What Do We Have Here?

Maybe my new river boat?

  There were the teaser videos and pictures like the ones above that were ripped from the videos. There was a some chatter online and quite a few questions as to what this thing was really going to be. How big is it? What's it going to look like? Is there going to be a peddle version? I see it says "Topwater Series" does that mean three or four boats? And I was right there with the best of them. I pestered poor Ryan Lilly (Brand Manager for Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Division) but he held strong and wouldn't spill the beans. He just asked that I promote/share any social media stuff they released. Fine. Whatever. I thought you liked me.

 Now you can have all the sizzle and flash in the world but if you can't deliver you'll be outed pretty quickly. With that being said Old Town did a similar launch with the Predator Series and hit it out of the park. So I figured they had something cool on the horizon and any questions I had would be answered at ICAST which at the time was only about six weeks away.

 With ICAST right around the corner and teaser videos were being released each week leading up to the event a dealer brochure was leaked and I saw there was the 120 I knew that was the one I wanted. Now the questions of how well does the 120 paddle? Will it make a good river boat and will I like it once I put it to use?

 When I got to ICAST and made my way over to the Old Town/Ocean Kayak booth I saw something like seven or eight different Topwaters in various colors and models. To jump back a little there are three different models in the Topwater Series. The 106, 120 and the 106 PDL. 106 and 120 standing for ten feet six inches and twelve feet respectively. Each with the same four color options.

Photic

 

First Light

Boreal

Olive

The Duck's Guts

 I know, it's kind of a gross term I picked up from an old business acquaintance but it made me chuckle and it's funnier than saying "here's the bottom line." The duck's guts, I dig it. I like the open platform. There is a huge tank well so you have plenty of aft storage space. The seat! I hadn't even mentioned the seat. It's a variation of their Element Seat that's part of the Predator Series and I like it as well or better than the Element Seat in my Predator PDL. Total home run.

 One of the things that I have insisted on being part of any boat I own is a center hatch, because that's where I like to stow my rods both on the water (to keep them out of the way) and during transport (out of sight and protected from the elements). On a recent weekend fishing trip the only time I missed having the center hatch was to and from the lake. As a matter of fact I didn't miss it at all on the water. Having a nice clean open deck in front of me was truly a pleasure.

 How's it paddle? Well I'm glad you asked. But before I answer let me give a brief explanation before I give it so it doesn't sound like I'm being negative or critical.

 This is a twelve foot long boat that is 33.5" wide so it's not a race boat. It's well a utility boat... It paddles good enough to cover some water, tracks well and turns quickly for a boat with a Tri-Hull design. One thing I noticed is there is almost no "bow walk" (which is a good thing) even though this thing seems to have more than enough rocker to get it to turn quickly. Her real strength is her stability, rock solid.

 For now the only real change I'm wanting to make is to install a rudder and maybe a rod holder or two but nothing radical. They've done a good job, I may just have to hold on to this one. Or add another to the fleet.

 Is it going to make a good river boat? Well you'll just have to come back next week and I'll let you know. For now though my first impressions are good. She makes a great "throw and go" boat that has a ton of capacity (ok a 1/4 ton) is more than comfortable enough to spend the entire day on the water in. Is stable enough to inspire confidence in just about any conditions and paddles well. I dig it.

Until next week,
Tight Lines

H

The Art Of The Toad

  My Absolute Favorite Topwater

 Where a lot of people throw a buzzbait I throw a toad. Outside of big wake baits like rats, toads rule my topwater world. I've caught more 5+ pound bass on a toad than any other topwater lure. I also throw it more than anything else too.

 Now when I say toads I'm not talking about hollow bodied frogs those are completely different baits. I'm talking solid bodied baits that you rip across the surface. Like the ZOOM Horny Toad or Bass Assassin Logger Toad. Cast and crank, tear it through the grass and weeds and hold on.

  Toads became my go to topwater lure several years back, I loved fishing buzz baits but grew frustrated with the prop constantly getting bound up with weeds. So I started tinkering around with toads and the more I used them the more versatile I found they are. Not only are they fairly weedless but I fish them in more than one way.

