Largemouth Bass

Also referred to as black bass, wide mouth bass, green trout, or line side bass, can grow up to 4-6 inches their first year, 8-12 inches in their second year, and up to 16 inches in three years. Now of coarse these are just general figures, it can differ habitat to habitat. Their colors range from a dark green on the top side to almost white in most cases on their bottom side. Large mouth also have a black stripe horizontally on their sides.

Except for humans, adult large mouth bass are the top predators in the aquatic ecosystem. Fry feed primarily on zooplankton and insect larvae. At about two inches in length they become active predators. Adults feed almost exclusively on other fish and large invertebrates such as crayfish. Larger fish prey upon smaller bass.


Generally spawning begins in the spring when water temperatures reach about 60°F. This could occur as early as February or as late as May, depending one where one is in the country. Males build the nests in two to eight feet of water. Large mouth bass prefer to nest in quieter, more vegetated water than other black bass, but will use any substrate besides soft mud, including submerged logs. As in Guadalupe bass, once the female has laid eggs in the nest (2,000 to 43,000) she is chased away by the male who then guards the precious eggs. The young, called fry, hatch in five to ten days. Fry remain in a group or "school" near the nest and under the male's watch for several days after hatching. Their lifespan is on average 16 years. Large mouth bass seek protective cover such as logs, rock ledges, vegetation, and man-made structures. They prefer clear quiet water, but will survive quite well in a variety of habitats.

Fishing Rods

Fishing rods come in all different brands, sizes, stiffness, materials, and so on and so forth. Its really hard to find a fishing rod that has the right price tag and enough sensitivity or durability to make do. There may not be one specific brand that is right for all styles of fishing but I have a few that get the job done with a price that works for my fishing budget, which happens to be pretty small these days. Below I have listed a couple fishing rods that I prefer and they cover any type of fishing you may do. 

If you like the peace of mind of having a warrenty on your fishing rod i would suggest St. Croix fishing rods, the avid series and the mojo bass series. They are all durable rods with good price tags. I have broken two avid series fishng rods by my own stupidity. I told the nice people at St. Croix exactly what happened, not expecting them to uphold thier warrenty because it was not a factory defect. They took care of me no questions asked. The Mojo bass fishing rods come with a five year warranty. The Mojo series is priced anywhere from $100 to $130. The avid series rods come with over 20 different bass fishing techniqes styles. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty. The price ranges from $170-$230. Also in addition to the warranty, St Croix has an upgrade program where at any time you can send in your fishing rod ( as long as you are the original owner and warranty shows that) and pay only a few more dollars for a higher model. For example; I purchased a avid sereies drop shot rod. After breaking it by wacking it against the side of the boat i sent it in broken to be repaired. I pad only the difference from the price I paid orriginaly which was $120 and paid $75 to get the legend elite fishing rod that cost around $200 at the time. Plus shipping and handleing.

The newest fishing rod that I have started using is the Skeet Reese series fishing rods by Wright & McGill. Now besides being used by arguably the best fisherman on circuit, Skeet Reese, Wright and Mcgill have what they call Tessera S-Curve blanks and the Tri-Gressive S-Glass. The price of these fishing rods are priced at around $89. They are also technique specific. Thier crankbait rod is my favorite by far. To boot it has a limited lifetime warranty.i dont ows any of the finnese fishing rods from Wright and McGill but the crank bait rod and the jig rod are hands down best ive ever fished with.  I could spend $300-$400 and get the same quality but that dosnt make much sense.

Well this is just my two cents. Hope this will help in your endeavor to find a good fishing rod with a nice price tag.

Weaher Fades For Bassmaster Day 1 at The Delta

STOCKTON, Calif. — As 93 Elite pros idled away from the Weber Point Events Center in downtown Stockton to start the TroKar Duel in the Delta Thursday morning, the winds of change were blowing.
Or, rather, NOT blowing.
James Overstreet


Boats circle into position for their designated launch time.After three wind-blasted, grind-it-out practice days that featured everything from morning frost to 35-mile-per-hour winds, dawn broke clear and quiet this morning in northern California, the leading edge of a 24-hour forecast that calls for 63-degree highs, clear, sunny skies, and a not even a puff of wind.




