Baby bass

I tried Excalibur lures I recently tuned. They're productive, but it seems smaller baby bass hit before big ones try. I caught a total of four, but all were tiny bass.

Bought a bunch

When I happened to drive in an area in my city yesterday, I saw a notice of "bargain" on an outer wall of an old fishing tackle shop. I decided to go into it, and picked up a bunch of lures and two rods. I couldn't believe the prices of Excalibur Spit'n Image lures (JPY 330 each) and Scum's frog buzz (JPY 110). I seldom cast spinnerbaits, but Bosh's ones were my favorite in the 1980-1990's, so I bought them as well for my sense of nostalgia. 

After I got back, I cut the straight handle of one of the rods (Fenwick Iron Hawk rod), which I don't like, and replaced with what I have in my collection.

  

Natural color?

We have a lot of rainy days and rainfall this month, and the water color has got muddy in this pond. I could catch a bass with one of the lures I re-drew by myself.

More re-drawn lures

I made more...

Re-drawing

I bought some One-knocker and Rattlin' Zara Spooks about 6-7 yeas ago, but have not caught any fish with them. I decided to tune them last night, and finished one of them. I was feeling their natural frog color was too simple, so I re-finished it by copying after an old one. I didn't like their decal eyes, either, and I hand-drew the eyes. I hear many tournament fishers like these new Zara Spooks and have caught a lot of huge bass. I'd like to try one, too.

BEFORE

AFTER

　

September has gone

I went fishing a couple of more times during September, but couldn't catch any big ones. I just wanted to keep some pictures for records.

 

Too many fishers

I started fishing at 05:00 am today, caught two bass with a Heddon Magnum Tiger (RHF, red head fish flash color). I almost caught another bass with a Moto Shad (spring-powered shad) that I cast for fun, but it went away before I tried to land it.  

It's getting cooler, and many fishers seem to want to go fishing now. While I was fishing in a pond, five or six fishers came in one after another. I don't like to fish in a jam, so I finished my fishing earlier than I expected.

Today's tackle: ABU Ambassadeur 5000, Phillipson Royal RC60, Daiwa Sight Surf #4 (orange), Heddon Super Spook, magnum, Tiger, Gilmore Jumper, Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad, Moto Shad, etc. 

BF=23/38/44

For the first time in a month

I caught bass for the first time in a month. I got a total of five bites, and caught two (one with a Pico Pop and one with a Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad). One hit that I also got with the Crazy Shad should be that of a big one, as it fought so hard and rushed into a lay-down to escape. It successfully went away from me, and I felt sorry not to be able to catch it. Anyway, I'm happy to enjoy fishing after the injury of my ankle.  

Today's tackle: ABU Ambassadeur 5000 DeLuxe, Phillipson #705, Stren Hi-Vis Gold 14lb, Heddon Zara Spook, Chugger Spook, Gilmore Jumper, Pico Pop, Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad, etc. 

BF=22/37/42

Twisted my ankle

I went for a 26-mile trail running yesterday, and twisted my right ankle when I went downhill. As soon as I got back, I cared it by icing and taping, and I went to see a doctor today. I got my foot in a plaster cast the doctor made, and have to rest at least for a couple of weeks. OMG!

 

Another good fishing day

I could enjoy another good fishing today. It's too happy for me to be able to catch five bass in a day with topwater lures.

Today's tackle: ABU Ambassadeur 5000C, Fenwick Iron Hawk IM7 IH62CMLJ, Stren Clear-blue 14lb, Heddon Original Zara Spook, Zara II, Gilmore Hoodler, Smith Strike Frog, etc. 

BF=21/33/40

Hula day

I took a day off today and went fishing. It's high summer now, and I believe poppers and chuggers are best for this season. I first caught a nice bass with a Chugger Spook before dawn.

Then I changed lures to a Hula Popper in orange/red coachdog color, and kept using it with so called "slow and steady" method. This surprisingly worked fine, and I got a lot of bites.

I felt greatly pleased to be able to catch multiple fish, but for some reason I decided to keep fishing a little more (maybe it clouded over). I cast it just near a fallen tree, waited until all the water ripples disappeared, and gave popping actions very slowly and steadily to irritate bass. A big bang! A big bass grabbed my Hula Popper, and rampaged to put up a great battle. I immediately felt it was the big fish I had to catch by all means. It fought hard, but I finally caught it. It was a 4 or 4-1/4 lb class nice bass (my season's best).

After I caught this fish, I tried Original Zara Spooks I've recently got. They also worked fine, and I could catch more bass. It was a great fishing day to be able to catch a total of eight bass (and a bluegill) in a day.
 

Today's tackle: ABU Ambassadeur 5000C, Phillipson #705, Stren Clear-blue 14lb, Heddon Chugger Spook, Original Zara Spook, Fred Arbogast Hula Popper, Pflueger Globe, etc. 

BF=20/32/35