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.

Getting Started Part 1

 This is going to be a three part series so be patient with me. I get asked how to get started occasionally but over the last couple of months it's happened a little more than I normally get asked. So I figured I  would try to put my thoughts on this into words and see if it can help a couple people at least get pointed in the right direction. Now before we get started let's get something clear. This is just my point of view and it's based on what has worked for me.

 In this first entry I'm going to cover some basic tackle I think will work for just about any lake or river in the county. After that I'm going to talk about putting that stuff to work then getting off of the bank and being able to cover more water.

  I want to keep your load light but effective. I also want to keep it as inexpensive as possible at first. You should be able to start fishing on the cheap without buying junk equipment. Pawn shops and secondhand stores are great places to find quality gear for a lot less than paying retail.

 As far as gear/tackle goes you really don't need a lot to get off to a good start. Here is a short list of tackle get you rolling. Assuming you're brand new means there is a high likelihood you will be bank fishing, the first item on the list is:

- Backpack: Nothing special just something big enough to hold two 3700 size boxes like the on in the picture below, drinks and a snack.

 The place I would encourage putting any real money is in you rod/reel combos, I suggest getting two combos to start. One spinning and one baitcaster combo. I highly recommend learning how to use a baitcaster.

- Spinning combo 6'6"-7' medium power/ mod fast to fast action.

- Baitcaster combo 7' med/hvy fast with a 6.3:1 reel.

These two combos will cover 90% of all the fishing you will probably ever do. EVER.

 You really only need a handful of lures and I think these should be in your arsenal.

- Spinnerbaits in white, white/chartreuse and black.

- Buzzbait in the same colors as the spinnerbaits.

- Lipless crankbait aka "Rattle Trap" in chrome with a blue back.

- Plastic worms in ribbon tail and straight. I like to stick to just a few colors; Black, Junebug and Green Pumpkin Seed. I also like Green Watermelon Seed.

 This is definitely not a complete list but it's enough to get you started and keep you busy for a while.There are a couple lures I would like to add to the list but I want to keep this a simple as possible for now.

The Night Life

 Considering this is becoming my preferred time to fish I thought I might share my take on night fishing. I doubt I'm going to cover anything that hasn't been covered before but maybe I can put some info out there that helps somebody put some fish in the boat and go home in one piece all at the same time.

Five pounder caught on a jig.

  Before we get started lets talk about what it takes to get home safely. This is the most important part of the whole deal, none of this is worth getting hurt or dead over so use your brain and a little common sense when on the water.

-The first thing to do before you go out at night is to let somebody know where you are going to be that way if something happen they know where to start looking if the worst comes to pass.

-Second, don't be an idiot, you need to know the water you are going to be on. After dark is not the time to try to learn new waters, fish it during the day several times before you attempt to solo fish a place after hours. Although it's probably best to fish with a partner I generally end up fishing alone most of the time. I never fish a place for the first time by myself at night.

-Third, be prepared for emergencies have a way to mend small wounds and remove hooks from yourself or your fishing buddy. Also be prepared to deal with the really bad things that can happen when the lights go out. We have some really big toothy critters in these parts and a carbon fiber paddle is no match for a 500 lb. alligator and Heaven forbid you ever have to defend yourself out there but it can happen and you need to know how to deal with any situation that arrises.

Only carry if you are willing to deal with the consequences of your actions.

Having the tools to remove hooks and to cut rope and fishing line is a necessity. Don't leave home without the tools to do the job.

  As the adage goes "Two is one and one is none". When it comes to lights at night you need a minimum of two sources of light and they need to be in good working order. I like to wear a ball cap when I fish so a clip on light seems to be the handiest thing for me to use personally. Just find something you can get used to that will keep you hands free. A handheld flashlight just doesn't really cut it. Also having red lights will help to preserve your night vision. Last but not least if you are fishing public waters have a white light that is visible for all 360 degrees that way any boaters out there can see you.

My light pole is an old Mag Light stuck in a piece of 3/4" PVC and the end cap is a protein drink tube. You don't need to spend tons of money on this stuff, it just needs to work.

   A few last house keeping items before we go fishing and they both have to do with being comfortable on the water.
1. Wear your PFD.
2. Dress to be comfortable. Don't forget rain gear getting drenched sucks but wearing comfortable clothes is just as important at night as it is during the day. Also having a jacket can be nice.
3. Bring food and water.
4. Bug control. I use a spray and a ThermaCELL.
5. Keep the cockpit of your kayak clear of clutter only use one rod at a time and keep all tackle and gear stowed and out of the way.

I leave my ThermaCELL burning until I have my kayak tied down and I'm ready to go home.

Now lets go fishing!

 I see on fishing forums all the time, questions posted about night fishing and it is almost totally predictable that they are going to ask the same three questions every time.

What baits to use?

What areas do you target at night?

What time of night?

What bait to use?

