Always Be Prepared!
Equipment failure is a fairly common occurence when you are a hard-core bass angler. We put our equipment through extreme conditions, and as a result, stuff breaks. That’s why it is so crucial to be prepared for as many situations as possible when you are on the water. There is no worse feeling than having a few good fish in your livewell and finding out that your cranking battery is dead…unless you are prepared for that situation. Here are a few things that every angler should keep on his boat for a quick on-the-water fix in the event of equipment failure.
Duct Tape – Fixes ANYTHING
Jumper Cables – Ever had your cranking battery let you down? Simply grab a jump from your trolling motor battery
Hydrogen Peroxide - If a livewell pump goes out on you in August, you may as well subtract 5 pounds in dead-fish penalties from your bag. Unless of course you remembered to put a bottle of this stuff in your boat. Adding a little hydrogen peroxide will increase the oxygen levels in the livewell, and may be enough to get your fish to the weigh in alive.
Replacement Parts – trolling motor power switch, replacement pumps, fuses, etc.
Tool Kit - zip ties, screw drivers, wrenches, alum wrenches, screws, marine sealant, etc.
Before I get into this past week’s tournament results, I would like to encourage everyone to sign up for a free email subscription to Ohio Bass Blog by clicking on the “Sign Me Up” button on the upper right hand side of this page. By signing up, you will receive an email notification each time I post a new article. Your support matters to me, and one way that I gauge the success of the website is by the size of the official membership.
Weekly Tournament Results
This past weekend was a busy one for Ohio bass tournament anglers. The big bags are still coming in, albeit a little lighter now that most of the heavy females have spawned and moved out to deeper water. The biggest tournament sack of the week belonged to the EEI circuit, with a 16.85 pound bag from Nimisila. Here is the weekly rundown.
NBAA/OCDC O’Shaughnessy Reservoir “Spring Challenge” Open – May 19th
The team of Rich Weisenburger and Jeff Arledge bested the 38 boat field to win the NBAA/OCDC O’Shaughnessy Reservoir open last Saturday with a five-fish limit that weighed 9.68 pounds. On a day when big bites were hard to come by, the team of Todd Kitchen and Mike Ray were able to put a 3.50 pound largemouth in the boat, which took Big Bass honors. As always, the NBAA/OCDC tournament directors put on a great show, with a ton of door prizes. Click here to see the full results: NBAA-OCDC O’Shaughnessy Open Results
NBAA – Chilo Division – Ohio River – May 19th
Reaves and Reaves were victorious in the NBAA Chilo Division event on the Ohio River last Saturday. Their five fish limit weighed 10.64 pounds. They also took Big Bass honors, a 3.34 pound largemouth. To view full results from the event, please click here: http://www.freewebs.com/midwestsportsman/
Electric Elite Invitationals - Nimisila – May 19th
Eighteen boats competed in last Saturday’s EEI event on Nimisila. The winning team was Jeff Brown and Eric Battershell, who weighed five fish for 16.85 pounds! They also took Big Bass, a 5.22 pound largemouth. To view full results from this event, please visit the official Do Bass website at: http://www.dobass.com/12EEI/i3/051912.html
Team Bass Xtreme Muskingum Division – Buckeye Lake – May 19th
Event number two of the TBX Muskingum Division was held last Saturday on Buckeye Lake. 17 teams competed, and the team of Miller and Majors came out on top. Their five fish limit weighed 11.12 pounds, and was anchored by a 3.46 pound largemouth, which was the tournament’s Big Bass! To see the full results for this event, please click here:
http://www.teambassxtreme.com/Muskingum_Division-Event2.htm
G & O Series – Griggs Reservoir – May 20th
Mike Reeves won the season opener of the G & O Series on Griggs Reservoir last Sunday with a four fish bag weighing 8.27 pounds. I also had Big Bass of the 14 boat tournament with a 3.52 pound largemouth. This series rotates between Griggs and O’Shaughnessy Reservoirs, with a season ending two-day championship held in September. Participants can compete solo or as a team. Entry fee is $20 per participant. To view the full season schedule, please click on the 2012 Tournament Schedules link in the menu bar.
Vic’s Sports Center The X-Series – Berlin Lake – May 20th
Congratulations to Nick and George Prvonozac for their X-Series win on Berlin Lake last Sunday! Their 12.97 pound limit was enough to beat the 77 boat field. Big Bass for the event went to Mansky and Chapman with a 4.13 pound largemouth. For full results, please visit the official X-Series website at:
http://www.thex-series.com/
Bad Bass Champs Tournament Trail - Mosquito Creek Lake – May 20th
Well done by the team of Keith Baker and Bob Laird for winning Sunday’s Bad Bass Champs qualifier number 2 event on Mosquito. They led the way with 12.28 pounds, anchored by a 3.93 pound largemouth, which took Big Bass honors. For complete results, please visit the Bad Bass Champs website at: http://www.badbasschamps.com/bbc5.20.12.htm
Clear Fork Valley Bassmasters 39th Annual Clear Fork Open – May 20th
Congratulations to the team of Steve and Lauren Hatfield for their win in last Sunday’s Clear Fork Open hosted by the Clear Fork Valley Bassmasters. In all, 46 boats brought in 28 limits, 160 total fish, and a total weight of 280 ponds. The Hatfield’s winning weight was 16.15 pounds. Big Bass was 4.35 pounds, and belonged to the team of Harless and Harless.
Salmoides Team Tournament Circuit – Grand Lake St. Mary’s – May 20th
For a second straight week, Grand Lake St. Mary’s proved itself as an awesome Ohio bass fishery. The team of Manson and Mohler whacked a solid 15.04 pounds last Sunday en route to a victory in the second Salmoides Team Tournament Circuit event of the year. Big Bass went to the team of Greber and Penhorwood with a 5.00 pound largemouth! The event drew a solid 48 boats. Click here for full results:
http://www.ohiobassangler.com/mycustompage0001.htm
Team Bass Xtreme Elite Series – O’Shaughnessy Reservoir – May 20th
Darren Adams won the second TBX Elite Series event of the season last Sunday on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. His five fish limit weighed 8.16 pounds. Big Bass for the event was caught by Aaron Counts, a 2.90 pound largemouth. The TBX Elite format is an individual tournament (no co-anglers or non-boaters). To learn more about the TBX Elite Series, click here: http://www.teambassxtreme.com/Elite-Bass-Xtreme.html. For full results from this event, click here: http://www.teambassxtreme.com/Elite__2_results.html
Griggs Tuesday Evening Gathering – Griggs Reservoir – May 22nd
Bill Foster and Mike Wilson were one of only two teams to weigh a limit last night. The result was a 6.97 pound sack, and a first place finish. Big Bass for the event went to Mike Reeves and Marshall Yarnell, a 2.15 pound largemouth.
Mogadore Tuesday Night Tournament – Mogadore Reservoir – May 22nd
Heater and Edwards stretched their winning streak to 4 straight weeks on Mogadore last night. Their winning weight of 18.22 pounds was anchored by a 5.18 pound largemouth. In second was the team of Stevens and Long with a five fish limit weighing 16.69 pounds. WHAT A FISHERY!!!
To combat growth of the algae, state authorities have begun treating large portions of the lake with aluminum sulfate. Restrictions have also been placed on the amount of manure that farmers are permitted to place on their fields. The hope is that with the cooperation of farmers, the lake will eventually regain its water quality.
I’m crossing my fingers, because Grand Lake St. Mary’s is a phenomenal bass fishery! Despite the neon-green water color, we caught over twenty bass during our competition day, all of which were healthy and fat. The bass population clearly has not been affected by the algae. It took over fourteen pounds to win the event, and there were at least ten fish over three pounds brought to the scales. The fishing was so good that I almost forgot about the water clarity issues.
For information on how you can help with the improvement of the water at Grand Lake St. Mary’s, please visit the Lake Improvement Association’s website at www.lakeimprovement.com
Weekly Ohio Bass Tournament Results
Before I get into this past week’s tournament results, I would like to encourage everyone to sign up for a free email subscription to Ohio Bass Blog by clicking on the “Sign Me Up” button on the upper right hand side of this page. By signing up, you will receive an email notification each time I post a new article. Your support matters to me, and one way that I gauge the success of the website is by the size of the official membership.
Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail – Grand Lake St. Mary’s – May 12
What a slugfest! The Grand Lake St. Mary’s bass are apparently unfazed by the water quality issues that have been plagueing the lake recently. The team of Dirk Davenport and Ron Nutter weighed a tournament-best 14.33 pounds on their way to victory against the 65 boat field. Fish were locked onto beds. Despite poor water clarity, they were making their location known by fanning beds in ultra-shallow water. For full tournament results, please visit the Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail website at http://www.ombtt.com/2012RESULTS.html
NBAA Ohio Central Division – Pleasant Hill Reservoir – May 12
Congratulations to Mark Fouty for besting the 44 boat field at the season opener of the NBAA Ohio Central Division Challenge at Pleasant Hill Reservoir. Mark’s winning weight of 9.74 pounds was anchored by a 3.11 pound largemouth, which also took Big Bass honors. To view full results from this event, and to learn more about the NBAA Ohio Central Division Challenge, please visit the official website at http://www.nbaa-ocdc.com/nbaaocdcdivisionstandings.htm
KSU La “Do Bass” Series – LaDue Reservoir – May 12
Congratulations also go to the team of Joe and PJ Filipowicz for their victory at the season opener of the KSU La “Do Bass” Series. Their five fish limit weighed 9.54 pounds, and was enough to best the 35 boat field. Big Bass for the event was caught by the team of Borling and Ressler, a 3.72 pound largemouth. For full results, please visit the Do Bass website at http://www.dobass.com/bass.html
Salmoides TTC – Central Division – Delaware Reservoir – May 13
Twelve teams competed in the Salmoides event last Sunday on Delaware Reservoir. The team of Caudill and Mathers won the event with a five fish limit weighing 9.76 pounds. Big Bass for the event was caught by Petry and Brown, a 3.70 pound largemouth. For full results, go to http://www.ohiobassangler.com/mycustompage0001.htm
Griggs Tuesday Evening Gathering – Griggs Reservoir – May 15
The team of Mike Reeves and Kyle Feucht topped the 10 boat field with a 4 fish bag weighing in at 5.67 pounds. They also took Big Bass honors with a 1.65 pound largemouth. The river fished very tough as a result of dropping water levels.
Mogadore Tuesday Night Tournament – Mogadore Reservoir – May 15
Heater and Edwards made it three wins in a row last night with a five fish limit weighing 16.08 pounds, anchored by the tournament’s Big Bass, a 5.19 pound largemouth.
Weekly Big Bass Pictures!!!
I wanted to share some big bass pictures that were submitted to me by Ohio Bass Blog followers over the past week.
Tyler Berger of Columbus, Ohio with a pair of 4.5 pound largemouth
Ryan Woods, 4lbs 12oz from Dow Lake
Solomon Curtis of Zanesville with a pair of five pounders in one outing last weekend. To read more about Solomon, please click here: http://ohiobassblog.com/2011/11/16/the-ohio-record-largemouth-one-mans-pursuit/
Fishing with Confidence
Bassmaster Weekend Series – Indian Lake – May 5
Tim Partin of Springboro, Ohio won the second Bassmaster Weekend Series Ohio Division stop of the year on Indian Lake with a five fish limit weighing 11.84 pounds. His limit was anchored by the tournament Big Bass, a 4.50 pound largemouth. Partin is currently in the points lead for the series as well. To view full results from the event, click here:
http://www.americanbassanglers.com/BWS/results/606.pdf
11th Annual USA Buckeye Bassmasters Spring Open – Deer Creek Lake – May 5
17 of the 29 teams that competed in the 11th Annual Buckeye Bassmasters Spring Open on Deer Creek Lake brought limits to the scales. The winning bag belonged to the team of Mullett and Cooper, who caught a 12.09 pound limit. Big Bass for the event was caught by the team of Waugh and Osborne, with a 3.91 pound largemouth.
Team Bass Xtreme Central Division – Buckeye Lake – May 5
The team of Recter and Bruce won the season-opening event of the TBX Central Division circuit on Buckeye Lake this past Saturday. Their 11.86 pound limit bested the 31 boat field. Big Bass was caught by Swingle and Bennon, a 5.19 pound largemouth.
Griggs Tuesday Evening Gathering – May 8
Mike and Matt Bores won on the river last Tuesday with a five fish limit wighing 9.70 pounds. Their winning bag was anchored by Big Bass, a 3.32 pound smallmouth.
Mogadore Tuesday Night Tournament – May 8
Heater and Edwards continued their evening success on Mogadore with another winning bag of 17.17 pounds. Stevens and Long took Big Bass with a 4.51 pound largemouth. There were four bags over 16 pounds weighed.
Buckeye BFL – Indian Lake – April 28
Curt Fiessinger of Ft. Loramie, Ohio won the season-opening event of the 2012 Buckeye FLW BFL event on Indian Lake. Fiessinger weighed a five fish limit of 11lbs 7oz to top the 126 boat field on a bitter-cold and wet day. He took home $6,500 for the victory. The next BFL event will be held on Mosquito Creek Lake on June 16th. To view full results from the tournament, click here: http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/bfl/tournament/2012/6860/indian-lake-boater-results/
NBAA – Tanners Creek – April 28
The River produced two winning 12.40 pound bags (tie), caught by the teams of Brad Whitaker/Jamie Cunnigan and Rick Robertson Jr./Dave Wagers. The team of Mark Johnson and Rick Schrieber weighed Big Bass, a 4.88 pound largemouth. Click here for results: http://www.freewebs.com/midwestsportsman/
Griggs Tuesday Evening Gathering
Bill Foster and Mike Wilson braved the thunderstorms to take the top spot with a 5 fish limit that was highlighted by a 4.2 lb largemouth.
Mogadore Tuesday Night Tournament
The team of Heater and Edwards were victorious with a 6.19 lb bag.
On a final note, Bassmaster just came out with their “Top 100 Bass Lakes” list. The only mention that Ohio received was for Lake Erie. Perhaps the author of the article should review some of our 2012 tournament results. You can read the Bassmaster article here: http://www.bassmaster.com/news/100-best-bass-lakes
Monster Limits and Weekly Tournament Results
Team Bass Xtreme Open – Clear Fork Reservoir - April 21st
Clear Fork has a reputation for HUGE bags this time of year…and it didn’t disappoint last Saturday! The team of Brandon Dodrill and Tom Hack bested the 15 boat field with a five fish limit weighing in at 19.78 lbs. They also weighed a 6.2 lb Big Bass.
NBAA Ohio River Chilo Division – April 21st
Chris Males and Bryan Mahon topped the 11 boat field with a five fish limit weighing in at 11.72 lbs. That’s a solid bag of Ohio River largemouth. Big Bass was caught by the team of Crit and Danny Reaves, a 5.04 pound largemouth. For full results, click here: http://www.freewebs.com/midwestsportsman/
Vic’s Sports Center The X-Series – Portage Lakes – April 22nd
The team of Steve Hughes and Tom Rizzo weighed 5 bass for 19.68 pounds to win the season opener of the X Series on Portage Lakes. There was a full 80 boat field for the event. They also had Big Bass, a 5.77 pound largemouth. For full results, go to: http://www.thex-series.com/
Lake Erie Largemouth Club Tournament – Portage River at Port Clinton - April 22nd
The team of Adam Thiede and Brett Ransom whacked an awesome 18.44 pound bag of largemouth to win their club event. Way to go guys!
Griggs Tuesday Evening Gathering – April 24
Don Harter and Connor Smith beat the 11 boat field with a 4 fish bag weighing in at 9.16 pounds. Smith, in his first ever bass tournament, caught Big Bass of the evening, this 4.98 pound BRUTE!!! Congrats Connor.
Finally, I would like to recognize Ohio Bass Blog follower Steve Holsinger for having one heck of a week bass’n. He broke the five pound mark on both a largemouth and smallmouth in a 7 day period!
Weekly Tournament Results and Boating Safety Reminder
Last weekend was a busy one for Ohio bass tournament anglers. By my count, there were more than 15 tournaments fished on our waters since I last blogged. Here is a quick rundown of the results of some of those events:
Salmoides TTC Central on Buckeye Lake – April 14 The team of Caudill and Mathers topped the 15 boat field to take the season opener of the Salmoides Central Division on Buckeye Lake. They weighed 5 fish for 12.16 lbs, and also took Big Bass with a 3.52 lb largemouth. Congrats to Brian Caudill for his second big victory on Buckeye Lake this season. To view full results, please visit: http://www.ohiobassangler.com/mycustompage0001.htm
SEOLTT on Seneca Lake – April 14
11.05 lbs was the winning weight for the team of Kuntz and Goodwynn. The next SEOLTT tournament will be held 4-22-12 at Buckeye Lake.
Portage Lakes Bassmasters “Big Bass” Open (1 fish limit) – Wingfoot – April 14The team of Vue won the event with a largemouth weighing in at 4.54lbs. For full results and details on these Big Bass events, please visit: www.portagelakesbassmasters.com
Boy Scout Icebreaker Open Bass Tournament – Portage Lakes – April 15
The team of Hankins and Hankins came up victorious with a WHOPPING 18.62 lbs! What an Ohio bag. They also took Big Bass honors with a 5.04 lb largemouth. For more details, visit: www.troop127.us
Griggs Tuesday Evening Gathering – April 17
Mike Reeves (back to back wins!) took first place with a 4.5lb bag of largemouth. Big Bass went to the team of Matt and Mike Bores with a 2.11lb largemouth. Tournaments are held every Tuesday beginning at 6:00 pm. Entry fee is $15 per angler.
Mogadore Tuesday Night Bass Tournament – April 17
Mogadore fished a little tougher than it has in recent weeks, but the team of Heater and Edwards managed to piece together 3 fish for 7.62 lbs to win the event. Congrats guys!
BOATING SAFETY REMINDER
A horrible incident occurred while I was at Indian Lake last weekend that served as a stark reminder as to why following proper boating safety practices is critically important anytime you are on the water.
A strong west wind had the water chopped up pretty good, with white caps rolling across the lake. At around 3:00 p.m. we heard sirens, and realized that a group of observers had gathered on the street overlooking a part of the lake near Crane Town Island. Two men had taken a canoe out in the rough water, and somehow they were capsized. One of the men came up, the other did not. He drowned in four feet of water. Neither of the men were wearing life vests.
This tragic event proves just how dangerous boating can be. For those with power boats, wearing your life vest and kill switch can make the ultimate difference. I encourage everyone to check your safety equipment to make sure it is within Ohio’s guidelines. For boater safety tips and a list of required equipment, click on the following link to the ODNR Division of Watercraft website: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft/safetytips/Prelaunch/tabid/2889/Default.aspx
Ohio Horsepower Restrictions and Weekly Tournament Results
ODNR Considering Changes to 10 HP and Electric Only Lake Designations
One of the reasons I started blogging was that it gave me a medium through which I could communicate with other Ohio bass anglers about topics that are important to us. A topic that I hear anglers discussing on a regular basis is whether the ODNR should remove its 10 horsepower and “electric only” designations from some of our public lakes, and replace them with a “no wake/idle speed” rule. Doing so would allow many Ohio bass anglers whose boats are equipped with bigger horsepower motors to fish lakes that they never before could. You can voice your opinion to the ODNR by clicking on the following link and taking their survey. Let your voice be heard!
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22F9YELL23Q
Weekly Ohio Tournament Results
Due to the positive feedback I received with last week’s Ohio bass tournament rundown, I will continue to post weekly results throughout the season. If you are a tournament director or angler who would like your results posted, send me an email to ohiobassblog@gmail.com. Also, I’ve added a link to the menu bar for “Weeknight Tournaments”. Check it out for a weekly evening tournament on a lake near you.
Buckeye Outdoors/ABA Buckeye Lake Open – April 7
Brian Caudill and Jim Hite weighed five fish for 13.48 lbs to win Saturday’s Buckeye Outdoors Open on Buckeye Lake. Hite and Caudill also had 2nd Big Bass of the tournament, a 3.92 lb largemouth. The event had a full-field of 75 boats. Big Bass for the event was a 4.87 lber. Click here for full results: http://www.buckeyeoutdoorsmarine.net/tournament_results.htm
EEI Mogadore – April 7
Congratulations to the team of Stevens and Long for their winning five fish limit of 20.83lbs (new EEI record bag). In a close second was the team of Heater and Heater, weighing in five fish for 20.60 lbs. They also took Big Bass honors with a 6.2 lb slaunch. Talk about an awesome fishery – two 20 pound limits in one tournament…in OHIO!!! For full results and information on how to get involved with the EEI events, go to: http://www.dobass.com/12EEI/i1/040712.html
Mosquito Creek Lake Boy Scouts “Icebreaker” Open Bass Tournament – April 7
The team of Dustman and Dustman topped the 50 boat field with a 5 fish limit weighing 15.04 lbs. They also took Big Bass honors with a 4.14 lb largemouth. This was their second victory in two weeks! Keep up the good work guys.
Griggs Tuesday Evening Gathering (GTEG) – April 10
The team of Yarnell and Reeves (yours truly) won the season opener on Griggs Reservoir last night with a bag weighing just under 5 pounds (hey, it’s the river, cut me some slack!!!)
Mogadore Tuesday Evening Tournament – April 10
The team of Stevens and Long were victories on Mogadore with a weight of 14.62 lbs
2012 Ohio Bass Tournament Kick-Off
The 2012 Ohio bass tournament season has officially begun. A number of opens and circuit events were fished this past weekend, and there were some awesome bags of fish weighed-in.
Bassmaster Weekend Series – Rocky Fork Lake – March 31
Nick Prvonozac of Warren, Ohio sacked 18.21 pounds to win the first Ohio Bassmaster Weekend Series event of the year. Prvonozac beat out second place by an impressive 7.5 pounds. He caught his fish flipping wood and grass with a Yum Vibra King and Yum Wooly Bug. Big bass on the boater side weighed 4.7 pounds. 51 anglers competed, with 17 bringing limits to the scales. You can view full results at the ABA website by clicking here: http://www.americanbassanglers.com/BWS/results/605.pdf
Kent State University Mosquito Open – March 31
54 teams competed in the Kent State University Mosquito Open on Saturday. The team of Dustman and Dustman won the event with a five fish limit weighing 14.01 lbs. You can view a full report and results at the Do Bass website at: http://www.dobass.com/KSU/2012MOSQUITO.html
Portage Lakes Bassmasters “Big Bass” Open (1 fish limit) – Portage Lakes – March 31
39 boats participated in the Portage Lakes Bassmasters Big Bass Open on Saturday. A 7.12 lb TOAD was the winning fish for the event. For a full report, please go to the Club’s website at: http://portagelakesbassmasters.com/
1st place – 7.12 lbs – Boat #12 – Blackert / Shockley
2nd place – 5.58 lbs – Boat #1 – Brown / Brown
3rd place – 4.80 lbs – Boat #5 – Hooper / Langenfeld
4th place – 4.44 lbs – Boat #15 – Legon / Gutshall
5th place – 4.39 lbs – Boat #32 – Fronk / Fronk
Electric Elite Invitationals Spring Mogadore Open – April 1
The team of Matt and John Heater took home the hardware with an awesome 5 fish bag weighing in at 19.4lbs. Check out the Do Bass site for a full report and list of finishers: http://www.dobass.com/12EEI/SPO/040112.html
Logan Bass Club – April 1
Logan Bass Club held their first tournament of the year on Sunday on Lake Logan, located in Logan, Ohio. Club member Eric Sevcik won the event with a five fish limit weighing 11.4 pounds. He also took Big Bass honors with this 6.6 lb hawg!
Burr Oak Open Tournament – March 31
27 boats fished the Burr Oak Open Tournament this past Saturday. The winners weighed 3 fish for 10 pounds. Big Bass for the event was a 4.7 lb largemouth.
For an extensive list of 2012 Ohio bass tournaments, be sure to check out the links in the navigation bar above.
Fishing Report
Aside from all of the great tournament results, I am also receiving reports and photos of some giant bass being caught out-of-competition from all over the state.
Steve Holsinger sent me this picture of Don Harter holding a 5.75 pounder that he recently caught from Wolf Run Lake on a rattle-trap ripped through the weeds.
Arron Headlee landed this nice largie while float-tubing a public lake in the mid-Ohio area.
