BASS FISHINGBass Fishing Sports Blog

The flipping artist received $3,156 for first place, a $2,000 bonus for the Ranger Cup program, and a $1,000 Evinrude contingency award.

“I had all my weight by 10:30 a.m. fishing water less than 4 feet deep,” said Walser, who attributed his success to a HydroWave electronic device that serves as a fish-feeding stimulant or “dinner bell” to fish.

Walser flipped docks but went slightly deeper when the docks yielded only small keeper fish. a jig and Zoom chunk fished at rocky places produced bigger bass.

New London’s Kevin Chandler, a former BFL winner at High Rock, provided the largest challenge bringing in five fish that totaled 16-07. He earned a check for $1,578.

Chandler fished spinnerbaits and jigs in the shallows to take his fish.

“I had five bites and weighed in five fish,” said Chandler, who made each bite count.

Lexington’s James Blankenship ranked third with15-12 and banked $1,052.

Other money winners were Calvin Young of Prince George, Va., fourth, with 15-04 for $736; Chris Turbyfill of Whitsett, fifth, with 13-11 for $631; Chad Poteat of Mt. Airy, sixth, with 13-09 for $579; Jeremy Talbert of Albemarle, seventh, with 12-09 for $526; Darren Gay of Richfield, eighth, with 12-01 for $473; Chris Baldwin of Lexington, ninth, with 11-15 for $421; Doug Young of Salisbury, 10th, with 11-13 for $368; Richard Greene of Laurinburg, 11th, with 11-09 for $331; Orlando Giles of Lexington, 12th, with 11-08 for $305; David Wright of Lexington, 13th, with 11-06 for $295; and Jeff Gore of Lynchburg, Va., 14th, with 11-05 for $279.

Jeff Jennings of Rock Hill, S.C., took the huge-fish prize of $570 with a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass that struck a brown jig and Zoom plastic chunk.

Two of the top three co-anglers hailed from Thomasville.

Marty Williams placed first with 11-07 and collected $1,578; Chip Crews placed third with 10-09 and received $526. Crews also captured the co-angler huge-fish award of $185 with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass.

Four Salisbury co-anglers finished in the money. They were David Vandezande, fourth, with 10-07, winning $368; Tommy Swicegood, sixth, with 9-10, winning $289; Jack Scott, ninth, with 7-00, winning $210; and Cecil Sargent, 11th, with 5-07, winning $166.

Rockwell’s Michelle Williams, a waitress at Steven’s Lakeside Restaurant near High Rock, received the loudest applause for her 10th-place end among the co-anglers. Williams had three fish totaling 6-01 that paid $184.

Other co-anglers receiving checks were Brandon Roper of Raleigh, second, with 10-12 for $789; Jerry Cross of Southern Pines, fifth, with 9-11 for $316; Vernon Adams of Durham, seventh, with 9-07 for $263; Steven Selfridge of McLeansville, eighth, with 7-04 for $237; Lawrence Aucoin of Charlotte, 12th, with 5-03 for $153; Robert Galvin of Zebulon, 13th, with 4-09 for $147; and Jeff Claiborne of Suffolk, Va., 14th, with 4-06 for $139.

BFL competitors anticipated a slow bite at High Rock, and they were correct. Only 15 five-fish limits were taken by the 74 boaters and only one five-fish limit by the 74 co-anglers.

Ron and Carmen Nelson won Saturday’s Adam & Eve Trail tournament at Tuckertown Lake with 19 pounds, 3 ounces, and shared $250.

Neal and Pat McDonald captured the second-place prize of $150 with 14-15. They also claimed the huge-fish award of $100 with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass.

Ben and Treithler Ragan ranked third with 12-05 that paid $100.

The Adam & Eve Trail will hold a special father-daughter or father-granddaughter tournament June 23 at Badin Lake out of the Lakemont ramp. The entry fee is $25.

Tony Garitta is a fishing columnist for The Dispatch.

The Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Lakeland caught three bass over 10 pounds last January during a Bassmaster Southern Open, but finished second to Gerald Swindle in a heavyweight shootout.

Lane hadn’t won on the Kissimmee Chain since a Lakeland Bassmasters tournament three years ago, when he produced two bass over 10 pounds in one day.

