Category: River Ramblings
Enjoy the Experience
Written by Ed Harp
Thursday, 21 April 2011 10:00
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Fishing — the art of trying to catch a fish — is very different than catching — the act of landing a fish and having it under your care, custody and control. Smart anglers know the difference. They appreciate both and never confuse them.

Recreational anglers would do well to learn to enjoy fishing. It’s difficult to consistently catch fish, no matter the species. Fish move, they go dormant, they eat different things even when they’re active and, most of all, they have an extraordinary survival instinct.

They may not know what fishing line is, or what a hook does, but they know it’s not supposed to be there if they see it. They’ll shy away every time. Even the best anglers on the planet fish more than they catch.

And so, as spring warms and we all spend more time on the water we should learn to enjoy the experience. It isn’t all about catching fish. Sometimes it’s about watching a raccoon wash his food on the riverbank or a spying on a snake as it slithers along looking for a small rodent, its tongue flicking in and out with a rhythm that would make a drill sergeant jealous.

One time I saw a buck swimming across the river just below the power plant discharge at Aberdeen-Maysville. I’ll never forget seeing his head and rack above the water as he slowly made steady progress towards his goal — the other side of the river.

I watched him for well over a half-hour and had a wonderful time doing so. I was out several hours that day without a bite. Nevertheless, I still remember it years later, and smile every time I think about him.

To the day I die I’ll wonder what was in Kentucky that he couldn’t find in Ohio. It must have been important, to him anyway. The river’s wide at that point. It’s a long swim, especially for a deer propelling himself forward with nothing but skinny legs and tiny hooves. They can’t possibly move much water.

You don’t have to catch to have a good day fishing.

 
Dealing with the Weather
Written by Ed Harp
Monday, 18 April 2011 10:00
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We’ve all been doing it lately — dealing with the weather. It’ll be nice for a couple of days and then turn cold. At the same time it’ll rain like the devil for a day or so and then the wind picks up and everything dries out in a matter of hours.

There’s no reason to let that frustrate you. It’s spring in the Midwest. It’s been doing this for a thousand years past and will probably be doing it a thousand years into the future. We anglers have to learn to deal with it.

Spring cold fronts aren’t that big a deal if you stop and think about it for a minute. They tend to slow the bite down but only for a day or so. After that things will return to normal.

I’ll admit that the front that passed through this weekend was kind of disappointing. It happened on a Friday night and messed up a lot of weekend fishing trips for a lot of guys. Still, things will be back to normal by Tuesday or Wednesday. Unless something drastic happens next weekend should be prime for spring crappie and early bass.

Rain isn’t much different. True, it muddies the creeks and turns then into something that looks like chocolate milk. But they clear just as fast. No one seems to know where the crappies and the bass go when it gets ugly in the creeks but we all know that they return — with a ravenous appetite — as soon as the water clears.

And remember, rain doesn’t fall the same everywhere. In places it’ll come down really fast. Go a mile east or west, however, and it’s likely a different story. Just because it’s raining hard in your neighborhood doesn’t mean the creeks up the road are nasty. Check them out. They may be just fine.

Fish with the weather rather than spend your time cursing it. You’ll be a happier angler and catch a lot more fish.

 
5 Great, Fish-Catching Lures for River Bass
Written by Ed Harp
Thursday, 14 April 2011 10:00
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For those of you who want to do some bass fishing this year here’s a list of five baits that’ll get you through most of the year. As you can see it isn’t necessary to spend a fortune. You can fish and catch on a budget.

  1. A Trick Worm – River bass are notorious for holding shallow. At times they move up in the creeks into less than a foot of water, sometimes into as little as 4 or 5 inches. A wacky rigged — just run the hook through the egg sack — will catch them all day long. Circle hooks are the choice of top anglers. They make a secure hookset and rarely snag on slime and debris. Just remember, you don’t jerk on them to set the hook. A slow, steady pull with you rod tip works best.
  2. A Small (1/4-ounce) Popper – Work it along slow at first. Just make a few rings in the water every time you move it back towards the rod tip. If that doesn’t provoke a strike try speeding it up.
  3. A Buzzbait – Throw this lure as far back into the shallows as possible and then bring it back with a steady cadence. There are clackers and there are squeakers. Most guys have a preference but the truth is that both styles have caught a lot of bass. Carry a couple of each.
  4. A Square-Bill Crankbait – Toss these fish-catchers up against the bank and bring them straight out, towards the boat. You can also flip and pitch them. Bright colors seem to work best — maybe because they can see them better in the stained water. Tip: Some of the best are made by Ima. That should come as no surprise. They were designed by Bassmaster Elite Series angler, Bill Lowen, from North Bend, Ohio.
  5. A Big Creature Bait – Pick anything you like. Texas rig it with a big hook, a fairly heavy sinker so you can punch through the debris and toss it on a heavy rod and reel with stout braided line. Work every target from every angle.