And finally, Kevin Moeller and Casey Hammann have been whacking ‘em on Caesar Creek Lake, catching most of their fish flipping. Here are a few of the giants they have landed in SW Ohio over the past couple of weeks:
In this year’s final edition of the Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight is the Great Lakes Largemouth Series. This unique tournament series features events on Lake Erie and the Detroit River – two of the world’s best smallmouth fisheries. But anglers who compete in this series aren’t permitted to weigh smallmouth, as only largemouth are accepted at the scales! In its second season of existence, the Great Lakes Largemouth Series has showcased Lake Erie’s thriving green fish population. David Hoheisel, one of the circuit’s tournament directors, recently answered some questions about his series.
ohiobassblog: David, the Great Lakes Largemouth Series is a new concept that has generated a lot of excitement amongst Ohio tournament anglers. Tell my readers about your circuit.
Hoheisel: DJ Plotner and I started the series last year because DJ had been fishing on the back waters on Erie and was crushing largemouth. Since retiring as President of the Ohio Bass Federation Nation, he thought it would be fun to start a series that focused on the amazing largemouth fishing that Lake Erie had to offer. We started with a West Harbor Division which featured four events and a Championship last year. This year we added a Cleveland Division and a Detroit River Division. We also increased the West Harbor Division from four to eight events.
The Championship is unique in that a team only has to fish four tournaments from any combination of divisions and they automatically qualify! With 17 tournament dates to choose from, a team can still fish their local series and make four of our events and qualify for the 100% payback Championship.
Last year we had a lot of great sponsors who are supporting the series again this year. We gave away over $2,000 in prizes during the regular season events, and it’s going to increase this season. We picked up Dobyn’s Rods as a sponsor this off-season. They will be giving away two rods to the winners of the Championship, as well as 40%-off coupons to the winning teams at each event and for the first team out of the money. All-Terrain Tackle will be giving away jigs at each event and Xcite Baits will be giving away soft plastics to the anglers. Snag Proof will be giving away frogs at each event, and Hookerz Tackle and Venom Lures will be providing gift cards. And Fin Feather and Fur is giving $300 worth of product to be won at the Championship.
We also have incentive programs in place for our anglers. If you purchase a new boat from Knox Marine or a new car or truck from Sharpnack Chevy, your team will receive $200 off your entry fees for the next season.
ohiobassblog: A lot of people may not realize just how good the largemouth fishing in the Great Lakes is. Tell us a little about these fisheries.
Hoheisel: There have always been guys who knew how great the largemouth fishing on Erie was, but they kept quiet about it. But when a 22.5lb bag was weighed-in at our August event last season, the cat was suddenly let out of the bag. Putting together a limit is not usually a problem for our anglers. The key is finding a kicker fish. Guys typically catch their bags cranking the rocks, flipping or frogging the pads, or fishing the docks with a spinnerbait or Senko. You just have to find out where the kicker fish are located!
ohiobassblog: What type of participation do you anticipate in 2012?
Hoheisel: Since we have one season under our belt and added the two new divisions, we feel like we should have 50 to 75 teams at the Championship if not more. It’s an exciting time and we invite all your readers to come out and fish our events.
ohiobassblog: Can interested teams still sign up for your 2012 circuits?
Hoheisel: Teams can register online at www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com, or at the ramp the day of the event. There is a $50 membership per team. There is also a $10 late fee for paying at the ramp, so we encourage everyone to pay online. This speeds up check-in at the ramp.
ohiobassblog: The Alabama Rig has been a hot topic amongst bass anglers across the nation. Will you be allowing anglers to use this rig this season (with 3 hooks of course)?
Hoheisel: We will allow the Alabama rig because it is legal to fish in Ohio and we feel like we should not create our own rules on this issue.
ohiobassblog: What is the heaviest bag of largemouth you have ever seen from the Great Lakes? Biggest single largemouth?
Hoheisel: As I mentioned earlier, we had a five fish limit weighing 22.5 pounds in our tournament last August. That is a bag that any tournament angler anywhere in the country would love to have. It will be interesting to see if those results can be duplicated this year. In terms of the biggest Lake Erie largemouth I’m aware of, I’ve heard of guys catching 8lbers!
Thanks for your great blogs. They are the most informative and well written that I have read. Keep up the great job!
David Hoheisel www.greatlakeslargemouthseries.com 614-361-554Early Spring Ohio Bass Fishing Report
With the unseasonably warm weather that Ohio has been experiencing over the past two weeks, the bass bite is in full-swing. I’m getting reports from all over the state of big fish being caught. Our ponds, small public lakes, and inland reservoirs are all pumping out quality fish, and they are being caught on a wide variety of baits.
Ponds
Reports of big pond fish are cropping up from every region. Solomon Curtis (click Here to read about Solomon’s 10lb AEP bass) has reported a number of big fish being taken from the AEP ponds, including a 25-fish outing earlier this week. Fish are feeding on Texas-Rigged soft plastics fished along shoreline wood. Other successful pond tactics include jigs, spinnerbaits, and rattle-traps. Marshall Yarnell caught several 4lb plus fish last week from a private pond in Central Ohio, including this 5.42lb toad, taken on a trap.
Small Public Lakes
Small public lakes and reservoirs may be your best bet for hawg hunting right now. Targeting shoreline cover with jigs, soft plastics and spinnerbaits will catch fish. For bodies of water with good visibility, suspending jerkbaits and Alabama Rigs will also trigger bites. Kevin Moeller sent me this picture of a pair of hawgs he took from a small public lake in SW Ohio this past weekend, caught on a 1 oz spinnerbait (5lbs 2oz) and a jig and pig (4lbs 8oz).
Mark Headlee (click Here to read more about Headlee and his float-tubing adventures in Ohio) also sent me this picture of a fat largemouth he caught recently.
Public Reservoirs and Lakes
I’ve received reports that a number of our larger lakes are really fishing well right now, including Rocky Fork Lake, Acton Lake, Knox Lake, Clear Fork Reservoir, Mosquito Creek Reservoir, Indian Lake and Buckeye Lake. Jigs, spinnerbaits, Texas-Rigged plastics, and crankbaits fished around shallow shoreline cover have been producing quality catches. Remember, any type of backwater area will warm faster than the main lake, and these areas will naturally attract fish this time of year. I fished Indian Lake last week, and the fish were biting well, but were only located in protected backwater areas. Here is a picture of the biggest of the day.
Bedding Fish
Although I haven’t yet received any reports of fish on beds, it wouldn’t surprise me if the first wave of big females had locked on by the end of this week. Water temperatures in some bodies are approaching (or have already surpassed) the 60 degree benchmark. I marked 62 degrees on Indian Lake last week, and have heard that Buckeye Lake and Knox Lake are also above 60 degrees in certain areas. Send me an email to ohiobassblog@gmail.com if you have a fishing report that you would like to share.
It appears that the warm temperatures are here to stay, which means one thing…T-SHIRT WEATHER!!! You can check out my line of bass fishing t-shirts by clicking the “Shop” button in the menu bar above, or by visiting the Bucketmouth Apparel website at www.bucketmouthapparel.com. And if you order now you will receive a 15% discount on your total order by entering the discount code SPRINGLUNKER when you check out! This special offer will be open until this Sunday March 25th at midnight.
Ohio Inland Bass Fishing Guide – Jeff Tipple
During the many hours I’ve spent chasing big bass on Ohio’s waters I’ve met a lot of really good anglers. One of those anglers is Jeff Tipple, a big bass hunter who has a knack for locating and catching giant Ohio bass. In 2008, Tipple decided to put his talents to work by guiding Ohioans on inland waters. His company, Jig N Pig Guide Service, is the only Ohio inland bass guiding service that I’m aware of. He offers trips for anglers of all skill levels, and of all ages. You can visit his website at www.jignpig.net. I asked Jeff some questions about Jig N Pig Guide Service, and here is what he had to share.
ohiobassblog: Jeff, Jig N Pig Guide Service is the only Ohio inland-water bass fishing guide service that I’m aware of. Tell my readers a little about it!
Jeff Tipple: I started my guide service in 2008. I know now, and knew then, that it wouldn’t be a big operation in Ohio. And I knew there wouldn’t be a big demand. With that being said, I thought I could offer a service to a select group of people who either wanted to learn how to improve techniques, or just wanted to have a good day on the water. Most of my clientele are novices, and I have to break things down and go through proper casting techniques and basic reeling practices. And it can be trying at times. But I absolutely love it when I can get a novice/beginner to hook into a heavy bass. I giggle like a little school girl!
ohiobassblog: Describe what your clients will experience when they book a day on the water with you?
Jeff Tipple: Typically I instruct my prospective clients to bring their own bug spray, lunch and drinks and I’ll supply the rest! But if they want to bring their own tackle, that’s fine too. After a quick “safety talk”, I try to put them on active fish as soon as possible, just to get things moving. But that’s not easy. On most occasions I take them through a few repetitions with either my baitcasting, spinning, or spincast reels that I provide. If they are unable to cast and reel appropriately, then I am forced to make the decision to use soft plastics or other slow-moving baits. I guide out of my Triton VT-16 bass rig. This boat is perfect for the type of fishing and traveling that I do each year. I haul it with my small SUV (Ford Escape) and I can get into some pretty skinny water with it. And it has a large enough footprint on the water to be very stable. I have fished up to 30-lakes during some seasons, and this boat gets me into about 80% of those.
ohiobassblog: Will you guide on any body of water in Ohio?
Jeff Tipple: Most of my guide trips take place in Central or Southeastern Ohio. But if a client has a lake in mind that they would like to learn, I will likely take them. Determining factors for where I will guide include travel distance and my experience on a particular body of water. I normally suggest to prospective clients that I take them to a lake that I know.
ohiobassblog: Are there certain types of waters that you would recommend for catching bigger bass?
Jeff Tipple: From what I’ve learned, it takes around nine to thirteen years for a bass to reach 5-pounds on an inland lake in Ohio. That’s crazy isn’t it? If an angler wants to catch an over-fiver in Ohio, they certainly shouldn’t follow the crowd. The harder an Ohio public lake is to find or to get to, the better it will fish. If the lake has thick vegetation of any kind, you’re half way there. If it’s got big frogs, big bluegill, and shad, and it doesn’t get much fishing pressure…you should fish there!
ohiobassblog: How can someone who is interested in your services book a trip?
Jeff Tipple: You can visit my website at www.jignpig.net to get started.
ohiobassblog: What are your rates, and what do those rates include?
Jeff Tipple: My rates are barely over what it would cost someone to rent a boat for a day. When you rent a boat, a boat is all you get. When you use my guide service, you get the boat and all the gear, and someone who has experience. My rates are from $170.00 to $220.00, depending on the length of the trip scheduled.
ohiobassblog: Tell us about your favorite client that you have guided.
Jeff Tipple: My favorite client was an architect that knew how to fish. We hit two lakes in one day, and he caught fish from start to stop. We hit Rush Creek Lake and he hooked and lost a 4-pounder on a popper on his third cast. Then he caught an over 2-pounder from the same area within a few minutes. I had him throwing buzzbaits and poppers, and we covered a lot of water quickly looking for active early morning summertime bass. He caught some good numbers in a couple of hours. Then when the weather warmed up, we loaded the boat on the trailer and I took him to another small public lake. We got on a pretty good crankbait bite on the second lake. And he hooked a giant! He hooked this big female with a red and black Bomber Fat Free Shad, and she came off about two feet away from my net!!! I cried and complained so much about him losing that fish that he said, “Oh Jeff, you’ll be ok.” I had a good laugh after that. But I wanted him to catch that monster as if he were one of my kids.
ohiobassblog: Tell us about your worst trip?
Jeff Tipple: My worst trip fishing-wise was actually the most fun trip I’ve ever had. I guided two crazy guys (when I say crazy, I mean crazy!) on Wolf Run Lake a few years ago. First off, they called me and said they were at the marina. I said, “Wolf Run doesn’t have a marina.” They were at Salt Fork Marina! So I used the 45-minutes it took them to drive to Wolf Run to check a few spots. The fish were on fire! All I had to do was pitch a Venom Sweet Dream creature bait into the milfoil near the edge and I would get bit. It was as simple as that. I caught three quick ones and stopped fishing so they could catch ‘em. When they arrived, I soon found out that one of them was unable to cast appropriately (because of a handicap) and I ended up untying knots and untangling snags. All the while we were all laughing so hard we could barely fish. I put them where the fish were, but they simply couldn’t get one hooked. I normally don’t fish while guiding with clients, but I do have to check things occasionally. I would go about 20-minutes, pitch a Sweet Dream near the edge and catch a bass. Then I showed them how to pendulum the bait into the open spots, but for some reason they still wouldn’t hook up. Then I would throw a bait and hook one. It was amazing! They were the unluckiest anglers I have ever met. I would check things out about every half-an-hour and catch a fish. Otherwise, I wasn’t fishing. These guys teased each other the whole time. And they called themselves “Team Fool.” They didn’t have mercy on me either. We all laughed pretty hard all day long, and I did finally get one of them hooked up on a 19-inch bass. But other than that, we could have sat in the truck all day.
ohiobassblog: What is the biggest Ohio bass you have ever caught?
My biggest bass ever weighed 7lbs 8oz. I caught her in July of 2000. My best two in a single day weighed 7lbs 1oz and 6lbs (and my youngest son was 12-years old at the time and caught a 3lb 8oz bass on the same day). Our best three that day weighed about 16lb 8oz, and we ended up with my only over 20-pound day on my best five fish in my life! That was August of 2000.
ohiobassblog: Do you think the Ohio State Record Largemouth record will ever be broken? If so, what will the circumstances be?
I don’t know if the record will be broken. But if it is broken, my guess is that it will come out of a body of water that has everything going in the right direction habitat wise. The habitat and genetics will all have to be perfectly aligned for a considerable time period in order to break the record.
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I wanted to give a quick fishing report from this past Sunday (March 12). I fished a small public lake in Southeast Ohio of about 60 acres. The water was stained and in the mid 40′s. After launching the boat I ran into Dylan Skaggs, a young tournament angler from the Columbus area, who asked me if he could borrow my digital scales. He had roped a HAWG. Check it out, 6 lbs 10 oz. Congrats on a new personal best Dylan!
My brother and I also had some luck, and put a few fish in the boat. They are shallow!
In this edition of the Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight is the NBAA Ohio Central Division Weekend Challenge, a circuit that will visit some of Central Ohio’s best fisheries in 2012. You can visit the circuit’s website at www.nbaa-ocdc.com. Ky Reed, the director of the NBAA OCDC circuit (and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet), recently answered some questions about his circuit and its upcoming season.
ohiobassblog: Ky, over the past few seasons, the NBAA Ohio Central Weekend Challenge has quickly become one of the most popular tournament circuits in Central Ohio. Why do you believe that is?
Ky Reed: In my opinion, we have grown to where we are today because of our Members! I’ve been fishing tournaments in Central Ohio for the last 25 years and I’ve never seen a club or circuit take on a personality like ours. I mean, you know how it is in other events, you fish your 8 hours, weigh your fish, (see that you didn’t place in the money!) then pack up and leave. Not our circuit… these guys (and gals) hang out with us almost until we’re ready to leave sometimes. Heck, there are friendships that have been made ON & OFF the water, and these guys even talk to each other about how and where they’re catching their fish. THIS IS UNHEARD OF IN CENTRAL OHIO, and it’s REALLY COOL! I like to think they’ve kinda developed into a “family”.
ohiobassblog: Can interested teams still sign up for your 2012 circuit?
Ky Reed: Absolutely, but at the rate we’ve grown, I’ve promised our members that we’re going to limit the NBAA sanctioned events to 50 teams to keep our weigh-in times short, and allow us to manage everything smoothly. I’ve participated in tournaments where the weigh-ins have taken an hour or two and I feel that is just too much to put our people through after they’ve been on the water all day. Besides, at 50 teams, our payouts are AWESOME!
ohiobassblog: Are there any exciting changes to this year’s format that you would like to share?
Ky Reed: Oh, we have a LOT of exciting things going on this year! First and foremost, we’re sponsored by POWER-POLE this year thanks to NBAA National. What this means for our Members is that they now have access to some exciting deals on POWER-POLE shallow water anchor systems and a chance to win an 8’ Pro Model in our NEW Divisional Championship at the conclusion of our season! In addition to that, NBAA changed their format for Championship qualification this year by allowing teams that fish 4 out of our 5 NBAA sanctioned events an automatic entry into the 2013 National Championship at Kentucky Lake. The list goes on and on, and I could be here all day explaining them!
ohiobassblog: NBAA has a strong name nationally. Tell us about the advantages of being affiliated with a large national organization like NBAA.
Ky Reed: Jim Edbrooke and I took over the old “TNT Central Division” in 2006 and sanctioned it with NBAA. Our first year, we only averaged about 10 teams per tournament, with our first event at Buckeye Lake drawing only 6 teams. Since then, we have increased our averages steadily with 2011 being our best year yet where we averaged just over 40 teams per tournament. This, by the way, gives us the “bragging rights” as the LARGEST DIVISION in NBAA’s history! There are many advantages of being associated with NBAA, with the biggest being that NBAA is geared towards the “Weekend Angler”. What this means for our anglers is that there is a real possibility of qualifying for a “TRUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP” at our level without the pressure of having to get there by competing against former “pros”, or “pro staffers”, or spending your entire paycheck on entry fees. With our tournaments scheduled in the Central Ohio area, they also don’t have to worry about outrageous expenses incurred if we were traveling all over Ohio like some circuits demand.
ohiobassblog: Tell us a little about this year’s NBAA Championship.
Ky Reed: For 2012, our NBAA Members are fishing to qualify to go to Kentucky Lake in the spring of 2013! NBAA has gone there a few times in the past, and has told us that they are considering keeping the National Championship there to give all of us an “even playing field”. NBAA has grown to about 100 divisions throughout the Midwest and now encompasses 8 states, with the majority of the divisions located in Michigan (where NBAA was founded over 20 years ago). In keeping the Championship at Kentucky Lake, it only makes sense since it is such a fantastic fishery, and prevents any one division from having a “home field” advantage.
ohiobassblog: Which events on your schedule this season do you see bringing in the biggest bags?
Ky Reed: Wow…that’s a tough one! I would think that Pleasant Hill (which is our first event in May) would be the best because we go there in early spring. Last year we weighed 35 limits at Pleasant Hill. But Delaware at the end of the year was just awesome too! I don’t have the stats in front of me, but I remember we weighed in one bass that was over 6 pounds, which is our largest one yet. Griggs wasn’t too far behind, as we weighed in several bass over 3 pounds that day. I personally believe, contrary to other anglers’ beliefs, that ALL of our lakes here in Ohio are capable of producing some fantastic weights. You just never know when the bass are going to turn on in our area.
ohiobassblog: You are also hosting a number of open tournaments this year. Tell us about them.
Ky Reed: Oh, we have a fantastic lineup this year starting with the NBAA/OCDC “OHIO OPEN” at Buckeye Lake in April. If you remember, we have hosted this spring tournament the last two years and it exceeded even our wildest dreams by topping the field last year with 75 teams! We changed the format this year where our competitors don’t have to “travel” to weigh their fish as we’re doing everything at Leib’s Island this time.
We are also hosting two benefit tournaments this year starting with The Annehurst Swim Team benefit at Dillon Reservoir on May 26th. Annehurst Pool is a small neighborhood pool in Westerville that is self-supporting without any corporate donations or backing. Everything they purchase for their pool comes from donations and fundraisers, so we’ve kind of adopted them to help them meet their goals. Payback is 50% with the proceeds going 100% to The Annehurst Swim Team to purchase needed items. Our other benefit tournament is the PELOTONIA benefit tournament at O’Shaughnessy on June 23rd. PELOTONIA is a marathon bike ride to raise funds for the James Cancer Hospital at OSU. What we’re doing is helping PELOTONIA participant Tricia Dailey raise her $2,200.00 entry fee, which is donated to the “James” 100% and is used for research. Each PELOTONIA participant is required to raise this money to participate in the event, and this year, Tricia is planning to ride the entire 180 mile, two-day event!
New in our lineup for 2012 is the Fin, Feather, & Fur – Clearfork Open on June 2nd. “FIN” has sponsored us for two years and we thought it was only proper to host an open for them at a location in their area. We chose Clear Fork late last year, and so far, we’ve had a LOT of interest in participation. Heck, the first week we posted the information, we received three entries! I think this is going to be HUGE as I’ve been told that Clear Fork is REALLY AWESOME that time of year.
Our circuit also hosts two of our own opens, the Spring Challenge on May 19th at O’Shaughnessy and the Fall Challenge on October 13th at Alum Creek. Both of our circuit opens are 70% payback. Oh, I almost forgot…we also host a combined tournament at Deer Creek on September 1st. We partner with our counterpart, the NBAA/Southern Ohio Bass Challenge, which is based in Cincinnati, to host this annual event. Last year we saw the field reach 37 teams which is our best year yet.
ohiobassblog: Finding great sponsors to back you is an important factor in offering a successful tournament circuit. Who are your some of those sponsors?
Ky Reed: Well, where would you like to me to start? We have been blessed with some of the most AWESOME SPONSORS in Central Ohio and beyond. What we try to do is find sponsors that will benefit not only ourselves, but our members, anglers AND their families. We have so many unique items donated such as: swim lessons from the Greater Columbus Swim Team; gift cards from O’Reilly Auto Parts; lube, oil, and filter changes from Chesrown Chevy Town – Delaware; movie passes from Movie Tavern – Mill Run; and gift cards from Distinctive Trucks – Lancaster. I could go on for an hour if you have the time! Take a look at our website at www.nbaa-ocdc.com and just check out what we have for you.
ohiobassblog: What is your favorite public body of water for bass fishing here in Ohio?
Ky Reed: Hmmm….that’s a tough question too! I’ve always been kind of partial to OSR, but last year I had the pleasure of being REALLY introduced to Knox Lake, and I was also shown a few secrets about Pleasant Hill. I think as far as numbers, OSR is tops, and for big fish, Knox would have to rate right up there.
ohiobassblog: What is the largest five-fish limit you have ever weighed in an Ohio tournament?
Ky Reed: Ahhh, that brings back memories! Quite a few years ago, Jim Edbrooke and I fished the TNT “Elite” Series and we had a tournament that went out of the Dempsey Ramp on the bay. The weather sucked as it was about 95 degrees, bright sunshine, and NO WIND in the bay. We went west to the railroad bridges and fished for about two hours with no bites, so we decided to go back east to the Johnson bridge. I caught one small green fish on a tube and switched to a silver and black shad rap. On about the second cast, all hell broke loose and I boated a 3 lb smallie. Well, that bite kept up and we boated three or four limits within the next few hours. If I remember right, we culled 8 or 9 times but it was really tough because we didn’t have scales or balance beams, and every smallie we caught looked the same. At weigh in, we had 22.02 lbs which only got us 2nd place…..1st place had 22.04 lbs, which meant we missed winning the tournament by .03 lbs. I swear to this day we threw the wrong fish back!
ohiobassblog: What is the largest bass you’ve ever caught in Ohio?
Ky Reed: Ok, caught or boated? LOL! I’ve had several “on” that would have probably topped five or six pounds, but as far as actually “boating”, my heaviest largemouth was a 4.12 that I had at Alum about 10 years ago. Last year, we went with a friend of mine who fishes B.A.S.S. Northern Opens to Erie and I had a 4+ smallie that I caught drop-shotting. WOW, What a fight!
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For those of you who follow my blog regularly, last week I mentioned that I was going to be giving away free bass fishing shirts to three randomly selected ohiobassblog email subscribers. The winners have been selected, and will be notified today with details!!! Thanks again,
Mike
My Classic Experience
Attending the 2012 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana was an unforgettable experience.
I owe a big thanks to my wife Amanda for making the trip happen. For my 30th birthday, she surprised me with news that she was sending me and Marshall to the Classic. After a couple of months of waiting in anticipation, we departed Columbus last Thursday en route to the world championship of bass fishing! On our flight to Shreveport we had the good fortune of meeting Rob Russow, an Illinois native who has a job that any bass enthusiast would die for. Rob is employed by B.A.S.S. as an on-the-water blogger who provides live blog updates of Elite Series events as they take place. He spent his Classic following the competitors around the Red River and providing play-by-play for the fans to follow. He also served as emcee for the Bassmaster College Classic. Rob was excited when he learned that we had traveled all the way from Ohio for the Classic, and after we shared some fishing stories and bass photos with each other, we exchanged phone numbers. He was the first of several new friends we made while in Shreveport.
