"Never a fisherman need there be, if fishes could hear as well as see"
author: unattributable
source: Notes & Quotes, ser. IV, ii, 94
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Smallmouth Guru
The following is an article by Stephen Headrick, The Smallmouth Guru, Bassmaster.com
A question I get asked a lot when I'm traveling around the country doing seminars is "What's the most common mistake smallmouth bass anglers make when they're fishing a jig?" It's a really good question, and I've had a chance to think about it for several years now, so my answer has changed a little over time.
I used to tell people that the biggest mistake was that they didn't fish the jig often enough or that they didn't fish it slowly enough. Both of those answers are true, by the way.
But now I think the biggest mistake most anglers make when fishing a jig is that they don't keep their rod tip low enough when they fish it. Instead they keep the rod tip up at 11 or 12 o'clock, which is a great position for detecting strikes, but a poor one for setting the hook.
If you watch your line carefully, like I do, you'll soon realize that you can see more strikes than you ever feel. And since that's true, you'll do yourself a big favor by keeping your rod low during a jig retrieve — from about 9 to 10 o'clock.You might be able to get away with a high rod angle when largemouth fishing or even when the smallmouth are really tearing it up, but on slow days or when you need to turn every strike into a catch, keeping your rod tip low will pay off for you with more bass.
The reason is simple. When your rod tip is low — nearly parallel to the water — you're in a
better position to set the hook, and you need to be able to do that very, very fast. Smallmouth are curious creatures, but they don't have hands. The only way they can check something out is by picking it up in their mouths. When they're curious and not really feeding — which I think is a big majority of the time — you don't have as long to set the hook as when they're eating heavily and sucking that lure all the way to the backs of their mouths.
By keeping your rod low, your eyes on the line and by having a hair trigger hook set, you're going to catch a lot more smallmouth.And remember to set the hook just as soon as you feel something different, something you can't recognize. The strike isn't always a solid thump or even a mushy feeling. Sometimes it's the complete loss of feeling because a fish has picked up your bait and is moving toward you with it. Other times it's completely different from any of those. Watch your line closely, and set the hook just as soon as you see it move or feel something different.
Almost as important when you're setting the hook on a good smallmouth is to get your hand on the reel right away (better yet, never take it off) and get cranking on that fish to keep the line tight and the bass moving toward you. Slack line is your enemy, and you need to keep that fish coming after the hook set.
Finally, don't wait when you have a strike! It's a guarantee that the bass doesn't have your lure in its hands!
For further articles by this experienced guru, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/index
A question I get asked a lot when I'm traveling around the country doing seminars is "What's the most common mistake smallmouth bass anglers make when they're fishing a jig?" It's a really good question, and I've had a chance to think about it for several years now, so my answer has changed a little over time.
I used to tell people that the biggest mistake was that they didn't fish the jig often enough or that they didn't fish it slowly enough. Both of those answers are true, by the way.
But now I think the biggest mistake most anglers make when fishing a jig is that they don't keep their rod tip low enough when they fish it. Instead they keep the rod tip up at 11 or 12 o'clock, which is a great position for detecting strikes, but a poor one for setting the hook.
If you watch your line carefully, like I do, you'll soon realize that you can see more strikes than you ever feel. And since that's true, you'll do yourself a big favor by keeping your rod low during a jig retrieve — from about 9 to 10 o'clock.You might be able to get away with a high rod angle when largemouth fishing or even when the smallmouth are really tearing it up, but on slow days or when you need to turn every strike into a catch, keeping your rod tip low will pay off for you with more bass.
The reason is simple. When your rod tip is low — nearly parallel to the water — you're in a
better position to set the hook, and you need to be able to do that very, very fast. Smallmouth are curious creatures, but they don't have hands. The only way they can check something out is by picking it up in their mouths. When they're curious and not really feeding — which I think is a big majority of the time — you don't have as long to set the hook as when they're eating heavily and sucking that lure all the way to the backs of their mouths.
By keeping your rod low, your eyes on the line and by having a hair trigger hook set, you're going to catch a lot more smallmouth.And remember to set the hook just as soon as you feel something different, something you can't recognize. The strike isn't always a solid thump or even a mushy feeling. Sometimes it's the complete loss of feeling because a fish has picked up your bait and is moving toward you with it. Other times it's completely different from any of those. Watch your line closely, and set the hook just as soon as you see it move or feel something different.
Almost as important when you're setting the hook on a good smallmouth is to get your hand on the reel right away (better yet, never take it off) and get cranking on that fish to keep the line tight and the bass moving toward you. Slack line is your enemy, and you need to keep that fish coming after the hook set.
Finally, don't wait when you have a strike! It's a guarantee that the bass doesn't have your lure in its hands!
For further articles by this experienced guru, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/index
Monday, March 10, 2008
How about fly-fishing in Northern Spain
For the fly fishermen there is a beautiful place in Northern Spain, along the Mino, Labra, and Tamoga Rivers. With Brown trout plentiful, you will be fishing with Kingfishers, Eagles, Kites and Storks. More wild life abounds here including deer and wild boar. For further information visit www.flyfishinggalicia.co.uk/
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Bull Shoals Lake
An impressive 71,000 acre lake, situated on Arkansas-Missouri border south of Sundown, Missouri, the Bull Shoals Lake is one lake you should consider for your fishing and camping vacations. For a family fishing vacation, you can choose any water sport you like, bring your water skis, scuba diving equipment, camping gear, fishing tackle, as well as hiking equipment. Swimming is great mid May through September.
The Bull Shoals Lake has numerous boat ramps in both Arkansas and Missouri areas. Fishing is great year round, but the peak action is during March, April and May, for bass, crappie, catfish, and many other species.
The Bull Shoals Lake has numerous boat ramps in both Arkansas and Missouri areas. Fishing is great year round, but the peak action is during March, April and May, for bass, crappie, catfish, and many other species.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame
A five-time Bassmaster Classic contender, Charlie Campbell of Forsythe, Missouri, is one of four men who were inducted recently into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Campbell competed in 229 Bassmaster events from 1971 to 2002. He scored 27 top-20 finishes, including fifth place in the 1974 Classic. He is also known for creating the Charlie Campbell CC Spinner Bait and contributing to the design of the first Bass Tracker Boats.
Three other pioneers of the sport will be inducted posthumously, including Nick Creme, who with his brother invented the first soft-plastic worm and founded Creme Lure Co. in Texas. Lure inventor and TV show host Virgil Ward of Missouri also will be inducted, as will Elwood Lake "Buck" Perry, the North Carolina angler widely acclaimed as being "the father of structure fishing."
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization based in Hot Springs, Ark.
courtesy Fishing World.com
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