Today is Saturday, October 23, 2010. My buddy Bill and I have spent the last two days on the lake in search of our favorite fish, Largemouth Bass. Yesterday started out very chilly with the temperature around 40 degrees at 10 o'clock in the morning. There was also a westerly breeze of between 10 and 15 mph. We got on the lake at 11 o'clock and fished until 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The fishing started out slow but picked up during the afternoon. We always say that we are going to count and keep track of the number of Bass we catch but never do! We found a good number of fish yesterday and the size was alittle above average which was a bonus! The Bass were hitting various lures from crank baits to spinner baits but for the most part they were caught on Rapalas and Smithwick Rogues. I thought the Bass would run into the shallows chasing the bait fish but they didn't.
Today's weather was an improvement from yesterday with the temperature getting into the low 60's but the wind was still there for a while and a heavy cloud cover moved in during the early afternoon. The fish weren't as agressive as yesterday but we still managed to catch our fair share. I also found some Black Crappie, Bluegill and serveral large Yellow Perch that would have made the perch fishermen of Lake Erie quite envious.
Today, we changed up our lure selection a little by using more straight in-line spinners which immitated small bait fish. We are hoping to give it another try next week and are starting to talk about taking a couple of trips next season and try our luck at other lakes. My mind actually started thinking about ice fishing which I haven't done in years. I'll have to tell you about some of those experience later on. If you can, leave me some comments or tails about your fall fishing. I can always talk fishing and enjoy hearing how other folks do it!
Fall Crappie
Me with a nice Black Crappie and Cigar
Late Summer Crappie
Me with a nice White crappie and Cigar
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
PICKING THE RIGHT TACKLE
These days, there is so much talk about picking the right fishing tackle, rods, reels, lines, baits,etc., that it can be quite confusing to the novice angler! If you ever watch some of the pro fishermen, they have so much tackle that I wonder how they keep from stepping all over it! You must kept in mind that since these people are pros they probably have all their tackle given to them, for endorsements and advertising purposes, from all the big name tackle manufacters.
For us every day anglers, things aren't always that easy for us to obtain the tackle that we would really like to have so, we must settle for less expensive rods and reels and instead of having a half dozen or more of each style rod, maybe we can only afford one or two!
By last count I had 4 casting reels and 6 casting rods, 6 spinning reels and 7 or 8 spinning rods, 4 fly rods and boxes full of lures, hooks and miscellaneous stuff and junk! Much of my tackle has seen better days and a couple of my outfits are over 40 years old! I'm not extremely protective of my things so I don't take very good care of my stuff. The simple fact that they are good pieces of equipment has allowed me to continue to use them today!
I haven't changed line on some of these reels for years, mainly due to the fact that there are only 3-4 outfits that I use on a regular basis. I do go over each and every outfit each spring and if I feel things need addressed, then at that time, I will do what is needed. Naturally, this is not the way to maintain your fishing tackle and I am advising you not to do what I do! You can look at the cost of tackle today as a major expense but one that will give you years of good service with the right up keep!
I look at new tackle every day, either by visits to the area stores or on-line, and I try to plan what I'm going to buy or replace next spring. I really need some new casting equipment since this is my primary rod and reel combination that I use for my Bass fishing. I want to purchase a 7 foot casting rod that has a fast to medium action and good for lure weights up to 3/4oz. I will team this with a high speed reel that has at least 6 ball bearings and 6.3:1 retrieve.
What I look for in new rods is #1) the feel of the rod. I don't want it to weight a ton because I might be casting this all day. #2) the recommended lure weights, which you will find on the lower end of the rod. #3) The action of the rod. A fast action rod will feel stiff through out the length of the rod with the exception of the rod tip. This will give the rod more backbone for horsing fish from cover. A medium action rod will have more of a bend from the tip into the mid portion of the rod. These will be better for crank baits fishing because of the give of the rod under the weight of a hooked fish. #4) I look at the number of guides on the rod. I actually think this may be the most important issue of all! The more the better and check to see the spacing of the guides are proportionally set down the length of the rod. Depending on a person's size should also be a key to determine the length of rod he or she will be comfortable using! A taller person will be more at ease casting a longer rod than someone with a shorter stature! The best length to start with is a 6 footer and work up from there. When a spinning rod is desired, all of the above should be taken into consideration. The average length of an all purpose spinning rod is a 6-7 foot rod. If an ultra light outfit is wanted, say to use for Bluegill and Crappie, a rod of light weight, limber body and length of 5-6 foot and a small reel with 4-6 pound test line is the way to go!
