Big Indiana Bass

A Crappie OTC Primer: In-Fisherman

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I thoroughly enjoy catching structurally related open water crappie. In my opinion, the best way to become a good open water/deep water bass angler is to first learn how to be a good open water/ deep water crappie angler. If you can do one, then the other is a piece of cake, as they say. You've heard me term my style of fishing this way as "Crappie OTC", which simply means crappie on-the-cast. While it sounds like a very simple, no-brainer way of catching crappie, it is actually much more involved than most realize. I've been promising an article for a while now, and am happy to say that that is now a reality.

I've had the pleasure of working again with Ned Kehde, In-Fisherman field editor, to capture all the basic details of this method, covering everything from tackle to electronics. There is still a whole second chapter that could be added at some point in the future concerning all the little intricacies and such of the technique, but this (very long) article should give you a thorough primer to get started. You can find the article on the In-Fisherman website at the link below. At some point I'll add a copy to the articles section of BIB for future reference.

One last comment - don't let the title fool you. This is a year round approach that works in both warm as well as cold water. The only differences are in the movements and holding areas of the crappie throughout the season.

The art and science of catching cold-water crappie

The Impending Legal Challenge

If you've been checking out any of those YouTube videos featuring castable umbrella rigs the past week, especially any that entail the moniker "Alabama Rig^TM" or "A-Rig^TM" in their title and that don't directly reference that particular bait brand, then you've probably seen the posts in the comments section from Slick Lures, LLC co-owner Tammy Poss warning of illegal name use and threatening lawsuits. So while the actual patent is still pending, the trademark for both those names has been issued by the USPTO, and the warning shots are being fired.

While her use of some of the terms are confused/confusing, the basic premise is still there. Trademarks protect names, titles, short phrases and other symbols that distinguish the source of one product (or service) from another. Copyright, a term she sometimes uses in her posts, actually refers to protection of material creations, things like the specific content on my blog, a song by an artist, or a novel or story by an author.

So why trademark protection? According to the writings of the U.S Supreme Court, "[T]rademark law, by preventing others from copying a source-identifying mark, 'reduce[s] the customer's cost's of shopping and making purchasing decisions,' for it quickly and easily assures a potential customer that … the item with this mark … is made by the same producer as other similarly marked items that he or she liked (or disliked) in the past. At the same time, the law helps assure a producer that it (and not an imitating competitor) will reap the financial, reputation related rewards associated with a desirable product."

Part of owning a trademark also entails proper usage and defense of that trademark. For example, the terms 'aspirin', 'cellophane', and 'elevator' were all trademarks at one point afforded protection under federal laws. However, over time and due to improper use, the marks slipped into the public domain. As such, it is best to think of trademarks as adjectives and not nouns. When a trademark holder uses his mark, it should be along with a generic term. They should ask for a Xerox photocopy, not a Xerox, or for a pair of Nike shoes, not for a pair of Nikes.

Anyway, they've got their hands full trying to protect the use of the two terms, and possibly an even bigger challenge if and when the patent gets issued. We recently saw Z-Man file a lawsuit on March 28, 2011, alleging that Phenix's Vibrator jig infringed the patent and trade-dress rights of the ChatterBait lure, a lawsuit they successfully won. And several of the YouTube videos have already been removed by the mere threat of infringement and litigation. Yet the larger battles have yet to be waged in this arena. You'll probably be hearing a whole lot more over the coming months in this regard, especially once the patent is granted.

More Weekend Wrapup "Stuff"

I'm not a tackle minimalist, but I did a pretty darn good job of checking out 2 stores and 1 fishing show this weekend and walking out of all 3 with less than $60 in combined purchases. Here are a few other things I picked up in the last week that I'll be reporting on in the future, as well as related site news.

