Innholdsfortegnelse for September - October 2014 i Bassmaster

Gerald Swindle Birthday: Dec. 17, 1969 Hometown: Warrior, Ala. The 2014 season didn’t start too well for you at the Classic, but you’ve had brighter moments since then. How disappointing was it to finish 53rd in the Classic in your home state? Getting up on the stage in Birmingham was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. If you said go spend a month in jail, I think I’d have taken that over going up there. I felt like I had let myself and my family down. But it did kind of light a fire. You have to use it as motivation. Lake Dardanelle had highs and lows for you. You came up a few ounces short, but you said the last hour of that tournament was one of…

The Tennessee State Legislature has designated a portion of State 52 in Clay County near Dale Hollow Lake as the Billy Westmorland Memorial Highway, in honor of the legendary smallmouth angler. Westmorland, who died in 2002 at age 65, was a lifelong resident of nearby Celina and a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. He popularized Dale Hollow Lake as a trophy smallmouth destination through numerous articles in Bassmaster, his classic book, Them Ol’ Brown Fish, and his television show, Billy Westmorland’s Fishing Diary. Westmorland gained fame for catching monster smallmouth on light spinning gear, and is said to be the only angler to have ever boated two verified bronzebacks weighing 10 pounds or more — both from Dale Hollow. He competed on the B.A.S.S. circuit during the…

Bass Pro Shops Northern Open No. 3 presented by Allstate Where: Lake St. Clair, Detroit, Mich.; When: Sept. 4-6 Bass Pro Shops Central Open No. 3 presented by Allstate Where: Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla.; When: Sept. 11-13 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year Championship Where: Bays de Noc, Escanaba, Mich.; When: Sept. 18-21 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional Where: St. Lawrence River, Waddington, N.Y.; When: Sept. 24-26 Bass Pro Shops Southern Open No. 3 presented by Allstate Where: Lake Norman, Charlotte, N.C.; When: Oct. 2-4…

Although results are preliminary and biologists say it’s too early to draw definite conclusions, it appears that smallmouth bass are on the way to being absolved in the mystery of what’s happening to walleye populations on Minnesota’s popular Mille Lacs. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the first year of a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources study seems to be pointing away from smallmouth bass as the culprit in the lake’s diminishing walleye fishery. Because walleye are such a popular gamefish on the lake, scientists have been trying to figure out why the population has been ailing in recent years. Walleye are reproducing at good rates but aren’t surviving into adulthood. Researchers suspect they’re being eaten or starving, or a combination of both. Looking for answers, biologists began by…

“Growing up in the Deep South as kids akin to Huckleberry Finn ... we were introduced to the Catawba tree as a source for fish bait.” I LIKE GOOD cigars and always enjoy the cigar reviews and rankings by the cigar magazines. In a recent issue of Cigar Aficionado, here’s what they had to say about the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2. “This reddish-colored torpedo burns and draws superbly, balancing nut and cocoa flavor with a touch of red pepper spice and sweet cedar. Price: $12.60.” Now, my palate is not sophisticated enough to recognize cocoa, red pepper or sweet cedar when it’s on fire, but I do know what smokes well and is pleasing to my tastebuds. In fact, I’m somewhat of an aficionado myself when it comes…

Bass fishermen tend to overlook 21,000-acre Smith Lake, situated a mile north of Birmingham just off I-65. Smith Lake has a strong population of spotted bass, but they don’t grow as big as the largemouth bass in Lake Guntersville and Lake Wilson to the north. The deep, clear, rocky bass habitat at Smith Lake also intimidates anglers who are accustomed to the stained, fertile water found in many other Alabama reservoirs. When fishermen see the bottom in 15 feet at Smith, their confidence plunges. CHUBBY SPOTS The upside with Smith is that its spotted bass are abundant, healthy and packing on more weight. Due, in part, to a 13- to 15-inch slot limit, 16 percent of the bass in a 2007 electrofishing survey conducted by Alabama’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries…

