This writer does a bit of bass fishing each summer as we relocate to White Pond in South Athol and enjoy pond life.
At one point in my life the pursuit of White Pond bass was taken a bit more seriously and there were years when totals were kept and the ratio of big bass – fish four pounds or larger – was noted. My primary lures were Rapala Balsawood plugs, and size 11 floating in silver was the choice in daytime.
Night fishing, the favored time and most productive period, was the time to tie on a Fred Arbogast Jitterbug. Occasionally another Arbogast lure, the Sputterbug, came out or a Crazy Crawler was tried, but the black Jitterbug ruled the night.
Then came the “Senko era” and the soft baits or “worms” took the bass fishing world by storm. Everyone has their reasons why these baits, which look exactly like many other products, seem to catch more bass. My research has indicated that Senkos are impregnated with salt and the density of the material and ridges create a “wiggle” as the bait sinks slowly. Bass usually take them as they drop or right after they reach bottom.
My method is to cast them close to structures like lily pads, sticks or brush, rocky shores or drop-offs and watch the line. If nothing happens on the drop, a twitch or two with the rod tip sometimes results in a take. If not, then you reel in and repeat.
With the advent of plastic worms, a special hook was invented. The offset, or worm hook, has a 90-degree bend about a quarter inch from the eye that makes it possible to rig the worm weedless by inserting for the quarter inch and then putting the hook tip into the worm body, protecting it from snagging weeds but in a position to “hook” the fish with pressure after a bite.
She totally out-fished Jen and the outdoor writer and experienced bass fisherman on his own pond!
Some years are better and this summer, distractions have reduced my time casting off the dock and it seemed like fish were not as active, or at least fewer were eagerly gobbling up my Senkos. The past week or so, for whatever reason, that seemed to pick up and bass were caught with more regularity.
Over the years it has been my pleasure to take new or novice fishermen, kids and adults, bass fishing with these baits and they always catch a fish or two. No trip, however, has ever been more fun than a session last week with my daughter Jen and her friend Lauren Shankle. Lauren lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and they met while participating in a winter bocce league while Jen was “wintering” in Charleston.
Lauren wanted to try fishing so, after trolling did not produce any action, we broke out the Senkos. After explaining how to cast a spinning rod, I cast out and handed her the rod explaining about the drop and twitch method.
After walking to the bow I had just made my first cast when Lauren said, “I think I got one!” and sure enough she was hooked up to a nice largemouth! That bass was landed and put in the Livewell. Lauren wanted to know how to re-rig the worm and was really into fishing after one fish!
It only got better from there. It was not ideal conditions for fishing worm baits, with a brisk wind that challenged my captain’s skills with the trolling motor, but Lauren was immediately hooked up again to another nice bass and then another. She totally out-fished Jen and the outdoor writer and experienced bass fisherman on his own pond!
To prove it was no fluke she repeated her success later that day when we went again and she ruled once more. Some people just take naturally to catching fish and Lauren seems to be one of those. She said her father also enjoys fishing. Hopefully she can give him some pointers and teach him to catch bass with Senkos.
The evaluation of my shooting glasses situation led me to contact Decot/Hy-Wyd and as always, that was really helpful. My first contact was with Richard Lewis who serves as managing partner, president and is a licensed optician. He took time to talk with me about what was current in shooting/hunting optics.
My experience has shown me that for my purposes, primarily upland bird hunting with some clay target shooting, the vermillion shades seem to work best. Lenses in that tint and my new Rx was ordered.
The conversation then went to other hunting pursuits, particularly deer hunting, and a bronze tint was selected, as it has been shown to provide the best ability for your eyes to see details in the earthtone colors of the whitetail woods. So, a second set of lenses in that tint was ordered. They will also adjust and align my frame and my excuses will be gone.
Once Labor Day arrives hunting season is officially underway. Bear season in Massachusetts opens Sept. 2, and a permit is required. You should take time to review all the bear hunting regulations if you are going to participate in that season and remember that hunting over bait during the season is prohibited.
The early Canada goose season gets underway with Labor Day being the first day. The limit is 15 geese per day during the early season that ends on Sept. 19. That liberal bag limit is set to try to control the population of resident geese that can cause conflicts, particularly on golf courses and public areas where they feed on green grass and leave behind unwanted waste. Bring on fall!
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.