Kayak Koz

I've caught bass on $7 spinnerbaits and $1.00 Wal Mart spinnerbaits. It comes down to throwing one at the right place at the right time and sometimes with the right color. All white and chartreuse/white like the one pictured perform the best for me. In the spring I usually add a white Keitech Swing Impact as a trailer.

I had a Red Tailed Hawk grab a Whopper Plopper 130 while I was reeling it in. Luckily he did not get hooked and dropped it when he felt the tension on the line.

I'm not ready to call it a season just yet. I was back in the SC Lowcountry this weekend visiting family and managed to get in 90 minutes of fishing. Caught a nice 3.5 pounder and then a two pounder. Once again, a black and blue chatterbait with a blue Ultra Vibe Speed Craw did the trick. Unfortunately it later snagged and broke off. Speaking of snagged, when that 3.5 pounder first hit I thought I was snagged. Reeling it in I thought it was a lot bigger. It fought like a 6 pounder. I normally don't by spare hard baits, but this is the second one I lost in my last two trips out. I think I'll buy a handful of them next time.

Thanks for the info. It may be worth giving it a try. They do have boat and kayak rentals so that will make it easier. I've fished Robinson, Berry Shoals Pond, and Cooley and the fishing has been lousy from the banks although I have rented a kayak at Cooley. This weekend I'm heading back to the SC Lowcountry to fish in my favorites spots. I'll let you know if I head out to Croft anytime soon. Maybe we can meet up and fish for a few hours. Thanks again,

I had bifocals a few years ago and they broke and instead of replacing them I purchased two pairs of readers for distance vision and close up. I could tie knots without them but it was a pain. I'd say when fishing I would wear the distance glasses about 50% of the time. The other times they went in a zippered pocket. Putting them back on made it easier to get hooks out of fish, so they were always handy. I got tired of switching glasses all the time so the other week I got my annual eye exam and decided to purchase some prescription glasses. Even with insurance they were just under $500 for lenses and frames. But that's because instead of lined bifocals I opted for transition lenses. No lines, and they're more like tri-focals. I received them today and I can tell you it will take some time to get used to them. Instead of using peripheral vision to see you need to turn your head. It's going to take a while to get used to combining eye movement and head tilt to see through the correct portion of the lenses for varying distances. Even walking was weird at first with these on. Driving was a bit of a challenge as well with the peripheral vision issues. I may end up using my distance readers for that task. It will probably take a few days to get used to their limitations. But the good news is that with them on I have 20-15 vision and can read the fine print again!

I think this photo was of my personal worst. These 3.5 pound dinks just drive me nuts.

That's definitely not the case where I fish. Sun City is a retirement community and most folks stay away from the lagoon banks. They're too old and frail to mess with the gators. Down the road on Hilton Head it's a different story - lots of idiot tourists feeding the alligators. A few times the problem has been people walking their dogs near lagoons (idiots!), but at least one that I know of was an unprovoked attack. My guess is the gator was protecting little ones or a nest nearby.

I wish I had the magic words to offer comfort and express the sadness we all feel now. I can relate to the shock and disbelief you are going through. The doctors found something in my eye during a routine exam last week and it took me a few days to process. Before anyone asks, it seems to be low risk and my doctors are monitoring it now, The only words I can really offer are to embrace your family and friends and take one day at a time. It's not the things you accomplish in life that are your legacy, but the impact that you have on the lives of others.

That doesn't happen here. I've been both stalked and chased by gators. If they see me on the bank, hear my lure hit the water, or feel the vibration of a bladed bait they head my way either casually or at full steam. Most larger gators will park themselves 30 or so feet off shore right in front of me and stay there, letting me know I'm not welcome. In my area the gators are very territorial and you won't find more than 2 or 3 adults in any given lagoon. But in Florida with its expansive waters and a higher concentration of alligators per acre of water I imagine they are less territorial unless they are guarding eggs or baby gators. But in small Florida lagoons I would bet they are just as territorial.

My most productive bait all year has been a chatterbait with a trailer. In the warmer weather a steady retrieve and occasional rip or pop was the best presentation. As things have cooled down I've changed to a lift and drop retrieve.

I fish what I fish. The bass tell me what's working.

You get an "A" for persistence.