 Although they are intended to be topwater lures but you can also fish them as a wake bait, slow roll  and present them mid-column or even drag them on the bottom. I've caught fish on all of those presentations. I will also use them as jig trailers. Experiment, it's fun.

   
 In the above picture are my hands down favorite toads. I have literally caught hundreds upon hundreds of fish on those three baits with the ZOOM Horny Toad (center) being the king. The Bass Assassin Logger Toad (left) has similar sound to the Horny Toad but I think it's a little more subtle because the legs are longer. I like to use it as my first change from the Horny Toad if things start to slow down, it's also a great jig trailer. The toad to the right is the Strike King Rage Tail Toad, I like it for it's action (read sound) and I've caught a few really good fish on it.

  There are only two things I think about when it comes to choosing what toad I'm going to use. It's tone, either being light or dark with no real color preference and the sound it makes coming across the surface. I throw white, some kind of green or brown and black. I will also throw other colors or two tones but really it's all about light or dark tone to me. 

 Sound is as important if not more important than color. You have to experiment a little at times but I have found that if the bite shuts off or slows down sometimes just a change in leg types will put you back on fish. I don't know what the bass are hearing when certain toads or topwater baits come across the water but the Horny Toad and the Logger Toad sound like shad busting the surface to me. Again I don't know what they're hearing but those two baits in particular sound like shad or little baitfish busting the surface to me.

 I have had so much fun throwing these baits and learning how to use them that I think everyone should at least give them a fair shot. You don't need a special rod and reel combo in fact I use kind of a beater set up. It's a 6'9" med-hvy/extra fast with a 8:1 reel and the reel I just "up-graded" (more of a lateral move quality wise) last year. I do recommend running braided line you don't want any stretch when you set the hook. Nothing fancy and the rig can double as a jig/Texas rig combo in a pinch. 

 Honorable mention, the Stanley Ribbit is one of if not the most popular toad on the market and many a fish have fallen for these. They are on my short list for go to toads. The plastic is dense and fairly durable as far as soft plastics go and they make plenty of noise coming across the water.

 Lastly two things, don't be afraid to throw these babies in open water and I love to fish them at night too. My favorite bait to a fault. Next time you're out give 'em a shot you won't be disappointed.

Until next time, tight lines.

H

                   

Absolute Rod Basics

 Picking a fishing rod can be confusing and frustrating if you don't know what you want or know what to look for going into the process. 

 The first thing to know is what you're going to use it for. I know, I know, fishing haha. No what type of lures or technique are you wanting the rod(s) for? Because you buy rods and rod and reel combos based on the lure or technique not the other way around. You've got to know what you're going to do before you go blowing money on stuff.

 Let's do this. Let's assume you're in the market for your first bait casting combo so you want an all-around rig that will do most things well enough to get you by but still good enough to change out a reel to make it a good technique specific rig later on.

 To me probably the most useful rod is a 7' Medium Heavy - Fast. Depending on the brand they can be stout enough to throw 5"-6" swimbaits or limber enough to throw certain weightless soft plastics. By changing reels I can transform a Jig/Texas Rig combo into something that is ok for spinnerbaits and swim jigs. It just depends on the rod.

 A 7' Medium/Heavy - Fast covers so many bases it's not funny they are generally rated to handle baits from about 3/8oz to 1oz meaning they're right in the sweet spot of most lures that are produced for inshore and freshwater fishing. The action isn't too far out of whack either way to make it unusable and the length is manageable for most places you'll fish. This is just my take on it.

Getting Down To Business

 You can go over the deep end geeking out on rod specs but when it comes down to it you really only need to understand two basic ratings of a rod.

1. Power
2. Action

After that you can start getting very particular about what rod you want for what application.

 One last thing before I try to lay this out for you. There is no industry standard for ratings although most rod ratings are close to each other every no two manufacturers products feel the same in the hand even if the load capacities and actions are supposedly the same. Also I believe some companies over rate rods where some under rate them. Neither is necessarily a bad thing you just need to know that going in.

  I HAVE THE POWER!!!

 Power ratings are pretty straight forward. The power of a rod is it's ability to handle a given load. Meaning the weight of the lure and the line test it's designed to comfortably handle. NOT the size fish you can land with it. Depending on the style of rod ratings generally range from Ultra-Light to XXX Heavy. So you can get a spinning rod that is an Ultra-Light for small panfish and trout lures to XXX Heavy bait casting rods for large swimbaits and esox lures.

