Scott Martin - The greatest warrior of bass fishing

 Scott Martin - The greatest warrior of bass fishing

Hector was the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, who was a descendant of Dardanus and Tros, the founder of Troy.^[3] In some accounts, his father was the god Apollo.^[4] He was a prince of the royal house and the heir apparent to his father's throne. 

During the European Middle Ages, Hector figures as one of the Nine Worthies noted by Jacques de Longuyon, known not only for his courage but also for his noble and courtly nature. Indeed, Homer places Hector as peace-loving, thoughtful as well as bold, a good son, husband and father, and without darker motives. James Redfield describes Hector as a "martyr to loyalties, a witness to the things of this world, a hero ready to die for the precious imperfections of ordinary life."

Scott, you are our Hector. The greatest warrior of bass fishing

Fooled You, Sucker!

                       As its name suggests, the white Sucker is distinguished by its protuberant and downward-pointing sucker-like mouth. The mouth, located on the underside of a blunt, rounded snout, has thick lips covered with small fleshy bumps called papillae. The body of the white sucker is torpedo-shaped and cylindrical, with relatively large scales.

The color of the fish greatly varies—the color of its back and upper sides can be dark green, grey, coppery brown, or even black, while the lower sides are lighter and give way to the white underbelly. When spawning, these colors darken and intensify. Spawning males develop distinctly colored bands along the sides of their body as well as coarse bumps (tubercles) on the head and their anal and caudal fins. Young white suckers are lighter in overall color and have three very distinct dark spots on their sides.

Typically, white suckers grow to be 12 to 18 inches in length, but they can get as big as 25 inches long. They weigh anywhere from 2 to 6 pounds. White suckers have 55-85 lateral line scales and 10-13 dorsal rays.

Habitat

The white sucker can adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and habitats including streams, lakes, and rivers but it tends to live in small/medium sized rivers and small creeks with cold, clear water. White suckers avoid rapid currents. They often move into tributary streams to spawn and tend to do so over gravel or rocky shoals.

Life History

From late April to early June (or more specifically, when the water temperature is warm enough), white suckers home upstream to rocky/gravely spawning areas with quick running water. Look for key areas in the lake where Bass will set up to lie in wait for preoccupied Suckers to pass by on their way to the creek inlets or outlets.

Once there, the female settles to the bottom and is soon crowded by males. Once two males find a place on either side of the female, the three fish begin to rapidly vibrate together, causing sperm and eggs to release. Once this quick spawning act is complete, the female continues upstream to find more mates. Over the course of an hour or more, a female may lay from 20,000 to over 100,000 eggs. No nests are built for the eggs—instead, they are scattered and eventually attach to the bottom. After a week or two, the adults leave the spawning grounds and return to where they originally came from. As for the eggs—after incubating for a week or two, the larvae hatch. The fry remain in the gravel for another one or two weeks and then migrate downstream. 

White suckers reach maturity in 3 to 8 years and then spawn annually throughout the rest of their lives. This species has a maximum life expectancy of about 17 years.

Geographic Range
For the most part, the white sucker inhabits the upper Midwest and Northeast of North America, but it has been found as far west as New Mexico and as far south as Georgia.

White suckers have a large variety of known predators. Its predators include muskellunges, bass, burbot, brook trout, and sea lamprey. Walleye and northern pike prey upon eggs and small white suckers. Bald eagles, herons, loons, and ospreys are known to prey on small white suckers as well. Other animals, such as bears, feed on white suckers during their spawning periods.

Conservation Status

White suckers are a very common and robust species with very large population sizes over a wide distribution. Therefore, the white sucker has been designated as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List.

Fun Facts

• The white sucker goes by a number of other names—common sucker, coarse-scaled sucker, brook sucker, gray sucker, mud sucker, sucker, mullet, black mullet, slender sucker, June sucker, and white horse.
  

• The white sucker is commonly confused with the longnose sucker, another type of bottom-feeding fish. They look similar and both use their fleshy lips to suck up food. The main difference between the two is that the longnose sucker has grey or dark olive-colored sides.

A plain blue back Huddleston with spawning bands applied via black sharpie.

Watch Care

Caring For Your Watches

Crown Down
Place your watch crown side down on your night stand or dresser. You are less likely to scratch the side of your valuable watch with only the crown making contact with the surface.

Invest in Deployant Clasps for Your Watch Straps or Bands
Your watch strap will last 4-5 times longer if you use a deployant clasp to take it on and off. With a standard buckle, you must pull back on the strap to put it on and off. This daily pulling back wears (creases) the strap out around the buckle. With at deployant clasp you avoid this. And, it is easier to use and safer (you can't accidentally slip and drop your watch putting it on). A deployant clasp works much the same way as a bracelet does.

Store Your Watch Collection in a Watch Box
Rather than keeping your growing watch collection loosely arranged in your dresser drawer, invest in a good watch box that keeps your watches safe from scratches and nicely displayed. If you have some XXL or large dial watches store them on the end slots or skip a slot to keep the crown from banging into another watch in the box.

