Tag Archives: Tips

Fishing Tips

How Wind Positions Bass on Highland Reservoirs

Leave a comment

Wind is one of those things bass anglers love to complain about until it helps them catch fish.

On highland reservoirs like Beaver Lake, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Tenkiller, wind bass fishing can turn a dead-looking stretch of bank into one of the best areas on the lake. It can also make kayak fishing a pain if you pick the wrong side of it.

That is the tradeoff. Wind can help the fishing, but it has to be managed to make it productive.

For kayak anglers, it matters even more. You can’t just run the whole lake until something looks right. You have to think about where the wind is helping, where it is hurting, and where you can still fish effectively.

Wind bass fishing. Spinnerbaits can be a great wind driven bait. Source: kayakfishingfocus.com
Spinnerbaits can be a great wind driven bait. Source: kayakfishingfocus.com

How does wind affect bass fishing?

Wind affects bass fishing by pushing baitfish, breaking up light penetration, creating surface disturbance, and making bass more comfortable feeding shallow. On clear highland reservoirs, wind often improves the bite on points, bluff ends, rocky banks, and shallow flats where bait is pushed into ambush areas.

That is the simple version. The real answer is a little more complicated, because not all wind is good wind.

A light breeze across a point can make fish bite. A hard wind blowing straight into a muddy pocket can make it almost unfishable. Somewhere between those two is where a lot of the best bass fishing happens.

Why wind matters so much on clear water lakes

Clear water can be tough. Bass see well, baitfish roam, and calm sunny days can make fish spooky. Wind changes that.

It puts a ripple on the surface and reduces visibility just enough to make bass more willing to feed. It also moves plankton and baitfish, which can start the whole food chain. On lakes like Beaver and Table Rock, that can be the difference between fishing empty-looking water and suddenly seeing bait flicker against the bank.

A calm point might not look like much. That same point with wind hitting it can become a place where bass set up and feed.

This is especially true for spotted bass and smallmouth. They seem more willing to chase in wind than largemouth at times, especially around rock and deeper water. Largemouth will also use wind, but they often need the right cover or water color to go with it.

Wind-blown points are usually worth checking

If there is one place most anglers think of first with wind, it is a point. That is usually a good starting place. Wind blowing across or into a point can push bait into a predictable area. Bass may sit on the corner, the downwind side, or just off the break waiting for something to come by.

On highland reservoirs, the best points often have something extra:

  • chunk rock instead of smooth gravel
  • a brush pile nearby
  • a channel swing close
  • a saddle or flat on one side
  • baitfish activity

You don’t need all of those. One or two can be enough.

A windy point is also a good place to pick up a moving bait. A spinnerbait, crankbait, swimbait, or walking topwater can all work depending on the season and water temperature.

The key is not just casting at the point. It is making different angles until you figure out where the fish are sitting. Sometimes they are on the windward side. Sometimes they are just around the corner where the wind is still moving bait but not crashing straight into the bank.

Discount on Lurenet, Booyah Baits, YUM baits, war eagle lures, great lakes finesse, Bobby Garland

Bluff ends can be better than the bluff itself

On Ozark lakes, bluff banks get a lot of attention. They should. They hold fish year-round. But when the wind is blowing, the ends of bluffs often matter more than the long bluff wall.

A bluff end gives bass a place to trap bait. It usually has quick depth change, rock, and a natural edge where fish can slide up or down without moving far. If wind is hitting a bluff end or sweeping across it, that is worth a few casts.

This is where a jerkbait, small swimbait, crankbait, or jig can be good depending on the conditions. If fish are chasing, keep moving. If they just follow or swipe, slow down and fish the edges more carefully.

A lot of times, the bite is not halfway down the bluff. It is right where the bluff changes into a flatter bank or pocket. That transition is where fish can feed.

Wind can make shallow banks better

Not every windy bank is good, but some of them get much better when the wind hits. This matters in spring and early summer when fish are around spawning pockets, fry, shad, and shallow cover.

A bank with a little wind may help hide your bait and make bass less cautious. It can also push shad tight to the bank or into the back corner of a pocket. That is when a spinnerbait can still be hard to beat.