 That's why it's a good idea to know what you're fishing for and what type bait or lures you're planning on using.

 In the pictures below are two completely different rods from my arsenal. The top is my Ultra Light and you'll notice it's load rating is from 1/16-3/8 of an ounce with a recommended line test of 2-8 pounds. The second pic is one of my swimbait rods and it's load rating is from 1-4 ounces and a recommended line test rating of 30-80 pounds. Again different tools for different jobs.

 Action Jackson Baby!

 The action of a rod is the "speed" of the taper or the percentage of the rod tip that is tapered. The longer the taper the slower the action. The shorter the taper the faster the action.

 Here is another easy way to look at it. An Extra Fast taper takes less time to make your lure to respond to a hook set than a slow taper. The faster the action the faster the hook set and the stiffer the rod will feel overall. Make sense?

  A lot of anglers like a slower action lighter power rods for baits with fine wire hooks like some crankbaits or small inline spinners like a Rooster Tail for example. On the flip side most like a heavy power, fast or extra fast taper for baits like frogs, toads and buzz baits. Again you match the rod to the bait or technique to a certain extent you have to muddle your way through it to find what you like and what works best for you.

 For me in general I prefer a fast taper on all of my rods but I do have a couple Extra Fast one being the rod in the above picture and my "toad rod". The "swimbait rod" in the picture above I got off a clearance rack for $20. It's taper is actually too fast for what I use it for but I make it work because I can store it in the hull of my Trident and if something happened to it I won't be heart broken. I actually like the rod in the very top picture for most of my swimbait work. It's an 8'+ rod with a true fast taper and is rated from 2-6oz. Great set-up for me and what I use it for.

 The rods I use the most though are all Med/Hvy Fast of different brands and they are all completely different from one brand to the next. I have made all of them as technique specific as I can but still retain their utility if I have a failure on the water and need to change up.

 I hope this helps.

Tight Lines
H

Practice Makes Progress

 Nothing replaces time on the water. No book, magazine, video or seminar will ever replace doing the work. I once heard a man say "A man with experience is never at the mercy of a man with a theory." The best mechanics I know turn wrenches all day then go home and work on cars on the side or have cars or motorcycles of their own they wrench on. The point is this; because they spend their time doing those things they have become proficient at most all mechanics.

 They are not intimidated by a piece of equipment whether it's a piece of industrial equipment or a lawn mower. Because that machine becomes just another machine regardless of it's size, shape or application. They have built confidence in their skill set. That confidence came through the practice of being a mechanic and the same goes for any occupational field.

 Even though my blog is mainly about fishing there are principles in life that are universal. Practice in any field is necessary for growth and advancement. You have to build not only muscle memory but the mental and emotional capacity to thrive in any given field. When it comes to fishing you've got to develop the mental and mechanical proficiency to make accurate casts, read the water, understand boat positioning, bait selection, etc. Most importantly though, is the belief and confidence in yourself and your abilities to catch fish.

 Being able to catch fish isn't luck, it is a skill like any other and it takes practice to get good at it. Yes I want to catch fish every time I go out but I also go to practice. I practice things like casting, learning new baits or techniques. I also like to fish new bodies of water on occasion not just for the change of scenery but also to learn a little about a new place.

 One thing that I don't do enough of is target multiple species. I will tell you it is definitely a short coming in my game. I have friends that are by far better anglers than I am and they each have a couple things in common. One they target all types of fish from bluegill, bass and catfish to inshore and offshore species like redfish, snapper and tarpon. Two they also fly fish. Having the ability to fish completely different styles for completely different types of fish I believe has made them the best anglers I know.

 Last but definitely not least. Many moons ago I heard or read somewhere that the way to get good at fishing a jigs was to leave everything else at home and take one rod and a few jigs and go fishing. That has been some of the best advice I've ever heard or applied. It forces you to focus on one technique and doesn't give you the backdoor of doing what you're comfortable with. It applies across the board and can be used for any technique. It has given me as much confidence in swimbaits as any other type baits, to the point that a lot of times I use certain swimbaits as search baits and are some of my favorite topwater baits over traditional tackle.

