Month: May 2017

Resolution – Spring Stroll

Posted on by Troy Jackson

I’ve got a collection of public walk-in only lakes that I have fished since 2013.  Through the 2016 fishing year I had wandered the miles of strip mine terrain on seven trips during the last four years with diminishing results in the last two years.  While 2013 and 2014 produced four bass at four pounds or better in five trips, 2015 and 2016 only had a 1-11 to show for Top Bass in two outings.

Last year was particularly ugly as I was eaten alive by mosquitoes and fought armpit high weeds across the entire site once stepping off the interior road that bisects the area.  On top of those nuisances, the quality of the bass that I fooled left much to be desired with only four at 12” or better for a Top 4 weight of 4-13.  Just not my day and I began to wonder if I would pull such a stunt again, vowing to re-read the blog posting I submitted about that misadventure when pondering a 2017 visit.

My late summer 2016 visit featured far more bites from mosquitoes than bass, bad move, tore up.

The pictures I’ve included below aren’t of our best catches from the area but instead are intended to highlight the terrain during the different months I’ve visited the site (along with my brother, Brent, on a couple occasions).  It’s more important to look behind the bass and their anglers to get the point.

September 29, 2013

April 12, 2014

May 23, 2015

September 18, 2016

As you can see from the 2014 photo, the vegetation is definitely more friendly to walk-in only access before spring gets a chance to hit full stride (site doesn’t open until April 1 each year by the way).  Therefore, the resolution was to add the site to my list for the fifth straight year but to do so nearer to opening day rather than closing time (site also shuts down after September 30).  Here’s to short weeds, no skeeters and an overdue boost to my all-time Top 5 from the site that presently sits at an even 20-0 (4-6,4-3,4-2,4-0,3-5).

Update: I’ve already put this resolution behind me with a pair of successful visits on April 8 and May 13 (see fishing reports posted previously for the pics and specifics).  Overall totals as follows:

Total fishing hours: 6.25
Miles walked (per iPhone app): 6.5
Bass: 33
2017 Top 5 Weight: 12-1 (3-6,3-5,2-1,1-12,1-9)
All-time Top 5 Weight:  20-1 (4-6,4-3,4-2,4-0,3-6)


2017 Top IRAP Bass 3-6 April 8 Jig & pig

Oh yeah, and zero mosquito bites.  Good decision on this resolution.

We’ll see what the rest of the resolutions have in store as we continue to run down the list.  Talk to you later.  Troy

Outdoor Resolutions

Posted on by Troy Jackson

So what do Alabama, swimming, a state record, little anglers, a blogging blowout, uncharted waters and a stupid stunt all have in common?

Well, they are all part of a series of “resolutions” that I offered up at my old blogging grounds back on New Year’s Day.  And since I’ve got some new digs and hopefully some new readers thanks to my eventual breakdown in finally finding some “friends” via social media, we’re gonna revisit these items to finish the month of May in my quest to submit a blog a day.

As we are headed towards the half way point of 2017 (believe it or not), I also get a chance to add a few details to these revamped original posts in regards to any of the items that I have managed to check off the list.

Here’s hoping you’ll take a look at these prospects for outdoor adventures as well as a couple other postings to wrap up May, including one of my favorite subjects slated for my May 28 submission.

In addition, check out the Facebook page for the weekly look back in outdoor history, outdoor activity updates and whatever random things appear in a cluttered mind.  Also feel free to send me some fish via the email link above for the Top 5 as I’m gonna need a little help since it may be tough for me to get back on the water this month (see the May 2 posting for details on the Top 5 project).  Good luck, hope you get outside and talk to you later.  Troy

Strip Mine Report 5/13

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Got my first May fishing trip in the log last weekend. As usual I faced the dilemma of which location(s) to hit and in the end my choices were both hit and miss.


6:56am First bass 13″ 0-15 Senko , quick results, will the success continue?