There are many styles and makes out there and everyone has their preference. I feel if my guide lines are considered, any rod will work just fine!
For us every day anglers, things aren't always that easy for us to obtain the tackle that we would really like to have so, we must settle for less expensive rods and reels and instead of having a half dozen or more of each style rod, maybe we can only afford one or two!
By last count I had 4 casting reels and 6 casting rods, 6 spinning reels and 7 or 8 spinning rods, 4 fly rods and boxes full of lures, hooks and miscellaneous stuff and junk! Much of my tackle has seen better days and a couple of my outfits are over 40 years old! I'm not extremely protective of my things so I don't take very good care of my stuff. The simple fact that they are good pieces of equipment has allowed me to continue to use them today!
I haven't changed line on some of these reels for years, mainly due to the fact that there are only 3-4 outfits that I use on a regular basis. I do go over each and every outfit each spring and if I feel things need addressed, then at that time, I will do what is needed. Naturally, this is not the way to maintain your fishing tackle and I am advising you not to do what I do! You can look at the cost of tackle today as a major expense but one that will give you years of good service with the right up keep!
I look at new tackle every day, either by visits to the area stores or on-line, and I try to plan what I'm going to buy or replace next spring. I really need some new casting equipment since this is my primary rod and reel combination that I use for my Bass fishing. I want to purchase a 7 foot casting rod that has a fast to medium action and good for lure weights up to 3/4oz. I will team this with a high speed reel that has at least 6 ball bearings and 6.3:1 retrieve.
What I look for in new rods is #1) the feel of the rod. I don't want it to weight a ton because I might be casting this all day. #2) the recommended lure weights, which you will find on the lower end of the rod. #3) The action of the rod. A fast action rod will feel stiff through out the length of the rod with the exception of the rod tip. This will give the rod more backbone for horsing fish from cover. A medium action rod will have more of a bend from the tip into the mid portion of the rod. These will be better for crank baits fishing because of the give of the rod under the weight of a hooked fish. #4) I look at the number of guides on the rod. I actually think this may be the most important issue of all! The more the better and check to see the spacing of the guides are proportionally set down the length of the rod. Depending on a person's size should also be a key to determine the length of rod he or she will be comfortable using! A taller person will be more at ease casting a longer rod than someone with a shorter stature! The best length to start with is a 6 footer and work up from there. When a spinning rod is desired, all of the above should be taken into consideration. The average length of an all purpose spinning rod is a 6-7 foot rod. If an ultra light outfit is wanted, say to use for Bluegill and Crappie, a rod of light weight, limber body and length of 5-6 foot and a small reel with 4-6 pound test line is the way to go!
There are many styles and makes out there and everyone has their preference. I feel if my guide lines are considered, any rod will work just fine!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
MY FAVORITE LAKE IN COLUMBIANA COUNTY
In my photos, the small lake that I am fishing is where I grew up. This is a 12-15 acre lake located in the north western portion of Columbiana County. I have been associated with this small body of water all of my life! My parents bought a partial of land here in 1947 for $500. Dad built our home on the property in 1961. Dad started fishing here in the mid 1940's and fell in love with the lake and decided to become an associate. The lake has always been private, open only to it's members however, during the 1960's it was opened for pay to fish to the public.
If I had a $1.00 for each fish I've caught out of this lake, I'd be a very wealthy man today! I've seldom gone there without catching fish and some of my friends, that have been with me, have said that this is the best water they have ever fished!
It was primarily a Largemouth Bass lake when Dad started fishing it but it also held Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Catfish and a few Suckers (in the early days).