GIVEN GARY KLEIN’S extensive professional fishing career, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with something this Texan hasn’t experimented with to bamboozle bass. If he thinks a madcap lure modification or an oddball tactic will catch a bass, he’ll give it a shot, provided it doesn’t break any rules or regulations. As such, Klein continues to be part of the never-ending quest to get crankbaits deeper. When big-billed crankbaits that break the 20-foot barrier were introduced, he readily adopted them. However, with Strike King’s 1.92-ounce 10XD and Lucky Craft’s 3 1/4-ounce SKT Magnum 120 — oversize crankbaits that get down 25 feet — Klein believes we are pushing the limits of what is practical with a basic cast-and-wind presentation. “The size of the bait and the length of the cast…

Winds picked up to 30 mph, and the slight drizzle turned into blinding rain ... I could see only 10 feet in front of the boat. THE RAIN WAS falling in sheets. Not the thin, silky versions you prefer to lie on during the summer months, but thick, blanket-like walls of water that would keep you too hot on the coldest winter day. I was fishing Lake Picachos (Mexico’s newest bass lake) with Jeff Samsel, noted outdoor journalist, and a guide who spoke only Spanish. The latter likely had warned us of the coming monsoon countless times. I thought he was praising my hook set. Now, though, we were stuck on the wrong end of the 14,000-acre lake in what appeared to be an inland hurricane, with darkness settling in.…

The recent BASSfest Elite Series tourney on Chickamauga Lake reminded people that hair jigs catch bass, and big ones. Jacob Wheeler won the event with one in his arsenal, and Kevin VanDam used one to help him climb to second place. The good news: The baits are super easy to build, and the materials will set you back less than the cost of a premium crankbait. 1 Tie thread to the hook shank just behind the jig-head. Make 20 to 25 wraps to create a solid base of thread. 2 Lay hair at the base of the jighead and make several wraps to secure it. Once secure, add more hair and wraps, making sure to get 360-degree coverage. If you want to add strips of flash material, use the same…

The Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race will be decided here Sept. 18-21, and there’s plenty more about this Upper Peninsula hamlet for a bass angler to love. 30,000 Size in acres of Little Bay de Noc. Separated by a peninsula, Big and Little Bays de Noc join the northern part of Green Bay on Lake Michigan. 29 Percentage of Michigan’s land area taken up by the Upper Peninsula, where just over 3 percent of the state’s population lives. 90,000 Size in acres of Big Bay de Noc. Smallmouth Nirvana. Although walleye get more attention from anglers, the Bays de Noc are a haven for smallmouth bass, which constitute about 90 percent of the black bass population here.…

Keith Bryan, president of Powell Rods of Novato, Calif., recently received word from the IGFA that the 10.48-pound spotted bass from New Melones Reservoir he caught on Feb. 22, 2014, has been declared the new All Tackle World Record and 8-pound-test Line Class Record for the species. Bryan caught the spotted bass while competing in a two-day California Tournament Trail (CTT) Pro-Am event. The record catch occurred on the first day of the event, which he eventually won. “I am speechless at this moment,” Bryan said. “I already felt like I had lived a dream by winning a Pro-Am event that day, but to have that fish be declared a world record is something I would have never dreamed of being a part of.” Bryan caught the bass using a…

Old School The kids are back in school, and the fish are in schools, too. It’s a great time of year to grab a lure out of Grandpa’s tackle-box that will catch bass just as well as some of the sport’s newer — and often more expensive — topwater baits. Zara Spook This Heddon lure has been around for what seems like forever, but when the bass are schooling and chasing big balls of shad in your favorite lake, it won’t take that long to entice violent strikes by walking the dog. Boy Howdy A weighted back hook makes this pencil-style bait stand up on end — a unique feature that will produce exciting topwater action this and every fall. Lucky 13 Perhaps the most ubiquitous plug of all time,…

September 1 Labor Day. It’s spelled “Labour Day” in Canada, eh. Full Moon. This year’s harvest moon — the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox — happens at 9:38 p.m. EDT. 17 Constitution Day. They left out “right to fish.” At least the Declaration of Independence had “pursuit of happiness.” 23 Autumnal Equinox. It’s at precisely 2:29 UCT, which is actually 9:29 p.m. Sept. 22 in Birmingham, Ala. October 1 Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink rods and reels? 8 Full Moon. This ’s hunter’s moon year happens at 6:51 a.m. EDT. 9 Leif Erikson Day. A 1964 joint resolution of Congress established this, but it doesn’t come with a federal holiday — so no day off work to go fishing. 31 Halloween. Where’s the candy?…