Use a Soft Watch Cloth to Wipe off the dust, finger prints, etc. 

A soft cloth or a micro-fiber cloth is what we recommend for keeping your watch clean and dust free. For tarnish or brightening up gold or gold plated watches, you can get a Jeweler's Rouge polishing cloth to restore the original luster.

Preserve Your Watch Straps in Hot, Sticky Weather

We all sweat in the hotter summer months. Watch straps can get sweat marks on the inside and this can degrade a strap with a soft leather lining quite quickly. You are better choosing to wear a water resistant strap or one made out of synthetics. You can also use special leather treatments and refined beeswax to keep your straps in good condition.

Rotate Your Watches and/or Invest in a Good Watch Winder
With self-winding and hand wound watches it is important to keep them running by rotating your watches. If a watch sits unworn, for a long period of time, the lubricant and clump up or pool and doesn't get evenly distributed. A watch winder can help keep your self-winding watches in good condition. For hand wound watches, wind them frequently to keep them running at their best.

Salt Water and Your Dive Watch
Just like it is a good idea to rinse yourself off after swimming in the Ocean, you should rinse your dive watch off too. Even though it is made from stainless steel, it is still a good idea to wash off the salt water when you get a chance.

Have Your Mechanical Watch Cleaned and Oiled on a Regular Basis
The standard recommendation for having your mechanical watch oiled and cleaned is about every 4 to 5 years. Like changing the oil in your car, you should keep your watch serviced to keep it running smoothly and in tip top shape. 

Invest in a Link Pin Remover or Spring Bar tool, if You would like to Change Straps or Size Your Watch Bracelet
A deluxe Link Pin Remover can save you a trip to a Jeweler and pay for itself in one or two uses. They are pretty easy to use and they will not scratch the watch.

If you like to switch out your leather straps on occasion, invest in a Spring Bar Remover tool. They are available for little money and they make quick work of changing your straps.

Never set day & date functions between the hours of 9pm - 3am

During these hours the day & date complications are doing their function and manually turning the crown during this time can strip the gear.

Avoid showering while wearing your watch.

The hot water and steam may compromise your watch's water resistance. It was not tested under these circumstances so its best to avoid unnecessary exposure. 

With proper watch care your timepiece can offer you a lifetime of service that can be passed down for the next generation to discover the study of time. 

Tips for a successful Seppuku!

So you've decided to commit seppuku. Now what? To help you with the task, here is a handy tutorial. Enjoy!

Step #1: Purchase a Sharp Sword!

A dull blade can lead to ragged cutting and the expenditure of much "elbow grease" during the ceremony. Therefore, it is important that the sword be razor-sharp.

Step #2: Find a Buddy!

One of the most important parts of seppuku is the kaishaku, or assistant. The kaishaku's task is to slice off your head after you have completed the ceremony, and should therefore be a close friend, family member, or crudely jilted ex-lover. The Kaishaku is also responsable for placing your remains in a sealed garbage bag, so you don't stink up the trash. 

Step #3: Decide Where to Die!

You only die once, so the location of your seppuku ceremony should be as pleasant as possible. I suggest a sunny field, a well-tended garden, or the pleasantly air-conditioned lobby of an upscale office building.

Step #4: Go for It!

Kneel down in your chosen location and slowly insert the sword into your abdomen. The desired spot is about three inches left or right of your navel, depending on which hand you use. Once the sword is inserted, gently slice it across your stomach, then upward toward your chest. Remove sword when finished.

Step #5: Inspect Your Work!

If done properly, most of your internal organs should have spilled out across your lap. If no internal organs are visible, repeat act until the job has been done correctly. Once finished, your kaishaku should then lop off your head in one clean blow.

Good luck, and happy cutting!

"Flippin' the Bird"

        With so many new realistic Hollow Body Frog Baits coming out lately, you might have forgotten about this frog bait with an attitude. No frog collection is complete without "Flippin' the Bird". It's really in a class of its own. 

In spring/summer wherever there's tules, you will see the easily identifiable Red Winged Black Birds. And Flippin' the Bird is a perfect rendition of these flying Mc Nuggets. I've had real RWBB's swooping down at me thinking I had one of there own on my line, more than once.

Casting into the tules, making a big commotion, and the baits tendency to right itself in the water is usually all that is needed to elicit a strike. 

It can be used at night to represent a downed bat. 

I like to trim the rubber strands to the shape of wings and a split tail to further its bird like appeal. 

This bait will stand out when the frog bite is in full swing at your local waters. It's definitely a classic!

Hudds don't just mimic trout

                When it comes to big swimbaits like the Huddleston, I notice people will say, "we don't have trout in our waters, so they won't work".

Just because there are no trout in your waters, don't let that stop you from throwing a Hudd. Whatever types of fish you have that grow to the 8" size can be mimicked or suggested. 