Stats
Date: May 13, 2017
Locations: Little John (private) and IRAP (public)-Knox Co.
Time: 6:45am-12:05pm (4 hours fishing, the rest walking/relocating)
Weather: Sunny/calm-windy
Air Temp: 55F-75F
Water Temp: no reading
Totals: 17 bass
Lures:
Senko weighted wacky rig (green pumpkin/black flake) – 15 bass
Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (snow white shad) – 1 bass
3/8 oz. Fish Head Underspin (white) with 4” Keitech Swing Impact (electric shad) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 3-5 Senko
Weight (only 4 at 12″ or better): 6-11 (3-5,1-9,0-15,0-14)


8:20am 12.5″ 0-14, only buzzbait bass as I cannot replicate the late April buzzbait bite

Notes & Nonsense

Rough Start – I wound up making my first cast about 45 minutes later than expected. Reason one was my fault as 4:30am didn’t work out and it was rise and shine at about 5:00am instead. Reason two was a road block on my normal route causing an off the beaten path, guesstimate of a re-route that worked out relatively effectively but still caused an unexpected delay. And then once I got on the water at Little John Conservation Club I could only manage four bass in a couple hours of casting.

IRAP Saves the Day – I figured things could only get better with a change of scenery so I headed to the IRAP ground east of Victoria, IL and was rewarded with thirteen bass in an hour and a half, twelve coming from one lake in only 45 minutes of fishing. Several were on back to back casts and even logged two within the same minute (10:36am). The downside of this dozen was that only one topped 11” but at least the oddball of the bunch was a pretty good one.


10:41am Top Bass 17.5″ 3-5 Senko, same lake where I fooled a 3-6 on April 8. May have to do some forensic photo analysis to see if it’s the same fish. Actually have some stories like that stashed away for another day.

Top Bass – The feeding frenzy noted above featured eight bass in ten minutes all while standing on one spot on the bank. As the fish were all between 7.5”-10” I was on the verge of relocating to another lake in search of a bigger bite. Before doing so, however, I changed the direction of my casting a bit further down the bank to my right and was immediately rewarded with a heavier bite resulting in Top Bass for the day at 3-5. Hoping to duplicate my success I later moved a bit farther down the bank but wasn’t meant to be as I only fooled three more dinks.


11:40am 15″ 1-9 Underspin, turned out to be my last bite as the final chapter of this trip did not work out as planned (see next photo and paragraph).


Mautino State Fish & Wildlife Area – much needed project but sure never saw it coming.

Rough Finish – IRAP features at least a couple dozen walk-in only lakes and after hitting two of my favorites I wavered on hiking deeper into the ground which would mean a longer walk back to the truck, tough call. After logging over five tiring miles on my previous visit I decided against the extra exercise and opted to drive to Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area about 40 minutes to the northeast where I could finish my day casting from the boat. Just my luck, the gate was closed just past the first lake on the site prohibiting access to my best spots so I decided to just call it a day. Much needed road repair looks to be the reason and I sure hope they are actually in the process of doing the job and not just planning it. The road sure wasn’t going to get any worse so I’m gonna be a little angry if they drag their feet and lock me out while nothing improves. But this is Illinois, not holding my breath…

May gets kind of crazy so not sure if I will get back on the water before we head into school break and the unofficial start of summer. However, I have been known to find some other rambles to fill blog space even if I’m not fishing. Talk to you later. Troy

Around the Horn III

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Today we finish off our lineup with a look at what baseball types refer to as “The Battery.”

Catcher

Lure = Senko wacky rig
Fittingly, this thing just looks “wacky” but it flat out catches fish. I ignored the testimonials from the fishing magazines for a few years before giving it a go and now have one tied on every time out once the water warms in the spring. An all-time great.
17 bass with Top Bass 3-5

1974 & 1985 Before my time so only saw as a manager

Player = Yogi Berra
An undisputable all-time great, Yogi gets the nod on this bait for the humorous and sometimes perplexing collection of quotes that bear his name as “Yogisms.” For a few good laughs give it a search on the internet sometime.

Starting Pitcher

Lure = Booyah Buzz Buzzbait
While not always the best choice if you’re looking for numbers, this noisy contraption can make your day with one, heartstopping strike. Those strikes can be addictive so proceed with caution before tying one on.
5 bass with Top Bass 5-9

1978 Real name was Lee, kinda like the “Yogi” fellow above was actually Lawrence.  Dig the hair, Dad had a ‘fro like that about that time.

Player = Buzz Capra
No doubt on this pick, everything to do with the name and nothing to do with similarities in bait and ballplayer. And get this, while playing with the Atlanta Braves in the 1970’s he teamed up with catcher, Biff Pocaroba. A battery of Buzz and Biff, folks, gotta love baseball, you can’t make this stuff up.