Shad, shad, shad. They’re all you hear about when the topic is fall fishing. But, most of this shad-related banter is spot-on: This time of year bass north and south are after the silvery baitfish, be they gizzards or threadfin. Bassmaster Classic champion Takahiro Omori says that bass are shad-centric this time of year because they’re the predominant forage in many lakes, and bass are gorging to pack on a few pounds to survive the winter. Why do the shad head to backs of creeks right now? “As the weather and water cools, the lake begins to turn over, and there isn’t as much of the main lake with enough oxygen to support the fish, but the creeks aren’t as affected, so they go there,” Omori explains. “If you’ve been…

“I get to fish some of the greatest lakes across the country, but Michigan lakes are still my favorites. From the Great Lakes to all the inland lakes and rivers, the quality of fishing in Michigan is unmatched.” — Kevin VanDam, Bassmaster Elite Series Pro and Michigan native With 11,000 inland lakes, thousands of miles of rivers and streams and four of the Great Lakes lapping at its shores, it would appear that the divine intention for Michigan was to please bass fishermen. However, those who cast for Michigan’s trout, walleye, salmon and muskie might take umbrage with that assessment. Largemouth and smallmouth bass abound throughout the state, with smallmouth predominating in Northern Michigan. As good as the fishing is for largemouth, it is mainly the smallmouth that prompts bass…

Congratulations to the newest members of the Bassmaster Lunker Club™. Membership in the club is free and open to any B.A.S.S. member who catches a largemouth bass weighing 10 pounds or more or a smallmouth bass weighing 6 pounds or more, from Jan. 1, 2013, to the present. New Lunker Club members will receive an official certificate with holder and a Minn Kota hat. Tony Miles Mississippi 10-0 Turkey Fork Reservoir, Mississippi 1/2-ounce homemade buzzbait (black) Water clarity: Clear • Depth: 2 1/2 feet Weather: Overcast, windy Thomas Marks New York 1212 Private lake, Florida 3/8-ounce Strike King Spinnerbait Alonzo Pineda California 10-4 Lake Del Valle, California Zoom Fluke on drop shot rig (white and black) Joe Edwards Jr. Florida 10-0 Lake Kissimmee, Florida Zoom Trick Worm (watermelon) Keith…

Remove seasonal tackle you won’t need. Unnecessary weight reduces speed, performance and fuel economy. NO MATTER HOW conscientious a bass boater may be, problems arise during the course of a season. Some things just happen and are unavoidable. Unfortunately, many are self-imposed by the angler who didn’t take precautions or simply didn’t know what to expect. Here’s a list of 10 necessities to prevent common mistakes anglers make with their boats. 1. Tighten bolts and nuts. A boat and motor take a pounding regardless of where you fish. Spend time checking for loose screws, nuts and bolts, both inside the boat and around the motor. Don’t forget engine mounts — they do vibrate loose! 2. Wear life jackets and kill switches. It’s easy to get complacent, but you never know…

What about basket weaving? When asked what fans might not know about him, he answered, “I have two national championships in underwater pottery.” Budding lyricist: In his spare time, Swindle enjoys writing song lyrics, “like the one I wrote about an old man getting his driver’s license renewed.” Summer vacation: He spent time being a beach bum in Gulf Shores, Ala., with fellow Elite Series pro Scott Rook. “The biggest decision we made was deciding what to eat for dinner.” On a serious note: “Some folks might be surprised that I’m kind of old school on some things. I like to say the blessing every night when we sit down to eat. I’ve been blessed, and I don’t ever want to forget that.” No Taylor Swift! “I’d just as soon…