Bass are opportunistic feeders and if they scrutinized food by demographics, etc. before eating, they wouldn't be productive hunters. The "reaction strike" is what makes them productive and having a large mouth doesn't hurt. 

"Don't think too much". Whenever we start eliminating possibility, we do just that. 

Where I live in Ca. many of the tackle shops do not carry the perch color or version of lures because they don't nessesarily inhabit waters this far west, and through experience, they know lures of this type do not sell well. Common knowledge of local fish species has led to this belief. For this reason, I look for perch colored baits online and fish them knowing they're the least chosen out of all the color/paterns offered in particular baits. We do have carp, suckers, chubs, and Sac pike. And the perch color/pattern can pass for these other types of fish. 

In bass fishing, "match the hatch" is important when the bass are keying in on an abundant food source. A trout stocking, a Shad spawn, Crayfish mating ritual, or chasing a school of baitfish. The rest of the time it's a matter of opportunity and doesn't nessesarily apply.

I had noticed the suckers were spawning at a particular lake, so I thought about mimicking them. The males will sport a dark horizontal strip down their sides at this time. They flock to current, so I figured big bass would be ambushing them on their way to the creek inlets and outlets. After adding a stripe to match look, I set up near the outlet. Second cast, I swam it past a little rock wall and it got hammered. I don't even think the stripe was all that important. More so to me than the bass anyway. The key was finding an ambush spot where a big predator could lie in wait.

So what I'm getting at is, just because there are no trout in your waters, you can still throw a Hudd. Now if there are no 8" fish, then that's another thing. And if that's the case, I would look for better water to fish. 

The Long Nose Sucker bares a distinctive stripe during the spawn.

A black sharpie was used to add stripes on the top and sides.

Understandings crawfish patterns and coloration is key to big bites!

Understandings crawfish patterns and coloration is key to big bites!

I found this article by Jim Root on Bassmasters. It's a topic I been trying to gain a better understanding to form my own seasonal color preferences. (I added the pics and captions)

Early October pumpkin with orange tips.

There are very few people in the world who don’t throw jigs or other crawfish imitations when bass fishing. Some people have no less than three jigs tied at any given time on their boat. So what is it that makes them so deadly on bass, and how do you know what color to use? There has been a lot of research recently that says it’s not enough to throw a tube, you need to know the correct pattern.

Recently I came across a study which showed that 90% of the time bass will choose to eat crawfish over anything else because crawfish are extremely high in protein and very easy for bass to digest. So it’s not coincidence that people throw so many tubes, jigs, soft plastic baits with pinchers. This part is really not deniable. Anyone with a boat who’s had bass in their livewell will tell you that at some point bass have spit up crawfish. What gets tricky is when you start debating color, and if it matters.

Let’s start with what is universally true: craws do change color. In a study performed by the University of Michigan, Dr. Robert Thacker found that crawfish have red and blue photoreceptors. In lakes where blue-green light transmitted best, the craws were lighter in color. And in lakes where red light transmitted best, the craws were darker in color. There has also been clear data to support that swamp-like bottom composition results in very different coloration than rocky bottom lakes or tributaries. I’m not carrying around a spectrophotometer from lake to lake measuring the color intensity, but I do have a few traps that I’ll place at different points around the lake to collect samples of crawfish, which is ultimately the most effective way to match the hatch. This is really important to do because local bait shops often import what they sell from farms, where conditions can be completely different from what you’re fishing.

When they’ll change color is when they’re molting, or shedding their shell. This results from outgrowing the one they’d worn previously. This process has also been known to change the color entirely based on habitat. What researchers have found is that molting is initiated by a chemical that’s released in the body that’s been linked to the different phases of the moon. An article in Bassmaster Magazine had this to say about colors and moon phase: 3-4 days before and after a full moon throw brown and orange or olive and orange,black and red as you move further into the moon cycle, new moon nights should warrant dark brown and black, and to use black and blue as you move to a sickle moon.

So if you take all the data and combine it what you get is that crawfish are considered delicious by bass, they change color frequently during the different moon phases, with different color patterns per each section of water in each individual lake/river/pond. . go “match the hatch”!

        Full.                       Mid                             New.                       

Brown/Orange.       Black/Red.           Dark Brown/Black.      

Olive/Orange

    Sickle

  Black/Blue

This baby carrying mother had claws with bright red flake. (Early Nov.)

Dry Erase Markers for Swimbaits

Dry Erase 

         To add touch of realism and contrast to swimbaits, without turning it into an arts and crafts project, use a red "Dry Erase" marker to suggest gills. By drawing a fine line along the gill plate, swimbaits can benefit from another layer of detail. What is better than the pipe cleaner gills is, if you screw up or just don't like the effect it can be wiped off and the bait is no worse for wear. Crazy Glue hardens and tears away from the soft surrounding portion of the bait, eventually ruining it. The Dry Erase can be done quickly right before use. 

