 Don't do this < See this... STOP DOING IT! This trend seems to be making a come back, especially amongst my fellow smallmouth anglers, and it's something that shouldn't be done. You're putting a lot of stress on the fishes jaw - not only on the bone, but the ligaments and muscles throughout the mouth area.
Don't even give me that 'fish don't feel pain' crap, that doesn't mean it's ok to cause damage to them. You may not even notice you did any harm the fish, but if you do cause damage, it may not be able to eat and will eventually die.
 This guy wins for worst hold ever Here's another - and in my opinion, even worse - photo of the dreaded jawbreaker hold. Look how 'stretched' the top of the fish is and how it flares out it's gill plates. Also notice the eye, doesn't look very pleasant does it? Let's not forget all the lovely organs nestled inside that fish. Let's have a gander at what could be lying underneath where these fish are bending...
 Photo: http://www.iowas.co.uk/fish%20anatomy.html I'm pretty sure that the heart and liver are important organs to a fish - I know us humans like our hearts and livers to be working and definitely don't want them crushed. Think of all the pressure your putting on that area when you hold a fish similar to the two previous photos. All the weight from the gills to the tip of their tail is being pulled down from that bending point on the fish.
Let's not forget the spinal cord! Yeah, it'll flex, but it could also rip itself away from the brain. I don't know about you, but I like my spine staying intact with my brain. The spine connects with the brain near that bending point, which again, is carrying a lot of stress behind it.
 Thanks to Coulee Region-Adventures for this photo This guy has got the fish hold down! Look how happy he is - because he knows he isn't going to cause this fishes heart to explode. This fish will also be ready for a night of drinking, because it's liver isn't going to quit. Drink up fishy.... drink up. Ok, enough joking around, let's see WHY this hold is correct. First and probably the most important piece, is supporting the backside of the fish. You don't necessarily have to hold the fish horizontally as long as you support the fishes rear end. Next, the fishes jaw isn't being stretched to oblivion. The jaw and head area are being supported with minimal stress being put on the area underneath the gills. Let's just have a look at some other people who know how to hold their fish, because I have nothing else to add except, LEARN TO HOLD YOUR FISH RIGHT! Big thanks to Coulee Region-Adventures, Kayak Fish Pa, Pete Maina/ The Next Bite and this site for the photos.
Another Coulee Region Adventure shot
This giant is evenly supported and happy
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Not horizontal, but still correctly held! Kayak Fish Pa
Every body loves Tex... Even the muskies, because Tex knows how to hold them
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I know... I've been slacking this year and my last post said how this year was going to rock. Shameful! Anyway, I haven't forgot about this site! I'm working on so many other sites right now, it's not even funny (I'll share when I'm done with them).
Thanks for all of you who keep coming by, I promise I'll be more active... Gotta work to live :)
Sachs Fishing is currently giving any customer who mentions the Fishing In Pa Facebook page a free spinner when you buy 2 or more! We all know spinners catch fish ALL the time, so why not stock up on some awesome lures made right here in Pa! Support a local business and buy your spinners from Sachs!
Bloggers listen up! Outdoor Blogger Network's recent giveaway involves some awesome products... Plano-ly awesome products! Plano Waterproof boxes! You all know Plano rules and things that are waterproof rules, so why wouldn't you want to enter this beastly contest? All you have to do is leave a comment under the following link and you're in like flint! http://www.outdoorbloggernetwork.com/2011/10/17/plano-guide-series-waterproof-boxes/You have to give me one if you win... Just sayin'!