On Day 1 of the Classic, we weren’t able to find transportation to the boat ramp to watch the launch. Instead, we ate a big southern-style breakfast while waiting for the Classic Expo to open (Cajuns sure know their food – we ate our fair share of crawfish and catfish while visiting). The Expo wasn’t scheduled to open until noon, but around 10:00 a.m. we gained entry and started touring the Shreveport Convention Center. We were shocked by the size of the Expo. Every boat, motor, lure, rod and reel company you have ever heard of had a booth set up. Most of them were giving away free items, such as posters and stickers, and many of them featured a pro or a bass fishing celebrity at their booth. I’m convinced that there isn’t another major sporting event out there where the fans have as much access to the athletes as at the Bassmaster Classic. Each day at the Expo we had the opportunity to meet current and former professional anglers. Not only did we get to meet them, but we got to talk fishing with them. To name a few, we got to meet Ray Scott, Forrest Wood, Roland Martin, Rick Clunn, Skeet Reese, George Cochran, Mark Rose, Larry Nixon, Gary Klein, Boyd Duckett, Byron Velvick, Paul Elias, JVD and Steve Kennedy.
Later that evening we attended the weigh-in at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City. B.A.S.S. did a phenomenal job of setting the atmosphere for the weigh-in. A giant stage, complete with LCD screens, laser lights, and a wooden dock was set up at the front of the arena. As each angler was announced to weigh in, a garage door to the right of the stage opened, and the angler was pulled in his boat to the front of the stage where he weighed his fish, held them up for the camera, and then did a short interview with emcee Dave Mercer. I was absolutely shocked by the number of people who filled the 14,000 seats of the CenturyLink Center. I think those Cajuns love their bass fishing even more than their food!
On Day 2 and 3 we attended the launch, which was held approximately 20 minutes south of Bossier City on the Red River. There were several thousand fans present to watch the anglers blast-off each day. Marshall and I were able to find a great spot to watch the anglers as they waited in line to launch. One after another they pulled past us in their lifted trucks with blinged-out rims and wrapped boats. We talked to most of them as they waited in line, and found that their reputations held true to form! Ike played to the crowd, promoting his new energy drink called Iked-Up by chugging a can to the cheers of the fans. The always amiable Steve Kennedy walked right up to Marshall and told him that he needed to catch a giant or he wasn’t going to have a shot at winning. VanDam was always the first in the water, doing his best to minimize the distractions before the start of the tournament day. Check out the video for the full experience!
Before the launch, the camera helicopter would do a flyover just as the final notes of the National Anthem rang out. Dave Mercer did live interviews with the anglers as they prepared their tackle, which were broadcast over loud speakers to the crowd. The tournament director then started calling boat numbers one at a time, and they were off. On Day 2, Kevin Wirth, Davy Hite, Jeff Kriet, and Brandon Palaniuk all made an immediate move to a backwater area about a hundred yards from the ramp. We got to watch Kevin Wirth jack a 3.5lber while flipping a weed line, and Rob Russow gave us a cool shout out on the live Bassmaster Blog for sending him the report! (see here)
http://www.bassmaster.com/blogs/2012-classic-live-blog/ike-master-crowd-fishing
We also got to watch Palaniuk fish while we stood and talked with his mom, dad, and grandfather. They were really nice people, and talking with them about the sacrifices that Brandon has made to compete on the Elite Series was pretty eye-opening in regards to just how difficult the life of a touring pro can be. They actually got to witness him catch three small keepers while he was fishing within view of the ramp.
On Day 3, Wirth, KVD, Hite and Stephen Browning all ran directly to the same backwater close to the ramp. Wirth again caught a solid fish right at the entrance to the pond, and the crowd of close to 100 went nuts! We felt like we were part of the action, and even got another mention by Russow in the blog:
http://www.bassmaster.com/blogs/2012-classic-live-blog/action-near-take
We watched KVD catch two keepers throwing a swim jig through pad stems. He did manage to get a backlash in his reel, and snag his jig on a submerged fence post, showing that even the pros are prone to mistakes on the water! It was neat to watch how all of the anglers worked together, even though they were competing against each other. They all left the area simultaneously in order to lock through to the next pool together.
After the Day 3 launch we finally had a chance to catch up with Fletcher Shryock, the only Ohio angler to compete in this year’s Classic. Fletcher fell a little short of qualifying for the final day of competition with a two-day total of 19 lbs 12 oz on 10 fish, which earned him a 32nd place finish in the tournament. He was a little disappointed in how he finished, mainly because he made a decision to change his game plan on Day 1 of the tournament. During practice he had found some really nice fish in the same area where Keith Poche took the Day 1 lead. Fletcher knew that several other anglers had also found those fish in practice, and decided that he would go to his secondary area in order to avoid boat traffic. As it turned out, the other anglers who had found those fish made the same decision, and Poche ended up having them all to himself. Fletcher decided to fish in McDade instead, where he had a lot of company. We rooted hard for him, and were proud of his performance. He was very grateful to everyone here who showed their support for him. Take a look at a short interview we did with him during the final day of the Expo.
Congratulations to Chris Lane who was crowned the 2012 Bassmaster Classic Champion. Bobby Lane, Chris’s brother, also fished in the Classic, and actually made the final day cut. The brothers made an agreement before the final day that if either of them were to win, they would pay the other’s 2012 Elite Series entry fees (approximately $43,000). So thanks to his brother’s win, Bobby Lane will have his entry fees paid for this season!
One of the things that really struck us while in Shreveport was that bass fishing is a mainstream sport in Louisiana. The influence of fishing, especially bass fishing, was evident everywhere we went. There were large murals painted on the sides of buildings featuring leaping bass, and a giant Bass Pro Shops sits in downtown Bossier-City, right on the banks of the Red River. Each night the local news would do a 15 minute segment on the Classic, complete with interviews and on the water footage. We had such a great time that we are considering making the Classic an annual trip!
I would like to continue to grow Ohio Bass Blog’s email subscriber list. You can sign up for a subscription by clicking on the “Sign Me Up” button on the upper right hand side of this page. The subscription is free. As an incentive to sign up in the next week, Bucketmouth Apparel (www.bucketmouthapparel.com) will be giving away a free tee-shirt to three lucky subscribers! Next Tuesday we will randomly draw three email addresses from the list of everyone who has subscribed by then (including those who are already signed up). We will then contact the winners via email with details. Thank you again for your support of my blog, I truly appreciate it.
Classic Bound!
On Thursday I’ll be flying to Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic! For a bass’n addict like me, attending the biggest event in competitive bass fishing is going to be an incredibly exciting experience. I can only imagine the level of emotions that the competitors must be feeling right now. What would it be like to be one of only 50 people in the entire WORLD to have the opportunity to compete for the ultimate prize in bass fishing? To have a chance at winning a half million dollars, and having your name mentioned with the likes of Kevin Van Dam, Rick Clunn, Skeet Reese, and Mike Iaconelli? Unfortunately, most of us will never know. But one Ohioan, Fletcher Shryock of Newcomerstown, OH will have that opportunity when he represents the Buckeye State in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic this week!
I contacted Fletcher by email a couple of months ago to express my interest in interviewing him while at the Classic for Ohio Bass Blog. Without hesitation, he agreed, which didn’t surprise me given his reputation as an outgoing and good-natured person. I spoke with him for the first time on Monday to set up a time to meet with him this weekend, and we ended up talking for close to an hour. Fletcher shared information about how his practice has gone, his predictions for how the Red River will fish, and the range of emotions that he is experiencing at his first Classic. At Fletcher’s request, I will not be revealing any of the specifics regarding the locations or techniques he is employing.
According to Fletcher, the water was high and cold as of his last day of practice. Shreveport received a ton of rain late last week, and has experienced some chilly nights. As a result, the fish have been somewhat scattered and a little difficult to locate. Air temperatures have warmed up this week, and the rain has stopped. He thinks that these changes will have the fish fired-up and in more predictable patterns by Friday, the first day of competition.
Fletcher’s quiet-confidence in his angling abilities was evident during our conversation. Although he has only been fishing competitively for three years, his knowledge and perspective on the sport is impressive. He holds great respect for his competitors at the Classic, but he doesn’t seem intimidated by them. He has had some pretty neat interactions with several of the big names of the sport since arriving in Shreveport. During practice he crossed paths with Kevin Van Dam frequently. On half a dozen occasions Kevin was leaving or arriving in an area where Fletcher was practicing. At one point they were within a cast of each other, and they even shared a few conversations on the water. Seriously, how cool would that be? That hasn’t been his only encounter with a famous pro this week. He’s staying in a cabin right next to Mike Iaconelli, and has had conversations with Ish Monroe. And while getting his motor worked on by the Mercury team, he shared a little “dock talk” with Davey Hite. Getting the opportunity to interact with these proven professionals has to be a thrill.
I asked him if he was having any trouble maneuvering the Red River, which is notoriously difficult to navigate. He knows the river very well from spending time on it prior to it going off-limits. He’s had some success competing there, winning a local tournament last November. But even with his knowledge of the river, he did manage to run his boat up on a sandbar during practice. Although he sounded a little embarrassed about it, he certainly wasn’t alone. He saw a number of competitors get their boats stuck while running around. According to Fletcher, the moral of the story is not to blindly trust your Navionics chip!
His ability to navigate during the tournament will likely play a large role in his success. One of the areas he plans to fish will require close to 45 minutes of idle time to reach. Although it will be a gamble, the decision fits the all-or-nothing, swing-for-the-fence approach that he told me he is going to take during the tournament. To quote Fletcher, “I’m going to make the decisions that I will regret the least after the tournament…the ones that I would kick myself for not making after the tournament if I didn’t make them”.
Fletcher thinks that a lot of guys will be able to catch around 10 pounds a day, but that it will take close to 18 pounds a day to win the tournament. He believes that although a lot of the field will make long runs to get away from other competitors, they may end up fishing in the same remote areas of the river. It sounds like most of the competitors are pretty tight-lipped about what they are doing, which should come as no surprise given what is on the line.
I got the impression that he is a “good nervous” right now. He told me that he is so immersed in what he is doing, so focused on the task at hand, that he hasn’t spent much time soaking in the fact that he is competing in the Bassmaster Classic. My advice was to make sure he stopped, even if only for a moment or two, to just enjoy the experience. He said he will try!
Assuming his schedule permits, I will be meeting up with Fletcher during one of the competition days to capture more of his experience. I will report back next week.
GOOD LUCK FLETCHER!!! You’ve got an entire state pulling for you!
On a final note, Solomon Curtis sent me a picture of this giant 5.12 lb hawg that he caught on President’s Day at AEP. Great start to the season!
Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight: DoBass
This winter I will be publishing a series of articles entitled the “Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight”. Each article in the series will feature one of Ohio’s top tournament circuits. In the spotlight this week is DoBass, a very popular tournament organization in Northeast Ohio. Rory Franks, the charismatic tournament director of DoBass, was kind enough to answer some questions about DoBass and its upcoming season.
Ohiobassblog: Rory, your name has become synonymous with bass tournament fishing in Northeast Ohio. Tell my readers a little about your philosophy for running events, and how that philosophy has allowed you to grow our sport in your region of the state?
Franks: That’s quite the compliment. My first response to such an uplifting statement is it’s all very fragile. There’s a great balancing act that has to be performed beginning with winter registration all the way to handing out the last check at each event. Simply put, you have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Preparation, organization, and staying positively focused on your goals are the keys to what I refer to as “removing your enemies”. The “enemy” is that feeling in your belly when you watch someone jerk a 5 pounder off a tree you had hoped to fish but had to pass as it was first occupied. Maybe the enemy is the north wind ripping through your soaked rain gear and you just missed three fish. Possibly, the enemy is your mind drifting to the dock talk from earlier in the day about everyone jacking them lake-wide and you haven’t been bit all day. The bottom line is whether its fishing, directing tournaments or just daily life events, there will be challenges, big and small. How you allow yourself to respond with both thought and action to those moments is what defines character. Character will define your success. How we live our lives is often how we fish.
This broad philosophy has been touted to our anglers since our first event in 2001, the backdrop being a program called “Hooked on Fishing…Not on Drugs” that I organized through the juvenile court. I have been a juvie PO for the last 16 years in my “real life”. The HOFNOD kids would help me run the LaDue events as one part of their fishing experiences. The parallels of fishing to the daily challenges of the kids I worked with really ignited a spark in my thoughts as I witnessed them change perspectives with their challenges. It helped me grow as an angler, and as a PO, and it birthed what has now become “DO” bass. I sincerely believe that many of our anglers have embraced the mentality we strive for when fishing with us. “Smile…remove your enemies and think big bass” – It’s DO bass…not don’t.
We’ve taken that basic premise, added some insanely huge grass-rooted payouts to it, and still have managed to keep everyone focused on the idea that fishing is indeed a celebration of life.
This past season we lost one of our first LaDue anglers. He was 45 years old. He was the ninth angler that I was familiar with to pass since I started doing this 12 years ago. Life is just too short to get caught up in the little things, especially the “enemy” when fishing. We want anglers to keep this perspective when challenges are presented to them. So far, so good.
Ohiobassblog: You direct a number of tournament circuits under the “Do Bass” name. Can you talk a little about each of those series?
Franks: Our “big boat” events consist of a two-day OPEN called Mosquito Madness, and five single day OPEN style-events, called the Northern Open Anglers Association (NOAA). This is our seventh year running Madness, and ninth running NOAA.
Mosquito Madness – At Madness our goal is to provide an all-inclusive experience for anglers, while striving to offer one of the highest amateur first place payouts in Ohio…$10k. We make sure each angler, win or lose, goes home with a smile on their face. Our annual sponsors provide exceptional products to each and every angler to start the weekend out. Mosquito Lake then takes over, with limits of bass across the board both days! We then cap-off the event with a catered celebration the final day. Anglers travel long distances and from a variety of states for the experience. 2012 Madness sold out in six days back in October, and the event has met an early full field of over 100 teams each year.
NOAA – The NOAA events pay back 100% of entry fees at the end of each event. We cap the field at 60 teams, and allow for a go-for-broke approach. As a result, the best and most confident anglers show up year after year to compete. These are the folks that epitomize Dobass, or they wouldn’t be there otherwise. We look for the proverbial “ringers”, the home lake heroes, or the pick and choose anglers to give NOAA a shot. Two of the five 2012 events are already sold-out, and Berlin #1 is likely to fill soon as well. Our final NOAA stop is at Chautauqua Lake in New York. Given the larger waterway, we expand the field to 100 teams making for a potential $10,000 first place opportunity at that event.
KSU LaDO Series – The KSU LaDO! Series is a classic five event points-race, with a $1,000 guaranteed first place Championship. This is a low cost ($70) entry level experience with non-traditional bass rigs. Not even gas tanks are permitted on Akron waterways, let-alone gas outboards. Innovation abounds when it comes to the fishing rigs that compete on this series, and most guys are usually working on tight budgets. 20 year olds and 12 footers seem to rule. I have watched many kids start their angling careers at LaDO events, and eventually move into the big-boat events. These events are capped at 50 teams.
Electric Elite Invitationals (EEI) – EEI is geared towards the top dogs of electric power fishing. It is a full season (six event) commitment on NE Ohio’s best bassn’ waterways, with a first place payout of $1000. There is no championship, only Angler of the Year awards to define the best of the best. The field is capped at 30 teams. This is no gas, many bass, low odds, big pays, grassroots, dirty kneed fishin’! We are also hosting three OPEN EEI events in 2012, with $85 entry fees.
Kent State Mosquito Thaw OPEN 3/31 – This is an OPEN benefit event for the KSU team. $2000 for first place, one day event, hopefully not in the snow and cold! We predict the dafodils are blooming by then!!! Details at www.fishKSU.com
All DoBass events, including pictures, results and stories from the day of 190 events can be found at …you guessed it, www.dobass.com. Online credit card registration is available there for 2012, as well as print and mail registrations, along with rules and payout information for each series of events. We offer a photo host for anglers to quickly and easily download pictures from the day. We also regularly update our anglers through our Facebook page, so feel free to “like” dobass.com
Ohiobassblog: The Kent State University Bass Fishing Club spoke very highly of you and the support you provide them. What motivated you to offer your support to these young guys?
Franks: KSU was a fantastic part of the evolution of DoBass. It’s the best thing I have ever been involved with fishing-wise. To watch young adults who are already motivated in life further develop their angling and life quests simultaneously returns a great deal of happiness to me. Three years deep now I have witnessed the true positive impact that angling has had on these students. The first President took a teaching job five minutes from Kentucky Lake just for the fishing! He now has a new glass rig, a house, a wife, and a baby on the way – not to mention a couple of dogs!
Fishing motivates these kids to be successful and gives them meaning to what they are doing in college. To be a part of their lives and to have the opportunity to give some direction to them is a true reward to me. The current team is the most diverse group yet, consisting of both guys and gals, all of whom have very limited fishing experience. They have the desire though, and are led by an exceptional crew of officers who plan on and off the water activities regularly. Again, KSU is just another example of how life and fishing so closely mirror one another. The other interesting thing is that many are Criminal Justice majors, and work security on campus. I am a Kent Alumni with a CJST degree…fate played a Dobass hand in things I guess!
Ohiobassblog: Are there any exciting changes to this year’s format that you would like to share?
Franks: We only make changes to things when they don’t work. This past season (2011) was perrrrrfect, so there’s no need for change…yet.
Ohiobassblog: The Alabama Rig has been a hot topic amongst bass anglers across the nation. Will you be allowing anglers to use this rig this season?
Franks: We will follow each venue’s laws for our events. So yes, in Ohio anglers can indeed use TAR with three hooks. It’s truly the silliest discussion I have seen anglers get emotional about. TAR to Dobass is just a part of the angling evolution. With that said though, to each state their own – we only support what is in accordance with regulatory angling laws on the lake we are at.
Ohiobassblog: Finding great sponsors to back you is an important factor in offering a successful tournament circuit. Who are your some of those sponsors?
Franks: Vic’s Sports Center in Kent, Ohio provides all of our anglers an extra $500 winning bonus for Ranger or Stratos boats purchased through them. Stratos will also DOUBLE our anglers’ winnings. Winning Ranger owners can add $500!
On a local level, we rely heavily on the support of Rodmaker’s Shop in Strongsville, and The Fin, Feather, Fur Outfitters group located in Ashland, Cleveland and now Akron! Both of these local retailers cater directly to bass tournament angler needs including specialized repairs and gear.
Ohiobassblog: What is your favorite public body of water for bass fishing here in Ohio?
Franks: I have to keep that one under my hat! Mogadore and Ladue without question are studs in this region. But once I got to know those fish so well that I started naming them, I had to find a new challenge. I can tell you this – my current favorite body of water makes either of the above look just average for both size and numbers of fish. That’s hard to swallow until you experience it. I’m pretty open obviously with the “secret” gems that are now well known in the area – I have to save at least one to take the dog to though, LOL!
Ohiobassblog: What is the largest 5 fish limit you have every weighed in an Ohio tournament? How about the biggest 5 fish limit that has ever been weighed at a Do Bass event?
Franks: There was a 35 lb+ bag from a now drained lake in Youngstown back in the 90’s – I didn’t witness it, but it was the real deal caught by the Prvonozacs. For our events, if you hit the magic 20 lb mark on the electric lakes, you’re doing something right. 19’s happen annually at Springfield, Deer Creek, Moggie, Wingfoot, and LaDue – but 20’s are few and far between. In 2010 we had a 20.44 bag by John and Jerry Heater from Mogadore, which set the EEI record. Then at LaDO! In 2009, Correy Petz and Chris Leidich had the biggest overall bag at 21.47.
My personal biggest was a 20 lb+ smallie sack during an Everstart Series event on Lake Erie. I also had a 19 lb four fish limit at a BASS weekend series at Presque Isle, and a 19.92 lb bag with outdoor writer D’Arcy Egan on Mogadore during a 2010 EEI spring open tournament. I guess I can make the big bags count when they should – otherwise I’m just a two pound average kind of guy!
For 2012 I’m going to predict Mogadore to really create some shock and awe. The class years of BIG fish are ripe – I wouldn’t be shocked in the least to see current records eclipsed by someone…they just have to boat them. They are big, fat and dumb at Moggie.
Ohiobassblog: What is the largest bass you’ve ever caught in Ohio?
Franks: My personal best is an 8.6 lber from LaDO, caught on April Fool’s day 1999. It was “unofficial” and only my dog saw it. In a tournament my partner weighed a 7.39 lber that I got to net.
Alabama Rigging in Ohio – What’s All the Fuss?
Since I’ve been bass fishing, I can’t recall a single technique having such an extraordinary polarizing effect on bass anglers as the Alabama Rig. From the instant that Paul Elias lifted the first place trophy above his head after winning the FLW Tour Open on Lake Guntersville last year by using this method, the A-Rig has dominated dock-talk nationwide. Whether you support its use, or you want to see it banned, there seems to be no middle ground when it comes to this new technique for catching giant bass.
What is the Alabama Rig?
The A-Rig is really just an adaptation of a classic presentation known as the Spider Rig. It consists of five flexible steel wires extending from a lead weight. The main line is tied to the eye of the weight, while lures are clipped to snap swivels that are attached to the end of each wire. The most common baits fished on these rigs are bait fish imitators, such as soft swim baits and jig heads with twister tails. The A-Rig is designed to imitate a school of bait fish, and is being praised for its uncanny ability to trigger suspending bass into biting. The rights to the original Alabama Rig are owned by Mann’s Bait Company, but many other companies have come out with their own versions, including a couple of Ohio based companies.
Controversy over this presentation has become wide-spread, with arguments cropping-up both in support and in opposition of the rig. Fueling this controversy are the differing positions that the two major professional circuits have taken on use of the A-Rig in competition. FLW opted to allow use of the rig this season (click here to read FLW’s stance on the A-Rig http://www.flwoutdoors.com/fishing-articles/153206/flw-clarifies-position-on-alabama-rig/), while B.A.S.S. has opted to ban its use in 2012.
Arguments for the A-Rig
I’ve heard a number of arguments from guys here in Ohio who are in favor of this rig. The most common is that the A-Rig is just another advancement in our pursuit of bass, comparable to side imaging, braided line, or tungsten weights, and that anglers should welcome this new method instead of shunning it. Another argument is that if applicable state law permits the use of the A-Rig, then it should not be banned by tournament organizations. And perhaps the most common argument, which is if the A-Rig will help me catch more fish, then why not use it?
Arguments against the A-Rig
There seem to be a greater number of arguments against the A-Rig, with many who oppose it urging tournament directors to ban the method in competition. One argument is that proper use of the method would be difficult to enforce at a tournament level, and thus has the potential of creating the temptation for cheating. This argument refers to the fact that almost every state has a differing law on the rig, with some allowing three hooks and others allowing five. Others argue that the method poses a health-risk to the fish because of its tendency to foul-hook bass. But the most common issue anglers seem to take with the A-Rig is that it will take away from the tradition of our sport…that it doesn’t fit the spirit in which the rest of the rules have been created, such as bans against trolling, the use of multiple rods, and live-bait in competition. Many feel that throwing an A-Rig is a lot like using five rods at the same time.
What does Ohio’s law say regarding use of the A-Rig?
Under Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-1-02 Definition of terms:
(C) “Angling” means fishing with not more than two hand lines, not more than two units of rod and line, or a combination of not more than one hand line and one rod and line, either in hand or under control at any time while fishing. The hand line or rod and line shall have attached to it not more than three baited hooks, or not more than three artificial fly rod lures, or one artificial bait casting lure equipped with not more than three sets of three hooks each.
So pursuant to this section of the OAC, in Ohio an Alabama Rig can be fished with five wires, but must be limited to three hooks (either one single hook per wire, or one treble hook per wire). Furthermore, the use of dummy baits without hooks on the other wires appears to be permissible.
Click here to read the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s official statement on use of the Alabama Rig: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Def…23932
How are Ohio’s tournament circuits treating this technique?
Although Ohio law permits the use of the A-Rig, it is still up to each tournament organization to determine whether the method will be permitted in competition. Here are the positions of several Ohio based tournament organizations:
Do Bass – permitting use of the A-Rig in competition this season
Team Bass Xtreme – permitting use of the A-Rig in competition this season
OMBTT – Undecided at this point, but leaning towards not permitting use of the A-Rig this season
Closing Thoughts
I’ve delayed writing about the A-Rig because I honestly thought that its novelty would have run its course by now. After all, the Chatterbait, Laser Lure, and Biosonics unit were all the talk of sport for a period of time, but are now no more than individual arrows in the quiver of tactics that bass anglers have at their disposal. But I was wrong about the A-Rig, because it seems that the discussion is as dominant now as ever.