Relief Pitcher

Lure – Underspin
This one is new for me in 2017 and joined my arsenal after some impressive late season success by our 2016 Top 5 Champ, Mark Balbinot.
2 bass with Top Bass 1-9

1974 Strange how some of these obscure players leave a mark and gotta chuckle at the “baffled American League batters” in the description as his stuff was a hit for National League hitters sending him back to the AL in July.

Player = Horacio Pina
This submarining slinger (near underhand pitching delivery) joined the Cubs in 1974, appearing in 34 games before being dealt to the California Angels at mid-season for Rick Stelmaszek. However, that weird underhand delivery made such an indelible impression on the mind of a seven year old Cubs fan and baseball card collector that Pina now achieves yet another few minutes of fame 43 years later.

There you have it, for better or worse. I had fun, hope a few others did as well during a bit of a stretch for an “outdoor” blog. Yogi Berra famously stated that “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” but this one is. Latest fishing report due up tomorrow. Talk to you later. Troy

Around the Horn II

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Part II of our lineup takes a look at the outfield.

Outfield

Lure = Strike King KVD 2.5 Rattling Squarebill Crankbait
This largish squarebill is built differently than most of its sleeker crankbait counterparts and shines in relatively shallow water and snaggy conditions where other crankbaits just can’t hang.  Well, actually they do, whereas the squarebill deflects, kind of a different animal…
3 bass with Top Bass 0-14


1987 Dig the picture in profile to show that you don’t have to be a physical specimen to succeed in my favorite game (and this is a young Kruk, he filled out later).

Player = John Kruk
Stout in stature, steady in performance and one of the things I dig about baseball is you can look like a little rough around the edges and still be able to just plain get the job done.  Yep, indeed he was an outfielder before that stature likely got him relocated to first base and later, fittingly, designated hitter.

Outfield


Lure = Chatterbait
Also referred to as a bladed jig this bait has a lot going on with a flashy, vibrating blade, an undulating skirt and generally a thumping trailer of some sort.
1 bass with Top Bass 11.5”

1977 How do you fit a batting helmet on that hairdo?  Pretty cool (also see Oscar Gamble of this era).

Player = Jose Cardenal
Growing up as a Cubs fan it just seemed that this guy had a lot going on in an entertaining sort of way and always some chatter and a smile.  Silly stories abound with this fellow and looking back at his baseball cards, his ‘fro still brings me a smile too.

Outfield


Lure = Alabama Rig
This wild concoction was all the rage several years ago to the point that it was banned in tournaments and regulated in some states (including Illinois).  Being a creature of habit, I have caught one fish on the lure.  However, it is on my list of 2017 resolutions (likely another catch up series of postings later this month).
No bass in 2017 but needed another outfielder

1971 “Sweet Swinging” Billy Williams, the all-time Williams hits leader (2711 to Ted Williams 2654 due to military serice) 

Player = Billy Williams
As a blogger with a Cubs bias, I gotta go with this legend and Hall of Famer who hailed from Whistler, Alabama.

One more round tomorrow to round out the lineup. Talk to you later.  Troy

Around the Horn I

Posted on by Troy Jackson

A couple months ago on my previous blogging gig I submitted a posting entitled “Starting Lineup.”  The premise was to combine two of my favorite pastimes, fishing and baseball.  For that posting I offered up a starting lineup of the lures I had tied on for my March 4 outing and provided a baseball player comp for each bait based on the qualities, appeal and success of the lure.

Well, I’m at it again as we go “Around the Horn” with a look at the lures that have reeled in my catches this year paired up with some diamond greats (and otherwise) from yesteryear.  Three parts over the next three days, beginning with the infield.

(Note: 22 hours of fishing for 59 bass and all lures and cards are from my collections)


First Base
Lure = 3/8 oz. Booyah Blade Spinnerbait (white/chartreuse) with twin tail trailer (salt & pepper)
The dual blades on this bait provide plenty of thump and just enough flash to get a reaction.
15 bass with Top Bass 2-1

A little carried away with George Scott cards but hard to find a better mix for a player as these samples cover 1973-1977 Topps and feature action shots, killer facial hair and a crazy necklace Scott desribed as “second baseman’s teeth.”

Player = George “Boomer” Scott
The bulk of this spinnerbait combined with the added thump of the blade combo just got me to thinking of the fellow they called “Boomer.”

