Monthly Archives: March 2024

Amazing How Fast Bass Fishing Can Change In A Few Spring Days

Call it a tale of two Sinclairs.  Or a tale of three lakes in only three days. Last weekend showed how fast bass fishing can change this time of year.  

    Last Friday I met Ricky Layton to get information for my GON April Map of the Month article.  The weather guessers were right for a change when they predicted high winds, bluebird skies and cold weather. That combination is usually the kiss of death for fishing in the spring.

    Ricky said we would meet at Bass’s Boat House, an old marina where the clubs used to put in back in the 1970s. It was near the dam and the water might be slightly clearer in that area, and we would be more protected from the wind. All this spring the flooding rains have made our lakes fill up with very muddy water.

    We waited until 9:00 AM to go out since it was cold.  The first two hours seemed to show the weather and muddy water was working against us. Ricky took me to some places he had caught good fish the weekend before, but the water was even muddier than it had been and we got no bites.

    At 11:00 Ricky was starting to look at the article pattern and caught an eight-pound largemouth on a bladed jig. The fish was up shallow near a grass bed, the pattern for April.  That is a big fish for Sinclair, it has been a long time since I have seen one that big there, although there have been several that were close the past few years.

    About noon we started fishing and marking places for the article, working bass bedding and shad spawning areas.  Ricky caught a five-pound largemouth out of a grass bed on what will be hole #2.  A few minutes later he caught one weighing about six pounds there.

    The next place we fished Ricky caught another fish right at six pounds, on the same pattern, halfway back in a creek with grass beds up shallow on the bank.  One of the last places we fished he landed his smallest fish of the day, one that weighted about 3.5 pounds.  In all that time I landed one weighing about 2.5 pounds, but my excuse is I was too busy netting his fish and taking pictures and notes to fish.

    Ricky ended up with five bass weighing a conservative 28 pounds.  That is the kind of catch you dream about and expect on Guntersville, not Sinclair, especially under bad weather conditions.  The water temperature was 58 to 59 degrees where we fished, making those big largemouth were looking for bedding areas.

     On Saturday Ricky took his son fishing at Sinclair.  Although colder, the weather was better, but the fishing was not.  He said they did land a seven-pound fish out of hole #10 but their best five weighed “only” about 14 pounds, not great compared to the day before.

    I could not wait to get on the water Sunday morning in the Flint River Bass Club March tournament at Sinclair.  I should have known better.

    After fishing from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 13 members landed 20 bass weighing about 36 pounds.  There was one five bass limit and five people didn’t catch a 12-inch keeper.

    Travis Weatherly won with five weighing 9.02 pounds and his 4.99 pound largemouth was big fish.  My three weighing 7.47 placed second and I had a 4.57 pounder for my biggest fish. Niles Murray placed third with three weighing 5.75 pounds and Brent Drake came in fourth with three weighing 4.20 pounds.

    The cold air made me shiver on my run to my first stop. Luckily there was enough wind to keep the fog down, it was wispy and hanging just off the water. But there was enough to make it scary trying to watch for all the floating wood.

    I stopped off a grass bed that was perfect for the pattern Ricky caught his big fish on Friday, but my heart sank when my temperature gauge hit 49 degrees.  A nine or ten degree drop just had to affect the bass. It surely did affect my optimism!

    I fished three places in three hours without a bite.  Around 11:00 the weak sun was warming the water a little, raising the temperature to about 51 degrees in the cove where Ricky caught a six pounder.  I cast a Chatterbait across in front of a grass bed, something thumped it and I set the hook.

    My rod bowed up and the fish headed for deep water. I just knew I had a six pounder on, but suddenly my line went slack. The fish just pulled off without me ever seeing it.

    At noon I was in the area where Ricky caught two fish, hole #2. I was very down, fishing half the day without a keeper. The water had warmed to 52 so I had some hope. I cast my Chatterbait into some grass and hooked the four pounder I weighed in. That improved my attitude a lot.

    After another hour of fishing without a bite, I caught a two pounder in front of some grass, then at 2:00 PM landed my third keeper, a one pounder, from another grass bed.  That was it. I fished hard for the rest of the day without another bite.

Sturgeon Poachers Fined, One Jailed

Sturgeon Poachers Fined, One Jailed in Oregon

from Waterworld

St Helens, Ore. — Three men owe thousands in fines, and one served jail time after a felony conviction for poaching five oversized sturgeon fish, including one giant white sturgeon, in Scappoose Bay in 2022.

The original incident gained attention in 2022 when sportsmen fishing along the banks of Scappoose Bay noticed people fishing from a boat had caught a sturgeon but did not release it as required by law. The legal anglers reported what they saw to OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers, who began monitoring the area. After two days of surveillance, Trooper Scott Bernardi and Senior Trooper Justin Morgan, both from the St Helens office, approached the men where they were moored at the dock.