My personal opinion is that any technique that’s within the limits of state law should be permitted by tournament organizations, with the exception of non-traditional tournament methods such as trolling and using live bait. As a tournament angler I’m always looking to gain a competitive advantage, so you better believe I’ll be experimenting with an A-Rig at some point next season (although I probably won’t be chucking five 7″ swimbaits!). The A-Rig is clearly an effective method. But the reality is that the A-Rig won’t be effective in most situations, and in the end, traditional tactics will win out.
What’s your opinion on use of the Alabama Rig in Ohio? Share your thoughts by posting a comment, or by voting in the poll below:
Bass Fishing Books – Some Good Winter Reading
Although winter can be a slow time of year for Ohio bass fishermen, the smart angler will use his time away from the water to better himself. Most guys use their time to replace the hooks on their crankbaits, clean their reels, and organize their tackle. These physical tasks are all important preparations for the upcoming season – but a true competitive advantage can be gained by using this time to expand your knowledge of the art of bass fishing.
I’ve found that the best way to do that is to read about the subject. Over the past few years I’ve read a number of bass fishing books that have not only aided in passing the winter, but that have improved my understanding of the sport of bass fishing, and of the bass itself. I’ve read four books in particular that have had a lasting impact on the way I view our sport and the approach I take to catching fish. I recommend that you take the time to read these books if you can.
Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass by Monte Burke 
This book chronicles the lives of some of the world’s most prolific big bass hunters, and their race to catch the world record largemouth. The author does a great job of capturing the fishing side of the story, including lures, techniques, and angling strategies. But he also does an outstanding job of portraying the personal struggle of the anglers, and how their obsession impacts their lives. This book will get you excited for the upcoming season, and will definitely teach you a thing or two about the habits of gigantic bass. After reading it, I was actually considering booking a flight to San Diego to take a crack at the record!
Lunker! By Bob A. Underwood
This is a really neat book. Author Bob Underwood spent 1700 hours under water in observance of bass feeding, reacting to lures, and going about their day-to-day lives. What I like about this book is that the author uses “layman’s” terms to describe the behaviors of bass. Of all the bass fishing books I’ve read, this is perhaps the most fascinating, in that bass were actually observed underwater while lures were being presented to them. What was amazing to me was how often the anglers in the book had a big bass suck their lure in, swim with it, and blow it out, and they had no idea what had occurred. This book will really make you think hard about how you present your lures.
Bass Wars: A Story of Fishing, Fame and Fortune by Nick Taylor
Author Nick Taylor spends a tournament season following Classic champion Rick Clunn, as well as rookie Randy Mosely as they compete on the professional circuit. This is a perfect read for anyone considering trying their luck at the professional level. The book outlines the financial sacrifice, the glory and the pain that these anglers experience while pursuing their dreams of fishing professionally. Perhaps the most entertaining bass fishing book I’ve ever read, I couldn’t put it down once I started it, so make sure you have a good block of time on your hands.
Knowing Bass: The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish by Keith A. Jones
If you want to learn what makes a bass tick, this is the book for you. Although you don’t need a PhD to understand it, I must warn you that this book is written in a very “scientific” manner. I recommend reading it after you have read Lunker! The book was written by Keith A. Jones, who was one of the scientists that studied bass in the Berkley Fish Lab and who was instrumental in the development of many Berkley products. The author goes into extensive detail about the biology and anatomy of the largemouth bass, and gives scientific explanations of how a bass sees, hears, smells, tastes and uses its other senses, such as the lateral line, in order to feed and survive. This book really made me think about the way I present my lures, taking all things into consideration, including scent and color.
Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight: Team Bass Xtreme
This winter I will be publishing a series of articles entitled the “Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight”. Each article in the series will feature one of Ohio’s top tournament circuits, and will include a Q & A with that circuit’s director. In the spotlight this week is Team Bass Xtreme (“T.B.X.”).
T.B.X. is an organization that runs five regionally located team circuits around Ohio, as well as an “individual” series where boaters compete against each other without the help of a co-angler. T.B.X. was founded by Phil Carver, a seasoned tournament director who has been running tournaments in Ohio for nine years. T.B.X. is a 100% payback circuit, and hosts a season-ending Classic that pays big prizes. With almost 40 tournaments on the docket for 2012, chances are there will be a T.B.X. event held on a lake near you this season. You can visit the T.B.X. website at www.teambassxtreme.com.
In a recent interview with Ohiobassblog, Carver answered questions about what makes T.B.X. a great choice for any tournament angler.
Ohiobassblog: What are some of the aspects of your tournaments that contribute to T.B.X.’s great reputation amongst Ohio tournament anglers?
Phil Carver: I believe there are a number of factors that contribute to the success of our circuit. The most important is that we strive to be a 100% live-release organization. We are always expressing to our anglers the importance of handling their catch, and we have an awesome weigh-in setup to allow us to limit fish handling and thus keep the stress levels on the fish to a minimum. I invite everyone to stop by any of our Central Division events and see for yourself just how much effort we put into our processes.
Another advantage of fishing T.B.X. is that we offer five different divisions for anglers to choose from. These divisions fish lakes that are located in different geographic areas around the state, so chances are, there is a T.B.X. circuit that fishes a “home area” of lakes close to you! With rising fuel costs and a down economy, we are able to offer Ohio anglers professionally run events without the expense of excessive travel. In addition to minimizing travel costs for our anglers, we feel that these “home areas” make our events more competitive. Competitors have the opportunity to compete on waters that they are familiar with, and because the lakes are local, pre-fishing is more convenient.
Anglers who fish our events also have the opportunity to compete in our annual T.B.X. Classic event, which we always hold on an Ohio lake. The event is two days long, and is held on a weekend to help accommodate anglers who can’t take time from work to fish during the week.
Ohiobassblog: Can interested teams still sign up for your 2012 circuits?
Phil Carver: Absolutely! We begin accepting membership applications for our Team Series as well as our Elite Series on January 1st every year. Interested anglers can complete a membership application by visiting our website at www.teambassxtreme.com. We also accept memberships on-location at any of our events throughout the season (the only exclusion would be if we have a full field participating in the event).
Ohiobassblog: Are there any exciting changes to this year’s format that you would like to share?
Phil Carver: There are. First is that we recently gave our website a face lift. We still have a ton of work left to do, but I can guarantee that it’s now faster to navigate and more appealing to everyone. We are working on setting up a system to allow us to post event results and pictures in a more timely fashion for the 2012 season as well.
Second is that we anticipate paying out a LOT of prizes at our T.B.X. Classic this year. Last season we awarded those anglers who qualified for the Classic with over $18,000 in cash and prizes. This season we have a total of five divisions scheduled for our Team Series, which should boost this year’s Classic payout above and beyond 2011. We plan to announce the location of the Classic as soon as sponsors for the event are set in stone.
Ohiobassblog: What kind of participation do you anticipate for the upcoming season? Which of these events do you see bringing in the biggest bags?
Phil Carver: We limit our fields to 60 teams in our Team Series events. This will be the second year for most of these divisions, and we anticipate that the number of participating teams will increase this year. I believe the word is out that we run a great event. I’ve received many emails and phone calls from anglers looking to participate this season.
To answer the second part of your question, I believe that the Clear Fork Reservoir events will again produce the largest weights for the upcoming season. Then I would have to say that it will be followed by the Burr Oak Lake event.
Ohiobassblog: You are also hosting a number of open tournaments this year. Tell us about them.
Phil Carver: Our open events are set up to allow anyone looking to fish a tournament the opportunity to do so without being a member of a club or circuit. These events offer some great payouts, as well as awesome prizes for everyone to enjoy!
The open event that I personally enjoy the most is our annual Father’s Day Open. This event just seems to put a smile on everyone’s face. There is always a great diversity of anglers who participate in the event, and although we see a ton of new faces every year, we also see a lot of teams who come back year after year. These are usually the teams consisting of family members, whether it be father-son or father-daughter. These folks are out to have a great time and experience a nice bonding experience, which we are so happy to provide them with.
Last season we also hosted our Xtreme Bucks Ultimate Two Day Open on Alum Creek Lake. This year it will be held on Indian Lake, and can pay up to $4,000 to the winning team if we get a full field. We expect to see a full field this year…who wouldn’t want to win $4,000!
For a complete listing of T.B.X. sponsored open tournaments, check out our website.
Ohiobassblog: Finding great sponsors to back you is an important factor in offering a successful tournament circuit. Who are your sponsors?
Phil Carver: We are fortunate to have some unbelievable companies supporting our circuit. Currently Boat Boys, which has locations in Newark and on Buckeye Lake, is our biggest supporter. They offer Skeeter and Xpress boat packages. Our anglers really benefit from the support that Boat Boys provides T.B.X with. As part of their sponsorship program, anyone who purchases a new Skeeter from Boat Boys will receive paid entry fees for the 2012 season in the division of their choice.
R&R Bait and Tackle, located in downtown Columbus, is another major supporter of T.B.X. They have been such a great company to deal with, and have been a sponsor of ours for a number of years. They offer all of our members a 10% discount on all purchases in their store.
Our other fine sponsors include Hookerz Tackle, Bass Bombs Custom Tackle, Venom Lures, Warrior Baits, and the Bay View Inn at Rocky Fork Lake. All of these sponsors offer our anglers great products and discounts.
I can’t stress enough how much the support of these sponsors benefits our circuits. Without their help, we could not offer the great angling experience that we do. These companies truly believe in our anglers, and are willing to take money and products out of their own pockets in order to show their support. In return for their generosity, our anglers always try to do business with our sponsors, if possible.
Ohiobassblog: Your T.B.X. Elite Series has become very popular. Can you tell us a little about this format?
Phil Carver: The T.B.X. Elite Series is a circuit that caters to those anglers who like to compete on a one-on-one basis. The events are set up for boaters only, without non-boater or co-angler participants. For the 2012 season, the Elite Series schedule consists of eight events, held on five different lakes. In the past we rotated between three lakes, and we feel that the addition of new waters to the schedule will create a new level of excitement and parody amongst the field. Events are held on Sundays from safe light until 12:30 p.m., which allows anglers to get home at a decent hour to spend some time with their families.
Ohiobassblog: What is your favorite public body of water for bass fishing here in Ohio?
Phil Carver: My personal favorite has to be Indian Lake. There’s just so much water and so many secluded areas that allow me to sneak away and feel at one with nature. It also offers a variety of cover and structure to choose from – rip rap banks, wood, docks, seawalls, and let’s not forget about the giant pad fields. Fish can be caught just about anywhere!
Ohiobassblog: What is the largest 5 fish limit you have every weighed in an Ohio tournament?
Phil Carver: I was fortunate enough to weigh in a 5 fish limit at Clear Fork Reservoir during an evening tournament in 1993 that weighed almost 27 pounds! Believe it or not, weights this large are not all that uncommon on this awesome body of water.
Ohiobassblog: What is the largest bass you’ve ever caught in Ohio?
Phil Carver: My largest bass weighed 7-11, and was caught at Clear Fork Reservoir.
Ohio’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Teams
Competitive bass fishing is perhaps the fastest growing sport in college athletics. With more than two hundred schools competing nationwide, and several televised national championship events that boast prizes in the range of $100,000, the sport is undoubtedly here to stay.
There are currently three Ohio colleges that field competitive bass fishing teams. Those schools are The Ohio State University, Kent State University, and Xavier University. This past week I reached out to these student-athletes to learn about each of their organizations.
The Ohio State University Bass Fishing Club
OSU’s bass fishing club currently has fifty active members, which makes it one of the largest collegiate bass fishing teams in the country. According to the club’s President, Kyle Feucht (a Senior Agribusiness and Applied Economics major), the club was started in January of 2009 by Jason Founds. In 2012, OSU plans to compete in the Boat U.S. , B.A.S.S., and FLW collegiate qualifying events in an attempt to field teams in one or more of these championships. They will also be competing in a number of local tournaments around Ohio.
In response to a question about the club’s access to local waters for practicing, Feucht stated that ”Like most college students, affording tuition and books is hard enough as it is. However we are fortunate as a club to have five members who own their own boats. For those of us that have boats, you can find us competing and practicing at any of the local lakes and reservoirs around Central Ohio. When getting the club out as a whole, we tend to go to Griggs Reservoir or Prairie Oaks Metro Park, both of which can provide some excellent fishing as well as shelters and grills for cooking-out afterwards”.
In its brief existence, OSU has already experienced some considerable success at the collegiate level. In 2009, the team of Kevin Moeller and Casey Hammann qualified for the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship on Kentucky Lake. Moeller and Hammann actually led the tournament after Day 1, and ended up finishing an impressive 8th place. Moeller was later named to the All-American team.
Feucht praised the club’s sponsors, including Warrior Baits, and mentioned that OSU will be hosting several fund-raising open tournaments in 2012, the dates of which will be announced at a later time. For anyone who is interested in sponsoring or donating to the OSU Bass Fishing Club, you can do so by visiting their website at www.osubassfishing.com
Kent State University Bass Fishing Team
Kent State’s bass fishing team was founded in 2008, and has since grown to over twenty active members. According to Joshua Coe, a Junior Business major and the club’s PR/Technology Officer, “We have a “home” lake that we hold the bulk of our club tournaments on, and are fortunate to have several phenomenal fisheries close by. The bulk of boats owned by our active members are electric only rigs, as we have access to several reservoirs close to campus that do not allow gas motors. Our team also has a very helpful and distinguished faculty advisor to help us through any and all our university requirements. All of our members share a passion for fishing, yet it is not always easy to get tournament experience. Our exceptional team coach, Rory Franks, goes above and beyond to get all of our anglers opportunities to fish competitively”.
Kent State will be competing in the 2012 North Division of the FLW College Fishing Circuit, as well as the KSU La “Do Bass” Series (http://www.dobass.com/bass.html), which the team itself hosts with Franks. They are also hosting an open tournament on Mosquito Creek Lake on March 31st. If you are interested in supporting the KSU team, you can do so by contacting them on their website at http://www.fishksu.com/.
KSU has also had some recent success in competition. In 2011, the team of Ray Fierst and Jaron Barnes qualified on Lake Erie for the Regional Championship. This was the first Kent State team to ever make it past a qualifying tournament. But the club’s activities aren’t limited to tournament competition. According to the club’s President Josh Schlifer, a Junior Criminal Justice major, “We also do many sponsorship appearances throughout the year, and participate in community events such as the ODNR’s Just Wear It Life Jacket Program. This year we are also planning to do some community service work throughout the season”.
The KSU club is always looking to recruit new anglers. Interested students can learn more by visiting www.fishksu.com, or by contacting Coe Jcoe2@kent.edu or Schlifer jschlif1@kent.edu.
Xavier University Bass Fishing Club
Given its urban location within the city limits of Cincinnati, it really impressed me to learn that Xavier University also has a bass fishing club! The club, which currently has eight active members, was officially recognized by the school in 2011.
The club was formed by President Ty Styons (Junior Special Education major) and Vice President Ian Goddard (Junior Middle Childhood Education major), good friends who developed a mutual passion for bass fishing in high school. According to Goddard, “We practice during the season at the Hamilton County Parks lakes, including Winton Woods, Sharon Woods, Miami Whitewater, and Lake Isabella. The reason we practice so much at the Hamilton County Parks is because none of us have a boat. However, a local club – The Butler County Bassmasters - invites us to fish a tournament or two out of their boats. Currently we have scheduled eight tournaments for this upcoming season. We are fishing the four Northern Division qualifying tournaments with the FLW College Fishing Circuit. We are also sending club members across the country to compete in various FLW BFL tournaments”.
The club will be hosting an open tournament in 2012, the date and location of which has not yet been determined. Once scheduled, information about the event will be posted on the club’s website at http://www.xavier.edu/clubsports/bass-fishing/index.cfm.
Outside of tournament competition, the club members make lures and teach new members the ins and outs of bass fishing. They also do seminars at the Cincinnati Bass Pro Shops, and participate in an MRDD youth fishing derby every summer.
The club is always open for additional support from the community. According to Goddard, “We accept any donations - monetary, tackle, rods/reels, etc. We are also always looking for new opportunities to get our club members out on real bass boats. The community can also come support our club and the other Ohio clubs at the weigh-in of the August 5th college tournament on Tanners Creek in Lawrenceburg, In.”
Students interested in learning more about the club can do so by filling out a recruitment form on the club’s website.
Float Tubing for Giant Ohio Bass
Perhaps my favorite aspect of writing this blog is that I get to interact with Ohio anglers who are just as passionate about bass fishing as I am. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Mark and Arron Headlee, a father/son duo of big bass hunters from Plymouth, Ohio. The Headlees, who target water supply reservoirs and quarry lakes in north central Ohio by way of float tube, had a lot of great information to share. These guys catch some big bass, and I think you will find their story to be quite intriguing.
ohiobassblog: Mark, tell my readers about the unique approach you and Arron use to catch big Ohio bass.
Mark Headlee: Mike, let me start by thanking you and Ohio Bass Blog for this opportunity to share with you and your readers some of our experiences bass fishing in Ohio.
My son Arron and I focus most our attention on up-ground reservoirs used as city, township, and agricultural water supplies. Most all are public, and come in a number of sizes. The water in these types of impoundments is ultra clear, and maintains a consistent water level throughout the year. These systems seem to not be affected much by abrupt weather changes, such as heavy rains and cold fronts.
The number one factor in locating big bass in Ohio is finding healthy bodies of water, with large and diverse food bases. The ones stocked with trout are extra special! We look for waters that are deep and clear, with deep weeds in twenty plus feet or more of water. The types of deep weeds that are best are those that create a tall column up from that deep water and stop growing about ten to twelve feet shy of the surface. That’s where the ultra clear water by “Ohio standards” is critical. The sun can reach bottom at greater depths, creating weed growth, and in turn, lots of edges for large predators to use as ambush areas. In an almost featureless body of water, like an up-ground reservoir, the weeds become the primary cover for finding big fish.
The key to accessing some of these locations is the vessel we use – the float tube! There are a number of reasons why we choose to chase our bass from a tube.
Portability – Most of these up-ground and flat-land reservoirs are restricted to electric motors only. Some are difficult to access with a traditional truck and trailer setup. Others are without a boat ramp, making launching and loading extremely difficult or impossible in a typical boat. The float tube eliminates both of these issues with its convenient portability.
Safety – Float tubes are hard to fall out of. That’s not to say the unexpected can’t happen, but in my 20 years of float tubing, I thankfully have had no close calls of any kind…except on occasion when freakishly huge snapping turtles pop up nearby to take a peak! We normally stay within 150 yards of shore, and in a matter 90 seconds or less we can have our rods and sonar units stowed, kick-fins off, and be out of the water. It’s nice to know that if we do encounter an emergency on the water, getting out is not a problem.
Affordability – The float tube is hands down the most affordable way for an angler to follow the seasonal and conditional movements of largemouth bass. I will get into cost later.
Stealth and Presentation –Fish don’t become spooky around a float tube, even in crystal clear water. The tube allows us to present the bait in the strike zone, regardless of conditions. That can be as simple as bombing a spinnerbait parallel to the shore, or as involved as maintaining a specific break-line in 20 feet of water, or holding yourself off the bank a cast and a half away in a 35 mph wind.
Comfort – This is perhaps my favorite reason for float tubing. You can fish all day in 98 degree temperatures in a pair of shorts and stay as cool as a cucumber, while catching big bass off of deep weed edges. We have caught many fish over the five pound mark during the hottest part of the day by fishing deep weeds.
ohiobassblog: For anyone who is interested in getting into float tubing, what advice do you have for them?
Mark Headlee: I would say they need to do a little research to learn the limitations of such a vessel.
Find a model of float tube that best fits your needs and budget. We like the Classic Accessories Togiak model. Some companies offer affordable, quality float tube combo kits that come complete with pump and fins. We like the Togiak for its size, storage room, back pack straps, and comfort. The Togiak retails for around $150.00 through most outlets, and Classic Accessories has fantastic customer service. Also, a replacement bladder kit for most mid-priced models on the market is under $30.00.
Find a pair of moderately priced stocking foot waders, rather than boot foot waders (the boot foot tend to fail at the back of the ankle very quickly from the flipping motion necessary for propulsion). For cooler temps, 5mm neoprene chest waders will keep you comfortable for hours. In warmer temps, go with the lightweight stocking foot waders especially in questionable water quality locations.
In clean clear water, a pair of shorts is all you need. I also recommend wading shoes or a lightweight pair of inexpensive high top sneakers or hiking shoes as well as over the boot style kick fins. Most importantly, exercise good judgment when in a float tube. Be aware of your surroundings, and have fun.
ohiobassblog: Have you ever been float-tubing at the AEP Recreation Lands?
No, but that is an area I would like to visit one day, as well as Tycoon Lake in Gallia Co.
ohiobassblog: What time of year do you have the most success catching your big bass?
The better than average 22 inch plus fish are more frequent during the colder water periods from early to mid-spring and fall to early-winter. This is when big jigs and heavy big-bladed spinnerbaits dominate.
But as I mentioned earlier, we do catch a lot of really big fish during the traditionally less productive period known as the “Dog Days”, and in the middle of the day when the bite really should be slow. In 2010 we had a lot of “blue bird” days where we caught 23 inch monsters in the middle of the day. One day in particular stands out from August of that year. Arron and I were fishing 11 inch Texas rigged worms on a 12 foot shelf with dense weeds, about 85 yards off the bank. We sat in 18 to 24 feet of water and pulled the worms across the shelf and let them fall off an 8 to 10 foot drop off. The bites were nearly undetectable, and would come either right at the edge of the drop off, or as the worm was in free-fall. Arron caught four 20 plus inch fish and I landed five that were all 21 inches or over. I also had one bass nearly 27 inches that I bet didn’t weigh any more than 4 or 5 pounds. It was clear that fish had seen better days! We accomplished all of this between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., with air temperatures in the high 90’s and flat, calm water.
In terms of the depths that we target our big bass, I would say that 70% of our 20-inch and bigger fish come from 12 to 25 feet of water, year round. Most are taken on plastic worms and jigs fished in and around deep weeds and break lines. The other 30 percent are caught with the conventional bass fishing methods on flats, as well as in and around shoreline cover.
The float tube allows you to access areas the fish are using throughout their seasonal movement cycle. This was the focus of our YouTube video library, starting in the first week of March to the last week in November 2011. The use of a float tube forces an angler to slow down and really fish an area, letting the fish see the bait from different angles for long periods of time because tubes just don’t move that quickly.
ohiobassblog: What types of techniques do you and Aaron use to target giant bass?
Mark Headlee: First and foremost is to learn the seasonal pattern of fish, and what they feed on during certain times of the year. Then narrow it down and find where the biggest fish spend their time during specific seasonal and weather patterns. We use sonar that gives just the basics, including the temperature, to help narrow our search. Along with the float tube, sonar is the most valuable tool we use to find and catch bass from offshore structure.
We also like to start in those locations with big baits. When I say big I mean large profile jigs, worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. That’s not to say we never downsize, because we do when conditions call for that approach. The key is believing what you’re doing is the right thing for the conditions you are fishing, and that eventually you’re going to get bit. I have fished all day for just one 23.5 inch bite.
The last thing is to buy the best equipment you can, and keep it in top-notch working order. We like 6’ and 6’6” medium and medium heavy casting rods with 8 to 12 pound monofilament for most of our bass fishing. The shorter rods are a better choice for use in a float tube and the casting equipment I feel gives me better control of big fish.
ohiobassblog: What is the biggest Ohio bass you and Aaron have caught to date?
Mark Headlee: On and off as a young adult, I lived between Ohio and Florida. In Florida I lived close to a small lake called Lake Osborn, and fished it almost every day. During that time I became familiar with what a 10 pound-plus bass looks like. I had two over twelve in one afternoon, and that same year, I got one from a canal connecting Lake Osborn to Lake Ida that was over 15 pounds on the old Bagley’s Bang-o-Lure.
In terms of Ohio fish, I weighed one on certified scales that was 9.25 lbs. It was caught from a small private lake of 55 acres in southern Ohio. I had entered Bass’n magazine’s “Big Bass World Championship” that year, and that fish earned me a spot in the tournament, which was held in Nashville, TN.
We typically do not weigh our fish, and instead opt to measure them. We have no weights for the fish pictured in this article, but measured all of them on video. I use the following chart to estimate weights based on measurements. Keep in mind that there are always exceptions.