Even on clearer lakes, a spinnerbait becomes more useful when the wind bass fishing. It lets you cover water, stay in contact with shallow targets, and draw reaction bites from fish that might not eat something slower.

Other good windy-bank baits include:

  • chatterbait around stained water or cover
  • squarebill around rock and wood
  • swim jig around shallow cover
  • walking bait if fish are looking up
  • buzzbait when water is warm and fish are shallow

For kayak anglers, boat control is the hard part. It is easy to get pushed too fast down the bank and start fishing sloppy. Sometimes the best move is to position upwind and drift, making controlled casts as you go. Other times, it is better to tuck behind a point and fish the edge of the wind instead of sitting right in the middle of it.

When wind hurts instead of helps

There are times when wind makes fishing worse. If wind blows into the back of a muddy creek, it can make the water dirtier and push debris into the area. If it is blowing straight down a long arm of the lake, it can make kayak fishing unsafe or at least miserable.

Wind can also scatter bait too much. Instead of concentrating fish, it spreads everything out. That is when I start looking for protected water near wind, not necessarily protected water far away from it.

There is a difference. A totally calm pocket may look comfortable, but it can be lifeless. A pocket just around the corner from wind may have enough bait movement and still be fishable. That is often the better compromise.

Best baits for windy bass fishing on highland reservoirs

Wind usually makes me think about baits that either move water, flash, or cover water. A few that make sense on Beaver, Table Rock, Tenkiller, and similar lakes:

Spinnerbait

Still one of the best wind baits ever made. It works around rock, shallow cover, bushes, and windy banks. In stained water or low light, it can be especially good. Save 15% on Booyah and War Eagle Spinnerbaits at Lurenet.com with code KINCY15

Crankbait

A crankbait is a good choice when fish are on rock transitions or windy points. Match depth to the bank. Don’t overthink it.

Walking topwater

If fish are chasing shad or feeding early, a Spook-style bait can be good around windy points and pockets. It can be harder to fish in heavy wind, but in a moderate chop it can get bigger bites. Save 15% on Heddon Zara Spooks at Lurenet.com with code KINCY15

Swimbait

A small paddle tail works well when fish are chasing bait but not fully committing to topwater. Good around points, bluff ends, and suspended fish near bait.

Shaky head or jig

When the wind has fish positioned but they won’t chase, slow down. A shaky head around rock or a jig around a transition bank can still catch fish after the moving bait bite fades. Save 15% on War Eagle or Booyah jigs at Lurenet.com with code KINCY15

Wind direction matters, but fishability matters too

Anglers can get too locked in on wind direction. South wind, north wind, west wind — it all matters to a point. But for kayak fishing, the better question is often:

Can I fish this area well? A perfect wind-blown point does not help much if you are getting blown off it every 20 seconds. I like to find areas where the wind helps the fishing but does not completely control the kayak. That might mean fishing a smaller pocket, a shorter point, or the protected side of a larger structure.

It may not be the most obvious place on the map, but it is often the place you can fish the cleanest. And in tournament fishing, clean fishing matters.

Final thoughts

Wind is not automatically good or bad. It is a tool. On highland reservoirs, wind can position bait and make bass more aggressive, especially around points, bluff ends, rocky banks, and shallow cover. It can also make kayak fishing difficult if you do not pick the right areas.

The trick is finding the wind that helps the fish without ruining your ability to present a bait. A little chop can make a clear lake fish smaller. It can hide your presence, push bait into predictable places, and turn inactive fish into feeding fish.

For kayak anglers, the best windy areas are usually not the wildest areas. They are the fishable edges — the places where bait is moving, bass are positioned, and you can still make the cast you need to make.

Mastering Shallow Bass Fishing: Seasonal Tips and Techniques
Fishing Tips

Bass Fishing Secondary Points in Spring: Hidden Structure for Big Bass

When bass fishing secondary points spring season, most anglers miss the best opportunities. While everyone crowds main lake points, smart anglers target secondary points – subtle underwater ridges that hold unpressured bass during spring transitions.

