king fisher

I have never caught striped bass, so I have zero first hand knowledge specifically on them, but I will say that when fighting large fish on light gear, I have witnessed far more fish lost due to a drag to tight, than a drag to loose. Don't panic, let them run, apply more pressure when needed, and be prepared to back off pressure by bowing the rod, and or drag at the critical boat side stage of the fight. Horsing large fish at the boat is the biggest mistake I believe an angler can make. If the fish dives under the boat, stick the rod in the water, and work it around to the other side of the boat if necessary. Way easier to go around the bow of the boat, but there are times, when you have to go around the motor with your rod deep in the water. Backing off of the drag letting the fish dive, makes this maneuver way easier. Do not attempt to net the fish until you are positive you will be successful. Booting the fish with the net is a common mistake, that can easily be avoided with nothing more than a little patience.

A client of mine treated my wife and I to a salt water fishing trip in Sitka Alaska. It was the first time I had ever fished anywhere in South East Alaska, the first time I wasn't guiding while fishing in Alaska, and the first fishing trip my wife ever went on. My wife had a great time but did tell me she is never going to get up at 3:00 Am to cast all day hoping to catch bass that will be released. We are back home and eating salmon and halibut tonight.

I don't worry about it. After all it is difficult to ruin a spot that is 10 feet high in a tree, or 5 feet up the bank on dry land.

James has a good start.

Number one by far this year is Zoom Mag Trick worm, Junebug, or Watermelon candy. 2- 7 inch Senko black with blue flake 3- Zoom Ole Monster, Junebug. I don't use worms as often as I should, but when I do the worms are big, and so are the bass.

Don't compare your success to others. Every body has skunk days. The most important thing is to make sure you are having fun. Over time you will become a more skilled angler, enjoy yourself while you are learning, and before you know it, other anglers will be wondering how you do it. If it wasn't for slow days, there would be no good days. Have fun and try to learn something from both.

Just enough to snag or hit something behind me, boat, motor. hat, friend, bush, tree, shore, water, or any other object that may get in the way.

I cannot possibly have an opinion either way. The reason being. I was not present when the alleged infraction occurred, was not part of the tournament committee that reviewed the infraction, and have no first hand knowledge of what transpired. I can watch a thousand You Tube Videos, from other people that have limited to no first hand knowledge, but like a trail, unless I am on the Jury I try my best not to form an opinion. I will say I hope all involved learned from what ever mistakes were made, and try their best to always improve the public image of the sport. Forever fighting over the disqualification, will not help anyone or the sport. It may increase viewership on some videos, but so will footage of giant bass hitting poppers. I for one would like to see more giant bass hitting poppers on video and less arguing.

Try a #3 inline spinner fished just under the surface, with your spinning rod. If that doesn't work cast a floating Rapala at as many targets as you can. Twitch it a couple times then real in and cast to next target. Both lures cast well with spinning gear, can be fished quickly, and will catch bass that the guy in the front power fishing with larger baits will miss. He may have to slow down to help you land your trophy bass.

The first time I used an A rig was in late May with a surface temp. of 78 degrees. I was fishing a ledge that dropped off from a four foot deep flat to 12 feet, then dropped off again to 22 feet. I had caught a couple nice bass in the morning on the flat with a square bill. As the sun came up the bass mover to the first drop. Deep cranks worked for a couple then the bite stopped. I switched to a skinny dipper, on a 3/8 oz jig head. Landed two more in the 6 pound range. I had recently bought an A Rig and decided if they like one swimbait, maybe they would like 5. First cast I nearly got my arm ripped off. Every bait on the rig got hit. I landed two 6 pound bass, and had to replace all five Skinny Dippers. The next cast I landed an 8 pound bass, and had a bigger one, get off while trying to land the double. Later that summer I had to get my shoulder operated on, and I like to put the blame on the A Rig. I don't fish an A Rig as much as I should because I mostly fish around cover and am scared to snag such an expensive rig and loose it. Also I hate to cast one, and prefer other lures. I have never used an A Rig in colder weather, because where I fish it doesn't get cold, but I assure you they work in the summer here.

Wow. What a picture. I'm in love already.

May is the best time for fishing but it is starting to get hot. The water is low, and the bass are concentrated. Weather is perfect Nov. thru April. October can still be a little hot weather wise, but the fishing can be even better than in May, ask AJ he has crushed them in October. The lodges all close for the rainy season, and the bass don't see any lures until they reopen in October. The biggest bass are usually pre spawn in January. Really any time is good. You can look at old reports on lodge websites, and see what time of year the fishing fits your style.

If a 7 inch Senko on a 3/8 oz jig can be considered a Ned, than lots of DD caught on Neds here.