• I grabbed 2 packs of Gambler Shakey Shads that I plan on testing as part of my "Midwest Finesse" repertoire once the water warms and the sissy jig bite goes away.
• Beside the Megabass knockoff, I also bought one of the new RC2 Luck E Strike squarebills to test. Price was $6.99 and they are all made as silent runners.
• I now own a Lucky Craft Kelly J prop bait that I'll be reporting on later this spring when that bite comes around.
• Received my 6# and 10# spools of Sufix 832 line in neon lime. I'm really anxious to test this line out, and will be dishing out some thoughts after a couple good workouts. The 6# should get a lot of crappie and sissy jig work, and the 10# will be for shaky head fishing.
• Speaking of crappie, I added quite a few new crappie baits to the arsenal. It had been a while since I last added to that box, but I plan on playing with them more this year than I did last. A lot of guys have asked me about how I fish for crappie, what I refer to as 'OTC'-style. A detailed article is coming very soon in that regard. Also reorganized the crappie tackle box this weekend. I'll probably post pics at some point when I get things finalized.
• One more note related to crappie fishing. I bought a spool of 4# Berkley Sensation in 'blaze orange'. Hope it works as good as it looks :) From my testing, Sensation has the least amount of stretch compared to any other mono/copoly or fluoro line that I have tested.
• Spoke with IBF tourney director Kenny Swint at The Outdoorsman show on Saturday, and plans are for a lot more coverage of Federation Invitational events and anglers on this site in 2012. If all goes as discussed, you'll get postings of all tourney results rapidly on the site, hopefully including all the top-8 regional stuff that usually never gets covered. Once info starts rolling in, we'll probably deidicate an entire page to just IBF stuff so it will be easy for anglers to find and keep updated. Also planning interiew features with the Angler & Co-Angler of the Year winners, along with the IBF Classic winner.
• Back on tackle items, I now have my new Rapala digital touch screen weigh scale in hand. I've already been playing with it, figuring out all the features by weighing my rods. Do you know how much your rods weigh? You'll be hearing lots more about this little dude in 2012 on the site.
• Also got my hands on the new Little Pek-R Finesse Jigheads from Rod Yoder and RedShad Tackle. We'll see what we can do with those this spring.
• Lastly, I plan on doing a little bit of 'old school' fishing in 2012, going back to my roots. I've got a pair of 10' poles for panfish dipping and small pond live bait fishing. A lot more than meets the eye here, some of which I plan to cover on the site if I actually take the time to set down the bass poles for a minute. I started out fishing when I was just a little kid on the banks of Eagle Creek as well as the local creeks (more like large drainage ditches) using a cane pole and bobber, and thought it might be fun to revisit those roots, only with modern tackle and techniques. I'm even thinking about holding a 'learn to fish' day for kids and parents locally to introduce them to the simplicity of fishing (and especially catching). I've seen way too many instances of kids out fishing the past few years (both alone and with parents) and simply not catching anything, largely because of poor setup and lack of knowledge. It's good to reflect and revisit "where ya' came from" every once in a while, and we definitely need to get kids more interested in fishing and the outdoors in general these days..

Megabass ITO Vision 110 vs. Luck E Strike RC STX

As many of you know, I made the rounds today hitting the tackle shops and shows through the Greenwood/Franklin area. Was great to meet and chat with a lot of you guys. While out on the road, I came across the new Luck E Strike RC STX, their newest suspending minnow bait. If you haven't seen it yet, it's about as close a knock-off visually as I've seen to a Megabass Vision 110 bait.

How close you might ask? I bought one over at Honey Creek Tackle and came home and ran the two baits through a thorough comparison, BIB style. The details are below.

There's no question that the Megabass Vision ITO 110 works. Lots of tournaments have been won nationally on it, and I used it with great success late in the year here in Indiana. What I don't know is exactly how good the RC STX bait will be, but I can assure you that as soon as I get launched again this spring, I'll be doing an on-the-water head-to-head comparison/competition between the two, and will report back in with the results. It should be very interesting...

