THE LATEST NEWS
Sight Fishing Time Management
The season is upon us to start looking for bass in the shallows, especially in clear water impoundments. It’s easy to waste many hours trying to entice a bass to eat a bait. By understanding a few characteristic of a bedding bass you can make better decisions on which ones to spend time on, and help make your fishing trip more enjoyable.
As with all techniques and fishing it’s important to have the right equipment. There are two things I would never go sight fishing without – sunglasses and Power-Poles. A good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must. I use Smith Action Optics, and their techlite polarized glasses are also photo chromatic so it minimizes the need for several pairs of glasses for different lighting conditions.
While sight fishing can be done from the bank, if you are fishing from a boat Power-Poles are critical. If you don’t have Power-Poles, a good anchor can work, but look into adding Power-Poles when and if you can.
Before I start giving my tips I wanted to take the time to talk conservation, briefly. Bedding fish are in the process of reproducing and while I am not a fisheries biologist it doesn’t take much to know catching fish in the stage can be detrimental to a fishery. With that said, bed fishing can be a great time, and an especially good time to take a kid or new angler fishing. By releasing the fish immediately after catching it, in the same location, you can minimize the impact of the spawn.
Now back to how to understanding their behavior.
It is very important to be as sneaky as possible. When possible wear clothes that blend in with the surroundings and stay as far from the bedding areas as possible. No matter what you do, the fish will see you, usually before you see it. This is the first sign of how catchable that fish is. Most fish can be classified in three categories immediately.
The first category is easy to figure out. I call it “locked on”. A bass that doesn’t move from its bed when it sees you or your bait is locked on. These fish are the easiest to catch and if its the size you are looking for its worth the time to fish for it.
The second and third categories start the same, but end differently. They both start by the fish leaving the bed. You can begin to decipher the catch-ability of the fish by seeing how fast it moves from the bed. Fish moving faster from the bed are less catchable than those that slowly wander off.
Next, focus on how far it moves from the bed. Does fish moves completely out of sight, or does it just move to slightly deeper water where it can keep an eye on the bed. In the latter case, you might be able to entice the fish back to the bed quickly by throwing a bait onto its bed. I call fish like this “skittish” and they are catchable, for the most part. For the right fish I will spend time working on fish like this.
For fish that move completely out of sight it might be necessary to continue down the bank and return a little later in the day. Since you already know where the fish is, you can mark the spot and return in a more “stealthy” mode. If the fish once again leaves the bed out of your vision that this fish might not be worth fishing for. If its an absolute giant or a tournament game changer I might return a few times during the day. Otherwise, I won’t waste much time fishing for a fish in this stage. I call these fish “not ready.”
By determining if a fish is locked on, skittish or not ready you can better utilize your time on the water. Remember to use your favorite Z-Man Fishing soft plastic bait when bed fishing. Because elaZtech plastic will stay rigged and last longer, you know your bait will be rigged and ready when that fish is ready to eat.
Five, Four, Three, Two, One.
Chili Craws and Betty’s Breakfast at Seminole
Five lures Shaw Grigsby will have tied on today as he tries to follow-up the amazing 30-pound, 5-bass limit that he caught on Day One to take the lead at the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Seminole yesterday. His selection includes a Red Eye Shad, a swim jig, a Rage Blade, a Cut R worm, and a white Strike King Rage Craw on a huge 7/0 Trokar hook.
Four colors of Red Eye Shad lures that KVD is carrying on Lake Seminole. He graciously explains when anglers should choose each. Carp color (hooked to reel) a great early spring color when water is stained. Chili Craw anywhere in early spring from Michigan to Texas. Sexy Shad for slightly stained water when shad are present. Gold Sexy Shad for clear water when shad are present. VanDam typically throws these lures on 17-pound fluorocarbon with a TKVD705MB rod.
Three things Terry “Big Show” Scroggins will try to do better Friday, on the heels of a bad Day One that left him in 75th place. 1.) Get an earlier takeoff number that will hopefully help him avoid sharing bedding fish with competitors. 2.) Take advantage of warmer temps that should lead to improved fishing. 3.) Adjust quicker to whatever weather changes take place throughout Friday.