But he weighed in two more 10-pound-plus bass last Thursday and Friday in a pro team tournament with Gerald Brown of Oklahoma, and the two bucketmouths propelled them to victory, ending a long dry spell.

“It’s about time,” Lane said Wednesday.

“Finally to win one is what I needed, especially on my home lake (Kissimmee).”

Lane and Brown put together a 64.64-pound total over three days to win the Bass Pro Shops PAA Tour Team Challenge out of Lake Toho that ended Saturday.

“It takes the edge off a small bit to get started out great. It feels good,” said Lane, who’s heading to Lake Okeechobee for the FLW Tour Open next week then the Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in Louisiana.

Lane, 37, reeled in a 10.59-pounder on Thursday as bass were starting to bed on the chain, casting a junebug red Berkley Bottom Hopper trick worm into lily pads.

That same day, Leon Hurst of Kentucky released a 13 1/2-pounder on the south end of Kissimmee with a wild shiner.

Then Lane backed it up with a 10.02-pounder on Friday on Day Two of the Professional Anglers Association tournament, this time reeling a black Berkley Grass Pig swim-bait through flags.

The first notable wave of bedding bass made quite a showing Thursday to Sunday on the chain.

“It’s an awesome fishery, not to mention the fact that there’s numerous amounts of 10-pounders in that lake and that this is the best time of the year to catch them,” Lane said.

Bass were definitely bedding, he said, and while they found a few sight-fishing, most of them came casting soft plastics to lily pads and arrowheads (flags).

“The water’s a lot more tannic than it’s ever been, and it’s harder to see the beds this year, which I think is better because they’re not so spooky,” Lane said.

“Basically, it was a bed-fishing pattern. but almost every fish we caught we could not see the beds.”

With balmy weather this week and an approaching full moon, there promises to be even more trophy-class bass during the next week.

“I think with the weather this week and next week, you should be able to catch a lot of fish in 2-4 feet casting lily pads and arrowheads and throwing plastic swim-baits for fish that are moving to the bed and are around the bed,” Lane said. “I expect to see quite a few in the next two weeks over 10 pounds.”

Gary Clouse and John Kremer took second with 60.47 pounds. Glenn Browne and Chad Morgenthaler produced a 31.89-pound stringer Thursday on Toho and were third with 60.11 pounds. Chris Lane and Scott Paul of Lakeland were eighth with 46.86 pounds.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

Kyle Sellars and Ron Pendland won the year’s first Accent Marine tournament Sunday on the Kissimmee Chain out of Camp Mack with 19.62 pounds, and Pendland’s 9.77-pound kicker was the largest bass. Gary Niemi and James Dyer took second with 18.98 pounds. Jim and Allen Prince finished third with 18.17 pounds. Gary Hawkins and Ron Buey placed fourth with 17.94 pounds, while fifth went to Chuck Pons and Casey Gonzalez with 17.87 pounds.

Bill Bledsoe and Jerry Stack combined for 22.49 pounds to win the Castaways tournament Saturday on the north Winter Haven chain. Brian and Tanner Pope finished second with 16.78 pounds. Robbie McGohon and Al Moekel had 16.48 pounds for third, followed by Kenny and Robin Cooke with 16.42 pounds. Johnny Lockaby’s 6.32-pounder was tops.

Lee Cepero won the Lakeland Bassmasters’ first tournament of the season Jan. 22 on the south Winter Haven chain with 21.53 pounds. Bob Kitterman took second with 18.38 pounds. Richard Finley placed third with 16 1/2 pounds. Gary Hawkins finished fourth with 15.03 pounds, while Chris Maxwell was fifth with 14.78 pounds. Logan Hay netted the big bass at 8.31 pounds.

Terry Frisenda and Matt Hinman won the Xtreme Series Toho Division tournament on the Kissimmee Chain Sunday with 32.02 pounds. Jim Miller and John Koser were second with 21.71 pounds. Andrew Lee and Joe Condy had 20.73 pounds for third with the big fish of 7.54 pounds.

