Monthly Archives: February 2015

St Croix Rods At the Bassmasters Classic

Class of the Classic

Four top St. Croix Rod pros qualify for 2015 Bassmaster Classic
from St Croix Rods

Park Falls, WI (February 15, 2015) – To qualify is a big badge of honor. Winning? Well let’s just say the medals and commendations might require a caddy to carry and reinforcement of the fireplace mantle. The Classic trophy alone looks to exceed the maximum poundage for check-in luggage.

The Classic is a weighty matter, indeed. And there is a quartet of Elite anglers who will be throwing their weight and baits around under the flag of an all-American brand. Classic qualifiers James Niggemeyer, Stephen Browning, Scott Rook and Brian Snowden will have St. Croix Rod pinned to their chests and immaculately crafted rods in their hands.

South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell sets the battlefield for the 2015 campaign. The phrase “intimidating” might best describe the 56,000-acre reservoir and its 962 miles of shoreline. Rugged foothills and plummeting piedmont foretell what lies beneath the surface, as Hartwell’s waterscape is a pulmonary arrhythmia of structure.

True, for one, Niggemeyer is impressed by the scope and cragginess of Hartwell, but definitely not intimidated by the manmade lake. “Hartwell reminds me of some of the lakes I fished out west,” said the California native, now proud Texan. “Before Christmas, I went on a scouting trip to familiarize myself with the lake. I left feeling pretty comfortable.”

Pre-fishing is one thing, prognosticating another. Niggemeyer tested the waters in late December, but the dates of the Classic put him back on Hartwell in late February. So how does he expect the bite to play out?

“I predict that the bass will be in a late-winter pre-spawn mode, meaning both deep and shallow patterns will be in play,” said Niggemeyer, mentally preparing for basically everything. “I want to fish my strengths, and working a Strike King jig is one of them. It’s a powerful cold-water tool when fished around vertical structure and cover types both shallow and deep.”

Painting a waterscape with a precision jig necessitates the right brush, the perfect rod. “I’ll fish a St. Croix Legend Elite (LEC70MHF) 7-foot medium-heavy rod to get the job done. It’s extremely sensitive to soft bites from sluggish cold-water fish, but still has the action and backbone to maximize my potential to land each bite.”

Niggemeyer’s secondary approach involves raking crankbaits along fast-falling banks. “I have had a lot of success in late winter/early spring, fishing a variety of Strike King crankbaits to draw reaction strikes from fish that are otherwise reluctant to eat a slow-moving presentation.

“Pre-spawn bass tend to relate to 45-degree banks because they offer quick access to deep water. And using the right rod for crankbaiting is crucial, which is why I will reach for a 7-foot 4-inch St. Croix Mojo Bass Glass (MBGC74MM). The fiberglass rod gives me an edge anytime I fish crankbaits, but especially in this cold-water timeframe when fish have a tendency to swipe at baits, resulting in fish that are just barely hooked.”

Niggemeyer’s larger Classic prediction? “The tournament will most likely be won by the guy who consistently catches them day after day, as opposed to the one who has a monster day and hangs on for the win. With that in mind, a carefully thought out strategy with multiple options will be important.”

Similarity, not familiarity, is the battle cry echoed by St. Croix Rod pro and Bassmaster Classic qualifier, Brian Snowden. The Missourian is intimately acquainted with Table Rock Lake, which he says mimics South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. “I have never fished a tournament on Lake Hartwell, but I did have the opportunity to spend an entire week on the water prior to off-limits. It fishes very similar to my home lake, Table Rock.”

In Snowden’s academic opinion, the calendar and cold water will have bass in a pre-spawn frame of mind. “The fish should be in a late winter or early pre-spawn pattern. For fish staging deeper than 10 feet, I plan on using a 1/2- to 3/4-ounce football jig. For this technique, my all-time favorite rod is the 7-foot medium-heavy St. Croix Legend Elite. The rod is very light and phenomenally sensitivity. Plus, the Legend Elite has a fast tip allowing for accurate casts, but with plenty of strength through the lower section of the rod.”

