Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Keeping Senkos Simple

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Keeping Senkos Simple
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Since joining the Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Pro Team in 2003, I have been asked literally hundreds of questions about our various product lines. One question however seems to outnumber the rest by a 20 to 1 margin. That question is "How do you fish a Senko?" If I had to guess, I would say Senkos are probably one of the most misused baits in the fishing industry. The good thing is they still catch fish even when used wrong (if that makes any sense).

While you can rig a Senko any number of ways, the one thing you should always remember is to not "over work" the bait. Instead, let the bait work itself. Many anglers will cast the Senko and as soon as it hits the water, they start reeling it in, with one of many retrieval methods. While this will catch fish, I think they are greatly reducing their success rate. The most effective and efficient technique that I have found for fishing the Senko is done by hooking it Texas rigged without a weight.

After the bait is properly rigged, make a cast towards your selected target. When the bait hits the water, rather than tightening up the line, leave some slack. The unique design of the bait will cause it to fall vertically with an enticing little wiggle. If there is pressure on the line the bait will not fall straight down. "If" the bait makes it to the bottom without being gobbled up by a bass, let it remain stationary for a few seconds. In many instances, bass will pick up a motionless Senko from the bottom. If this does not occur, lift your rod tip to cause the bait to rise from the bottom. Once again, allow the bait to descend on semi-slack line. Repeat these steps until the Senko is out of the targeted strike zone or more likely, "in the mouth of a fish."

Another very effective and increasingly popular technique for fishing the Senko is one that has been dubbed "Wacky Rigging." This is done by hooking a Daiichi Wacky Rig hook in the center or "sack" of the Senko. The overall way of fishing this style is similar to that of fishing it Texas Rigged without a weight. One of the major differences (at least when I use it) is the addition of a little added movement. Very rarely do I ever allow a Wacky Rigged Senko to hit the bottom. The exposed hook is very easily snagged. Instead, I allow the bait to fall for a number of seconds (which will be determined by water depth), stop it just prior to hitting bottom and then bring the bait back to the surface. To bring the bait to the surface I raise my rod tip slowly while simultaneously making very slight twitches with the rod. Once again, as the bait nears the surface I let it fall back to my predetermined depth and repeat the process as needed.

In addition to these two techniques, the Senko can also be fished on a Carolina Rig, a Drop Shot rig, as a Jerk Bait and numerous other ways. These rigs require a little more effort to be effective. However, they can be easily mastered once you understand the basics of each particular technique. The versatility of the Senko is what has made it one of the hottest baits in fishing. Although there is really no wrong way to fish a Senko, there are slight adjustments you can make to your fishing style to increase your level of success.

Regardless of the technique that you choose when fishing a Senko, always allow the bait to do all of the work. These baits were born to catch fish and they don't need a lot of help in doing so. Just let the Senko work its magic and you will look like one of the hottest anglers on the water.

Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Incandescent vs. LED - Not All Trailer Lights Are Created Equally

Home > Boating Articles > General Boating

Incandescent vs. LED - Not All Trailer Lights Are Created Equally
by ShoreLand'r

The lights on boat trailers take a lot of abuse. They are exposed to the elements, regularly submerged in fresh water and saltwater, and subjected to bad roads and rough boat ramps. It's not unusual for lenses to crack and break or for lights to burn out.

When replacing or repairing trailer lights, it's important for boat owners to remember that not all trailer lights are created equally - particularly when comparing standard incandescent lights to the newer light emitting diode (LED) lights that are available today.

ShoreLand'r, a leading manufacturer of boat trailers, has researched the advantages and disadvantages of both technologies and offers consumers these insights and suggestions when purchasing a new trailer or replacement lights for an existing trailer.

All vehicle and trailer lights have to meet minimum standards for light intensity, direction and reflectivity as outlined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 and administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT). They also must have the ability to withstand environmental elements such as dust, moisture, corrosion and vibration. Most of the leading light manufacturers have had years to develop incandescent lights that meet these standards. However, this does not apply to LED lights and not all the new LED trailer lights offered today meet the DOT standard.

"ShoreLand'r is closely watching LED light technology and we're waiting for the DOT to establish specific standards for LEDs," says Butch Williams, ShoreLand'r sales representative. "Currently, the LED lights that match or exceed the quality and performance of incandescent lights are significantly more expensive." There are high quality LED lights designed for use on boat trailers, but they are more expensive and customers typically do not want to pay the additional cost to have them installed. Many LED replacement lights fail to meet the DOT standards and could result in unsafe operation of the trailer. The safety and reliability of an LED lamp depends on the type of diode and the hermetic seal used in the manufacture of the lamp. A higher number of diodes will not necessarily result in a brighter light output, but the number of diodes combined with the lens optics work together to assure the proper light output at the proper direction.

Several LED lighting manufacturers design their lamps to exceed minimum standards by 25 percent for safety reasons during real world use when dust and grime on the lens can significantly affect light performance. Lens design is another issue that is just as important as the LED used because an LED diode is directional, like a headlight beam of a car. The light output must be directed by the optic design of the lens to cover all the zones required by law.

In order for LEDs to work properly in a marine environment, the diodes must be hermetically sealed from the elements and this can be accomplished by several methods. The most reliable method is to encapsulate the circuit board and LED diodes in a potting material that is impervious to the marine environment. Even the sealing techniques used in sealed incandescent lamps do not ensure a hermetic seal capable of matching the life expectancy of an LED lamp.

The long life expectancy of an LED lamp means that better technology and greater care must be taken during the design and production of the lamp. This translates into a higher initial cost but lower replacement costs over the life of the trailer. Remember that just like a sealed incandescent lamp, the entire sealed LED lamp must be replaced if there is a problem with the unit, and the replacement cost is much higher than an incandescent lamp. For these reasons, it is important to choose an LED lamp that is built to the most severe standards. Do not assume all LED lamps are equal.

There are some distinct advantages to LED lights such as lower amperage draw, instant-on capability for quicker reaction time and the ability to integrate features like flash, strobe and synchronization without any external switching systems. However, the trailer experts at ShoreLand'r point out that the advancement from incandescent to LED diodes is a huge leap in technology that is similar to going from analog to digital. Adapting the application of LEDs to boat trailers will take more time and study to perfect. "Boat owners will benefit from LED technology in the near future, but they should be very cautious about replacing their current incandescent trailer lights until these issues are resolved," says Williams.
Author: ShoreLand'r
Web Site: http://www.shorelandr.com/
Details: For more information on trailer lights and the complete line of ShoreLand'r boat trailers, visit www.shorelandr.com, or call 1-800-859-3028.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: The Bachelor's Affect on Bass Fishing

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: The Bachelor's Affect on Bass Fishing
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

The weekly drama known as "The Bachelor" has ended and Bass Pro Byron Velvick has selected his soul mate. Tens of Millions of television viewers got their first glimpse of Professional Bass fishing throughout the season. This series has generated a lot of talk amongst members of the fishing community about how much Velvick's performance is going to help the industry. There is no doubt that it will have some affect on the future of our great sport, but will the attention be as great as what is predicted?

While I personally think that it was great that Byron went on television and put competitive Bass fishing in front of an outstanding number of viewers, I don't think the hype is going to affect very many anglers in the short term. There will likely be a select few that benefit from new and improved sponsorships. Velvick will obviously be one of the anglers that will see a huge influx of interest from potential sponsors, but overall I don't expect to see an obscene number of new sponsors in the upcoming season.

In a nutshell, Byron appearing on such a huge television series will have great long term implications for Bass fishing. I had a conversation with Bassmaster Classic Champion Mike Iaconnelli and we shared some similar viewpoints on the subject. During our chat, I asked Ike what affect he thought The Bachelor would have on Bass fishing. Mike said "Awesome, the more times the words Bass Fishing is brought up in main stream media, the better. It's all about awareness. There are still people out there who don't know about professional bass fishing. It's all good man." I also asked Mike if he thought the growth would be based solely on the fact that Velvick was on television so much, "No not just because of that, more like in addition to that," he said. "I've had opportunities to do stuff with Playboy, GQ, Esquire, ESPN the Magazine, etc. Other anglers are also breaking the traditional media barrier. All of this together along with the tournament organizations themselves bring better attention to the sport. FLW will be on FOX next year and ESPN is doing a great job with B.A.S.S."