Secondary points are smaller structures extending from main points or running perpendicular to shorelines. During spring, these areas become critical staging zones as bass move from deep winter locations toward spawning areas.

bass fishing secondary points spring

Why Secondary Points Dominate Spring Bass Fishing

Bass fishing secondary points spring success comes from understanding fish behavior. Unlike main points that drop quickly into deep water, secondary points offer gradual depth changes perfect for transitioning bass. These fish are aggressive feeders positioned to ambush baitfish using the same migration routes.

Therefore, secondary points receive less pressure because they’re harder to identify than obvious main lake structures. This means more opportunities for consistent catches when other anglers struggle.

Types of Secondary Points for Spring Bass

Finger Ridges: Narrow underwater ridges extending from shorelines into deeper water, typically found in creek arms and secondary coves.

Saddle Points: Areas connecting two ridges, especially transition zones where bass stage during spring movement patterns.

Inside Turn Points: Points facing protected coves that warm faster in spring and concentrate baitfish.

Hump Extensions: Small ridges running off main lake humps, receiving minimal fishing pressure.

Creek Channel Points: Inside bends where old creek channels turn, combining depth, structure, and current flow.

Finding Secondary Points with Electronics

Successful bass fishing secondary points spring requires proper electronics use. Such as side imaging that reveals underwater ridges invisible from the surface. Look for subtle depth variations and bottom composition changes indicating secondary structure.

Down imaging helps understand exact bottom composition and locate specific targets like stumps or rocks. Study contour maps carefully – secondary points appear as subtle extensions in depth lines where multiple contours converge.

Best Baits for Bass Fishing Secondary Points Spring

Jigs

Jigs excel for bass fishing secondary points spring because of their versatility. Use 1/2 oz football head jigs, like a War Eagle Pro, with craw trailers on rocky secondary points, or 3/8 oz flipping jigs around wood and vegetation. Green pumpkin, brown/orange, and black/blue are proven colors. Jigs work multiple depths and handle various bottom compositions perfectly.

Carolina Rig

The Carolina rig dominates deeper secondary points where bass stage before moving shallow. Therefore, ig 1/2 to 3/4 oz weights with 18-24 inch leaders tied to 3/0 or 4/0 hooks. Soft plastics like YUM lizards, brush hogs, or creature baits in natural colors work best. Carolina rigs excel at fishing deeper edges where larger bass often stage.

Medium Diving Crankbaits

Medium diving crankbaits like a Bandit 200 series cover water efficiently on secondary points. Choose running depths matching your secondary point depth – typically 6-12 feet in spring. Natural shad patterns work in clear water, while chartreuse/blue or fire tiger produce in stained conditions.

Kayak-Specific Secondary Point Strategies

Bass fishing secondary points spring from kayaks offers unique advantages. Your stealth allows quiet approaches that don’t spook fish. Approach from deep water and work shallow, using your paddle as an anchor in soft bottom.

Cast parallel to secondary point edges rather than straight at them. This keeps baits in strike zones longer and appears more natural to staged bass. Your lower profile enables casting angles impossible from larger boats.

Mount fish finders where you can see them while paddling and fishing. Drop waypoints immediately when marking fish or structure – secondary points can be subtle and difficult to relocate.

Timing Your Secondary Point Approach

Early Morning: Start with medium diving crankbaits to cover water and locate active fish in low light conditions.

Mid-Day: Switch to jigs and Carolina rigs as bass move to deeper edges. Work slowly as fish become less aggressive in bright conditions.

Late Afternoon: Return to crankbaits as bass move up to feed during changing light conditions.

Seasonal Timing for Maximum Success

Early Spring (45-55°F): Focus on deeper secondary points in 12-18 feet. Bass are staging but not committed to moving shallow. Carolina rigs and slow jigs produce best.

Mid-Spring (55-65°F): Prime time for bass fishing secondary points spring. Bass actively use these areas as highways to spawning locations. All three baits can produce depending on conditions.

Late Spring (65°F+): Secondary points become holding areas for post-spawn bass recovering from spawning stress. Target points with deeper water access where bass can quickly escape pressure.

Putting It All Together

Success with bass fishing secondary points spring requires systematic approach and patience. Start by studying electronics and maps to identify potential areas. Once on water, begin with medium diving crankbaits to cover water and locate active fish.