Everything except soft plastics. I bank fish and cove a lot of ground on foot (miles) so I usually bring just one rod and my backpack tackle bag. That and my old man eyes make it easier to use snaps. My choice is the VMC Touch-Lok Snaps. On a side note, my old man eyes are "going away". New bifocals are on the way and my vision is corrected to 20-15. Well, with both eyes open and dominated by my right eye. My left eye sucks on its own. But it sure will be nice to be able to read the fine print again.

In the SC Lowcountry not only are there lagoons on golf courses, but they are also throughout the community for stormwater control. Water runoff enters the lagoons and groups of lagoon are interconnected to help balance the runoff. Some of the wealthier communities do have active fisheries and will stock different species of fish. And as for the communities with stormwater ponds that don't stock fish? Most end up with bass and bream populations within 6-10 years. How does that happen? Egg transfer. There have been a few minor studies where ducks have been fed vegetation that contained fish eggs attached and an examination of their feces showed that some eggs survived for a short period of time. The common claim is that eggs are transferred from one body of water to another when the eggs inadvertently stick to the feet or feathers of water fowl. Interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be any in depth studies on this. I'm sure weather events can also play a role in eggs being dispersed (i.e. flora being windblown or caught in updrafts). Another obvious one are waterfowl that catch fish in one lagoon, fly off, then end up dropping their catch in another lagoon. Of course, some people could be transporting fish to these new lagoons, but because of the sheer number of lagoons that we have (thousands!) that contain fish I doubt that is the predominant factor. Anyway, I think it's a fascinating subject.

Anywhere from an hour to maybe 4 hours. Back in the SC Lowcountry I had 14 lagoons in my neighborhood. Many were on a defunct golf course so I would ride my bike on the old cart paths from lagoon to lagoon. But the main place I fished was where my father lives in Sun City Hilton Head and there are 300 or so lagoons in there. I'd drive to one lagoon and then cover a mile or two on foot covering lagoons in the area, then hop in my car and do the same thing in another part of the community. On a good day I'd spend most or all of my time at one lagoon and luckily that happened frequently.

I think it has to do with light penetration and the depth of the bass. Is your water heavily stained? I fish some lagoons that are dark like chocolate milk and the bass in those are always on the pale side.

I'm very experienced in fishing gator infested lagoons (ponds) here in SC. I've been stalked by gators, chased by gators, surprised by gators, and had gators go after fish that I'm reeling in. So here are some rules that I follow when I fish these waters: I never fish in an area where I cannot make a quick exit away from the water. In other words, I won't fish standing in high grass, boggy or muddy areas, or surrounded by trees. If you stay out of those areas you usually don't have to worry about snakes, either. Before approaching the basin scan the water and the banks. This includes looking beneath the surface where you are going to fish along the bank. But truthfully, whether you are fishing in gator waters or not you should always take at least a handful of casts before you even approach the bank so you don't spook potential catches in that area. Be extra cautious if you're fishing in an area with vegetation along the bank, even if it's grass only a foot or so high. It's hard to see gators hugging the bank. Keep a knife at the ready in case you need to cut your line. You're not going to wrestle a lure or a fish out of a gator's mouth. If you're thinking of navigating a narrow area of bank with heavy cover behind you (woods, bushes, grass) don't do it. Gators both nest and hide in the woods. I was once about to navigate a narrow area and heard a few loud grunts. I turned and ran my butt out of there. Moments later a huge 12 foot gator came out of the brush from that area. Here's what that sounded like: Keep your head on a swivel and scan the water and banks while you are fishing. I've watched gators hug the shoreline stalking my position. A swimming gator will usually raise his body as high as he can over the water to make his presence known. Many will do that and sit off shore near you letting you know he does not want you there. When they drop their body so only a portion of their head is showing they are preparing to pounce on your lure or your catch. Top water lures are dinner bells for gators. You can use them, but if a gator is in the area they will usually come check it out. Little gators are a nuisance and fearless because they lack experience. It's the little ones that have come out of the water and up the bank and chased me as I landed a fish. Never underestimate the speed of a determined gator. In or out of the water they can close the gap FAST. If you catch the attention of a gator, most will slowly drift your way to see what is going on or warn you off. But watch for gators that come steaming your way and know that they can go even faster than that. Don't stand on rip rap and fish. I used to do that then one day as I approached a favorite lagoon I saw another 12 footer come over the rip rap from the woods. There's no way I could have run on that rip rap if wanted to make a meal out of me. If you catch the attention of a gator it's usually a good idea to just move to another lagoon. Even if you move away, once you have his attention he'll usually follow you. There are some gators that could care less that you are there. Even if they're in the area you can fish and they won't bother your bait or your catch. Just watch that they don't change their mind. Never, ever provoke or feed a gator. If you encounter a gator that is aggressive towards humans call DNR right away. Notify the HOA as well. We've had 3 gator attacks on humans here in the past year including one death. I'll say it again - head on a swivel and keep scanning the area as you fish. Gators also travel underwater and can pop up anywhere - including right at your feet. If you hear the screech of a baby gator get the hell out of there. Mama is around and she is protective. Here's what it sound like: If any of this scares you - good. You cannot be too careful out there. That being said, if you use common sense and pay attention you'll be just fine out there. Frankly, I think fishing from the bank with gators around is safer than fishing from a kayak with gators around.

