Social Fins

First ALA Event Fun for Entire Family, Viewed as Successful Event

 

The first American Lady Anglers (ALA) Event, held on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at Lake Fork Marina and Motel, is now in the books. The intrepid participants who chose to brave the intermittent bands of showers spawned by Hurricane Alex enjoyed a memorable day-long extravaganza with something for everyone.  The two most-voiced comments, heard repeatedly by the organizers were, “I had a great time, this tournament was the most fun of any tournament I’ve ever been in,” and “I’ll definitely be back for next year’s event”.  The ALA had two goals in organizing the Independence Day Celebration. The primary goal was to throw a huge party to celebrate the holiday and honor the military veterans past and present who make it possible for all Americans to celebrate their Independence on this day, and the second was to hold a small, “get-your-feet-wet” event to try out all of the new equipment and work out any potential problems before the big Inaugural Tournament in September. The idea, creators say, is similar to opening a store before the Grand Opening, to work out all of the kinks.   

The event started bright and early with a morning fishing tournament. From first cast at 6 am until the weigh-in at 11 am, the teams competed for both cash and prizes.  First place honors went to uncle and nephew team Paul and Garrett Pearson, who also won the Big Bass Pot. Friends Cameron Burnett and Jonathan Lancaster won second place honors, weighing in at only three hundredths of an ounce behind the winners. Judy Skibinski and Cora Barker, both new ALA Charter members, won third place.   Specialty prizes added to the festivities, with Hollie Brown taking the “Smallest Legal Fish” award. The award was a beautiful pink Ladies’ rod donated by CastAway rods, especially for this tournament. Liz Sanders and Linda Owens also each took home beautiful pink CastAway Ladies’ rods, winning the prize for coming the longest distance to fish in the event. Although there were anglers coming from Louisiana, Liz and Linda won by coming all the way from Brandon, Mississippi to join us at the Lake Fork event. Brandy Roughton, Vice President of CastAway Rods, brought her family to enjoy the event, along with multiple rods donated by her company for the event. She also brought copies of the companies’ freshly-printed new catalog, featurning CastAway’s new technology which will be highlighted in the rods they are taking to ICAST.

Immediately after the weigh-in concluded, several commemorative plaques were awarded by the American Lady Anglers. The first was a post humus Award given to Dorothy Jean Watkins, honorary American Lady Angler Charter Member Number One.  Rod Baker, ALA Founder and Firecracker Fish-Off Tournament Director, emceed the event and said of Dorothy Jean. “She was the original Lady Angler and always fishing. When the WBT visited Old Hickory Lake in 2009, we met her son Dave Watkins, a guide at Old Hickory. He was out fishing with his mother and every few minutes would come up to him and say, ’I’m hung up!’ and Dave would patiently go and get her unstuck, all the while fishing and talking. She was a local fixture and everyone would drive by and honk at her as she fished.”  The next plaque went to Tim Walker, winner of last year’s Firecracker Fish-Off. As winner of the event, Tim was granted free entry into the tournament this year. The plaque, commissioned and completed after last year’s event, and has been gracing the walls of Moser’s Restaurant for the patrons to comment on since that time.  The Model A Fords swept the Classic Car Competition, and no clear winner could be determined. The People’s Choice Award was therefore split between the two Model A Fords, and a second People’s Choice Award will be given so that both Model A Ford owners will receive their plaque. The Mavericks Motorcycle Club swept into the marina with mufflers rumbling, to the applause of the crowd gathered for the weigh-in ceremonies. Fans immediately gravitated to the motorcycle display, after emcee Rod Baker explained the voting procedure. After a heated competition, Motorcycle #4 won the People’s Choice Award. It was a close contest between the winner and Motorcycle #9, another clear crowd favorite. After the Motorcycle competition convened, the Mavericks Motorcycle Club convened to President Steve Glenn’s house for a Commemorative Cook Out to celebrate their success, so that they could rest and regroup for the Fireworks Event later.

