Anyone that lives south of the Red River knows that "hot" does little to describe the horrific heat we have been experiencing lately. With temperatures surpassing the 100-degree mark for several consecutive days, most folks don’t think about hours on the water as being much fun. In fact, this is the time of year I turn to fishing in the dark, night fishing. Most importantly to me, it is not nearly as hot fishing at night as it is during the day in this time of year.
In our ongoing quest to find new and improved ways to catch more bass fish, sometimes the answer is right before our very eyes. So often the most effective means of boating more fish is so simple, we simply overlook it. Chances are it is right in front of you, but you don’t see it.
As a professional angler, though not full time, I find it difficult to harm, kill or eat that which helps put food on the table. I can't tell you how long it has been since I put a bass to the knife that eventually ended up on my plate. It's been years. I just can't bring myself to destroy something that I earn part of my living on.
If you have not been out to Richland-Chambers reservoir lately, you might want to consider a trip in the near future. The bass are beginning their fall pattern, which means they are moving to the mouths of and into the creeks chasing shad.
Memorial Day weekend came and went, as it always does but for my family, things were a bit different this year. Usually, we spend what most folks refer to as the beginning of summer, with my father at his place on beautiful Lake Quachita just out of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
To the marine or auto mechanic, his tools are his lifeline. Without using quality tools to get the job done, his efforts become futile. In order to succeed in business, he has to depend on those tools to hold up to the pressure of daily, relentless use. For a professional bass angler, his fishing rods are the tools by which he makes his living..
As an avid outdoorsman, my love for the adventures of fishing and hunting has come to me as a time-honored family tradition passed down through the years. My brothers and I were fortunate to have a father and grandfather that enjoyed spending time with us and passing on one of America's oldest, handed down traditions - fishing.
Over the last three years the most consistant bass fish catcher I have used has been the "Wacky Worm," a.k.a. "Jersey rig" or "Wacky Rig". The rig that most people look at and say how can that silly little worm catch anything? Well, once again it does not matter what we as the fisherman think looks good, but rather what Mr. Bass thinks that matters.
Not soon enough, the ice will be melting, the water will start to warm up from a uniform 39 degrees, and it will start to stratify. If you are like me you can't wait to get out and start catching the first bass of the year. I hope this article helps you get started with Spring or post-Winter and pre-spawn bass fishing with success.