Second Base

Lure = Strike King Red Eye Shad
3 bass with Top Bass 1-15
A favorite that can hold its own throughout the year tangling with bass of all sizes, an ingenious mix of attention grabbing flash and noise that works quite well with what I call a “brainless’ retrieve; cast it out and crank it in.

1972 Always something to say as evidenced by his grip on the bat.

Player = Billy Martin
A second baseman before I came around, I only knew the stories and saw him as a feisty manager.  Comparison arises from slight frame, plenty of commotion, “Red Eye” lifestyle and ready (no, eager) to take on anybody (see George Brett below as well as Reggie Jackson, Bert Campaneris…); brash and noisy, ingenious and brainless at the drop of a hat.

Third Base


Lure = Strike King 3/8 oz. Rattling’ Jig (black/blue) with pork frog trailer (black/blue)
12 bass with Top Bass 6-2
My go to bait in cold water and sticky situations (beaver lodges, laydowns, brushpiles), reliable and can produce some big hits.

1975 Rookie Card for future Hall of Famer and 3,000 hit club member

Player = George Brett
On the short list of guys who I would want at the plate when the chips are down, willing to get dirty and seemed to always come through, quite memorably in a sticky situation as well with good old Billy Martin (google “Pine Tar Incident” if unfamiliar, Brett’s reaction is one of my all-time favorite baseball highlights).

Shortstop


Lure = Ned Rig
This unassuming bait can get them when nothing else seems to fool them and is also effective in pulling another bass or two out of a spot that’s already been worked over.
1 bass with Top Bass 11” (kind of fitting)

1973 Another of the action cards in landscape orientation that were always a favorite

Player = Freddie Patek
Short in stature (5’5”) but long on heart, Patek was a mainstay at short for some successful Kansas City Royals clubs of the 1970’s covering the left side with our third base choice, George Brett.

There you have it, first to third and as with anything baseball, always up for debate.  Feel free to offer up any suggested changes to the lineup and tune in tomorrow as we take a look at our outfield.  Talk to you later.  Troy

 

Top 5 Update

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Fortunately for some Top 5 continuity I was able to get on the water this weekend and find a bite that qualified for my creel.  Here’s the details.


Weight: 3-5
Angler: Troy Jackson
Date: May 13
Location: IRAP public strip pit – Knox Co. IL
Lure: 5” weighted Senko wacky rig (green pumpkin/black flake)
Structure: Dropoff/weed edge
Angler Comments: I was about to relocate from this small, prototype strip pit even though I had landed seven bass in ten minutes since they were all quite small.  Instead I made a cast a ways to the right of where I had been working them over and lucked into my only decent catch on the day.  Tried the lake for a few more minutes and a few more short fish before calling it good, happy with a bass that bumped me over the 20-pound mark, just what I was after.
Top 5 Weight: 20-7 (6-2,5-9,3-6,3-5,2-1) culls 1-15

Icing on the cake from here I suppose as my annual goal since kicking off this project back in 2014 is to hit the 20-pound mark.  The cool thing is that I’ve still got probably six months to surpass my all-time Top 5 best of 22-12 from 2015.

Email troy@troyjacksonoutdoors to join the fun.  Talk to you later.  Troy

Unsung Outdoor Hero

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Mom (in blue, right of center) with a bunch of her crew

While there’s no pictures of this outdoor MVP holding a big bass or posing at the tailgate with a load of fur, there’s no doubt that Mom was highly involved and played the crucial roles behind the scenes.

Kind of like, well, being a mother.

Travel Planner – Traditional Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend camping trips for a family of six required an incredible amount of attention in terms of food, clothing and gear especially when some of the crew weren’t very big.

Cook – Equally adept with campfire, Coleman stove or kitchen, Mom always provided plenty of grub whether traditional fare or a wide variety of wild game.  Normally you’ve gotta be leery of a cook who won’t eat their own meal and while Mom elected to forego the wild game portion of the menu after prep, I guess it was just the unselfish motherly quality of making sure there was enough to go around.

Cleaner – Creek mud, grass stains, fish slime and various other interesting outdoor grime tracked into the house on kid or clothing was yet another unenviable task (by the way, Dad should probably just count as a fifth kid in some of these items).

Physician – Bites, scrapes, cuts, bruises and so on were ailments that fell under her care and were dealt with in the effective manner a good mother possesses.  Poison ivy was another nemesis for some of us kids that generally succumbed to Calamine but ran rampant a few times.  In those cases, mom was chauffeur to the clinic.