Reel Girls Fish, owned by ALA Sponsor Denise Sustiata, brought an entire trailer full of new products to display and sell to fans at the event.  Denise’s Bass Caddy husband Larry received an official ALA Bass Caddy shirt as a thank-you from event organizers for all of the effort he put into helping out for the entire event. From dawn ‘til dusk, Larry lifted, toted, and in general did anything and everything he could to help out at both the Reel Girls booth and throughout the event grounds. Not only did the Reel Girls Booth display beautiful tee shirts and camisoles with both bling and originality, they treated customers by displaying on-site production of their wares.  Customers could custom-order their individual preferences and watch while Denise made the magic happen and produce the order to their exact specifications.  ALA member Terri Elkins is now a proud owner of a beautiful Reel Girls black camisole, with a beautiful aqua blue design.  Other booths selling their wares included Impressions and More, and the ALA even got into the act displaying their new patches, decals, hats, visors and tee shirts. Also displayed were potential future products for fan feedback, such as sports bras and camisoles.  Families and Fans dispersed indoors during heavy rain showers brought during afternoon hours, with the rain letting up just as the evening activities were scheduled to begin.

 Word quickly spread throughout the Lake Fork Marina that the show would go on as planned, and people began emerging from cover. A crowd quickly gathered to delight in the decorated golf carts, all of which showed a definite patriotic theme.  Lee White emceed the event, awarding prizes donated by Lake Fork Marina to the winners of four categories: Most Patriotic, Most Original, Best Decorated, and Crowd Favorite. The winners gathered to lead the parade in a victory lap around the marina waving their prizes to the appreciative crowd, to the accompaniment of air horns and crowd applause.  After the laughter died down, everyone was ready to view the fireworks, donated by the American Lady Anglers for the event.  Not only did people gather at the marina, but boats also gathered off the point where the fireworks were set up, to better view the fireworks from the water.  In deference to the wet ground and recent showers, organizers had to forego the planned musical accompaniment, but the collective crowd spirit could not be dampened as the Fireworks Extravaganza ensued.  For over 30 minutes, multiple bursts of remote-detonated fireworks continued to evoke appreciative applause, along with whistles and other vocal kudos. It wasn’t enough that each fireworks display used 500 grams of gunpowder, the maximum allowable for sale in the United States. Steve Nail and Rod Baker, the masterminds behind the display design wired four different types of fireworks together for each burst, ensuring that the crowd received the full “bang for their buck” for each burst. The sky was literally filled with continuous fireworks bursts for the entirety of the event, culminating in a Grand Finale lasting for over ten minutes. Fans, friends and families attending the 2010 ALA Firecracker Fish-Off all went home sleepy and satisfied, after a full day filled with fun finished off by the Fireworks Display Finale.

The ALA would like to thank Sponsors Lake Fork Marina, Reel Girls Fish, CastAway Graphite Rods, Sure-Life, Impressions & More, Steve’s Custom Props, along with all of the local businesses who donated for the 2010 ALA Firecracker Fish-Off. A big thank you goes out to Brookshire’s Grocery Store, Hooten’s Hardware, Emory Auto, Tim Walker’s Bait Shop, Steve’s Custom Props, Pott’s Feed Store, OnSite Trolling Motor Service, Service Marine, and Alco for donating items for the raffle. A special thanks to the Classic Car Club and the Mavericks Motorcycle Club for their participation.

About the ALA:  The American Lady Anglers (ALA), founded by Rod Baker, husband and bass caddy of former WBT Pro Dr. Terri Elkins, and Lake Fork Fishing Guide Lee White, gives all women the opportunity to fish on an even playing field. Standard ALA events consist of both the Co/Pro Individual and Team Tournaments in which the full field of entrants compete for two days in each. Ladies may enjoy the fun and camaraderie the ALA provides while fishing in either one or both tournaments.  ALA benefits include offering the highest paybacks possible for the lowest entry fees, along with increased media attention to promote both the anglers and their Sponsors.