The subjects claimed that they had not caught any fish. However, Troopers could see two lines extending from the dock into the water. When they pulled up the lines, they found four live sturgeon, ranging in size from five feet to more than seven feet long. All four were secured under water so they would remain alive. While inspecting the boat, Troopers found an additional large white sturgeon, about five feet long.

Julio Duran, of Salem, pleaded guilty to take/possession of a giant white sturgeon, which is a Class C Felony, and take/possession of four oversized sturgeons, which is a Class A misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to fishing without a license, although officials dropped charges for fishing with illegal barbed hooks. Duran served 20 days in the Columbia County jail and owes $5,000 in restitution to ODFW; $500 to the Turn In Poachers TIP reward program; 36 months’ probation, and a three-year angling license suspension. He forfeited the fishing rods and equipment used during the crime.

Jose Plascencia, of Dayton, pleaded guilty to fishing without a resident angling license. Plascencia must serve either 10 days on a Columbia County work crew, or 80 hours of community service, and 24 months of bench probation. He must pay $750 in restitution and is suspended from fishing for three years.

Axel Guell, of St Helens, pleaded guilty to angling without a resident license. Guell must pay $500 in restitution, serve 24 months bench probation and is suspended from fishing for three years.

Senior Trooper Justin Morgan is pleased with the dedicated effort of the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office to pursue charges and bring poachers like this to justice.

“This poacher spent 20 days in jail over the holidays in hopes of changing his behavior. Luckily, the quick-thinking juvenile sportsmen were able to report what they witnessed to the Oregon State Police, through the TIP line, and we were able to apprehend this individual and release the large sturgeon back into the bay,” he said.

All five sturgeon were released back into the bay alive, which is a relief to conservationists. White sturgeon, once plentiful in Oregon waterways, are a Pacific Northwest icon. Sturgeon are long-lived and revered as “living fossils” because they have remained nearly unchanged since they first evolved around 200 million years ago.

White sturgeon fisheries in the lower Columbia and Willamette rivers can currently generate between 30,000 – 40,000 angler trips annually, which contribute millions in economic benefits. In recent years, lower populations of the slow-growing fish preclude taking one home for a meal. But anglers can still catch and release the massive fish, which provides the thrill of the experience.

An 80-year-old giant sturgeon like the one Duran poached is a valued contributor to the breeding stock. Sturgeon don’t reach breeding maturity until they are about 20 years old, and about six feet long. They can live more than 100 years. Older female sturgeon can produce ten times the number of eggs as young females. Poachers who take these giants contribute to an ongoing reduction of the fishery.

Catching poachers is a collaborative effort that often begins with lawful citizens doing the right thing and reporting suspicious behavior, according to Morgan, and recently another youth reported a poaching incident that resulted in criminal citations. Morgan is proud to live in a community that values the state’s natural resources.

“These recent acts by young sportsmen to protect wildlife is a testament to values of young Columbia County residents and is a direct reflection of their parents and mentors,” Morgan said, “A game warden’s biggest asset is the public doing the right thing by reporting poaching incidents.”

The legal fishermen who reported the crime received bonus rewards of $500 each through the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Reward Program. The program offers cash rewards or hunter preference points to people who report fish and wildlife crimes that result in an arrest or citation.

Turn In Poachers campaign coordinator Yvonne Shaw states the importance of the TIP Line.

“The TIP Line is a key tool to fight poaching,” she said, “People who call the TIP Line to report poaching or suspected poaching, can remain anonymous and they also can get cash rewards or hunter preference points if their tip leads to an arrest or citation.”

The Protect Oregon’s Wildlife- Turn In Poachers campaign educates the public on how to recognize and report poaching. This campaign is a collaboration among state agencies, sportsmen and other conservationists, landowners, and recreationists to engage the public in combatting Oregon’s poaching problem. Our goal is to: Incentivize reporting on wildlife crimes through the TIP Line; Strengthen enforcement by increasing the number of OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers; and Support prosecution in becoming an effective deterrent. The campaign helps to protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitat for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Contact campaign coordinator Yvonne Shaw for more information. Yvonne.L.Shaw@odfw.oregon.gov.

If you know of or suspect other crimes against fish wildlife or habitat, please report to the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line. 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Or email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov.

How Can You Start Young Anglers the Right Way?

Starting Young Anglers the Right Way

If you’re reading this, you probably remember your first fish and its impact on your life. Most anglers get their start early on in their lives and the reason is because somebody decided to take them fishing. It’s always fun to introduce someone to fishing and the “take a kid fishing” mantra has been stated for years, but the important part is to make the experience enjoyable and catch fish.

