Bass and Me

Bass fishing is one of the most common types of fishing. Many bass fish are found in bayou water and salt water. They also move through lakes, ponds, reservoirs and streams.  If you know the basics regarding conditions and places where bass are likely to be, you will have more success when you fish for them.

Many variables change the location of bass, such as water conditions, water levels, weather, and light and food availability. There are three main elements that must be present in a body of water in order for bass to survive: Food, oxygen, and cover.

A bass’ favorite meal is crawfish, which they prefer over shad. Basically, crawfish are usually more plentiful and they are easy for the Bass to catch. However, a bass will typically eat anything from rats, mice, ducklings, frogs, snakes, salamanders, worms, lizards, grubs, baitfish, insects, and leeches. Their ability to feast on one thing above another is why many people find such enjoyment from fishing bass.

Oxygen is another key component in finding bass fish. The basic rule of thumb is that the cooler the water, the more oxygen content. Therefore, if you are fishing in the spring, summer or early fall, you will find that the larger bass will drop down lower to find the cooler and more oxygen-filled water. They will also swim to find areas that are more concentrated in vegetation in order to find a better oxygen source. Trees, stumps, wind-blown banks, and power plants are all good sources of oxygen that will attract bass fish.

A bass relies on cover for a means of protection and way of ambush. Cover is part of a bass’ survival. The bass is known as a lazy fish, so they will hide and wait for their prey to come to them. The other reason for cover is that bass fish do not have eyelids and the cover is a way to prevent blindness. Some common cover areas to find bass in are around fabricated wood structures such as fencerows, docks, and pilings. They have been known to hide under floating pieces of wood or decaying wood. Weeds are the second best place to hunt for bass. Finally, rocks are the third place that bass will find cover. Rocks are not as reliable as weeds or wood, but sometimes a bass will find decaying pieces of food to feast on within some rocks. Remember that rocks do not produce oxygen, so the source is not as consistent.

When it comes to fishing, everyone has a different opinion. You will often find that these opinions range in location and source. However, there are some lures and baits that are recommended for bass fishing that may be useful if you haven’t tried them. Tequila colored 7-inch worms with added scent are recommended, as well as Rebel Wee-Rs. Hellgrammites are thought to be the best live bait, and many will say that you don’t need big lures to attract big bass. Everyone will tell you to tie up to an embankment, or find a dock to get close to, but it is really an art that could take years to perfect.

Bass are notorious for slow moving and lack of distance in their movements. Logically, you could sit 30 feet from the biggest bass of your life, and he is not going to swim to your bait out of pure laziness. Finding the exact spot is difficult and a lot of fishing has to do with luck. The only part that you can control is finding the most likely places that a bass may be and exercise some patience. Weather is important to bass as well. If it is a cloudy day, you might have more luck than on a hot summer day. However, overcast is probably ideal for water temperatures, but then you have to decide what you are willing to sit through in order to catch a fish. The bottom line with bass fishing is you can only do your best with the knowledge at hand.

Keep your lines wet and your bait fresh!

According to the Bass Pro Shops’ website this is the description of the game.

Drop anchor on your couch and fish the day away as you navigate some of North America’s most entertaining fishing hot spots. Featuring amazing gameplay, realistic physics, and authentic fishing gear used by the pros! Bring the lake into your living room!

• 111 Bass Pro Shops lures
• 11 species of fish
• 10 unique lakes
• 10 tournaments
• 9 awesome boats
• 1 heck of a good time
• Search for legendary fish
• Compete in boat racing and casting challenges
• Gameplay options for seasoned fisherman, first-timers, or hardcore gamers

When I opened up my Christmas presents this year I found my wife had gotten me a Wii, something I was not expecting. We had discussed getting one because I liked to play Wii Bowling. When I opened up the package that contained this game and a controller that looked like a fishing pole I about freaked. My wife knows how much I love to go fishing but never catch anything. As a matter of fact I have a hard time casting. I instantly fell in love with this game.

The Controller

The controller requires not only a Wii Remote but also a Wii Nunchuck. After a few hours of frustration, I failed to read the directions I went over to the website to find out how to use the controller. The first thing that needs to be done is to set the controller to Configuration B. The only draw back is that you cannot save this configuration either to the Wii System memory or to an SD Card. It is important to do this as you cannot control your boat unless you do. The controller has a nice feel to it and is comfortable if you plan on playing for a long period of time.