 The same baits you use during the day. I will fish black or darker colors at night the more often than not but the truth is black and dark colored baits are more of a confidence thing for me. Shad, lizards, crawfish or any other prey item don't magically turn black once the sun goes down BUT knowing when to use darker baits can lead to success. I have found that dark baits are not an automatic at night, I take water clarity and ambient light into consideration for bait choice. If the water is clear and I have good ambient light like a full moon or plenty of street light or dock lights I will fish light colors. If the water is murky or there is little ambient light I will lean towards dark colors. Bass have excellent night vision, along with their lateral lines to sense movement and pressure changes in the water and a good sense of hearing, they have no problem locating prey. I think we as humans don't give them enough credit in their abilities in that department. They are the apex predatory fish in many bodies of water for a reason.

A good sample of the baits I use at night.

What areas do you target at night?

 I fish the same areas at night as I do during the day although I tend to focus heavily on flats and dock lights at night. A flat that has a distinct ledge can be a gold mine. Also anywhere creeks feed into the main body of a lake or cove. Fishing from a kayak forces you to break down a body of water into bite sized chunks. A cove on a lake might be all you can fish in a few hours of work so you need to fish that cove as if it is it's own body of water. Analyze that cove. Is there a feeder creek coming into it? Does it have a flat or flats to fish? Shear walls? Drop offs, humps, holes or an old roadbed? Day or night I like to fish creeks and flats it just fits how I prefer to fish for the most part. One thing that I have found is bass will still orient towards ambush points even at night. Logs, clumps of grass and small holes are spots to target even when the lights go out.

 All three of the fish pictured above were caught in the same lake but the under the water is different from spot to spot where they were each caught. The top fish was caught on the outside edge of a cove next to a drop off in about six feet of water. The center fish was caught next to the bank along a channel ledge (the channel being about 9'-10'  deep in that area) and the bottom fish was caught right in the middle of a flat in about 3 feet of water.

What time of night do you fish?

 This goes back to one of my first statements about being safe on the water and knowing the water your on. You also need to learn the feeding patterns of the fish in the place you are fishing. For my main honey hole I have found the fish like to feed just before sundown and the hour just after that and they will pick up again about every two to three hours for twenty minutes or so in each of those windows so I need to be in place and ready when they start feeding because I will miss out if I'm not ready when they are.

 Ultimately success night fishing comes down to location, preparedness and knowing your home waters . You can't catch big fish if there are none where you fish. You can't have success if you are unprepared both mentally and physically. Lastly know thy waters. The only way to know your waters is to put the time in. Go put in the time, experiment and have fun with it, lose some sleep and hopefully catch a new Personal Best!

Tight Lines

H

A Blossoming Relationship Part II

 In my last entry http://finstalker.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-blossoming-relationship-part-1.html I kind of left you hanging because I was afraid I was going to be a bit too long winded for a single post. So lets get down to the ducks guts and actually talk about this fishing machine.
 The Trident line was released in 2009 and since then Ocean Kayak has sold over 20,000 of these units, not bad considering how competitive the fishing kayak market has become. In a market where the consumer thinks that he needs bigger, wider more stable kayaks it's nice to see that companies haven't abandoned the sleeker faster models like the Tridents.
 Now as I said in my earlier entry I had/have a few specific features that I was looking for in a fishing kayak.
1. Enough stability to stand and fish from.
2. Comfortable enough to fish all day in.
3. In hull storage.
4. Decent cockpit layout.
 This boat has all of those areas covered. As I stated in my earlier post I knew the seating was going to be a little rough on me because of the seating position. I have come up with a cheap/simple solution that is relatively comfortable and allows me to get to my feet fairly easily and also takes some of the pressure off of my lower back. So my seating concerns have been handled for the time being.
 As for the other three items on my list, stability, storage and cockpit layout. She has those areas covered nicely as well.
 Owning and selecting a kayak is a very personal thing it has to fit you and how you are going to use it. I think a little thought needs to go into the purchase.  You should ask yourself where and how you plan on using your new kayak and not just "In the water to fish". DUH! Ask yourself if you need a purpose built kayak for say fishing rivers like the Predator MX or are you like me and need more of a "utility boat" that can do most anything well but not be focused on one type of water? You'll also notice that my requirements in a kayak didn't include a bunch of doodad stuff, they are utilitarian in nature because mounts for accessories and the like do nothing to improve the true performance of the kayak and can be added later if I really think they are necessary.
 I've had this boat for a few months now and I've fished it in the places that I fish the most and I've had the opportunity to take it on a road trip to Lake Eufaula and I've got to tell you. The more I use this thing the more I like it. It is smooth, fast and quiet. It's easy to get up to speed and just as easy to maintain that speed. The cockpit layout is good and there are two things that I've found I really like; one that I thought was a waste of space originally and one I never gave any thought to. First the faux waste of space. The hatch that is intended for a depth finder. OK I was wrong. I like it, in fact, I like it a lot. Not for a depth finder but as a catch all for the things I like to have on hand and easy to get to like my phone and the things I carry in my pockets also other knick knack stuff like leader material.