Zookeeper – Corralling four youngsters can be rather taxing no matter indoors or outdoors but our backyard also provided lodging for coon dogs and even some coons way back when.

Photographer – Thinking about it now, there’s an understandable reason why mom isn’t in that bunch of outdoor photos that used our backyard or driveway as a backdrop.  You see, once upon a time there were no timers, let alone selfies, on what were actually, and strictly, cameras so somebody had to sit it out and push the button for the subjects to bask in the glory.

Plenty more stuff, of course, but I’ll leave it with one final bit that will always convey that Mom knew how important time spent outdoors was for this kid.  One evening back in the early 80’s while I was in high school, the catfish were really biting at Lake Bracken on a school night.  Well, you can’t just walk away from a situation like that so I end up pulling in the driveway with my three years younger brother, Brent, in tow, a bit after 11:00pm.  At this point we’re finally both a little worried about how this is going to go down with Mom and Dad.  Mom is awake, of course, and pulls me aside saying, “In the future, try not to keep your brother out so late.”

Thanks, Mom and Happy Mother’s Day.

You know, the mother of my kids has remarkably similar motherly qualities…weird.  Happy Mother’s Day, Julie, and thanks for all you do in getting us outside.

Talk to you later.  Troy

 

 

Strip Mine Report 4/8

Posted on by Troy Jackson

While a pair of March trips were able to fill out my Top Five, with a lunker to anchor my limit, it still left plenty of room for improvement as the other four in my creel were all under two pounds.  During my first April day on the water I was fortunate to displace a couple of those fish and fool a decent quantity as well.  It took some legwork to do it, here’s the rest of the story.

Stats
Date: April 8, 2017
Locations: Private pond and IRAP public strip pits-Knox Co. (7 lakes)
Time: 8:00am-9:00am and 10:45am-5:20pm (IRAP = 5.00 hrs. fishing the rest walking)
Weather: Sunny/very windy
Air Temp: 45F-72F
Water Temp: 53-58F
Totals: 24 bass
Lures:
Booyah Blade Spinnerbait (white/chartreuse) with twin tail trailer (salt & pepper) – 13 bass
3/8 oz. Strike King Rattlin’ Jig (black/blue) with #11 pork frog (black) – 7 bass
Chatterbait (bluegill) with swimbait trailer (watermelon) – 1 bass
KVD 2.5 Rattling Squarebill Crankbait (sexy ghost minnow) – 1 bass
Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad) – 1 bass
3/8 oz. Fish Head Underspin (white) with 4” Keitech Swing Impact (electric shad) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 3-6 Jig & Pig
Top 5 Weight: 10-0 (3-6,2-1,1-12,1-8,1-5)


8:01am First bass of the day, one minute into casting and first ever Underspin bass, nothing particularly impressive but a good start to what would be a good day.

Notes & Nonsense

Work Pond – First stop was a pond that I was given access to through my employer.  I knew the pothole existed at one of the plant locations but never gave it much thought in terms of fish or fishing.  One hour to start the day with temps in the 40’s produced four short bass (Jig & pig -2 bass, Underspin – 1, Chatterbait – 1) and a visit from a regular who informed of a fish kill a couple years ago that wiped out the quality bass (up to six pounds).  Oh well, cool to fish new water, got my first underspin bass and likely will come back again as the water warms and the surviving residents get more active.

11:58am 16” 2-1 Spinnerbait, eventual runner-up for the day’s Top Bass

12:58pm Top Bass 18” 3-6 Jig & pig, caught early enough in the day that I was able to assume the catcher’s stance for a pic and not need help getting back up.

1:44pm 16” 1-12 Jig & pig

IRAP – Next stop was some public access Knox County strip pits accessible via the Illinois Recreational Access Program which I have taken advantage of dating back to 2013 with solid results.  Walk-in only access is a double edged sword at the site.  On the upside, it offers off the beaten path angling and a stick and jab approach with numerous potholes; no bites in fifteen minutes or so, move on to the next body of water.  The downside is the fact that my iPhone Health app recorded a total walking distance of 5.2 miles from 10:19am when I left my truck until 5:50pm when I got back (13,365 steps, by the way, for any Fitbit fans out there).  And this ain’t some leisurely stroll around the neighborhood as undeveloped strip mine terrain pretty much stinks.  Last fall I performed a similar stunt and wasn’t sure I wanted to pull it again.  However, as I surmised, an early season trip is much more user friendly as the weeds are manageable (both terrestrial and aquatic) and no mosquitoes yet compared to the previous outing where I darn near needed a transfusion.