The Price

The Price

  
  Are you going to fritter away the hours? Or are you going to fish each cast with a purpose? Do you stay mentally focused or are you thinking about any and everything but the task at hand?

 It's ok to kill time and hang with family and friends but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about doing this for a reason, a purpose and that purpose may impact more people than just you.What if this "fishing thing" is what saves you from yourself?  What if its the one thing in this life you actually feel like you're good at? Good enough that when you stick a good fish you know its not luck.

 What if? What if???!!!

 You actually get good enough to consistently put fish in the boat? Make something of yourself and make a mark in the industry? There's only one way to get there and that's to put in the time and energy to make it happen. So you wake up at ungodly hours, drive ridiculous miles and trade time with family and friends for time on the water. You spend free time that should probably be used for something else to tinker around with tackle, reading fishing articles and watching videos.

 Those are just some of the things that help make those dreams and wishes come true but nothing really happens until the rubber meets the road.

 To get good at this the single most important thing you can do is fish. You must, absolutely must, practice catching fish. There is nothing that builds more confidence and belief than the act of landing fish. The other thing that makes you good, not catching fish. It's in those moments that you need to think about what happened and if there was anything you could have done to change your outcome. Sometimes there maybe nothing you could have done differently, other times you've probably made a tactical or mechanical error. Figuring those things out and learning from them is what improves you as an angler.

 With that in mind. I have noticed that the single hardest thing for me to do especially when it's slow going is to stay focused. Three or four hours into a day of grinding big baits and the old mind starts to wander. That's the last thing you want because you normally only get a handful of bites as it is and nothing is more frustrating when you blow the one shot at a fish you get that day or even week. That's where a little positive self-talk and a picture in your mind's eye comes in.

 I remind myself out loud that I'm only there for the biggest fish in the place and I only need one bite to possibly make not only my day but maybe my year. Hero or Zero baby keep grinding. Who else is doing what you're right now? F'in' nobody! That's right. Let'em laugh then watch'em cry. Keep Grinding. You can do this. Keep Grinding. Keep Grinding. Keep Grinding.......

Why?

  Do you have a reason in being out there or are you just killing time?

Last Time

 I talked about people having no drive and doing shoddy work in my post https://finstalker.blogspot.com/2018/06/half-measures.html. So now I'd like to cover The beginning of turning that corner and getting better at this game we call fishing.

 What Is Your Why

 When you close your eyes what do you see? Can you see yourself holding the giant check or netting THE FISH? Can you feel your heart pounding in your ears? Can you feel the adrenaline dump causing your hands to shake uncontrollably?
 Something so vivid so real that in your mind's eye you can't tell if it's real or tale.
 Having a dream of a tournament win that can net you thousands of dollars or Angler of the Year that can put a boat in your garage. A double digit bass or 50"+ esox that would be the fish of a lifetime for 90% of the angling community are all things worth getting excited about and dreaming about. Having those dreams and goals is what drives us as anglers.
 So what is it you're shooting for? Do you have a dream trip you'd like to see happen? A new species to remove from your bucket list. What is your why?

Your Bucket List

 I'll tell you I don't have a long list of fish on my personal list in fact I think it's truly modest. I want to catch all nine black bass species. The Esox family and a handful of saltwater fish with tarpon being at the top of that list. At the opposite end of the spectrum is a friend of mine that has almost four hundred separate species to his name and is shooting for five hundred. So whether you're just getting started and wanting to break the three pound mark on bass or a seasoned angler and wanting to go to Africa or South America you need to have something that gets you excited enough to get out the door.

Wheat From The Shaft

 I will tell you with 100% certainty that the people that win tournaments or consistently catch trophy fish have one thing in common. They know why they are out there doing what they do. Now they may not say I dream about or visualize winning a tournament or landing double digit number 50 but they do. They think about it and picture in their mind's eye holding that trophy or netting that fish. It's how it happens that's the first step, know what you want get clear about it. Then put in the work. It is that that separates the winners from the whiners.
So what is your why?

Half Measures

 I see it at work everyday. We see it in the places we shop and the restaurants we patronize. People doing sorry work and not taking any pride or responsibility for the garbage they put out.

