February a great month to ‘dance a jig’ for bass
February 2010 I think most everyone who knows me or knows much about how I fish understands that I love to fish a jig. I’ve caught a lot of big fish on jigs, and tournament fishermen love big fish — we’re after quality, not quantity. A large percentage of my tournament wins have come with a jig playing an integral part.
‘Show up’ for a real buyer’s market
January 2010 To me, January is a very interesting month. We’re finished with deer season, and most of us haven’t fished very much in a while, except for maybe a little striper fishing. It is the month when I get back in my bass-fishing mode, when I do a lot of preparation for the spring. It’s when I put in brushpiles, when I start to prepare myself mentally, when I get my tackle ready.
How I spell December fun: s-t-r-i-p-e-r-s
December 2009 I guess you could say that for me to go fishing when I have time off, away from bass tournaments, is like taking a busman’s holiday. But fishing for fun is entirely different than competitive fishing, and I cherish the opportunity to get out on a lake and fish just for enjoyment’s sake.
Lakes are empty, but bass are biting
November 2009 I’ll be the first person to admit that I don’t fish nearly as much as I should in November, because I’m in the woods hunting so much.
October: prime time for a topwater bite
October 2009 As a tournament fisherman, I try not to get caught up in the old saying, “Catching one bass on topwater is better than catching four or five on a worm.”
Ponds offer chance for a real trophy
September 2009 Not every fisherman is as lucky as I am — blessed with a job that takes me to some of the best lakes in the country to catch largemouth bass.
Get all the tools you’ll need for the job at hand
August 2009 When you schedule a repairman to come fix your air conditioner or a plumber to repair a leaky faucet, or when you watch your mechanic go under the hood of your vehicle and fix whatever it is that’s causing that infernal squealing, you expect them to have the tools they need.
Night-time is the right time to stalk summertime bass
July 2009 There are a ton of reasons why you ought to try fishing at night during the summer. You can catch bigger fish, it’s not as hot, you don’t have to worry about getting sunburned, but above all, fishing after dark gets you away from all the jet skis and pleasure boats that seem to be filling up our lakes more and more every year.
Electronics are turning lakes into video fishing arcades
June 2009 I don’t want to make any of the younger pros who are fishing the bass tournament trails mad, but I realized a while back that the learning curve is much shorter nowadays, making it much easier to cash in on one’s fishing ability without necessarily having to put in your time.
Herring spawn is a fisherman’s dream
May 2009 Because we are really fortunate in South Carolina to have blueback herring in some of our lakes, May is one of my favorite times to fish.
Cover the spawn with only one bait
April 2009 April is a month when bass fishermen across South Carolina start to think about the spawn. It can span the entire month, depending on which lake you fish the most and how the weather goes, so it’s fair to say that if you’re fishing this month, you need to take the spawn into consideration.
March blows in great bass fishing
March 2009 March is probably my favorite month to fish in the Carolinas for most species. You still have some good striper fishing, and the crappie and bass are at their peaks. It’s probably the best month of the year to fish if you fish very much at all. If you’re limited in your number of days on the water, you should spend as many of them as possible in March, especially after the dogwoods bloom. That’s what I go by. You can bet you’ll have good fishing, and a good chance at catching a big bass.
For February, jigs and bass are winning combo
February 2009 I think February is a perfect month to fish a jig and crawfish trailer. The water temperature is usually in the low 50s, which is perfect jig weather. It’s a perfect time to catch a big sack of fish in a tournament or catch the trophy of a lifetime. It’s a great time to catch a big fish, and a jig is the perfect bait for a big fish. The two sort of go together.
No, I don’t look forward to fishing in January. It’s really, really cold. The bass are lethargic. Striper fishing is pretty good, but you’ve been doing it for two months.
Currents
Lunker Lines
