WVU-SCPA

Haven't been to Jamaica but have been to some other areas south of the US. If you go the resort route a lot will already be handled for you, just do your research if you plan trips outside the resort. On international travel I hate traveling with cash on me, but it is needed as cards can do nothing for you. I use a company like Western Union to wire myself money in a 2-3 different wires. The benefits; currency exchange, not going through customs with cash, lost or stolen luggage doesn't leave you with nothing, and you can pull it out as you need it. Last trip was 15 days in Barranquilla and Santa Marta Colombia. Packed a 5 pc fly rod in the suitcase and was able to catch some fish I will never see again in my life.

The lady friend is going as my partner for the first time in a tournament Saturday. I'll let her know right as we launch "to be a keeper requires you to catch a keeper". In all seriousness, I'm very excited she is willing to join me and her patient style of fishing will be beneficial.

I was naive last week to believe all the stuff I read on here would happen in the local tournaments I fish. However last Friday some pictures of milk crates filled with a limit of bass submerged below a turtle platform hit social media. I'm really hoping it was a hoax, as the person put it on blast before contacting the authorities. I can't comprehend the mindset it takes to cheat, let alone for $1000.

PA still requires that your fishing license is displayed will fishing, however it's been years since I've been checked. There are copies of a 2019 license in the following places; Wallet Hats(2) Boat Glove box Tackle backpack Fly fishing pack The hassle to print and put them there is worth not ever worrying have one on me.

The last few outings a Maxscent creature hawg on a 1/8 oz. shakey head has trumped the ned. It's been a quick livewell filler.

Almost pulled an oh no Saturday. Told myself at 3 a.m. to put the plug in before leaving the driveway. Half asleep and mind on fishing, a plug went in a drain on the back of the boat. Decided to double check right before launching and there was no plug where it should be, look over at the live well drain and there is the plug. Could have been a real mess as the meeting point was at another ramp, boat was beached for a period of time before the tournament, and it was dark for a solid hour after launching.

Lures I own/owned that haven't produced a bass; Whopper Plopper- Was gifted one, used it a few times, lost it. Don't have interest in getting another. 12'+ Cranks- Own plenty but hardly ever have one tied on. At some point I will spend the days to figure them out.

7 lb sniper has been on one of my spinning reels the last 2 years. I haven't quite figured out the equation to it.

Lost the same chatterbait two times to the same submerged log over two different Tuesday night tournaments. I caught it the next week after losing it the first time and my partner caught it 2 weeks after losing it the 2nd time. I might have to tie it on tomorrow and see if the third time is the charm.

Quote from Saving Private Ryan... "What I mean, sir, is if you was to put me with this here Sniper FC 10# anywhere up to and including 50 yds from Miss Bass... with a clean line of sight... well, pack your bags, boys. War's over." ***edits in bold*** I have the feel and confidence in it, so that's what gets spooled.

I've saw a couple cars submerged....the most interesting one was a Jeep went to unload a pontoon. It was surprising how many guys put the rods down to go take a look at the top of a jeep and pontoon still connected floating behind 15 feet off the ramp. Never heard what happened to get there. One the same lake but on a slow gradual ramp that is about 75 yards long. End of a tournament with a line ready to take out. Guy one motors boat onto trailer and the boat isn't seated right on the bunks. Tells guy two who is still in the vehicle to go before the boat is connected to the winch. Guy two gets the whole packing moving pretty good in the 75 yard incline without issue. As soon as the trailer axle hit the lip of where ramp meets parking lot, there was no longer a boat on the trailer and the lower unit of the motor was 5 feet from the boat.

Check local tackle shops for info too, the owners usually have all the info on smaller or weekday events. I have my niece pegged as a future tournament partner, but her attention span currently last for one fish or a hour....whichever one comes first.

Who says the ned doesn't catch big fish? This little guy has a lot to learn as he was chasing minnows as soon as he was back in the water. In all seriousness, the ned has accounted for 3 over 5 this year and two tournament lunkers.