Bill Guerard and Bobby Castilleja won the Sunday Open Series tournament on Lake McLeod with 13 pounds, 14 ounces, including the largest fish at 6 pounds. Ismael Garcia Sr. and Buddy Timberman were second with 13 pounds, 8 ounces, and third went to the father-son team of Jimmy and Wade Young with 13 pounds, 6 ounces.

Don Smith and Ricky Timmerman won the Lake Wales Po’ Boys tournament on Lake Toho Jan. 22 with 13.45 pounds. Miguel Suazo and Wayne Montgomery finished second with 12.70 pounds. Ricky Helms and Barry Meyers had 9.20 pounds for third. Ed Sankowski’s 3.74-pounder proved best.

Jay Malys and Heliodoro Raminguez teamed up for an 11 1/2-pound stringer to win the Bartow High School Yellow Jackets team tournament Saturday. the team fished a private pit at the Cedar Trail Landfill that hadn’t been fished for 20 years after helping the landfill with an Adopt-A-Road project cleaning up trash along E.F. Griffin Road. Cody Malys and Shane Himes finished second with 9 pounds, 15 ounces. Mike Boswell and C.J. Wright were third with 9 1/2 pounds. Luke Ferguson’s 4-pound, 13-ouncer was tops.

[ Del Milligan's freshwater fishing column appears Thursdays in the Ledger. He can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or 863-802-7555. Milligan's blog, Central Florida Fishology, can be found at theledger.com home page. ]

You don’t have to take to the water to show your support of fisheries research.

Motorists can now order a specialty North Carolina license place for the vehicle to support sustainable fisheries research.

N.C. State University’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology located along Bogue Sound in Morehead City has developed a specialty license plate to help raise funds to support student research in sustainable fisheries, according to a CMAST news release.

The program will provide funding for continued research and conservation of recreational and commercially important fisheries, support undergraduate and graduate student training and provide educational outreach.

The N.C. General Assembly approved legislation authorizing the sale of the license plates, which feature a marlin, in July 2011.

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles must receive 300 paid applications before the license plates can be produced. the cost of a plate is $30 ($60 for personalized plates) in addition to any regular license fees.

Part of the proceeds to DMV, with the remaining money going into a special fund earmarked for CMAST research and programs.

To preorder a specialty plate, contact CMAST at 252-222-6302 for an application or go to cmast.ncsu.edu for information online.

CMAST faculty will also have a display with license applications at the Bass and Saltwater Fishing Expo being held through Sunday, Jan. 8 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

I went out recently and did a lot of twitching and flashing — with a top water lure that is.

If you’re looking to do some cold weather fishing, you don’t have to go far. and it can all be done with top water lures.

Capt. Scott Robson of the 50-foot charter boat Phoenix, does bay and river fishing aboard his 18-foot Redfisher, also open for charter.

“I’ve been chartering in the Gulf for about 35 years,” Robson said. “and I still like to do it. But this is more relaxing and has become kind of a new challenge,” he said.

“Two or three years ago I didn’t know anything about trout in the river … so this is a new frontier for me.”

Just 20 minutes away, anglers can put in just north of the bay and fish all up and down Mitchell River for speckled trout, stripers, redfish and bass.

Using light tackle, 7-foot rods with 12-pound Braid, we went in hunt of trout and redfish using top water lures.

Robson looks for baitfish because that is where the fish will be feeding and more likely to hit a top water lure.

“Ninety percent of my fishing is top water lures,” Robson said. “The explosion is so much cooler.”

He likes to use lures that are blue, green, chartreuse or silver in color.

Casting as far away as you can, he retrieves the lure quickly while twitching it along the way.

“I do a lot of twitching and flashing,” Robson said. “I like using the Braid because you can cast further with it.”

Robson works the bait all the way back to the boat in hopes of luring in a speck, redfish, bass or striper.

“A lot of these fish will attack it right when you get ready to pull it out of the water,” he said.

We were fishing in about 15 feet of water, but the fish will and did hit on top.

Robson said he likes the top water lure because “I want to be able to see that fish explode on the lure … see it crash on it.”

On the river “you see the bites,” he said. “You’ll see them take your lure,” unlike bottom fishing in the Gulf when you just feel the tug.

Fishing along the river, Robson snagged a small trout, then just minutes later a striper exploded on his lure.

