Author: Tate

Kyle’s Big Bass

Just wanted to share this story with you. It happened two years ago on a local lake, we had been having alot of luck along the dam. Twins were supposed to have a baseball game that night. But due to weather, the game was cancelled.  I looked at the boys, and said “Get your rods.  We’re going fishing.”

When we get to the lake, we always start at the boat ramp. You will be really surprised how many fish we catch right where we put the boat in. So, we started throwing weightless stickbaits up in the brush. The water had come up a couple of feet from the last time we were there.  We caught a couple, but just little fish. So, we decided to fish along the dam. We were still just catching a couple of small fish. Just when we had reached the end of the dam, there is a little pocket with tree flooding in the back. The entries to the little pocket had stickup about 7 feet out from the bank. I started flipping creature baits to them. Nick threw up by a stickup, and hooked a good 2.5 pound bass. We got him in the boat.   As I’m helping Nick unhook the bass, Kyle said, “Dad, I had one just then. It jumped and was a huge bass.” I was yelling at Nick to net the fish. He tried but the big bass was not having any of it. Finally, Nick got it in the boat. We all just looked at each other like “What just happened?” I just threw Nick’s 2.5 pound bass in the lake. Kyle’s fish weighted in at 6lbs. It is Kyle biggest bass on a public lake.

2018 Fishing Goals

I hope everyone had a great holiday. It is cold outside and a lot of people aren’t thinking of fishing. Before you know it, the fishing season will be here. So you better start getting your gear ready. First thing I do is make goals for the new fishing year. Usually the first goal is to do a better job of keeping a logbook. I will usually keep records of the catch on the computer or notebook, and I make an excel spread sheet. Last year, I didn’t keep very good records.  I am going to try to keep better records this year.

I would also like to break my PB (Personnel Best) Largemouth Bass 10.6lb from Texas. Anytime any one goes fishing you would like to catch your biggest bass or any type of fish you are after. My Kansas PB largemouth is only 6lbs so I really plan on breaking that this year with a 7lb bass or bigger from a Kansas Public Lake. Then I would like to also catch a 5lb smallmouth this year.

Also one thing I like to do is pick a couple of different type of lures to learn more about and fish more in the up coming season. It can be an old or new lure. There is always something about catching a fish on a brand new lure. You can look online for a lot of articles about a lure that can help you have confidence on it before you every try it. This year, my lures are Jigs, Rattletraps and Chatterbaits. Jigs are a great lure anytime of the year. My PB and best tournament was on a Jig. Last year a swim jig really worked well for me. Chatterbaits are very similar to a jig except the blade is on front, and it works really well in the Spring and Fall. I plan on fishing a heavier one out deeper in the summer. I have been watching videos and reading up on Rattletraps, so I really plan on giving them more time this year. They worked really well for me last fall.

Last, if you fish tournaments, you should always have a goal to win a tournament or two. I would like to win two tournaments this year in my club and to finish in the top three this year in the standings. I would also like to fish a tournament with Nick and one with Kyle.

So here are my goals for 2018:

Keep a fishing logbook

To catch a largemouth in Kansas over 7lbs

To catch a smallmouth over 5lbs

Lures this year are Jigs and Chatterbaits

To win two club tournaments 

To Finish in the Top three in the club

Fish a tournament with Kyle and one with Nick

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Before you start your season, make a list of some goals you would like to achieve. It is always fun when you can mark one off the list. Next time, I will share the twins’ fishing goals with you.

 

Coffey County Bass Fishing

Here a story that happened last year on a beautiful November day.  We decided to get the boat out, and go down to Coffey County Lake to fish for some smallmouth with my dad. 1478394451993I was worried about the fishing with the power plant not running. But, when we showed up at the ramp, we saw all the boats. I knew we were going to catch them. It started out slow, but like always, it took a little time to figure them out. It had been a month since we were there. We started fishing riprap in the hot water area with finesse baits. We were able to catch 5 fish. On one of the fish, Nick broke a rod swinging the fish into the boat. The twins wanted to move to an area with grass mats on the surface that held fish the last time we were there. I pulled up to the spot.  The grass was gone, and the boys were upset. I told them the bass are still in the area  and had just moved to the rocks. Nick’s very
1478370859935first cast with a weightless stickbait, and he hooked up with a really nice fish.  The fish started to make a run to deep water, then the hook popped out. So, we went back to fishing the riprap. This time it was Kyle’s turn to hook up with a good smallmouth, which we lost at the boat. I noticed there was some tall grass on the graph which was holding the fish. Next time through, my dad hooks up with a smallmouth, and we were able to get it landed. Throughout the day, we revisited the spot catching good smallmouth and largemouth. On one trip, Kyle caught three bass on three straight casts. We were able to fish a couple of other spots catching fish but the better size came off the tall grass along the riprap. We ended up catching 30 fish. It was a great day with the twins and my dad.

While I was loading the boat, the twins wanted to fish the bank. I told them it was okay, but to make sure to stay out of the way of the people that were already there fishing. It was not very long, and I heard Nick yelling “Dad I caught one.” Then a couple more minutes, Kyle caught one. While I was cleaning the boat, I heard someone say something.  So, I said “What? You have another?” Then I heard someone from the bank say ” Yeah, they have another.” Nick then caught one more bass. We finished with 34 fish, and most were 16 inches. Making memories with the boys and Dad is priceless.