When you contact bass, slow down and work the area thoroughly with jigs and Carolina rigs. Pay attention to specific depth ranges and bottom composition where fish are holding – this pattern often repeats on similar secondary points throughout your fishing area.

Remember that secondary points shine brightest during spring transition periods. While other anglers fight crowds on obvious structure, you’ll be catching bass from overlooked areas that receive minimal pressure.

The key to consistent bass fishing secondary points spring success is understanding that these subtle structures serve as highways for moving bass. Position yourself to intercept these fish during their spring movements, and you’ll discover some of the most productive and underutilized fishing spots on any lake.

Secondary points represent the perfect combination of fish-holding structure and low fishing pressure. Master these techniques, and you’ll have a significant advantage during spring bass fishing season.

Carolina Rig Summer Bass Fishing Setup
Fishing Baits & Tips

Lipless Crankbait Tips for Bass Fishing / Limited Edition Baits

Fishing with a lipless crankbait can be an exciting and effective way to catch bass, all the way into pre-spawn. These lures, which do not have a bill or lip, mimic the appearance and movement of a wounded baitfish, making them irresistible to bass of all types. Looking for lipless crankbait tips?

Lipless Crankbait tips, bass with lure in mouth

One of the benefits of using a lipless crankbait is that it can be fished at various depths and retrieved at a variety of speeds. This versatility makes a lipless crankbait a good choice for bass fishing in different conditions and locations.

Two commonly available lipless crankbait types are those with rattles (hard knocker) and those with a one knocker. Rattles mimic the sound of baitfish on the move and can be better when the bass are feeding on shad or you are really trying to cover water with a steady retrieve. A hard knocker may be better when it’s colder, fishing deeper or ripping a lipless through grass.

Fishing Lipless Crankbait Tips

When casting, aim for areas with cover such as weeds, drops, or rocks, as bass are often attracted to these structures. Once the lure hits the water, there are a variety of retrieves – including just reeling it in, to a yo-yo retrieve or a lift-and-drop action. I’ve had most success with lift-and-drop, but this season hope to experiment more with the various lipless crankbait retrieves.

Overall, fishing with a lipless crankbait can be a fun and productive way to target bass. With some practice and time on the water, find the technique and retrieve that works best for you and the fish you are trying to catch. If it isn’t working change up the retrieve, the color, or the type of sound.

Party Craw One-Knockers and Hard-Knockers from Lurenet.com now available!

Limited-release Custom Color One Knocker & Hard Knocker Series from Booyah

Booyah is ringing in the new year with a limited-release set of one knocker & hard knocker lipless crankbaits. Only 300 of each these exclusive colors are available, in two sizes – 1/4oz and 1/2oz. Use the code, KINCY15 on Lurenet.com to save 15% on your purchase.

The custom colors look fantastic and give you something not available anywhere else:

  • Party Craw – Bold color for stained water.
  • Graffiti Craw – This one has an oil-slick finish with an orange belly. (can’t wait to throw this one!)
  • Bulletproof Gill – Lots of flash with a gold back.
  • Goldie – I hear this is good for tannic water like found in Florida, or stained water on a sunny day.
  • G Finish Red Craw – LOVE how this looks with the red paint with a finish that reflects sunlight. Very versatile.
  • G Finish Brown Craw – A great craw pattern for rocky banks, drops and bluff ends!
Limited edition Booyah One-Knocker and Hard-Knocker shown in G Finish Brown Craw and Goldie – from Lurenet.com

Get your custom color baits before they run out. Use the code, KINCY15 on Lurenet.com to save 15% on your purchase.

For a more in-depth article on lipless crankbaits, check out the Complete Guide to fishing Lipless Crankbaits for Bass on Lurenet.

Previous post: 2022 NWA NSKA Classic Championship Recap

Fishing Tips

Seven Sins of Catch Photo Release (CPR) Submissions

This article is out of date, please view the updated Catch, Photo, Release: Anglers Guide

A unique part of tournament kayak fishing is the use of Catch Photo Release (CPR) to measure fish and submit them for judging. This is often one of the areas where even experienced bass anglers struggle when converting to competitive kayak fishing. Most tournaments use a service like TourneyX or iAngler Tournament to collect the photos and to display the results.