 The tank well area is something I didn't give any thought to but it turns out I like it's size and layout. What I like about it is the fact that there are basically two separate areas back there. One directly behind the seat that is just the right size for two 4700 Plano boxes or a small soft cooler for snacks (which is what I use it for) and then the main tank itself that is obviously big enough for a standard size milk crate or small cooler.

  

 Overall I really like this boat and with a couple of minor changes it has quickly become my go to kayak. One last thought; the sturdy construction of Ocean Kayaks in general. I have notice that every O.K. model that I have looked at or paddled all feel well built and durable. So if you're in the market for a fishing kayak you owe it to yourself to give the to Trident 13 a serious look. I honestly believe that it can compete against any kayak in its category and hold it's own just fine.

A Blossoming Relationship - Part 1

 I thought she looked nice from the time I first laid eyes on her. Nice lines, sleek and fast. I just wanted to get my hands on her. I dated her little sister briefly but that didn't work out. She was put away wet a few too many times. Then I got into a relationship with her "big boned" cousin and I will still keep her around as a back up. This new girl though; she maybe a keeper. Get your minds outta the gutter I'm talking fishing kayaks here not a bunch of dirty legs from my early 20's.
 Seriously I've always liked the way the Trident Family looked and I've heard nothing but good reports from the field about them but my only personal experience with them was a little over a year ago with a loaner Trident 11. That particular kayak while not abused, it was left outside all the time exposed to the elements and just not in good condition. It paddled ok but was too close to being more of a river boat than what I was looking for. The T11 paddles well and tracks alright for a shorter kayak but is very susceptible to paddle input. Not what I was looking for.
 The next kayak I mentioned is my Big Game II. This is a great kayak. Super stable excellent in big water. Has an nice seat, is really comfortable and one thing that has surprised me the most about the BGII is how much I like to just float in it. This thing floats down stream like a dream. It's a great river boat. Just not fast and I wanted fast or at least faster than the BGII.
Which brings me to my new fling.
 The Trident 13.

 Let me explain what I was/am looking for in a fishing kayak.
1. Stability,  it needs to be stable enough to stand and fish from.
2. Comfort, the seat needs to not kill my back or let my bum go numb.
3. In hull storage, I like to transport as much as I can in the hull. Especially my fishing rods.
4. A decent cockpit layout or at least good enough for me to expand on to make it my own. Gimme a somewhat Plain Jane and let me rig it myself.
 With those thoughts in mind I knew the 13 was stable enough to stand and fish from because I did it in the 11. The seat in the 13 I knew was going to be an issue because every kayak I've been in where the seat pad is directly on the deck of the boat hurts my back and my @$$ goes numb. It has as much to do with my body as the seating position itself. This isn't a knock on the Trident, that seating position is uncomfortable for me. So I added padding from the get go. Although I wish I could get my paddle in the hull, more important to me though I can stow my rods and that was the most important part of having in hull storage for me.
OK. Now here's where we are in our new relationship. My very first thought when I dipped my paddle into the water was, "Wow this thing is easy to paddle". And she is. These boats paddle well, track great and are pretty light weight. As it turns out that was some of what I was looking for in my next kayak. What I didn't mention earlier is I wanted something I could cover water in and I can definitely do that in this boat.
More to come.....

Familiar Waters

 It's been a while since I'd had paddled up this creek and it almost felt like coming home. The current the twists and turns and the familiar sites. We all have our own reasons for loving certain bodies of water and some you just can't quite explain. For me it's a sense of connection and I don't know why, I wasn't raised here. I have no family or personal history with the area. I'm nothing more than a damned yankee in these parts. I love the place and it feels good to call it home.

 Back at the ranch, it was 75 degrees and sunny with a slight chance of rain. Gotta go, the creek is calling. No playing around. Use what I know works and have caught hundreds of fish on in the past. Today I'm catching fish! The water was super clear. This is one of these places where you better have plenty of tackle with you because you're guaranteed to lose some stuff. There is a ton of lay downs and the fish get up in that stuff and if you wanna catch them you have to go in there and get 'em.

 The pattern of the day was to pitch soft plastics against the bank or throw them into tight cover and dead stick it until you get bit. I tried a few other baits but lizards were what was on the menu. I get kinda bored dead sticking baits but it sure beats getting skunked.

  I fished for about 4 hrs picking up about 15 fish all in the 1-2# range with the best one pictured below she went 2.48#. By no means a stud fish but a great day on the water.

 I actually thought I lost that fish; I felt the bite, set the hook and she darted right into the branches of the lay down I was fishing. I thought I was snagged for sure and was telling myself she had come unbuttoned. I drug myself over the top of the "snag" and looked down to see the fish still on the line! Sweet! After about 5 minutes of messing around she swam out of the mess below me and WALA! Best fish of the day!
 The sun was starting to touch the tops of the tree and I wanted to hit one more spot before calling it a day. As I was making my way around a corner I looked up to see this dude staring me down. He didn't seem to be phased in the least that I got so close to him.

 The branch he was perched on extends over the water so I had to get really close to get past. I was so excited about seeing the bird I quit fishing to go take a few pictures before it flew away.
 Until next time.
Tight Lines
H