We later ventured out into the bay and worked around some of the grassy areas where I finally hooked up with a trout of my own. For years I’ve used grubs, bumping them off the bottom. But this top water lure stuff is something else and a bit more exciting.

Later in the day, we came upon an area where it was apparent there was fish in the area because you could see something popping at the baitfish on top.

Robson cast in the area and BAM … it was fish on! he managed to pull in a gator trout that was well over the size limit.

Remember trout have to be at least 15 inches in length and you can only keep five. The slot limit for redfish is 18 to 27 inches. Anything smaller or larger has to go back.

“These fish go like all fish, they can be here today and gone tomorrow. But I’m figuring it out,” he said.

Robson is open for charter on the gulf, bay or river. To book a trip, call 685-1951.

Posted Yesterday, 12:11 PM

got back yesterday from the Wounded Warriors tournament/fishing derby at Truman Lake out of Long Shoal Marina.got on the lake a couple of days before the event. Friday was a small windy, no it was a lot windy with intermittent 30 mph+ winds. but you could get out of the wind kinda in the coves and it is possible to drive your boat around, just don't do anything stupid.they had a excellent BBQ dinner on Sat. night and they we drew for partners.Day of event, Long Shoal Marina sponsored a excellent breakfast, all you wanted to eat. (Apparently some of the younger wounded warriors forgot that later on they bould be bouncing around on a boat all day, but that's another story.)I drew a nice guy, a career sargeant from Fort Leonard Wood, recently returned from several years overseas.We each caught a few fish, shorts, nothing to weigh. the sergeant went home with a picture of a 5"bass that attacked his crankbait.anyway, had a fairly inexpensive small vacation and at the same time supported a very worthy cause. Some of the guys I met had been wounded, recovered, and were going about their lives, other guys not so much. they were in need of some serious chill time. and they got some on a gorgeous October day riding around on Truman Lake.this just wasn't a fishing event for guys with the big swank Rangers and Tritons. while there were quite a few of those, there were quite a few guys with aluminum rigs like mine, and some smaller 16' or so rigs. I saw 3 or 4 big Lowe deck boats. they were there to take out the guys in wheelchairs and walkers.overall there were over a hundred boats. the Leavenworth Bass Club and Long Shoal Marina is to be commended for sponsoring this quality event. and I know there are lots of sponsors I'm leaving out..Event organizers told me that the date for next years event has already been set., i.e. the weekend prior to Columbus Day.I'm going to go next year, (assuming I can get the days off from work) and I'd encourage any other member from the region to attend if they can. You'll have some fun and you'll be doing some guy who got shot up (and lived) in the service of his country a favor. there is lots more information about this event on the Fort Leavenworth Bass Club web site. north of Richmond, MO

i been fishing lately so i wanna get the best out of my outdoor fishing with people that have expericene on what to use that works best to catch bass,
i usually fish during the day when its aroud 70degrees im in florida so it doesnt get cool enough possibly only in winters but summers around 80's
i use just a plain on white and black lure that looks like a fish. its a 4-8feet depth one.
i usually try and find places that have lily pads and deep holes but sometimes with these lakes its hard.

so i would like to know what time would be best and what kinda lakes to look for and what kinda bait to use to have a better chance of catching fish. thanks for the advice

I won't tell my secrets, but providing that you are over 21 years of age & a non smoker, i could take you out on Lake Okeechobee & show you how i go about catching fish

Try frogs in the pads and plastic worms . open water Shad Rap

while bass are sight predators they tend to like low light conditions typically early morning and early evening work best, cooler water temp helps they seem less sluggish and ready to feed. no matter what lure you cast be sure to use fluorocarbon leaders specially if fishing from land. keep in mind bass get weary of any bait that is not presented naturally and moves inward to land they have been conditioned by fishermen for ages and can be pesky to catch in some lakes cast along structure or weed lines as bass travel along these while looking for food, also use fish attractants w/ rubber baits they may strike any bait but if it tastes as excellent as it looks they run w/ it excellent luck hope it helps

There's this pond I fish at with a lot of huge bluegill but the bullheads are only about 5 inches long and are a nuisance. not a single large mouth bass. Is that okay? It would be cool to fish there without the bullheads, but I don't want to mess up the ecosystem. Any Suggestions?