It's a welcome change that the field hopes will shake loose the Delta's recalcitrant largemouth. Although fishing has been scratchy, enough big fish have been caught -- including a 14-pound fish caught by Guy Eaker on the first day of practice -- to keep the field's attention focused on the quality of the Florida-strain largemouth tucked into the Delta's sloughs and back bays.
"If it warms up enough, I think it could get nasty … good nasty," Delta veteran Dean Rojas said.
Now it's up to the field to decipher what exactly "nasty" means.




Cold, colder, coldest: With below-average water temperatures hovering in the low 50s at launch and pushing only to the mid-50s during practice, the Delta's largemouth are still on the cusp of moving up to spawn.




"It's dropped 4 degrees since we got here, and these Florida-strain fish don't like that cold," Mark Davis said as he prepared to launch. "The nights are still darn cold around here. When I left this morning to come in, it was 35 degrees. It's going to have to warm up pretty good for these fish to bite."


The prevailing school of thought is that the water temps and unsettled weather have spread fish away from the banks onto deeper outside weed edges -- 9 to 15 feet in most places -- but with morning sunshine soaking into exposed wood, rocks and heavy vegetation on the outgoing and low slack tides for the first 3 to 3 ½ hours of the fishing day, the field will likely have a better chance of fishing on pockets of slightly warmer water created by the ambient heat of that structure as the tide overtakes it.




James Overstreet


A late flight of boats idles past the morning boat inspection. "Half the reason they're not biting is because of the water temperature," Aaron Martens, the 2007 Delta winner, confirmed before take-off. "The grass gets a lot of heat, though, and (last night) felt 10 degrees warmer than it's been all week. Hopefully the water is 56, 57 at least.




"It's still one of those high-pressure feelings where it still doesn't feel right for the fish to bite well, but I'm thinking it might be pretty good in the afternoon."




Dirty, dirtier, dirtiest: The Delta's waters were already stained because of heavy rains the week before the tournament, but the clarity took another hit during the wind-blown three days of practice.




"Yeah, (the wind) tore it up pretty good," Davis said. "It's going to be harder to find cleaner water now, so a guy's going to have to cover a lot of water today and go back to places where he found some good water in practice."




Fortunately, the Delta is loaded with small hidey-holes which weren't likely as affected by the wind. Locating one subtle divot or break on the side of a protected bank -- especially if it holds the right kind of cover and water that's 2 to 3 degrees warmer -- might make a dramatic difference in the Day One leader board.




The same gnarly conditions that challenged the field early in the week will have killed and dislodged vegetation throughout the Delta, giving big fish fewer places to hide. And with a rising tide and high water combining with warmer weather the last half of the day, flipping or punching through matted cover could produce some of the biggest fish of the day.




"You're one cast away from a personal best, no matter where you are out here," Arkansas pro Stephen Browning said. "There are very few places you can go catch fish this big, so you just have to keep fishing 'em."

Bassmaster Pros Pick Cal Delta Winners

STOCKTON, Calif. — Surveying several of the competitors preparing to blast off Thursday morning for Day One of the TroKar Elite Series Duel in the Delta, you get the impression that the tournament is Ish Monroe's to win or lose. Of course, when the nearby Hughson, Ca. native is made aware of the fact that he's been singled out by several of his Elite peers, Monroe does his best to dodge that tag: "Oh, great, put even more pressure on the local kid. Thanks, thanks, I really need that."



Here are some of the Elite pros' picks:
Ish Monroe


"I'm going to pick Mark Tyler. He's also an old Delta rat like myself, and he's fished these conditions before. He's not the record holder (for the 14-9 biggest fish caught in a BASS tournament) for no reason at all. He knows this place, and knowing his style of fishing, he'll catch them. But that's only if I wasn't fishing the tournament, right?"