Snowden, like Niggemeyer, already has his fingers on the seams of a follow-up pitch. “My second prediction is that bass will be in major creeks, on channel swings and secondary points. One of the best techniques for catching them is running a crankbait. My choice for throwing smaller, lightweight crankbaits is the 7-foot 2-inch St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass (TBC72MM).”

There is a hardened Lake Hartwell expert in St. Croix’s ranks as well. “I fished the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Hartwell,” said Arkansan Stephen Browning. “I didn’t fare well, but I really like the lake. I did spend some time before cutoff trying to familiarize myself with some areas that I didn’t fish during the 2008 Classic.” Seems that a winning formula for Browning will involve hybridizing 2008 intel with knowledge gained from more recent pre-fishing efforts.

“I’m going to hope for stable weather patterns leading up to the Classic,” said Browning, metaphorically pounding the Farmer’s Almanac with this fist. “This will help me analyze the winning pattern, or patterns, during the Classic. Nothing would suit me better than if there was substantial rainfall about a week out. That would move bass shallower, which would set up nicely for some shallow cranking.”

Again, akin to Niggemeyer, Browning snares a crankbait-specific St. Croix Rod off the front platform. “I’ve put the Mojo Target Cranker to the test the last two years with wins on the Red River in Shreveport, LA, and would love the opportunity to do the same at the Classic.”

Browning’s Plan B considers dryer conditions. “If we don’t see the rain and the fish are relating to deeper structure, a football jig on the end of a Legend Tournament Bass Carolina Rig rod will play a big role. This is one of my favorite ways to catch fish during the late-winter season.

“If I can find fish using either of these techniques, I should do very well. Confidence is a major player, especially at the Classic, and I know that there are no better rods that fit my styles of fishing than those that carry the St. Croix logo.”

Rounding out St. Croix’s fearsome foursome is veteran B.A.S.S. angler Scott Rook. The Arkansan is maybe best known for his adaptability; able to drive crankbaits with a burly baitcaster and effortlessly drop it to the deck and come back up with a finesse spinning outfit.

Matching Browning’s history with Lake Hartwell, Rook laced ‘em up at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic. And this time around, as he stated in a recent story written by David A. Brown for Arkansas Wild magazine, Rooks said deciphering prevailing weather conditions will be the key to the kingdom.

“In late February, if we have a warming spell, it will be shallow-water fishing; if we have a cold spell between now and then it will be more deep-water fishing,” he said. “More than likely, it will be won deep, but if it continues to warm, you can continue to fish shallow.

“The weather is going to be the biggest factor in what you can do. And you might have to mix it up some.”

St. Croix Rod, like its water-warriors, wears a badge of honor. And the symbol stands as the company’s pride in both its pros and the premium rods they’ll be fishing.

Cedar Creek Lake Fishing Report Texas

Cedar Creek Lake Fishing Report

Catch cats like this with Jason Barber

Fishing Report, Cedar Creek Lake 2/16/15

Hey guys and gals, Jason Barber here with the www.kingscreekadventures.com fishing and lake report for Cedar Creek Lake.The lake level is at 4.90′ low and the water temperature is in the high 40’s to low 50’s give or take a few degrees. The water clarity ranges from stained to very stained heading north.

The Hybrids and Sandies are still deep and the best way to get a bite is still in deep water. The dead stick bite is a great way to catch good fish both hybrids and white bass alike. Try small shad imitations from crappie sized to 4″ and many colors will work. Stay in 30 to 50′ of water and drop the bait down to the bottom and fish 1 to 10′ up from the bottom. Try banging, bumping, stomping or kicking the boat floor for some extra attention from the fish “and anyone else close by” and this will simulate lots of birds feeding on schools of shad and attract the predator fish.

The crappie are moving shallow but the inconsistent weather will keep the bite hit and miss for a little longer. Some fish are being caught in 3 to 6′ of water inside the marinas and a few fish have been caught way up in the creeks as well. With all that being said it’s time to start keeping tabs on a shallower bite for the beloved crappie. Don’t totally overlook the staging areas where they stack up heading to spawn, these are great areas to find large schools and get multiple bites.