In Configuration B these are how the buttons work:

• Driving Mode
  • The cross steers the boat
  • The C Button activates the Fish Finder
  • The A Button Enters Casting Mode
  • The B Button activates the Throttle
  • The Minus (-) Button Brings up the Start Menu
  • The Plus (+) Button Brings up your inventory
  • The 2 Button brings up the GPS Map
• Fishing Mode
  • The Z Button Changes your stance and is the quick reel/cut line function
  • The C Button changes the camera
  • The Thumb Stick (joystick) is the Reel In
  • The Cross sets the Casting Reticule
  • The A Button Exits Casting Mode
  • The B Button Initiates and releases the Cast
  • The 1 Button sets the drag level

The best way to play this game is with the controller.

Gameplay

Just like fishing for real, the idea behind the game is wait for the bite. You also have to keep your line tight and set the hook. The physics are almost nearly the same as real life. And just like real life I have a hard time catching anything. The big ones do give you a fight though.

There are two modes of gameplay, Arcade and Bass Pro. The Arcade is the easiest of the two and both offer Career modes. You start by designing your character. You don’t have a whole lot of choice here. Once you have set your character up you can head into the game. In the game you are given a boat a pole, some lures, some line and a reel. Your boat is equipped with a Fish Finder and a GPS system. You enter the Bass Pro Shop and you have the opportunity to buy more lures, lines reels and rods. I bought some 17 pound test line and that was it. In the first lake you get a tutorial and you have to earn 50 points to unlock the tournament. You cannot go to another lake until you win this tournament.

If there was an online component the tournament would be the best place for it, but alas there isn’t one. I haven’t yet won the tournament but I’m still having fun playing the game.

I give this game 3 out of 5 phantoms. The Game play is nice but there should be an online component and more character customization. The game is rated E for everyone. If you have a fisherman in your family then get this game for them.

As I sat today waiting for my Fraternal Order of Eagles district meeting to start I had time to contemplate my life, and I came to the following conclusion — Every man or woman, rich or poor, who has fished is a “millionaire.”

Now you might think to yourself, “What in the blue blazes is he talking about?” And normally you would be right, but think about it this way. It may not be reflected in the fishermen’s wallet or checkbook and you may have a poor credit rating, but even the modest fisherman is a millionaire — his wealth is in his heart and in his experience.

How can you count in dollars the beautiful sunrises you have seen. Or the peaceful sunsets when the receding sunlight is flickering off the water. Or the serenity of the delta that is broken when you know you’ve caught the big one.

“What kind is it?” “How big is it” “Will I land this fish or will it get away?” Then it comes tumbling across the water. You have won the match. You drop it in your lave well for the evening meal or gently release it to thrill another. It’s your moment of glory and you are happy.

You are also wealthy in friendship. Think of the times you said to your buddies, “Hey guys, lets get our gear together and go fishing.” It may have been a day or evening trip or a weekend camping and fishing. It’s time you spend with your buddies and swap stories and tips. You might discuss Joe’s new rod, Pete’s new reel, Charile’s new tackle box or Fred’s new boat. Work might come up in the conversation, but you don’t let it get you down.

You gain wealth when you introduce fishing to somebody who has never fished before. You might learn something from them just as they may learn something from you.

If it’s an overnight or a camping trip, the wealth also comes from the camaraderie. It comes from the dusk of evening and a little fire flickers under a blackened skillet. The sweet smell of frying fish floats close to the ground and perking coffee adds a little noise to the serenity.

You look at your invisible bank book. You can’t count the amount fingers. You have wealth beyond measurement.

So now you see that what I said at the beginning is true. Every man or woman, rich or poor, who has fished is a “millionaire.” The wealth is in the experience. How wealthy are you?

So until next time, keep your lines wet and your bait fresh.

As a beginning bass fisherman, this is something I’ve been wondering, what do you need in your tackle box? My wife, 1sexymomma, has her tackle boxes nice and orderly, but she is not a basser, she fishes mostly for trout and catfish. I haven’t asked my buddies in “The Bass Brigade” what’s in their arsenal, but maybe I should based on the size of the hawgs they’re reeling in.

Bill Dance Tackle Box

There can be a lot of differences between the professional angler and the fish-for-fun weekender. Yet one of the differences should not be the basic approach to equipping the tackle box.

My tackle box for bassing is a Bill Dance Tackle Box by Plano. According to the Bass Pro Shop:

Legendary angler, Bill Dance designed this durable tackle box with the serious angler in mind. Offering a huge storage capacity, this Bill Dance Tackle Box features up to 46 worm-proof compartments and up to 25 adjustable storage spaces in the top section, the longer compartments and a see-thru lid are two more smart features anglers will love. Size: 16-7/8” x 5” x 12”. Color: Tan/Green.