Two set-ups that helped Casey Ashley win $100,000 last week on Lake Hartwell. His biggest fish bit a green pumpkin jig tied to a Quantum EXO baitcaster, but a size 30 Smoke Spinning reel rigged with a shaky head was critical to completing his 5-bass limit each day.
One place tournament leader Shaw Grigsby eats breakfast nearly every morning he’s at Lake Seminole is Betty’s Cafeteria. Located at 1500 Dothan Highway in Bainbridge, just a short hop from the launch ramp, you’ll find Shaw there nearly every morning, along with founder Betty, her daughter Lois, and son Mike. An old Field & Stream story autographed by Grigsby hangs framed on the wall, along with lots of Florida State signage. They’re also open for lunch.
Morgan Aligns with iRod for 2014
Agoura Hills, Calif – Reigning FLW Tour Angler of the Year Andy Morgan has aligned with iRod Fishing for the 2014 season. Morgan will be using iRod fishing rods for the 2014 season and will be designing several signature series rods. Morgan’s signature series rods include a light flippin’/junk fishing rod that is in the production stage now, and a heavy flippin’ stick which is already on the market.
Morgan knew what he was in for from the first time he held an iRod. “The very first time I held an iRod I knew they were going to be good. In fact, the very first day I had them I used them to fish in the Forrest Wood Cup on the Red River last year. After only a few tournaments I’ve already used the iRods in a wide range of applications. I used my signature series heavy flippin’ stick at Lake Okeechobee, my prototype light flippin’/junk rod to make precise casts around docks, and believe it or not a spinning rod on Lake Hartwell. I am even more impressed by the quality and performance in these rods after using them in such a wide range of applications.”
Owner of iRod, Matt Newman is thrilled with the new addition to his team. Newman had this to say about Morgan, “I’ve always been an Andy Morgan fan. He is at the very top of the bass fishing world, and his current number one status on the BassFan.com world rankings confirms that. Andy’s skills and knowledge of fishing will be a huge asset to iRod moving forward.”
So far this season Morgan has finished in second place on Lake Hartwell last week and 13th place on Lake Okeechobee in early February. Morgan continues his FLW Tour Angler of the Year title defense at Lake Sam Rayburn, Texas March 27th to 30th before heading to Beaver Lake in early April.
For more information about iRods visit iRodFishing.com
OBBT Clarkshill Ga.
Dates: March 29 – 30, 2014
Entry Fees are per Angler: $100 for one day entry and $150 for two day entry.
Overall Big Bass: $30,000.00 2014 Nitro Z7 with Mercury 150HP Pro XS
Hourly Prizes: $35,000.00
1st – $1,000
2nd – $500
3rd – $300
4th – $250
5th – $200
6th – $150
7th – $100
Payouts based on 400 total entries
Weight in Site: Wildwood Park 3780 Dogwood Lane, Appling, GA 30802
Registration: Friday March 28th 3 – 7 PM Wildwood Park — If you have previously registered/paid online then you have an official entry into the tournament and are NOT required to attend any registration/meeting on Friday. Friday’s registration is ONLY for anglers who have not already entered/paid for the tournament. We will have door prizes for those who attend on Friday from 3-7pm. (You must be present to win) *If you qualified to receive an early online entry rod (see below), then you may pick it up Friday from 3-7pm or Sat/Sun after 3pm. Free rods are for the first 150 anglers to register early ONLINE only.
Start Time: Due to the varying times of year that we host our tournaments, we will notify everyone of the start time on the Friday before the tournament. We will notify you via text message and/or email. Start time (first cast) for each tournament will be safe light and set by the tournament director. You may launch and be on the water but you may not begin fishing until we notify you of first cast. Please do not call our offices related to start time.
Weigh in Times: 8-9am, 9-10am, 10-11am, 11-12pm, 12-1pm, 1-2pm, 2-3pm.
Free Quantum custom rods to the first 150 online entrants. Early entry promo rods may be picked up at Friday registration from 3-7pm or after 3pm each day of the tournament. Please do not call our offices related to early entry rods. We will notify anglers on this page when rods are gone along with the cutoff date. If you registered on or before the cutoff date then you will receive a rod. If you register after, you will not. *Your co-angler may pick up your rod for you if you’re unable to be present.
Tournament Rules: Click Here
Card’s Pre Seminole Report
Suzuki Pro Brandon Card shares his thoughts on the first event of the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Seminole.
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