What I expect to see is more individuals trying their luck at competitive bass fishing. Although the largest portion of the viewing audience was women, there were still a substantial number of male viewers. Some of these individuals may have been completely unaware that competitive fishing even existed. Now that they have been introduced to the sport, I am sure a lot of them will join our family.

In the long run the effects will be wide spread. The larger number of participants will make tournament circuits even more valuable to Corporate America. These higher numbers will attract more companies that are not endemic to the industry. If a company sees a new avenue to promote their products or services to a large portion of their Target Market, you can bet they will jump on it. I would expect to see a lot more companies start to use fishing as a promotional tool. "It's all going to take time. In the last years, there's been more main stream media attention in bass fishing than ever before. But it's like the domino effect; once non-endemic sponsors start entering the game, others will follow. Hopefully it will take the path of other sports like NASCAR and golf," Iaconnelli explained.

With the new anglers and sponsors entering the fishing community, I also expect to see an increase in tournament payouts. I would not be the least bit surprised if FLW and Genmar owner Irwin Jacobs has the first $1,000,000 Championship tournament payout in the next few years. Jacobs is one heck of a business man and he knows how to take advantage of every opportunity put in front of him. His aggressive approach with sponsors is allowing the tournament purses to increase significantly. When you add guys like Earl Bentz, Ray Scott and Irwin Jacobs to the mass marketing activities of anglers like Byron Velvick and Mike Iaconnelli, the end result will be huge. The affects of Velvick's appearance on "The Bachelor," will continue to be felt long after the "Reality Show" phenomenon has been forgotten. I just wouldn't expect to see any major changes right away.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Hudson River Stripers

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Hudson River Stripers
by Mark Mahar

Generally in about mid-April, some of the finest bass action on the Hudson River begins. Anglers come from around the world to do battle with the striper.

The striper is one of the two real bass—the other being a white bass—make there way from the Atlantic up the river to spawn (black bass are not real bass, they are actually a sunfish species).

The herring are the start, the chad follow, and then the stripers round out the food chain.

These fish are generlly caught in a couple diffrent ways. The first and most popular is with live herring. The second is with chunked herring or shad.

Just hooking into one will have you hooked for life. When the action is on you can expect the opportunity to hook into a hand-full a day. Even on the slow days we find that chad and herring rigs on light tackel can be almost as exciting.

The striper run generlly starts with the break in the weather around mid-April and runs through May. Late season we chase the out-going schools with chunk bait bouncing the bottom ahead of them.
Author: Mark Mahar
Email: cmguideservice@verizon.net
Web Site: http://www.cmguideservice.com/
Details: NYS guide and pro bass angler. Member of NYS Nitro Pro Team and Mercury Pro Staff.

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Bass Mortality Associated With Summer Tournaments

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Bass Mortality Associated With Summer Tournaments

Extensive research has been conducted regarding black bass mortality associated with fishing tournaments. Over the past three decades, the results of these studies have provided a better understanding of the detrimental impacts that improper handling can have on tournament-caught fish.

According to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Lee Holt, improper handling techniques can be very stressful to the fish and even result in high mortality rates, especially during the hot, summer months. "Due to the increasing number of tournament events, and considering that many of these events are held during the summer, it is imperative that emphasis be placed on taking better care of the catch. As most fishermen know, one of the most critical times for the fish is during the weigh-in," Holt said. "However, another critical aspect is often overlooked. How anglers handle the fish between catching and weigh-in is also very important to keeping bass healthy. While many anglers have boats with sophisticated live-wells, simply filling it up with water and aerating it may not be enough," he added.

Studies and science dictates that bigger fish are more susceptible than smaller fish to mortality associated with temperature changes and oxygen deficiencies, Holt explains. "That is, bigger fish die first, and what is every tournament angler after? You guessed it, the bigger fish," he said.

In an effort to better preserve the bass fishery, tournament anglers should be more mindful of their efforts to provide as much comfort as possible to their catches. If the angler takes great care of the fish while in their possession, the fish's chances for survival greatly increases.

As concerned anglers, what can they do, Holt asks? "Believe it or not, you have many options. First of all, start with ensuring that your live-wells function properly. Next, provide the fish with fresh water every couple of hours, by simply doing a water exchange. Furthermore, plan ahead, and freeze a couple of half-gallon milk jugs, or similar type jugs to carry with you on your trip," he says.

By doing so, you will have an adequate amount of coolant to help regulate the water temperature within the live-wells. The jugs do not take up much space and are much easier to manage than bags of ice. Cooler water is important as it retains more oxygen than warmer water and slows down the fish's metabolism.

Non-iodized salt applied at a rate of 1/3 cup per 5 gallons of water can also be added to the live-well to help the fish maintain an osmotic balance. "When landing your catch, be mindful of the hot summer air. You do not like it, nor does the fish. Get the bass to your aerated, cool live-wells, pronto," Holt explains.

"If you absolutely must admire your "money-maker," do so while the fish is in the confines of the cooler water, not in the hot air. Lastly, if at all possible, schedule tournaments for the cooler times of year. Avoid the hot, summer days of July and August," Holt suggests.

There is no cure all for preventing fish from dying. However, with a little education, cooperation and participation, anglers can help ensure that their catch survives to bite another day.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: It's a World Record Bass

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: It's a World Record Bass
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

While browsing the internet fishing message boards as I frequently do late at night, I came across an interesting post. An angler wanted to know if in the event a Largemouth bass was caught in California that exceeded the weight of George Perry's record fish, should it be considered a world record? Sounds like there should be an obvious answer, but the guy had a valid point. The fish in California are distant relatives of the original group of Florida strain largemouth bass that were placed in a small reservoir to reproduce offspring with a trophy class bloodline. These fish were then, for the most part, handfed trout their entire lives. Growing at nearly double the rate of a bass in Florida, these bass get big in a hurry.

Ok, so it does seem a little unfair that California is pretty much a guaranteed lottery ticket for catching a bass over the 22 pound 4 ounce mark set back in 1932. Oh well, there isn't too much left in life that is fair. I don't care if Barry Bonds grew a 30 pound bass in a pond behind the BALCO laboratories. If he catches that fish in accordance to the law, it is a world record. Just because the fish had been fed some "I didn't know they were illegal" steroids, does not make it an illegal catch or any less of a world record (unless there is some anti-doping rule that I am unaware of).

As much as I wish Perry's bass would maintain the record forever, I know it won't happen. Someday an angler in sunny southern California is going to be casting a 4 pound, 20 inch swim bait and he/she will catch a 25 pound bass. That angler may or may not even be aware that the fish had been fed a smorgasbord of trout its entire life. Even if they do know, the likelihood of them actually caring is slim to none. Besides, we don't care that our lakes are stocked with millions of other baby fish each year. We also don't care when a truckload of crawdads are dumped on the shoreline and we definitely don't feel any guilt when Tilapia are stocked into a body of water with the sole intent of feeding bass. If you happen to reside near one of these bodies of water, that is blessed with frequent visits from the drive-up food truck, then good for you. The odds of you catching bigger fish just went up.

There is one thing that is certain, the angler that catches the world record bass is going to be faced with a great deal of doubt, hatred and verbal abuse from other anglers. No matter how they catch the record fish, people are going to call foul and say they cheated. Personally, I am pretty sure that I could deal with the onslaught of player haters. While they were scheming on different ways to say I cheated, I would be hiring a Brink's truck to haul my endorsement checks to the bank.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Pro Bass Fishing Going Union?

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Pro Bass Fishing Going Union?
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

In recent weeks, it was announced that the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) had been revived. Shortly thereafter my email account was bombarded and my phone starting ringing even more than usual. It seemed as though everyone wanted to know how I thought the current events would affect professional fishing.