A black Sharpie will color a Hudd a dark purple and offers a different "Night Stalker" look that the fish haven't seen. (Segregation is acceptable for Sharpie will bleed onto other baits)

 

Tip - Wake Baits and Ambush Spots

               Here is a great technique for fishing Wake Baits from shore. Cast parallel to the shoreline, as close to the bank as possible and keep moving about 1/4-1/2 your casting distance each time after the retrieve is completed. 

You're using the bank to offer structure for a predator to use to trap its prey. Doing this offers predators more incentive to pursue your bait, Increasing its temptation. Cast into the wind so your bait is traveling down with the current generated. 

Work your way down the bank and in smaller venues, around the entire lake. 

Note the types of structure, cover and shoreline which held fish for future reference. 

A stick, boulder or even trash like a car tire can offer a predictable detour for bait, and a predator to capitalize. Wake the bait as close as you can past these types of anomalies. Go slow so the bait struggles to swim. Periodic stops suggest that the bait is tiring or dying. 

After moving down the bank, every 2-3 casts, you can cast behind you, along the shoreline, to see if you missed any. 

It's rare that a wakebait is effective just randomly casting to open water. Offering a ambush or funnel spot is part of the equation to any lures success. Once you get the familiar with identifying ambush spots, you can look for deeper ones and fish it with baits that run at those levels, all the way to the bottom.

I've included a link to a video that demonstrates the technique with a S-Waver glide-bait. A wakebait is the best way to learn the effectiveness of the concept because you can see the action as it unfolds.

https://youtu.be/oCv-uXPQViM

A nice post spawn bass that fell for a Live Target Pumpkinseed Wake Bait using this technique at night.

Improve Your Fishing Karma

          Confidence is huge. Misguided or not, confidence is an important factor when it comes to fishing. So this means that all fishermen are superstitious to an extent. That's why we ask "any luck?" Because without luck, it would mean we're just not good and that could never be the case. 

Now I'm the type of person whom without bad luck, I wouldn't have much luck at all. So if there's a reasonable way I might improve my luck, I'll do it. 

I have a secret tip on improving luck and I'll share it with you. I know others whom have adopted this ritual as well. Because let's face it, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

When I'm having a bad day fishing and feeling like I should have stayed in bed. Instead of acting like I'm never fishing again, I'll just call it a day and start to pick up spent fishing trash. Just grab a bag, (I try to always have one in my tackle) and fill it up and dispose of it properly. Its disgusting, I know, disgusting how quickly the bag is filled. 

People who fish with me know how much fishing trash bothers me. It's just so disrespectful it boggles the mind. In my lifetime of fishing, I'm sure I've created trash too. So I pick up more than my share. I also figure it's harder for people to litter in a clean place. It doesn't take long to notice the difference at your fishing spots either. 

Another added bonus is all the stuff you find. My buddy found a Roman Made Negotiator, another found a Deps 250, and I've found many Hudds and Damascus blade pocket knife that I still have and think is very cool. (Valued @ $200) 

I swear that it's almost guaranteed that you will "have luck" on the next outing. It all depends on what you already owe. 

Remember to give it a try and see for yourself what good fishing Karma can do. You already know what confidence can do. 

Fishing Goals - Personal Best

             It's a good idea to set some fishing goals every year. Small steps to improve on weaknesses, avoid complacency, and further yourself down the right path towards your "personal best". New techniques, places to go, things to aquire, numbers to surpass. Here's another example of a fishing goal and its benefits. 

Having a goal to "assist others", too often, is overlooked. When a fellow fisherman (stranger or friend) catches a nice fish, possibly the fish of their lifetime, take the time to offer any assistance they may need to document their expirience. 

Most of us carry a scale and camera, just in case we catch that trophy we're after. They may not be prepared (as you or I) for this occurrence. If needed, snap a good photo and weigh it for them. Explain the correct handling procedure to ensure a clean release. (See proper handling blog) This could be that persons "fish changing expirience" so lead by example. 

Taking the time to help another enjoy the fruits of their labor fishing, not only helps them, it helps the sport that we enjoy so much, ultimately effecting you in the process.

It will minimize the stress on the fish, by limiting time out of the water, for a better chance of survival.  (Preservation)

It helps a fellow fisherman to capture a precious moment they will carry with them for the rest of their life. (Etiquette)

It will help you gain insight on the circumstances surounding the trophy catch. (Knowledge)

Plus, it will help your fishing Karma by paying it forward, hopefully starting a positive ripple effect. (Influence)

Ones "personal best" goes well beyond a number to be achieved. Its what you do, how you live, and its how you will be remembered. 

Now that's a goal to fish for.

6th Sense Flow Glide Modifications

         According to my scale, the Flow Glide ranks high in the GlideBait category. It's Shad shape offers a different look that is a welcome addition to the trout shapes of our Glide collections.