Now what to fill it with? The novice Basser, like me, is faced with a virtual jungle of lures when he visits any well stocked sporting goods or tackle store. and now with the Internet there is even more to choose from. Almost all tackle websites carry not only the same brads as each other but many also specialize in lures made in Japan and other places overseas. It’s no easy task for the beginner to sort through the many displays and websites to select the lures that will be the most practical for the conditions they fish in. The beginner can accomplish the same versatility of the pro by categorizing.

The tackle box should consist of the following items:

• Hooks
• Sinkers
• Extra Line
• Swivels
• Lures

For practical purposes, the angler may lump the Bass lures into 3 (three) basic categories. Those categories are, along with a description:

Assorted Crankbaits

Crank Baits — or Plugs are a popular type of hard-bodied fishing lure. They are widely known by a number of other names depending on the country and region. Such names include crank bait, wobbler, minnow, shallow-diver and deep-diver. The term minnow is usually used for long, slender, lures that imitate bait-fish, while the term plug is usually used for shorter, deeper-bodied lures which imitate deeper-bodied fish, frogs and other prey. Shallow-diver and deep-diver refer to the diving capabilities of the lure, which depends on the size of the lip and lure buoyancy. All things considered, plugs of this grouping probably get more action than the others. At any time of the year, bass can be picked off with these.

Spinner-baits — any one of a family of fishing lures that get their name from one or more metal blades shaped so as to spin like a propeller when the lure is in motion, creating varying degrees of flash and vibration that mimics small fish. The two most popular types of spinner-baits are the ‘in-line spinner’ and ’safety pin’ spinner-baits, though others such as the ‘tail-spinner’ also exist.

Plastic Worms — a plastic fishing lure, generally made to simulate an earthworm. Plastic worms can carry a variety of shapes, colors and sizes, and are made from a variety of synthetic polymers. Some are even scented to simulate live bait. Plastic worms can be rigged on the line many different ways. Commonly they are used with a small fish hook and a split shot weight to keep the lure deeper in the water. The fishing equipment recommended is a 7 foot fishing rod with 8 to 10lb fishing line.

Your Tackle box is your toolbox to a successful trip. It is up to you to keep it organized and full. I personally do not let anyone take anything out of my box as I have it set up the way I want. In the top portion of the box I have my weedless frog and weedless mouse along with assorted crank baits in individual compartments. One third of the top portion is not separated and it contains my extra hooks, line, slip-shot and bullet sinkers, swivels and cutters along with anything else i think I might need. In the bottom compartment I have Plastic Worms and more crank-baits along with some rubber shad and various other plastic and rubber lures. The spinner-baits will be added as I get them.

That’s all for now, so until the next time keep your lines wet and your bait fresh.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas Holiday. I know I haven’t done much here lately, but during the holidays it gets a little hectic around Casa de Gardner. Before I get to the reason for this post, I want to tell everyone how my holiday went. My wife and I first got news that we were approved for a loan to purchase our own Casa de Gardner. So that was the best Christmas Present of all, no more renting. A place we can call our own. Then I bought her her Christmas present, a Chihuahua Puppy. I decorated the front of the house and she and the children decorated the tree inside. Then Christmas morning we got up to start cooking the Christmas Dinner. I must say I love the turkey fryer I got for Thanksgiving, since it meant I had room in the oven for the Prime Rib and could use the roaster for the Ham. The food was delicious. Then came time to open the presents. I got three very nice gifts and all things I wasn’t expecting. Kelly, my wife, bought me a customized Detroit Lions Jersey with my name and age on it, my sister and brother-in-law bought me a 1/18 scale replica of the Batmobile from the 1966 Batman television series and my mother, bless her heart, got me a Bass Pro Shop Gift Card.

Berkley® Portable Line Spooling Station

That brings me to the purpose of this post, what should I get and should I go to Bass Pro Shop or buy it on line. I have an idea of what I want to get and it is this item: Berkley® Portable Line Spooling Station. I think every fisherman should have one of these, or something like it, in their arsenal. How often do we need to change the line in our reels? If you are like me, you need to do it every so often, since the preloaded reels come with 4 to 8 pound test and as Bass men we need 15+ pound test.

I think for $29.99 this is going to be a good investment. But what else to get. I have 3 Takle boxes, plenty of lures and poles but I find I’m looking for more Under cast type reels. I’ll take any suggestions you guys have.

My next post is going to reprint someting from “The Best of BassMasters” and will be about rigging your hooks.

So until next time, keep your lines wet and your bait fresh.