According the PAA's official website, "The mission of the Professional Anglers Association is to advocate angler positions with the major tours on issues such as schedules, rules, payout and qualification criteria, as well as develop additional revenue opportunities for them. The PAA also develops educational events for our supporting members designed to advance the supporting members angling skills." While these sound like great ideas, they might be just that, ideas.

I believe that in order for the PAA to succeed this time around, the level of participation needs to be really high. Just like the old saying goes, there is strength in numbers. They need to have a strong 70 to 80 percent (if not more) of the anglers in their corner. If there is limited support, I am sure the PAA will return to a much deeper and more permanent grave.

What tends to happen when leaders in any circle attempt to bring everyone together, is many members take the "wait and see" approach. They standby and wait to see how successful the organization is before they join. While this may not be the most noble approach, you can't fault people for being cautious when it involves their jobs. These anglers have families to worry about and they are not willing to risk much to get ahead.

If the PAA is going to come back from the dead and overtake the B.A.A.C. (B.A.S.S. Athlete Advisory Council) as the voice of B.A.S.S. anglers, the group needs to be stronger and they need to be willing to do "whatever" it takes to get the job done. If these anglers are not willing to take matters to the extreme, if need be, they will not get very far with B.A.S.S. The folks at ESPN and B.A.S.S. have the upper hand in everything that has anything to do with the Bassmaster Tour. If they say the Tour season is going to last eleven months, it will last for eleven months. If they don't want anglers driving their own boats, they won't be driving their own boats. They wanted anglers wearing a Busch Beer patch and if you recall, they had to wear the patch. Unless something changes, anglers will never have much to say about anything that is affecting them on Tour.

As of right now, some of the members of the PAA are not willing to do what it takes to get what they want. Even more detrimental, is the fact that only a limited number of anglers have joined so far. If ESPN and B.A.S.S. do not want to give the anglers what they feel they deserve, then the anglers should boycott a tournament or two. Right now that will simply not take place. This is because the ties that bind are about as tough as four pound test monofilament. The only way the anglers are going to get their boats back, get higher payouts and pay lower entry fees is if they band together and show B.A.S.S. that they are not willing to give in. Until then, they are about as intimidating as a Pit-bull with no teeth. They have one heck of a mean bark, but the bite leaves something to be desired.

Right now, the officials at B.A.S.S. do not see a need for the PAA and they will not pay much attention to what they say or demand. When PAA President Kevin VanDam and Vice President Mark Davis can convince fellow anglers to join the team and standup for what they feel is right, the organization will see an increase in power. For the sake of future Tour Pros, I hope that the PAA is successful. If not, you will have to be related to Bill Gates just to be able to afford the entry fees. We will continue to have Bassmaster Classic Qualifying anglers that have been Pros for more than ten years and have an average yearly winning rate of $12,500.

If "Professional" fishing is going to exist, these anglers need to at least get paid to fish. Right now, a very select few are actually making money by fishing tournaments, the rest are barely getting by. If the PAA has their way, that will all change for the better.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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The Fisherman's Marker

Home > Gear Articles > Fishing Tackle

The Fisherman's Marker
by Paul Strege

"Marker buoys - who needs them?!" That is what I once thought and have heard throughout my fishing lifetime. Until I stumbled upon an innovative version of the traditional gaudy fluorescent orange and yellow "jugs" a few years ago, I avoided using them all-together. Fishing markers are largely unpopular with many anglers today for two reasons: often they attract more anglers to a specific location, and they occupy a relatively large amount of valuable space in a tackle box or storage compartment.

Jeff Lamphere from Minnetonka, Minnesota invented a solution. He calls it the Fisherman's Marker. Not only are these markers dramatically smaller in size than traditional buoys, they also come in non-attractive colors. The smaller size and flat design occupies less space and allows for ease in stowage. Non-attractive colors meanwhile provide camouflage from other anglers: white for sunny days, and black for low-light conditions.

Jeff started development on the Fisherman's Marker while fishing at his cabin on Green Lake in Spicer, Minnesota. One of his favorite fishing spots on the lake was a small, shallow rock bar located one mile offshore. Water depths of 40 to 50 feet surrounded the bar, making it a prime spot for fishing. "Once we located the rocks, we would mark it with a buoy. If you ran your motor over the rock pile more than once, you would scare the fish and push them into deeper water ? generally not getting them to bite," recalls Jeff. "After we marked the rock pile, we would float quietly over it and catch fish on every drift, mostly nice walleyes and smallmouth bass."

With Jeff's success came undesirable attention, however. "It seemed like within minutes of throwing a marker buoy, our spot would become Grand Central Station. As soon as other fishermen saw our float they would motor up to it to check the depth and many times start fishing extremely close to the buoy marker we had thrown out - ultimately spooking the fish and our bite would be over."

It was after this repeated occurrence that Jeff decided to look for a small discrete marker that people would not notice ? one that would not attract other fishermen in the area. After a fruitless search, he decided to fabricate one of his own out of a small block of wood, painted white. That small block served Jeff well the rest of that summer and fall, eliminating artificially-crowded spots. Thus began the initial development of the Fisherman's Marker.

The Fisherman's Marker today has certainly evolved from the first prototype, yet it remains a secret tool among weekend anglers and tournament fishermen alike. Jeff receives new testimonials and creative on-the-water applications every month. Anglers can pinpoint the exact locations of underwater structure, breaklines, and even bedding bass. Smaller, more compact markers offer the angler the additional ability to efficiently mark structure with the placement of multiple buoys as opposed to fewer deployments of larger, traditional ones.

While Global Positioning Systems (GPS) continue to evolve, the marker buoy serves an important role that cannot be replaced by modern technology. An angler often has to traverse, or crisscross a single weedline multiple times in order to locate a defined edge. As a result, the tracking display becomes an indistinguishable conglomeration of trails. Global Positioning Systems are limited in this capacity. Deployed markers, on the other hand, offer a concise, visual delineation of the underwater structure.

Team Kellogg's Pro Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pennsylvania uses the Fisherman's Marker in this capacity. "When fishing a weedline, I like to place markers along the edge that I am targeting. I will have several markers out at a time - six or more for a single stretch. The neat thing about the Fisherman's Marker is that their compact size allows me to easily carry a dozen in the boat at a time."

Dave will also customize his marker by cutting the pre-spooled line to a specific length. This ensures that his marker will not completely unroll in large waves. "I organize my markers in sets, generally in 5-foot increments, with the depth clearly marked on top. Even before heading to the lake, if I know that the weedline is generally 8-feet deep, I will pack my 10-footers."

Sight fishing for bedding bass is not a technique that anglers commonly associate with marker buoys. Bass are easily spooked during certain phases of the spawn. If an angler has to target bedding bass at a distance, or at a greater depth, placing a marker buoy can establish a floating landmark in low visibility conditions. Light refraction also is a common challenge for sight fishermen, especially in deep water. The actual position of a bass has to be interpolated with every cast to compensate for the refracted image. With a definitive point of reference, anglers can be assured of proper lure position and focused on provoking the bass into a strike.

Another useful application of the Fisherman's Marker does not include marking structure at all; it is position triangulation. An angler can drop a buoy off the bow, and have an immediate reference point for use in conjunction with two aligned features onshore. With a marker buoy aside the boat, a second set of features is not needed for triangulating a spot. Similarly, when an angler locates an active school of fish offshore, simply dropping a marker over the edge is both practical and quick. There is no need to throw a marker into the active school, and the precious time saved stumbling back to the console GPS unit can be spent landing additional fish.

While fishing tools come and go, there are an innovative few that deserve a permanent place in any angler's tackle box. The patented Fisherman's Marker is one tool no angler should be without. For more information on the Fisherman's Marker, visit Jeff's website at www.fishermansmarker.com, or call: 612-965-2259.

Author: Paul Strege
Email: pstrege@hotmail.com
Details: Paul Strege is an avid tournament angler and outdoor writer. He is sponsored by Fisherman's Marker, Rogue Rods, Gambler Lures, MinnKota, and Owner Hooks.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: The Demise of the Co-Angler

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Bagwell's Bass Tactics: The Demise of the Co-Angler
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Some recent changes in the formats of many bass tournaments across the country have sparked a typhoon of debate from anglers. Those anglers are the ones that fish from the back of the boat. Although they are not the big name Pros that are hamming it up for the camera, they are still very important to the growth of the fishing industry as a whole.

