New Friends

I had the opportunity to meet and fish with a couple of great guys yesterday.  Brothers Justin and Eric fished Harlan when they were young, but never knew it as a Largemouth Bass lake.  Justin (a teacher) is a Nebraska transplant now residing in California and Eric (a worship minister) now lives in Kansas.  How cool is that, these guys both have professions to impact the lives of others.  I was honored to have the opportunity to share the lake, talk a little fishing and chase some Bass with them.  It's always fun to hear stories and techniques from other bodies of water, especially those as different as Clear Lake and the Delta. While our Bass are not nearly as big (as California lunkers), Harlan does contain some of the areas best largemouth. 

The weather was nice with Sunny skies giving way to a few clouds late and just enough wind to allow the fish to cooperate.  The fish definitely wanted a slow or still bait and we caught several on plastics, swim baits and top water.  We didn't catch anything big, but we also didn't catch anything small.  A few catfish and drum also kept it spirited.  We were able to get around the lake and give them an opportunity to see Harlan from different perspectives.  The fishing isn't fast and furious, especially at this time of year, but it is consistent and a patient angler will be rewarded with enough to keep him interested. 

I want to thank them for a great time on the water and look forward to fishing with them somewhere down the road.  One of these days, I am going to have to journey out west to experience Clear Lake.  Opportunities to catch a "10" are few and far between. 

See ya fellas!

The GOOD, The BAD, The UGLY!

I almost didn't want to write this, but I have to accept that sometimes we have really bad days.  Without the bad, we couldn't have the good.  What am I talking about?  Well, this past weekend I participated in the 2013 Nebraska Mr. BASS Tournament.  I was very excited to fish and really like the format.  They call you the Sunday before and announce the lake, then it's off-limits until Friday.  Friday is the official practice day and Saturday the tournament.

Sunday evening I got the call.  Norton (Keith Sebelius) lake in Norton Kansas.  Norton!?!?  Ouch, I haven't been on that lake in over 10 years.  No sweat, I started my research and preparation.  I found the water to be very low, but I figured I could find a creek bite as there are 2 creeks that would still have enough water, along with the river (where the tournament 3 weeks prior was won - although at 2 feet higher water).  I looked over my lake map, Google Earth and other Satellite imagery over several years.  I had a plan.

Friday:  I arrived at the lake, prepped the boat and launched at safe light.  I took a stroll (slow drive) around the lake to acclimate myself with the low water.  Once I felt comfortable, I went to my first creek.  I immediately caught a short and then got broke off on a big top-water strike.  I ventured further back and caught 2 shorts and then back to back keepers flipping a tube.  Great, my plan was coming together.  I left the creek and started making my way up the river.  Keeper here, keeper there, found a solid pattern of keepers on transition spots of channel swings.  I spent the remainder of the day visiting other spots that were similar.  I caught a few and shook off a few.  I had a plan, this is the GOOD!

Saturday:  Ever have a day that spirals down hill fast?  I drew a late launch position, but hey, no big deal.  I ran to my starting point, hopeful I could get into the creek.  I was the first in.  I immediately started catching fish.  Short, short, short, short, you get the picture.  Now the BAD, I started hearing a thump, thump every time I hit the trolling motor.  A little panic crept in, could my motor be going out?  I lifted it up to find my transducer broke clean off.  The thump was the prop blade hitting the transducer.  Fortunately, I have electrical tape in the boat.  I taped the transducer to the shaft and proceeded on.  I stayed in the creek, expecting the fish to cooperate.  I expected that the fish must have been pressured heavily the day before.  I'm sure many others fished it as well, but I figured if I slowed down and was deliberate, it would pay off.  I caught plenty of 13 - 14 7/8 inch fish, but no keepers.  Getting late, I figured I could resort to the channel swings.  I ran spot to spot and found short after short, even a huge Wiper (they don't count).  I eventually managed 1 keeper.  I decided to run back to the lower end and finish on a spot that held fish in shallow weeds on a point.  I found fish breaking on shad in a foot of water, I started catching them.  Short, short, then I saw bigger fish up shallower.  I moved closer and I missed a huge strike.  The wind was now blowing me past, so I tried to turn to get back in position.  No deal.  The  wind pushed me up on a shallow root wad.  I tried and tried but eventually I had to get in the water (the UGLY)  It took me 30 minutes or so, but I finally managed to clear the root wad.  I had 20 minutes left.  I ran back to the weigh-in and fished until time.  No more keepers.