Two guides, who live far apart and fish for different species, Wisconsin’s Rob Friedley and Louisiana’s Captain Joe Ezell, share some tips they’ve learned to keep kids catching and engaged on the water.

All about the action

The attention span of young ones is short and getting shorter in today’s world of electronics and video games, making it even more important to keep them engaged while fishing.

Ezell operates Whiskey Bayou Charters, primarily targeting redfish, and takes plenty of families with young kids on the water each year. “Kids are your toughest critics, and you have to be catching fish, or they’ll let you know about it,” he said. “That’s why you have to make it fun for them because they are the future of our sport. You have to keep them engaged.”

Friedley operates a multi-species guide service in Wisconsin’s Manitowish Waters while holding down a full-time job as a special education teacher. His background and years of experience fishing these waters make him an excellent choice for a guided trip for kids and their families.

“The biggest thing is to temper the expectations before a trip because, as we know, catching fish is not always immediate,” he said. “Kids now are used to video games and that instant gratification. A lot of times, fishing is not like that.”

No matter the size of the fish, the kids enjoy catching them, which is something both guides keep in mind at all times.

“If I look back at pictures of me with fish as a kid, I don’t remember the dimensions of the fish,” said Friedley. “I remember the experience of catching that fish and how it made me feel.”

It’s the same for Capt. Ezell in saltwater, and he’ll keep on active fish, no matter the size or species. “There are times when we are on a point with a bunch of small redfish and we’ll stay on them as long as they keep biting,” he said. “In trips with adults, we would have moved on long ago to search for bigger fish.”

It is not just about the fishing

Going on a guided fishing trip is primarily for fishing, yet both Ezell and Friedley understand that it’s important to include time for sightseeing and other fun activities.

“I let them play with the steering wheel or dig around in the bait bucket,” said Ezell. “We’ll also take boat rides to look at the alligators, birds, and nutria. You always have to find a way to maintain the action if the fish aren’t biting and I gauge the success of a trip with kids based on how long I can keep them out there on the water.”

Another tactic that Ezell stresses is having plenty of snacks on the boat; the more, the better. “I’ve found that a variety of things is the way to keep them entertained,” he said. “Juice boxes, gummy bears, and apple slices are all good. It helps to burn some time until the fish start biting again.”

Friedley uses a similar approach and seeks out undeveloped sections of lakes for the wildlife. “We can see eagles on many trips, and the river sturgeon are spawning in late June and early July. You can sometimes watch them breaching water,” he said. “Seeing a 6-foot long fish coming out of the water is like ‘Shark Week’ for them and very exciting. It’s important to create enthusiasm about being on the water outside of just catching fish.”

Tailoring gear for young anglers

When targeting redfish, Capt. Ezell says that a popping cork with live or dead bait is one of the most user-friendly ways for young people to catch fish. He uses the same basic setup as he does with adults, with a few minor adjustments, including using a jighead with a circle hook to prevent gut hooking so the fish will hook themselves.

“Since they are simply smaller, I’ll also use shorter rods, smaller reels, and shorter fluorocarbon leaders,” he said. “I’ll also loosen up the drags so they don’t panic and let go of the reel if they hook a big one. I’ve learned that from experience. The other adjustment is I’ll always go up a size in line to a 20-pound Seaguar TactX braid with a leader of 30 or 40-pound Seaguar Inshore since kids are generally rougher on gear and land fish with line rubbing the gunnels of the boat. The heavier line stands up to that abuse.”

During many trips, Friedley will work with clients young and old on the intricacies of jigging weed beds for walleye and smallmouth. Still, he always has a backup plan: live bait on a slip bobber for anglers of all ages, especially kids who love to watch a bobber disappear.

“I always have a slip bobber out for the chance of a big walleye, pike, or muskie,” he said. “We fish them on 7-foot medium light St. Croix spinning rods with 20- to 30-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid and 15-pound Seaguar Gold Label leader. That’s a heavier leader than usual and gives you some wiggle room if you catch something with teeth, but it also helps to compensate for young anglers who tend to horse the fish in. The line holds up very well and you still have a chance to land that huge muskie if you get one to bite.”

We should all take kids fishing, but it’s an entirely different experience than an outing with adults. We can share our love of fishing with the next generation by keeping things fun, no matter how well the fish are biting.

Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon leader is available in twenty-five and fifty-yard spools in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12 lb tests for freshwater use, complementing the 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 80 lb test leaders available for saltwater.

Seaguar Smackdown Braid is available in high visibility Flash Green and low visibility Stealth Gray. It is available in 150- and 300-yard spools ranging from 10 to 65 lb test sizes.

Seaguar Inshore Fluorocarbon leader is available on 100-yard spools from 12 to 80 lb test.

Seaguar TactX is a camo-colored braid available from 10 to 80 lb. test in 150- and 300-yard spools.