I started fishing at 04:40 AM, and I could barely see where I cast my lure. I long-cast my favorite Zara Spook (CHT), which is very visible even under low light condition, gave it a long pause, and let it dog-walk. A big blow-up occurred just as I imagined, and I set a hook hard. I saw so many timbers and branches around the point I fished that I tried to reel at a rush, but the fish tried to dive into a small area among branches. I forced to pull it closer using my rod, and could finally catch it. It had already dawned, but I had to use light and flash to take pictures.
Then, I fished around floating vegetation, and caught one more bass with a Chugger Spook. This fish closed in on my lure from a distance, and bit it without thinking twice.
Today, I wanted to catch a bass on a Hula Popper, but it didn't work fine. I just enjoyed taking pictures if it.
When I finished fishing almost all the spots in the pond and was about to go home, another nice bass hit my Lucky 13. This fish dived straight down at it just near me, so I got a little upset, but set a hook without a thought. It was today's biggest one, and another hard fighter.
Today's tackle: ABU Ambassadeur 5000C, Fenwick Lunkerstik 2054, Stren Clear Blue 12lb, Jointed Jitterbug, Zara Spook, Wounded Spook, Chugger Spook, Moss Boss, Lucky 13, Pico Pop, Hula Popper, etc.
In the first pond, a few active fish played with my baits. My Thunder Mac (it's a big lure!) got brushed aside and completely popped from the water, but I couldn't hook it. I wanted a second chance, but in vain. Then, I headed the innermost part of the pond, and cast a Zara Spook. A nice bass furiously tried to bite it three times, and I could set a hook in the third time. It was a good fighter, full of energies.
I got some more hits, but caught no more bass. I could spare time this morning, and decided to visit another pond. The pond is located in a mountain area and has clearer water. Two years ago, most of the water in it had gone, so I was wondering if fish were still there.
It seems I worried unnecessarily. I got many bites, and caught a lot of bass. I like the greenish body color of the bass in this pond very much, which is very different from those around my place. I spent more time than I expected, and had a lot of fun in this pond.
Today's tackle: ABU Ambassadeur 5000C, Smith Super Striker GO-103 w/ STTS grip, Stren Clear Blue 12lb, Jointed Jitterbug, Thunder Mac, Zara Spook, Chugger Spook, Crazy Crawler, SOS, Pico Pop, etc.
I often use old Zara Spook lures these days. Among them, I like to cast ones with reinforced-rigs, which are so called "Second version Zara Spook" in Japan. Of course I like their dog-walk actions combined with brisk diving, but the reason I chose them in summer is...their snag-less shape and weight. Branches and leaves of overhung trees are so thick and dense during this season, but these baits are very hard to be caught by them. If you use lighter lures, they're easy to be snagged. These Second version Zara Spooks are the heaviest among similar Zara Spook lures (except for larger Super Spooks), and most snag-less, I believe. I'm now wondering which ones to put into my box next.
We have had little rain these days, but it rained for some ten minutes last night. I hoped the rain would stimulate appetite of bass and decided to go fishing.
I got no reactions in near-shore spots at all, so I supposed bass could migrate around floating vegetation. I tried to cast my bait to small area between weed and weed, and retrieved slowly and steadily. A nice bass suddenly rushed to my Pico Pop just like the one I caught last week. It dived into weeds, but I finally landed it.
I also got a bite with my frog lure, but I couldn't hook it up. Then, I found another weedy area and cast my Zara Spook to a small open spot. I waited until the water surface became calm, and two dog-walk actions with twitching/diving. This action was a bingo! Another nice bass grabbed it away, and headed to weedy areas. I set a hook hard and reeled hard to make the fish turn this way. The fish showed a good fight, but I could catch it. Pencil baits and chugging baits (poppers) are my favorite, and I've been lucky to be able to catch bass with these lures in this summer season.
Today's tackle: ABU Ambassadeur 5000C (I chose this log-geared reel to save retrieving speed), Phillipson 3M B7L1 custom, Stren Clear Blue 12lb, Heddon Big Bud, Zara Spook, Chugger Spook, 210, Magnum Torpedo, Pico Pop, Mann's Popper, etc.
I visited two ponds early in the morning, and caught one each in each pond.
The first bass was on my Zara Spook, and its bite was nice. Not a big one, but a fat energetic fish.
In the second pond, I got another bite with another Zara Spook of mine, but couldn't hook it up. I guessed it was a small bass or bluegill. Then, I kept fishing but no bites at all. I almost gave up catching more bass, but tried a spot with a small timber standing from the water. I cast my Pico Pop and retrieved it fast. Just when my bait passed the timber, EXPLOSION! I set a hook full blast, and enjoyed the fight with the bass. A good summer bass, isn't it?
Today's tackle: ABU 5000 DeLuxe, Fenwick Fenglass SP634 Custom with straight rubber grip, Daiwa Sight Surf #4, Zara Spook, Original Zara Spook, Chugger Spook, Big Bud, Pico Pop, etc.
I love Simms waders as they're not only comfortable but durable enough for my fishing. I've used these waders by rotation for 7-8 years, but I've felt nothing to complain with them. I'm afraid you can't wear other manufactures' waders so long years. Long ago I bought two pairs from another famous outdoor brand (Pata*** as you know) , but my legs inside them got wet in only one or two years due to small puncture holes. I tried to repair them by myself, but I couldn't completely fix them.
I'm now wondering which waders I should buy next, and have just browsed Simms' websites. My old G3 waders have a reinforced 5-layer Gore-tex on the back part of the waist and whole legs, but new G3's look to have the material only on the legs. As I almost always fish sitting on my floating tube, 5-layer Gore-tex materials around the waist should be reinforced, I hope. Then, my choice will be expensive G4's? It seems I save money to buy a new waders next.
PS: I have an idea now. How about buying a pair of king size waders to put my camera inside the front space. This way, I may be able to take a bigger camera with me.