Inches to Pounds 20” - 5.0lb. 21” - 5.7lb. 22” - 6.6lb. 23” - 7.6lb. 23.5” - 8.1lb. 24” - 8.6lb. 24.5” - 9.2lb. 25” - 9.10lb. 26” - Time to weigh the fish and call O.D.N.R. for certification!
ohiobassblog: Those are some impressive fish! Do you think that the Ohio state largemouth record will ever fall? If so, how and where do you think it will be caught?
Mark Headlee: I do, and there are several reasons for this.
First is our fisheries management. Some of our Buckeye bass are adding high-protein trout to their diet each season through the O.D.N.R.’s stocking efforts. Those trout start moving really slow when the water gets to 70 degrees, and make for an easy target for a big lazy largemouth.
Second is angler education. New products are being developed and new techniques are being shared via the web. This shortens the learning-curve. By watching some of the Japanese bass fishing uploads on YouTube, Arron and I have adopted several new techniques for targeting deep, clear waters. For example, the Nikko Rig has allowed us to avoid line abrasions while fishing Zebra mussel infested waters, and the Jika Rig is an amazing dense weed bait.
Next is climate. Things have changed weather-wise in Ohio over the past 15 years. Bass stay active and feed longer and more frequently through the year due to the milder winters we have encountered as of late. It has resulted in bigger fish.
Finally is the fact that many anglers are now practicing catch and release. Remember, when you catch a “Good ole Big un” handle it gently and put it back as soon as possible. We have to take care of these fish. A kept five-pounder will never grow another ounce (except in the story that’s told by the angler who caught it!).
I would look for a largemouth of 13 lbs plus to come from some place with the qualities touched on earlier, including excellent water quality, solid forage base, and high fertility.
Examples of Ohio bodies that could produce such a fish include: up-ground reservoirs; small state park lakes like Lake Hope, Rose Lake; or one of the many stone quarries, strip pits, ponds or private community lakes across Ohio. One quarry lake in-particular, Antrim Lake in Columbus, has some really nice fish in it, and it’s a shame the city won’t allow float tube use there.
ohiobassblog: Is your goal to catch the new Ohio state record?
Mark Headlee: My goal is to enjoy the outdoors with my son and catch as many big fish as possible. But I will say – knowing the potential of what swims in some of the waters we target keeps the thought of an encounter with a new Ohio state record largemouth dancing in my head. I jumped a massive fish off this past spring on a jig that was well over ten pounds!
ohiobassblog: Tell us about your YouTube channel and website.
Mark Headlee: The YouTube channel is TeamBASS2000, and was started mainly to share our experiences with a friend of mine, Mark Wilson, who lives just south of Columbus. Arron and I started filming in spring 2011, and would edit and upload the videos in chronological order on to our channel. We uploaded roughly 100 actual fishing videos and a few uploads showing our equipment and other fishing related topics during the 2011 season.
We also have started another channel dedicated exclusively to the float tube, kick boat, and kayak angler. The name of that channel is FloatTubeOhio. FloatTubeOhio, along with our website www.addicted2thehit.webs.com, will be our media outlets for promoting the use of float tubes and the like for pursuing bass and other game fish here in Ohio.
ohiobassblog: I understand you will be running a tournament series for float tube anglers this year?
Mark Headlee: Yes! I would like to announce to your readers that beginning in March 2012 we will be directing a float tube-only bass tournament series! The series will be called the Ohio Float Tube Bass Challenge (O.F.T.B.C), and will consist of seven regular season events, and a two-day classic. All events will be run in a professional manner, with professional weigh-in equipment. I am currently working at a break-neck pace with the Director (Donnie Spillman II) to get everything finalized. We have already set dates and locations for the events. One of the best things about the circuit is that competitors under the age of 18 will be permitted to compete for (cash) prizes, just like the adults (with written parental consent).
We would be happy to answer any questions you may have, both now and after the official announcement is made. The official website for the O.F.T.B.C can be visited at http://www.wix.com/oftbcohio/1challenge .
ohiobassblog: I saw on your website that you have developed a very unique product for assisting float tubers. Tell us a little about it.
Mark Headlee: Thank you for asking! The product you are referring to is a catch-containment system, called the Fish-Trap. It eliminates the need for a stringer, metal basket, or other harmful fish containment device. The Fish-Trap is constructed with soft mesh netting, the same that is used in a lot of popular fish-friendly landing nets. Its design allows for fresh water to flow into the device, while providing a safe and soft environment for the fish.
The Fish-Trap will fit nearly every model of float tube or kick boat with “D”rings on either side of the vessel. It weighs just ounces, and has an ultra small compact size when not deployed. The Fish-Trap also acts as a landing-aid for large or unruly fish that you just can’t seem to get ahold of. It can be used to store live bait as well!
A device like this is a must-have for competing in a float tube tournament, and I will be providing one to the anglers who compete in our float tube bass challenge events this year. I plan to start distributing the Fish-Trap to the public very soon.
Ohio’s Touring Bass Pros – 2011 Year in Review
Ohio anglers have to deal with a variety of adverse conditions in our pursuit of bass. Unstable weather patterns, small bodies of water, and highly pressured fish are just a few of the challenges we face on a daily basis. Because of our propensity to overcome those challenges, I often hear guys say that we can hang with the best of ‘em. So with 2011 behind us, I thought it would be fun to test that theory, and review how Ohio’s touring bass professionals fared last season against the world’s best competition.
In 2011, there were seven touring bass pros that hailed from the Buckeye State. Three of them competed on the Bassmaster Elite Series, while four fished the FLW Tour. The Elite Series pros were Bill Lowen, Charlie Hartley, and Brent Broderick. The FLW anglers included Vic Vatalaro, Joe Thomas, Glenn Delong, and Dick Schaffer. These anglers had a combined average finish of 71st place in 2011, with the highest individual finish in any tournament (7th) belonging to Joe Thomas of Milford, Ohio. The highest earning pro was Vic Vatalaro, who cashed nearly $70,000 in prize money.
Here is a summary of how Ohio’s pros performed in 2011
Vic Vatalaro – Kent, Ohio -2011 earnings of $69,454 -Highest finish in 2011 was 14th -Finished 35th in the FLW AOY standings Bill Lowen – Cincinnati, Ohio -2011 earnings of $50,500 -Highest finish in 2011 was 12th -Finished 34th in the Bassmater Elite Series AOY standings Joe Thomas – Milford, Ohio -2011 earnings of $26,500 -Highest finish in 2011 was 7th -Finished 67th in the FLW AOY standings Charlie Hartley – Grove City, Ohio -2011 earnings of $20,000 -Highest finish in 2011 was 14th -Finished 81st in the Bassmaster Elite Series AOY standings Dick Shaffer – Rockford, Ohio -2011 earnings of $11,500 -Highest finish in 2011 was 24th -Finished 128th in the FLW AOY standings Glenn Delong – Bellville, Ohio - 2011 earnings of $10,500 -Highest finish in 2011 was 34th -Finished 123rd in the FLW AOY standings Brent Broderick – Oregonia, Ohio -2011 earnings of $0 -Highest finish in 2011 was 90th -Finished 99th in the Bassmaster Elite Series AOY standings2011 Championships
Qualifying for a professional championship is an incredible accomplishment. In 2011, Ohio was fortunate enough to have two representatives take part in championships. Bill Lowen qualified for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic on the Louisiana Delta, where he recorded a 39th place finish. And Vic Vatalaro qualified for the 2011 FLW Cup on Lake Ouachita. He finished in 48th place.
2012 Championships
Of the three touring pros on the Bassmaster Elite Series, none of them qualified to fish the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, which will take place February 24-26 on the Red River in Shreveport, LA. However, one Ohioan, Fletcher Shryock of Newcomerstown, by virtue of his Bassmaster Southern Open win on Lake Norman last March, will represent the Buckeye State in the 2012 Classic! No Ohioan has ever won the Classic, so perhaps we will witness history this February. (Note: I will be interviewing Fletcher Shryock for an Ohio Bass Blog exclusive at this year’s Classic). Shryock will also be competing on the 2012 Elite Series.
The FLW Tour has not yet set its field for the 2012 FLW Cup.
Fletcher Shryock
I would like to thank all of my readers for your support during 2011. I have a number of exciting improvements that I will be adding to the blog in 2012 that I know you will enjoy. One of my goals for 2012 is to continue to grow ohiobassblog’s membership. You can help me accomplish this goal by subscribing for a free email subscription. To subscribe, simply click on the “Sign me up” button on the right side of this page.
Here’s to a great year, full of big Ohio bass!
Mike Reeves
Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight: Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail (OMBTT)
Ohio bass tournament anglers are fortunate, because we have access to a number of outstanding tournament circuits right here within our own state. These professionally run circuits visit a large selection of lakes and reservoirs, and come in a variety of formats. For a complete listing of 2012 Ohio bass tournaments, click on the links in the menu bar above.
This winter I will be publishing a series of articles entitled the “Ohio Bass Tournament Spotlight”. Each article in the series will feature one of Ohio’s top tournament circuits, and will include a Q & A with that circuit’s director. In the spotlight this week is the Ohio Mega Bass Tournament Trail (OMBTT). OMBTT is a team-series format that features 100% payouts to its members, as well as some of the stiffest competition in the Buckeye State. Created in 2006 by Tournament Director Jami Norman, OMBTT’s 2012 schedule includes seven regular-season events on Ohio waters, and a two-day championship on Kentucky Lake. You can visit OMBTT’s website at www.ombtt.com.
In a recent interview with Ohiobassblog, Jami answered some questions about OMBTT and the upcoming 2012 tournament season. Here is what he had to say.
Ohiobassblog: OMBTT has developed a great reputation over the past couple of years amongst Ohio bass tournament anglers. Why do you believe that is?
Norman: I think there are several reasons. First is that our events are run in a professional manner. I’ve competed at a professional level, and as a result of that experience was able to see firsthand the processes and methods that make for a successful tournament circuit. I’ve implemented those aspects into the OMBTT format. I’ve also fished some Ohio circuits where I’ve witnessed things that led to problems, and I’ve avoided those aspects. So you can say that I’ve worked hard to perfect the way our tournaments are run. I am very fortunate to have the support of some really talented helpers as well, and they are the reason that our tournaments have the feeling of professional events.
Second is that I care about what the guys think of the trail, and I listen to what they have to say. Although it is impossible to please everyone, we always try to do what is best for the majority.
Next is that we take fish-care very seriously at our weigh-ins. We have a tremendous system for keeping fish alive. And once a tournament is over, we are usually able to get timely results posted on the website, which our members appreciate.
Finally is the 100% payout concept that we use. The first 100% event I participated in was a DoBass tournament, run by Rory Franks. I decided to mold our trail after that concept and change the way tournaments paid out in Central Ohio. It is refreshing to see the 100% concept taking hold here in Central Ohio, and frankly, it is good for all the anglers. We are proud to have had something to do with that.
All of these qualities have attracted the best anglers in Ohio to OMBTT. A lot of our teams fish with us to gauge their abilities as bass anglers.
Ohiobassblog: I know that you cap your field at 65 boats. Is the roster already filled with teams for the 2012 season?
Norman: Currently we have some teams on the waiting list, but interested teams will likely still be able to fish if they want. All the teams that fished in 2011 are guaranteed a slot until February 1st, at which point then they need to have their membership and deposits paid in order to hold their spot. We always have 10-20% not return due to many different circumstances. I have only had to turn away two teams since our inception, so the chances are good you will be in if you put yourself on the waiting list.
Ohiobassblog: Are there any exciting changes to this year’s format that you would like to share?
Norman: Yes! In 2012 we are hosting an optional members-only Lake Erie event. We have had interest in Erie for quite some time now. I have struggled to figure out how to go there without changing the circuit schedule, and I think we have found an answer. It is an optional tournament for the OMBTT circuit members only. The event will not count for points or towards Classic qualification. 100% of all entry fees will be paid back at the ramp, with a $200 entry fee per team (no money held for Classic). If we get 30 boats, that is $6,000 to be paid back, with a $3,000 first prize!
Ohiobassblog: OMBTT will be visiting a number of good lakes this year, including Indian, Grand, Buckeye, Alum and Delaware. Which of these tournaments do you believe will bring in the biggest bags?
Norman: I am putting my money on the first two tournaments. Indian Lake in April has the potential to yield some big weights, and will produce a lot of quality bags. And Grand Lake’s fish are alive and well too. Last year the pot tournaments on Grand were producing some solid weights. Grand Lake is my pick for biggest winning weight.
Ohiobassblog: You are also hosting a number of open tournaments this year. Tell us about them?
Norman: The largest Open in 2012 will be the POT~a~GOLD Mosquito Creek Lake event. This event, which is being held on August 4-5, will allow teams a chance to compete for an $8,000.00 (approximate) first place prize, as well as some other huge payouts. We have some great sponsors for this event and we will have some awesome giveaways as well. For those of you who have never fished Mosquito, it is a fish factory!
Other 2012 OMBTT Opens include:
Indian Lake Fathers Day Open – Very successful in 2011, so we will be hosting it again on Father’s Day (June 17th), with an $80 entry fee. We had upwards of 50 boats last year.
Fish 4 a Cure - Ed Huber has put this together, with all proceeds benefiting Children’s Hospital for pediatric cancer. Ed lost his granddaughter years ago to this dreadful disease, and we are proud to be helping him with this event. Please help us to support this cause, I can’t imagine what it is like to lose such a young child. We will have this event at O’Shaughnessy Reservoir on July 7th, with a $70 entry fee. All proceeds other than prize money will go to the cause. We will also accept any prize money donated back by anglers.
Lake Erie (Green Fish Only) – This event was also very popular in 2011. This year it will be on October 7th, and will launch from West Harbor. We had 50 boats for it last year too. $80 entry per team, with largemouth only being accepted at weigh-in.
Ohiobassblog: Finding great sponsors to back you is an important factor in offering a successful tournament circuit. Who are your some of those sponsors?
Norman: We couldn’t provide our anglers the kind of experience they receive when fishing OMBTT without the help of our sponsors. Remember, we are a 100% payback tournament, so without them the weigh-in equipment, the food after every tournament, etc. would not be possible. Here is a summary of our sponsors.
Knox Marine – I am so proud to be associated with this organization! They are some really great people. Honest and trustworthy and very knowledgeable with a tremendous service and technician staff. They have helped me since the beginning.
Krieger Ford- Krieger has been with OMBTT since our inception. They have sold our members many vehicles. Both Knox and Krieger participate in a program that allows OMBTT members to fish for half price if they do business with them. Check out our incentives at www.ombtt.com for further info.
Englefield Oil – I have so much respect for this company and the family that owns it. Will Englefield is a heck of a fisherman (former Classic and Points-Champion). The business is a first class operation. I could not run this tournament the way we do now without them.
Fin Feather and Fur – I met these guys a few years back and was really impressed with them as both bass anglers and people. The shop (located in Ashland, Ohio) has an incredible selection of fishing, hunting and outdoors equipment, as well as a knowledgeable staff. They provided our members with over $2,000 in gift cards in 2011.
Moors Resort & Marina – Moors has been there since the beginning. They are the official resort for our annual Classic at Kentucky Lake. I look forward every year to my Kentucky Lake trip, and to the service that Kelly and the Moors staff provide to our anglers.
We also have a great Associate Sponsor Program. They include: Fisherman’s Headquarters (KY Lake); Cashion Rods; Boat Things; Fisherman’s Quarters (Dayton,OH); WK Outboardmotorjacks; Warrior Baits; Venom Lures; and J&T Vinyl Graphics.
Ohiobassblog: Jami, some of my readers may not realize that in addition to being a tournament director, you are also one heck of a stick! Is it true that you qualified for the Elite Series a few years back?
Norman: In 2005 I qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series through the Opens. Unfortunately, I was unable to acquire the level of sponsorship dollars needed to compete in that series. That is the one thing I can tell anyone wanting to fish for a living – learn the business part first, because if you can’t afford it, qualifying is irrelevant. Fishing at a professional level was an awesome experience, and I miss it very much. We as Ohio anglers have to overcome so many obstacles on our waters that we become very good anglers. When you get the opportunity to fish out-of-state on these world-class fisheries, it shows just how versatile we really are.
Ohiobassblog: What is your favorite public body of water for bass fishing here in Ohio?
Norman: Mosquito Creek Lake, without a doubt!
Ohiobassblog: What is the largest bass you’ve ever caught in Ohio?
Norman: My biggest is a 7lb 8oz largemouth that I caught from Apple Valley Lake in 2010
Winter Bass Fishing in Ohio: Part 2
Last week’s article hopefully convinced you that big bass will feed during the winter in Ohio. In Part 2 of this article, I will discuss the where, when and how of putting a winter-time lunker in your boat.
Where: Choosing a Body of Water
Selecting the right lake to fish during the winter is probably the most important decision you will make in determining whether you have a successful trip. When water temperatures are barely above freezing, your best bet is to focus on lakes with deep-clear water. I’ve never done too well fishing muddy water this time of year. Bass are cold-blooded creatures, which means they are a bit sluggish during cold water periods. They aren’t going to waste energy by aimlessly swimming around in search of their next meal. Instead, they rely heavily on their eye-sight to spot potential meals. When visibility is restricted due to poor water clarity, your chances of getting a big one to locate your bait are reduced (unless you happen to hit her on the head with a lucky cast). So I tend to choose quarry lakes, water supply lakes, and other deep, clear bodies of water from December through February. In addition to having better water-color, these types of lakes are often fed by natural groundwater springs, which warm the water enough to impede the ice from setting-in.
There will be times when mother-nature prevents you from fishing your target lake. I’ve arrived at a lake to find it unfishable because the entire surface was covered in ice. Other times the ice will be surrounding the ramp cove, and the rest of the lake is ice-free. A sledge-hammer and oar can solve that problem for you! By breaking a path through the ice, you can access any open water there may be. Disclaimer: I’m not recommending you try this. If you do, wear a life jacket and make sure you are with someone else. Also, ice can be rough on a boat, particularly fiberglass hulls.
Making a path to open-water in mid-February
When: Best Conditions for Winter-Time Bass Fishing
One of my favorite aspects of winter bass fishing is that the best bite usually occurs in the afternoon, which means you don’t need to get up at the crack-of-dawn. Sleep-in, get a hot lunch, and then head out! The fishing will get better from 12:00 p.m. on. In the fall, big bass are activated by the dropping temperatures and an innate instinct to fatten up for the winter. In contrast, during the winter these same fish can be activated by warming trends. I’ve observed that my most successful fishing trips have occurred during a 3-4 day period of stable, sunny weather. My number-one tip is to target the banks that are receiving the most direct sunlight. I’ve caught fish at different depths in the winter, but don’t be afraid to look shallow. Sunlight will warm the surface temperatures in the shallows a couple of degrees, which is all it takes sometimes to draw big fish to the cover. I’ve caught a lot of fish in transition areas, such as where a sharp depth change occurs, or where a rip-rap bank meets a mud bank.
A 4lber taken from shallow wood on December 23, 2006
How: Techniques for Targeting Ohio Winter Bass
When choosing a bait in the winter, I always try to put myself in the shoes of a big bass. Food is scarce, and a fish has a limited energy supply. If it’s going to expend its energy for a meal, that meal better be either easy to catch, or large. Otherwise, there is no return on investment. So choosing a bait is a pretty simple decision during the winter. You want something that is big, slow, or a combination of both. Here are my top five choices, in order of preference, along with some recommendations.
Jig and Pig- Black, or black and blue colors are my favorite. A bulky skirt and large trailer are good choices, as they will slow the fall of the jig and appear as a good energy investment for a hawg.
Suspending Jerkbait - The Smithwick Suspending Rogue and Lucky Craft Pointer are two great options. For color, I prefer something with a metallic flash.
Bladebait – GREAT winter bait. We’ve had a ton of success simply casting these out, letting them sink, and then bouncing them slowly back to the boat. Gold is a winter favorite.
Drop-Shot – Berkley GULP minnows are my bait of choice. This is an excellent presentation for those deep, clear waters. Work it through the rocks, and hold-on!
Carolina-rig - Rig with a 1/2 or 3/4 oz weight, a size 4/0 hook, and a creature bait or senko. Drag that baby slowly. I know a guy who has caught some 5lb plus bass working a C-rigged senko in late December.
Although these are my favorites, don’t be afraid to experiment with other presentations. I know some guys have success throwing big deep diving cranks and jigging spoons.
John Garrett with a 5lb Ohio winter pig!
Other Observations
One of the most annoying aspects of winter fishing is when the guides on your rod freeze-up. I’ve found a couple of solutions for working through this problem. First is to spray your reel, rod-tip, and guides with a silicone-based line conditioner, such as KVD Line and Lure Conditioner. This will slow the accumulation of ice on your gear. Spray your equipment before you start fishing, and apply the spray as needed throughout the day. The second method is to stick your entire rod into the water and shake it back and forth. Since the water you are floating on is above the freezing point, it will melt the ice for at least a couple of casts before it’s time to repeat.
If you do catch a biggun, be careful with how you handle her. The air is cold, and the fish is wet, which means she will ice-up on you. Snap a few pictures and let her swim away.
I would like to wish all of my readers a wonderful holiday season. I hope you get all the rods, reels and lures that asked you for, and more importantly, that you are able to celebrate the season with your friends and families. And if you are still in need of a last minute present for the bass angler in your life, be sure to check out my shirts at www.bucketmouthapparel.com
Winter Bass Fishing in Ohio: Part 1
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t catch bass, and I mean BIG bass, during the winter in Ohio. People who say such things don’t know what they’re talking about!
Over the past few years I’ve spent considerable time bass fishing in December and January. Some call me crazy, and some call me obsessed. They can call me whatever they want, because I have caught and have served as net-man for some of the biggest bass I’ve ever seen when the shoreline is feathered with snow and the coves are covered with skim-ice. In this two-part article, I will tell you everything I know about fishing for big Ohio bass during the winter months. My hope is that I can turn you into a believer.
December 20th – 5lbs 6oz – Quarry Lake
Getting Your Winter Bass Fix
Believing that you can get bass to bite in extreme conditions is half the battle when it comes to winter-time fishing. I used to not even consider the thought of bass fishing once December rolled around. Frozen fingers, icy rod guides, and a misconception that the bass would not feed were just a few of the factors that kept me away from my passion for three long months each year. Like all bass-junkies, I went through bass-withdrawal. I was able to get short, un-fulfilling fixes by pitching a jig to a coffee cup in my living room, changing the hooks on my crankbaits, and cleaning my reels. But I yearned for the real thing, so I decided to give it a shot. I bought some expensive insulated boots, bundled myself in multiple layers, and launched the boat at a crystal-clear quarry lake that featured sub-40 degree water temperatures. What I discovered after a few trips was that not only did the bass bite, but I was catching quality fish!
Bass Will Feed All Winter Long
Winter bass fishing can be miserable at times, but it beats sitting indoors. You can go hours, or even entire trips without a bite. The good news is that when you finally get one to commit, it’s typically a rod-jerking bite from 4 pound-plus bass. Bigger bass seem to feed in cold water more regularly than small to average sized bass do. I’m not going to claim I know for certain why this is, but through my personal experiences I have developed a theory. That theory goes like this. During winter in areas north of the Mason-Dixon-Line, bass have two options. They can either endure the harsh environment, or they can give up and die. Fortunately for us bass fisherman, they choose to endure! Bass aren’t like bears, with the ability to hibernate and live exclusively off of their own fat stores for months at a time. So in order to survive, bass must eat right through the winter. The problem with being a hungry bass during the winter months is that food is scarce. Food that was plentiful during the warmer water periods (such as crayfish, insects and amphibians) is now buried deep in the mud. Bait fish numbers are reduced due to fall shad-kill, and those that have survived are suspending in deep water. All of these adverse conditions mean that big bass must become opportunistic feeders during cold water periods, and eat whatever is available to them, whenever it is available.
John Garrett – 4lbs – January 18
Be Prepared for the Cold
Before you can put yourself in position to catch a winter hawg, you have to be prepared. Nothing will ruin your day on the water faster than being under-dressed this time of year (except for arriving at the ramp to discover it’s locked up with ice). Everyone reading this is a grown-up, and you don’t need my advice on how to dress warmly, but I’m going to give it to you anyway. Keeping your hands and feet warm is extremely important. Invest in a nice pair of insulated boots. If you are out there and your feet freeze, your day is done. I wear a thick pair of wool socks under mine. A good tip is to not lace your boots too tightly, as this will reduce blood flow to your feet and cause them to get cold. To keep my hands warm, I bought a pair of waterproof, fingerless gloves. I spent close to $50 on a pair made by Simms, and let me tell you, they were worth every penny. Under the fingerless gloves I wear a thin pair of cotton gloves. I bring several pair with me so that I can swap them out as they get wet. Hand warmers placed inside each glove against the bottom side of your wrist is a great way to warm the blood entering your hands. For my head, I also purchased a clava face mask, also made by Simms. Again, an expensive purchase, but worth every penny. And finally, a nice rain suit and jacket for breaking the wind and keeping you dry is a must. I typically layer with sweat suits and cotton shirts under the rain suit.