If you truly want to get over your addiction, come bass fish in Mexico. Mexican bass lakes, are like Rehab for Ned fisherman.

The reports I have are the lake is still fishing well, not as many DD as in past years, but still the best lake in Mexico to consistently catch 5- 8 pound bass with a chance at one over 10.

I sure wish the bass fishing in Mexico was as good as it is in Maine. That is an incredible day anywhere, any time.

I have been fortunate enough to fish a variety of places, for many species of sport fish. Most of the places I have fished, have gotten tougher, but fortunately a few have improved. In Alaska, King salmon have steadily gone down hill for many years now and no where near the spectacular fishing I had 35 years ago, when I went there to experience the wilderness. I was lucky enough to fish the best rivers, during a time of record high runs for Kings, and I don't think those runs will be like that again in my life time. Silver salmon have improved in some places, and declined in others, but in general the populations and a persons ability to catch them has stayed the same. Sockeye salmon have had a significant increase in the past few years, which in turn has improved fishing for trout, and other freshwater species, as well as provided a living for many people in a thriving commercial fishing industry. Halibut are in decline, both in general population, as well as the ability for sport fisherman to catch them. The decline and improvement of many species in Alaska is complex, and many factors, including increased sportfishing are responsible. Big Game fishing off the west coast of Mexico, while still incredible is drastically worse than when I first started fishing there 18 years ago. Again many contributing factors, and unfortunately no foreseeable answers to the problem. I have not bass fished in Mexico long enough to provide an accurate assessment of weather or not the fishing is better or worse. My old favorite lake is not anywhere near as good as it was three years ago for DD. bass. The reason for the decline is partially my fault for not being good at keeping a secret. The bass may still be there, but if they are they have advanced from a first grade education level to a college degree in a few short years, and again like Alaska King fishing, I feel very fortunate to have been in right place at the right time. My new favorite lake is on fire, and once again I am having a hard time keeping my mouth shut. I guess I have always been a slow learner. The bright spot in my life as a fisherman has been the great improvement of the fisheries in Eastern WA where I grew up. The few lakes and rivers around my home town have improved 100 percent from when I was a kid. Because of heavy agricultural run off two of the rivers near my child hood home, didn't have anything but suckers, and carp when I was young. Now they both have great small mouth bass fishing, as well as rainbow and brown trout. A couple of the lakes that had some bass, are now incredible bass fisheries, as well as good trout fisheries. Fishing pressure is about the same as it was 45 years ago, so needless to say someday I want to move back. The reason for the increased number of fish is better farming practices partially credited to the federal CRP program. This combined with a decrease in population translating to less fisherman, has made right now the good old days of fishing and hunting in this small part of WA. After reading the comments here, I have to come to the conclusion, that in general fishing is still good, but on the decline in most parts of the US, with more angling pressure being one of the biggest contributing factors. I am grateful to have experienced fantastic fishing, at peak times in numerous fisheries. I also am grateful that I am able to fish in a place now where I can explore virtually untouched bass fishing. Most of all I appreciate the fact that there a few places that are actually have much better fishing than they did 50 years ago. The fact that some places are much better than they once were gives me hope that many more fisheries will not only thrive but actually become better in time. Even if fishing does get tougher, I have and will still fish. The challenge is what makes me pick up a rod every chance I get. If one year catching 20 bass is an incredible day, and a few years later catching five bass gives me bragging rights, I will still be out there working as hard as ever to catch the most and biggest bass in the lake, and I will still be looking for that magic lure, that will make it look easy.

I agree. The water inside the waders is not any heavier than the water outside the waders. You will not sink when you waders fill with water. Pulling yourself back in a boat can be difficult with waders full of water, but floating down the river they do not pull you down. I have filled my waders dozens of times while wading rivers, in both cold and semi warm water. The only time I almost drown, was the time I was duck hunting, and put a tight belt around my waste in order to keep water out if I fell in. After all that is what everyone recommends. I slipped on a rock in an Alberta river with ice all the way across the river below the riffle I had my decoys in. Air got trapped in the lower part of my waders causing my feet to float, making it impossible for me to get my feet back under me. The water was only a couple feet deep, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not stand up. I was able to dog paddle, and pull myself to shore before drifting into the frozen over deep pool below me. That was the last time I put a belt around my waste wearing waders.

Gold is a good color for any species of game fish, in any water that I have fished. It may not always be the best color, but it is never the worst, not to bright, not to subtle, never hurts to give it a try.