B.A.S.S. is one of the biggest fishing organizations in the world and their recent changes have brought forth some of the loudest discussions. They recently changed the format of the Non-Boater division on the Bassmaster Tour as well as the newly formed ESPN Outdoors Weekend Series. Rather than being able to weigh-in a limit of fish and compete solely against other non-boaters, these anglers now face more restrictions. From now on, they will only be allowed to weigh 3 fish and their weight is then added to the weight of their "Pro" partner.

On the surface, these seem like very minor issues, but after we scrape away a few of the top layers and expose the real meat of the issue, the problems are very obvious. Two "pilot" tournaments were held to see how the changes would affect the anglers. In both tournaments, the co-angler with the most "individual" weight in his/her division did not win the tournament. Instead, the prize money and the bragging rights went to anglers whose partners had bigger weights. As far as I am concerned that would really suck if I were in a tournament, had the biggest weight in my division, and still ended up in 10th place, while somebody that I truly beat, got a $25,000 paycheck. I know, I know, rules are rules and if we don't like them, we don't have to fish their tournaments. This is very true, but that doesn't mean it's the right way to look at this situation.

I would be willing to bet a few of my paychecks, that an overwhelming majority of the "Pros" fishing both major tours, started on the non-boater side. Most anglers use this as a learning period, but at the same time, they still like to compete against their peers. Taking that away from these anglers isn't going to help them succeed in the world of tournament fishing. The true competition is what drives many anglers and it allows them to grow on a personal level. These future Pros now have to worry about beating the other non-boaters and hope that their Pro partners finish pretty high in the standings as well.

Just to make sure that everyone has a clear understanding of why this issue kind of irritates me, I will give you an example of how the new rule can affect non-boaters during these tournaments. For the sake of conversation, let's say Angler A catches the maximum 3 fish limit for non-boaters and has a weight of 5 pounds. His/Her Pro partner has a great day on the water and has a 5 fish limit that weighs in at 20 pounds. The non-boater's total combined weight for the day would be 25 pounds. Now Angler B comes to the stage with a monster 3 fish limit that tips the scales at 15 pounds. Their Pro partner, on the other end of the spectrum, had a crappy day and only weighed in 2 fish for a measly 5 pounds. This would give Angler B a combined total weight of 20 pounds. Although Angler B has a 10 pound lead over Angler A on an individual level, he/she would not win. To me, there is just something seriously wrong with that whole concept.

At the Tour events, non-boaters might think it is still worth paying the extra money, because they get to fish in the same boats with Superstars like Kevin VanDam, Dave Lefebre, Gerald Swindle, or Davy Hite. Now think about the people fishing the non-boater side of the weekend tournaments. Is it worth it to the people that get paired with some no-name "Pro" that didn't have a chance to pre-fish because he was working all week in order to make the boat payment? I don't care how awesome a person is at the local or regional level, I would not spend a week's worth of wages to gamble whether or not this person will catch enough fish to win me some money. If I wanted to take such a risk, I would go fishing by myself during the day. At night, I would take my wallet to the local casino and lay a pile of money in front of the Black Jack dealer. I probably have far better odds with the cards than I do betting on some other angler.

If these tournament organizations keep adding restrictions on the non-boaters, it will eventually force them out of the tournaments all together (which might be their motive anyway). Most can not afford to fish the Pro side of these tournaments. Of those who can afford it, the majority of them probably aren't good enough. One major benefit to fishing as a co-angler, is the ability to learn as much as you can, by watching and fishing with a person that possesses a higher skill level. The ability to gauge your progress against other anglers in your own division is priceless. These anglers also deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication to the sport. By taking the "real" competition out of the sport, non-boaters are being robbed of their ability to grow and succeed as individuals.

Our sport needs to enable non-boaters to fish with fewer restrictions, because they are the future of the industry. Without new blood being injected into the tournament lifeline, the sport will eventually die. So please, all of you corporate big wigs that are making all of the decisions affecting the sport we love, don't deprive these anglers of their education. Let them fish, learn and compete as individuals. For crying out loud, if they wanted a combined weight format, they would go fish a team trail somewhere.

Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Winterizing Now Can Save Problems Down the Road

Home > Boating Articles > Boat Care and Maintenance

Winterizing Now Can Save Problems Down the Road
by Tom Lester II

As everyone has noticed for the past several weeks, old man winter has been gone on vacation, or something. We have been enjoying spring - like weather during what should be the onset of our cold weather season. In fact, it has been so nice outdoors, I have not considered deer hunting or duck hunting, two of my favorite cold weather endeavors. Instead, I have been focusing on my fishing, which has been pretty good. It looks like things are about to change.

According to the weather forecast, we are in for a bit of seasonal weather, in other words, it?s gonna get cold and stay that way for a while. If you are like me, ready to embark on hunting season now that it feels more like hunting season, you need to remember to take care of your boats and watercrafts before it gets much colder. Even if you plan on using your fishing boat during the winter, there are a few things you need to do in order to protect your investment and avoid costly repairs.

If you own a boat that you will definitely not be using during the cold weather months, such as an inboard ski boat or a personal watercraft, you should consider having it winterized by a professional. Here in Corsicana, Blake?s Boats can drain the water from your motor, fog it to protect the inside of the motor and get it ready for the cold months ahead. Spending a few dollars now can help reduce the risk of spending a lot of dollars in the spring, when you get out to the lake and find you have severe damage to your motor. Call Lamar Blake at 903-872-1292 to set an appointment or to get supplies, should you want to do it yourself.

A good choice for your personal watercraft winterization is Kenneth Napps of Cedar Creek Watersports. I bought my PWC from them and Kenneth does all of the work on it. He has been selling and servicing PWC?s since they came out. Like Blake?s Boats, Cedar Creek Watersports does a thorough job at a reasonable price. You can reach Kenneth at 903-451-9585 to set up an appointment.

Now, what if you plan on using your fishing boat during the winter months, like I do. For starters, try to get your boat inside somewhere. The garage would be a great place. If you cannot use the garage or do not have one, it might be worth the money to rent a storage space for you boat to protect it from the elements during the cold weather months. The price of the storage unit for a few months would certainly be cheaper than repairing a motor damaged by freezing weather. If both of these options are out of the question, at least get the boat covered with a tarp or boat cover. This will not be as good as being stored inside, but it will be better than nothing.

Each time that I come off of the water during cold weather months, I pull the drain plug on my boat and store it jacked up so the water will run out of it. I turn on my aerator pumps and bilge pumps to make sure all of the water is out of the lines to prevent them from breaking in freezing weather. I also trim my motor all the way down after coming off the ramp to allow the water to drain out of the lower unit of my motor. Water trapped inside the lower unit can freeze causing severe damage to the seals and the lower unit housing. This is especially important for boats stored outside.

If you must store your boat outside during freezing weather, as I have had to do in the past, it might be a good idea wrap the lower unit and prop with a plastic bag to prevent water from entering the lower unit should it rain, sleet or snow. It is also advisable for boats being stored outside to be stored with the motor trimmed down to help prevent water from entering the motor.

Finally, don?t forget the batteries. I like to keep my batteries charged up at all times. I never know when the weather might turn nice and I want to go fishing, but more importantly, it is better for your batteries to keep them charged. They will last longer if you keep them charged. It is extremely important to protect them from freezing. If necessary, remove them from the boat and store them somewhere they can be protected from freezing.

If you have any question about winterizing your boats, please give Lamar Blake or Kenneth Napps a call. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have or set you up with an appointment to get the work done. By taking care of our boat now, before you loose site of the need, you will save yourself a lot of headaches and heartaches, not to mention cash when you are ready to use it again.
Author: Tom Lester II
Email: lester01@airmail.net
Web Site: http://www.fishingprostaff.com/
Details: Tom Lester II is a family man who lives in Corsicana, Texas with his wife, Kelly, and his daughters, Megan and Tatum.