It swims well but also "feels" good. The resistance it has on the retrieve constantly reminds me of the lures action and that a "reaction move" is only a rip or two away. It's a livelier swimmer than other glide baits, and its increased surface resistance turns out a lower rate of stall. This action sells the Shad theme.

I felt the tail looked a bit cheesy for a bait at this price point, so I tried one of the many spare S-Waver 168 tails that are lying around. After a few cuts, shaves and drilling a hole, it's got a smooth, more refined look that matches the rest of the bait. Now the tail doesn't take away from the clean, transparent, fine detail of  paint and finish. Fish on!

  

Since I wrote the above blog, I had an un-usual defect happen to this bait. 

It apparently built up pressure inside the bait and caused it to "inflate", splitting the back. A fine hard plastic membrane still keeps water out but if it keeps building up pressure, it will eventually pop. Now I've never had anything like this happen to a bait before and wouldn't have believed a hard bait could even do this. 

I happen to have a background in gas and chemical delivery systems and suspect that a chemical used in the plastic is off-gassing to its own vapor pressure, which is high enough cause the hard plastic to "inflate". 

I contacted 6th Sense and was surprised that Casey Sobczak himself fielded the email. I figured that something of this nature would be a glitch in the manufacturing process and this wouldn't be an isolated incident. After sending pictures of the lure, he was "standoffish" and suggested that I subjected the lure to high temperatures via car, sun, or both. Knowing that nothing other than normal circumstances were subjected to this lure as well as the rest of my tackle, I got on the defensive and started to write back that I was an adult and didn't appreciate the accusation of wrongdoing etc.

Before I replied he wrote back saying he would replace the lure immediately and sent a new one. He didn't even ask for the lure to be sent back to investigate what had happened. 

Anyway, I was relieved that a replacement was on the way. At $60 I felt I had to contact the company with my concern. 

Later that week I was telling a fishing friend how pleased I was with 6th Sense customer service when he had an puzzled look on his face. "I just had the same thing happen one of their crank baits". He showed me the brand new deep diver with the split back and told me he had just bought it. 

So I suspect there may be some bugs to be worked out at 6th Sense manufacturing.

I think their lineup is very promising and cutting edge in the finish department. I think they want all their customers to be satisfied and they are in this for the long haul. I hope they get this figured out soon because 6th Sense is poised to become a major force in lure manufacturing. 

Continued #3

So I had the bait sitting around a while. It's holding the pressure so I take it out again to see the floating action. It twitches good on the surface, darting from side to side and when you reel steadily the slope of the back causes it to diver under just below the surface. It can glide off to a side and then slowly rise back to the surface. 

It looks pretty good when I see a fish materialize beneath the lure and hit it. A good 3 1/2 lber tells me the lure still works and can be used differently. And I may have the only one.....

So I brush on a little clear 5 min. epoxy over the split and now I have the only floating Flowglide I know of. I like it. Time will tell if the fish do.......

My take on the Glide Bait

"My take on the GlideBait" (S-Waver 168 & 200)

The S-Waver is my favorite lure. I'll usually start and stop with one every time I go fishing. Not because it my "go to" that gets them every time but because it's a great search-bait that's fun to fish. 

Running close to the surface, it can be visual, which is always more interesting than not and because of this, there are less hang ups. When you do hang up you can often retrieve the lure. 

Cover and structure avoidance isn't something I require in a lure, in fact, it's the opposite. The GlideBait's "S" motion makes coming close to things a challenge that's hard to pass up. And the fact that you can initiate the turn, well that's like a double dog dare ya. 

The turning and suspending qualities this bait offers can be fished at a slow rate of stall. The forward movement can be slowed down, keeping it in the strike zone for extended periods. 

Go for a walk subsurface, flash with quick turns, stall and suspend, about-face a follower, I can enjoy throwing this lure in a swimming pool. 

This lure also has the amazing ability to draw fish out into the open and follow, giving away their size and whereabouts. A fine search-bait attribute indeed.

"Slow your roll"

First, find the lures "Slow Roll". This is the most important retrieve aspect with any SwimBait. Your finding the slowest reel handle speed that you can turn, while still receiving action from the lure. (In this case, the side to side action) This retrieve requires the least amount of energy to pursue and it's non-threatening manner peaks curiosity in the predator.  

With a GlideBait, the slow roll can be manipulated further to enhance the side to side motion. Within the slow roll handle speed, slight fluctuations above and below this speed, per one revolution, will help to exaggerate the baits natural action. The slight fluctuations will initiate when the bait turns, (above) and the below will prolong the glide, widening the "S" motion. This will also enable you to know what the bait is doing when it is not visible.

"Dialing in the Slow Roll"

Standing up on a bluff wall, will help you to view your GlideBait's action just under the surface. Find the slowest speed you can reel while still getting the s-wavering action and remember the count per reel handle turn. It should be approximately 2-4 seconds per one reel handle revolution. Once this is achieved, try to enhance the action with slight fluctuations. 

