A Little Criticism Too Carefully Constructed

An Image A Little Too Carefully Coordinated. The writer just doesn't like the image (clothing) worn by the Roberts family. It just looks too....something. Well, I suppose that if you don't like the Supreme Court candidate nominated by a conservative president and have nothing intellegent to say, you can always attack the way they dress the kids as being much too old-style and nice.

Relearning Trailer Backing

Years ago, I drove a 12-passenger van and pulled a small boat. I never could see the trailer until it was too late to correct my oversteer. I got reasonably good at backing the thing blindly. Then comes the Ranger and Rodeo and I couldn't miss the trailer. I lost all the skill (luck) and backing the trailer blindly. Replaced the Rodeo with a Tahoe and I can't see the trailer very well. So, I'm back into relearning to back blindly.

The good news, the Tahoe rides much better than the Rodeo.

Hot Fish Story

Saturday was a bright day and the water was fairly warm. Not much bighting and only a very few wanted to bight the hook. One did take a black senko and head straight down for some tree branches. Couldn't shake him off the branches, so I did the next best thing, I used my paddle to lift the branch. The bass was at least 24" and I managed to break the line from the rod and then couldn't latch on to the branch again.

Something about using a medium light spinning rod with 6-lb test. Anyway, it was a nice day on the water.

Courtesy on the Water

For some folks, a big bass boat is a license that allows you to own the water. I'm not sure why, but these people believe that they must go at top speed. Had a three of those on the Chick last saturday. One came (closely) between two boats fishing near a bend. The 2-foot wake was "fun." Later, two went by another fisherman much faster than the channel allowed.

The bad news is that these folks will hit someone else. The good news is they find out how good their insurance is when they turn their pride and joy into a $30k stump finder. The river was up and fast after the recent rains. Tree parts tend to move. This is not a great place to run rapidly up the river. It is dangerous to others and to yourself.

However, when you own a bass boat, it seems you need to go fast just like on TV.

Despite the heat-a good day

After a couple of good rains, the river level had come up. The Providence Forge gage said the level had come up from 2' to 6'. The water was higher and faster up-reservoir in the river. On the first cast something grabbed the senko, but didn't grab the hook. Within 10 casts, the same result.

I moved farther up-river and came a channel in the shade. Through the senko upgainst the shore and let the water carry it. I caught four bass to about 2.5 lbs doing this. Moving on, I caught a pickeral and a bowfin. I caught another bass later on using this technique. By early afternoon, it was too hot. the fish shut down and I decided to pack up and leave.

What worked: Unweighted senko drifting with the current.(black, black with blue flakes, natural shad and compound white/blue flake). Weighted black culprit with a blue tail. Hits on the white spinner but no fish. No joy with 7" powerbaits (natural shad and black with blue flakes).

Back to the Chick

Air temperature about 90. Surface water temperature 83. Very low water conditions.
The bite was spotty. Loads of nibbles and not as many strikes. I went up river and tried the usual places without a lot of luck. Bowfin hit the white spinner and wrapped themselves around the line. Did manage a couple of pickeral and a couple of bass. Interesting that there were several hits on the spinner with the fish just coming in at 90° and bumping it.

Do remember to bring the plastic lure box and the life jackets.