Kevin VanDam


"I think the guys from out here will do well. They know the fishery, they understand the tides. I'd expect Aaron Martens and Skeet Reese to be a couple of favorites, without a doubt. I wouldn't be surprised to see Greg Hackney and Denny Brauer do well, because this is flippin' country. Gary Klein should do well, too."
Greg Hackney


"Kevin (VanDam), man. Kevin's always the favorite, no matter where we fish. He's just in the prime of his career. He's always fished well, but nothing compared to the way he's going now. He had good tournaments before, but now he just flat out wins 'em. When you get in the zone like he is, you go unconscious. He just figures out exactly where to throw his bait, he makes the right decisions, and there's no doubt that, when he's out there, he has one concern: catching fish."
"A darkhorse might be Cliff Crochet, a kid who (lives) about 45 minutes from me. He had a good Classic, and he's a Delta fisherman. When he was growing up, the only place he'd fish was the Delta at home. He knows what to look for. This Delta is similar to the one at home, but it's deeper. He's never fished for fish this big, though — I talked to him before we came out here, he was asking me 'Man, when we're out in California, is it going to be BIG poles and BIG hook sets?'."
Denny Brauer


"Without a doubt the California guys: Skeet, Aaron Martens and Ish. Those three will do well here."
Mike Iaconelli


"Well, your first pick has to be Ish. He's the local guy, he has a lot of history and a lot of experience here. It'd be pretty easy to say another California guy, but I'll go out on a limb and say Matt Reed. He's a helluva fisherman as far as finding concentrations of fish. He'll get into an area, camp out and just fish 'em. I think he could do pretty good here."
Byron Velvick


"It'd have to be Ish Monroe. He has a lot of confidence and experience on this fishery, and he should: He has a lot of success on the Delta. If I had to pick a darkhorse, I'd say 'Me'. If I don't go out there believing I can win, I don't have any business being here. I haven't won on the Delta before, but I've had some good tournaments. A lot of guys wouldn't think of me as a guy to win the Delta, but I think I could go out, run some pretty good spots and surprise a few people."
Dean Rojas


"Ish Monroe has a real good chance of doing well or winning. Kevin will probably hold his own here — I think he'll probably finish in the top 20. I'm sure that Denny Brauer and Tommy Biffle are going to do well here because it suits their styles. It's the flippin' Mecca, so I think those guys will probably do well. I think those are a couple of guys who are going to catch them better than they think they are."
Gary Klein


"Everytime I make a prediction, these guys make me look bad. I've been to tournaments before where these guys were all crying the blues in practice and they go out and catch the heck out of them during the tournament. It's really hard for me to predict one guy. I'll tell you what, though: The guys that settle in and fish through the tides will figure it out."
Cliff Crochet


"The whole California gang. Outside of them, almost anybody can do it. Hackney, Tracy Scroggins, Kelly Jordan & all of those guys are flippin' guys. And Denny Brauer or Tommy Biffle. If it has anything at all to do with a flippin' stick, you gotta throw those guys in there."


Shaw Grigsby


"I'd have to give the nod to Aaron, not just because he won last time, but because he has a lot of (history) out here. Also, Skeet and the other local guys. When it's tough — and I consider it to be tough — then you have to give the nod to the guys who have that knowledge to fall back on. Where do you go, what do you do? Those guys know. And a darkhorse? I don't have a clue, buddy."

Power Outages: What else is there to do but go fishing?

So we got a little bit of snow and it kept the power out for 4 days. Me and the father in law got out on the lake for the day to freeze our tails off. We had a good time though. Here what we were onto all day......

a limit a 4's is a fun day on any body of water. It was well worth the pain and suffering.

Skeet Reese F650 Monster Truck!

Unconventional Florida Bass Fishing

Master Series on Power Fishing with Kevin VanDam

Simply getting a strike isn't good enough for me. I want the right kind of strike — the kind in which the bass gets the bait deep into its mouth and stays hooked up all the way to the boat.

Sure, there are instances where that doesn't happen due to uncontrollable circumstances, but I want to control all the variables I can.

 

I do that by analyzing every strike, every caught fish as to precisely how that bass attacked the lure. These clues guide me to the best lure, size, color and presentation I can offer on that given day.

It compliments my power fishing style. By covering water quickly, I gather more information and this helps me dial in the most efficient pattern faster, and, ultimately, gives me the best opportunity to boat more bass.