Ok, time to get a little serious here... I could write about why I'm such an awesome fan of Bass Resource and why I'm the best guy over on that forum (shocking I know), but who cares about me? Let's talk about why Bass Resource is the number 1 forum: - It's a Resource - Do me a favor sometime - go to Bass Resource and don't go into the forum. Seriously, just skip it for a day or two. It will probably cut down on the Senko spam (I kid, I kid!). Click that little button in the navigation that says 'Articles'. If it's been said, watched or done and it involves bass, there's an article about it. This is what happened to me the first time I found the article section (after beening a member for a few months even...):  So... Many.... Articles! It's a Resource... Of Videos - For those of you who hate reading - Why are you reading this? - Bass Resource has a PILE of videos. You can only find these videos on BR also (same with the articles), so why wouldn't you want to go there and check it out? It's a Resource... Of Tools - Yeah, there's a tools section also! Solar tables, fish logs, weather... Tons of stuff to help you get fishing. Look at this all this stuff and we haven't even entered the forums yet! I forbid you to enter the forums until you click on all of the other pages and try them out! Did that? Ok, read on:It's also a Forum - Yeah, it's a forum too. If you thought the articles were enough to get you going... well you're right, you could just go and read the articles, but where's the fun in that? Go join the forums, participate, show off, get help, help others... I think you get the point. I'll let you in on a little secret (Don't tell anyone else ok?): A lot of big names are on that forum... Pros, tackle makers, TV show hosts (Lunkerville!), Glenn's mustache and it's wife, J's Ego, some old guy named Long Mike, another guy who is a master with flukes, a dude who always catches 5 bass every time he fishes.... I think I subliminally hit all the mods there? Anyway, all 3 of you who read this, I expect you to join the forums right meow!Check them out at http://www.bassresource.com or on Facebook.
 Questions - we all have them, we all ask them... Some of us need to learn the RIGHT questions to ask. Let's take a look at some of the most asked questions I see around the intrawebz:
Q. What lure should I use?
A. I don't know... The fish will tell you. That question is almost impossible to answer. ANY lure is going to catch fish, it's finding the one they want that's the trick. Unless I'm standing right beside you, fishing in the exact same area you are, I'm not going to be able to answer that question. Even if you give me current conditions, depth, water temp., water clarity, any cover or structure present, etc... That question still cannot be answered with 100% certainty. You could probably break it down into colors that may work, but not a specific lure... Just throw what you're confident with and change it up as needed. If I could answer that question every time it was asked, I wouldn't be running a mediocre website about fishing - I'd be spanking KVD - That's right, I'd put him over my knee and... oh, nevermind.
Q. Is brand X any good?
A. Of course it is! If it wasn't - they wouldn't be selling whatever they make. If they have been around awhile and are still around, they are obviously doing something right. Everyone is going to answer that question differently, as everyone has different opinions on different brands. I have yet to use a product I absolutely hated (ok, those $1 spinnerbaits from Wal-Mart aren't that great, but people seem to love 'em), so just try it out. Example - I use mostly Quantum, Daiwa and BPS rods and reels, some people swear that all three of these products suck... Well they don't. You may have had a bad experience with a product brand X made, but for every problem, 10 other people could have the best freakin' product they have ever used. Oh and in case you're wondering, I have nothing but love for Shimano, but I can get just as good a reel/rod from any of the above companies for a lot less.
Q. Can I be on your TV show? (Not asked to me obviously...)
A. No
Q. How do you catch so many fish?
A. I'm on the water as much as possible and not in front of the computer asking other people how to fish. Trust me, there are guys that are on the water 100x more than I am... You think I catch fish? No sir... I'm just an amateur, a guy who writes about fishing... Some guys would melt your face off if you fished with them (Mr. Kayak Fish Pa makes me cry every time I fish with him...). I don't mean to sound rude with this - I love helping everyone that asks questions and I welcome any questions you have - but don't get lippy if you get a vague answer, some questions just can't be answered the way you want them to be.
Q. You should give me one of those... whatever I have to give away... (ok, that's not really a question).
A. Maybe you should just buy it or enter the damn contest...
Q. Do I need a baitcaster?
A. Nope, but it sure makes throwing some baits a heck of a lot easier! I used spinning gear only for most of my life and still caught fish. In reality, you don't even need a rod and reel at all! Hand line that baby! Just wear gloves if you decide to hand line braid... it cuts pretty quick.
Q. Are Largemouth or Smallmouth better?
A. Whatever fish you can catch is better. If I had to choose? Smallmouth by a long shot, but some don't live in the same areas as smallies, so what good is it to tell them largemouth fight like a wet towel (and you too walleye, grow a set and fight!).