Next Wednesday I will post part 2 of this article, in which I will discuss choosing a body of water, choosing the right conditions, lures and presentations for targeting winter bass, and handling fish in the cold.
On a final note, I am excited to announce the official launch of a new bass fishing apparel company I’ve started with my brother, called Bucketmouth Apparel. We created this company because we saw a need for simple bass fishing designs printed on modern-fitting tee shirts. All our shirts are printed on soft, vintage-feeling tees, and are targeted to anyone with a true passion for bass fishing. To view our lineup of shirts, visit us at www.bucketmouthapparel.com, or simply click on the “Shop” link in the menu bar at the top of this page. We currently only offer four designs, but will be adding more in the months to come. Our shirts will make for a great Christmas present. Be sure to check out the Ohio Bass Blog logo shirt (it’s my favorite)!
Thank you for your support,
Mike
Exploring New Water
Last week I discussed fishing in less-than-perfect water conditions. I made the argument that you can still trigger bites and hang a big bass in the face of cold, muddy water. But what do you do when conditions are beyond adverse, and bordering on unfishable? The answer is simple…MOVE TO A NEW LAKE!
On Saturday I faced this exact scenario. The body of water that we had spent all week gearing-up to fish was absolutely blown-out from the continuous rains that Ohio has endured over the last month. The water was chocolate milk, making it difficult to see the shoreline laydowns and stumps that harbour bass during the late fall. Being the stubborn person I am, I opted to spend several hours fighting the voice inside my head that was screaming “Go find some better water!!!”. And after burning half of our daylight, the result was a single 2 pound bass in the boat (although Marshall did break-off a BIG fish on a hook set).
Eventually we made a decision to move to another nearby reservoir, one that I had never fished before. Exploring a new lake is always a thrill. The anticipation of what you might discover around each shoreline bend makes for an exciting experience! The water quality at this small 25 acre lake was substantially better, with close to 6 inches of visibility. The impact it had on the activity of the bass population was amazing. We proceeded to catch a dozen bass in the 12-16 inch range over the next couple of hours, on an array of lures, including jigs, crankbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastics. Common thinking is that you need to slow way down right now, but that wasn’t the case with these fish. They were anxiously mawing baits worked at a quick pace.
We never did pop a giant, but that is the reality of bass fishing in Ohio. The big bass aren’t always going to bite, regardless of how hard you fish. But how can anyone complain about catching largemouth in December, with water temperatures in the low 40′s?
With winter approaching, the bass fishing season here in Ohio will reach its slowest time of the year. But fear not! I will continue to blog on a weekly-basis about Ohio bass fishing related topics that I know you will enjoy. So tune in next week at the same bass time…same bass channel.
Cold, Muddy Water – A New Outlook
One thing I’ve learned from the time I’ve spent bass fishing in Ohio is that those little green fish have a tendency to surprise us on occasion.
That’s just what they did last weekend when they completely changed my outlook on fishing cold, muddy water this late in the year. Typically, the combination of sub 50 degree temperatures and dirty water means that the bass aren’t going to bite very well. So when I arrived at a small public reservoir to find that the water was two feet high with only an inch of visibility, I assumed it was going to be a wasted trip. But the bass proved to me that their instinctive drive to feed this time of year can outweigh adverse environmental conditions.
By pitching my jig to shoreline wood, I coaxed two solid fish into biting. When a bass’s visibility is hampered by dingy water, they will often find a solid piece of cover to tuck up against - a big tree, a stump, a weed bed, or a rock pile. Pulling up next to an anchored object gives them a sense of security, and gives a bass angler an easy pattern to follow. The first fish came off the side of a big stump, and weighed 4lbs even.
The second was a 5lb 5oz TOAD that hammered my jig while inching it down a large laydown. Check out this video of the fish catch (how about that release? It’s like she knew she was on camera!)
I know I sound like a broken record, but I can’t stress enough how accessible these big fish are right now. We probably have several weeks remaining in the Buckeye State before the ice sets in, so take advantage of it. Don’t be intimidated by the cold temperatures or even the color of the water. They are still feeding strong!
Last week I mentioned that I was recording a segment on fall bass fishing in Ohio for the Buckeye Sportsman radio show. For those who missed it, here is a link to the November 26th podcast. You can listen to my segment by advancing the video to the 36 minute mark: November 26th Buckeye Sportsman Podcast
Finally, I want to remind you that you can receive email notifications each time I post a new article by clicking on the ”Sign Me Up” button in the upper right hand area of this page. Thanks to your support, ohiobassblog has now exceeded 15,000 hits!!!
Twin November Pigs!
There is no bigger rush in bass fishing than setting the hook on a giant largemouth, with one exception…setting the hook on two of ‘em!
Heading into this past weekend I was pretty confident that the big bass would be shallow and eager to feed. Water temperatures across Ohio had finally dipped well into the 40′s, and the smaller fish had already been feeding aggressively for a couple of weeks. So on Saturday I left my house at 5:30 a.m. on a mission to catch a November hawg. I decided to focus on a small public reservoir located to the south-east of Columbus. This body of water is a jig-fisherman’s dream. It has an abundance of shoreline wood, slightly stained water color, and a history of pumping out giants.
I arrived at the lake at 7:00 a.m., with the sun peeking through the early morning clouds. The forecast called for mostly cloudy skies, a 10-15 mph west wind, and a high of 55 degrees. Water temperatures to start the day were a frigid 42 degrees. Upon surveying the lake, my attention was immediately drawn to a series of large shoreline laydowns. I began pitching my Reevesy Jig tight to the base of each piece of wood, methodically working it through the submerged branches, and out into deep water. Midway through a cast to one of these laydowns my jig got thumped, and my rod bent. I immediately knew it was a big fish! After a short but spirited fight, Marshall netted this 5lb 1oz beauty.
I was fired up! I got a couple of quick pictures, put the fish in the livewell, and sat down on the front deck to re-tie my jig and let my nerves settle. We fished a couple hundred yards of shoreline without a bite, until we came to another large fallen tree. I pitched to the base of the laydown, and again my jig got crushed! The fish surged for deep water and I could hear my line stretching. I turned her back towards the boat and got her into the net. I put the fish on the digital scale, and it went 5lbs 8oz!
Don’t let cold water temperatures discourage you from bass fishing. This time of year, the big fish will feed until ice covers the lake. Both of these fish were caught before 10 a.m. with water temperatures below 45 degrees. They made for a pair of beautiful November pigs! Here is a short video we shot while on the water (you can expand the screen by clicking on the double arrow icon in the bottom right hand corner).
I would have been completely satisfied if I hadn’t had another bite all day. But the fish were on fire, and we ended up catching another 15 bass, including this pair (3lbs 10oz and 2lbs 7oz). All fish were caught flipping wood.
The good news is that the bite will only get better throughout the state as the water temperatures continue to drop. If you would like to hear more of my thoughts on the fall bass bite in Ohio, tune in this Saturday morning (November 26th) to the Buckeye Sportsman radio show with Dan Armitage. I’ll be doing a segment on the show that will discuss, amongst other things, fall tactics and specific lakes to target. To find your local radio affiliate and broadcast time, click on the following link: Buckeye Sportsman Affiliates and Times
On a final note, I want to wish everyone a very safe and happy Thanksgiving. Spend time with your loved ones, eat a lot of food, watch football, and if you can find the time, hit your local lake or reservoir for some late November Ohio bass action!
The Ohio Record Largemouth – One Man’s Pursuit
You’ve got a better chance of being struck by lightning…twice…in one week. That’s usually my response when people ask me about the likelihood of catching a 10 pound bass from Ohio’s public waters. The lightning analogy may be a bit of a stretch, but the truth is that very few anglers have ever cracked the double-digit mark.
In May I wrote about a 10 pound bass that was caught from the AEP Recreation Lands near Cumberland, Ohio. The angler who had the pleasure of lipping the behemoth was Solomon Curtis, a 32-year-old trophy bass hunter from Zanesville, Ohio. I was so intrigued by the report of Solomon’s catch that I decided to interview him for an ohiobassblog exclusive. Curtis, who pursues his bass by hiking to remote lakes on foot, was kind enough to share his thoughts on a number of big bass related topics, including the details of his amazing catch, and his hunt for the next Ohio state record largemouth. Here is what he had to share.
ohiobassblog: Solomon, you’ve developed a reputation as a big bass specialist here in Ohio. How long have you been targeting big bass?
Curtis: I witnessed my uncle, Greg Norris, catch a 6lb 8oz bass, and it triggered something within me…a desire to catch big bass every time I was on the water. This happened in 1998, but it took me three more years to catch my first bass over 5lbs. It weighed 5lbs 5oz. The funny thing was that I had been after a fish like that for a long time with no luck, but not even a week later I landed a 6lb 11oz hawg! After that fish I was hooked on catching trophy bass, and haven’t looked back since.
ohiobassblog: Where do you do your hawg hunting?
Curtis: The AEP Recreation Lands. If you want to catch monster bass, this is the place to do it. There are a few AEP areas within the state, but I focus on the Cumberland and Avondale wildlife areas. There are maps on AEP’s website which show all the areas. Just make sure you print out your free permit from the website prior to any fishing trip.
NOTE: I’ve posted a link to the AEP Recreation Lands website in the Links section, located above in the menu bar.
ohiobassblog: What time of year do you have the most success catching your big bass?
Curtis: I believe you can catch big Ohio bass any time of the year, but my favorite time is late February and the first two weeks of March. This is when the majority of my hawgs are caught. I’ve caught big bass when ice was on a majority of the pond and I only had small openings to sneak my bait in. Cold water fishing is my favorite. Fishing is really slow then, but I’m fishing for one bite. When I get that bite it’s usually a slammer bass caught on a Strike King jig and pig.
November and December produce their fair share of fish over 5 pounds. A lot of magazines say it’s easier to catch a lunker during spawning season, but my numbers are much higher during the months I stated above. I have caught a few during April including my biggest (10lbs 2oz), but not even close to the numbers I’ve caught during colder months. Something to keep in mind is that regardless of the time of the year, your focus should be on the nasty days. Windy, rainy, and snowy days are the days I try to fish. I prefer windy days and I mean very windy days. Most of my big fish have been caught in the wind, including my 10 lber. Strong winds allow you to sneak up on the fish without spooking them.
ohiobassblog: What types of presentations do you use when fishing for giants?
Curtis: I keep it simple, and simple has been working for me. Slow, slow, slow presentations are best for big bass in my opinion. I’m not saying that you can’t catch hawgs using fast presentations, but research shows that slow presentations are key. If I had one bait to choose it would definitely be a black and blue Strike King jig. I rig it with a Net Bait trailer. I prefer to fish standing timber or trees that have fallen into the water. Fishing structure in cold water is the formula to hooking big bass. I fish it very slow, and bounce it off bottom with a couple soft twitches or slowly lift it off the bottom then let it drop back down.
ohiobassblog: The 10 pounder you caught from the AEP Recreation Lands was the fish of a lifetime. Very few Ohio bass anglers have ever caught a fish that big from private water, let alone public. Describe the catch in detail.
Curtis: April 11th 2011 at 7:30pm will be a day and time I will never forget. I drove to the Cumberland, Ohio AEP lands with two of my cousins to fish a body of water that I wasn’t familiar with. I knew about it, but hadn’t focused on it because of my success in other ponds. I made up my mind that we were going to fish it thoroughly, and they agreed. The weather was horrible that day, with 30 to 40 mph wind gusts. It was the windiest day I’ve ever fished. The waves were so bad that the water clarity had turned muddy. I was casting into the wind and letting it blow my bait back. We fished jig and pigs for about three hours, catching a few, but not what we were looking for.
We had fished all the way around the pond and were ready to call it a day, when I told them “10 more minutes”. I explained to them that a few fish are probably on their beds, so I switched to a lizard. My first cast with it I caught a 2lber. I caught another on my next cast. I told both of them to tie on a lizard quickly. But before they could switch they heard me yelling, “oh, oh, oh – I got a mounter”. The fish pulled drag like never before and stayed down on the bottom. I would gain some ground and then it would make another run out. My heart was pounding hard. After a lengthy fight, the fish made a big boil and my cousin exclaimed, “It’s a bass, it’s a giant bass”! I finally got it to the bank, and screamed “grab it, grab it”, and he said “Hell no! If I try to grab it, and it gets off or breaks…I’m not going to be responsible for this bass”. I kept my line tight, and while praying, reached down and lipped the bass! I ran up the hill a few yards holding the rod in one hand and the fish in the other screaming. I knew it could possibly break the 10lb mark. It was a feeling like no other - I can’t explain it. Still to this day I’m in disbelief.
The fish was weighed on a set of Rapala digital scales, and the official weight was 10lbs 2oz. My cousin, Greg Norris Jr., snapped pictures on his cell phone. I was using a 6′ 10″ medium heavy Falcon Lowrider rod with a Shimano Stradic reel, spooled with 12 pound Bass Pro Excel line. As a result of the catch, I have appeared on/in several Ohio fishing publications, and was recently accepted to appear in Bassmaster Magazine.
ohiobassblog: Tell me about some of the other big bass you’ve caught?
Curtis: I’ve also caught a 9-10, a 9-6, two weighing 8-2, seven in the 7lb range, and many from 5 to 7lbs.
ohiobassblog: Do you think the Ohio state record of 13.13 lbs will ever be broken? If so, where will it be caught, and what lure will be used to catch it?
Curtis: Yes, all records are made to be broken, and I’ve got a good chance of breaking it fishing AEP. Some of those ponds have been around for decades and have great size and depth. Most have lunkers in them. I’ve had some monsters hooked, but they got the best of me. I know big bass, and two years ago I lost an absolute giant on a jig. I’m not saying it was the Ohio state record, but it was substantially bigger than my 10lber. During the spawn I’ve seen 10lb plus bass on beds. The Ohio state record bass will be caught on a jig n pig, a big swim bait, or on a large lizard. I’m not a fan of live bait, but one day it may catch the state record because big bass love eating bluegill!
ohiobassblog: Is your goal to catch the new Ohio state record?
Curtis: Most definitely, and I will try until I accomplish it. I believe I have the right waters to fish for it, and the proper equipment to land it.
ohiobassblog: Do you compete in bass tournaments?
Curtis: Not yet, but I plan on it, and eventually my goal is to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series. I have been focused on catching Ohio’s state record. Competing isn’t a problem, and I know how to catch numbers also. I have the knowledge, skills, and techniques, and consider myself a versatile angler.
ohiobassblog: Do you have any advice to give the readers about how to target lunker bass?
Curtis: I have five tips for increasing your chances of catching a lunker bass.
- Go fishing - You can’t catch them sitting at home on the couch. A lot of people ask me how I catch big bass, and my answer hasn’t changed at all – GO FISHING. Don’t be a seasonal fisherman who waits until the nice weather shows up, because you will already be too late. You have to put your time in to catch big ones consistently, and fish when you think the weather is too bad to go out.
- Fish where big fish live - Explore, experiment, ask around where these big fish are being caught. I didn’t find my prime areas overnight. It was a long process of experimenting. I try not to fish waters that haven’t produced a bass over 5 pounds. During the first four years that I fished AEP, I explored and experimented until I found the waters I liked. I still try new waters every once in a while, but I know where I can go to get big bass.
- Have the proper equipment - A Zebco 33 isn’t going to get it done where I fish. Have people caught nice bass on low-end equipment? Yes, but they don’t do it consistently. If you don’t have the proper equipment, you will be leaving the water with your head down, and all you will have is a story of how the big one got away.
- Big baits catch big fish - Studies show this, and I agree. My favorite, of course, is the jig and pig, but I have really been a fan of Storm swim baits lately. Within the last two years, swim baits have caught 30 percent of my lunkers. Big lizards have produced in April. I’m a fan of large black culprit worms as well.
- Be patient - You can’t catch these monsters without patience. Again, I fish all day for one bite, but when I get that bite it’s usually a slammer. There are times when I fish for lunkers and don’t get a bite. This is normal for anyone searching for hawgs. You have to stay with it and keep casting. During cold months I fish a single spot for an hour before I move, even if I’m not getting bites. You never know when that lunker will bite.
If you have any questions for Solomon, please post it in the reply box below, and I’ll be sure to post his responses. You can view some of his other Ohio hawgs by clicking on the Photos link in the menu bar.
Fall Feeding Frenzy
It’s official – Ohio’s bass population has strapped on the feed bag, and the fall bite has begun!
During a full day of fishing on two north central Ohio reservoirs last Sunday we boated over 50 bass, most of which were caught on moving baits in or around shallow cover. When we arrived at the first lake the wind was already blowing at a steady 10-15 mph, and the 50 acres of surface water actually had the early signs of white caps. Water temperatures had finally dipped into the 40’s, which was a promising sign for how the bass would bite that day. I really believe that 49 is the magic number this time of year.
As any experienced bass angler knows, a strong wind can be your greatest ally on the water. Although it makes for difficult boat positioning and can cause the occasional bird’s nest in your baitcasting reel, it typically activates the bass. We started our morning throwing two moving baits along a rip-rap dam…a suspending hard-bodied jerkbait (Lucky Craft Pointer 78SP) and a trap (Strike King Diamond Shad and a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap). Both baits were catching fish, but the fish were absolutely crushing the traps. Take a look at this video to get the full experience (pardon the noise from the wind in this first clip).
The days in Ohio where you can catch fish at-will are few and far between. So a good angler should take advantage of the aggressive fish and experiment with some new techniques. That’s just what Marshall did.
Just as the layout of lake two differed, so did the techniques we used to catch fish. Because we didn’t have much wind activity, we rigged up our flipping sticks and started pitching jigs to shallow cover. The bite wasn’t fast and furious, but we did have some success, and were fortunate enough to film a fish catch.
We ended the day with a high number of quality bass, but never did land a hawg. Big fish honors went to Marshall with this solid 3lb 9oz largemouth, caught on a trap.
On a final note I wanted to let everyone know that you can now follow me on Twitter @ohiobassblog. I’ll use my Twitter account for real-time, on the water updates and reports. You can subscribe to my Twitter account using the widget in the right hand column of this page.
Fishing Report and Ohio Bass Blog Updates
During the week since I last blogged I spent some time fishing two public reservoirs in search of big bass. Unfortunately, I didn’t put anything in the boat worth writing about. But the hunt will continue this weekend, as I plan on visiting a couple of small lakes I’ve never fished before. While on the water I did make a few observations that I would like to share.
First is that the water temperatures are still lingering in the low to mid 50’s despite the fact that we’ve had some frigid nights that have left my windows frosted in the morning. The water needs to cool down a little more before the bite really picks up…the switch could flip any day now!
It was cold and foggy when I launched the boat Sunday morning
Second, some of our lakes are experiencing “turnover”, which is essentially a period of time in the fall when the lower layer of the lake mixes with the upper layer of water. Turnover is a naturally occuring phenomenon, triggered by events that bring a sudden change in water temperatures, such as cold hard rains or cold air temperatures. The mixing of water columns results in drastic, but temporary, changes in the PH levels of the water, as well as oxygen levels. It can have a negative effect on how the bass bite. According to the experts, the turnover period only lasts a couple of days and should be behind us in no time. Both lakes I fished last weekend are typically clear water fisheries, but had a distinct stain to them, one sign that turnover is occurring.
Finally, there are a lot of bass still living in deep water. Using our electronics last weekend we marked predator fish suspending under bait in 15-20 feet of water. We dropped a blade bait below the school and jigged-up several bass. No big ones, but another sign that they haven’t moved shallow in large numbers yet.
Blade baits can be effective for targeting suspended bass
The bottom-line is that catching big bass means spending a lot of time on the water. The days where you don’t get the big bites certainly outnumber the days that you do. But if you put in the time, eventually you will be rewarded.
I also wanted to write this week about some new features that I’ve added to the blog in an ongoing effort to make it a more comprehensive Ohio bass fishing resource. Here is a short summary of those added features.
2012 Tournament Schedules – I’ve added a link near the top of the page which will display 2012 Ohio bass tournament schedules. In addition to listing schedules for circuits, I will also post schedules for “Open” tournaments. If you are a tournament director who is interested in having your schedule posted, please send an email to ohiobassblog@gmail.com
Links - I’ve also added a list of Ohio bass fishing related websites that I often visit, and which I believe are great resources. Check them out!
Photos – This link is to my big bass photo page. I will also begin posting pictures of fish caught by my subscribers. If you would like me to post a picture of your big bass, please email the photo to ohiobassblog@gmail.com along with the following information: Your name, weight of fish, and body of water (optional). I will only be posting pictures of fish caught from Ohio public waters that exceed 4.5 lbs.
For the 2012 tournament season I am planning on adding a “Tournament Results” link, which will list the winning teams and weights for various Ohio bass fishing circuits and opens on a weekly basis.
And finally, although not a new feature, I wanted to remind everyone that you can sign up for email alerts by clicking on the “Sign Me Up” button on the right side of the page. By subscribing to the blog you will receive an email alert each time I post a new entry.
Fall Hawg Hunting in Ohio
Over the last week the State of Ohio has seen several fronts roll through that have brought wind, rain and cooler temperatures to the region. You can feel the change of the season in the air, and you can see it in the stunning array of colors in the trees. For many Ohio anglers, fall signifies that the bass fishing season is nearing its home stretch and inevitably coming to an end. But I look at each fall in Ohio with an optimistic view, for there is no better time to stick a giant Ohio bass than during the next two months.
Late October and the entire month of November is undoubtedly my favorite time to go hawg hunting. There are several reasons for this. First, tournament season has come to an end, which frees up my weekends to focus on smaller bodies of water. Second, most anglers decide to avoid the cold, and opt to stay home and watch football instead of heading to their local lake to chase bass. This means minimal fishing pressure and boat traffic on our lakes. And finally (and most importantly), the biggest bass in every body of water begin to instinctively move shallow to fatten-up for the upcoming winter.
As temperatures drop, schools of baitfish will begin to migrate to shallower water. In turn, the bass will follow, relocating from their deep water haunts to shoreline ambush points on wood and rock. The biggest bass tend to make this migration very late in the fall, when water and air temperatures are in the 40s. That might sound crazy, but it is absolutely true. In fact, the heaviest bass I’ve ever caught was taken during the last week of November with a water temperature of 46 degrees. That fish was parked in two feet of water on a big shoreline laydown, right where two arms of the fallen tree had formed a “Y”.
I’ve noticed that the largest bass in each lake tend to bite on the nastiest days. The best days to be on the water during this season are those when the wind is blowing and rain or snow is falling. The giant fish can sense the urgency of the season and are looking for some big meals to get them through the long winter. Although these fish can be caught using a number of techniques, I have had the most success simply pitching a jig to wood. I prefer a 3/16 or 1/4 ounce jig with a thick skirt in black, black/blue, or brown. I tip my jig with a soft plastic or pork trailer of matching color. I like a Zoom Super Chunk or any similar trailer with some bulk to it. Most of the year I like to work my jig aggressively, hopping it quickly to trigger reaction strikes. By contrast, in the fall I will make a concerted effort to slow down my presentation and work the jig methodically. The combination of a thick skirt and bulky trailer make this possible.
A few examples of good jig and trailer combinations
For hawg hunting, I tend to focus on smaller lakes, say less than 200 acres. These smaller waters are not typically subject to a fall draw-down, meaning that there will be an abundance of fishable targets. Many of the larger reservoirs in the state are drawn-down for winter, and most of the good shoreline cover is left high and dry. In terms of which pieces of wood to focus on, I like it all so long as it is lying horizontally. I don’t fair too well on vertical timber. If the sun shows itself, I will try to focus on wood that is getting direct sunlight. Another fall favorite of mine is targeting beaver huts. If the water you are fishing has any beaver huts on it, pick them apart…they hold big fish.
Proof of my affection for the jig and pig.
I’m winterizing my bass boat this week, meaning I will be fishing from my aluminum rig for the rest of the year. Over the next 45 days I’ll be spending a lot of time on the water. With a little luck I will be providing some encouraging reports and sharing some big bass photos here on ohiobassblog. If you see me out there, cruise over and say “hi”. I always enjoy comparing notes with others this time of year. But be forwarned, I may ask you to take my picture holding a big bass!