The Catfish are available in the entire lake right now. You can choose to drift in deeper water throughout the lower end of the lake or fish the shallow north end of the lake in 2 to 10′ for great action bottom fishing. Either way you decide to go you will need fresh cut fish for bait, try shad, drum, carp or bream for the most part.

As for the large mouth, try sneaking into spawning coves and fishing down the shoreline throwing a chatter bait or spinner bait to cover water. I always have a jig or smaller plastic worm or creature bait ready to pick apart any good looking cover you may find or a deeper dock that has 2 to possibly 10′ of water on it “of which the latter are hard to find” this will get you some extra bites and probably your best ones.

Thanks as always for your time and support, if I can answer any questions about the lake or the fishing here on Cedar Creek Lake please contact me. If you would like to book a fishing trip I’d be happy to accommodate. You can reach me at 903 603 2047 or 903 887 7896 .

Cedar Creek Fishing

Email: kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com
Phone: 903-603-2047
Jason Barber

Im Going To the Bassmasters Classic

I’m going to the BassMasters Classic in Greenville, South Carolina and Lake Hartwell this week – as a media observer. Way back in 1983 in almost qualified to fish the Classic through the federation and going as an observer is a far cry from fishing it, but I went last year and had fun.

The Classic is the biggest tournament in bass fishing each year. It is often called the Superbowl of bass fishing. Last year I was quoted in Sports Illustrated saying “the Suprebowl should be called the Basssmasters Classic of football!” It is that big, and the winner can expect to earn over one million dollars during the next year in sponsorships and endorsements.

On Wednesday I will ride with one of the pros during the final practice day. I am a little worried since the weather guessers say the high will be 37 with a chance of rain, but it gives me the chance to see first-hand how the pros try to find fish and figure out how to catch them.

Thursday is media day and I will have lunch with the pros – me and about 150 other media representatives. After lunch the pros will be at their boats to do interviews. Last year one question I asked was “What advice would you give to a young fisherman wanting to be a bass pro?” The results of those interviews are in an article I wrote in this month’s Georgia Outdoor News.

Friday is the first day of the tournament and while the pros are fishing there will be a huge outdoor show at the TD Convention Center in Greenville. There will be dozens of vendors there, ranging from boat companies to lure manufacturers. And many of them will have special discounts on their products. The show will run all three days, Friday through Sunday, and it is free.

The weigh-in each day will be at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and is also free. Live weigh-ins will be streamed on the internet so you can watch from home. And there will be a live blog each day of fishing from on-the-water observers as well as streaming video of the pros fishing, all at http://bassmasters.com.

The show and weigh-ins in Greenville are a little over three hours from Griffin. It would be a fun trip to go to the show and see some of the weigh-ins in person.

Bassmaster Classic Audience Expected To Grow This Year

The cameras used to film The Bassmasters on ESPN are now capable of also streaming live on-the-water video that will be accessible on Bassmaster.com during the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Photo by Bassmaster

Bassmaster Classic Audience Expected To Grow In 2015 Through Innovative New Media

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro next week on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina, is expected to become the most widely watched and thoroughly covered fishing event in history, B.A.S.S. officials predict.

“It will certainly be covered in more different ways than previous Classics, which historically have reached more fishing fans than any other tournament,” said Jim Sexton, VP/Digital for B.A.S.S. “With new live coverage of fishing action on Bassmaster.com and advances in content for mobile devices, we’re hoping to surpass 1 million unique visitors on our website alone.”

The 2014 Classic on Lake Guntersville attracted 979,000 unique visitors to the site, and they generated a total of 33 million page views in February 2014, including 22 million during Classic Week.

In addition to web coverage, ESPN2 will air 12 hours of programming on the Classic, which is being held Feb. 20-22 on Lake Hartwell, with weigh-ins to be held in Greenville, S.C. The programs will be re-aired on ESPN2, ESPN Classic and on The Outdoor Channel. The 2014 Classic on Lake Guntersville attracted more than 1.3 million viewers, including approximately 880,000 on ESPN2 and 400,000 on The Outdoor Channel.

Bassmaster Magazine will cover the 45th Classic in its April issue, reaching 500,000 B.A.S.S. members and 3.7 million readers.