The "slow roll" will get fish to track behind the bait in that same "s" motion. They will follow the bait all the way until it's about to come out of the water. There they will have to quickly decide to strike or pull off. So, stand back off the shoreline and never give up early at the end of a SwimBait retrieve.

Regardless if you can see a follower or not, a "Trigger Move" or escape move can be utilized to initiate a strike before the bait runs out of water at the end of a retrieve. Multiple "Trigger Moves" can be applied during a retrieve, if you see fit. But it's the "slow roll" that lulls them to follow and move in closer.

 

"Trigger Moves" from the slow roll you....

1) "Stop" and just let the bait fall to the bottom to rest on it's hooks. If this doesn't get bit, the follower should be right there eyeing the bait closely. A slight twitch or rise should trigger a strike. Be cautious not to move the bait too aggressively, spooking the fish.

2) "Double twitch" This will break the slow and steady rhythm of the retrieve with two quick tail kicks, in a fleeing action. Twitch in the same manner used in the "walk the dog" technique. Again, be wary of twitching too aggressively. 

3) "Pull Off" Raise Rod up and to the side at a slightly faster speed than the slow roll. Once you've pulled the bait off, point the Rod directly at the bait, while picking up the slack, ready for a hook set.

4) "Stutter Step" Once again you break the rhythm of the "Slow Roll" by introducing stops and starts with the reel handle, in a stuttering manner. 

5) "Reel Snap" Breaking a "slow roll" rhythm with a quick snap and stop of the reel handle will cause the bait to kick off to the side and glide. One or more sped up revolutions can be incorporated into the "Reel Snap" before the stop. 

"Summery"

The slow roll is the GlideBaits bread and butter. Don't get too fancy with all sorts of retrieves with erratic motions. The predictable, slow, steady, roll, peaks fish interest by being easy to catch and non-threatening. It will get followers AND bites more than all the other moves put together. When the slow roll is getting followers but no strikes, that's when trigger moves can be utilized. Still the transition from one to another should be subtle to remain non-threatening to the follower but just enough variation to initiate a strike. 

"More angles"

Once you feel you've got handle on the slow roll and a understanding of trigger moves, here are more ways to incorporate variation in your retrieves.

"Count down"

Getting familiar with the rate of fall of your GlideBait will enable you to fish at different levels of the water column. Count how long it takes your lure to sink, in seconds and one foot increments. Counting down enables you to repeat the same level success was achieved. So mix it up and find the level fish prefer that day, then repeat counting down to that level. 

"Bottom Feeder"

Not about finding easy women but letting the bait sink all the way to the bottom. The bait will sink horizontally and come to rest on its hooks. Like the slow roll, the slow sink of a GlideBait is easy to catch and non-threatening. Fish will observe this sickly behavior and come in for a closer look, sometimes eyeballing the bait on the bottom for periods of time.  Jolting the slack in the line or by just initiating the retrieve can garner a reaction strike from a curious hang-around. This can also be repeated multiple times for a underutilized GlideBait retrieve. 

"Shake it up"

If the slow nature of the GlideBait retrieve is putting you to sleep. Throw in a speed retrieve every once in a while to see if you can make them react. Fished like a Rip Bait, the Glide offers a different look in an upsized bait. 

Once your bait hits the water, start with 3 quick reel handle snaps, followed by a 2 count pause, repeat. 

This retrieve reminds me of speeding around on a BMX bike. You pedal hard maxing out the gearing and coast-rest until you slow down just enough for another pedal burst. The bait is kicking as hard as it can, like a startled snack, but it needs a second to catch its breath before kicking as hard as it can again. A predator see's this action as a maxed out baitfish. If it can get close to the fleeing bait, when it hesitates, it will make its move. During the pause, it gets hit hard. 

When retrieving any lure, especially a SwimBait, always be ready standing in the optimum hook-set position, right after the cast.

"Gear" 

Polarized glasses are a must with a GlideBait. Look behind the incoming bait for fish following it. It happens more than you'll know. (A bass can be spotted by the white when it opens its mouth or by seeing the dark mark on its tail, when it's kicking. Sometimes you just spot its shadow)

(168) Dobyns Rods 805 CBRM - This 8' Deep Crankbait Rod built specifically for professional Crankbait expert Randy McAbee is a monster. It's light tip, moderate/fast action and plenty of backbone is not your standard CB rod. It's not whippy or wimpy. It has the power to sink oversized crank treble hooks, while already being loaded up with the resistance of a deep diving bill. I find it to be perfect for the S-Waver 168. The tip offers the correct response to maximize the lures action and keeps fish pinned when close at hand. The rods strong backbone has the power dictate the fight and horse them in when needed. It's really a special rod that you must check out regardless if you're a deep cranker. It's a beefy long rod with a flexible tip, versatile enough for many applications.