YES! On day 2 there were two of them that came right up to greet me. I've come to the conclusion I'd rather have good fishing and gators rather than poor fishing and no gators.

Luckily it was a one lip hook on the front and a belly hook in the back. But I know what you mean - it's a pain when a catfish gets the trebles hooked inside on the bottom and the top.

I managed to fish for a few hours today before heading home. I caught only two bass both under two pounds. But the interesting thing was that I caught a catfish on a Pop-R of all things. A hungry catfish will hit just about anything.

As some of you may know from my previous posts, fishing for me has been terrible since I moved to the SC Upstate region. But because of a terrible series of personal events I am back in the SC Lowcountry this week. On a personal level, today was one of the worst days of my life (and I prefer to keep that private as it is a sensitive family matter). I’m staying with my parents while back in town and on the way back to their place I needed some alone time to gather myself and so I stopped at one of my favorite lagoons. I was straight retrieving a green pumpkin chatterbait with a split tail trailer and landed a decent 3 pounder. It was nice to finally catch something again. About half an hour later I was throwing a blue and black chatterbait with a dark blue craw trailer that had lighter blue claws. This time I was fishing it using the lift and drop and on the drop I felt something grab it. As soon as Iset the hook she began moving hard. She tried to roll and breach but from my high bank elevation I could position the rod tip below my feet and keep her down. But I caught a glimpse and felt her fight and knew she was a good size. But would it be my PB? It wasn’t, but she still tipped the scales at 6.1 pounds and for a few brief moments I could put my most awful day aside. It was what I needed at that moment. I thank God for giving me that brief respite. It’s times like this when I realize what fishing means to me. I tried to take a picture but short arms and big fish mean bad selfies.

The only real way to treat cattails is treating them one by one, spreading chemicals over the entire stalk. Keeping some cattails is good for filtration, but left unchecked the will dominate the basin. As for treated ponds, I've faced that before. In some the treat the basin with chemicals to rid it of all weeds, and in others they just cut the aquatic vegetation down as far as they can with mechanical equipment. Afterwards, the bass are still there but you have to hunt them down. What I have found is that they hang out in the hollows in deeper water. Keep in mind this hollow might only be 6"-10" deeper than the main part of the basis, and it might not be that big. You can find these depressions in various places around the basin. The big question if you can reach those spots when you're bank fishing. You need to methodically fish the basin to find the structure changes further away from the bank. If you are bank fishing and have something like an iBobber or Deeper you can map the bottom for structure and depth changes. Chances are the fish are still there, but they've adapted to their surroundings and found new ambush points in the basin.

I'd throw a Booyah frog or a Teckel Sprinker Frog out there.

Enjoy it and cherish it while you can. I spent years coaching my son in rec, travel, and middle school baseball and while I miss coaching him, it was time to let him go and spread his wings.

Both the chatterbait and spinnerbait hold prominent places in my arsenal. One thing that I like about the chatterbait is its versatility. I can drag it or hop it along the bottom, use a straight retrieve, or give it a rip and have it change direction. Also, by varying the weight of the trailer I can change the fall rate and skirt action on the fall. If I put a trailer on a spinnerbait it's usually a Keitech Swing Impact, but with a chatterbait I've had success with paddletails, craws, and creatures. Each has it's time and place, but in the spring I rely more on the spinnerbait and the rest of the year I rely more on the chatterbait.