 We had a department manager that was a total jack-wagon by every measure of people skills you can think of. He was rude and disrespectful; he birddogged his people and even got put on the street for thirty days for being his bright and cheery self.

 I would get mixed reports about the guy. Polar opposite reports (imagine that). Now me being me I decided to ignore all the stuff I was hearing and do a little thinking for myself. I also started keeping an eye on the guys he was in charge of. I learned some things.

1. Yes the the was a jerk and probably went too far on occasion.
2. There was no way he could be wrong all the time (I figured that going into it).
3. He probably had a reason to be harsh at times.
4. I also found out the guy cared about his people and wanted the best out of them, he just didn't
    have the people skills to get a losing team to pull themselves out of a self imposed hell.
5. The most important thing I learned is the man just wanted his people to show up on time and do     their jobs correctly and efficiently. That's it.

 So what's this got to do with fishing? Let me tell you what it has to do with fishing. If you take it seriously then you need to treat it like a job like you actually care about it. Not that it isn't a fun activity or that you need to be uptight and rigid, that's not what I'm saying.

 What I'm saying is this. If you're going to spend your most precious resource (your time) on it you may as well be serious about catching fish. Learn from your failures and fine tune your  successes. There are going to be days that you get to take sunset pictures and days you're shooting fish porn faster than you can say Ron Jeremy.

 Now I mentioned work because I see the same behavior on the water. Folks want to go out drink beer  and listen to music instead of focusing on a game plan and working that plan. No they'd rather get drunk and sun burnt then make excuses as to why they don't get their desired results or at least the ones they say they want. Or call it luck when the guy at work lands bigger fish than him rather than asking for tips (mentorship).

If you want to get past where you're at you need to do a few things.

1. You need to know why you're out there.
2. You need to fish with a focus and purpose.
3. You MUST put the time in.
4. Find a role model and do what they do.

Over my next four posts I'm going to handle each of these topics individually. Until next time.

Tight Lines
H

Pimp My Vest

 I'm going to be blunt and honest and some might think I'm being rude but that's not my intent. 

 I don't like to wear a vest. They're hot, uncomfortable, cumbersome and mainly in the way. Yet I still wear one. Admittedly not 100% of the time but a solid 90%. There are times when I've just got to get out of it to cool off.

 I'm not here to try to guilt you into wearing your PFD (life vest). In fact if you drown or one of your kids drown it's not my problem. You're an adult and should be allowed to make your own decisions. By that same token you get to live with the decisions you make.

 Now we've all heard that that if you point out a problem but don't bring a solution to the table all you're doing is complaining. So here is my solution.

    PIMP IT OUT!

     Make your PFD something you like to wear. I call mine my BAT VEST.

 I carry what I think are cool items but definitely useful and used tools in my bass fighting adventures. Looking at the picture above you can see my safety whistle, line snips, boot knife (WAY COOL by the way) hemostats and a couple lights. Make it stuff you like but will use. Plus being on your body like that it is very handy and I've noticed that I feel naked without it if I'm on a boat and not wearing it.

 This idea might work really well for kids, especially if you give them their own little flashlight and whistle. Then they'll probably want to wear it. Don't come looking for me if they really enjoy the whistle. This is just a suggestion.

 If you have a PFD now try rigging it with a couple tools you use on the water anyway and see if this idea works for you. If you don't have one or the one you have isn't comfortable go to your local kayak/canoe dealer and have them help fit you in one that will fill your needs.

 Until next time.
 Tight Lines.

Bigger Bait Bigger Fish

Check This Out

                               
                                           Don Moorman With Double Digit Bass #62

 I have a friend who has 63 double digit largemouth (six of which are teeners) to his credit. 63! That's insane; most folks would be happy with one or two in their lifetime but 63. Just an insanely awesome accomplishment. Now this isn't about just pumping up Don and what he has accomplished (although the accolades are deserved) this is about you and I doing some things differently to have better results on the water.

 For this discussion better results isn't about more fish in the boat but better quality fish i.e. bigger fish. Now let me say this before I say anything else catching big fish isn't an accident and it doesn't happen by chance or luck. Guys like Don do specific things that others don't or won't do.