The ALA also hosts specialty events, such as its season-opening Firecracker Fish-Off, an Independence Day Benefit Tournament honoring a specific military charity each year. Like other ALA specialty events, The Firecracker Fish-Off is not just for ladies; the entire family can fish. With the ALA, fishing is not only a family affair, it’s fun for everyone, the anglers, their families, their friends, and their fans. Sponsors Lake Fork Marina, Sure Life, Reel Girls Fish and CastAway Graphite Rods share the ALA ideals and support their charitable and other service ventures. 

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If you’d like more information about this topic, go to AmericanLadyAnglers.com or to schedule an interview to discuss the ALA, please call Terri Elkins at (972) 977-6700, or Email Terri at terrielkins@sbcglobal.net.

 

Before one decides on a tip or technique, one must first choose what weapon he or she will pull out of their arsenal...tackle box as it is.  The one tip I will always stress to anyone is to use good quality equipment.  From your reel, to your line, to your rod, you shouldn't cheap out.  But one of the most important elements is your lure, whether it be hard bait, soft bait, stick bait or whatever you wish to tie on the end of your line, it should be quality made bait with good components and sharp hooks.  If you stop and think how many weak links you can potentially have between you and the fish, it really puts in perspective the need for quality gear.  I have always known this to be true, but it wasn't until I really became active in competitive fishing that I started practicing it.

We have all seen the racks of spinner baits that you can get, the ones that are 4 for ten buck, or some variation of that, and if you're lucky your spinner baits might last a fishing trip.  Odds are a lot better if you don't catch a pike on one!  Though just like our parents would say when we were growing up 'it's important to try something new.'  So one day at a fishing show, I had the opportunity to speak with a guy selling spinner baits and I had to ask him, "What makes your spinner baits better then the other ones on the market?"  Needless to say he pulls out 60+ strand silicone skirts (hand tied no less), super sharp Mustad hooks, made with durable paint in a variety of colour choices, clear coated holographic blades, quality you can only find in a product manufactured in your own backyard.  So I was hooked on Northam Spinner baits.  Like any good angler would do, I bought a few.  But sadly I had to wait a few months to ice out.  So once ice out came, I got to try out some of my new spinner baits and I was blown away by their action and there feel.  You can burn them, rip them, helicopter them and even flip them and each and every time they performed flawlessly.

When I'm using a spinner bait, I always use a bait casting reel paired up with a medium heavy rod with a fast tip.  I will also use a braided line, and depending on water clarity, will match it up with a fluorocarbon leader, when the water is clear or when fishing for pike or musky.  I really like using the Berkley Tracer Braid for this application, its super sensitive and works awesome with my rod and reel combination.  Northam spinner baits are available in a "direct tie" and a "snap/leader friendly" style, depending on your preference.  The good thing about spinner baits is you can cast them a mile away from the boat, and they work equally well if you flip or pitch them around the cover.  When retrieving a spinner bait you want to make sure you have the best feel possible and to achieve this always hold your rod to the side, never right at the bait.  With a quality bait such as Northam Spinner baits, you can feel the blades turning, so you know if you're caught in weeds.  With your rod off to the side you get the maximum effectiveness out of your set up to detect structure under the water.  Also, holding your rod off to the side provides you with a much better hook set, you can sweep the rod up on a 45 degree angle to maximize the power in the rod, and drive those ultra sharp mustads into the fish.  You can also drop the tip down on an angle then sweep it back for a super strong slack line hook set.

I personally like to start out with a double willow leaf combination, which covers a lot of water.  If I don't get a hit, I will switch to a double or single Colorado blade depending on water clarity.  Sometimes the extra vibrations of the Colorado blade wakes up the fish and the slower retrieve of the Colorado keeps the bait in the strike zone longer.  It's always important to have a variety of spinner baits on hand with different styles of blades.  Consider using a trailer hook too, if you are finding that you are missing fish or if they are short striking.