The “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing” also has attracted a record number of journalists representing independent media ranging from websites to magazines and newspapers to television networks. Approximately 275 media representatives have applied for credentials to cover the event.

Among the media contingent, a crew from The Weather Channel will be broadcasting live from the take-off site, Green Pond Landing in Anderson, S.C., Friday and Saturday mornings, Feb. 21-22.

Another form of live broadcast from the Classic will be “huge,” predicts Mike McKinnis, producer of the award-winning The Bassmasters TV show. Internet coverage of the Classic will feature live on-the-water video of anglers on Lake Hartwell.

Employing somewhat new technology built into the same cameras used for the television show, video is transmitted through cell service and streamed live on the website, McKinnis explained. “We do things that inspire us, and we know if we get excited, typically the fans can get excited about it,” he added. “I think the fans will be blown away.”

The video will be streamed in the “Bassmaster Classic Live presented by Lowrance” programs on Bassmaster.com each competition day, Feb. 20-22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.

Classic television coverage on ESPN2 will premiere Saturday, March 7, with a three-hour block covering Day 1 and Day 2 of the competition, and the final round will be covered in a two-hour show Sunday, March 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on ESPN2. (See Bassmaster.com for complete listings.) The programs are videoed, edited and produced by the same team that’s responsible for The Bassmasters show on ESPN2 and the Outdoor Channel. That show recently received the prestigious Golden Moose award for “Best Fishing Show” — the third such award in the past four years for the program.

In addition to “Bassmaster Classic Live,” the Bassmaster.com website offers several other ways to keep up with the fishing competition in real time. BASSTrakk uses cellphone technology to record the location of each angler on a GPS map. Marshals assigned as observers for each of the anglers operate the BASSTrakk devices and send in updates immediately after each fish is caught and kept or released. That information is displayed in the Real Time Leaderboard, an unofficial ranking of each of the competitors, and is sent automatically to followers of @BASSTrakk on Twitter.

Teams of writers and photographers prowl the lake, following the leaders and filing reports and photos in the “Live Blog” feature on the website, which also publishes photos taken by marshals of the angler’s biggest bass. “Near-live” video interviews will be posted online in the BASSCam section, and select video from GoPro cameras installed on all 56 contender boats will be posted daily on the website.

Fans will be able to contribute to the Classic coverage as well through Twitter and/or Instagram. By using the hashtag #BassmasterClassic, their Tweets and photos will appear on video screens in the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on the big screen during weigh-ins at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and on Bassmaster.com.

Social media is expected to play a major role in telling the story of the event this year, according to Social Media Editor Tyler Wade. “More than 2,500 Instagram photos were posted with our hashtag during last year’s Classic, and we had barely established our Instagram presence then. With 25,000 fans on our Instagram account, @bass_nation, the number of posts will be much higher this year.”

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.

Can I Catch Stripers In Cold Water?

Stripers–Cold Water Angling Option

By Frank Sargeant, Editor
from The Fishing Wire

If you’re brave enough to get out on the water anywhere north of Florida this month, you may have a bit of Inuit in your ancestry–or perhaps you fished from an ice shanty.

Stripers in cold water

These landlocked stripers were caught next to bridge pilings in Lewis Smith Lake, an impoundment in North Alabama, an swimbaits. (Frank Sargeant photo)

Cold weather not only makes it almost impossible to endure sitting in a bass boat, it shocks the fish into a state that resembles suspended animation; they simply hang in the water near bottom, nose down, moving only enough to stay upright. They’ll come back to some semblance of normalcy after a few days of more temperate weather–but it will be the end of February before bassing returns to normal, even in Mid-South states like Tennessee and the Carolinas.

However, there are some species less affected by the cold. Top among them is striped bass, which actually thrive on cold water, and these may be the best target for the next month in many lakes around the country.

Stripers feed almost entirely on shad in open water and can be tough to find, but fortunately many lakes in winter have some “bird dogs” that make it easier. Sea gulls that winter from the Mason-Dixon Line southward keep a sharp eye out for shad being driven to the surface by stripers, and anywhere you see a flock of gulls diving–or even sitting on the water–it’s likely there are stripers below.

