TIPS & TECHNIQUES

 

PRESENTED BY

FISH ON BASS ANGLERS

Gaithersburg, Maryland

 

 

Author: Taylor Hale – Tournament Director

Photos:  Prover

 

Subject:   Non-Boater Tournament Angling

 

Introduction

 

I started fishing on the Potomac River as a non-boater early in 1991 and have been lucky to fish with some of the best anglers on the river.  Many of them are in our club now and I still enjoy getting out and learning something new.  This article is really a collection of opinions and thoughts of how to get the most out of tournament fishing as a non-boater.  It is intended for the newer anglers in the club.  Keep in mind these are my opinions of how best to prepare for a fishing trip and what you can do to enhance your experience.  Like all advice you the reader have to decide what works for you.

 

Fishing as a non-boater offers some of the best opportunities to learn how to catch fish you can ever get.  Treat it as a learning experience and you will be greatly rewarded.  We are lucky with the “Fish On” club environment.  We have a group of experienced anglers willing and able to pass along information about how to find and catch fish.

 

Basic Survival Equipment

 

The very first thing you should do when you start fishing out of a bass boat is put together a basic survival package.  These are things that aren’t directly related with fishing but will make your trip safer and more comfortable.  Some of the items on this list are optional, some required.

  • Life Vest.  Have one of your own that fits.  A type III is required by law, so if you bring one onto your partners boat be sure it is compliant with the law.  Wear it whenever the gas motor is running.  There are many options for life vests from self-inflating to the simplest collar style.
  • Fishing License.  In our case you must have at least a Maryland Tidal and Non-Tidal and Washington DC license.  A Virginia license is required for any Virginia waters that aren’t associated with the tidal Potomac watershed (Lake Anna, Kerr, etc.)
  • Sun Block.  Nothing sucks the fun out of a day of fishing like dealing with sunburn.  I like the Coppertone Sport brand.  It doesn’t run, doesn’t sweat out, and most importantly doesn’t run into my eyes. 
  • Polarized Sunglasses.  Sunglasses are important not just to help you see your line and into the water but as protection for your eyes.  On a sunny day the glare from waves can be extremely damaging. 
  • Water and food.  Remember that you will be out on the water usually for 8 hours or more.  Bring whatever food you might want – snacks like crackers are a great option.  More important is remembering to bring enough water to keep you hydrated.  You can survive most summer days without eating but you need to have water.
  • Rain Gear.  Rain gear isn’t just good for keeping you dry.  During early spring and fall tournaments it can provide a critical layer to help keep you warm.  Either way, never head out onto a boat without it.  I’ve become a fan of Frogg Toggs brand rain gear.  They are cheap, light, pack down to an extremely small size (makes it easier for me to fit it in to my pack), and very waterproof. 

 

Here are some “optional” things to think about having with you:

  • Culling clips.  You may fish for years and never catch a limit, but using culling clips on every fish you put in the live well will make getting the fish out at the end of the day easier.  The quicker we can get the fish out of the well and weighed the better their chance for survival.  You can buy them cheaply (~$15 at Bass Pro) or make your own. 
  • First Aid Kit.  Having waterproof bandages and Bactine for those cases where you get cut, poked, or prodded either by a fish, your own lure, or your partners can keep you from an infection.  Make sure to get either the kids brand or the new sport brand bandages – they stay attached when wet.
  • Aspirin or Ibuprofen.  Goes with the first aid kit.  I never fish without it.  By the end of most days on the water if I’m not at least a little achy or sore I feel I haven’t been fishing.
  • Hound Dog.  Most of the boaters in the club will have a lure knocker or retriever of some type.  Doesn’t hurt to bring your own.  A cheap investment compared to loosing one or more crankbaits.
  • Anglers Soap.  Use it to clean your hands after applying sun block, insect repellant, or any other non-fishy seeming substance. 
  • Small towel. 
  • Maps.  GMCO has great maps of the Potomac River, Kerr Lake, and Lake Anna along with many others.  Get a map and keep notes of where you fished, what you saw, what you did.  All of the bodies of water that we fish have many areas that have similar conditions.  By keeping a log and referring to maps of the body of water you can better plan for future trips.  But remember to be respectful of different boater’s waters.  Don’t take other boaters back to that “great spot” you fished the last tournament unless you’ve had a chance to discuss it with your previous partners.