The variety of colours available and the different weights can seem daunting at times but you can keep it simple.   Get the weights that suit you best, bigger baits do not always mean bigger fish.  Start small in the early part of the season and match the size of the bait the fish are feeding on.  Make sure you always have a white, white chartreuse, a black or black blue combination baits.  Plus the availability of natural colours is just as important; perch, bluegill, shiner are all great colours.  In order to catch a fish you have to think like one, by using spinner baits you will increase the amount of fish you catch.  But always remember that a spinner bait is not just a one trick pony bait and they will change your retrieval and alter your cadence.  Being able to throw different style blades will certainly put the odds in your favour the next time you are fishing.

My name is Larry Stoafer and I am a retired Army officer and an avid bass tournament angler with a passion our for troops. I am also the chairman of a committee that plans, coordinates, and executes an event for wounded warrior and GWOT veterans that we call Fishing For Freedom (F3). Our small bass club in Leavenworth, Ks (Leavenworth Bass Club) began hosting F3 in 2009 and plan on making it an annual event. F3 is modeled after similar events that are occurring all across the nation. The Leavenworth Bass Club rallies volunteer boaters from local bass clubs, regional tournament anglers, avid fishermen, and guides to take wounded warriors and Global War on Terrorism veterans out for a weekend celebration to honor their service which culminates in a day of fishing in a buddy bass tournament format. In 2009, we were able to take 30 of these heroes from Ft Riley, Ft Leavenworth, Ft Leonard Wood, and Ft Polk fishing on Truman Lake. This year's event will again be on Truman Lake near Warsaw, Mo on 9-10 Oct. We are planning on growing the 2010 F3 to accommodate at least 100 warriors.

 

Fishing For Freedom is a no fee event, thanks to our sponsors and donors; we are able to provide two nights of lodging and meals for these heroes. We provide volunteer boaters and tackle as well. Thanks to unbelievable support from the fishing tackle industry, we are also able to present each participant with a tackle package. The only cost to the participants are a Misoouri fishing license and transportation to and from Truman Lake.

 

This event is for both wounded warriors and GWOT veterans and both are eligible to participate, but one of our challenges has been getting the invitation out to the wounded and disabled veterans that have transitioned to civilian life. We are also still in need of volunteer boaters. If you would like to spend a weekend with some of the most amazing people on the planet, we could use your support.

The details about the 2010 F3 event can be found at our website http://fishingforfreedom.us/ . Volunteers and participants can both register for the event through the website.

 

Thanks for your consideration.

 

 

Just want to let everyone know that we are in the running for a $50k grant to be able to start our Reel'em in program.  Which will allow us to bring fishing into the 3rd grade class rooms of the OKC inner city schools. To put a rod and reel in the hands of a child that may never get the chance to fish. Also to show there are a lot better things to do besides video games.

Anyways you can vote everyday at www.refresheverything.com/fishing4thefuture . Please vote daily and pass this information along to others as well.

If you have any questions feel free to call us or email
405-205-7490
zach@fishing4thefuture.org

Often times, when we look forward to something with such expectancy, we are frequently disappointed with the outcome. Our expectations become so over-inflated that what we end up getting could never come close to meeting them. I tried my best to avoid this trap, however my enthusiasm could not be contained, and as I travelled the 601 miles from Starkville, Miss. to Dallas, my expectations ballooned to almost unrealistic proportions.

After another restless night, I finally made my way from Ronnie’s home in McKinney to the Hilton DFW Lakes where the seminar was being held. Not knowing what to expect, other than a weekend of classroom-style instruction from some of the best bass fishermen in the business, I joined about 70 of my closest friends whom I had never met, all of us hoping to garner the knowledge to be better bass fishermen and women.

What happened over the course of the next two days is almost inexpressible in words. I could write for hours about how Ish Monroe, Pete Gluszek, Fred Rhoumbanis, Pete Thliveros, Byron Velvick and Mike Iaconelli went into great detail sharing the techniques of their respective specialties, but none of that could convey all of the intangibles that made this weekend such a special experience.
Like everyone at the Dallas event, I left with a deeper understanding of bass fishing as well as the tools necessary to be a better fisherman. But the most important thing I took with me had nothing to do with fishing a shaky head or stroking a jig, and it didn’t come during any of the seminar presentations.