 First they fish where big fish live. Now that doesn't mean you have to pack your bags and move to Texas, Florida or California but it does mean you need to fish the waters in your area that are either known to hold bigger fish or you suspect hold bigger fish. It's all relative. It also means having realistic goals and expectations when you set out. Even in California it doesn't rain ten pounders.

 Second they put time on the water. You can not catch fish and gain an intimate knowledge of your fishery watching tv. You MUST put the time in there is no way around it.

 Third they throw proven big fish baits now that's not saying don't throw traditional baits if that's what's working but when specifically targeting big fish larger profiled baits rule. Some folks that know me think that when I say big baits I'm talking about swimbaits but that's not completely true, I refer to all above average baits as big baits. Swimbaits just happen to be something I enjoy fishing with. Swimbaits are a tool just like jigs or soft plastics.

 Forth and quite possibly the most important is you have to be willing to fail and fail a lot especially if you plan on throwing swimbaits exclusively (which I don't do or necessarily recommend). Your willingness to fail repeatedly will separate you from the crowd. I'm not talking about blind ambition and not learning as you go along. I'm talking about learning from your failures while on this path. The most important lesson is perseverance.

  Both fish in the pictures above were caught on larger profiled baits. The fish in the top photo was caught on a 7' swimbait while the one in the lower picture was caught on a 7'' stick bait (Big Senko) two completely different style baits but similar results. (Side note: they were caught in completely different parts of the country too). Another thing these fish have in common is I put in several hours each of the respective days before landing either fish and they were both the last fish of the day and not because I quit fishing after catching them.

 Swinging for the fences isn't for everyone and to do it even kind of right is going to take a financial commitment too. For most of it you can get by with standard rods and reels but once you cross over to the Dark Side and start chunking Big Baits (I mean 4oz + baits) you're going to need some heavier job specific gear. There is too much info to cover on that subject to get into here just be prepared to drop a little cash on rods and reels if you choose to go down this path.

 As for baits everybody has their confidence baits so I'm not going to get into specifics just too much to cover but I will touch on a few general types.
1. Jigs
2. Big Worms
3. Big Stick Baits (jumbo Senkos)
4. Swimbaits
5. Big Crankbaits

 Fish the right waters. Fish!. Fish the proper baits and above all be willing to go home smelling like skunk.

Tight Lines

Dress For Success

Dressing For The Conditions

 Can make all the difference in having a great day on the water or a not so great day. Being prepared for at least some of what Mother Nature will throw at you will not only help you have an enjoyable day but it may well save your life.

 I'm not just talking about wearing your PFD what I'm talking about is the best quality clothing you can afford for the conditions of the day and time of year.

 We're coming into summer and there are a lot folks out there that take sun exposure with a grain of salt but I'm here to tell you for first hand experience you do not want to be a heat related casualty. I've had two severe sunburn in my and suffered from heat exhaustion a couple times too. I'm not sure which was worse not being able to sleep or the nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Not to be graphic but just to explain just a little of what can happen with too much sun and heat.

 So this summer try to stay covered up while on the water with at least a hat, sunglasses neck gaiter, long sleeved shirt and pants. You can work on your tan at the beach or pool. Don't let overexposure ruin your weekend.

 Lastly drink plenty of water. I try to down a gallon a day and it makes a difference. I can't comment on limiting caffeine intake since I'm drinking coffee while I write this. Sports drinks are good in small doses but don't over do it. Water is your friend.

Tight Lines

Back To The Basics

 I can't catch a cold let alone a fish.

 Then I get people asking me, "what do you recommend I use to get started fishing"? I don't know! A crank phone? Maybe dynamite? We all go through slumps or dry spells but there are ways out of it. You probably won't see an instant turn around but what if you could put two fish in the boat vs none?

  I was listening to a former NFL cornerback speak one day and he was talking about getting out played in one particular game and the way he portrayed it it was ugly. On their way home from the game the coach pulled him to the side (he was thinking he was in trouble) and the coach told him something to the effect, "When the game is getting away from you go back to the fundamentals". 