 

Most of the things on the two lists can be packed together in a small knapsack or bag.  If you keep all of these together with the rest of your tackle you won’t forget anything and be caught short on the water.  It is also often a good idea to have a change of clothes or at the very least a pair of dry shoes and socks back at your vehicle in case of a heavy rain.  Unless I know it won’t rain, I will have a full change of clothes back at my truck just in case.  It may not help you during the day fishing but it can make your ride home much more comfortable.

 

Non Boater Responsibilities:

 

This really applies to tournament and non-tournament fishing days.  As a club we focus more on tournament responsibilities but if you pre-fish with someone or if you go out on a fun day you should treat them the same.  There are club related financial requirements for non-boaters.  It goes without saying that you should show up with cash to help the boater defray some of the operating costs of running a boat.  If you want to see just what a deal you are getting, book a trip with one of the guide services.  National Bass gives members of Fish On a discounted rate but you will still spend $250 for a full day of fishing.  A guided trip will show you things that you may not learn during a tournament but it doesn’t change the fact that owning and operating a boat is an expensive proposition. 

 

On top of the financial responsibility, contact your fishing partner before the tournament.   This allows you to find out what they are planning on doing, where they will launch, and what time to meet.  It also lets your partner know that you are serious about showing up and fishing.

 

Show up early and stay late.  It is easier for you and for the boater if you are able to load your tackle while the boat is on the trailer and in the parking lot.  Offer to help your partner out with launching the boat, running the trailer up to the lot, or generally getting ready.  That said, unless you are comfortable backing a trailer down the ramp don’t volunteer.  It takes some getting used to.  At the end of the day, stick around to help with pulling the boat, getting it wiped down, and the various tasks necessary for the trailer ride home.  Clean up your trash and take it with you.  There is nothing worse than leaving piles of half eaten Slim Jims, Little Debbie wrappers, and Mountain Dew cans in someone’s boat compartments to get you onto a boater’s bad side.

 

During the tournament day, keep your tackle, rods, and other equipment organized.  Leave clear access from the front to the back of the boat.  In fact, even though you may bring multiple rods, you should always be in a position to quickly wrap your equipment up and be moving as quickly as possible when your partner decides it’s time to move.  I try to keep any rod I am not actively using down in a storage position so that when it comes time to move the only thing I have to worry about is grabbing my life vest and strapping my rods down.  Typically, the back deck is yours but you need to make sure you are organized and neat when fishing. 

 

Tournament Techniques

 

The primary purpose of our club is to share knowledge.  Treat each fishing experience as a day at class and try to learn something new every time.  While the lessons aren’t always positive; for example, you may learn “4lb Line around shipwrecks sure gave that 6 lb bass a chance to break off”, try to learn something new every day out.  Pay attention to the environment, to how your boater presents lures, to the way he positions the boat for areas.  Ask questions and try to learn more about techniques.  I’ve become fairly adept at fishing slider heads and Senkos have become confidence baits for me because I asked and learned.  The same is true of every lure I throw – I wouldn’t use them if I hadn’t learned techniques for using them from somewhere.  That somewhere has usually been on the water and in the back of someone’s boat. 

 

Learning aside, there is also a competitive aspect to tournament fishing.  You shouldn’t be out if you aren’t trying to win.  There are several things you can do to help you catch fish in tough tournament conditions. 

 

There are really 2 approaches to take when fishing a spot.  You have to let the conditions and the success of your partner dictate your approach.  First, you can try to exactly mimic the bait and technique your partner is using.  I would try this approach only if he is slamming fish and you are fishing an area where you both have equal opportunities at catching fish.  This will usually occur when fishing grass or pad beds, occasionally on creek banks, and rarely when fishing defined structure.  When you are fishing defined cover patterns, the first angler to hit a spot has a distinct advantage.  You are often better served by changing things up.  As a non-boater, often your best chance to catch quality fish is to throw baits that allow you to cover more water.  Spinnerbaits and crankbaits may be your best tools.  Fish baits that let you cover a lot of water.  Cast to the same spot over and over.  Often you will trigger a bite your partner may have missed.  I once heard a quote that was attributed to Denny Brauer.  I’ve paraphrased it slightly but it goes something like this “It doesn’t matter how easy going you are, if someone pokes you in the chest enough times eventually you are going to take a poke at him.”  Bass sitting tight to cover can be as easy going as they can be.  Sometimes though all you have to do is hit them in the nose enough times and they will bite out of anger.  As a non-boater those fish are your best friends.  Learn to use a Carolina rig in a variety of conditions.  When fishing is tough, it may be your best way to get your bait in front of a fish. 