Any contact with a bass — even the one that follows but doesn't take the bait — is important. When a bass follows, I know I'm in the right area. I just have to find the presentation that will get that fish to commit 100 percent.

A lot of times all that's needed is a simple lure change, subtle color adjustment or retrieve speed to make him react.

It's not unusual for me to change lures even though the one I was using caught fish. I'm always tweaking my lures and presentations to attract the most aggressive strike.

The first step to choosing the appropriate lure is identifying the forage and seasonal pattern.

Knowing the forage tells me whether the bait should be on bottom to emulate crawfish or bottom feeding baitfish or worked above the bottom to emulate baitfish roaming around. Bear in mind that can change from place to place and there may be days when the fish are feeding on and above the bottom.

Most of the time we can determine the seasonal pattern, but in the spring that's not the case because of the blend of prespawn and spawning fish.

So, if I run a spinnerbait by a bush and a bass smacks it without getting hooked, that could mean it's spawning or guarding fry.

Rather than pummel the area with a spinnerbait, I'll try a vertical presentation, such a jig or soft plastic lure, and probably get that same bass to bite.

Color Matters

Lure color becomes a top priority when I'm getting mediocre strikes, especially in clear water.

I've seen days when I could get a few fish on a pearl white Caffeine Shad, but a change to alewife or watermelon would make them eat it better, and I catch every one of them that makes a pass at the lure.

Bright, colorful lures may be better in dirty water, but I've also seen situations where a change to a more subtle color triggered more aggressive strikes in stained water. Be prepared to experiment.

When fishing crankbaits, pay attention to how each bass is hooked. If the hooks are outside the mouth or you're losing them, a color change may be in order.

Colors can vary by seasons and different waters, too. In springtime I use a lot of orange-bellied jerkbaits because bass tend to eat that better than those baits with white bellies. Yet, in summer, white tends to be better. My assumption is that around the spawn, orange-bellied bluegills and sunfish are predators around nests and bass' natural instincts are to chase them away. During the summer, they're focused on shad.

Some of the most color-conscious bass I've ever seen are those in clear lakes where blueback herring exist. You can use a chrome/black back jerkbait — a color that is excellent anywhere else — but they only get half-hearted looks in blueback herring waters. Switch to a translucent jerkbait with a green back and they gobble it up.

I've seen similar things happen on the smallmouth lakes around my home. Throw a green pumpkin tube with red flake and they won't bite it, but use one with purple flake and you're going to get a lot more bites.

Monitor the Fall

The rate of fall is critical when fishing vertical lures.

Choose your style of bait or jig trailer based upon how the bass are positioned on the cover or structure. If they're suspended off the bottom, a bait with swimming appendages is my first choice because it sinks slower, stays in their face longer, and has more action. When bass are on the bottom, or protecting a nest, a tube or jig is better.

And another thing, if the fish are biting the legs or tails off your creature bait, try a tube or another compact soft bait that they'll get in their mouths better.

It can go the other way, too. If you're losing fish on a Texas rigged tube, they might eat a 6-inch lizard better. It's all about trial and error, and it can change from one day to the next.

When fishing shallow targets with pitching or flipping techniques, pay close attention to where the strike occurs. If the bass bite as the bait is sinking, they probably aren't on the bottom and a lighter weight or slower falling bait might be more appropriate. If they bite on the bottom, go heavier.

Refine Your Tackle

I also make adjustments in treble hooks on hard baits. If I'm missing or losing fish, I change the hooks to increase my hooking percentage. Mustad offers a large variety with extra short shanks, round bends and Triple Grips. One of my favorite adjustments is to go to an oversized Triple Grip hook with short shanks, wide gaps and more holding power.

During spring when the water is cool and fish are swallowing the bait, it doesn't matter. But during summer and fall months, when they are trying to kill the bait by attacking it before eating it, extra wide gap hooks improve your odds.

Also, make sure the hooks you are using aren't flexing too much. I've seen smallmouth pull off a jerkbait that has flexible hooks. You need a stronger hook for bigger fish so the hooks aren't giving way under pressure.

 However, don't overcompensate and hurt the action of the lure. In some cases, heavy hooks can cause a jerkbait to sink or a topwater to sit too deep in the water and that will restrict the action.