Having just spent two concurrent weekends judging tournaments and approving more than 550 total fish, it is clear that most anglers have Catch Photo Release (CPR) down – and that many do not. In my first tournament a few years ago I finished third instead of second due to three deductions. These are hard lessons learned and everyone has been there.

In this article we’re going to take a look at the Seven Sins of Catch Photo Release (CPR) that are the most common mistakes by anglers. These are real examples of tournament submissions, including a couple of my own from the past.

Seven Sins of Catch Photo Release (CPR) Submissions

 

1. Covering the eye of the fish is a sure way to get the fish disqualified. A visible eye is important so the judge can tell that the fish is alive and well.

2. Every tournament has an identifier that must be fully visible in the submitted photo. In this example, the angler was in two different tournaments and had two identifiers on his card. One was in view but the other was cut off and this 19.25″ was disqualified. If this fish had counted he would have finished in the money for the tournament.

3. It never had occurred to me someone would make this mistake, but it happens more than you would think for new tournament anglers. The measuring board bump should be to the left, with the fish facing left, not facing to the right like shown here.  This angler is also almost covering the eye which was mentioned above.

4. One of the most common issues you see is where either the nose of the fish is cut off where you can’t see it touching the bump board. It can also happen, although more rarely, where the end of the tail is not visible to see where it measures to. Either way, it’s going to cost the angler length off of the fish.

 

5. Blurry photos like this make it difficult for the Tournament Director to see the lines on the board or to read the identifier. Note that this fish is facing left, but is properly oriented on the board, the photo is upside down.

6. Fish is upside down on the measuring board. Like the example of fish facing the wrong way, this one rarely happens twice for an angler once they get a DQ. Fish should be upright and facing left toward the bump board.

7. The most common problem with Catch Photo Release (CPR) submissions is the mouth not being closed. KBF rules state that the mouth cannot be more than 1/4″ open which I believe is too generous. Many other trails require it to be closed with no allowance for a gap. In some cases the fish’s mouth is shaped in a way where it could look open a bit, but the jaw is clearly closed and locked. Judges have to look at this closely and make their best evaluation.

Some Additional Photo Catch Release (CPR) Problems

Glare from the sun can lead to a disqualification if it makes the identifier or the board unreadable. Identifiers in plastic sleeves like Tourney Tag can have this problem, but the Ketch Board can also have this issue as well if the angle is just right. These are bad situations because the angler may do everything right but loses out because of glare.

The tail must be flat on the board to provide an accurate measurement. Most of the time the tail is slightly off the board and you can see a shadow. In this example the tail is significantly off the board to the point it is very obvious. To his credit, the angler only entered the tail up length instead of the full length…but still was denied. 🙂

Best Protection from the Seven Sins of Catch Photo Release (CPR) Submission Errors

The best protection is simply to practice taking your pics, but more importantly take multiple photos and if there is any question, check them before releasing your fish.

Don’t come crying to the judge when you’ve made a Catch Photo Release (CPR) mistake, it’s all a part of the game.

 

Fishing Tips

5 Tips for Pre-Season Tourney Prep

Baby it’s cold outside and for some of us we still hit the water and chase our favorite species in the cold weather, for others, it’s time to stay warm and indoors. Either way, it is the best time to be focused on pre-season tourney prep to be ready for a successful season.

5 Tips for Pre-Season Tourney Prep
  1. Make a calendar of events. Because I fish multiple tournament trails or special events, I will put together a calendar marking each tournament date, and any required travel or pre-fishing dates. This helps with planning and making priorities around tournament season. It’s also time to start some map study and get familiar with the water you’ll be fishing.
  2. Change out baits. It’s time to work through what baits you carried

    Pre-season tourney prep is the time to really get your tackle lined out for the first quarter or half of the season in advance.
    Pre-season tourney prep is the time to really get your tackle lined out for the first quarter or half of the season in advance.

    last season that you never used. Go through what you have and organize and restock with what’s critical. If you can organize your terminal tackle correctly, you may not need to think about it again all year. I think about what I have in the 1st quarter of the year and focus on getting those baits organized first.