Smith Mountain Wrap Up
I’m back from the BFL Regional Tournament on Smith Mountain Lake, and although I finished a disappointing 104th place, the overall experience was awesome. The fishing was tough, but the lake itself was absolutely beautiful (despite the fact that it rained 80% of the time I was there). The water was clear, with about six feet of visibility, and was down about two feet from full pool. The lake has hundreds of fishable points and humps. The majority of the shoreline consists of shallow rip rap with intermittent boat docks. But with the water low, there was a very limited amount of shoreline wood to fish.
I arrived at the lake on Tuesday morning for my first practice day, and launched my boat at Parkway Marina around 7:30 a.m. My game plan going into practice was to establish a shallow power bite. However, after three hours of covering the shoreline with a crankbait, swimbait, jerkbait and topwater lure, I learned that there weren’t a lot of shallow fish to be caught. I did have a few undersized bites skipping a worm underneath docks, but I knew that I had to find bigger fish if I wanted a chance to compete for the win. So I decided to head out to the main lake and began running points. I spent about ten minutes on each point I stopped on, approaching them on the shallow end and gradually fishing them out deep. On my third or fourth stop, I found a submerged road bed that ran from the shoreline into about twenty five feet of water. On my first cast to the road bed I popped this beautiful 4lb 6oz smallmouth!
I made another couple of casts that resulted in two more quality smallmouth. I immediately left the area, excited to fish it on day one of the tournament. I also located two other deep points on the lake that had some quality largemouth on them. All of my fish were caught dragging a C-Rig in 15-25 feet of water. I ended the first day of practice with a VERY nice bag of fish that would have weighed in the 15lb range.
On day two of practice I fished with Doug Dulin, who had qualified for the tournament as a co-angler out of the Buckeye Division. The fishing on the second day of practice was really tough, but we were able to find a few fish, including this solid 4lb largemouth that Doug caught on a C-Rig on a shallow point.
The night before day one of the tournament I couldn’t wait to get back onto the water to hit the road bed as well as the other productive points I had found in practice. I was very confident that I could put five fish in the boat over an eight hour tournament day. However, the calm conditions I had experienced during practice had slowly changed, and by the time I went to bed before day one there was a 10-15 MPH wind blowing in from the northwest. I was immediately worried that the wind would make it difficult to fish my areas.
The day one pre-launch was an exhilarating experience. As the 150 competitor boats floated in the ramp cove, we were treated to a live performance of the National Anthem. As each boat fired-up their outboard, you could cut the tension with a knife. Moments later the tournament director began calling out boat numbers, and it was time to fish. I was paired with Daniel Jordan of South Carolina on day one. We made the short ten minute run to the road bed, where on arrival I was ecstatic to discover that no other boats were fishing the area!
Right away it was apparent that the increasingly stiff winds and big waves were going to make it difficult to keep my boat properly positioned on my areas. However, from Daniel’s vantage point in the back of the boat he was able to make repeated casts to the good stuff. He stuck three quality keepers which weighed 5lbs 6oz and put him in 7th in the co-angler standings after day one of the tournament. Daniel finished the tournament in 12th place overall, a great showing! I caught one keeper, a smallmouth that weighed 3lbs 2oz. I also lost another fish that was considerably larger. I was in 72nd place at the end of day one.
On day two I awoke to the same northwest wind that had plagued me on day one. My day two co-angler was Chris Murdoch of New York. The wind made it impossible to keep my boat on my good areas, but Chris was still able to land 2 nice fish out of the back of the boat, including a 4lb largemouth. I didn’t have much of a backup plan (a fatal error), so I was forced to find new areas that were protected from the wind. We ended up spending some time fishing docks with shakey heads, and I caught some short fish, but was not able to land anything over the fourteen inch mark. Chris finished the tournament in 19th place with the two fish he caught on day two that weighed 5lbs 13oz.
The lake fished extremely tough, and I think that guys who stayed shallow and fished docks found the most success. Their pattern was not impacted by the high winds. The overall combined three day winning weight on the boater side of the tournament was 30lbs 12oz. Congratulations go out to Rob Digh of Denver, NC who took home a new Chevy Silverado and Ranger bass boat for his win. I would also like to congratulate the other five anglers who finished in the top six and qualified for next year’s BFL All American. Sixth place weighed a three day total of 17lbs 6oz.
Getting to compete in this tournament was an awesome experience. Although I didn’t accomplish my goal of making it to the All-American, I am proud of the fact that I found some quality fish in only two days of practice on a lake I had never been to before. If the weather would have cooperated I think I would have been really competitive. But hey, that’s fishing…you’ve got to be able to adjust on the water regardless of the situation. With the completion of this tournament, my 2011 has almost come to an end (I have one more two day tournament this weekend on Alum Creek Reservoir). Once tournament season is over, my focus will shift to hog hunting Ohio’s public waters until the ice locks me out.
Championship Season
Early October is probably the most exciting time of the year when it comes to competitive bass fishing here in Ohio. That’s because most tournament circuits host their annual championships, or “classics”, this month. While some Ohio circuits choose to host their championships on out-of-state waters (such as Kentucky Lake), many decide to stay home and fish local waters. What these multi-day events share in common is bigger cash and bigger bragging rights to the winner!
I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in championships the next two weekends. This weekend I’m fishing in the G&O Fish Off, which is a two-day event at Griggs and O’Shaughnessy Reservoirs. This tournament is always one that I look forward to because it is on my home waters. Although I haven’t spent much time on the river recently, I’m excited to get out and compete. It should be a good warm up for next week, when I head to Smith Mountain Lake.
The mentality of competing in multi-day bass tournaments differs slightly from one-day events. When fishing a one-day event you have to catch every ounce you can in that one competition day, or you are toast. Your mentality is to stick any and every fish you can, with no holding back. With multi day events you still need to maximize your weight for the day, but at the same time you have to worry about your bite holding-up over the course of the tournament. Wearing your fish out today can hurt you big time tomorrow (obviously this only applies to multi-day tournaments held on the same body of water). A nice characteristic of multi day events is that a sub-par day one doesn’t necessarily kill your chances to win. You can always catch a giant bag of fish on day 2 and climb the leaderboard in a hurry.
Worrying about conserving your fish is a good problem…a problem I hope to have next week at the BFL Regional. I’ve done about everything I can to prepare for the tournament while 400 miles away from the lake. I’ve studied maps and Google Earth, I’ve researched on the internet, and I’ve prepared my tackle. Now all I have to do is figure out how to load the livewell with BIG Virginia largemouth.
Old Ohio Bass
I’ve often wondered the age of some of the big bass that I catch here in Ohio. I always assumed that the larger they were, the older they were. I think generally that is the case, but after reading a very fascinating article about growth rates and ages of bass, I have a little different perspective on the issue.
Yesterday Bassmaster published an article on their website by Robert Montgomery entitled “Big, old bass”. The article discussed how scientists have been able to determine the age of bass by examining their otoliths (ear bones). Two contrasting examples of the age-size relationship were given in the article. In the first example, scientists in Florida determined that a largemouth weighing 10 lbs was only 4 years old. In the second example, a 6.78 lb largemouth caught in New York in 1992 was determined to have been 23 years old, the oldest bass on record. So big does not necessarily mean old. I encourage you to read the article in its entirety.
www.bassmaster.com/news/big-old-bass
My biggest take away from the article is that fish living in warmer climates grow faster and to larger sizes, and that age does not determine size. Rather, there are many factors that come into play when it comes to size, including location, water quality, forage, habitat and genetics. Unfortunately for Ohio, most of those factors would indicate that although our bass may grow to be old, they will never grow to enormous sizes relative to bass from the southern states. Even the oldest bass in our state, say 15-18 years old, will likely never crack the 10 lb mark.
But I think there is a glimmer of hope for catching a 10 lber in Ohio. That’s because one of the factors listed above is a true “wild card”. Genetics. Because all bass are unique, there will always be those freaks of nature swimming in our waters that defy the norm. Fish that grow at an abnormal rate and achieve astonishing weights despite all other factors in their environment.
It is the search for those behemoths that keep me coming back, time and time again. And the best time of year to catch one of those freaks is quickly approaching!
Going to Virginia!
I didn’t exactly whack ‘em on the Ohio River, but the one keeper I weighed gave me enough points to qualify for the BFL Regional Tournament on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia! My final season-long ranking in the Buckeye Division was 24th. I will be competing from October 13-15 against 160 other anglers who qualified from 4 divisions around the country, with the top 6 anglers qualifying to fish the 2012 BFL All American tournament.
Smith Mountain Lake is nestled in the valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains and spans over 20,000 surface acres. The Appalachians filter water into the Roanoke and Blackwater Rivers, which feed the lake with crystal clear water. The lake is an absolute maze when viewed on a map, so I’m looking forward to actually launching my boat to get a grasp on it.
This will be the biggest tournament I’ve fished to date, and I’m really pumped-up about it. I’ve already spent some time researching the lake and studying a map. I will have two full days to prefish before the tournament, which isn’t a lot of time, but should afford me the opportunity to locate some fish and develop a pattern. Largemouth outnumber smallmouth in the lake at about 10-1, but the smallmouth are BIG, and past Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments have been won with mixed bags.
By mid-October the fish should be entering into their fall patterns, so it’s very possible that the tournament could be won fishing in the larger creeks by following the baitfish movement. However, until I get on the water I won’t know exactly what the bass are doing, and I plan on exploring both shallow and deep patterns with a multitude of tactics. Assuming my 3G works in the mountains, I will be giving daily blog updates during my practice and competition days.
On a final note I wanted to give an update on my September 9th blog entry regarding Nate Wellman. Yesterday B.A.S.S. released a short statement on its website stating that Wellman and B.A.S.S. have mutually agreed that Wellman will not be competing in the remaining Northern Open tournaments this year. By not participating in all 3 Northern Open events, Wellman will lose his automatic berth into the 2012 Bassmaster Classic. You can read the press release here:
September Bass – A Real Challenge
I’ve always found September to be the toughest month of the year to catch bass in Ohio, especially big bass. It’s the one month out of the year when I occasionally choose to watch college football over chasing bass. On most public bodies of water the fish are stuck between their summer and fall patterns, which means they are often suspended or living in obscure deep areas of the lake. The water temperatures are still high (although beginning to drop with the cooler nights), and the fish are disinterested in feeding for much of the day. And to make matters even worse, the baitfish that hatched earlier in the year have now formed giant schools, and those bass that are active are keyed in on the schools to the point that they will ignore most presentations that you throw at them. I won’t claim to be an expert on catching these finicky fish, because I’m not. But there are a few techniques that have worked for me in the past when bass are primarily focused on bait fish.
Jerkbait - Sometimes working a hard bodied jerkbait under and around the schools of bait can be effective. I personally like to use a Smithwick Rogue or a Lucky Craft Pointer. Smaller sized baits (3-5 inches) seem to produce best, but don’t shy away from trying something bigger to get their attention. Regardless of the size you opt for, make sure that the lure has a lot of “flash” to it.
Bladebait – Most people associate bladebaits with saugeye or crappie fishing. But they will work for bass this time of year. Casting a bladebait (Vibee or Silver Buddy) into the schools of bait and then either steady retrieving it or bouncing it under them can catch fish. Again, pick a color that is going to generate a lot of flash.
Topwater - When the bass are really exploding on the schools of bait, a Pop-R or Zara Spook will sometimes get them to commit. I avoid throwing these baits directly into the school because the splash will often frighten the school and scatter them. Rather, I try to fish it in front of or behind the school. Experiment with your retrieve and cadence, and let the bass tell you what they want.
Jig – If all else fails, you can target these schoolers by tossing a jig directly into them. Sometimes the bigger bass will suspend below the school, waiting for dead or injured shad to fall right in front of them. Pair a jig with a big bulky trailer that will slow the rate of the fall. This will give those fish a big target and plenty of time to find it as it drops in front of their nose.
Tomorrow I will be heading to the Ohio River for the final event of the 2011 Buckeye BFL season. I MUST catch a few fish in order to qualify for the regional tournament. I will no doubt be employing some of the techniques I just discussed during the tournament, as the fish on the Ohio are finicky right now, and feeding heavily on schooling bait.
I will give a full report on the tournament next week.
Bass Drama!!!
As most of you are probably already aware, a very strange incident occurred during the BASS Open tournament on Lake Erie a couple of weeks ago…an incident that is making front-page news in the bass fishing world, and that is causing many BASS pros to voice their opinions. Originally I did not want to blog about this situation. However, because it occurred on Ohio waters (and because the bass fishing has been SLOW the last 10 days), I think it is appropriate.
Based on what I have read on bassmaster.com, bassfan.com, and bassboatcentral.com, the details of the incident can be summarized as follows. During the final day of the tournament, eventual tournament winner Nate Wellman (a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Michigan) asked his co-angler, Joe Stois, if the co-angler would sell one of his large fish to him, a clear violation of BASS tournament rules. According to Stois, Wellman made the proposition several times throughout their day on the water together. In addition, Stois claimed that Wellman made comments throughout the day suggesting that his father would pay him for the fish after the tournament was over, that his father carried $1,000-$3,000 on him, and that Wellman would drive the boat out to the middle of the lake to make the exchange so that no other competitors would witness the act. Stois did not sell his fish to Wellman, and later reported the incident to BASS officials after the weigh-in had concluded and Wellman had been crowned the champion. First prize included over $50,000 in cash and prizes, as well as an automatic berth into the coveted Bassmaster Classic.
While being questioned by BASS officials, Wellman admitted that he did make the remarks that Stois claimed, but argued that all comments were made in jest. Stois on the other hand has claimed that Wellman’s offers were serious. BASS opted to punish Wellman regardless of his intent. Pursuant to BASS rule 3(vii), which prohibits any competitor from suggesting to another competitor that he violate any rule, BASS fined Wellman $2,500 and placed him on probation for 1 year (interestingly, FLW Outdoors responded to the incident by issuing Wellman with a much stiffer penalty, a 1 year suspension from participating in FLW tournaments). The immediate reaction across the bass fishing community was that Wellman’s comments were made in an effort to break the tournament rules, and that his final day catch should have been disqualified by BASS as a result of the rule violation. Many were outraged that he had escaped with a slap-on-the-wrist for such a blatant violation of the tournament rules.
BASS founder Ray Scott, in an interview with bassfan.com, made a very compelling argument that Wellman should request he be given a polygraph test by BASS officials to clear his name of all wrong doing. You can read Scott’s statement here: http://www.bassfan.com/docktalk.asp?id=8397#8397
Also interesting are the many comments being made by BASS pros on the incident. To read some of their comments, click on the following link: http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=4059
Because I do not have first-hand knowledge of the incident, I will not voice an opinion on the matter. However, I would like to make one thing clear: bass fishing, more than any other sport, depends on the integrity of its athletes for its survival. The governing bodies should take any and all measures within their power to updhold the rules of the sport, and to preserve the trust of its anglers and fans.
I have a strong feeling that more will come of this story.
Who said that fishing is a boring sport? This is Real Housewives of Lake Erie stuff!!!
Ohio State Record Smallmouth Bass
If I told you that during a bass tournament last weekend an angler weighed a five bass limit that went 26.7 lbs, you would probably assume that the tournament was held in Texas, or Alabama, or even California. You would probably also guess that the sack of fish consisted of largemouth.
Well, you would be wrong…on both accounts.
That’s because the tournament was held in Ohio, and smallmouth bass made up all the weight! Lake Erie played host to last weekend’s B.A.S.S. Open tournament. The event launched out of Sandusky Bay, and the winning three day total weight tipped the scales at an astounding 63.11 lbs of smallmouth. That is an incredible average of 4.2 lbs per fish! Even more impressive is the fact that there were 22 limits that exceeded the 20 lb mark over the three day period.
Lake Erie’s smallmouth population is known throughout the bass fishing world as being one of the best, particularly for giant fish. Five and six pound fish are frequently caught, and the big bass tend to school in large numbers. Most guys catch these fish by targeting offshore reefs, humps, saddles and points. The most common techniques used are dropshotting, dragging or drifting exposed-hook tubes, and cranking.
The Ohio state record smallmouth (pictured below) was caught from Lake Erie on June 16, 1993 by Randy Van Dam (yes, Kevin Van Dam’s brother). The fish measured 23.5 inches, had a 22 inch girth, and weighed 9lbs 8oz. The fish was caught in approximately 24 feet of water on a jigging spoon.
Ohio’s record smallmouth currently ranks 7th out of all the states that documents records for the species, ranking only behind Alabama, California, Idaho, North Carolina, Tennessee (world record 11lbs 15oz from Dale Hollow Reservoir), and West Virginia.
In my opinion, the next world record smallmouth is currently living in Lake Erie. In fact, there are probably a number of fish that would hit the 12 lb mark. Whether anyone will ever be lucky enough to haul in a fish of that size is anybody’s guess. We will have to wait and see. What I do know is that Ohioans are fortunate to have such an incredible smallmouth fishery right in our backyard.
Down, but not out!
Tournament bass fishing can be a humbling sport. One day you can be on top of the world, and the next completely deflated as the result of a poor showing. It’s a sport that tests your competitiveness and your grit…and most importantly, your perseverance when things don’t turn out like you had planned.
Saturday’s BFL tournament on the Ohio River was one of those humbling events. I awoke the morning of the tournament to find the entire city of Maysville, KY draped in a thick sheet of fog. I’ve never seen fog that dense in my entire life. Visibility while driving to the launch ramp was probably 30 feet! The full field of competitors had launched their boats by 6:30 a.m. and sat in anticipation of the day’s launch. Hearing the rumbling of two stroke motors all around me, but only being able to see each boat’s navigational lights through the fog was an eerie experience. The tournament was scheduled to launch at 7:00 a.m., but the fog wouldn’t relent, so the tournament directors opted to delay the launch. By the time the fog had lifted enough to deem conditions safe to launch, it was after 10:00 a.m. Tournament hours were not extended, meaning we had to be checked in a mere 5 hours later, at 3:00 p.m.
The area of the river where I believed the winning fish were located was approximately 30 miles away. I debated playing it safe and fishing closer to ramp, but I knew that my best chance to win was to make the run. I fish to win, not to just survive. So when my boat number was called I hammered down on the throttle and started the long trip. I hit several stretches of thick fog which required me to slow down to almost idle speed, and by the time I arrived at my area it was almost 11:00 a.m Having missed the morning bite, I knew that I would have limited opportunities to catch fish. With only about 3 hours to fish before I had to make the long run back, I quickly got into a “zone”, fishing methodically and fast. My allotted time quickly evaporated, and I only had one keeper bite to show for it. Unfortunately, I didn’t land it. A fish in the 3lb range took a swipe at my jig as I was retrieving it to make my next cast, and it dropped the jig before I even had time to set the hook. Losing that fish was a heart-breaker!
I fished hard to the last minute, but the fish weren’t cooperating and I came to the scales empty-handed. Having weighed in zero fish meant that I received no points for this event, and my season ranking fell from 15th to 34th. It took under 6lbs to win the tournament, and 3lbs would have put me in the top 10.
With one event left in the series I am still within the top 40 cut to make the Regional Tournament. The pressure is on now, and I have to bring in a good bag of fish at the final event in September or I will miss my goal of qualifying. This aspect of the sport is stressful. But it is also the part that I love…the true test of my skills and my perseverance. You can bet I will do everything I can to be ready for that event.
The experience wasn’t all bad though, as I made a new friend. My assigned co-angler was Bud Gearhart of East Canton, Ohio. Bud is a Vietnam veteran who shared a lot of great stories with me during the 4 hour fog delay. I want to thank him again for his service to our country, and to apologize for breaking his back on that long boat ride!
Finally, since I last wrote Marshall and I won the Griggs Tuesday Night Tournament on the 16th. We weighed two fish for 5.75lbs, and also had big bass, a 3lb largemouth. I got a good workout playing “net man”!
Giant Smallmouth!
I just got back this evening from Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan. In addition to the crystal clear water and beautiful scenery, I am CONVINCED it is the best smallmouth destination on Earth. During the week I was only able to fish 4 days due to the weather. It rained and got really windy half of the days, which resulted in 3 foot rolling waves that made it impossible to run to my spots and to control the trolling motor once I got there. But when conditions permitted, the fishing was phenomenal.
I caught 50+ smallmouth in 3-4 hours on two separate days. Most of these fish were above the 14 inch size limit, and fought like crazy. I caught 90% of my fish dragging rockpiles in 20-30 feet of water drop shotting a 3 inch Berkley Gulp! minnow with 6lb P-Line Fluoroclear line. Two and three pounders, like the fish pictured below were pretty common.
The biggest fish of the trip was 21.5 inches long and weighed 5lbs 3oz, my new personal best smallmouth! I caught it drop shotting with a Hookerz Tackle 1/2 ounce drop shot weight, Size 1 EWG hook, and finesse worm. This fish was incredibly dark. I think it must have come from 50 feet of water up to feed.
The water clarity in northern Lake Michigan is unbelievable. I was watching giant smallmouth cruise the bottom at close to 30 feet. Fishing water like this is a treat for an Ohio angler who is used to 6 inches of visibility.
Although vacation is over, I have a big tournament next weekend to look forward to. It’s Event #4 of the Buckeye BFL. The tournament was supposed to be held on the Carrollton, KY pool of the Ohio River. However, due to the lock being under construction for repairs, the tournament officials moved the event to the Maysville, KY pool. If I can put up a solid finish in this event I will have a great chance of securing a spot in the Regional tournament in October.
On a final note I wanted to report on the results of the Team Bass Xtreme event on Delaware Reservoir that I fished last Saturday with Marshall. As I mentioned in my last blog, we had located fish in practice, but were really depending on getting one good bite during the tournament to have a shot at winning. We got that big bite, but unfortunately it jumped off of a crankbait. It was a 3.5lber and would likely have given us a 2nd place finish. Losing big fish is just a part of tournament fishing. Sometimes there is nothing you can do. We ended up weighing a limit for 6.35lbs and finished around 10th place.
I’ll give a full report after the Maysville tournament.
Michigan Bass Blog???
For a guy who is obsessed with bass fishing, the next 10 days couldn’t get much better. For starters, I am competing in the Team Bass Xtreme event on Delaware Reservoir on Saturday. We pre-fished last weekend and were able to locate a lot of keeper-sized fish, so putting a limit together shouldn’t be too hard. The challenge will be finding quality keepers. Our biggest fish of the day was only around 2 lbs, which means we will need to find a way to get the big ones to bite. Usually the best way to do that is to fish as much heavy wood as possible and hope you can capitalize.
After the Delaware tournament I will be heading up to Grand Traverse Bay, which is located on Lake Michigan, for some smallmouth action. I know that this is an “Ohio” bass blog, but I have to give Michigan a shout-out when it comes to their smallmouth fishing. The water in northern Lake Michigan is crystal-clear (I’ve sight-fished smallmouth in close to 25 feet of water), and supports all kinds of game fish including bass, white fish, and salmon. Last year was my first trip with the bass boat to Grand Traverse and the bass fishing was phenomenal! I caught countless fish in the 2-3 lb range by targeting steep drop-offs in 10 to 30 feet of water. The majority of the fish I caught were on a drop-shot rig, using a 3/8oz drop-shot weight, a #1 extra wide gap hook, and either a Berkley Gulp Minnow or a finesse worm. I also caught some fish by finding the “dark spots” that are scattered around the sandy-white bottom of the lake, and throwing tubes and spinnerbaits around them. The “dark spots” are actually small patches of grass.
John Terry with Hookerz Tackle (www.hookerztackle.com) was kind enough to send me some of his terminal tackle and soft plastics to test. He sent me several items that will be useful on Grand Traverse, including drop shot weights, ultra-sharp drop shot hooks, shakey head jigs, and finesse worms. His products look great and I can’t wait to get out there and put them to the test!
On a final note, I wanted to report on our results from last night’s Tuesday Night Tournament at Griggs Reservoir. Marshall and I won the tournament with 3 fish that weighed 7.2 lbs. We also had Big Bass, which weighed just over 4 lbs (a true Griggs HAWG!!!!).
I will give a report mid-next week on the Grand Traverse smallmouth fishing, as well as results from the TBX Delaware Tournament. As always, thank you for following along, I appreciate your support.