Hind sight:  In retrospect, I failed to adjust to the conditions.  Yes, the fishing was tough and the weights low.  However, others found a few keepers on the shallow flats away from the deeper swings.  The overcast skies allowed the fish to move way up on the flats (despite the lower water) and I failed to recognize that.  Congratulations go out to the fellas that figured it out.

We all have bad days, and this was mine.  I just hope I got it out of the way.  I don't like struggling to adjust.  I don't mind getting beat, but I do mind failing to execute.  All you can control is how you react to the situation you find yourself in.  In the end, you keep your head up, congratulate the others and move on.  So I'll log my lessons learned and prep for the next one.

Redemption:  I had a chance the following day to get back on Harlan.  I didn't fish long, maybe two hours and caught a couple nice ones.  That always helps.

Until the next time, good fishing and God Bless!

2013 Nebraska High School State Tournament

The 2013 Nebraska State High School Bass Tournament is in the books.  Turned out to be a great day, cool and rainy in the morning followed by clouds.  The kids caught a lot of fish.  Congratulations to the kids from Gretna, 15 pounds for first, and congrats to Ian and Quentin from Southern Valley for finishing second.  I really enjoyed taking Randy and Chance for the day and they did a great job.  They finished 5th and had the second biggest bass at 5-1.  They had the fish on to win, but they lost a 5 plus near the boat after it wrapped up in brush.  At the end of the day, all you can ask for is the opportunity to win and they had the bites.  But that's why they call it fishing and not catching, and a lost fish usually will cost you at the end of day.  Bottom line, they should be proud of the finish and happy they had the opportunity.  As tournament anglers, we have all been in this position and will be again.  Great job fellas.


Overall, most of the teams reported a solid buzz bait bite and some caught fish on spinner baits and crank baits, but almost exclusively the fish were in 2 feet of water or less.  Three fish 5 pounds or better and several over 4 were weighted in.  All but 5 teams weighed fish, a huge success.  I want to say "Thank You" to the Nebraska Game and Parks and TBF (The Bass Federation) for a well run tournament.  The kids had a great experience and I saw many sticking around and fishing afterwards.  If you have school aged kids, get them involved.  Join a club or start one at your school.

Lake report, Harlan County Reservoir:
Water temps running 75, with relatively clear water (for Harlan) on the main lake, some stain in the dog and the coves.  The largemouth a scattered, but locate rocks and you'll find fish.  Whites are bunched up around large schools of shad, but the biggest fish running in 3-4 feet of water on the main lake.  Walleye are shallow and reports of limits caught yesterday.  The catfish are mixed (deep and shallow), but good cats are being caught on the dam rocks and back in Patterson.

Fun Fishing

Got out to this weekend for some fun fishing and a little prep on Harlan.

First, I made my annual fun trip to Cottonmill this weekend.  I usually go in June, but ran a little behind this year with my busy schedule.  I always enjoy Cottonmill as it gives me a chance to fish vegetation (my favorite).  Fish were much smaller than I usually catch there, but that's due to the time of year.  In June, the bass are usually in early post-spawn and the bigger fish are up cruising and feeding in the shallow grass.  By July, the bigger fish have mostly moved to deeper water and the sanctuary provided there.  I however, chose to fish shallow just because I could.  I really enjoy flipping a hollow bodied frog to reed pockets.  I caught several this way, but did much better swimming a toad and even caught a few flipping into dark holes around the brush piles.  I caught a few around 2 to 2 1/2 lbs, but most ran less than 2.  I'm already looking forward to next year.