What you’re saying about Bassmaster on Twitter YYYEEESSSS!!! So excited every month [to get Bassmaster in the mail]. @AustinProctor Lookie what came in the mail?! @CastingCarter The June issue of @BASS_nation is looking great with Ike on the cover @NCbassfreak @mike_Iaconelli lookin like a boss on the cover of the month’s mag! @Cody_Burkhardt My little girl learning how to swim a jig reading Bassmasters lol! #fishinggirl #myheart @Newagefishing Looking at @BASS_nation mag again, KO says “There’s Mike!”and points to the bass in @mike_Iaconelli’s hand. No that’s a bass, said daddy. @mykcboy…

Elite Series pro James Niggemeyer: “Chef at Tim Horton’s donut shop offered me all the donuts in the glass case in trade for my Ranger/Yamaha boat this morning. Said he could convince management it was a good deal. As much as I like donuts, I didn’t take his offer.” @mike_iaconelli: “First day of our family vacation in the Pocono Mts. It took approximately 10 min. to hook our first bass! This is going to be fun!” Apparently, Elite pro @brandon palaniuk is kind of a big deal — hence this billboard featuring him on a waterway in China.…

Local Color Few scenes rival the natural beauty of a wooded hillside ablaze with fall color, and the scenery grows more sublime when you’re hauling in bass with one of these places as a backdrop. Moosehead Lake, Maine Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes of 2014 rank: 72 Size: 75,451 acres Heavy smallmouth bass and light fishing pressure make for great fishing, and the surrounding forests create a palette of color from middle to late September. Rainy Lake, Minnesota Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes of 2014 rank: 29 Size: 360 square miles In the land of 10,000 lakes, this is one of Minnesota’s most celebrated fisheries. The scenery of surrounding Voyageurs National Park is only matched by the small-mouth bass potential. Early fall provides the best scenery and less chance of…

Fall Fronts And Forage What better way to spend the first Saturday in October than bass fishing on your local highland reservoir? The weather’s beautiful, and the bass are plentiful. Surface temperatures are in the mid-70s with air temps to match. It’s mostly sunny with wind out of the northwest at 5 to 10 mph. A small front is scheduled to roll through in the afternoon. The lake is deep — more than 150 feet in places. The water is clear with visibility ranging from 10 to 25 feet. Cover is sparse. There are a handful of bridges, some riprap, a few docks, some remnant standing timber in the extreme depths, a couple of old, submerged roads and bridges, and a laydown here and there. Classic highland structure is plentiful…

CHARLIE HARTLEY SAYS you can tell the difference between Lake Erie fishermen and all others. They have no necks because their heads have been beaten down between their shoulders, and they walk funny from all of the rough boat rides,” the colorful Ohioan describes. Erie is just one of many popular bass waters that can deliver treacherous boat rides when Mother Nature is in an uncooperative mood. Detroit’s “Miracle Mile” of river that connects Lake St. Clair with Erie is another. “It’s the most brutal stretch I’ve run a boat across in more than 25 years of tournament fishing,” says Elite Series pro Mark Davis. Denny Brauer has experienced some of the wildest bass boat rides known to man, but says he’s never been more fearful than he was while…

Low-tech lure retriever When you’re either wading a small lake or pond or fishing from shore, eventually you’re going to snag one of your prized bass lures in an overhanging tree branch. Instead of toting a cumbersome commercial lure retriever around, stick an old sock and a roll of electrical tape in your backpack or back pocket. Then if you hang up your lure, locate a long branch of bamboo or some other light but strong wood; attach the sock to the end of the branch with a couple of wraps of tape; and see if you can’t snag the lure’s hooks with the sock. This low-tech retriever has saved me countless lures over the years. Quentin Veil, Pennsylvania No more braid cuts When you’re trying to tie a knot…

The treasure ... was in the idea that Michael and Amanda would someday return to this primitive wonderland ... IF YOU KNOW where to look on Blueberry Island on Emerald Lake in the wilderness of Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park, you might find buried treasure. You probably wouldn’t recognize it as valuable, though. You’d consider it one man’s trash — a Nalgene bottle, sealed against moisture with candle wax to protect the scraps of paper placed there by a 10-year-old boy. Included are a few baseball cards (he collected them at the time), a report card (all A’s, except in penmanship) and notes written to him by his parents before they knew what kind of man he would grow up to be. That was 23 years ago this summer. I would…