  3. Work on your yak. Are you happy with the setup? Do you need something new? Or just some new rigging? Now is the time to think about adding what will help you on the water, including lights, storage, tools, etc. This year I re-did my lights, changing over to YakLights, a local company.
  4. Work on your electronics. Make sure you have the most updated software and have a backup copy of your waypoints. If you have the ability to access your waypoints from an iPad or computer, you may want to put in more descriptive names. Finally, bone up on reading electronics by spending some time on youtube.
  5. Brush up on any new techniques. If you are wanting to practice

    Working on new techniques in the winter can help you with early schedule tourney prep.
    Working on new techniques in the winter can help you with early schedule tourney prep.

    or get better at a new fishing technique, either do a lot of research to learn more about it, or if it is a cold water technique, actually get out and try it. This year I’m very focused on jerkbaits and jigs, so I’ll be working on those things leading up to the first tourney.

There you have it, just some ideas on how to tournament prep for a new season. Add a comment if you have an idea or suggestion for how to prepare that you want to share.

 

Fishing Tips

Fall Bass Fishing Tackle

Fishing in the fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Bass are getting ready for winter and are feeding up and they can’t resist chasing bait. This makes for some fast-moving, hard-fighting, fall bass fishing action. One of the other reasons I really enjoy fall bass fishing is that the tackle selection gets really narrow – it is easy to tell what works to catch them.

Fall bass fishing out of a kayak can be one of the best times of the year to fish. Photo – www.kayakfishingfocus.com

Fall Bass Fishing Kayak Setup

Being a kayak angler means you have limited space in your boat, so it is important to understand what you will need for a day of one on one combat with some fired up fall bass. For me, this means that the spinning rods go in the garage and all the power fishing gear is in the boat.  I use almost exclusively Dobyns Fury series rods and this time of year is where the ones designed for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and crankbaits are featured. Fall bass fishing also calls for an upgrade in line strength, so I’ll put a little heavier P-Line Floroclear on my reels for most cases and will make sure I have 50# PowerPro braid on my spinnerbait and buzzbait reels.

Fall Bass Fishing Lures

Fall bass fishing is all about covering water – unfortunately as a kayak angler you have less ability to do so than a boater. This means you have to really focus on some baits which help you move quickly. the three key types of lures I’m going to throw to chase fall bass are:

Crankbaits – Use shad patterned squarebill crankbaits to bump along natural cover and docks where bass wait to ambush shad. I’m not sure you can reel the bait too fast this time of year, but experiment with your retrieve. Key bait: Booyah Flex II

The Booyah Vibra-Flx spinnerbait is a great fall bass fishing lure.
The Booyah Vibra-Flx spinnerbait is a great fall bass fishing lure.

Spinnerbaits – All year long I probably don’t throw a spinnerbait often enough, but when it comes to fall bass fishing, this is a key tool to catch fish. A spinnerbait works so well because it can mimic baitfish easily and its movement, flash and vibration can trigger a strike from aggressive bass. Key bait: Booyah Vibra-Flx Spinnerbait

Buzzbaits – Throwing a buzzbait can be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. The right rod and line make a big difference in the ability to be successful with this kind of bait. I use a Dobyns Fury 734C when fall bass fishing a buzzbait. Key bait: Booyah Buzz

Go Get’em

Fall bass fishing out of a kayak is a great time to put some fish in the yak. Many anglers have moved on to hunting, the fish are hungry and the bites are big. Get out and make the most of fall bass fishing soon!

 

Uncategorized

Skin Cancer and Kayak Fishing

1 Comment

Recently, my wife had been after me to visit a dermatologist and get checked out. “Make me an appointment,” I said. “And I’ll go.”  So, she did, and I went. I’m glad that I did – and thankful.

Anyone who fishes with me often knows I am fairly serious about wearing sun protection while on the water, so I didn’t expect to have any problems. Sometimes I get razzed by buddies about my pants or long sleeves and buff on a hot summer day, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized it is important to take more care of myself.

Wearing a buff, UV sun shirt and UV gloves is a common way to stay protected while fishing.
Wearing a buff, UV sun shirt and UV gloves is a common way to stay protected while fishing.