Your rod is another consideration. When burning a crankbait over the bottom, I want it deflecting erratically when it strikes an object. The way a rod "unloads" after the bait deflects can make a difference.

That's why I'm not a fan of pure graphite rods for cranking. When a bait fished on a graphite rod hits something, the lure tends to straighten up quickly and move forward. With glass, or a blended glass, it works more like a rubber band and enhances the erratic action.

I'm convinced that small details are critical to getting more strikes and try to stack those details in my favor. It makes a difference in how many fish you land, and if you're a tournament angler, how many checks you cash.

Ike's beard goes for charity

Michael Iaconelli has put his beard, more accurately a long-whiskered soul patch, up for public auction. As you read this, it's on eBay, available to anyone who wants a fishing collectable and who wants his or her money to go to a worthy cause.

The whole thing started when Ike agreed to shave his beard for his wedding. Becky — his fiancée at the time, now his wife — wanted it removed. Ike, being a reasonable man, at once saw the wisdom of her thinking. He told her she could shave it off the night before the wedding. She did just that.

Never satisfied unless he's helping someone less fortunate, Ike immediately began looking around for a charitable opportunity. He found it in his friendship with Eli Delany, whose son, Luke, suffers from autism.

Luke is schooled at the New England Center for Children, a nonprofit that specializes in the treatment of autism. They're "dedicated to bringing out human potential and creating productive lives for children with autism" and are generally considered to run one of the best autism programs in the country.

"It's a great program and a great school. They've been in business since 1975 and are considered first-class by everyone in the business," says the 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion and 2006 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year. "That's the kind of charity we want to be involved with and one you can feel comfortable with when you bid.

"Autism is a serious problem confronting our society. Some estimates put the rate of affliction at one child out of every 91 born. That's a diagnosis every 21 minutes. It's out of control. We have to do something. This is one way to help."

The auction will also promote the "Fishin' with a Mission" decal program that began in 2009, a program designed to promote autism awareness among the fishing public.

Bidding ends on December 3, 2009 at 17:56:57 PST. As of this posting, the highest bid stands at $405.

Ike's whiskers, mounted in a professional display case along with a signed Certificate of Authenticity will be shipped to the winning bidder free of charge. Your purchase may be tax deductible. Settlement can be made through PayPal.

For more information about Luke Delany, the auction or the Fishin' with a Mission decal program go to www.mylittlebuddysboat.com. For more information about the New England Center for Children and its programs, or autism in general, check out their Web site at www.necc.org.

2010 Bassmaster Tournament Trail Schedule

Here is the link for the 2010 Bassmaster events.

proxy.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/media/print/schedule09

Bass Masters Christmas Guide

Here are some gifts that espn put together for all price ranges. Something I would add to this list though is a pair of eye surrender sunglasses. Great glasses with a life time warranty with no questions asked for only 39.99..... check them out. http://www.eyesurrenderonline.com/

 

Gifts for less than $15

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• Plano 4642 Liqua-Bait Locker ($14.99)
  This nifty bait keeper by Plano is designed for simulated-live baits like Berkley Gulp! It (along with the whole Liqua-Bait line) features corrosion-proof latches and rubber O rings to seal in odors and liquids that would otherwise leave a funky smell in your boat. www.planomolding.com
• Stick Jacket ($6.99)
  "Tame the tangle!" is what Stick Jacket says. These nifty sleeves fit over your rods and keeps your combos separate when transporting them. They also protect eyelets and tips when taking rods in and out of you truck or rod locker. www.stickjacket.com
• Lazer Trokar flipping hook ($8.99)
  These are the highly-anticipated hooks that make a serious point. These surgically-sharpened hooks easily penetrate bass' jaws, and the unique keeper holds plastics in place until you decide to remove them. www.lazertrokar.com