These six men, after fielding dozens upon dozens of questions from participants eager to squeeze the last drop of information out before the weekend ended, stuck around at the end of each session to be peppered with even more questions, comments, and photo and autograph requests rather than seek the solitude of a back room to escape the fray. It wasn’t just the chance to learn from them, it was also the chance to get to know them and interact with them one-on-one. The fact that they were so willing to spend so much extra time with their fans without a hint of pretense spoke volumes.

These are men who are fortunate enough to make a living at the sport we all love and giving their time to be a part of Bass University was about more than collecting a speaker’s fee and talking about how they fish. It was much more than that. It was glaringly obvious they were not only willing, but eager to share with us the things they do that helped make them successful. And as much as we wanted to be better anglers, they wanted us to be better anglers.

But why? Why were they so willing to engage with us at such a personal level? The answer is very simple. If you strip away the titles, championships and the paychecks one thing remains constant among these men and that is their love of fishing. It is what drives and motivates them in everything they do.

Ask yourself this question – if there was no paycheck involved, would Jeff Gordon still fire up his car and head to the track on Saturdays? If there was no paycheck would Jonathan Papelbon still head to the diamond for a pick-up game of baseball? Not very likely is it? But if you were to take away the paychecks and sponsorships from any of these men, it would not stop them. You could virtually guarantee that no matter what, after working all week for the man they would be on the water come sunrise Saturday because they simply love to fish.

For those of us who attended the Bass University, whether it was in Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania or California, our stories are no different. Regardless of our skill levels, how much we fish or if we fish competitively or not, each one of us were there for one uncomplicated, straightforward reason – we love to fish.  It is that common thread that unites us into a sort of brotherhood that few ever fully understand.

A long drive alone offers plenty of time to think, and as I made my way home Monday, I reflected on the weekend and how to convey to my wife the importance of the gift she had given me. We had spoken several times over the weekend but we were both distracted most of the time and had little time to really talk. My experiences at the Bass University only renewed my feelings of gratitude, and I once again began searching for ways to express it.

But apparently I wasn’t done learning yet, and it was at a small restaurant in Rayville, La. that I learned the final lesson the weekend had to teach me. Using my laptop, I connected to the internet for the first time since Friday to catch up on work and what was going on around the world. While checking my Facebook, I saw something that showed me that while Wanda may not fully understand my obsession with fishing, she thoroughly understood the significance of her gift to me and what it could lead to. Posted shortly after I left on Friday, her status comment bore a simple, humbling message: “Give a man fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and he’ll stay gone for days at a time.”

Just got back from the Classic in Birmingham, where my husband, Rod and I went to support our friends, Pam and Steven (Martin-Wells and Wells).  Pam did great and I am ultra-proud of her! I took tons of picture to make her a "Classic Scrapbook" for her Rookie Classic Year.  Won money betting she would make the cut - which she did, and fished the final day, ending up in 22nd place overall.  I'm sure her first two days surprised a lot of people - she caught the first limit of the Classic both days- but it didn't surprise anyone who knows Pam and has ever seen her fish.  Like I said, I got tons of terrific pictures, and am going to post some of them on my website, www.BassFancy.com and on Rod's www.AmericanLadyAnglers.com.  I'm sure Pam will put some on her website, www.PamMartinWells.com. 

Speaking of Websites, Rod is the Founder and one of the Tournament Directors for the all-new American Lady Anglers.  The Web Master just got the site up and running the day before we left for Birmingham to go to the Classic, and when we got back, the ALA Website already had over 1300 hits, just from our word-of-mouth, "there's a new ladies' team tournament trail and it's got a new website" that Rod did while on the road. If I slip and say "we", I don't mean "we" as in "I'm the American Lady Anglers".  I mean "we" as in "I'm going to join the American Lady Anglers and fish the ALA team tournament trail with a partner", and "we" is my husband Rod (the ALA's founder and idea-person" and me - who is only a loyal ALA member and sometime-secretary since I type faster.  I don't speak "for" the ALA, I am only speaking on behalf of getting people to hear about the ALA as an ALA member.