Q. Can you eat carp?
A. You could eat a log if you wanted, why not a carp?
Q. Do I need a boat to catch fish?
A. No... You need to get off my lame site and go fishing...
Q. Why don't I catch fish where other people are?
A. Because you're buddy is catching them all - Take him out!
Q. How do you use this lure?
A. However the heck you want! No where does it say 'A jig will only catch fish when it's worked along the bottom' or 'Senko's must be wacky rigged'... I've caught fish on jigs while burning them back to the boat, while smacking them off rocks, while hanging off the side of the boat... Just put the lure in the water and make it move...
Ok, I'm done acting like an egotistical jerk - Get off my site and go fish! Here's something completely random that I find hilarious:
Yes, I'm still alive! Just finished a quick Q&A/Review of my NuCanoe in the latest issue of Susquehanna Fishing Magazine. I get a lot of questions and comments while out on the water, so I figured it would be a good way to clear some things up. The NuCanoe is really a great boat and I hope you all get the chance to try one out and see why it is the ultimate fishing machine! Check it out here: http://susquehannafishing.com/index.html
No, I'm not talking about fishing structure... or structured settlements... I'm talking about structured blog entries - Things that make sense and flow - because this post will NOT do that. I just felt like free writing today, so I'm just going to give my opinion on some random thoughts floating around in my head.
 Photo by James Overstreet/Bassmaster.com All this JVD/Brauer BS
For those of you who don't follow the Elite Series or maybe for those of you who simply just do not care - it appears as though JVD as broken an 'unwritten' rule in tournament fishing. As you can see in this photo, JVD decided to fish the same water as Mr. Brauer. 'What's wrong with that?' you might be asking - Well, Brauer was in the lead and JVD was near the bottom of the pile.
At first I thought it wasn't such a big deal as everyone was making it out to be, but my gut reactions are normally wrong. If I was Denny - I would have put a jig between his legs and set the hook pretty hard (Denny is a jig master, he would have had the accuracy to rip a hair out of his nose). Good on 'ya Denny for keeping your cool.
To JVD's defense - he's a rookie - a young rookie. He still needs to learn the 'rules' that have been put in place by the veterans. Cut him some slack - he's just trying to get out from old Uncle Kevin's shadow. Oh, and that statement brings me to my second rant.
 The bass have quit trying and just jump in his boat Photo: kevinvandam.com KVD is unstoppable, but we've been over this before
This Kevin guy has like a million point lead for the Angler of the Year race... I'm not joking - look it up.
Give someone else a chance man! Go play golf for a year or take up knitting. You sir, Mr. Kevin, have completely killed my dreams of ever entering any BASS tournament. Now, I know you don't fish every single one, but why should I ever try? If (and that's a HUGE if) I ever made it into the Elite Series (queue laugh track here), you'd stump on my face, you'd eat my bass for breakfast - you'd do all this, from a pontoon boat even. There's no hope! If you won't quit fishing, at least stop using the boat. Maybe you'd give someone else a chance to win.
How many of you have seen the BPS commercial with KVD and Bill Dance? The one where KVD is fishing from the above mentioned pontoon boat and sets up that goofy looking plywood cutout that made it look like a party. Why did he even bother going through all that trouble? As soon as Bill spots KVD, he knows he is toast. Why do you think he started his saltwater show?
Enough about this giant - Let's move on to something else - go completely off track here...
Landowner's and 'Right of Way'... or something like that
Now, I'm not one to ball when I don't get my own way, but this one really has me in a mood. I've been fishing on some 'private' ground nearly all my life. I use the term private loosely, because no one can ever give me a straight answer as to who owns the land (and I'm not saying where this is, still want to respect this area's privacy). Some have told me the campground, whom I have permission from to fish this area, owns this land, but the people who own homes around this spot claim it's theirs. Moving on....
Went fishing there last weekend and was approached by a guy, "You know this is private property?"... (Duh, I can read the huge freakin' sign before you enter the development). We had a quick conversation about how people have been coming back and leaving trash, so the 'land owner's' aren't letting people back here anymore. My buddy and I just left - I'm a nice guy, I'm not going to get into an argument over something so silly. Well, Mr. 'Land Owner', do you really own that spot? There wasn't a house near where I was fishing... and I have even talked to 'land owners' while fishing there. They are always nice, "catch anything?", "Good luck, there's big fish in there!"... Really nice people. Never seen this guy back there before, maybe HE was trespassing!
There was even another guy there that claimed he owned land further up the development and he was arguing FOR us to fish there (thank you sir, but I know you're probably not one of the 3 people who read my site).