Gifts from $15-$50

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• Remembering George W. Perry ($19.95)
  This book is a must for big bass chasers and history buffs alike. Bill Babb — the preeminent historian on all things Perry and world record bass — details Perry's life before and after his world-record catch. www.whitefishpress.com
• Ardent Reel Kleen reel cleaning kit ($19.99)
  This kit has everything you need to keep your reels in tip-top shape. It features a brush, Allen wrench, synthetic swabs, degreaser, Ardent's Reel Butter and Reel Grease and a silicone-treated cloth to keep them looking their best. www.ardentoutdoors.com
• QVC LaserLure package ($34.99)
  On Friday, Dec. 4, Bassmaster Elite Series angler Mike Iaconelli will be on QVC (the home shopping network) offering a limited edition package containing two of Ike's signature color LaserLure baits (a deep diving crankbait and a floating jerkbait) in a Plano tacklebox with a letter from Ike himself. The package will be available from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m EST — when Ike is on! www.QVC.com

Gifts from $50-$100

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• BASS Insider Membership ($59.88)
  With BASS Insider, you get exclusive content such as how-to articles, videos, blogs from top pros and Digital Bassmaster. Got a question? Ask the Experts gives you answers from Elite Series pros and experts in every field. Sign up today for a free trial: www.BASSInsider.com
• Wright & McGill Tessera rod ($89.99)
  New from Wright & McGill is the Skeet Reese Tessera rod. These yellow rods take design cues from the old Eagle Claw rods, but everything about them is new. Bassmaster Classic champion Skeet Reese designed these rods to outperform sticks costing more than twice as much. www.wright-mcgill.com
• Abu Garcia Vendetta rods ($79.95)
  These Berkley rods adopt Japanese styling with split grips, no forward grip and an emphasis on balance to create a lightweight, easy handling rod tuned to Garcia's Revo series of reels. www.abugarcia.com

Gifts for $100 and up

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• Costa Del Mar Zane ($139.00 - $239.00)
  Polarization is a must for angling shades, but looking good doesn't hurt, either. Costa Del Mar's newest addition is the Zane, available in multiple lens and frame combinations. www.costadelmar.com
• Motor Guide Kayak trolling motor ($279.99)
  This short-shaft trolling motor gives 'yakkers and canoe-bound bassers more range than paddle power alone. It sports 45 pounds of thrust and Motor Guide's digital technology. www.motorguide.com
• Abu Garcia Revo Premier ($279.00)
  These sleek new low-profile reels are Garcia's flagship for the new year. Gold trim, along with upgraded drag and braking systems, makes this reel a hot item for the holiday season. www.abugarcia.com

P Line

So I have been a user of p line for the last few years and Im starting to wonder why? There are so many types of fishigig line out there why do I seem to keep coming back to the P Line? Well I dont want to rag on anyones product but here are a few things i founf while using P Line.

PROS...

1. P Line is wallet friendly. It is far more cheaper than say Seagar, Yozuri, and Berkley.

2. Like I said, i dont want to sound like im bashing P Line but thats about all its good for as far as Im concerned.

CONS..

1. It seems to be very fragile. As soo as you spool it no matter how careful you may be, you can feel small little inperfections in the line by sliding your fingers down the line.

2. Knot stregth is horable.

3. If you get one little back lash its over.


Anyways, just wanted to share me 2 cents.
If anyone has anything to add feel free.

Bass Boat Accidents Getting To Familiar

It seems to me to me that in the last couple of years it has become a regularity to hear about bass boat crashes. Reading the bulletins online it a topic that seems to be repeating itself. Well I have a story to add to it. My in-laws were involved in a boating accident recently and I feel I should share that story.

While fishing a tournament out at one of our local lakes my mother and father in law were having a great day on the water. It played out just perfect. Pre-fishing was a success in that they located the bigger bass in late summer. Tournament day started off all to well, they had an early blast off, only person even remotely near their first spot, and they put five in the boat before 10 am. They had about 21 pounds and on this lake is good enough for a check any day of the year. So it comes time to return to weigh ins and they hook up the kill switch, put their life jackets on, and begin the 10 minute ride back. There was a lot of boat traffic on the lake, mostly skiers and jet skies. They were up one of the arms so there was no waves and no wake. To shorten this story up, a wave came out of nowhere at an angle and sent the then traveling 60 mph boat into the air. Landing at an angle they were both thrown from the boat. Mother in law had a broken arm and ribs, and my father in law was nearly knocked unconscious. She was wearing a normal life jacket and floated waiting for another boat to pass meanwhile trying to find her husband. He fought to find his way out of the jacket that had entangled his head and he didn't know up from down in the water. Also the pill in his self inflating life jacket failed to work properly.