He has fished the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society Central Invitational tournament trail (58th for the 1999-2000 season), the FLW Everstart Series and several other professional-level bass fishing tournaments. Sought-after for endorsements by numerous leading outdoor product companies, Tom?s name appears alongside some of the industry?s most well reputed brands. Quarrow, Pro Locker, Bill Lewis Lures, and EZ Retriever number among more than a dozen Tom Lester sponsors.

He also serves as pro staff for Quarrow and P-Line and as a field staff member for Bulldog lures, Lure Eyes sunglasses, H&H Plastic Rattles and more. These positions draw from more than just his pro angling accomplishments. They also demonstrate his knowledge of the equipment and his will to provide the best possible fishing experiences for everyone -- even his competitors on the BASS circuit.

Such dedication to the sport is not surprising, considering that he comes from a line of anglers --- his father is also a tournament fisherman. Plus, Tom has fished for nearly all his life.

Even when he?s not fishing, Tom maintains a close connection to the outdoors. Before moving to Corsicana, he was a part-time guide for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Cleburne, Texas. For several years, he has written a celebrated outdoor sports column for the Corsicana Daily Sun and numerous web sites.

Commanding a Masters degree in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University, Tom doesn?t just handle his business on the water. He helps his wife operate Four Seasons Lawnscape. The company gives him a perfect application for his background in agriculture and education -- he designs, sells and executes landscaping design concepts, as well as educates his customers on landscape needs. As co-owner of the company, he also has the freedom to set his own schedule -- leaving him ample time to promote outdoor products.

Tom taught Agricultural Science for high school students and also played a part in animal health during his tenure as a Territory Manager for Fort Dodge Animal Health. There, he consulted with veterinarians and distributors and handled customer service issues.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Bass Tournament Downsizing

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Bass Tournament Downsizing
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

This fall while cleaning out my Triton for the winter, I made a huge discovery. "I had entirely too much stuff in my boat." The storage compartments were jammed full of hundreds and hundreds of bags containing various soft plastic baits. There were at least ten bags of every size, style, and color of each product that Gary Yamamoto makes. While each of these baits are very productive in various situations, having such a large selection with me all of the time led to some confusion, wasted time and second guessing.

After looking back and analyzing my past season and trying to determine adjustments that needed to be made, I decided that my soft plastic selection had to be condensed. The amount of time that I spent digging through the compartments looking for a specific color and size of a lure could have allowed me to catch one or two more fish per tournament day. Would that really make a difference? I really don't know, but as long as it is a possibility, I am willing to take corrective measures. The competition in Bass tournaments today is so good that you need to take advantage of every moment you spend on the water. A few wasted minutes here and there could mean the difference between winning the tournament and not making a check at all.

To help with the elimination of wasting valuable tournament time, I am going to choose about five or six colors of each bait. These colors will be the ones that I feel will be most productive for the body of water that I will be fishing. Factors that will assist with my selection process will be water clarity, natural forage, bottom composition and my personal confidence level. For example, if I am fishing a tournament on the muddy Mississippi River, there is a good chance that I will not use a bubble gum or white Senko. Therefore, I do not need to have them in my boat for that tournament. Past experience and common sense tells me that colors like Green Pumpkin, Watermelon and June Bug are very effective in this type of water. My confidence level is also very high in colors like Black with Blue flakes and Ox Blood in muddy water, so I would add these additional colors to my arsenal before waging war in this tournament.

Pre-fishing is a great time to determine what ammunition you will carry in the boat during tournament hours. If you take a few baits of each color and try them during practice, you can get a very good idea of what you need to have in the boat once the tournament begins. This is also a good time to determine the quantity of lures that you need to bring with you. If during practice, the bite is relatively slow and you aren't going through very many soft baits, you probably do not need to take twenty bags with you during the tournament. Just make sure that you have an ample supply so you don't run out of them, at the same time don't go overboard. Excessive quantities take up a lot of room and add unwanted weight to your boat.

Competitive Bass fishing is a game of numbers and usually the margins are very slim. By reducing your idle time, it allows you to keep your bait wet a little longer. We all know that no matter how well a MegaStrike coated Senko works, you will never catch anything on it when the lure isn't even in the water.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Tracking Flathead Catfish

Home > Fish Articles > Conservation and Restoration

Tracking Flathead Catfish

As we pushed upstream, fish 1702 was talking to us. Just above the new ramp on the Iowa River at River Junction, our radio receiver on board sounded clear, crisp 'beeps' to tell us we were closing in on the five-pound flathead catfish.

Steering the boat toward a jumble of trees on an inside bend, Department of Natural Resources fisheries technician Greg Simmons was confident. "It's in that logjam. As we get closer, the beeping will get louder," said Simmons. Unplugging the electronic box from the mast, Simmons held it over the side of the boat. The beeps were loud and sharp. "It's right below us," offered Simmons. "1702 was tagged August 20 of last year. The last time we 'saw' it was this May (probably moving up from its wintering area) just above the mouth of the Cedar River. So it's moved up about ten miles since then."

As Simmons recorded depth and other details, it was easy to see why the fish was here. On the inside bend there would be a couple nice holes. The tangle of flood-carried trunks, stumps and limbs created blocked the current, creating a calm area, good habitat for smaller river fish...and the flathead catfish that would swallow them. Across the river, the outside bend showed sloughed-away dirt banks, a reminder of the changing nature of the stream and the multitude of organisms it supports.

Crews last year caught and implanted radio-transmitters in 35 flatheads. This trip was just for telemetry. "The receiver here will pick up signals from the fish," explains Simmons. "Each one is assigned a different frequency. If the scanner doesn't pick up a frequency in the two-second interval, it moves to the next one." It had been a pretty good day. Starting at the Burlington Street Dam in Iowa City on this day, Simmons had located 14 'electronic flatheads' by the time he pulled out at River Junction, east of Riverside. DNR biologist Greg Gelwicks had started there and was monitoring downstream. The research crew, out of Manchester, spent the night and completed their run down to the Mississippi the next day.

On a different trip, they might electroshock the same stretches; a method that brings up smaller flatheads. Or, they would set underwater hoop nets, especially during spawning, to get more of the monsters. They need to see a representative sampling of the flatheads to gauge just how many are out there. Concerns from anglers not seeing as many big flatheads prompted the multi-stream survey. As the top predator, a balanced flathead population is critical to a river's overall health. And if you've ever wrestled a five--or 45--pound flathead to the bank, you know why many river anglers prefer them.

Similar work is underway in the North Raccoon, Des Moines and Cedar River corridors in Iowa. That includes some attention to tributaries. Just prior to pushing off, Gelwicks talked by phone with a woman who had caught one of the transmitter-fitted fish on the English River, near North English. Though there is nothing illegal with taking one home-they know of four caught--biologists urge anglers to contact them to pin down location, movement and other data. Plus, they'll stop searching for that frequency.

In its second year now, the study is showing that habitat is critical...and that fish will move to get to that habitat. For instance, why did 1702 swim past 10 miles of the Iowa River to get back to that particular logjam above River Junction? "A fish might do well for ten months out of the year but if it lacks critical habitat, an over-wintering area for instance, it is going to have to (search for it)," cautions Simmons. "We just don't know a lot about flatheads on our interior streams. We are looking at how far they move at different times of the year. We want to learn about population, growth rates, too; some simple parameters to tell us more."

And through the implanted radio transmitters, the catfish are talking.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Why So Many Bass Anglers Are Seeing Red

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Why So Many Bass Anglers Are Seeing Red
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

There is an amazing phenomenon running through the fishing world faster than a Triton through an early morning haze. The new craze is the color red. Two companies with very contrasting views are leading the charge and the rest of the community is following their lead.