Check out the website if you want to find out about the ALA's  mission - which is basically to get any lady who wants to fish in a boat and fishing ALA events.  Also, the ALA's goals are to have lower entry fees, while getting bigger and better cash and prizes for payouts for the ladies, plus increased media exposure (of all kinds) for our lady anglers and their sponsors.  Rod and Lee (see Website for bios) are in the process of talking to some major sponsors, booking tournament venues, etc.  All of the basic paperwork stuff is getting done or has been done, the incorporation, accounting, contracts, insurance, etc., ad infinitum. 

Lots of cities all over the U.S. are interested in getting the lady anglers there to fish -  they are basically welcoming the ALA with open arms.  The ALA has a brand-new, 24-foot stage trailer which is in the process of being outfitted with top-of-the line equipment - digital scales (with computer-assisted angler entry and printouts), aerated livewell tanks for the fish, live release tanks, stage, computers and webcams for streaming video, etc. 

The main thing ALA staff is thinking about is how to make it fun and exciting for its lady anglers.  I'm sure the improved cash payouts and media attention will go a long way towards helping with that.  Lady-friendly companies are being strongly pursued for sponsorship, especially those either owned or run by women, and those that offer women's products - it just makes sense to the ALA Directors.  Fishing industry companies that are already known to be interested in the lady anglers are also being looked at as potential sponsors.

Ladies, please bear with the ALA  during its growing process!  The Website has had a huge number of  hits, plus  emails and phone calls, and the Tournament Directors  want to give everyone the individual attention they deserve.  One of the assets of the ALA Website is its "Partner Finder" page, where  lady anglers are invited  to post their information to help them find a partner to fish with.  The ALA hopes that the team format, allowing the women to combine their  fish, and to be in the front, back, (or middle) of the boat as they so choose, will help the ladies to have a better sense of camaraderie and fun while they compete. Hopefully, ALA's Web Master can get the "Partner Finder" function up and running soon, because the Directors  are already having ladies call and email  because they want to get a partner so they can get signed up as soon as the tournament schedule and host cities are posted.   

Since all of the former WBT  ladies and all other lady anglers are scattered all over the map in the different bass tournament trails this year, the ALA staff is working closely with another ladies' tournament trail that is having the standard Co/Pro, or Boater/Non-boater format.  The ALA is  actually looking at having a multi-day tournament at whichever lake the tournaments are scheduled, fishing with the other ladies tour for a Pro/Co two or three-day event, followed by a one-day team event where anyone can fish together as a team for the ALA event. The ALA has no desire to "divide up the ladies", and therefore have a smaller attendance or registration for any of the tournament trails.  The ALA's intent is just to offer more options, and therefore get more ladies out to fish.  The ALA is not going to interfere with, or schedule against, any ladies' tournament trail schedule.   This will allow all of the ladies be able to fish any and all of the ladies' tournaments available.  That is why the ALA is having the lower entry fees and higher payouts - to help all of the ladies defray their tournament expenses and get them all out to fish ALA tournaments.

ALa staff are also talking to selected cities about not only having the standard flyers, radio, and television pre-tournament publicity, but also personal appearances.  ALA members will appear at city-wide school assemblies, where they will talk to teenagers and young ladies and interest them in fishing and actually have a drawing and allow a couple to be outfitted by local tackle shops, dress them up and let them fish with selected (volunteer) pro lady anglers.  The ALA members will also show off our wraps (maybe a boat/tow-vehicle parade also) and demonstrate some fishing techniques.  Additionally, there are ALA Sponsor events planned with autograph-signing personal appearances, sponsor sample give-aways, and even Sponsor-donated prizes for random anglers. 

