Fisher of Men

Leaving the plug out. . . let me see. . . been there, done that! (more than once) :-[ The worst thing I ever did was to accidentally push the door lock with my elbow right after I had backed the trailer in the water. As I got out, the door slammed shut with the truck engine running. My wife had already shut and locked her door. There I was with the boat trailer in the water and my truck running with keys locked inside. The nearest phone (this was pre-cell phone days) was more than a mile away and noone was around. I was borrowing a buddy's boat and there were no tools, wire, etc. to use to break in. Fortunately a guy came up to launch his boat and he had a flat head screwdriver. I found out just how easy it was to break into a sliding rear window. That was a pretty helpless feeling for a few minutes though. I teach boater education in Texas and offer some more advice that I tell all my students: Practice, practice, practice. Practice backing your boat in an empty field or parking lot. You can practice docking by using plastic bottles with weights tied to them. When your ready, go to the ramp at a non-peak time and practice launching and loading several times. Make several trips to test-drive and become familiar with your boat before fishing. TWO VERY IMPORTANT RULES: #1 Wear your life vest anytime the big motor is cranked. #2 ALWAYS use the attached kill switch.

I agree that hard fishing and knowledge of the sport will help with catching success. I don't consider anything I do (good or bad) to be luck but more as a blessing. If things don't go my way, God will bless me with the strength and stamina to deal with it. If things do go my way, He'll bless me with the right attitude and humility to deal with success. I consider just having the opportunity to participate in such an awesome sport a true blessing. I don't mean to sound like a Christian fanatic, but that's just how I feel.

I have my father-in-laws old 17 Champion with a carbeurated 150 Mercury (gas drinker). I've noticed that there aren't many Champion drivers on the board. I like the way mine (or his) rides. I've also ridden in my wife's uncle's. His is newer and handles great. I have to admit that I fish out of my jonboat more than anything. No gas to buy, just charge the battery and go, go, go. Easy on my pocket book$$$. Besides, I have better luck on the small water anyway. ;D

I'm experiencing some of the same conditions here in North Texas. A couple of weeks ago, we were catching males up in the back ends of creeks in less than a foot of water. Even a couple a five pounders came about four or five feet out from the bank in 3-5 ft. of water. It seemed like they'd spawn any day, then bam, a cold front. Then we find them farther back the creek closer to the main lake on the edge of deep (12-14 ft.) water hanging on the edges of grass. We're having little cold fronts about every two or three days. Yesterday, we did catch about twenty on white/chart. spinner baits on the edges of grass again, but not many out of the backs of creeks. I did manage to catch a few on a watermelonseed Zoom lizard. I think the fronts have pushed them back to deeper water and they are still off a bit (or at least I hope so). Fortunately, we haven't had any heavy rains that usually muddy up the water this time of year and the water remains clear. I'm hoping for a little warm-up over the next few days and a full moon to send them on the beds. Until then, just follow them in and out and fish all areas. One thing I've not tried is suspending baits out in the middle of the creeks or Fluke/slug-o type baits. I did fish a Tiki-stik around brush on Friday to no-avail. Maybe it needed to be a Senko brand for the fish to take notice. I just didn't have confidence in that thing and switched to a lizard.

Gambler, I could not agree more about that putting things in perspective. I don't know if I've had as many things go wrong at one time, but I did lose the sheer pin out of the trolling motor (the only motor) on my jonboat Friday. I lifted it out of the water to clean some weeds out of it. I took off the wing nut, very carefully placing it and the washer on the boat seat careful not to drop it into the water. I've done this numerous times before and the pin has never moved. I cleaned the grass off, and very carefully re-assembled the prop and wing nut, not noticing that the pin was gone. When I had trouble tightening the wing nut, I knew what was wrong. Fortunately, I put the paddle in the boat that day. After paddling against a 15-20 mph South wind, I got to a part of the small lake where I could walk around the rest of the way. I called a buddy to borrow a spare motor and within 30 minutes, we were back on the water. I was pretty mad at myself for #1- Not having a spare pin, #2- Not bringing my pliers (I could have clipped a 5/0 hook and used it as a pin- maybe) and #3- being stupid enough to work on this over the water, but after awhile, I let it go and was able to enjoy the rest of my day. Thanks for your post. It helps us all understand how blessed we are to be able to get on the water, whether or not we catch fish. -Fisher

Warrior, You write the check and we're there!

I guess my "Dream Trip" would be peacock bass fishing in Central/South America. Man, those things can really slam your baits!!

I agree with Roadwarrior. Alot of big bass have been caught on sub-par days and seasons. I used to get caught up with those calendars, but now the best time to go is when I get time to go. I look at it this way, we're never guaranteed tomorrow. We might as well make the most of today, and if I can fish today, then I'll fish today. I don't really worry about catching alot. I just enjoy getting out on the water and enjoying God's creation!