yeah, eat them. they're good if you know how to make them correctly. catch whatever you can eat, then ask anyone if they'd like you to catch some for them to eat and catch for them. DO NOT kill fish with no purpose.

catch em and try to sell them

CALERO: Action has picked up. Use Senkos, jigs or chatterbaits for bass to 4 pounds, but averaging 1 to 2 pounds. 408-268-3883, 408-463-0711

CHABOT: Regulars who baitfish for catfish get limits. Catfish are congregating near the sticks at Coots Landing, Raccoon Point or the Island. some weigh 4 to 5 pounds. a 5-pound trout was caught last weekend. 510-247-2526

DEL VALLE: a plant of 500 pounds of catfish went in Tuesday. Catfish bite is best near Swallow Bay and the coves off the Narrows. 925-449-5201

LAFAYETTE: Bite remains slow. Water temperature is 71 degrees, and fish are deep. a plant of 800 pounds of catfish went in last week. 925-284-9669

LOCH LOMOND: Bass fishing is slow. a few small largemouth get caught, but most of the action is on bluegill and even that bite is slowing. 831-335-7424

LOS VAQUEROS: more than 80 striped bass weighing more than 8 pounds were caught last week. Baitfishing from a boat with anchovies is better than baitfishing from shore, but both are effective. Eight catfish larger than 10 pounds were caught last week. 925-371-2628

McALPINE: Trout bite early in the morning and late in the evening, preferring white Power Bait. Catfish are active later in the afternoon into the evening. Sturgeon like garlic-scented baits. 831-623-4263

QUARRY LAKES: Rob Meyers of Menlo Park caught a stringer of three cats weighing 15 pounds from Fishermen’s Row. he was using the shrimp and marshmallows. Catfish bite has been decent. Trout fishing has been slow. 510-544-3130

SAN LUIS RESERVOIR: Striped bass bite is improving from the shore at the forebay. Use Pile worms or blood worms. Check 12 is a excellent spot. the main lake is fishing best near the Trash Racks or the coves near Dinosaur Point. 408-463-0711

SAN PABLO RESERVOIR: the preserve and Scow Canyon are the spots to get catfish. cut baits — especially anchovies or mackerel — work best. 510-223-1661

SHADOW CLIFFS: a plant of 500 pounds of catfish went in Wednesday. Bite has been generally slow, but a 12-pound cat was caught last week. 510-544-3230

UVAS: get action from bluegill, bass, crappie and catfish. Catfish respond best at night. Bass chase Senkos, Rattletraps. 408-463-0711

BENICIA: Salmon bite has dropped off, and the wait is on for the next school of kings. Striper fishing is a bit better. Bass from 19 to 27 inches are being caught at 14th Street and 12th Street. Bullhead, grass shrimp or anchovies work well. Benicia Bait 707-745-4921

FRANKS TRACT: Early morning and evenings have provided excellent black bass fishing. Buzzbaits, frogs and topwater baits work best. It’s very slow during the day, but throw jigs outside the weed line for a shot at hooking up. 925-625-2441

RIO VISTA: Most of the striped bass in the area are sublegal. Salmon bite slowed during the weekend with heavy boat traffic. 707-374-2372, 916-777-6498

BERKELEY: Party boats trolling in front of the Golden Gate (Point Diablo to Point Bonita) and off Muir Beach get a fish per rod. Sizes range from shakers to 30 pounds. Rock cod trips get limits at the Farallons with eight to 15 lings per day. Halibut bite has been slow. 510-849-3333, 510-773-4156, 510-223-5388, 707-334-4827

CAPITOLA: Halibut, rock cod and white sea bass are being caught. a 20-pound halibut came from One Mile Reef. a 45-pound sea bass was landed near the Cement Ship. Small but legal-salmon are being caught trolling and mooching straight out from the pier. Salmon are 45 to 60 feet below the surface. 831-462-2208

EMERYVILLE: Rock cod trips to both the Farallons and the Marin County coast get limits. Salmon trips to the Marin coast get limits on smaller loads, sometimes a fish per rod or less. Scores have been fluctuating. Potluck trips get rock cod on the Marin coast and shoot for halibut on the way back. Halibut scores have been sporadic, well under a fish per rod. 510-654-6040