Striped bass are native to the TVA lakes that stretch across Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky, but numbers were strongest when they were heavily stocked years ago. Now, most found here are native-spawned; the long flow-way of the TVA rivers allows the eggs to hatch in years when there’s good rain. Tennessee is also continuing to stock upstream TVA lakes, and some of these fish, as well as their eggs, arrive in North Alabama’s TVA lakes as a result.

Striper caught in cold water

Stripers can sometimes be located on sonar in winter hanging close to bait schools: Lower a heavy jig down to them and this can be the result. (Frank Sargeant photo)

Stripers, as distinguished from white bass, have a longer and more streamlined body shape, and grow to much larger sizes–over 50 pounds on occasion, and the world record for the landlocked strain, caught from the Black Warrior River last February, is a stunning 69 pounds, 9 ounces! Caught by James Bramlett, that 45.5 inch fish is unlikely ever to be bested; it appears to have lived in the warm water outflow of the Gorgas Steam Plant where it was able to stuff itself on swarms of shad and other baitfish prowling there to keep warm. It was built like a basketball with fins.

Stripers of 15 to 20 pounds are not that uncommon, and the average size is 7 to 10 pounds, big enough to give most freshwater anglers the fight of their lives.

Fishing live shad or shad-type lures under the sea gulls is one of the best ways to locate these fish in winter. You may have to visit several gull flocks before you find one with active stripers below, but running main channels near dams or in larger bays will eventually put you on the fish. A check of the sonar can confirm bait and stripers below–these large fish have a very obvious signature on the screen.

Stripers are great eating if cleaned properly, far better than largemouths, which most conservation-minded anglers release anyway these days.

Stripers have snow-white flesh that’s much like that of a saltwater grouper–just peel away the skin, cut out the red line and the rib cage and the boneless fillet is ready to be grilled, baked or broiled.

(A side-note–the largest stripers have higher concentrations of mercury than recommended for consumption, as with most long-lived fish. Those under 10 pounds have no issues in most lakes, however.)

A Bass Tournament Shows You Should Fish Slow in Cold Muddy Water

The last Sunday in January last year 14 members of the Spalding County Sportsman Club braved the cold and muddy water at Jackson for our first 2014 tournament. It was very tough except for one very lucky fisherman with only one limit and five zeros. We had 15 keepers weighing about 28 pounds total. Surprisingly, seven of the 15 keepers were largemouth.

I managed to catch a limit weighing 11 pounds for first. Second was Mickey McHenry with two at 5.48 pounds and big fish weighing 4.15 pounds. Third place was Mark Knight with one keeper weighing 2.14 pounds and fourth was Keith Chambers with one at 1.91 pounds. Second through fourth place are new members to the club this year.

I knew fishing would be tough and planned on stopping on a rocky point in a creek near the mouth of Tussahaw Creek then going on up Tussahaw to try to find clearer water. The water was very stained and 43 degrees when we took off at the dam at 8:00 AM. Where I stopped I could see my chartreuse crankbait down only about five inches.

I fished around that point four times, trying two different crankbaits, a jig and pig and a jig head worm. I also jigged a spoon where I saw bait and fish down about 20 feet deep in three or four places. After 55 minutes of casting I felt weight on my line and set the hook. The three pound spot did not fight much in the cold water and I landed it.

After another 30 minutes of casting I was going to run up the Tussahaw but decided to go across the small creek to the other side. On my first cast with the same crankbait the first bass hit I got a good keeper largemouth. After putting it in the live well I threw back to the same spot on the seawall and got another keeper largemouth.

That made me fish on around the creek, and at 10:40 I hooked a 3.85 pound largemouth. It fought a little bit but not much. After working around the creek I was back on the point where I started and landed my fifth fish, a keeper spot.

Although I fished hard the last four hours in Tussahaw Creek, where the water was a little clearer, I never got another bite. I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time with the right bait to land a limit. I had to crank the plug down then just crawl it along almost like fishing a worm to get a bite in the cold water.

When Do Bass Get Ready for the Spawn In the South?

Bass Get Ready for the Big Event Spawning in the south

By Frank Sargeant, Editor
from The Fishing Wire

Though spawning season is still many weeks away for largemouth bass in most of the South with the exception of Florida, the internal time clocks of these fish are already counting down for the big event. Each year prior to the spawn, the fish feed heavily, packing on weight that they’ll need during the energy-sapping process of mating and then guarding the nests for weeks afterward.

