to Santee Cooper, more years ago than I can remember, we were having a terrible time, bad weather. We finally found some bass in tight to the cypress roots, and I do mean tight. We caught a few, but it was hell coaxing them out from those roots. That night we went to Wally World to get some line and there they were...the much denigrated Flying Lure! We looked at each other and then we each bought a package. The next day, we killed them with those stupid flying lures. You could actually swim them back into those roots a couple feet and keep them there. Worked for me! As for the worst...The Hawaiian Wiggler. Might as well have been fishing with a full key ring and a piece of pocket fuzz. What was I thinking? In 1964, you didn't have many alternatives, so you tried all six of them.

Went down to Black Hills today to see some ducks. Still a good bit of ice about, but the ramp is open. Several very intrepid souls couldn't stand it any longer and were fishing from shore. I'm not that intrepid.

Have either of you fished Raccoon Pond. Used to love that place when I lived in Delaware.

...live bait...not so much standing around in the cold casting...I know it's not Bass Master, but I catch a lot of large, very early spring bass on live bait, and isn't that the point?

There are so many different situations on the lower river. You could be fishing rock piles or mud flats, creek channels, or flats with lilly pads, sand bars, gravel pits...you name it! So, be prepared to change up as the situation presents itself. Yes, the ribbon tail and the trap are both good...in the right situation! That time of year, be shallow prepared with a little of everything...someone has to feed the bait monkey!

Spinner baits, buzz baits, shallow cranks, senkos...fish the lower Potomac the same way you would fish your local lake this time of year, except take the current and tides into account. I have never found a one shot fits all lure for the very finicky lower Potomac.

Stopped off at Black Hills to look at the ducks today. Got a seagull to waddle after a Carolina Rig I threw out onto the ice. I figure this is your best shot at a really big bass this time of year. Drag a giant worm across the ice. Anything that could crash through the ice to go after your worm would no doubt be a real fish of merit.

Did I hear someone say they fished with hellbenders? Fished with them since 76. Never caught a thing on them. Worst lures in my tackle box. Don't know why I use them every time I go out. Terrible deep water lure for summer prowling in particular. If you have some, throw them away.

My older brother first took me fishing when I was about 10, and it has been Katy bar the door ever since. However, the person who most influenced me was a student of mine at Auburn University, who took me under his wing, and taught me more in two years than I had garnered myself in 20. I will always be eternally indebted to this person. So, Alabama Niki Barber, if you are out there anywhere, thanks, and I wish everyone had a mentor like you in their lives.