The fastest boat I ever saw was a canoe when I was 15 years old. My friend and I were fishing a remote local lake. He had me drop him off on the shore to fish a favorite spot of ours. I started paddling away, when he made his first cast. He hooked the biggest bass either of us had ever seen. He yelled, the fish jumped, I immediately changed directions, and headed directly for that shore. The bass jumped again, and the hook came out. We will never know how big that bass was, but I do know I set a world record for 20 yards travelled on water.

The lake I fished a couple weeks ago, is loaded with gill nets, and there is a guy who dives, and spears DD bass, but after reading how tough other anglers have it, I will never complain about nets, or spear guns. I am very luck to be able to fish where many of the bass live their whole life and the only spinnerbait they ever see is mine.

My worst backlash's usually occur the same way. I'm going down a bank, with a buzz bait. I have a light wind at my back, and lots of water to cover. I'm casting the bait a country mile with my new real, and feel like a pro. Of course I have to try and improve on my distance, so I start backing the break off. Now I am really zinging it. Every cast is on the very edge of disaster, but my confidence is going through the roof. I'm getting some big bites, and I am on top of the world. Then I hear a huge splash behind me. I'm sure it is the big bass I have been fishing for all day. As quick as a cat, I turn around, and fire the buzz bait straight in to the wind as hard as I possibly can. All of a sudden, the only resemblance to me and a pro is, I am a professional at picking out a backlash.

The Flatfish did not work well for bass, because it was made to fish slowly,( if you retrieve them normal crankbait speeds, they will simply roll on the surface) did not dive very deep, and were to light to cast with bait casting gear. Most people slowly troll Flat Fish, and most bass anglers don't troll very often. I caught many bass using one as a kid by putting split shot ahead of the lure, to aid in casting and to get the lure to run deeper. As far as other fish species, go, the Flatfish was and is one of the best lures ever made. It was even copied by a company called Quickfish, using the exact same size and color schemes with different names. Quickfish was then sold to Luhr Jensen, and Helen Flatfish was bought out by Wardens lures, now Yakima Bait the two have been fierce competitors for the Trout and Salmon market. Flatfish more popular trolling for trout, and Luhr Jensen Quickfish dominates the King Salmon market. They both have loyal followers, and many arguments over which is best, have gotten out of hand in Northwest bars. The Flatfish, has never been popular with bass fisherman, but neither has similar lures, like the original Lazy Ike, or Heddon Tadpolly. The Flatfish, is easily one of the top 10 lures of all time ,and they didn't sell that many because of an aggressive add campaign. They definitely will catch many species of sport fish, they simply don't work well chucking and winding with traditional bass tackle.

Back in the late 70's Fred Arbogast came out with a lure called the Bug-Eye. It was a medium diving crankbait with giant bug eyes, and a hula skirt. One of my favorite lures was an Arbogaster, which was a metal billed deep diving crankbait with a hula skirt. I was sure the Bug-Eye would be better because it had a modern plastic lip, and of course those giant eyes. Big add promotions in all the outdoor magazines. I removed the card that came in one of the adds, sent it in along with a couple dollars for my two Bugeyes, and a free sticker, or patch, can't remember which. My friend did the same and we waited a few weeks for the new great lure. One day I went to the post office to pick up the mail, and there was a slip in the box. I was sure it was my lure. The postmaster had the door locked to the room where people went to buy stamps and pick up packages. It was then I realized I was a few minuets late, and the post office was closed. It was a Friday, and I couldn't imagine waiting until Monday to get my new magic lure. I heard some noise in the back room of the post office and realized the post master was still there. I called out hoping she would hear me, and with a little luck give me my package. It worked, she came out of the back room with my package, and I asked her if she could also bring the one for my friend. She laughed and went back in and got his too. We couldn't talk either of our parents in to driving us to the lake, so we took our rods, and new lures to the little kids pool to give them a try and check out the action. The adult pool wasn't open for evening session until 7:00 PM, and I don't know if I could have lived down the ridicule from the older kids if I would have cast my lure in to the adult pool, The little kids pool was small only a foot or so deep, always open and most important ,no one was around. The action on the lures was horrible, basically zero wiggle. I still held out hope that the reason for the poor performance was the short cast and shallow water. When I went to the lake the next day I had to give up all hope. Both baits simply dove a couple feet, with zero side to side action. Because I had very few lures, and when I would loose one was forced to fish with what I had, I did continue to fish with the Bugeye from time to time. I did manage to catch a couple small bass on the lure , but I also caught a couple of bass on my Jitterbug with an egg sinker slid on the line ahead of the lure to make it run under the surface. Since that time I have bought many lures that didn't work out for me, but none have been as big of a disappointment as The Arbogast Bugeye. It is the only Arbogast lure I have ever owned that didn't become one of my favorite lures. I don't think my friend even took his second one out of the package. I wonder if he still has it.