 

Tournament Equipment

 

Now it’s time to build a tournament tackle bag and get your rods and reels ready to go.  What follows is a list of the basic baits you might want to consider having (based primarily on fishing the Potomac) but the list certainly isn’t complete or comprehensive.  Also, the brands listed are baits that I would purchase but are more representative of colors and styles than anything else.

             

 

  • Ultra Shallow diving crankbaits (6):  Mann’s Baby 1 Minus.  Make sure you have Color Code 54 (Gold/Black Back), 64 (Silver/Black Back), 66 (Fire Shad), 84 (Grey Ghost), and 03 (Wild Shiner). 
  • Shallow diving crankbaits (4):  Bandit Series 100 in 01 (Baby bass), 31 (Chrome/Black), 44 (Dark Brown Craw), and 20 (Fire Tiger)
  • Medium diving crankbaits (6):  Bandit Series 200 in 01 (Baby bass), 02 (Tennessee Shad), 44 (Dark Brown Craw), 20 (Fire Tiger), 74 (Brown Spatter Back), and 38 (Red Crawfish).
  • Deep diving crankbaits (4):  Bandit Series 300 in 44 (Dark Brown Craw), 20 (Fire Tiger), 74 (Brown Spatter Back), and 38 (Red Crawfish).
  • 1/8 Oz spinnerbait (4):  Stanley Baby Wedge spinnerbaits.  2 in a bluegill pattern and 2 in a yellow perch pattern.  By next season I will probably have switched over to spinnerbaits from Gerkin Baits but currently have Stanley’s in my tackle bag.
  • ¼ Oz Spinnerbait (4):  I use a ¼ oz spinnerbait from Gerkin Baits and can’t recommend them highly enough.  All 4 in primarily white with a little yellow in the skirt.  2 with twin willow leaf blades, 2 with single willow (copper) and small Colorado blade (silver).
  • 2 top water popping baits:  Strike King Spit’ n King in baby bass and Tennessee Shad colors.
  • Silver Buddies (4):  2 ½ oz and 2 ¼ oz in standard finish.
  • Plastic baits including: 
    • Zoom Fish Doctors (Green Pumpkin and Watermelon Seed)
    • Zoom French Fries (Cotton Candy)
    • Zoom Baby Brush Hogs (Green Pumpkin and Watermelon Seed)
    • Zoom 6” Lizards (Cotton Candy with Chartreuse tail)
    • Berkley 6” Power Worm (Blue Fleck)
    • Berkley 4” Power Ribworm (Blue Fleck)
    • Kalin 5” Grubs (Pumpkin with red flake and Avocado with Black fleck)

 

  • Terminal tackle (hooks, weights, etc.) including:
                 
    • Gamakatsu Offset Shank worm hooks (sizes 1, 1/0)
    • Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap worm hooks (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0)
    • Mustad 1/0 trailer hooks
    • Water Gremlin worm weights (1/16 oz to ½ oz)
    • Carolina Keepers
    • Glass or plastic beads
    • Barrel swivels
    • Bass Snaps
    • Oldham screw lock jig heads (1/4 oz)

     

    While this list certainly doesn’t cover the full range of baits you might want to have or use, I think it represents the basics for catching fish on the Potomac River. 

     

    Consider building tournament boxes of different kinds.  I like to organize my hard baits, terminal tackle, and selected plastics in Plano style boxes.  I’ll keep other soft plastics in their original bags and organize types of baits in Zip Lock bags.  I’ve got one bigger tackle bag that holds at least 7 of the 14”x11” Plano boxes.  I add or subtract baits that I know I will or won’t use on a given body of water.  For example, if I’m fishing Lake Anna in March I’ll leave my top water baits at home.  I also may only bring a small selection of plastics that I plan on using.  While it’s terrible to be caught on the water when the one bait you know will work is at home, it’s also impractical to bring everything you own along.  As you add new baits to your arsenal, you can add new boxes to your storage system.  Remember when I spoke earlier about having a game plan.  I rig rods and tackle to support my plan for the day.  I bring enough variations to allow me to experiment if my plan fails but that’s a last resort.  I don’t like tying and retying lures constantly.  I have confidence in my basic array of lures and use those first.

     

    Final Word

     

    Have fun.  Fishing is a pastime and even a way of life for most of us in the club.  But first and foremost it should be fun.  Use the resources you have available to you as a non-boater to learn.  The best resource you could possibly have can be found in the experiences of the boaters and other anglers in the club.  Take advantage of what they have learned to add to your angling expertise.  Remember try to learn at least one new thing every time out, but don’t let your past experience close your mind to new things. 

     

    Mark Twain once said “I never let my schooling interfere with my education.”  It’s good advice.