The A-B-C-D-Rig in Action

B.A.S.S. Bans Alabama Rig-type Lures in Elites/Classic

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – B.A.S.S., upon the recommendation of its Bassmaster Elite Series Rules Committee, has amended its tournament rules to limit anglers competing in the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series to the use of a single lure during practice and competition.

The rule change, which does not apply to Bassmaster Open, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, College B.A.S.S. and other events, clarifies the intent of long-standing rules permitting only one rod, one reel and one cast at a time. No longer permitted are double soft-jerkbait rigs, dropshot rigs with jigs used as weights, double topwater setups and other multi-lure rigs, such as “umbrella rigs.”

The change becomes effective Feb. 1 and includes the upcoming Bassmaster Classic at Shreveport-Bossier City, La., Feb. 24-26.

Elite Series Rules Committee members, comprised of 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series qualifiers, seemed most concerned about new multi-lure rigs such as the Alabama Rig, which Bassmaster Elite Series pro Paul Elias used to win an event on Lake Guntersville in October. In the weeks since, tens of thousands of the multi-lure devices have been sold, and they have proved extremely effective in both recreational and competitive fishing.

The Alabama Rig and similar setups from other manufacturers consist of a weighted head with five wire leaders trailing behind. Soft plastic swimbaits and similar lures are attached to the leaders, imitating a school of baitfish.

Rules Committee members believe the rig eliminates some of the skill that should be required in tournament competition at the highest level. “It doesn’t matter how you work it,” said one of the anglers. “The fish can’t help themselves.”

“The Alabama Rig has become enormously popular in recent months, and it has definitely had an impact on the tournaments in which it has been used,” noted Trip Weldon, B.A.S.S. tournament director. “Personally, I have enjoyed catching bass on umbrella rigs and found them to be very effective in some situations. I have witnessed firsthand the excitement this technique has generated in our sport.

“However, the Elite Series Rules Committee members unanimously asked to be held to a higher standard,” he added. “We have decided to honor their recommendation.”

The rule change follows a precedence of imposing more stringent restrictions in Elite Series and Classic competition than in other B.A.S.S. events. For example, landing nets are prohibited in the Elites and the Classic but not in other circuits. Additional rules specific to the Elites include off-limits periods, no-information restrictions and new limits on boats that can be used in competition.

B.A.S.S. officials emphasized that the decision should not be construed as disapproval of multi-lure rigs.

“We are as excited as the rest of the country about the new multi-lure rigs,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “We will continue to cover new ways to utilize these tools in Bassmaster Magazine and on Bassmaster.com. Our Classic and Elite tournaments simply have a higher standard for the sake of competition. The rest of us will enjoy learning how to catch more fish with these tools.”

A Rules Committee member added, “I don’t have a problem with the use of umbrella rigs or multi-lure rigs to catch bass. If you are out fun fishing, there may be nothing more fun to use. However, our events represent the highest level of professionalism in our sport and I think as participants of these events, we should be held to a higher standard, as well. I like the idea of one rod, one reel, one lure.”

The Alabama Rig - How to Get Started Fishing with It (W2F; Part I)

From the guys over at Wired2Fish, and now posted to YouTube, another good Alabama Rig video to share with you.

Indiana A-rig Status in Writing

Several people have e-mailed IDNR or enforcement about the A-rig. Some have received responses and others haven't yet. Seen several posters on fishing forums say they aren't comfortable believing what they read on Internet forums, and want a written verification. Reader Chris Alexander forwarded this pic of a letter received that appears to have went to the IBF. It matches exactly what we've stated on this site, that for now, the full rig is legal, but that it is under review/discussion and could easily change upon completion of that process.

A New Bite Emerges

The final days of this year will also be the final open water days to fish. Big arctic air system is moving in at the start of next week, and that means the lakes are going to freeze - and they're going to freeze quick. They've been running right on the edge of freezing for the past couple weeks, with the local lake I'm hitting again frozen over on the upper end just 2 days ago. That was the same day we got nearly 3 inches of snow.