Now they were lucky and got a ride back to the ramp, the boat was not hurt at all, they lived, they had life jackets and the kill switch was hooked up. The worst part of the day being they had the winning weight and didn't get to weigh their fish.


90 percent of people involved in accidents on the water and drowned, were not wearing life jackets.

7 out of 10 fatalities are in boats less than 21 feet in length. (most bass boats)

Wear you life jacket even when your not fishing a tournament, and have your kill switch hooked up. Ya just never know.

The Quagga Muscles are Coming!

This is an article by the L.A. Times regarding the quagga muscle. Very interesting and its on its way to northern California, to the delta, and neighboring waterways. There has to be something to treat these things. From what Ive read it sounds like its not just the west that is having a problem with them.

From the Los Angeles Times:

An invasive mussel first detected in California less than a year ago has surged across the state’s southern counties, stirring concern that its spread will inflict costly damage to public water systems and fisheries statewide.

The infamous fresh-water quagga mussel, which has wreaked havoc in the Great Lakes, multiplies so quickly and prolifically that it forms large masses that can clog water pumps, pipelines, power plant intakes and farm irrigation lines. Its rapid-fire invasion this year from Lake Mead — which straddles the border between Arizona and Nevada — southwest to San Diego is alarming water officials in a semi-arid region that heavily depends on imported water moved through a vast network of pipelines and canals. The quagga already has infested the 242-mile-long California Aqueduct, five San Diego County reservoirs and two of the three largest reservoirs in Riverside County operated by the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies Los Angeles with most of its water.

The mussel’s microscopic larvae can swiftly and invisibly move through waterways and the pest is typically found only after it has implanted itself. There is no known method to eradicate the thumbnail sized mussel, but at least one agency is attempting chlorination in the hopes of killing larvae.

Although the quagga does not make water unsafe to drink, officials are concerned that it could infiltrate the State Water Project that delivers water from Northern California to Southern California as well as expansive irrigation systems that feed the state’s agricultural industry. “All of that is subject to disruption by quagga,” said Edwin D. Grosholz, an expert on invasive mussels and Cooperative Extension specialist at UC Davis. “There’s nothing at all to limit their spread north to Northern California.”

Why are water officials so concerned?

The quagga and zebra mussels have caused an estimated $100 million a year in damages in the eastern United States and Canada, according to a May state report. Mussels can grow in densities of up to 750,000 per square meter in layers more than a foot thick, the report said.

The quagga can alter the underwater food chain, weakening fish and other aquatic species and settling on clams so densely that the clams starve. It can eat so much microscopic plant growth, or phytoplankton, that water turns clear, allowing sunlight to quicken the growth of bottom algae. That algae can cause taste and odor problems in drinking water supplies.

It can also create other problems. The FitzPatrick nuclear plant in upstate New York on Lake Ontario was forced to shut down three times this fall because of clogged filters blamed on mussel-generated algae.

Fishing Line Composition

I have to admit I didn't write this article but found i very interesting. The guy actually has some other articles that I think you should check out. It has some fun facts about the history of fishing. Ill put the link at the bottom of this post.

Braided Dacron

The fishing line of choice prior to the late 1930s was made of braided Dacron, a synthetic fiber, but this line broke easily and did not stretch much. Braided Dacron is used today mostly by anglers who fish for catfish.

Monofilament

Monofilament line, composed of nylon and introduced in 1939, was a great advance in fishing line. It is made using a complex process that produces a line from a single strand of fiber.

Stren

Stren line, a much improved type of monofilament, was introduced to the American fishing public in 1958. It is more resistant to abrasion and has superior knot strength.

Braided line

Strong heat-resistant fibers, such as Kevlar, Dyneema and Spectra, are braided together to create what can be best described as superior-strength fishing lines. This line's features, such as coloration and knot strength, have improved over time to fulfill an angler's needs.