Also got on Harlan a couple of days to finish some prep for the upcoming Nebraska High School State Tournament on the 27th.  I'm not super optimistic about the prospects for the kids.  The lake is fishing extremely tough (for Bass).  The water temp is staying fairly consistent around 78-80 degrees, but the water level is dropping quickly.  I expect the lake will be about a foot lower next Saturday.  My first day out, I fished until 2 and had to work hard to catch a limit.  The best 5 went around 16-17 lbs and I had 2 that were pretty big (over 4).  The fish were scattered and I spent a lot of time fishing new water.  I actually had a pretty good day catching catfish, drum and walleye.  The catfish ate spinnerbaits, the walley ate tubes (shallow) and the drum crushed a jig.  By the way, that was a monster drum (I thought it was a wiper)!
My second day was not as fruitful.  I only fished about 3 hours and went with the sole purpose of fishing some off-shore structure.  Empty, notta, not gonna happen!  I didn't mark (electronics) much but white bass out deep and struck out on largemouth.  I finally went shallow and found the fish, but they are not biting.  The young of the year shad are abundant and the bass are gorging themselves.  I talked to some folks pre-fishing and they were pretty discouraged.  It disappoints me the tournament is in late July during the toughest part of the year.  It really doesn't showcase Harlan.  It is tough for someone familiar with the lake right now, and I can't imagine how it would be for someone here for the first time.  I hope things improve by next weekend.

We'll, that's about it.  Stay safe, God bless and good fishing!

Family Time

Just finished one of the most important fishing events of the year, my wife's family reunion.  Fishing event?  Absolutely!  Family time, whether with our spouse and kids or with our extended family is a critical part of recharging our batteries.  I look forward to seeing my wifes family every summer and spending precious time camping, conversing, eating (of course) and listening to old stories.  We also had just enough time to visit some of my family in the area before we had to make the trek home.   It's always fun and we miss them dearly.

So why do I call this a fishing event?  Because, as humans we occasionally need to step back and recharge the batteries.  Family time gives us a moment to reflect on the relationships that define who we are and rekindle the critical ties that identify why we are.  I have not made the full transition yet, but even my fishing schedule is pretty busy. 

Prep time.

I am now making preparations for the remainder of the season.  I am halfway through and although the first half has been pretty successful; I know that I need to continue the real work to hopefully continue that success.  I am reviewing lake conditions, fishing reports, lake maps, topography, making lures (yes, I make some of my own) and reassessing my gear.  Preparation is a key component to being successful (see the post: Formula for Success).  I am excited to captain a boat for the 2013 State High School Bass Tournament.  I'll be spending some time over the next week or so creating a game plan for the tournament.  This involves fishing and refining a pattern that fits the skills of the boys I'll be taking.   After that I'll be fishing the 2013 Nebraska Mr. Bass Tournament, a few Western Nebraska tournaments and getting ready for the last two Bassmaster Central Opens.

The light is green and I am recharged!

 

Happy Independence Day!

Today we celebrate the greatest right afforded us, Freedom.  I want to thank all the men and women who have or are serving our country in the armed forces.  While we often celebrate leaders, it is the lonely post of an enlisted man or woman that makes the greatest sacrifice for our greatest right.  You are our heroes and deserve the praise and respect of a nation.  As a veteran, I am proud to call you brothers and sisters.  Stand tall and know you are the difference, stand tall and know you are vital, stand tall and know you are loved. 

So when your celebrating today with family and friends, remember.  Thank a veteran, thank a service member.

Have a happy, safe 4th and God Bless America.

Lake Update

Summer fishing is in full swing.  Fish are out on the main lake.  Spent yesterday fishing from the west (Methodist) all the way to the dam.  Caught a smorgasbord including a few drum, 3 big walleye, 1 kitty (catfish), 1 smallmouth (yes it was a smallie, but not very big), and a limit of largemouth with 2 over 21".  Kept a Walleye for supper, but returned the rest. Lake was pretty busy, but that is to be expected considering the holiday this week.

Please practice: Keep only what you need, release the rest (especially the largemouth bass).

Bite was best on crankbaits.  I threw a Chartreuse medium diver (10-12').  Main lake cooled a bit to 77-79 and the coves were a bit warmer at 81-83.  Lake level 1936.23 and falling.  Methodist is now getting too shallow to launch.  There is 2.3 feet in the cove, but it's barely 1 foot between the jetties.  Release is around 480 cu ft, so the tubers will have a great week.

Stay safe this week!