Shimano Curado I 200 - Compliments the 805 perfectly. The distance it can achieve is remarkable. By upgrading to ceramic Boca bearings the distance is unbelievable and effortless. 

Line - Power Pro 40 lbs with a 7' 20 lbs shock leader of mono or fluoro if a little more depth is desired. The leaders stiffness helps keep the line from fouling on the lure, while offering shock relief. 

Speed clip - Spro Split Snap, size 2, 25 lb test. While still not perfect, this is the best speed clip I've found. Besides quick lure changes, a clip offers better lure movement, less knot wear and knot failure. By carefully tying your line to the snap, you're insured a properly tied knot through many lure changes. 

(200) Dobyns 806 MLSB - Once again, perfect action to load and cast the bait very far. The extended handle helps with the heavy weight of large SwimBait's. The power of this rod is deceiving. The lighter tip and backbone that comes on fast and strong drives hooks home even on sub-par hook sets. The lighter tip keeps big head shakes with big lures pinned. Since I switched to this rod, I've noticed my hook set and landing percentage is at 100% When big bait bites are few and far between, it's a must. 

Shimano Cardiff 300 - Affordable, line capacity, and gets the job done. A bearing upgrade noticeably effected casting distance and smoothness. This will have to do until the Calcutta D incorporates the SVS breaking system.

Power Pro 65 lb. 30 lb. fluoro shock leader. Helps lure from fouling 

Speed Clip - Spro Split Snap 1 45 lb. Better lure movement, knot wear, and less knot failure. 

What with this obsession for fishing? (Trout farms & Koi ponds)

What's with this obsession for fishing? (Trout farms & Koi ponds)

            When I was very young, while visiting my cousins in LA, my uncle took us to get some fish for dinner. As kids, you couldn't get us to eat a frozen fish stick but we were happy to go along for the ride. 

To our surprise, we didn't go to the market. We drove out to a place where we walked across a little rope bridge, over some water, to enter a small shack. This old man was behind a counter smiling. We thought we were maybe at Disneyland or something but it turned out to be a trout farm. 

I then saw a bunch of cement ponds, that were made to look somewhat natural and I made a B-line towards them. My uncle was saying "wait" while he was getting some bamboo poles from a rack but I had to see what was swirling around like a kalidiscope in the water. 

Ducking under the rope that surrounded the ponds, I was on my hands and knees watching the school of trout swimming by. My reflection on the water cut the glare and I could clearly see the fish's eye's, mouths opening, black dots and the red stripe down their sides. I just sat there in amazement, as if I could never tire of looking into the water to see what lived under the surface.

My attention was interrupted when I heard my uncle shout, "don't eat it!" to my little cousin Vicki. He was pouring some pellets in her and James' hands, that he just got out of a gum ball machine. We were confused because those red machines always gave out colorful candy treats but these green candies smelled awful. "These are for the fish, watch" and he tossed them into the air. The water erupted as the trout went into a feeding frenzy that sprayed a mist and caused waves to hit the sides of the pond. 

I was delighted while my cousins looked a bit frightened. They just nervously tossed their handful in and retreated behind uncle as the frenzy erupted again, more concerned with the smell on their hands. 

I wanted to make mine last so I tossed them one by one, making each pellet count. Luring them closer to me, I got them to snatch pellets out of my fingers. My cousins looked terrified that I was gonna lose a finger but with each vicious bite, I looked back at them giggling. I was having the time of my life but then it got even better. 

My uncle handed us bamboo fishing poles and before he could finish instructing us how to carefully bait the hook, I caught a trout without the bait. He was unhooking my fish and placing it a plastic bag and James and Vicki both pulled up fish. My poor uncle was wrangling fish with three kids holding them up in the air while they thrashed and flicked water on him. He'd remove one and we'd catch another before he could get to the next. "We only need six fish, so two a piece", my uncle said. 

How nobody got impelled that day was pure luck. 

After paying for about dozen trout and their cleaning from inside the shack, my uncle announced that it was time to go. 

We were still by the ponds on our hands and knees watching fish, trying to figure out why these ones were called catfish. Maybe they eat cats? That ones got a big enough mouth. Maybe they feed them to cats because who would want to eat such an ugly fish?

I'm sure I would've had to have been dragged out of there if not for the promise to come back if we were good. 

From then on, every time we visited our relatives, I would beg for trout dinner, so we'd get to visit "Happy Jacks Trout Farm". (Although It would be years before I would actually eat fish)  

That night I went to sleep dreaming of catching a big fish. Today with all of life's problems, worries, and regrets weighing heavily on ones mind, the thought of catching the next big fish, takes you back to a time when life was simple, everything was new and full of possibilities, luck was still a good thing and you couldn't wait for tomorrow to come.

Fishing can be whatever the person chooses. Basic or technical, expensive or not, hurried or laid back. You can do it with friends or go alone. Day or night. Heck you don't even have to catch anything to have a good time. It can merely be an escape. A break from all the madness and I time to reflect. It is all up to you what it means and how far you wanna take it. Whatever makes you happy fishing, pursue it. It's about experience's not numbers. 

