My First Two Fishing Outings in 2011

Outing #1 – Monday, May 2, 2011

The first outing left a bitter taste of rust, or at least the shaking of it off, as I attempted to catch for my first bass with a jig a rubber skirt. If you didn’t know, jigs and I don’t get along. Could you imagine entering your eighth season of fishing and still NOT landing a bass with a jig and rubber skirt? Oh the embarrassment! To add salt to the wound, I was pleasantly surprised to have had not one but two excellent opportunities to finally get this done while fishing through hand-numbing cold, non-stop, pouring rain.

From the dock, I pitched my jig right where I intended (grass and old lily pad remains) and watched it descend about five feet to the bottom. Shortly after the jig hit bottom, a 15” largemouth bass came out of nowhere and inspected the jig. I gave it a tiny hop and that was all she needed to commit to the strike. In my thoughts I shouted, “Ah yeah!!” Then, I set the hook. Unfortunately, the excitement of the situation overcame my usually cool and collected approach and I yanked the jig away a split second too soon. The silent, “Ah yeah,” was followed by a loud and verbal, “Oh no!”

I let the environment rest a few minutes and tried again in another spot close to where I made the first cast. Can you believe I did the exact same thing again?

Further attempts yield no other takers and neither did changing tactics. 0 for 2 can make you blue, especially if you haven’t fished for bass since last October. The poor weather didn’t help either.

Conditions: Miserable – Overcast, constant rain, about 45 degrees F.

Gear:

Rod #1 Cabelas Mag-Touch casting, Curado 101D, Black and Blue jig with a zipper worm as a trailer, 8# Spiderwire Mono

Rod#2 Shimano Compre spinning, Rapala 6Sxi reel, various plastics, 6# Invizx.

Outing #2 – Friday, May 6, 2011

This was definitely an unplanned trip. Had to run some errands downtown and happened to have one rig, a casting rod and a reel and some finesse tackle with me. The weather conditions were overcast as is was on the first trip, but this time there was no accompanying rain.

I only had time to use one tactic and I chose the drop shot. After a number of snags, forced break offs, and trying two different plastics, I finally broke through with the third bait, a brown sniper snub. After dragging the drop shot rig about three times, I felt a mushy take and I knew it was game on and fortunately this time around, I remained composed.

Yes! My first bass of the season, and I am glad to get that monkey off of my back. I released the bass after taking a photo and it swam away vigorously. I am glad I caught her when I did because I was also out of time.

Conditions: Fair – Overcast, but dry about 50 degrees F.

Gear:

Cabelas Mag-Touch casting, Curado 101D, Sniper Snub worms, 8# Spiderwire Mono

Not a pig, and not taken with a jig, but I’ll take her!

Hey well done and good report. How do you like that mag touch? i've held them before and they feel nice but was wondering if they slip at all on the hook set or battle given that there is no padding anywhere.

WTG, I bet you'll get jig fishing down just fine this season. Just concentrate on staying with lightweight jigs at first (3/16 to 1/4) and stay slow with your movement.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

WTG, I bet you'll get jig fishing down just fine this season. Just concentrate on staying with lightweight jigs at first (3/16 to 1/4) and stay slow with your movement.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

I hope so. Those are the two main weights I have been working with. I need to get the "no fish on a jig-n-pig yet" monkey off of my back.