By allowing random anglers to win cash and prizes at our tournament events, and also having "fun" prizes, such as "big fish, daintiest fish, first fish", etc., it allows every lady angler participating in ALA events to anticipate that she could possibly win something at any and every venue, and that not just the top finishers will win money.  ALA's founders are hoping that all of these extra prizes will attract more anglers to fish ALA events, and to want to fish at all of our events.  The American Lady Anglers team tournament fishing trail organizers are  well-aware that it takes the participation of every angler to make tournament fishing a success, for the ladies, their sponsors, and for the tournament trail organizers.  Every lady is integral to the success of American Lady Anglers.

So...Ladies - all of you - Come Fish With Us!  And bring your BFF!  Bear with ALA while they grow their tournament trail.  It takes awhile for the Website, Equipment, and Tournament Schedule to catch up with the organizers' big ideas, but it will happen, and then it will be a success.  It will be a success that every lady will have had a part in helping to make it all happen - for all of our current lady anglers and for our future lady anglers.

Here in Chicago, IL...  the winter is a rough time for us anglers... super rough if your like me, and dont get your fix from ice fishing.

What do you do if your in the land of frozen.... when you have aready prepped all your tackle, cleaned and lubbed all your reels, watched every fishing video on YouTube, even beat the latest fishing video game...AND SPRING IS STILL NOT HERE YET!

Here is an idea:

You start by looking up water treatment plants in your areas...Google did this for me in a jiffy...and being in Chicago the results were plentiful...and before I say anything more. Yes, there are bass in the Chicago River! hehe

Next I pulled up Google maps and searched each address I found,  I narrowed my list by simply seeing if there was a river or creek nearby...lets say less than a mile from the treatment plant...then I looked closely and BINGO found what I was looking for...a discharge!

It is known as a effluent outflow. ( not really clear on the process of treating water, a little too much book learning for my blood)...But I do know that this process pushes water back into the river at the spots I found, and the water is WARM!

So I grabbed a spinning set up , and a casting set up and headed to the spot...walking up to the river I had mixed feelings, but hey I was getting out of the house, and at worst would get a few casts in!...As I got closer to the river, I could smell it.  It smelled like dirty river detergent. When I got within eyesite of the river I could see it steaming, and I thought to myself how could I not have known this was year all these winters!!!

It was 24 degrees out that day, ( without wind chill) and my guess is that the actual river temp was around 30 - 33 degrees....I get down to the water and stick my hand in by the outflow...It must be in the mid 50's!!!!

I go to work and to me it feels like spring, I wasnt even cold anymore...I knew there was a good chance of me getting on some open water bass in the dead of winter!... well it wasnt long before I lost the shakyhead I had set up on my spinning outfit...should have brought more tackle, but when I left the house, I didnt have high hopes for this spot!

So picked up the caster which I had rigged with a weightless pearl super fluke on a 4/o hook...and flinged it out at current break.... WHAM!  a fish rolls on it, and I missed it (I'm a little bit  rusty, hehe)... whipped it back out to the same place and BAM! Hooked up! I fight the fish for about 1o seconds, before I realize this is not a bass??...it getting closer, and it is a small maybe 2o inch pike. Now normally I kinda hate pike...they steal my lures and mess up my tournaments...gressy snakes, haha, But today I am happy to feel anything at the end of my line!

I get him to shore and try to swing him up to wear I was standing...dumb move, He broke off and swam away with my fluke still hanging out the side of his mouth! =(

He left me lureless, so I packed it up and went home... I have been planing my return visit to this discharge for the last 24 hours...and plan to pick this spot apart for the rest of the winter. =)

So does anyone have any experince with winter fishing like this?? What would you throw??, how would you apporach this return? Im thinking heavy jig and pigs? the water is warm enough maybe even a spinnerbait?

I know there has got to be bass there, just a matter of time before i figure them out!

Please comment if you would like / have any ideas for me...Thanks!

Thanks for reading my artical/ blog/ rant/ whatever!