The company that started this fish catching assault is TTI Companies. They are the makers of Tru-Turn, Daiichi, StandOut and XPoint hooks. For several years, they have been producing red fishing hooks under the names "Blood Red" and "Bleeding Bait" hooks. Their concept was first discovered in a bait shop minnow tank. "It all started in my dad's tackle shop," explains TTI's New Product Manger, TJ Stallings. "He lowered different colored jigs into the bait tank. The minnows ignored all of the top colors, but bumped and chewed on the blood red color jig." Years later a friend of Mr. Stallings shined a laser in an aquarium and the fish began to follow the red light. Stallings said, "Every fish in the tank followed the little red dot like it was a circus act. That's when it hit me, hooks should be that color."

Biologists have a scientific reasoning for the effectiveness of Blood Red hooks. It is a phenomenon called "Gill Flash" When feeding, the gills of a fish become engorged with blood. This signals to other fish in the area that they are feeding. It is a lot like saying, "so long suckers, I have food and you don't." Nearly every hook company in the industry has attempted to jump aboard the "red hook" bandwagon, but none of the imitators compare to the innovators.

Even legendary lure companies like Strike King see the importance of the "Bleeding Bait" hooks. Strike King recently introduced its own line of "Bleeding Bait Hook Lures." They now offer Topwater baits, Crankbaits, Jigs, Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits and Jerkbaits with TTI's red hooks.

Is this just another marketing ploy to reel in more money from anglers or do these red hooks really work? Strike King's Consumer Relations Manager, Chris Brown said, "I don't believe it is a marketing ploy. We believe that the red triggers fish, we have done tests, TTI companies have done tests, it's a deal where it becomes a confidence bait. I fish a lot of tournaments and do tons of seminars each year. I use the red hooks from my cranks to my Spinnerbaits, to my soft plastics and terminal tackle and so forth. I have a ton of confidence in the red and I believe others do too. I go back to our product offering, we grow it each year depending on popularity and how consumers respond to colors, body styles etc. It seems to be the growing trend and for good reason." I have been using red hooks for a few years now and I love them. Reason being, THEY WORK. "I know people who dive and so forth and say the red disappears and it might," Brown explained. "For us the flash of red on the hook, on the spinner bait wire, in the skirt, we believe that flash is the deal, as the bait is used more the better it gets, the flash is little different than a nickel or gold flash and we feel that has a lot to do with it. Look at our new Bleeding Premier Elite Spinnerbait. Red hook, red skirt strands, red throat, red wire and a red tab on the trailing blade of the bait. That tab gives off an awesome flash. We believe that red flash mimics an injured baitfish and thus attracts an aggressive strike."

Approaching the "red" frenzy from an entirely different angle is Cajun Line Company. Rather than using the color red to cause their line to be more visible, Cajun Line Company is capitalizing on the colors invisible qualities. According to the company, the color red is the first color to start "disappearing" underwater. In as little as three feet of water, the color red starts to fade out. What this means is that the fish are only seeing the lure and not the line. When your bait is tied to the end of Cajun Line, it looks more lifelike and natural as it swims along. The more realistic you can make your lures appear, the more productive they will be.

Regardless of the reason anglers are choosing to use "Red" products, there is one aspect that remains constant, confidence. If you honestly believe that something works better than anything else and your catch ratio can back it up, by all means don't stop using it just because someone else doesn't like it. You have to use what works best for you and you only. I personally love the red hooks and I will continue to use them regardless of what anyone else thinks. They work for me and that is the bottom line.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: The Million Dollar Question

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Bagwell's Bass Tactics: The Million Dollar Question
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

If I were given a dollar for every time I have been asked "how do I get sponsors?" I would probably make the Forbes top 500 list. Unlike many other things in the life, this question has no clear cut, single sentence answer. When you start wanting to get paid by a company to fish, the sport takes on a whole new perspective. From an angler's perspective, sponsors are there to help with the never-ending expenses involved with competitive fishing. Whether it is in the form of free product, discounts on boats or the ever-popular monthly stipend, sponsorship contracts will ideally help reduce stress. Companies however, look at sponsorships from a whole different angle. Their main objectives are to increase market share and generate additional revenue. They are always looking for new and productive ways to get more people to buy their products. Before you take the dive off of the cliff into the wonderful world of sponsorships, there are certain things that you need to do. First and foremost, you need to ask yourself why a company would even want to sponsor you. If your answer is because you win a lot of local or regional tournaments, you might want to reconsider your approach. Industry leading companies do not care that you won the 2nd annual Mayberry Open Buddy Bass Tournament. Frankly why would they care? Will this make them any money? More likely than not, the answer is No.

You need to establish what value, if any, you can bring to the table. One simple method I use for determining such value is a little trick I learned from a lady named Gwen Johnson who was one of my instructors in college. I doubt that Mrs. Johnson knew she was helping me with sponsorship contracts, but she really was. Whenever I have an idea or something that I think may be important, I ask myself the question "So what?" Then I try to answer the question to determine the actual value that the contents of my statement has. Here are a couple of examples:

I always win our company bass tournament. "So what?" Because of this, all of the people at work think I am a great bass angler.

As you can see this really has no corporate value. However, the following statement will at least draw a second look.

I host my own regional fishing radio show and I write fishing columns for three local newspapers. "So what?" This means that I have the opportunity to introduce product lines to a much larger portion of the target market. Through both verbal and written communication, I can spread the word about the products that I believe in. I also possess a high level of name and face recognition in my region.

Now these were just very rough examples, but a company might view the second scenario as a cost effective way to get their goods introduced to more consumers in this particular region.

Once you can prove that you have some form of value to a company, it is then that you have to determine what your services are worth. As a newcomer, companies are not going to pay you much, (if any) actual money. In most cases, they will offer you a very limited amount of free or reduce priced product. This is fine to an extent, but as Bassmaster Classic qualifier Ish Monroe once told me, "I can't eat a box of crankbaits and I can't pay my bills with them either." When you actually think about his statement, it really puts it all into perspective. The return received for your work has to be of some benefit to you. You should not just agree to a sponsor's terms because it will get you a couple spools of line and a cool patch on your shirt. If you apply for a "regular" job and you request $15 per hour, but the company only wants to pay minimum wage, chances are you will not take the job. Dealing with sponsors should be no different. Applying for a sponsorship is no different from applying for a job. You will have certain duties to perform and expectations that you must live up to. If you can not meet these requirements, you will ultimately be let go. The bottom line is, attempt to get a level of compensation that you feel is fair and beneficial to both parties. Do not sell yourself short or jeopardize your integrity, over a few hundred dollars worth of fishing tackle. Also, do not get extremely cocky and demanding towards your sponsors. Unless you can back up the trash talk spewing from your mouth. Even if you can back it up, there is a good chance that you will get shown to the door.

I am certain that most sponsorship seekers do not fully understand what will be expected from them by sponsors. You are not going to get paid simply to fish with all sorts of free tackle. There are a lot of responsibilities that go along with being a Pro Staff member. First and foremost, you always have to display a neat and professional appearance any time you have contact with the general public. Secondly, you must be a product expert. Your job is to help boost sales and you can not do that, if you have no clue what you are talking about. Your sponsors will request that you work outdoors shows, in-store seminars and a wide assortment of promotional activities. One show I worked was four days in length. During this time period, I talked to so many people that I nearly lost my voice. At times, these activities are a lot of fun, but they are also a great deal of work.

Probably the best bit of advice that I can give you is "Get an Education." Even if you are one of the blessed few that are able to fish for a living, a degree in Business Management, Marketing, Public Relations or Advertising will be extremely beneficial when dealing with sponsors. If your hopes and dreams happen to come up short, the degree will provide you with a well paying career to fall back on.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Take Time to Fish Between the Cracks

Home > Fishing Articles > General Fishing

Take Time to Fish Between the Cracks
by Terry Higginbotham

The summer of 1972, my brother and I were filling cricket and bait buckets for Mr. K.C. Bray at the Sunset Marina on the Toledo Bend Reservoir just south of Many, Louisiana. It was just another hot, humid, July in the southwest Louisiana. Each day the same as yesterday and with almost certainty the same as it would be tomorrow. The wind was so still that the Spanish moss barely rustled in the old cypress trees. But these were the type of days I liked, cause the fishing would be good. Good fishing meant good tips.