 So what are the fundamentals of bass fishing? If you want to get real basic, a piece of string, a hook and some sort of bait. What do I consider the basics? Well, I'm glad you asked. I'm going to skip over rod selection and knots and all of that stuff and talk about the things I think are the basics for breaking a slump or just putting fish in the boat. I can't speak for anyone else so take this for what it is, just one dude's point of view.

 First off I do a "check up from the neck up". What am I thinking about? Am I focused on the task at hand or am I thinking about whatever else is going on in my life real or imagined? What is your self talk like? Is it positive and focused on catching fish or are you in a negative spin cycle not controlling your thoughts? Another thing that I think is one of the most important aspects for me personally is expectations. Do I really expect to catch fish? Am I tuned in to what is going on in the here and now? Am I feeling confident? Here's one for you; Have you ever had the feeling a fish was going to be in a certain spot and pulled one out of there? That has happened to me numerous times. The only way I can explain it is like this. There is knowing an area should or does hold fish and then there is have a gut feeling and knowing there is a fish in a certain spot. That brings me to my next point.

I had "that feeling" a fish was against this short stretch of bank and pulled this girl out from her spot.

 Time on the water. You didn't get good at your job by not showing up and not working while you are there. The only way to truly get good at anything is to practice at it. Period. End of discussion. Contrary to what most people think fishing is not luck. I understand there are lucky catches where the newbie angler lands a giant but I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the folks that put in their  time that's not luck. When you see guys that have multiple Double Digit Bass to their names or your friends that just seem to have a knack to catch fish, that's not luck. That is skill, knowledge of the waters they fish and confidence in their abilities and the tools at their disposal. And you don't get any of that watching The Real Housewives.
 Go where the fish are. Yep I said it and it's true. For me I have to know I have a shot at a decent fish but I also need to be able to shake the skunk off at the same time. So I fish just a handful of places consistently. I look at it like this; I would rather have an intimate knowledge of two or three places and know how to fish them well then to "butterfly" from spot to hoping I get lucky. By learning to fish a few places well you build a foundation on which to (re)build your confidence. Let me make one point here though. There is a huge difference between fishing a pond in somebody's back yard and fishing a public lake or river that gets some pressure. A pond will trick you into thinking you actually know how to fish. Don't get sucked into that trap, get on public waters and you'll be a better angler for it.
 Last and probably least is the tackle. The basics are the basics and there are a few lures/techniques I think everyone should learn.
1. A Texas Rigged Worm- When all else fails this is my #1 confidence technique more fish have fallen to this than any other technique. When I'm in a slump this is the first place I go.
2. Spinnerbaits- Although I've gotten away from them in the last few years I can't tell you how many fish I've caught on a spinnerbait and it is still one of my favorite night time baits and a killer river bait.
3. Wakebaits and Poppers- Something to dead stick or creep along on the surface.
4. Toads- Not hollow bodied frogs but toads. Something I can rip across the top that is a little subtler than a buzzbait but is weedless that I can fish just like a buzzbait.
 Those are my confidence/rebuilding baits or techniques. The reason I saved it for the last and say it is probably the least important it because they are what I use for my confidence. If you ask somebody else they are probably going to give you a different answer. So what are your confidence baits? What are you going to do to drag yourself out of the got another skunk blues?

What Is A Big Bass?

I Ask Myself This All The Time

 What is a big bass? What's the standard by which we should measure? In the world of bass anglers  a 10# largemouth is a true giant but is it really? Should the world record be the standard? Or should we use state records? Or is there a better way?
 Now let's take it one step further and split it into three specific subspecies of black bass. The largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.
  I've taken the time to get a rough average of each species by state record. I rounded up or down to the nearest 1/4 pound for this discussion. We don't need to be perfectly accurate we just need a rough guide to go by. Let's get down to the business at hand.

Largemouth Bass

 The world record is 22 pounds 5 ounce caught in Lake Biwa, Japan by Manabu Kurita is now the benchmark that all other big bass will be measured against but is that a fair comparison if you live in Iowa? What about California? It produced Dottie and a 22 pound 3 ounce giant. I don't think so.
What about the other two popular strains of black bass?

Smallmouth Bass

 The world record is 11 pounds 15 ounces caught in Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee by David Hayes in 1955.