Captain Mike Carter shows a 12 pounder caught in the pre-spawn period from Alabama’s Lake Guntersville on a swimjig fished around primrose bushes. (Photo Credit Mike Carter)

Prespawn bass

This pre-spawn feeding period has become the favorite time of the year for anglers who specialize in chasing big bass because the fish are hungry, and also less wary than they’re likely to be later on when more boats get back out on the water after the cold goes away.

Many of the 8 to 10 pound fish that are caught across the Southern U.S. each year are weighed in between mid-January and mid-March. To be sure, it’s not easy fishing, usually requiring lots of casting to produce any hits at all, but when a bite comes, it can be the lunker of a lifetime.

The fish tend to gather in areas that are not too far from prime spawning spots, but in much deeper water. In many lakes, scattered weeds in 8 to 12 feet of water on secondary points in the larger bays are some of the prime areas, perhaps because these are some of the areas where shad first come up on the structure.

On sunny afternoons the fish also make brief forays into the spawning areas, typically the backs of bays and shallow flats with depths of 1 to 5 feet with scattered weeds, as well as around boathouses in areas with firm shell bottom. Areas with dark mud bottoms can also attract these early fish–look for lily pads and primrose, which typically grow in this mud, as an indicator. The mud apparently acts as a heat sink, increasing water temperatures in these areas during sunny hours.

Prespwan Florida Bass

Captain Mike Shellen guided his anglers to this giant in late winter on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee. (Photo Credit Mike Shellen)

Because the big female spawners tend to be few and far between, it makes sense to use a fast-moving lure to locate them on the deeper points–a Rat-L-Trap or other vibrating, lipless lure is the favorite of many anglers, but lipped crankbaits and heavily weighted swimbaits can also be effective. The lures are cranked through the scattered weeds, then “ripped” or pulled rapidly with an upward snatch of the rod, which both knocks weeds off the hook and creates a strike trigger for any bass that may be following the lure–strikes often come just after one of these pulls.

When the fish move into the lily pads and primrose, a more weedless lure is in order–many anglers do well with swimjigs like those from Strike King, dressed with a flapping crawfish or beaver type soft plastic. These jigs are cast into the cover, then cranked slowly but steadily back, twitching occasionally to free them from weeds.

Swimjigs are generally best reserved for sunny afternoons, and for later in the season–as the actual spawn approaches, typically on the strong moon period in the last half of March and on through April–they become steadily more effective.

The fish anglers catch late January through February are not numerous, but they’re typically big ones, calling for stout tackle–a baitcaster with 17- pound test fluorocarbon line is the best bet.

These trophy class fish are the future of Southern lakes, and it makes sense to release them promptly after a few photos. They generally survive tournament weigh-ins well at this time of year, however, so release after a trip to the stage also makes sense.

Fishing Bartletts Ferry for Bass In February

The last Sunday of February last year 18 members of the Spalding County Sportsman Club fished our February tournament at Bartlett’s Ferry. After eight hours of casting we brought in 53 keepers weighing about 78 pounds, much better than the Flint River club did two weeks ago there. The warming weather really made it better.

There were two five-fish limits brought in and only two people didn’t land a keeper. Most were spots, with only eight largemouth caught. We must be doing something wrong, though. A club weighed in just before we did and that tournament was won with an incredible five fish limit weighing over 19 pounds. That sounds like a Bassmasters Classic catch!

Sam Smith won with a limit weighing 7.1 pounds, Mark Knight was second with four at 6.85 pounds, Micky McHenry was third with four weighing 6.5 pounds and Gary Hattaway’s limit at 5.3 pounds was fourth. Niles Murray won the big fish pot with a 3.4 pound bass.

My day started wrong, as usual, with problems latching the trailer hitch on my trailer. I have got to figure out what is causing that problem. At least I didn’t follow the detour this time and made to the ramp on time.

Then, on the first place I fished, a bass hit my jig and pig by a dock but when I set the hook the line was around the concrete piling and broke. I caught my first keeper off that dock a few minutes later.