The lake is approximately over 170 years old, having been constructed as the result of the old Sandy and Beaver canal system that was attempted between 1835 and 1850. A branch of said canal runs northwest and southeast of the lake and the lake ( I believe) was constructed as a reservoir for the canal.
I would have loved to have been around at that time to have witnessed the construction. The lake has changed so much in my life time due to sediment filling in the shorelines. There used to be some major drop offs along the edges but the mud and muck has taken those away!
There used to be abundant lily pad growth and not much weeds but today it's just the opposite! The pads used to be so thick that half of the lake was covered with them and it looked like you could walk on them! The membership has always been fighting a never ending battle against the vegetation problems and today with the older members, I think it is a lost cause!
The majority of the members don't fish and cann't see the importance of a good lake management program! There are basically too many fish in the lake (since there are no fish being removed) and the size of the Bass have decreased through the years as a result! A thriving fish population is obtained through a good harvesting and catch and release program! For instance, if large Bass are the goal then the population of average size fish needs to be thinned out. The state of Ohio's D.N.R. recommends that 10 Bass under the length of 10 inches be removed per acre of fishing water plus one Bass of 15 inches every year. Then the primary food source, let's say Bluegill, should be reduced at the rate of 300 - 500 bluegill over the 6 inch size, per acre per year! This will allow the smaller Bluegill to be more readily available to be food fish for the Bass, allowing them to grow larger! That's a lot of fish for a 12 acre lake, especially when no one fishes the water!
Having said all the negative "stuff" about the lake, there is not a day that goes by that I don't want to be on that water! My buddy and I still manage to have a real good time and the Bass fishing is still good even if the fish are on the small side! I'm just as guilty for not taking fish but at the age of 60, I am just too lazy to clean them! We keep saying, "maybe today we will bring some home to eat", but never do!
If I had a $1.00 for each fish I've caught out of this lake, I'd be a very wealthy man today! I've seldom gone there without catching fish and some of my friends, that have been with me, have said that this is the best water they have ever fished!
It was primarily a Largemouth Bass lake when Dad started fishing it but it also held Bluegill, Crappie, Perch, Catfish and a few Suckers (in the early days).
The lake is approximately over 170 years old, having been constructed as the result of the old Sandy and Beaver canal system that was attempted between 1835 and 1850. A branch of said canal runs northwest and southeast of the lake and the lake ( I believe) was constructed as a reservoir for the canal.
I would have loved to have been around at that time to have witnessed the construction. The lake has changed so much in my life time due to sediment filling in the shorelines. There used to be some major drop offs along the edges but the mud and muck has taken those away!
There used to be abundant lily pad growth and not much weeds but today it's just the opposite! The pads used to be so thick that half of the lake was covered with them and it looked like you could walk on them! The membership has always been fighting a never ending battle against the vegetation problems and today with the older members, I think it is a lost cause!
The majority of the members don't fish and cann't see the importance of a good lake management program! There are basically too many fish in the lake (since there are no fish being removed) and the size of the Bass have decreased through the years as a result! A thriving fish population is obtained through a good harvesting and catch and release program! For instance, if large Bass are the goal then the population of average size fish needs to be thinned out. The state of Ohio's D.N.R. recommends that 10 Bass under the length of 10 inches be removed per acre of fishing water plus one Bass of 15 inches every year. Then the primary food source, let's say Bluegill, should be reduced at the rate of 300 - 500 bluegill over the 6 inch size, per acre per year! This will allow the smaller Bluegill to be more readily available to be food fish for the Bass, allowing them to grow larger! That's a lot of fish for a 12 acre lake, especially when no one fishes the water!
Having said all the negative "stuff" about the lake, there is not a day that goes by that I don't want to be on that water! My buddy and I still manage to have a real good time and the Bass fishing is still good even if the fish are on the small side! I'm just as guilty for not taking fish but at the age of 60, I am just too lazy to clean them! We keep saying, "maybe today we will bring some home to eat", but never do!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)