JayPee the HHF! (HipHopFishermen)

Anyone who loves throwing huge swim baits and wants to share tips or just talk about Big Baits please do. Steve Big Bait Byrd

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Home – This tab will show the most recent activity of all Social Fins members.  Here you can see the most recent wall posts, uploaded photos, status updates, and new members. 

 

My Profile – this is pretty self explanatory.  Here you can upload a profile photo, set your status, update your personal and contact information, invite friends to join Social Fins, upload photo albums, add friends, chat live with other Social Fins users who are currently logged in, create/join/talk about upcoming events, and much more.  To update all of this information, simply click on the “Manage Account” link located on the left hand side of the screen.   Spend some time in this section as it allows other members to get a feel of who you are as a bass angler and as an individual. 

 

Members- Here you can view all the members of Social Fins.  From this page, you can view member profiles, send messages to other Social Fins members, and add members as friends.  One unique feature of Social Fins is that you can “add friends” just like you can on other social networks.  However, instead of having a bunch of random friends from work, high school, church, the Elks Club, knitting class, etc., all your Social Fins friends are obsessed with bass fishing.   Once you become friends with other Social Fins members, you can easily see what they’ve been up to and talk bass fishing. 

 

Groups – This feature allows Social Fins members to create specific groups where members can congregate and talk about specific topics, techniques, brands, lakes, etc.  For example: If you are obsessed with catching smallmouth bass, you can create a “Smallmouth Addicts” group where members can share the hottest locations and techniques for catching bronzebacks. 

 

Events – This is where Social Fins members can post upcoming events so that other members can be alerted of what’s coming up in the bass fishing world.  When you join a group, you will be alerted when the event is drawing near and will be able to see updates from other members who are also attending. 

 

Forum – The forum is a general discussion, similar to a message board.  In this area, anything goes as long as it’s related to bass fishing.  Ask a question, get feedback, and post your thoughts.  It’s one big open discussion forum for all members. 

 

Blog – This feature is somewhat of an “on-line member magazine.”  Under the blog feature, members can post bass fishing reports, stories, tips, anything that you feel is newsworthy and want to share with other Social Fins members.  On the right hand side of the page under the “blog” tab, you’ll notice the headlines: PRODUCT NEWS, TOURNAMENT NEWS, INDUSTRY NEWS, and ANNOUNCEMENTS. When you post a blog, pick one of these headlines so that you’re blog is organized under the appropriate heading. 

 

Photos – This feature shows all the photos that Social Fins members have uploaded to their profiles.  Right now, the feature is wide open but in the near future, photos will be better organized and easily accessible.  For now, check out what other members are catching!

 

Videos- Got a cool bass fishing video?  Here’s where you can upload the video and let other Social Fins members get a look. 

 

Chat Room – Want to talk with a bunch of your fishing buddies all at once?  The chat room allows members to have a round table discussion about all things bass fishing. 

 

 

On the left hand side of your “home” page, you’ll also notice an “Invite Contacts” link located below the “Manage Account” tab.  This is where you can help grow the social fins community.  Invite all your bass fishing friends to be a part of the Social Fins network.  The more anglers that join, the better connected you become in the bass fishing community and more information is available on the site. 

 

Ok, that’s a quick run down of some of the Social Fins features.  If you’re not an avid computer user or don’t have experience on other social networks, it will take some time to get used to but take a few minutes to look around and become familiar with the layout.  If you have any ideas, post them in the forum! 

 

The official launch of Social Fins is February 8^th.  If you’re reading this before then, you’ve already got a head start.  As more members join Social Fins, you’ll be able to see how valuable this bass fishing resource can become as a way to meet new friends in the bass fishing community, catch up with old friends, find out what’s happening in the bass fishing world, learn about new techniques, stay up to date with current and upcoming events, etc.  The possibilities are endless. 

 

So, update your profile, add photos, add friends, write a blog, create or join a group and check back daily as more and more members become part of the Social Fins community. 

 

Stop swimming. . . Start connecting.  

 

Welcome to Social Fins!