 

So you wanna do the walk-in only access thing?  And that’s only covering seven of the couple dozen possible fishing holes.  That “Flights Climbed” thing gives me a chuckle too, sure would be nice if some of those strip pit banks indeed had stairs.

Weather – Though I wound up a bit sore, bank fishing was definitely the right choice on this day as the wind was howling out of the south and would have been a bear to deal with in a little johnboat.  In addition, the recent heavy rains in the area had really pumped up the lakes to a fuller pool than I have ever seen before.  Even so, they were not muddied up and with the wind chop on the surface and the windblown banks being riled up it really made for some favorable conditions.  If there was anything that was less than optimal it was a lack of cloud cover but after barely seeing the sun in early April, no complaint, I can deal with it.

Textbook Success – Top Bass came in a classic spot on my first cast after relocating to IRAP fishing hole number three.  This narrow cut/pothole runs north to south meaning that on this day the wind was just pounding a ledge on the north end that drops pretty rapidly from about two feet into ten plus.  My jig and pig offering was met with a telltale tick after a couple hops down the drop and the result was a 3-6 with an impressive well-fed gut.  Pretty cool when it works like that but I will also admit that during the course of the day there were many other similar, can’t miss setups that just didn’t pan out despite considerable effort.  Runner up Top Bass at 2-1, however, did show up in a windblown chute on a spinnerbait after the jig and the underspin proved ineffective.  Lesson here is that if you think a spot sets up to hold a fish give it a variety of offerings before giving up.

1:52pm 14” 1-8 Spinnerbait – Always fun trying to get a shot of the catch on a regular camera instead of a selfie in the crazy terrain.

2:16pm 14” 1-5 Spinnerbait rounds out my Top 5 for the day

A productive day on the water and what a nice day to be outside. I’d waited all the way since February for this one, kind of a weird year.  Between the sun and wind I even wound up looking like a real bass fisherman with a burnt nose, cheeks and neck combined with pale eyes and forehead.  When it was all said and done, my back put up some protest regarding my habit of hauling too much tackle and one knee was a bit stiff but overall I was pleased with my ability to successfully pull off this stunt one more time.  Might just have to do it again…today. Report to come.  Talk to you later.  Troy

 

 

Strip Mine Report 3/26

Posted on by Troy Jackson

Today’s posting is the second of three catch up fishing reports to get things up to speed while I await my next outing (maybe this weekend).  As reported last week, my initial 2017 outing on March 4 produced only one bite but it was a good one to kick off the year and my Top 5 at just over six pounds.  For trip two I was looking to fill my Top 5 and hoping to fool a few more big ones.

Stats
Date: March 26, 2017
Location: Little John Cons. Club/Snakeden Hollow
Time: 10:15am-1:15pm/2:15pm-3:45pm
Weather: Overcast/windy/occasional drizzle
Air Temp: 52F
Water Temp: 51-52F
Totals: 6 bass, 1 crappie
Lures
Jig & Pig (black/blue) with #11 pork frog (black/blue) – 4 bass
Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad) – 1 bass
Ned Rig (electric shad) – 1 bass
3/8 oz. Underspin (white) with 4” Keitech Swing Impact trailer (electric shad) – 1 crappie
Top Bass: 1-15 Strike King Red Eye Shad
Top 5 Weight: 7-7 (1-15,1-12,1-10,1-3,0-15)

10:36 am First bass, Top 5 entry #2, 15.5” 1-12 Jig & pig

11:57am Top 5 entry #3 15.5” 1-10 Jig & pig

12:10pm Top Bass, Top 5 entry #4 16” 1-15 Lipless Crankbait

Notes & Nonsense

Conditions – While the forecast looked halfway decent when checking the weather on the previous night, it never quite lived up to the prediction.  Instead, it wound up cooler, windier and wetter than what was offered up by those in the know.  Fortunately, the drizzle never amounted to enough to actually get wet, I packed an anchor to beat the wind and I never lost feeling in my fingers despite hauling that anchor up at least half a dozen times.  A handful of decent bass always make the weather better as well.