MONTEREY: White sea bass trips get two or three fish per outing. biggest catch was a 55-pounder. Rock cod/ling cod trips to big Sur come back with limits and lots of vermilion. 831-375-5951

PACIFICA: Salmon continue to go in and out from the pier. Perch fishing is excellent at Ocean Beach. Striper fishing isn’t red hot, but stripers are moving from beach to beach. It’s been best at night. 650-355-8303, 650-359-9790

PILLAR POINT: Rock fishing is excellent with calm ocean conditions. the Tiger Fish on Sunday went to the Farallons for 26 limits of rock cod and 27 lings. the New Capt. Pete had three salmon for nine on Sunday. the Connie O had limits of cod Saturday and the Ankenny Street on Saturday had 21 limits of cod and three lings while fishing off the Ritz. On Sunday it went out in the shallows in front of Pillar Point for 100 rockfish and 18 lings to 18 pounds and three cabezone. 650-726-7133, 650-726-2913

SAN FRANCISCO: the perch bite is excellent at Oyster Point Pier, but pile worms are hard to come by. Grass shrimp will work, as will jigs. the striper bite is best in the evening, but there are a lot of sharks and rays. Boaters are scratching out a few halibut and stripers. 650-589-3474

SAN PABLO BAY: the wind kicked up Tuesday, but the forecast is for calm weather Friday through the weekend. Salmon are being caught daily at California City, but the numbers are not fantastic. Drift shiners at the Whaling Station and the Brothers for stripers to 12 pounds, but averaging 6 pounds. Shore anglers continue to get stripers with bullhead or pile worms. 415-456-0321

SUISUN BAY: Stripers are moving through, and a few sturgeon are also being brought in. biggest striper was a 33-inch bass. the Martinez Pier, Ozol and Buoy 4 are prime spots. Use bullhead or grass shrimp. 925-229-9420

The weekly fishing report will highlight the best Bay Area angling opportunities. for a more comprehensive report, go to norcalfishingnews.com for reports from more than 100 waters from 12 regions. Compiled by Bay Area News Group writer Tim Goode.

Posted August 23 2011 – 08:16 PM

I have been making saltwater rods for almost 20 years(36 years ancient), specifically offshore tuna rods.since I've taken up bass fishing a few years ago I didn't want to put any effort into studying the nuances of freshwater rods. I figured if I can save money and still use top materials then it's all good. So here's my first crack at it. I am looking to build a series for my boat and have ordered some MHX blanks to the builds.This rod will be used for a heavy jig and carolina rod and is balanced to a Abu Revo Toro Winch.Blank: All-Star BAST846C 12-25lb 3/8-1ozSorry for the grainy iphone pics.Guides: Fuji ICLNSG 10-8-7- ICLSG 6-6-6-6-6-6 @ concept spacingSeat: Fuji ACS16 triggerimg37.imageshack.us/img37/4765/securedownloadwj.jpgimg831.imageshack.us/img831/2875/securedownload2copy.jpgimg269.imageshack.us/img269/4724/securedownload4copy.jpgimg812.imageshack.us/img812/3795/securedownload5v.jpg 2005 Princecraft w/ Mercury 30HP 4 stroke

The only problem with that is that it would have to be a very small camera, and I'd have to find a way to do it with out hurting the fish. obviously the only place to do this would be a small pond, because In a large lake it could be almost impossible to retrieve the camera. it would also have to be something that would fall off after a day or two so as not to hurt the fish. I reckon the best candidates would be a gar, or catfish. Maybe a large bass, if the camera is very small.

I really reckon it would be very cool if the camera were positioned towards the mouth of a bass. it would be fun to watch them ambushing their prey and what not. But finding a way to do this without it permanently being attached, I reckon, would be a hard task. Again, though, in theory, it would be really interesting.

Something else that I always thought would be cool is a camera on a fishing lure. Again, it would be dreadfully clean to see the fish really hitting the lure. then again, I've seen fish hitting lures clear as day in the large tanks that pros do seminars on. it never gets ancient for me, though.

it would be cool but how wood you see in dirty water and how wood you get your camera back?