Someone I have had on the boat several times has this method when fishing texas rigs. Starts with..."I think I got a bite"....then " yep its heavy" as the rod tip is bending over....and lastly " I think it dropped it". Cheap motto....but hook sets are still free. Don't be afraid to Kevin Van Dam on nothing.

Yep, they are in full force. It's tough not to turn and get excited but reality sets in. Was on a lake this weekend that was well up into the bushes, could have confused the sound of the carp spawn with a herd of deer running through.

Things seem to be in a bit of a funk around here the last 2 days. I've been able to get out for at least 30 minutes the last 11 days except for the weekend. I've saw new fish on beds and other beds go empty. Until the last 2 days all it took to catch them was hit the nearest point to spawning grounds and it was bang bang in 10-12 fow. That bite cooled down and only have been able to pick up random fish. Hoping the rain pattern stays this way and the Susquehanna is ready come June.

The bait monkey was feeling a little generous today. A co worker stopped to grab a rod that was laying on the road pass some train tracks that everyone was driving around. A 7'10" Quantum Tour KVD cranking setup is the bonus for being known as the guy who fishes. A little road rash on the butt and reel but functionally sound. Pretty good idea to which lake it was heading to so I plan on spending some time on fbook and will swing by the nearest tackle shop to see if the owner is looking for it.

I've been seeing fish on beds the last 3 weeks on south central PA lakes. Have caught some really solid fish holding in prespawn areas. Already have more fish in the 5 pound club then all of last year. Same around here with a lot of males up shallow, last night saw a few females move in and out so I would believe this weekend may lead to another wave. Muskies have been active as well.

Popped out to a cove that has annually saw heavy spawning for a couple cast after work. The 6 males I saw on beds didn't want to play and weren't locked on. While making cast at them a big lady had moved in and out twice and the light bulb finally went off. Back to back cast on a point that transitions from flat, deeper water, and cove mouth brought these ladies to hand.

Negative, only spent 4 years in the great state of West Virginia. I don't think I ever caught a bass there either...was too focused on trout.

So far this year the just get 5 method has paid off, a limit in sub 50 water has been a struggle for the field. Spent last week nedding a 40 yard area for a 3rd place check, if it wasn't for a final hour A-rig bite the 13lbs would have won it. The top 3 bags didn't have a fish over 3.9. Temps should be in the mid 50's for this week, so it will be time to swing for the fences.

Honestly I was one of them less then 5 years ago, but I had grown up fly fishing for trout and bass was always an afterthought. A boat was never in the family so bigger water was always avoided. The bass fishing world was unknown community and I would have been puzzled if someone told me they had 5+ rods to fish for bass. The side I didn't understand at the time was the complexity. My experience bass fishing up to that point as based on farm ponds which basically meant take one rod, one lure, and catch bunches of fish. The natural fly fishing presentation still gets me. I always thought a spinnerbait was the a gimmick, I would laugh when I saw someone using them. Nothing about it appeared natural and I didn't understand the concept. Now I can happily say that in the last 2 weeks spinnerbaits have produced more fish then any other lure. I'm WVU-SCPA, and I now have a spinnerbait problem.

That's another thing that bothers me a bit, a few of the buddy trails I fish have 6 fish limits. Putting 6 fish in a sub par livewell in 90+ degree heat is just asking for dead fish. Seeing poor handling of mature class fish is disappointing. In the 3 years of fishing tournaments I've yet to have a dead fish, but there has been days of jumping through hoops to keep the water cool and aerated even with a solid livewell.

Every once in a blue moon I debate about trying to use the degree, but financial security is something I won't leave. I have found if you reach out to local state parks or conservation officers they do look for volunteers for time to time for help with projects. I helped with some wood duck banding a few years ago and then a fish structure project before the WCO I knew well retired. They just did a trap net survey on a local lake that I would have loved to taken part in.