First Stop – Not surprisingly, I started my morning at the Little John lake where I landed my lunker to kick off 2017.  Interior road conditions were iffy and water clarity was more stained than usual so it seemed that the area had received a fair amount of rain.  Apparently the rain originally slated for my neighborhood wound up materializing more to the south, which is just fine, regardless of what it does to my fishing holes.  No heavyweights to report on this day but quite pleased with my haul of four solid bass to fill out my Top 5 as well as a bonus crappie as the first fish ever landed on an Underspin lure.

11:25am Bonus 11” crappie, first fish to fall to an Underspin lure

Second Stop – After a lap around my starting point I drove by a couple other Little John fishing holes and found the water clarity left a bit to be desired so I elected to head for a pair of early season Snakeden producers that are reliably clearer.  These spots that I refer to as The Craters were the sites for my first bass each year from 2012-2014, the latter of which was the last time I had paid a visit to these fishing holes.  These are walk-in spots with the upside that they do not lie far off the beaten path so just right for having about an hour and a half left of my fishing day.  The downside is there are only about half a dozen spots where an angler can get close enough to the water to cast and even then you’ve got to watch out for weeds and branches as you load up to cast, suits a spinning rig much better than a baitcaster in most spots. Anyway, two of my spots gave up a bass, both in pretty cool fashion as described in the final two notes to follow.

Consider, Commit, Caught – My first Snakeden catch came on the North Crater after I cast my jig and pig as best I could in the limited casting space out beyond some overhanging bushes.  I had worked the lure most of the way back when I spied a decent bass cruising just under the surface pretty much directly over my jig which remained out of view in deeper water.  Concealed by a barrier of cattails in front of me I gently gave the jig a few small twitches and saw the bass turn as if considering lunch.  Another light twitch brought my jig into view in about 4’ of water and the bass nosed down to take a look.  One more short drag of the jig talked the bass into committing as I watched my line and the fish move off to my left.  A hookset confirmed that the jig was also moving along with the fish and I wound up with a pretty cool catch.

Ned Rig – 1/16 oz. Arkie DeD Stand-Up Finesse Head (green pumpkin) with the tail end of a beat up Senko for a body (electric shad).  A bit of contrast in the colors but the only damaged Senko I had and too cheap to rip up a new one.  It is a cool concept though to get some more mileage out of the Senkos as they typically rip in the middle leaving the end in good shape for this rig.  In addition, I purchased some cheaper knockoff wacky style worms for this purpose but accidentally forgot to pack them, maybe next time.

Meet Ned – I’ve been reading the magazines and viewing some internet videos that give high marks to an unassuming setup called the “Ned Rig” (named for the fellow who made it popular).  As shown above, Ned cracked the starting lineup today and came through as what I would call a follow-up bait, kind of like a pinch hitter or pinch runner, I suppose (Manny Mota or Herb Washington, perhaps).  Originally, I had worked a jig along a laydown and had a bass follow up until the point that I was running out of water a couple feet shy of the bank.  The fish seemed to lose interest and disappeared back into deeper water out of sight.  However, I suspected that he was still around as a possible Ned candidate.  I left my jig in the water as is customary when not using in order to keep the pig moist and cast Ned well beyond where I estimated my target was looming.  Letting the rig settle to the bottom I slowly began to drag it back and right on cue got the bite where it was supposed to be.  Only an 11” bass (smallest of the day) but first on the Ned Rig and always a treat when the bass make you look like you know what you are doing.

12:31pm Top 5 complete 14” 1-3 Jig & pig

3:21pm 12.5” 0-15 Jig & pig, no boost to the Top 5 but a fun catch and about as close to sight fishing as I get as detailed above.  The surroundings also give a bit of a feel for the somewhat confined casting space on the bulk of the North Crater.

A good day on the water in my estimation and while no early season lunkers got fooled I was certainly happy to land some quality fish to complete my Top 5.  Of course, plenty of room for improvement with my second largest bass at 1-15, but that’s all part of the fun as the year progresses.  Think about it, who would want go out and catch a limit of five-pounders the first time out and then struggle the rest of the year to boost your weight?

Well, maybe…

This outing wrapped up my March fishing and it was a couple weeks until I got to take shot number three at the bass.  Got that report headed your way tomorrow to get us all caught up for the year.  Talk to you later.  Troy