"Frontier Village" 

I'm going to date myself. There was this park in San Jose called Frontier Village. It was a western era type of amusement park. No rides, per se, but Wild West reanactments could bust out anytime, stage coach robberies and what not. It was a fun play ground place for children's b-day parties and company functions. 

One year, Frontier Village announced they had opened a trout farm attraction. From my prior experience at Happy Jack's, I knew what a trout farm meant. I was in the 4th grade now and we were going to Moms company picnic tomorrow, which was always at Frontier Village. A friend and I whom were just getting into fishing locally, were plotting how we were going to catch the fish. We had a few lures between us and we were bringing them. 

When we got to the park the next day, after helping with the picnic stuff, we were finally cut loose. We ran over to the trout farm and just observed how it was ran. We watched people catching fish and then paying for them by weight. If a fish was over fifteen inches, it was free. I didn't have any money so we were just going to hang out inside there. We'd get a few pebbles, and drop them into the water. The trout would pounce on them but then spit them out. 

My friend had just enough money to pay for one caught fish, so he had a shot at a 15"+ (free) and if he didn't catch one, he could pay. The park used a cane pole with a small double frog hook, which you put corn kernels on for bait. (This was odd to us) He removed the hook and tied on a crappie jig that he brought. There was no need for any lure or bait, the trout would hit anything. He waited to seek out a fifteen plus inch trout. Once we located one he tried to catch it. Placing the jig in front of the trout, for a split second, it seemed too easy. But before the bigger trout could eat the jig, a smaller fish would come and snatch it up. He had hooked a fish that had to be payed for. He tried to let it become unhooked but it was on there good. A park employee quickly acknowledged he had caught a fish and bagged it, so it was game over and he would have to pay. He was a little disappointed and left to put it in the cooler back at the picnic area.

I was still going to hang around in the trout farm area. I wanted to catch a fish too but with no money, I thought of how I could still have some fun. I went to the cashier area and spied a pencil on the counter. I pulled the erasure off the pencil and put the pencil back. I grabbed a cane pole and put the erasure over the hooks. I put it in the water and the fish would grab it. When I lifted the fish up, it would let go and fall back into the water. I did this over and over, never hooking a fish. A  park employee tried to offer me assistance but I insisted "I got it!" so he wouldn't see the erasure. 

I noticed that the fish would eat the erasure but then spit it out once they realized it wasn't food. This gave me an idea. 

I used the bare hook and when a smaller fish grabbed it, I gave it slack until it spit it out. Another fish would then grab it and do the same. So I waited until a big fish grabbed the bare hook and then set on it. I pulled the big fish up and a park employee quickly grabbed it. I was nervous because I wasn't sure if it was over fifteen inches and if it wasn't, I didn't have any money to pay for it. The worker who grabbed it measured it, then announced "we got a free one!" I was feeling good. They cleaned the fish for me and put it in a bag and wrote "free" on it. I ran back to the picnic area with my prized fish. 

I have never been a gambler or enjoyed casinos. To me it's just a waste of money. I'd rather go and buy something instead of gambling that I would double my money or whatever. 

There is a element of gambling in fishing. You weigh the odds against the rewards in a different way. I am addicted to this type of gambling. I'm just glad they don't have fishing casinos.

"Koi Ponds"

 

My father was from Gilroy Ca. where my grandfather first grew garlic, on our ranch property, which Gilroy is known for. The house was of real Japanese architecture. It was part of a display at the worlds fair in 1942, which my grandfather purchased after the fair was over. The ranch house had a beautiful garden complete with a koi pond. Apparently my grandmother was homesick for Japan so my grandfather did his best to bring Japan within the fenced area surrounding the home. 

When I was growing up, I would take a bamboo pole, attach string, and a bent needle for a hook. With some bread I would catch the koi and temporarily detain them in a container, to look at, before putting them back. When I saw a pond with fish in it, I naturally thought of catching the fish. 

Later in life, I would learn that "Koi" are symbols of love and affection in Japan and their wellbeing is the purpose of the pond. My aunt must have been horrified to see me out there, having a great time catching the koi. But to my defense, most were in double digits with a few in the twenty plus range.

These are my earliest fishing experiences. I still have a strong love and affection for fishing. I don't need to catch anything to enjoy doing it. It keeps my ADHD mind occupied and I can think about issues in depth. It can take me back in time, remembering the people whom are no longer with us. When it's time to leave and I say, "last cast", I'll do one for each person whom I miss being gone. My dad never fished but he took me anytime I asked. He didn't understand why I enjoyed it so much. Perhaps he is with me now when I fish. And still cannot understand why I enjoy it so much. If it's possible, I'm sure I'll still be hanging around all places I loved to fish, when I'm gone. I just can't seem to ever get enough.