It took an hour to get another bite but I landed my second fish on a Texas rigged tube in about a foot of water on a seawall. Almost an hour later I saw a bass swirl at my crankbait right at the boat and saw others suspended off the bottom on that point. I threw a jerk bait to the area and caught my third keeper but no more hit.

Another hour passed then another bite. This one hit a Shadrap near a log. That made four. A few casts later I hooked a big, strong fish on the Shadrap and it fought hard, but I was worried. It stayed deep and did not fight like a bass. Sure enough, when I got it to the boat a five pound channel cat had my plug in its mouth. Good eating but I couldn’t weigh it in.

I landed no more fish. I did hook a good two pound keeper on a crankbait but it came off the second time it rolled on top. I was trying to keep it down but it would not stay underwater. I guess it knew it could get off by coming to the top.

Although we had a cold week this past week, everything is setting up for the bass to start feeding a lot in shallow water. The water early in the morning on the main lake at Bartlett’s Ferry was 49 degrees but that afternoon, back in a pocket, it was 57 degrees. Even though the sun was not bright it warmed the water a lot.

Get ready to catch some bass, they will be ready to hit soon. And the crappie are already eating jigs and minnows, and a catfish should eat some liver if that one hit my crankbait.

Can I Catch Trout Through the Ice In Small Waters?

Small-water tactics for rainbows, browns, brookies and more

By Dan Johnson
from The Fishing Wire

Ice fishing on small waters

Trout provide fine ice fishing action across the North, but in many areas of the country, large, deep lakes don’t develop a trustworthy coating of ice until well after Christmas. Good news is, opportunities abound to enjoy fast action on smaller, quick-freezing lakes guaranteed to deliver a welcome dose of holiday cheer.

“In Colorado, our big, high-mountain lakes generally don’t freeze until Christmas,” reports veteran Rocky Mountain trout guide Bernie Keefe, but this expert says smaller lakes are a different picture.

Based in the high-altitude nirvana of Granby, Colorado, Keefe connects clients with lakers, browns, rainbows, brookies and kokanee salmon on lakes of all sizes throughout the year. But right now, he focuses on small systems offering walkable ice and healthy populations of hungry trout, and his tactics apply to trout fans coast to coast.

“Lakes ranging from 100 to 500 acres in size are ideal because you can easily cover them on foot,” he says.

Pre-trip scouting begins at state fisheries department websites, which often offer detailed information on fish numbers and sizes, along with helpful hydrographic maps. Keep in mind, lakes with relatively simple structure are easier to search than those with multiple reefs, points and other trout-attracting features.

Small; waters ice over early

Why wait for big lakes to freeze when small waters offer opportunities for a variety of trout and salmon?

Once he sets his crosshairs on a potential hotspot, Keefe gears up with a lightweight yet potent supply of tackle including several 28-inch, medium-action Clam Jason Mitchell Series Meat Sticks spooled with 4-pound-test Berkley Trilene XL monofilament line. A small tackle box houses a selection of dainty jigs, spoons and swimming hardbaits, while a bait puck loaded with waxworms supplies the tippings.

Carefully testing the ice with a spud bar as he goes, Keefe ventures out in search of prime lies such as shoreline points and lush green weedbeds. “The inside edge of the weeds is typically hot right now, but open pockets are always worth checking, too,” he says, noting that thin ice and clear water often enable visual recon without chipping or drilling.

Since trout frequent depths of five to 15 feet of water this time of year, sight-fishing is a great way to get a handle on the underwater world. “A pair of holes 30 inches apart make it easy to watch two lines at a time,” he says. “I chip them out with my spud bar and pop up my Clam portable on top of ’em.”

In one hole, Keefe wields an active jigging presentation, which draws curious trout and often triggers strikes. “An 1/8-ounce Clam Blade Spoon tipped with a waxworm or two is perfect for the job,” he says. “Drop it to bottom or the top of the weeds, and then slowly reel it back toward the surface, shaking it as you go. When you reach the ice, reverse the process and backreel the spoon back down.”

Hard bait catch

Swimming hardbaits such as Clam’s Psycho Shad are deadly on early-winter trout.