This is my take on it: The males come in when water temps reach about 55- 60 degrees and begin to feed up and find nesting areas. As they begin to sweep away sediment and prepare nests, the females are farther out tanking up on food as they wait for their signal (either warmer water -around 65 degrees, some say full moon, longer daylight is a possibility, etc.) Soon after the males go out and "court" females to come to their nests. It is my understanding that the females will come in and lay eggs and only stay for a few hours to one day. During that time the male will fertilize the eggs and both stay on the nest for that time. Then the females will leave and go to deeper water and not feed for up to two-three weeks later. The males are left to protect the eggs for the next 5-7 days until they hatch. A consideration during this time is to be sure and release even the males, for they play a major role in defending the nest. As soon as the fry hatch, the males will soon fade away out to deeper waters and leave them to fend for themselves. KU, it is probably then that they start to feel hungry and may feed on the fry. By this time, the females have started to return to the shallows to feed and will feed on fry (Hence the "Baby Bass" pattern baits). This process may last up to a month for one male and one female, but the actual time that the female is on the nest is happening at different times and different areas due to water temp differences in the lake. Of course, this may lack details or the time periods may vary due to weather conditions, water temp, quality, etc., but it's just my take on the spawn. A very good reference that I would really recommend is the video, "Bigmouth". I have a copy that I've shown to my Science class for years. I've seen it at least 25 times and still enjoy watching it. Although first made in the early 70's, it has some of the best underwater footage of bass that I've ever seen. BPS carries this video for around $20.

Hookem: Keep an eye out in the Thrifty Nickel or the Austin classifieds and you'll probably come across a jon boat that is suitable for your needs. I would think a canoe a little tippy for three people. I take my family out in a 12 footer (but my daughter is 6 and my wife isn't near as big as I am). I'd recommend at least a 14 footer for three teenagers so you can have a little more room. If your lucky, you could probably get the boat for under $200, and get a trolling motor for about $100 and a marine battery for another 50 that you could scrounge up somewhere (look under the sofa cushions,LOL). Gig'em ;D, Fisher

I think anything in Clown/Firetiger colors. Rat-L-Traps, etc.

Hey Senko, Does anyone (in other boats) offer tips? I mean. . . to stop dancing! ;D I bet that's entertaining for the other anglers. You never know. You just might show up on America's Funny Videos sometime and make some $$!

My fishin' fare is as follows: -Peanut butter on cheese crackers (these are easy to eat and still fish at the same time) -Beef jerkey -Cokes (any form of carbonated beverage here in TX) -Water and when I'm out with the family or a long time. . . -boloney sandwiches -some kind of chips - Nutter butter cookies for my daughter (she licks the cream out and chums with the cookies, unless I catch her and I eat the cookie part. ;D)

I have to agree that I like to get out and fish to get away from the noise. I like to hear the birds, the insects, and listen for water splashing. I would think that wearing headphones would take away from your senses and make you less of an angler. Now if I was fishing deep with live bait and the fishing got slow, I might see turning on small radio softly or something. Metallica. . . while fishing!! Maybe there's a place for that on the next X games. ESPN 2 presents: X-treme Bass Fishing, hosted by Ted Nugent (does anybody know if the Nuge fishes? Probably with a spear.) They could put the top ten bass anglers in jet boats and give them like an hour to catch their limit. Give them each about six No-doze pills and turn them loose. ;D JK

Probably 30-40 times. I agree with KU, I'd go every day if I didn't have responsibilities (like work, family, etc.) And then again, I try to keep it in check with the things that are more important to me (i.e. God, family, work)

Growing up, we trolled alot for sand bass and hybrids. Recently, I've used this technique (using Lil Fishies) in the jonboat and trollng motor to catch crappie in the open water of the small lake we go to. If we troll around the edges, we'll always pick up some bass. My daughter picked up one this way on Saturday, while we motored back to the truck.

Catching 10 small ones is always fun, but the feeling of catching a lunker is like no other. I've never caught a 10 pounder (only a 7 and a few 6's) and that is my personal goal, but I'm not obsessed with it. I just enjoy the opportunity to go after them. But, there's still nothing quite like seeing a mouth you can put your fist (or even two fists) in as it emerges from the water to make your knees go weak!! -Fisher

What about blending it? and How do you apply it? Dip it? Spray it? ???

Sounds like a plan for me. We just succeeded killing the two goldfish my daughter got during Christmas break. :'( We're left with a can of Tetra goldfish flakes. It beats throwing them away. I may try it. ;D

World record caught by a crappie fisherman? It was here in Texas (well the state record). Barry St. Clair, the guy who caught the current state record of 18.18 lbs. caught it on a minnow in deep water on Fork. He now (or did four or five years ago) works at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Texas. When I was there a few years back, he'd talk about the catch in front of the dive show theatre, but never mention how he caught it. Of course he didn't lie, he just left the part about crappie fishing out. Of course I wouldn't like it if someone crappie or trout fishing caught the world record, but a catch is a catch. I know if I was crappie fishing and caught it, I'd feel different about it. That's not what any of us bass anglers want, but then again, it would be kind of funny if some granpa or some five year old drags it in on a crappie rig.

#1- Texas Rigged 6-7" plastic Powerworm in plum for stained water and watermelonseed in clear. #2- Pop-r

I have used both radiator hose clamps and plastic zip ties to mount the transducer to the trolling motor. The zip ties don't rust or corrode, but must be cut and re-applied if you move the transducer. The zip ties will get brittle and break if you bump your motor shaft around too much. Hose clamps don't look as good, but are probably the better choice. Are you leaving the trolling motor on the boat? If so, you might consider mounting the transducer to the rear of the hull. Be sure to put sealant behind and around the screw holes. The best I've found to seal and to patch holes in my old two man boat is Marine Goop. It's the only thing I've found that will stick to the plastic.-FOM

Tube bait, live minnows, fluke? If water is clear make sure you're using clear/fleck, salt/pepper, etc. colored baits.

P.S. Sorry Craig, I really enjoyed your article, too!

A ten pounder a year for the last ten. That's very admirable, Raul. Very good points made in the last post. As I said in the "Biggest Bass" post (besides the humorous sarcasm, or at least I hope you took it that way), I'd give anything to have one ten pounder, and would consider it an extreme blessing to have ten.