Lil' Brother and I never did make a lot of money, but enough to keep us just short of even on our account at Mr. K.C.'s store. Our daily provisions consisted of two cokes, a moon pie, a Miss. Dailey's fresh made sandwich, and all the crickets we needed to catch our supper. By 7:00 p.m., every evening we would have our 3 bream apiece. We would gut 'em, stick 'em, and cook 'em over a little fire we would make on the bank near our tent.

Lil' Brother and I had spent the last two summers camping on the banks of the Bend. We fancied ourselves as a modern day Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. We were accountable to no one and responsible for only our daily bread. Don't get me wrong, we were not bad kids nor did we come from a broken home. We had loving parents, grandparents, and friends. We were just lucky enough to grow up in a part of the world and in a time that allowed us to live free, truly free.

Our parents would come to the Bend on the weekends and we would get a reprieve from our day-to-day attempts to "survive." We didn't know until years later that mom and dad gave Mr. K.C. money to cover our supper in the case fishing ever went bad. They would bring us fresh clothes, comic books, candy, and fresh tackle for our nightly fishing. They would stay for the weekend then head for real world late on Sunday Evening.

On Friday night we would all go down to the dock. We would sit for hours talking about the week's events. Lil Brother and I would tell about our adventures. Dad would tell us stories about the jobs he was on. Dad was an ironworker and we were fascinated by his stories of "walking in the air." To us he was a superhero. Saturday we would spend the day fishing, swimming, and skiing.

Sunday morning was spent at "church." We would go down to the dock, bait a couple of hand lines. We would then lower the hand lines through the cracks in the dock. The really big fish would rest in the shade, just under the dock. The best way to get to them was to fish through the cracks where the two floating partitions of the dock joined. While Lil' Brother and I would fish for the Big Ones, Daddy would read to us about becoming "Fishers of Men." Some of the best times of my life were spent belly down on that old dock, coaxing those big bluegills out with worms and crickets. As I look back on it now, it wasn't because of the fishing but because of the time spent with Dad and Lil' Brother.

Recently my dad came to visit. I was in the midst of a major project and wasn't spending much time with him. Maybe a few minutes in the morning and an hour or so at night, before I passed out from exhaustion. On his last night, I finally got to tell him about the new boat I just bought. About the rods and reels, tackle, and accessories just waiting until we got a chance to go fishing. I told him about the cabin on Toledo Bend that we were going to rent, as soon as I got enough time to go. I told him about how excited the kids were when I had brought home new rods and reels for them, last month. He seemed to enjoy the talk although he seemed very quiet and almost sad.

My dad left that next morning. As we shook hands, he drew me near and presented me with an old box. He whispered, "The secrets to a happy life are in here." Dad was always a little strange when it came to good-byes, so I just smiled, waved and watched him slowly drive out of sight.

The small box was worn red with a small picture of a man battling a giant bass. Below the picture was the caption "Sunset Marina Toledo Bend Many, Louisiana." I slowly opened the box and smiled as I became aware of it's contents. Truly these were the "secrets of life." In the box was a small bible with a bookmark with Matthew 4:19 printed on it. It had been a while but I did remember, "Follow Me and I will make you Fishers of Men." Beside the Bible was a small hand line wrapped in a piece of paper with my dad's handwriting scrawled on it. I unfolded the note and smiled as I read the simple key to a happy life.

"Son, Make time to fish through the cracks."

Today isn't just another hot, humid, July day in southwest Louisiana. Not quite the same as yesterday and with almost certainty the same as it will be tomorrow.

"Hey Jon, throw dad another moon pie."

"Just a minute dad, I think Erin's got another one."

"Be careful not to lose him, it's a little tricky getting ?em back through the cracks."

"Hey dad."

"Yeah, Jon."

"Was fishing this good when you were a kid?"

"Almost."

© Copyright 2004 OuachitaGroup. All Rights Reserved.
Author: Terry Higginbotham
Email: articles@huntstats.com
Web Site: http://www.huntstats.com/
Details: Owner of HuntStats.com and The OuachitaGroup, Terry Higginbotham, is an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. He runs a research project studying the Whitetail Deer and the American Wild Turkey. Information from this study is available online at HuntStats.com or by email at articles@huntstats.com.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Dealing With the Off Season Doldrums

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Dealing With the Off Season Doldrums
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Dealing With the Off Season Doldrums Here in the Northern part of the country we are barely into our cold weather season. Already my anxiety level is going through the roof. I have cleaned the basement and got all of my tackle sorted. Next year's gear has already been ordered. Now all I can do is sit around waiting for spring and dreaming about bass fishing. That is if I want all of my hard work and practice to go down the drain.

If you are one of the millions of bass anglers that reside in the northern half of the United States, the winter months can seem to last an eternity. The lakes and rivers become over sized ice hockey rinks. No matter how hard I try, I just can't figure out how to get my Minn Kota to cut through the hard water and my Senkos just lay motionless on the ice. I guess that rules out ice fishing.

The majority of bass anglers can't afford the luxury of heading south for the winter or taking trips to exotic warm climate locations. Instead, we must stay in our snow covered prisons, anxiously awaiting our spring time release date. Rather than spending four months dreaming of the bass that you could be catching, take advantage of the off-season. This is the time of year to hone some of your skills and increase your knowledge for next season.

I have a miniature obstacle course set up in my basement. There is a variety of targets obstructed by different objects. This is how I attempt to keep in stroke for Pitching and Flipping different baits. Each one of the obstructed targets serves its own unique purpose. One obstacle that has been very beneficial too me, is a small tunnel that I made out of cardboard boxes. At the end of the tunnel is a small lid from a laundry detergent bottle, this represents my strike zone. I use this portion of the course to practice pitching to low, congested targets. I designed this obstacle two years ago and it has paid amazing dividends, when it came to getting a jig under a boat dock or pitching underneath low hanging trees.

This also keeps me tuned in with my equipment. When I pull out my All Star rods and Pflueger reels in the spring, they will not feel awkward to me. That is because they will have been a vital part of my off-season workout routine. To the untrained eye, it might appear that this is just a stupid little game that I play all alone, but do you think major league pitchers just sit around all winter? Of course not, they are in a gym somewhere working on their sliders and fastballs. The time you invest refining your skills during the winter will offer huge benefits come tournament time in the spring.

Take this time too learn how your lures actually work. Several colleges, high schools, and local YMCA's have indoor swimming pools. For a minimal fee, anglers can rent these pools by the hour. The crystal clear water is a perfect testing ground for seeing exactly how different baits look in action. Take several different baits and study how different retrieves and rod movements affect their action in the water. For one reason or another, each of us has developed an idea of what we think our baits do when we retrieve them a certain way. By seeing these baits with an unobstructed, perfectly clear view, we can now witness whether or not our assumptions were correct.

Boat show season can also be a huge off-season advantage to anglers. Typically, these shows offer seminars that are taught by seasoned Pros. Visit as many seminars or instructional demonstrations as you possibly can. Most of the time, these seminars require little or no fee in order to attend. B.A.S.S. holds several Bassmaster University educational programs throughout the country every January and February. These hugely popular, two day training programs are taught by the top anglers in the business. To the best of my knowledge, nobody else offers instructional seminars that feature the likes of Davy Hite, Hank Parker, Jay Yelas, Woo Daves, Larry Nixon, Kevin VanDam, and numerous other top tournament winning Pros. Although a little higher priced, attending one of these programs may just help push you too the next level of competitive Bass fishing.

When you can't get out to these seminars or other educational programs, use your time at home to learn as much as you can. Reading several magazines and visiting fishing websites can be like getting a fast track bachelors degree in bass fishing. Websites such as Probass.com, BassResource.com, AmericanBassAnglers.com, LandBigFish.com and BigfishTackle.com offer anglers a huge assortment of informative articles, as well as fishing chat rooms and message boards. After you read an article, you can then go to the forum or the chat room and discuss the various topics with other anglers. Not only will you learn more about the sport you love, but there is the potential for meeting new friends and fishing partners that love the sport as much as you. The fact that these sites are available twenty-four hours a day is perfect for everyone, regardless of their work schedule.