 

The dermatologist’s exam only took a few minutes and was a pretty simple exercise. It involved looking over my skin starting with the toes and up to my temples. After about 15 minutes, the doctor reported that I had two possible skin cancer growths and that they needed a biopsy. A few days later, I got the call – yes, I had two different types of skin  cancer…wow.

Luckily for me, neither one was the most dangerous type (Melanoma), but they still were cause for concern and needed removed immediately. The first was a fairly deep and well-developed Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) cancer on my right wrist, requiring a very deep surgical removal from the wrist and some major stitches. I will have to go back and maybe have another procedure on this wrist in a couple of months to ensure complete removal. This type of cancer rarely results in fatalities, but can cause health issues if not addressed

The second type of skin cancer I had was a Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) which can develop into a deadly form if not properly treated. More than 8,800 people die annually from this type of skin cancer. Incidents of this type have increased by 200 percent in the last decade. This one was on my leg and was shallow enough to be scraped and burned off, leaving what looks like a burn wound.

The aftermath of having a deep Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from my left wrist. Also knocked me out of fishing action for a while so it could heal.
The aftermath of having a deep Basal Cell Carcinoma removed from my left wrist. Also knocked me out of fishing action for a while so it could heal properly.

Skin Cancer Prevention While Fishing

First things first, go to a dermatologist, and go soon if you haven’t been in recent years for an exam. Get off to a good and healthy start! Even though I have recently been diagnosed and treated, I’ll need to go back yearly to ensure new malicious growths don’t appear.

Clothing – Wearing the right UV protective clothing can provide excellent protection from harmful rays. Consider long-sleeve UV performance shirt, a buff and gloves. Stormr makes a great line of UV Shield wear that I like to use. When covering up, remember that not all material will protect against UV rays.

Headwear – The dermatologist told me during my visit that many anglers come in to visit and need to get skin cancer removed from the temples, forehead, back of the neck and even the scalp. This skin is thinner and more likely to leaves scars after removal than other parts of the body. A cap used with a buff or a wide-brimmed hat are good options to protect this area. And don’t forget your sunglasses.

Sunscreen – It’s inevitable that an angler may not have the right UV clothing or chooses not to be covered up. In this case, always wear SPF 15 or greater sunscreen and re-apply every two hours. A lot of fishermen won’t use sunscreen for fear it will apply scent to line or lures which will prevent the bite. Because of this I prefer to use Sunsect SPF 15 which is non-greasy, non-scented and will dry cleanly after applying. I visited with an FLW Tour Pro who uses Sunsect brand sunscreen for this very reason. (plus it repels bugs and mosquitos!)

Know Your Enemy

Even though I’ve been fairly consistent in wearing sun protection since I began fishing about three years ago, I wasn’t as diligent when much younger and am paying for it today. This chart from University Health News shows what some of these look like. The scary thing to me is that the spots or areas I was concerned about were not cancer at all, and a couple of spots that I thought were NOTHING were the actual cancers. Go to a dermatologist who knows what to look for!

Know your enemy, this chart shows three types of skin cancer. Source: University Health News
Know your enemy, this chart shows three types of skin cancer. Source: University Health News

At the end of the day I was lucky and should be fine going forward. Not every angler who spends hours and hours on the water is so lucky. Don’t take the chance.  For you and your family’s sake – get checked, and protect yourself.

 

Fishing Tips

Do Scents on Baits Really Matter?

This article on scented baits by Fish Allure staff member Alex Burton is a great breakdown of how scent can affect your fishing. This write-up was originally published in the Fish Allure newsletter and he’s graciously allowed me to share it with you here.

Do Scents on Baits Really Matter?

When it comes to using scents on lures fisherman are split down the middle. Some will not throw a lure without it, while others think it is just a gimmick. So do scents really help you put more fish in the boat?

Let’s start with how a fish “smells”. Fish have nostrils on each side of their snouts. Unlike us they don’t start sniffing around when they detect something in the water. As they move water flows into one nostril and out the other. Special nerves between the nostrils then pick up on various molecules in the water that the fish’s brain then interpret as scent.A fish’s sense of smell is roughly 1000 times greater than a dog. They use this incredible ability to associate certain smells to things in their environment. Be it specific plant life, other fish in their school, or food. They can also learn to associate certain smells to a positive or negative depending on how their experience with that particular scent was.

