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The Unnoticed Boat House Pattern |
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Written by Captain Mike Gerry
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Saturday, 28 May 2011 08:37 |
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| The Unnoticed Boat House Pattern
Guntersville has become so popular for the grass bite that most anglers run right by the many boat houses stacked on the shore for miles up and down the river. While the greater percentage of anglers ignores the boat houses, I believe it is a pattern that can win tournaments and create some fun for a day of fishing. The key is finding boat houses that hold the bass; well this is no different than finding the grass humps or grass lines that hold fish.
Not all boat houses are created equal, nor are grass lines and humps. Something makes them different, and there is a key to why bass hang around one boat house over another. I think the choices are easier to make than fishing grass. The first thing I look for is water at the end of the boat house to be somewhere close to 8 feet deep. , this tells you that there is sufficient depth for the bass to move deep if need be, and this gives them safety in case they are spooked some way. Next is the wood, the newly built boat house generally does not have enough naturally food around it and hence the bait fish to not stay around the cleaner new wood. Well if the bait fish are not hanging around you can bet the bass are not there either.
The next factor and one of the most important factors of all the elements surrounding boat houses is the relationship to some of the original creeks or roadbeds. A boat house that has close proximity to a creek and or an old road bed always holds bass. The proximity to these natural elements allows the bass to migrate from the creek or roadbed to the shade of the boat house. This naturally migration is a well known path that bass move in and out of every day to feed and if the boat house is nearby it’s just a plus for them to move on and off these boat houses.
Boat houses create cover, the bass can hide from the sun and they generally have bait around them, how much more convincing do you need to make boat houses part of your fishing patterns?
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email:
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Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry
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How to Match Rods and Reels |
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Written by Captain Mike Gerry
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Saturday, 14 May 2011 14:31 |
How to Match Rods & Reels
I f there is a common theme out there among fisherman that I hear constantly it is how do I know what to purchase? What rod tip action should I buy, what speed reel should I buy and how do I know who has good product and who doesn’t? A lot of questions but I will try to answer it in as few as words as possible.
First of all my personal believe in reels is there is only one time I purchase a reel slower then 6.3 to 1 and that is when purchasing a reel for cranking. The slower the better for a cranking reel in other words a reel in the 5.1 to 1 ratio is perfect. Next is manufacturer, my belief is you do not have to purchase the most expensive reel to find good product; a mid range reel in the $150 to $200 range can do just fine, the key is braking system I believe that if the braking system works and holds the reel from erratic back lashes the reel is probably just fine.
I like it light in weight, small in profile an excellent braking system and the reel should be fine for most anglers.
Now comes the hard part tip action; there is I believe a very common thread to be followed. The heavier the bait you are throwing the stronger the tip needs to be. The more power you need in hook set the heavier the tip action. So let’s put this to test; if your fishing a heavy jig you need a heavy action tip; if you’re fishing a light crank bait the lighter the tip needs to be or softer the action. If you’re fishing top water baits most the time unless it’s a big heavy action spook a medium tip is fine. Spooks are probably fished on medium heavy and so are buzz baits! As far as length, well this is also simple, use a length you are comfortable with and can make reasonable long casts.
Manufactures well this is simple for me; I like the strength, sensitivity and light weigh of the Duckett fishing rod. It is mid range in price and perfect for most anglers.
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email:
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Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry
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Bumping Wood with Crank Baits |
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Written by Captain Mike Gerry
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Saturday, 07 May 2011 07:33 |
Bumping Wood with Crank Baits
When Kevin Van Dam won the classic this year in New Orleans he won with a technique and presentation that frustrates most fishermen. He was bumping square bill crank baits off stumps and around lay down wood. I know from experience this is extremely aggravating as every 3rd or so cast results in the bait getting hung up. The good news is square bill crank baits, if you pop them just right, will give an erratic movement when popped off the wood and generally will get the result you are looking for, that being a bite.
