Every once in a while I run into people who have been reading my weekly columns.
Many of them have known me since I was a child; some have known me for a while but never quite realized that I was the same guy who wrote the column.
It’s been close to four years now, and I still remember the day I was asked if I was interested in writing the weekly fishing column.
My original intentions were to just give it a try for a while. I really didn’t think I would be still writing almost four years later.
Often, I get the same question when speaking to someone who reads the column.
“How do you come up with some of the stuff you write about?”
As far as the intro to the report, just about everything I write is from my own personal experiences on and off of the water.
For the report section of the column I get weekly updates sent to me through e-mail and adjust them accordingly. It’s really quite interesting, as there are definite patterns.
The weather patterns I find the most interesting, as I can almost predict floods just by previous years patterns. As far as perks of the job, I sometimes get new product information and if I’m really persistent I can sometimes be given free samples of unreleased baits.
Most major companies also have press purchasing programs that allow me to buy product at a discounted price.
Everything must be ordered in advance, and for that reason seldom have I taken advantage of such programs. So for now I keep writing and often wonder if I’ll ever run out of ideas.
Thank you to all who read the column, and if you have any fishing stories, questions, pictures, tips, or information that you would like me to write about please don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail.
Stripers continue to bite well for anglers fishing reaction baits as well as live bait in and around schools.
Stripers rarely hold up in one spot for long. They may like to frequent certain area, but they are prone to be moving constantly. Waiting them out is sometimes the best method this time of year.
Largemouth bass fishing is slow, as most fish are being caught on jigs and rip baits. Anglers are targeting areas out of current.
Crappie are said to be biting well around the docks at union point, small crappie jigs and minnows seem to be doing the trick.
Anglers fishing off the bank are doing well while fishing with Power Bait, and anglers trolling are doing well trolling from the surface down to 20 feet.
Trollers have been having most of their luck while trolling shad imitation lures such as Apex U.V., Needlefish, Excel Lures, and most other small spoons.
Trolling frozen shad has also proven a good technique for catching bigger rainbows, and possibly brown trout.
Bass fishing has been tough lately for a lot of anglers, those that have been catching them are catching them between 20 and 40 feet deep with drop shotted worms and jigs.
Trout fishing has been good lately. Many anglers are catching limits of trout.
The North Shore area has been really good lately for anglers fishing off the bank with Power Bait. Anglers trolling for trout are trolling Rapala (J-7) Brook Trout patterned lures from the surface down to 10 feet deep.
Most trollers are staying around South Shore area. Bass fishing is fair for anglers willing to slow down and fish small plastics, Robo Worms, and one ton jigs.
It’s important to look for schools of bait right now as the bass are surely near.
Lately, I’ve been reading up on a technique where it requires an angler to rig his worm weight upside down.
It’s a technique that was performed accidentally, but has since been proven effective. An upside down rigged weight actually creates more disturbance than a traditionally rigged weight and is easier to keep in one place.