Fluorocarbon

Fluorocarbon fishing line is made from a polymer known as polyvinylidene fluoride and is nearly invisible in the water. It will not absorb water as other lines do and stands up to abrasion and corrosion from forces such as sunlight and chemicals.

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My Hollow Bodied Swim Bait Tweaks

These little baits have become all the rave, and for good reason. Awesome little baits that are versatile and actually catch a ton of fish. Im not got ramble about brands and colors and all that cause I believe as long as they have action they are all good baits and they all have a purpose. Here are a few things to try when fishing these little guys that might get a couple more bites. 

1. Fishing these weedless is the obvious and most common. But what about in open water? Rigged with a treble hook is a must. There is not a ton of ways to rig the treble but it will improve hook ups. 

2. Don't alway swim these baits. I have drop shoted and jigged these baits as much as I swim them. Jigging these baits with a fish shaped lead head is lethal on my home lake. Try it where you are.  

3. Use red hooks. Mix it up now and then, when you know the fish are there but not biting use a red hook. That one little tweak could blow the bite wide open. 

4. Belly Spinners! Belly Spinners! Belly Spinner! 

This is a good time near the rocks. You can also swap they blade out on some brands and use a smaller colorado blade. With a colorado blade you can now fish these baits in semi muddy water. 

5. I always use some type of scent, always! The brand doesn't matter much as long as the smell matches the forage of the bait. 

Hope my little tweaks will help in your swim bait success. 

Fishing Knots

This is something that so many people overlook when they are fishing. They may have all the right components to catching fish but if your not is insufficient then you will not have a fun day of fishing. Here are a few things about knots.

Fluorocarbon is a great tool that should be used at least in any situation where you are fishing bottom baits or baits that require extra sensitivity. Sometimes I swear I can feel the fish breath on my bait. Anyways, here is the knot I use and I believe most other anglers use as well called the Palomar knot.

Keep in mind that Fluorocarbon line does tend to get damaged a lot easier then monfilament line. This not needs to be wet before cinching it down. If it is not wet in some for or fashion then it will have a stretched or twisted look to it. In this case that not is not good anymore, cut off and try again. This knot works extremely well with monfilament line as well. I once watched a fishing show where this knot, on fluorocarbon line of 10lbs test, when pulled on, broke at 30 lbs of pressure.

Another knot I use for monofilament line is the Triline knot. A solid strong knot that is very fast to tie just like the Palomar knot above.

This knot does not have to be wet when tied either. I will also use these same two knots, depending on the bait I'm throwing, on braided line as well. These two knots listed above should help you lose less fish and have a more enjoyable experience out on the water.

Monofilament Fishing Line

Monofilament fishing line has been around for years and are the most popular kinds of lines. they work for a wide variety of fishing applications and can be made to have specific qualities that help under varying conditions.

A mixture of polymers are heated until fluid and then extruded through tiny holes to form strands of line. The size of the hole controls the diameter of the line as well, to some extent, the pound test of the line. These strands are cooled quickly and would onto spools.

The type of chemicals in the mixture can control qualities of the line like limpness, strength, toughness and other desirable casting factors. The color of the line is also controlled by added chemicals. Lines can be tailor made to fit a wide range of needs.

Lines come in a wide variety of qualities. The more expensive lines have better quality control and will be consistent in strength, color and diameter. They will hold up longer on the spool and in use.

Monofilament line stretches, which can be bad or good. Stretch makes line more forgiving when a big fish makes a strong run, but it also makes it harder to set the hook. The amount of stretch can be controlled by the additives but all monofilament will stretch some.

Monofilament is cheaper and works in a wide range of fishing needs. It is very popular and will probably be your best choice for general fishing activities.

Crankbait Gallery

My First Crankbait

So I went out today and picked up a new airbrush. The last one I bought was practically useless because is would only spray a 3/4 inch pattern. I picked up the Iwata airbrush and I'm in love. It will do everything I need it to I just have to learn how. I picked it up pretty fast and the createx paints I used were a lot easier to handle and clean than the laquer im used to.



So I did up a couple of cranks for the first time and thought I would show them. I still need to get some techniques down and get some more creative patterns but this is what I got so far. The picture quality is not that great, I took it with my cell phone.