Tips from the pros
Professional anglers spend huge numbers of hours on the water in pursuit of fish. The water is their office, it’s where they report for work, it’s a job that generates the income to support their families today and provide a nest egg for the future.
Successful tournament pros are often quoted because of knowledge they acquired in the ‘school of hard knocks’ and experience gained on the water under the best and worst conditions.
And, the most successful people in the competitive fishing industry are usually the first ones to share their knowledge.
Here is some ‘sound advice’ from Kevin VanDam, Tracker Nitro pro, two-time Bassmaster Classic Champion and winner of multiple Bassmaster Angler of the Year Awards.
“Fish can hear as well as they see, but sound waves don’t transmit well from air to water, so talking (in a boat) is okay. Sound waves do however travel much better through the water, from land to water and from boat to water,” said VanDam.
He is convinced fish can easily hear bumps or bangs in the boat, a big lure hitting the water, an outboard engine or trolling motor, the wake of a boat splashing and any other sounds they don’t normally hear.
“Unless you want to spook a big fish that was just waiting to strike your lure, you need to be aware of every sound you make and be as quiet as possible,” said VanDam.
Stacey King, Bass Pro Shops pro and 12-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier says there are times we should ‘stop fishing’.
“Sometimes fish follow the lure all the way back to the boat, refusing to strike. What do you do? Some people recommend speeding up your retrieve to elicit a take from a trailing fish. Others say slow down your retrieve. Still others say to make a figure eight with your rod tip at the side of the boat to draw a strike,” said King.
He knows all these tactics work but also advises anglers to stop their retrieve entirely sometimes, believing many species of fish will strike a dropping lure with a vengeance.
“In murky water, watch for the slightest twitch on the line. In clear water, let the lure drop until it hits bottom unless a fish sucks it in before that. Some fish will even pick it up off the bottom. This works with all types of baits like jigs, plastic worms, and spinnerbaits,” says King.
When the bass refuse to bite, it’s time to ‘jig for bluegills’ says Mike Webb, founder of Kids Are Special Too (K.A.S.T.)
“Worms, crickets, and other live bait will nearly always catch bluegill but if you want to catch more ‘gills, switch to jigs. Bug-like jigs rate as outstanding imitations and tiny is better when it comes to picking the most effective jigs,” said Webb.
He likes mini jigs because they can be more easily fished at the sluggish pace sunfish prefer. These featherweight jigs snag less and can tempt fish that may not be hungry enough to bite big bait.
“Also, certain enticing retrieves are possible with tiny offerings that can’t be duplicated with larger ones. When they get picky, matching their diet with a jig imitation can definitely bring more action,” said Webb.
New Stuff
Made in Moberly, Mo., Ardent is the only manufacturer of casting and spinning reels that are made in the U.S.A. Of special interest to serious anglers is their technique specific F500 flipping and pitching reel that was designed and tested by pros like Alton Jones, 2008 Bassmaster Classic Champion, and BASS Elite pro Pete Ponds.
The F500 works equally well with monofilament or braided line, re-spooling perfectly every time. Backed by a three year warranty, it features five stainless ball bearings, a stainless anti-reverse clutch and a 6.3:1 retrieve ratio. See the F500 and other Ardent products at Bryant’s Osage Outdoors in Laurie.
You may not have noticed how a new fishing rod has garnered the attention of discriminating, serious anglers. Denali rods feature a woven graphite high modulus blank, Rosewood foregrip, guides with a Ring Lock frame made from ATLAS stainless steel, cork Comfort Finish reel seats for tireless fishing and an exposed blank to improve sensitivity.
Denali rods are available in technique specific models starting at under $140. See them at www.denalirods.com/.
Two soft plastics have come to the market this year. Berkley introduced their PowerBait Heavy Weight Fat Sink Worm, created for multiple freshwater species. Try it wacky-rigged or Texas-style without a weight. Their weighted formula causes the Sink Worm to fall faster than conventional weighted baits. See it at www.berkley-fishing.com/.
Northland introduced a 3 1/2 inch version of its popular Slurpies Brush Beaver and called it the PUP. It’s crafted for flipping and pitching into weeds, grass, brush and timber. Imitating the looks of a real crawfish, its oversized legs and beaver tail slows the fall, provoking bass to strike. Available in six crayfish colors, see the PUP at www.northlandtackle.com/.
Please remember, May 16 – 22 is National Safe Boating Week. It’s a time to pay particular attention to courteous, safe boating. About 700 boaters drown each year because they weren’t wearing a life jacket – WEAR IT.
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. —