While spoons are a stellar option, swimming hardbaits such as Clam’s Psycho Shad are also deadly weapons for luring in winter trout. After a strike or two, Keefe focuses his efforts on the depth at which the trout hit. “It tells me the level at which the fish are cruising,” he explains.

His second hole holds a deadstick presentation. “A 1/16-ounce marabou jig or Clam Duckbill drop is tough to beat,” he says. “But a Clam Half Ant can be dynamite when trout are keying on a horizontal bait.” Deadstick tippings consist of two or three waxies threaded onto the hook so they dangle temptingly while oozing scent into the surrounding water.

If trout are cruising the area, it usually doesn’t take long for fish to move in and check out Keefe’s wares. “If nothing shows up within half an hour, I pull up stakes and move on,” he says.

Keefe’s small-lake pattern holds water well into January, when dying shoreline weeds push trout into deeper water offshore. “The same tactics apply, you just have to walk our farther to find the fish,” he notes. Until the migration begins, however, the shallow-water shoreline bite is a great way to put a mixed bag of tasty trout on ice.

Contact Information
For more information or to book a trip with Keefe, visit: fishingwithbernie.com or call (970) 531-2318.

Are You Dangerous If You Have A Gun Carry License?

Do you have an Alabama Carry Permit, allowing you to carry a concealed weapon? Could you pass the fingerprint background check and get one if you wanted to? If so, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence considers you a dangerous person.

The silly anti-gun Brady Bunch sent out at least seven emails in the two weeks before the Vitter Amendment was voted on a few years ago. The Vitter Amendment was an amendment to the Department of Defense funding bill that would have allowed people with a gun license from one state to carry a gun in other states.

Right now you can drive in every state in the US with a driver’s license issued to you in your home state. You still have to obey local traffic laws, and the Vitter Amendment said you had to obey local gun laws when in other states. But the gun control fanatics went crazy opposing this amendment.

This is a quote from a July 9 Brady Bunch press release on the Vitter Amendment: “This legislation would force states, your state, to allow dangerous individuals to pack heat in public.” So they consider you a dangerous individual if you have a gun license! Here is more from a July 17 press release: “Very dangerous legislation that would force states, your state, to allow dangerous individuals to carry loaded guns in public could be voted on as early as Monday, July 20. And we must stop it!”

This amendment failed by a 58 to 39 vote in the US Senate. No, 58 US Senators voted in favor of your rights. Only in the US Senate is a 58 in favor to 39 against vote a defeat!

But the Brady Bunch was ecstatic! On July 22, after the Vitter Amendment lost although it got 58 yes voted out of 97 cast, the Brady Bunch crowed “You helped stop the gun lobby’s legislation that would have forced states to allow dangerous individuals to carry loaded guns in public.”

Yep, now law-abiding citizens like you and me who have gone through a fingerprint background check to get a concealed carry permit can’t cross a state line and be legal. No doubt someone planning on robbing a convenience store across the state line will stop and leave their illegal handgun in the car because this amendment failed.

It is not rational to limit law-abiding citizen’s rights thinking criminals will obey laws. By definition, criminals break laws. All gun control laws do is disarm law-abiding citizens and make them venerable to criminals.

Both Senator Shelby and Senator Sessions voted in favor of this amendment to protect your rights, as did all but two Republican US Senators. There were 37 Democrat votes against your rights.

Thank Senator Shelby and Senator Sessions for voting to protect your rights. And also thank Troy King, Alabama State Attorney General, for signing a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder expressing his opposition to reinstatement of the federal ban on semi-automatic firearms.

King is one of 23 state Attorneys General, the top law enforcement officers in each of their states, to sign this letter. That is amazing. The top law enforcement officers in almost half our states oppose renewing the assault weapons ban. Kinda makes claims that banning these guns will reduce crime look stupid, doesn’t it?

So far only US Attorney General Eric Holder is the only one talking about bringing back this useless ban. Most elected officials realize it is a useless law and will hurt them politically, but unfortunately there are unelected folks like Holder that can affect our gun rights.

Keep a watch on our elected officials but keep a closer watch on those unelected bureaucrats that control our lives.

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