This presentation while frustrating and aggravating is a fish catching presentation and many times as Van Dam proved a big fish technique. As a fisherman you have to take this technique and make it work for you. Don’t let it frustrate you, just make it bounce off or pop off the structure, with the knowledge that a big bass is about to strike it. Many times you just know or even can see a bass moving about the structure and with persistence eventually that big bass will strike that square bill. Van Dam would cast it and pop it off the same piece of wood several times and it would take several casts before he got a bite. Persistence paid off and it will for you also, just keep banging away and I promise eventually that big bite will be there.
Remember that a square bill can be guided very easily with the tip of the rod, it can be positioned to hit the wood with tip movement and pop off as part of the rod stroking movement without getting hung every time. All is needed is patience, tip guidance and practice; you will find that it is not that difficult to make each cast count and not constantly be hung up. All baits are at their best when they become erratic and square bill crank baits were designed for bumping wood, you just have to become efficient at it and you will catch bigger fish and win more tournaments
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email:
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Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry
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Written by Captain Mike Gerry
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Saturday, 16 April 2011 09:43 |
A Little Lake Etiquette Would be Nice
This year has been the busiest I have ever seen on Lake Guntersville, the visitors to our fishing industry here in North Alabama appears to be very strong. The problem is the fishing is average at best and most the visitors can’t find fish on their own, most these folks are from states and lakes that are small yet deep and everyone fishes the bank most of the day! Guntersville is a shallow lake and as the fish migrate past the spawn the bank bangers can’t get a bite and don’t know what to do to develop a pattern that catches fish!
The problem is they start riding around the lake looking for a gathering of boats, or a guide like me leading fishermen and they start cutting in front of those who appear to be knowledgeable or catching fish! Well folks I’m here to tell you that acting like this is extremely rude, not to mention that not all folks are as forgiving as I am! I can’t tell you how many times this week my clients and I were rudely cut off by fisherman. I’m not talking about someone moving in a hundred yards ahead of you, I’m talking about fishermen cutting between boats 20 yards apart because they watched someone catch a fish! This action lacks class and makes for some bad feelings toward those visitors that act this way! It might be different if the person cutting you off like this would even say would you mind if I joined you at least there would be an acceptance or denial.
The lake is so crowded that it’s time for all to be considerate of each other, acting like it’s OK to just cut 20 feet in front of you is wrong, it’s a sign of bad manners and poor decision making. Fishing etiquette is fairly simple, just act and treat others like you would want to be treated and I am sure that your lake etiquette will improve!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email:
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Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry
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Written by Captain Mike Gerry
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Saturday, 09 April 2011 11:27 |
The Perfect Hook Set
Once again as we enter into the soft plastic time of year I came through an outing with some guys that truly struggled setting the hook while fishing a worm. Yes, I know for the accomplisher bass fisherman this is hard to believe, but sadly true; the average fisherman has not set the hook much because they have fished for trout in streams, or used circle hooks deep sea fishing. None of these require a hook set like bass fishing with a worm!
The best way to describe a proper hook set might be best explained by starting with what not to do! The first things I tell people are do not feel the bite twice, that’s correct I know of no way to tell whether a bass has a good or bad hold of a worm. Trying to determine whether the bass, is playing with the bait or truly eating it is not determinable by the fishermen; so making statements like I am waiting until he puts it in his mouth better or I am letting him take it cost you fish period. You can’t tell so don’t try! When you feel a bite set the hook, no questions asked, no waiting game set the hook.
Now that we have determined the proper what not to do the hook set is easy, when you feel a bite the first thing is to drop the rod tip and point it at the fish and tighten the line just enough to feel the tension. When you do that you have accomplished a couple of things. You have the rod in position to set the hook, you have taken the weight off the rod and the chance of the bass feeling you and letting go lessens. Pull the rod back and to the upper part of your shoulder in a fast hard yanking action, act like you’re trying to snap the fishes head off. You see as bass get bigger their cartilage around their mouth becomes harder and you must penetrate the hook into the cartilage or soft part of the mouth. Make it simple and you will catch the fish!
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email:
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Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry
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