Anyway, I shouldn't sound so mean... The guy that 'asked us to leave' was actually pretty nice about it. I guess I'm just more mad at the idiots that have to ruin it for everyone! Pick up your damn trash ya jackasses! You ruined one of the best fishing spots around - AND the only spot you can catch largemouth within 30 miles... All you trashy folk - would you like to pay for my gas money now?
This brings me to my final point of the day... When you go fishing, take a trash bag or something with you - clean up after yourself and others. I'm done ranting, Good day and tight lines!
 This one's for you Owl!
What a day! Got to fish with Jeff Little and Juan Veruete on the Susquehanna. Blake from NuCanoe came along too (was up for Blue Mtn.'s Demo Day) First time fishing with Jeff and also my first time on that part of the river. Fishing was tough (for me anyway), but the quality of the smallies was great. I only ended up with 1 off a little bucktail jig I tied and topped off with a whiptail worm. Blake had 2 or 3, and Jeff and Juan both probably caught 100... Ok, maybe not that many, but we left before they did and I'm sure they caught a ton.
I put together a little video of our short trip. Sorry for the video quality, I need to get a tripod or some kind of mount for the camera!
Now this a 'tournament' I could get into! Fish whenever you want, where ever you want (well, almost where ever you want) and you get more than a month to compete! Also, $5 of your entry fee is going to the Delaware Riverkeepers, so you'll also be helping out a good group. Check out 'The Rules' from the derby's site:
Dates and Times: The Derby begins at 12:01am on Sunday, May 1st and ends on Saturday, June 4th at 8:00pm. All fish must be caught during this time frame in order to be eligible for consideration. Location: Boundaries include the Schuylkill River from the Wissahickon Creek to the Delaware River, and the Delaware River from the Betsy Ross Bridge to the Philadelphia Airport. Eligible fish must be caught from shore. Fish caught on a boat will be ineligible for consideration. Species: Prizes will be awarded for striped bass, catfish, and blue crab. In the event of a tie: The fish caught first will win. Licensing: Participants must abide to all regulations outlined by the PA Fish and Boat Commission. We recommend having a PA fishing license, which can be purchased online here: http://
www.fish.state.pa.us/license.htm. Catch and Release: The Derby strongly encourages catch and release. However, if you do choose to keep a fish, be sure that it is in compliance with the state regulations. Note that for the majority of the Derby, PA Fish and Boat only allows keeping “slot” fish between 20-26 inches. After June 1st, fish must be a minimum of 28 inches. For regulations see here: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/fishpub/summary/delaware.html Entering a Fish: Fish will be judged on length, as there will be no weigh in station for the derby. Fish must be documented by photo or video laying next to the Derby provided measuring tape. Photo or video of the fish must be sent to the Derby within 24 hours of catch. The largest fish is defined by the Derby as the longest fish measured from the tip of the jaw to the tip of the tail-fin. In order for a fish to be eligible for entry, all anglers must submit a photograph of the fish next to the official derby measuring tape, provided at the time of registration. For blue crab, the largest animal is defined as widest crab measured point to point. To be eligible for entry the crab must be photographed and measured with the official derby measuring tape. All entries must be submitted to the Derby within 24 hours of catch. Submit photos or videos to jason at phillystripedbassderby.com. Participants must be registered for the Derby before fishing. Fish landed before a participant registers for the Derby are not eligible. Registration ends Sunday, May 8th. Go here to register. Note: All registration materials (Rule Sheet, T-Shirt, Derby Measuring Tape) can be picked up at Shadfest on April 23rd at Penn Treaty Park between 10am and 3pm or at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 Frankford Ave) on May 1st between 4pm and 7pm. You must have the Derby measuring tape in order to submit a fish for consideration. If you cannot pick your materials up at one of these events, please email Jason (jason @ phillystripedbassderby.com) to make alternate arrangements. The Derby maintains the right to disqualify any fish or participant that violates the Derby rules or exhibits behavior that is inconsistent with the goals of the Derby. Read the rules, understand the rules... be one with the rules... Anyway, enough zen talk! Go out and catch some fish, have some fun and win prizes! Check out the website for more info: http://phillystripedbassderby.com
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