Spotted Bass

World record spotted bass 11 pounds 4 ounces caught by Nick Dulleck in New Bullards Bar Reservoir California.

Average State Record Weights

 Not every state has all species of bass for example only 49 states have largemouth (Alaska being the lone state with no bass) so the weights listed are a rough average for the states that have recorded a state record for that species of fish.

Largemouth - 13.75#   (49 states)

Smallmouth - 7# even (48states)

Spotted Bass - 6.5#      (23states)

Here's The Deal

 I use two separate standards I use the average weights above and more importantly the given body of water I'm fishing. Since I've caught a couple double digit largemouth my constant goal is to break the 10 pound mark every year. The reality is knowing 10 pounders are rare animals and the national average state record is 13.75 pounds, so I believe a 7 pound fish is a trophy regardless of where in the country you fish. I also think that if we could open the heads of every bass angler out there and find out the real truth we'd find out that most of our personal best largemouths would probably be about 6 pounds. Which is a really good fish and nothing to be ashamed of.

 The problem is with our perception of what a trophy fish is. The fact that we have access to so much information so quickly from so many parts of the country it has distorted our perception of reality.
 A guy catches a 7# largemouth from a strip pit Southeast Kansas; is it any less of an accomplishment than a guy in Texas or California catching a 12 or 14# fish? I would argue no. It's all relative. You can make the same argument using different bodies of water in a given state. Again. It's all relative.

 In the above picture I'm holding a 16" spotted bass and I was pumped. That fish is only two inches away from my initial goal of an 18" 3# fish from that creek. I know fish in the 18" range live there because a friend has caught one and we have both seen what we believe to be 20"+ fish in that area but until one of us breaks the 20" mark, 18" is the standard. (BTW the Alabama state record spotted bass is 8 pounds 15 ounces).

 Here's the bottom line, if you catch a fish that's half way to a state record (regardless of species) you've done something. Keep going after what your big fish is. Focus on your goals and try to block out the white noise of our wired world.You can do this. You can score your new personal best. You just need to figure what that is and go after it.

Making It Your Own

           Making the Trident 13 into the ultimate utility boat.

 Hands down my favorite kayak is the Trident 13. I have four kayaks in my garage and it's the one I choose to fish out of probably 90% of the time and for good reason. Its fast, tracks well, handles moving water with confidence and is stable enough to stand and sight fish from. And with the changes made to the topside rigging has never been easier. 

 Rigging a kayak is about making it your own but before you go hacking holes in your new boat to add the latest version of Acme's Margarita Blender, stop and think about it. Put some time on the water with her and see what you really need and/or want. I've made the mistake of putting accessories on and making permanent holes only to find out later I either didn't use the accessory or didn't like it. Seriously give it some thought.

  I mentioned changes that were made to this new generation of Trident  and I'll be talking about a few of them. Before I go into the changes made by Ocean Kayak I just want to mention something I like to do to all my boats and that is add a rudder.  There are a lot of benefits to having a rudder that I won't get into now but let's just suffice it to say they are worth every penny.

 Back at the ranch. I want to point out a couple of changes that have been made that have aided in rigging kayaks more than anything and that is the manufactures add on rails and mounting plates as part of the kayaks straight from the factories. By doing that it has made it easier and less stressful for us the end user to modify our boats. As far as the Trident 13 is concerned it has three key changes I really like.
1. The accessory rails fore and aft.
2. The center hatch.
3. The seat.

 The rail system is self explanatory, the hatch though is really cool it allows you to mount rod holders and what not but it also has this cool little compartment that I've taken the cover off of and use as a catch-all.

  As for the seat I've removed the thigh adjusters and added a gel cushion. Several years ago I dinged my back up a little and by making a couple small adjustments to the seat I'm able to sit in this boat almost all day with out having to get out and stretch too often.

 So you see you can make changes to your craft that are free or cost very little that can make a huge difference to you and in the end that's what its all about. I do have a kayak with extra rod holders and electronics on it but like I said early on this Trident is my goto boat and as I'm writing this its in the back of my truck wait on the next adventure. So for me and maybe you too that the ultimate in fishing and outdoor experiences isn't necessarily about the latest waypoint you mark on your GPS or Side Imaging  but being part of nature without the white noise of the wired world.