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Let’s All Reflect
As I sat down this weekend watching the Elite Series event on Lake Wheeler,
I found myself pondering many thoughts. These thoughts were brought on when
watching footage of Jeremy Starks going into the final day. I couldn’t even
begin to imagine the emotions he was filled with at the launch, knowing how
badly he wanted to get to his spot, knowing the fish that were there,
knowing that Kevin Van Dam was looming between he and 1st place. Then in a
few short moments tragedy struck, he arrived at his spot to find of all
things a local fishing his spot. I watched as Jeremy did the right thing,
asking nicely if the Angler could simply move away and allow him to fish. It
seemed to fall on deaf ears. Now I wasn’t there and I don’t know how or what
played out, but this one action is what caused me to take a moment to
reflect.
It seems to me that today, in this day and age, with all of the things
affecting us in the real world, we are losing site of our values, our
morals, and most of all, our compassion towards our fellow man. I too tend
to lose site of these things and at times have a hard time coming to grips
with what is most important. Benevolence.
Being on the water I’ve seen the changes over the years. Small things, like
a wave to the fellow angler whom passes you by. Funny, it seems, very few
anglers return this kind gesture. Small talk at the launch, which seems to
get smaller and smaller as each day passes. And yes, even at tournaments
with a large number of anglers, it sometimes amazes me, that most, won’t
even return a simple ‘good morning.’ Please don’t get me wrong, I am as
competitive as the next person, and when I fish, I am there to win. With
that said, winning…isn’t everything.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to fish with Marty Stone on Lake
Norman. I had just begun my career, and spent half the day in awe on the
back of his boat. I really hope he forgot how clumsy I really was that day.
He was kind enough to let me ask questions and he shared his thoughts and
knowledge. One thing stands out vividly from that day, although I don’t
recall the exact question, I do recall his response. Marty said, ‘I ask
myself, really, at the end of the day, what did I do to change the world.
Did I make it a better place? Did I lower the price of fuel? No, I didn’t…I
just went fishing.’
His words still enter my thoughts frequently. I think about it, really. We
are fishing, whether competitively or just out enjoying the day, how
exactly, are we making a difference in the world? By fishing, we aren’t.
However, by being compassionate, by being kind and respectful we will in
time make a difference. I think back to a television ad I saw recently. The
‘gist’ of the ad showed someone holding a door in the morning for another,
then that person did something kind for another, and so on. A kind gesture
really is contagious.
I guess what I am saying is that together we can make a difference. The next
time wave, it doesn’t hurt. The next time someone needs a hand, be there to
lend it. They say in life, all things come back to you.
That day on Lake Norman, Marty Stone was right, he didn’t change the price
of fuel, didn’t change the way our government did things, but he was wrong
about one thing, he did change the world, he made a difference in one
person.
One of the most important things in your bag in my opinion is the hooks.
For me, much of my fishing is soft plastics such as worms, twitch baits,
grubs, etc. So for me the hook is the number two, behind my choice of line.
Over my years I have several different brands of hooks but have never been
so impressed with a hook as I have been with the Gamakatsu EWG Worm Hooks.
The Hookset and strength of these hooks is simply the best I have found. I
firmly believe that these hooks have been a tremendous part of my success
over the years. I can honestly say, once I've set the hook, I've not lost a
fish due to the hook. Try them, I know you will feel the same!
Whether you aspire to become a competitive Bass Fisherman, or just want
to improve your chances to catching nice bass, one of the biggest tips I
can give you is to join B.A.S.S. the information, tips and conversation
practices that you will pick up are invaluable. Joining B.A.S.S. is by
far one of the best thins I did to improve my overall knowledge on the
sport. As part of your membership you receive a magazine every month
full of information that will help you to become a better Bass Angler .
On my homepage, I would encourage you to click the B.a.S.S. logo and
visit their site, you'll be glad you did!
Catch & Release
One of the most important things in the part of Bass Fishing today
should start before you ever make your fist cast. You should be of the
mindset that you are going to do everything in your power to release
your catch alive and healthy. Believe me, when you hook into a old Hawg
have the enjoyment of working that fish to the boat, getting a photo of
it, then laying it back in the water and watch it swim off there is no
greater feeling in the world. The goal of every Bass fisherman should be
to have 100% survival. There are a few things you can do to help make
certain they remain healthy and ensure a safe release. First, don't wear
the fish out, don't play the fish until it's Exhausted, enjoy your
experience, but bring him to the boat as quickly as possible. Next,
don't rip the hook out but try to remove it as gently as possible,
backing the barb out so you don't harm the fish. When you release the
fish, don't simply throw him into the water, lay it in the water easily,
holding it for a moment then letting him swim away. Just a few simple
things can really add to a good release.
If you are tournament fishing, you will be required to have some sort of
live well system to keep the fish alive. <ost all bass rigs have aerated
live-wells but that doesn't mean by simple placing a fish in there that
it will live. Small smaller boats aren't equipped with a live well but
I've seen some pretty nifty setups over the years. I've seen some people
use large coolers with a aerator pump in them, so if you want to get out
there in the local clubs but don't have a live well in your boat, there
are alternatives. I can tell you from experience how disheartening it is
to go to the weigh-in and have one of your fish die. It can really put a
damper on your day. Remember when they are in the live well to run the
aerator, keep checking on them. If need be, drain and replace the water.
Homework
Another important thing I can tell you is that to be a good Bass angler,
it takes more than just going to the lake, and it isn't just during the
few months you can fish. Today we have the greatest tool in the world,
the internet. It is amazing how much information is available to us
regarding the sport of Bass Fishing. Although I only spend about 7
months each year fishing, I spend the entire year learning. during the
season, I am on the water almost every weekend somewhere and I',\m
learning. I'm learning about habits, water temperature, structure, tying
different things to see what works and what doesn't. During the off
season, I'm doing my homework. I'm reading magazines, books, online
sites or anything that will help me to better understand and gain
knowledge about this sport and get a better understanding about the
habits of bass.
another important thing is when I'm on the lake, I'm not just fishing,
I'm taking notes. Ikeepa log every time I'm out. I note things like
water temperature, weather condition, things that I am doing that wrk,
and things that aren't. It is an invaluable tool that helps me to learn.
As you learn more about this sport, you will see how much the habits of
the Bass change during the course of the year, and how important it is
that you keep up with these changes in order to catch fish.
So remember, do you homework.
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