Another valuable tool for increasing your winter season education, is fishing related videos. From the comfort of your own couch, you can learn tips and tactics from the country's best Professional Bass anglers. Plastic Tactics and Understanding Sonar by Mike Del Visco are two great learning aids for anglers of all skill levels. Kevin VanDam's Pitching to Heavy Hitters really does a wonderful job of explaining when and where to Flip and Pitch your baits, to become more successful. Woo Daves' Structure School gives a detailed look at various aspects of fishing for deep bass. There are numerous other videos on the market that can and will help you increase your knowledge level. Take advantage of these resources and then practice the techniques that you have learned once spring arrives. You will be amazed with the results.

Rather than moping around and letting your skills diminish, take advantage of your off-season. Not only will you emerge as a more educated and highly skilled angler, it will also make the time pass more quickly.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

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Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Two for One

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Bagwell's Bass Tactics: Two for One
by Jeremiah T. Bagwell

Since this is the first installment of my new online column, I have decided to give you all a taste of the two angles from which I approach things. One being the "Tip and Tactic" format that is designed to help anglers of different skill levels increase their overall fishing knowledge. The other approach is a little more brash and sometimes misinterpreted. On occasion, it may come off as me being a self righteous, arrogant jerk, but that is not the way I intend it. My belief is to call it like I see it, without sugar coating things in order to please someone else.

With all that being said, I would like to thank all of you for taking part in the first issue of my column. It should be a lot more fun than when it was published in a magazine. The choke chain isn't nearly as tight and I can be "me" a lot more frequently. So fasten up the kill switch and let's go for a heck of a ride.

When most anglers hear the words "Drop Shot Rig," the last thing they think of, is sight fishing for spawning Bass. The truth is, in lakes all over the country there are anglers putting big limits in their boats using this killer technique. When sight fishing, there are certain factors that will greatly affect the outcome. If you can accomplish these objectives, you will be much more successful at putting these big pigs in the boat.

Approaching the fish with your boat and with your bait in a stealthy manner is probably the single most important element in sight fishing. During the spawn these fish are very gun-shy and spook very easy. When moving into position, keep your trolling motor on low. Constantly switching the motor off and on will usually scare the fish away. Once you are within range, quietly pitch your bait a few feet past the bed. This will allow you to slowly and quietly sneak the bait into the strike zone.

While bait selection is important, it is far less complicated during the spawn. Bass are not in the mood to eat. Therefore, selecting baits that mimic predators rather than prey is a more logical choice. Using lures such as Lizards, Senkos and Jigs will be far more productive. The reasoning behind Lizards and Jigs is fairly obvious, but to most anglers, Senkos don't really look like anything. With the right color selection, a Senko on a Drop Shot rig does an awesome job of imitating a Bluegill. As we all know, Bass hate Bluegills, especially during the spawn.

As I previously mentioned, Bass are not in the mood to eat during the spawn. In order to get these fish to hit a lure, you have to really make them mad. When they do strike, the fish is simply trying to kill the intruder, rather than grabbing a quick meal. Using a Drop Shot rig gives you the ability to slide your bait into the strike zone and continually move it, all without pulling it from the bed. The reason being, the weight stays stationary, while the bait moves in an erratic action on semi-slack line. This technique gives you the ability to move the bait up and down, or just shake it a few inches off of the bottom for as long as you want. Even the most laid back fish will be forced to obliterate a trespasser that has been in its bed for too long. Be sure to keep a close watch over your bait, because these fish will hit hard and fast. If you are daydreaming, your bait will be placed five feet from the bed before you even have time to set the hook.

There is always a certain level of animosity between Boaters and Co-Anglers. Some of the ill feelings are justified and others are just mentally fabricated ramblings. The different arguments could quickly fill the pages of a book. Although I would love to debate both sides of the issue, I just don't have the time. After a psychological coin toss, I decided it would be the Co-Anglers that would hate me this week. Oh fret not my back deck buddies, the Boaters will get their lashes in due time.

It is common knowledge that most Boaters put in a lot of work in the days, weeks and even months preceding a tournament. Most of their time is spent trying to find productive areas and patterns. They work very hard to keep the data they have collected, close to the vest. If the information in their memory banks were to get out, any advantage they had, would be gone. Ironically, as soon as the tournament starts, all of the secrecy goes out the window. These Boaters are paired with Co-Anglers that now get to fish in their top secret waters. This paradox is likely the single biggest cause for some of the bitter feelings between Boaters and Co-Anglers.

Way too many (not all) Co-Anglers talk entirely too much. They haven't yet learned that certain details in Bass tournaments are to be kept quiet. You don't go back to the dock and tell all of your buddies where you fished. This is especially true in multi-day tournaments. At a very big tournament at Kentucky Lake in 2002 I was about fifty feet away from two boats that were nose to nose and the anglers were ready to throw down. These guys were yelling expletives at each other for about ten minutes. All of it was because a Co-Angler with an over active mouth had told his second day Boater where the other guy's secret spot was.

Another example is a guy that fishes about ten tournaments per year as a Co-Angler. He never pre-fishes and has very limited time on this particular body of water. Strangely enough, he has new spots after each tournament and is more than willing to share them. The sad part is this angler has developed a bad reputation that is spreading faster than butter on a hot biscuit. Nobody wants to draw this Co-Angler and when they do, they often hesitate to go to their favorite fishing areas. This resentment prohibits these anglers from fishing to their full potential, because he is in the back of their boat.

Unless you want to be dubbed the "Most Hated Co-Angler," keep your lips sealed after tournaments. It is fine to broadcast what baits "you" used or what pattern "you" fished, but never disclose an area that a trusting angler took you to. The only exceptions to this rule would be if you had already been there before the tournament (community hole) or if the Boater gives you his/her blessing to do so.

Just take into consideration how you would feel if you worked your butt off, only to have some other angler troll right in and tell everyone where your honey hole is. You wouldn't like it and believe me, neither do they. Build your reputation as an honest angler that others can trust. In a lot of tournaments, the sharing of information by Co-Anglers is an explicit rule infraction. Violating this rule could possibly lead to you being served a mouthful of knuckles or even worse, being banned from tournament fishing. It is not even worth the hassle. Instead, enjoy your time on the water, learn as much as possible and be thankful that you have the opportunity to fish.
Author: Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Email: jt_bagwell@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.qcbassfishing.8k.com/
Details: Nickname - JT
Birth Date - March 13, 1976
Hometown - Rock Island, IL
Family - Elisabeth (wife)
Fishing Influences - Arnold and Juanita King (Grandparents)
Years Fishing - 25+
Biggest Strength (on the water) - Pitching jigs
Biggest Weakness (on the water) - Finesse fishing

Fishing Accomplishments Winner of 2002 Exelon's Fishing for a Cure (Charity Event) 2003 ABA D46 Angler of the Year2004 ABA D46 Angler of the YearSeveral tournament winsSeveral big bass awardsBFL regional qualifierABA national championship qualifierOff the Water Accomplishments Pro Staff member for several great companiesArticles are regularly printed in American Bass Anglers and Inside Line Magazines.Bagwell's Bass Tactics (weekly column) runs on multiple very high-traffic websites.Articles are used on websites in the United States, Russia, Australia and the United KingdomFeatured in numerous newspaper articlesIn-studio guest for a regional talk radio showIn-store promotions for retail locationsOwner of BagwellsBassTactics.comActive in the Pro Bass Networks "Ask a Pro" program for kidsProudest Fishing Moment - After winning the Exelon Fishing for a Cure charity tournament, donated 20% of earnings back to the charity.
Favorite Food - Mexican and Italian
Favorite Book - Get what you deserve (How to guerilla market yourself)
Favorite Movie - Too many to list
Favorite Song - I'm gonna miss her (the fishing song)
Sponsors - Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Pflueger Reels, All Star Rods, Daiichi Hooks, Minn Kota, Mizmo Bait Co, Lake George Boat Rental, Slayden's Auto Repair, MegaStrike, Humminbird, PowerPro, Shakespeare Supreme Line, Do-It Mold Co.

View the original article here