Moving Up
The Tanners Creek tournament was a tough one. The weather was hot and bites were extremely hard to come by, but I gave it my all and was able to land three of the four keeper bites I had. I lost one really solid fish on a jig, but I’m not 100% certain it was a bass. The fish I caught were tucked up against the bank in inches of water. They were as shallow as any bass I’ve ever caught, and I spent most of the day pulling my boat with the trolling motor through the mud! I ended up finishing in 22nd place with 3 fish for 3lbs 15oz. (after a half pound penalty for a dead fish). It took over 10lbs to win. Considering that Saturday’s tournament was only the second day I’d ever spent on that pool of the River, I was pleased with my finish. But what I’m really pumped about is that I moved from 29th to 15th in the points standings! Event number 4 of the Buckeye Division is 3 weeks from now on the Carrollton, Kentucky pool of the Ohio River. I can’t wait to get back at it.
I want to congratulate Nick Daniels, a recent graduate of The Ohio State University, for winning the Co-Angler Division of the tournament. He weighed 5 fish for 7lbs, and also had Big Bass which weighed 2lbs 15oz. Great job Nick!
Yesterday Nick and I fished the Griggs Tuesday Night Tournament together and had a heck of a night. The fish were really biting well, and we ended up winning with 5 fish that weighed 10.5 lbs, and also had Big Bass for the tournament, a largemouth that weighed 3.5lbs. It’s incredible what some rain and current can do to spark the bite this time of year. Not only does the current activate the fish, but it puts them in more predictable areas and pulls them close to ambush points like trees and rockpiles.
Next weekend will be the first weekend in a long time that I don’t have any tournaments on the schedule…but I have a feeling I will end up fishing somewhere. I’m hooked.
Tanners Creek
On Saturday I’ll be in Lawrenceburg, Indiana competing in event number three of the 2011 Buckeye BFL circuit. I’m currently in 29th place in the season standings, and will be looking to move up after this event, which launches from Tanners Creek.
Fishing my way to the All American and on to the FLW Championship through the BFL’s is definitely a long shot. But it CAN happen. Just ask 20 year old Jacob Wheeler of Indianapolis who is featured on this month’s cover of FLW Magazine for winning $100,000 at the 2010 All American and qualifying for the FLW Championship. Oh, and for the record, he qualified through the Buckeye division! But that doesn’t surprise me, because Ohio anglers have to put up with some of the toughest fishing in the country. That means that our mental toughness on the water is fine-tuned for tournaments when the bite is brutally tough.
I’ve had a streak of quality finishes over the past few week in local tournaments and hope to carry that momentum with me to Saturday. On Tuesday the 11th I finished 4th place and had big bass at the Griggs tournament, and then on Sunday finished 2nd with Marshall on O’Shaughnessy.
3.6 lb Griggs Big Bass
Momentum in tournament fishing might be more important than in any other sport. When you’ve got momentum and everything seems to be going your way out there it carries over from day to day and lake to lake. You get into a zone. You’re making good decisions about where to fish, what to throw, when to stay, and when to move. But most importantly, you have the confidence to trust your instincts and listen to that voice in your head thats telling you to put down the crankbait and start flipping.
Here’s a recent example. Going into a tournament two weeks ago I had been on a really strong crankbait bite, and figured that I could cover water all day and put together a nice limit. Well, 11 a.m rolled around and all I had to show from heaving the crankbait for 4 hours was one scrawny 12 inch largemouth. The voice in my head was telling me that I HAD to move away from the shoreline and start working a football jig and shakey head into deeper water. Although it was hard to put the crankbait down because of the quality I had been catching only a few days earlier, my head prevailed and I started saturating rockpiles. I ended up working one area for the next three hours, caught 8 keepers and culled all the way up to an 8.5 lb bag of fish that put me in 5th place overall.
I’ll post an update after the Tanners Creek event. Pre-fishing went well, but things change quickly. Hopefully I will be able to practice what I preach and will have the discipline to listen to that little voice in my head if my strategy doesn’t go as planned.
Management of Ohio’s Bass Fisheries
The Ohio Division of Wildlife is a great public asset for all Ohio anglers. The organization truly cares about the health of our waters and the fish that live within them, and they are experts when it comes to establishing and maintaining new species into our fisheries. For example, the state’s musky and saugeye stocking programs have successfully implanted these non-native species into many of our waterways. And without the protection of the DOW and their regulation of our waters, our fisheries would be in pretty bad shape. But I often wonder why the state doesn’t do more to improve one of Ohio’s most popular (and most economically important) game fish…the largemouth bass. I believe that Ohio’s bass populations could be improved in two ways. First, through controlled stocking programs, and second, through improving bass habitat.
Each year I pay my annual fishing license fee to the Ohio Division of Wildlife so that I can fish the many public waters within the state. This year the license fee was $19. That is a bargain in my opinion. But $19 is only a drop in the bucket of what I, and most other serious bass anglers, spend to bass fish Ohio’s waters. Just to perform the physical act of bass fishing requires rods, reels, line and lures. Then you have boats, trucks, fuel to get to the lake, fuel for the boat, meals while traveling, and hotels for overnight stays while fishing tournaments away from home. Combine those expenditures with the thousands of bass enthusiasts within the state, and the result is millions of dollars being spent each year by Ohio’s bass fishing community. That’s millions of dollars pumped into the economy to support Ohio businesses, and a boat load of tax revenues.
Although I don’t have the numbers to prove it, my guess is that Ohio bass anglers spend more money fishing each year than any other particular group of anglers in the state. Naturally, you would expect that because of the importance of Ohio’s bass anglers to our economy, the Ohio Division of Wildlife would invest more money into improving our bass fishing than on the advancement of any other species of game fish. But that is not the case.
Ohio does not regularly stock bass into our waters like they do other species. According to their website, the DOW has official stocking programs for walleye, saugeye, perch, hybrid stripers, trout, musky and catfish. I once asked a Division of Wildlife officer the reasoning behind not stocking bass, and his response was that our lakes don’t need stocking because bass successfully reproduce naturally in our waters. It is true that bass DO successfully reproduce in most of our waters. However, the level of that success varies greatly from fishery to fishery. Almost all of our impoundments are vulnerable to flooding, especially during the Spring when bass are spawning. And some years when flooding is really bad, entire year classes of bass can be wiped-out. If you don’t believe me spend a day on a reservoir near you and see if a particular size of bass seems to be missing. For example, you may catch a bunch of fish under 10 inches and several over 14 inches, but you can’t seem to find a 12 to 13 incher.
The DOW should implement stocking programs to improve our bass fisheries where needed. Case in point: According to the Angler Survey report posted on the DOW website, 30% of anglers fishing Alum Creek Reservoir target largemouth and smallmouth bass. 8% target saugeye, while a mere 4% seek musky. Meanwhile, catch rates for saugeye were rated as “Good”, catch rates for musky were rated as “Excellent”, and catch rates for bass were rated as “Fair”. So if bass anglers hold a strong majority on Alum Creek over saugeye and musky anglers, and catch rates for bass are the lowest of those three species, then why does the DOW regularly stock saugeye and musky into the reservoir, while doing nothing to bolster the bass population? Alum is a prime example of a lake that would benefit from a stocking program. I’m sure there are many other fisheries around the state in similar positions.
One way that the DOW has worked to improve our bass fisheries is by creating fish cover. They do this by dropping trees from the shoreline and building fish structures from Christmas trees. A good example is Burr Oak, where hundreds of trees were dropped to establish cover. Not surprisingly, Burr Oak is one of the better inland bass fisheries in Ohio. I would like to see more projects like this take place. Cost wouldn’t even be an issue from a budget standpoint. There are thousands of Ohio anglers who would be more than happy to volunteer their time and labor to implement such projects.
I would like to get your opinions on whether the DOW does enough to maximize our bass fisheries, or if they could do more. Feel free to vote your opinion in the poll below.
On a final note, I would like to share some really solid tournament results from O’Shaughnessy Reservoir this past weekend.
On Saturday July 9th, Matt Bores and Aaron Counts won the TBX Team Series event with a 5 fish limit that weighed 13.7 lbs
On Sunday July 10th, Phil Carver won the TBX Elite Series event with a 5 fish bag weighing 14.86 lbs. Great job guys!
Bass Fishing Ohio’s River Impoundments
I consider the reservoirs located on the Scioto River to be my “home” waters. During the season I spend a lot of time on both Griggs and O’Shaughnessy. They are relatively small fisheries (Griggs is 387 acres and O’Shaughnessy is 912 acres), and both bodies of water get a lot of pressure from bass anglers. Yet somehow both of them continue to pump out limits of bass week-after-week. In my opinion, the quality of fish being weighed in at tournaments on these bodies of water can be directly attributed to a couple of things. First, all bass tournaments, and most casual bass anglers, are practicing catch-and-release. And second, the guys who are serious about their bass fishing are good anglers, constantly adapting and using new techniques to catch fish.
I think a lot of people over-complicate bass fishing on Ohio’s river impoundments. Of all types of bass I have fished for, those in rivers are the easiest to locate. My approach to river fishing is to start shallow, regardless of water temperature or time of day. River fish are shallow creatures by nature and can be caught consistently in less than a foot of water. Don’t be afraid to position your boat a few feet from the bank and work a jig or tube in and around shoreline cover. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself that I was fishing too shallow and then caught one a moment later. Even when the water temperatures are in the 80’s and the sun is shining bright, big bass will still position themselves right up against the bank.
If I’m having trouble catching them shallow, I will either back off the bank and work the main river ledges, or I’ll try to locate areas with some current. Just a little current makes a big difference in July and August. Some of the best fishing days on river systems is after a big rain. The increased current really fires the fish up. But when there hasn’t been a rain for a few weeks, creek entrances are a great source of current. Wind is also. If the wind is blowing out of the West, I will opt to fish the East bank to take advantage of the current generated. Bass like to position themselves on the down-current side of logs and rocks. Allowing your bait to bump into and fall over their hiding places can elicit reaction strikes on a regular basis.
The shallow-water pattern played out perfectly for me and my partner during a G & O Series tournament this past Sunday on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. The tournament launched at 6:30, and we got off to quick start with a 3lber in the boat on our second cast of the day. By 7:00 we had an 8lb limit in the boat. We caught fish in ultra shallow water throughout the day, and I lost a 4lber on the backside of a big laydown that was in less than a foot of water. The extreme shallow nature of some of these big bass never ceases to amaze me! By the end of the tournament we had culled all the way up to 10 lbs, which was enough for a 1st place finish.
I’ve got a couple of fun topics that I plan on writing about over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!
Playing Bass Doctor
You see it all the time at both the professional and amateur levels. A guy brings 5 nice ones to the scale and takes over the lead…but wait…he has a dead one. And that dead fish just cost him a thousand dollars in purse money!
As we approach July, the bass here in Ohio are officially through the spawn and have settled into both post-spawn and full-out summer patterns. The driving factor in determining the seasonal pattern for these fish is water temperature. With water temperatures reaching the high 70’s and low 80’s, it is extremely important to take care of your bass. Mortality rates reach much higher levels with water temperatures in this range, and as tournament fishermen know, dead bass equal lost money in a tournament. Depending on the tournament, I have seen dead fish penalties ranging from a 4 ounce reduction in your weight, all the way to having to cull your largest fish. Although I admittedly do not follow all of the advice that I am about to give you to the letter, I certainly make a concentrated effort to take excellent care of my catch during my tournaments.
There are several steps you can take on the water to increase the chances that your fish won’t perish during a long 8 hour tournament in July or August. These measures do not take a lot of time, and can save you much heartache at weigh-in time.
Step 1: Cool Water Temperature and Run Livewell Pumps
If you can remember to bring ice with you, try to cool your livewell water down 10 degrees. Cooler water holds more oxygen. I know a guy who even uses a small aquarium thermometer to make sure he gets water temperatures cooled to the appropriate level. If you don’t feel like bringing bags of ice, simply freeze some plastic water bottles and throw them into the livewell. Once the water has been cooled, put the livewell pump on recirculate. Every 2-3 hours replace at least half of the water by pumping out the old and pumping in the new. After new water has been pumped in, re-cool it. Replacing your water will restore oxygen levels and will remove ammonia from the water. High ammonia levels can kill your fish. If possible, fill your livewell with water from the main lake, as this part of the lake is usually cooler and has higher oxygen levels in the summer. Avoid filling your livewell in shallow backwaters. This water is often low in oxygen this time of year. Also, definitely avoid filling your livewell near boat ramps. It doesn’t take a scientist to guess that these areas have high pollutant levels.
Step 2: Livewell Additives
I don’t personally use livewell additives, but I know a lot of guys that do. Preferred livewell additives include Rejuvenade, Please Release Me, and simple hydrogen peroxide. Before using any of these additives be sure to thoroughly read the directions, as over application can actually harm your fish. There are several good websites on using hydrogen peroxide. Just Google it.
Step 3: Handling Your Catch
At all times your catch should be handled gently. Try to minimize the amount of contact you make with your fish. Every time you put your hands on a bass you are removing its protective slime, which can lead to infection. When I catch a keeper during a tournament I try to get it into the livewell as soon as possible, which reduces the amount of stress you are putting on your fish. The same goes for culling your fish. Try to cull as quickly as possible. I’m all for using culling clips during a tournament. They save valuable fishing time and minimize the amount of time that a bass is out of the water. However, fish on clips should be handled gently. It drives me absolutely crazy when I see guys walking to a weigh in while carelessly swinging their fish around on culling clips.
Step 4: Weighing-In
Before I transfer my fish to my weigh bag I take a look at the weigh-in line. If the line is long, I wait to bag my fish. The less time your fish are in the weigh bag, the better your chances of weighing in 5 alive. Before transferring your catch from your livewell to your weigh bag, make sure that there is plenty of water in the bag. Filling the bag with the appropriate amount of water is very important. Putting 5 fish in a bag with barely enough water in it to cover their backs causes serious stress on your fish. The water quickly becomes oxygen depleted, leading to higher mortality rates. After the fish are bagged, avoid placing the bag on the hot blacktop while waiting your turn in the weigh-in line.
Although following these steps does not guarantee that you won’t lose any fish due to the heat, it will certainly help your chances. We work too hard to catch bass here in Ohio to let them die on us!
Indian Lake – The Road Less Traveled
Well I didn’t get the top 10 finish I was looking for at the Indian Lake BFL tournament last Saturday, but I did finish in the top 20 and earned a check. I finished in 19th place with a limit that weighed in at 7 lbs 7 ounces. The overall winning weight was just over 10 lbs. The good news is that I moved all the way up to 29th in the points standings, which is well within the top 40 cut to qualify for the regional tournament on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. With three tournaments to go in the series, all on the Ohio River, I have put myself in a pretty good position.
Going into this tournament I knew that the majority of the field would be crowding into a couple of the popular areas of the lake, and concentrating on flipping pads and throwing topwater frogs. There is a reason why certain areas of lakes are popular…the reason is that they hold a LOT of fish! Those areas at Indian are the Nature Preserve and Blackhawk. I decided that rather than fishing in crowded areas and competing for highly pressured fish with 90 other boats I would fish to my strengths and concentrate on less-popular areas. When I say fishing to my strengths, I am referring to power fishing. I am a power-fisherman through and through. Methodically fishing pads all day is not my strong suit. It kills me to have to slow down and pick apart every inch of every piece of cover that I encounter. My philosophy is to cover as much water as possible, making as many presentations as I can with the thought that during an 8 hour tournament I will come across at least 5 active fish that will bite. Sometimes when conditions are really tough this style of fishing burns me. But it seems to work out most of the time.
During practice I found some solid fish by power fishing areas that I had never fished before. I marked around 10 areas on my GPS where I got decent bites. My game plan for the tournament was to hit every one of those spots, making 20 to 30 casts in each area. If I got a bite, I would fish the area more. If the fish didn’t let me know they were there quickly, I would move. Anytime you are power fishing the weather plays a critical role in your success. Clouds and wind are a power fisherman’s friend. I had my fingers crossed that tournament day would bring favorable conditions.
After launching my boat on tournament day I quickly realized that I wasn’t going to get the conditions I was hoping for. The air was stagnant and the sun was rising quickly. Fortunately I was able to capitalize on the morning bite and boated two small keepers off of my first spot. I stuck with my game plan and began moving from area to area, only to find that the fish were not biting. I was feeling pretty panicked by the time I pulled up on my 8th spot. It was already 10 a.m. and I only had 2 small keepers in the livewell. However, spot number 8 came through. I quickly boated 2 fish in the 2 pound range, and lost a third that was slightly bigger right at the boat. After milking the area for another 30 minutes without a bite I continued to rotate through my areas. Around noon a storm had formed out of the West, and begin dumping rain on the lake. I picked up a buzzbait and was able to finish out my limit and cull one fish before it was time to check-in at the dock to weigh my fish.
The Indian tournament reaffirmed a strong tournament philosophy that I try to always abide by. That philosophy is to fish to my strengths. It is easy to get caught up in ”dock talk” and the general opinions of others as to where the fish are biting and how to target them. But if you remain confident in your abilities and stick to what you do best, you can locate and catch bass by taking the road less traveled.
Catching Post-Spawn Ohio Bass
In my opinion, June is the best month for bass fishing in Ohio. Although you likely won’t catch as many giants in June as in the earlier and later months of the year, when it comes to sheer numbers of quality fish, the next 30-45 days are tough to beat!
The primary reason why the fishing in June is so hot is because both largemouth and smallmouth are post-spawn and have settled into more predictable patterns. Their focus changes from pro-creating to feeding, which means they will aggressively attack your bait. The weather has also stabilized, resulting in fewer pattern changes and again, more predictable bass. Post-spawn largemouth and smallmouth both tend to school in large groups to feed, and when you hook a good fish, chances are there are more in the vicinity.
This seasonal-pattern was clearly demonstrated last Thursday while fishing the TNT tournament with Marshall on Alum Creek. The pattern was classic post-spawn, and we were able to key in on a mixed school of largemouth and smallmouth that were susceptible to both topwater and bottom baits. We ended up winning the tournament with a mixed-bag that weighed 13.05lbs. We also had big bass, a 4.13lb largemouth.
In terms of “where” to search for post-spawners, the answer differs based on whether you are pursuing largemouth or smallmouth. Largemouth tend to position themselves on mainlake and secondary points and ledges. They will also school on large flats in search of bait, and on shallow rockpiles. Smallmouth will use some of these same types of structure, but generally will do so in deeper water. Smallmouth will also tend to roam open-water in big schools, relating not to structure, but instead to suspended bait fish. Largemouth and smallmouth that are relating to structure are often easy to locate and catch, whereas those suspended smallmouth are difficult to find, and very difficult to catch.
The other great part of post-spawn fishing is that you can catch them with a lot of techniques. Dragging jigs, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, grinding a crankbait, or working a topwater bait. As I mentioned earlier, where there is one fish, there are usually more this time of year, so try to repeat the exact cast that worked for you if you catch one. Odds are you will hookup again.
Switching gears to the tournament front, this weekend I spent time pre-fishing for my second BFL tournament of the year on Indian Lake. The tournament is on June 18th, and after my sub-par season-opener on Mosquito, I am in need of a top 10 finish. Stay tuned for a full report on the event.
Heat Wave Ohio Bass
This last week was HOT! As all fishermen know, blistering hot weather can shut the bass bite down as quickly as a major storm can speed it up. Regardless of the heat, I had a busy week of tournaments since I last posted. On Thursday night I fished the TNT tournament with my friend Nick Daniels on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. The TNT is a weekly evening tournament that is run by Phil Carver with Team Bass Xtreme. Nick and I figured out that the fish were on a good flipping bite early into the tournament. We ended up flipping up the winning bag of fish that weighed 9.86 lbs. We also had big bass for the tournament, which weighed in at 3.24 lbs.
On Saturday I fished a TBX circuit event on Dillon Reservoir with Marshall. Dillon is a small, highly pressured fishery near Newark, Ohio. Although I have had some success fishing Dillon in the past, putting together five quality fish there is always a challenge. We were able to take advantage of an early topwater bite and put two solid fish in the livewell by 8:00 a.m. By 10:30 a.m. we had a limit in the boat, with a couple of decent fish. The key was to back-off the bank. The bass had countered the 95 degree weather and heavy fishing pressure by moving off of the shoreline cover and perching on rock and wood that was located in 4 to 6 feet of water. We watched boat after boat continue to hug the bank and flip shallow cover. All the while their boats were sitting right on top of the fish. By moving off the bank we were able to cull twice and improve our bag to 8.60 lbs. That was good enough for a 4th place finish. The winning weight was in the low 9 lb range.
Then on Sunday I fished the G & O series event on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir with Marshall. The quality shallow fish that I had found the previous Thursday had disappeared. We struggled all day to catch fish, and ended up with a three-fish bag that weighed 5.25 lbs. Unfortunately we lost two fish, including a 3 lber that would have put us in or near the first place spot. Some days things don’t go as planned…this was one of those days! The bite was definitely hurt by the mid 90 degree weather and lack of cloud cover and wind. Conditions like that can be absolutely brutal for both the angler and the bass. It ended up taking around 8 lbs to win the tournament.
On a final note I would like to congratulate a couple of Ohio bass anglers who fished the Bassmaster Open tournament on Douglas Lake in Tennessee this past weekend. Fletcher Shryock and Steve Priest, both of Ohio, finished in 11th and 12th place respectively, proving that Ohio anglers can compete outside of state lines. Good job guys, way to represent!
Locating Bass in High Water
The recent heavy rains that have pounded the State of Ohio have put somewhat of a damper on the past few weeks of the tournament season. Some of our bodies of water can handle these huge influxes of water, but others simply can’t. The weather caused me to miss two of the three tournaments that I had planned on fishing since I last blogged. On Tuesday the 24th I fished an evening pot tournament on Griggs Reservoir with Marshall, and barely missed the win by one-tenth of a pound. Our five fish limit landed us in 2nd place. Our bag weighed 6.85lbs, and consisted of all largemouth. Although the water was a little high and really dirty, it allowed for a good flipping bite. We caught all five fish flipping jigs and soft plastics into the flooded weeds and willow trees. As is often the case when the water rises, the fish moved up with the rising shoreline and took advantage of all the new cover.
On Thursday I had planned on fishing another evening tournament on Alum Creek, but the radar was calling for dangerous storms. I’m all for fishing in the rain, even a downpour, but when lightning and other severe weather is in the forecast I usually make the decision to stay home, which I did. Then on Friday I got word that the NBAA Open on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir that had been scheduled for Saturday was cancelled due to dangerous flooding conditions on the Scioto River. Although I was pretty bummed about not getting to fish the open, the tournament directors made a smart decision to cancel the event. The river was ripping with current, and there were entire trees being swept down the main channel. When you have conditions like that, running a bass boat is risky business. Just recently a guy was fishing Grand Lake St. Marys when he hit a telephone poll that had been washed into the lake from the flooding and was floating just beneath the surface of the water. Luckily he was not injured, but his lower unit was ripped right off of his motor.
So with most of our lakes and rivers being high due to flooding, I thought I would write a little about strategies that can be employed to target high-water bass. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on catching fish during high water. I don’t have a lot of experience with it, as most years Ohio doesn’t have this kind of flooding. But I have made some observations over the years that can be helpful.
Follow the Rising Water
More often than not, when the water is up in the bushes and trees, the fish will be as well. I think this happens for a couple of reasons. First, the rising water washes all kinds of food into the water. The bass move with the water to take advantage of the insects and other prey that were caught off-guard by the flooding. And second, bass feel comfortable when they are up against the shoreline. It gives them a sense of space and protection in the high, dirty, moving water. So my first strategy for high water is to fish the rising shoreline cover. I typically use dark-colored bulky baits like a jig or a creature bait. These baits are more visible in the murky water, allowing for bass to find them. I try to get my bait all the way against the shoreline, if possible. Oftentimes this requires casting through tight and snaggy areas. This is where a Texas rig can really be beneficial.
Fish the Natural Shoreline
If the fish aren’t against the bank, I will concentrate on fishing the natural shoreline…which is now underwater. I’ve been on the water several times when the fish weren’t up against the bank, but they were still holding to the natural shoreline. I normally target these fish with a jig, crankbait or shakey head.
Move Off the Bank
If I can’t catch ‘em on the bank or on the natural shoreline, I will try fishing further off the bank. Sometimes the fish will move away from the rising water and hold to underwater structure that is not right on the bank. Why do they do this? I have no idea, but have observed it. Perhaps moving off the bank allows them to avoid the rapid rise and fall that they would experience if they were up tight to the shoreline. These fish can be targeted with the same lures that I use to target the natural shoreline fish.
Weather permitting, I will be fishing a tournament on Dillon Reservoir near Zanesville, Ohio on Saturday. Dillon is always a challenging lake, but hopefully we will catch ‘em!