Obviously some fish rely more upon their sense of smell to catch prey, like catfish for instance. So what about more predatory fish like bass who rely more on sight and sound to find their food? The answer is yes, scent is essentially the icing on the cake for them.
When a bass is on the hunt they slowly patrol their territory. They watch for flashes in the water, feeling for vibrations of struggling or unsuspecting prey near them. After locking in on the location of potential prey they start circling in to check it out. As they move closer scent fills their nostrils signaling that this is indeed their next meal as they go in for the strike.

Based on what we know from above adding scent to your lures gives them that realism, bigger bass especially, need to commit to the strike. How often have you watched a bass follow closely behind your lure, but never actually touch it? That is why, they never got that final assurance they needed to go for it.

As I said earlier fish can also begin to associate some scents negatively, causing them to turn away from that particular source. This is especially true on higher pressured bodies of water where bass are already weary from constant pursuit. Subtle scents like nicotine from smoking or even sunblock will cause fish to shut down in an area.

Great article by Alex that emphasizes the importance of using scent to improve your fishing. If you liked this information, sign up now for the Fish Allure Email Newsletter or more articles like this delivered to your inbox!

Fishing Tips

Carolina Rig Summer Bass Fishing Setup

When the weather heats up for summer it is time to break out the Carolina Rig to catch bass. Finding the bass can be difficult in the summer and getting them to bite can be even more challenging. One thing I really like about Carolina Rig summer bass fishing is how versatile it can be – allowing me to fish it quickly in areas to locate bass, but also can really slow it down to entice a bite.

Carolina Rig summer bass fishing with Reins tungsten sinker, Owner hook and YUM Ribbontail.
Carolina Rig summer bass fishing with Reins tungsten sinker, Owner hook and YUM Ribbontail.

For my Carolina Rig summer setup I use a fairly lightweight and downsized rig. For the weight I’ll use a 1/2 oz Reins tungsten slip sinker. Using a tungsten sinker allows you to really feel the bottom to detect cover, and the Reins slip sinker comes with an insert which reduces abrasion of your fishing line. For line, especially at night I like to use the extra strong P-Line CXX co-polymer line with t blacklight visibility.

Reins slip sinkers have an insert that protects your line while using the Carolina Rig.
Reins slip sinkers have an insert that protects your line while using the Carolina Rig.

For the hook, I use the super sharp Owner hooks, and the size will vary from 3/0 to 5/0 depending on what bait i’m adding to the Carolina Rig. Add in a swivel, beads and a mono leader and you are all set. Leader length also varies, but I’ll generally have a longer leader in daytime and a shorter leader at night. Type of rod can vary to taste, but overall I will use a Dobyns jig rod so it is stiff enough to cast the rig as far as possible.

Plastics for Carolina Rig Summer Bass Fishing

One of the great things about a Carolina Rig is how many options you have for plastic baits. Although I have some favorites, it can be good to have a few options available and cycle through them until you can determine what the bass will bite. Some of the YUM bait options I’ll use include a Ribbontail worm, YUM Dinger, Christie Craw or a Wooly Hawg Craw.

Good luck with your Carolina Rig summer bass fishing!

 

Fishing Tips

Fish Allure Tab Placement – Walking Baits

I’m a big proponent of throwing topwater lures, particularly walking baits in spring. One of the reasons I like a walking bait this time of year is that if you can work it correctly, it will stay in the strike zone for an irritatingly long time.

For hard baits, particularly topwaters, using Fish Allure scented tabs can help improve your chances of a bite. I’ve written previously about these water activated adhesive scents designed for hard baits.

It’s easy to determine where to add your Fish Allure tab to a walking bait such as a Heddon Zara Spook.  Because the tab is activated by water, I want it to stay in the water as much as possible, so I’ll place the tab on the belly, just in front of the first hook on a two treble Spook or between the first and second hook on a three treble Spook.

Below is Fish Allure pro staff member Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis talking about using scented tabs to catch more bass. Check out Fish Allure on Tackle Warehouse and order some today.