Yesterday was fishable late, but I didn't get a chance to go. The warmup actually began today, with highs hitting somewhere around 48 degrees. The caveat being that the warmer air is being ushered in by strong southwest winds. Today they were about 15 mph gusting to 25+. Launched into a sea of whitecaps about 1:45. The first thing I noticed is that all the melting snow has again dropped the water temps, now at 40.2 degrees over most of the lake. Wasn't sure how this would affect the fish, but that's why we go fishing - to figure these things out.

I started in a large creek arm and ran halfway back into what had previously been mud. The nice surprise is that the water color was now better. Not clear, but fishable. I started with the smaller jig since that was the best bite when I was on the water last. That's usually my game plan where ever I fish, always start with the best bite you left. It's a rule that has served me well over the years. Sure enough, I got bit on about the 4th cast by a chunky fish - good start. That fish would turn out to be a bit misleading.

I only caught one other fish working down the entire bank, a stretch of about a quarter mile or so. Next move was upriver to see how well it had cleared. Again, nice fishable water. Also another long bank with good deep water adjacent to it, but the fish weren't having it. One more chunk near the end of the bank, and that was it. The story is going quick, but fishing a 1/16-oz. jig into 10'-15' of water down long stretches of bank takes time. An hour and a half had already gone by. Time for another move, still trying to work with the limited amount of water I could fish based on the white-capping lake.

Another steep bank semi-protected from the winds, and one more bass to show for it. I'm just about resigned to thinking the bass are on a major slowdown heading into winter. I finally make it to the deep point at the far end of this bank, but the wind is blowing in a bit too hard to fish the little jig effectively. Could throw the jerkbait, but clarity just doesn't seem quite good enough. Instead I tie on a blade bait and pitch it out over the windy side of the point. First time I go to lift up on it, a fish has already eaten it - nice surprise. I'm thinking white bass, and as slow as it is, I'd gladly take a school of them right about now. I get the fish all the way to the boat and it turns out to be a decent largemouth. Was it a fluke? Hopefully not since a blade bait is one of the standard winter bites on many of our waters.

I work up into the wind and keep tossing the Silver Buddy, and get popped again. Not a fluke. I can see long streaks of what I now believe to be bass on the depthfinder. Looks like they might be stacked into this area feeding on shad. I hang out on the point and start fancasting. Soon another bass, then another. I keep chunking the blade bait for a good hour or more and catch a dozen and a half largemouth on it. When they finally seem to have slowed on the bait, I retie on the jerkbait and start chunking. They won't touch it. Weird. I pick up the little jig and rework over the same bank. They're biting it, too. Final count ends up being 26 bass. What was looking like a slow last few days on the water, now looks like a good final hurrah. Can't wait to get out on the water again tomorrow if the rain will stay away and see if I can expand the new bite. If not, there's Sat. and Sun. still.

One other thing of note to pass along. Have seen where someone recently posted on another forum asking whether crayfish hibernate or not. While hibernation has been documented during the winter months, so has just slowed activity with no hibernation. Instead, craws just move to deeper water where there is no chance of freezing, and they are then perfectly content to live out the winter that way. As proof, check out the "craw wad" one of the bass spit out on my deck when I flipped him in the boat. December 29, 40 degree water, and some bass are still finding fresh craws to eat. I've got a jig that should be just the ticket tomorrow :)

700+ Pages of Marketing Goodness

Went to the mailbox this afternoon and found my 2012 Bass Pro Shops  Master Catalog in it. Wife already said I can't order anything (LOL) - told her I was just browsing so I cold make a post. You can search and find some past detailed analysis on the site I've done from previous Master Catalogs. In the mean time, here's some of my observations for those that haven't seen or received this years catalog yet.

 

• I didn't find a single A-Rig/Umbrella Rig or knock-off in the book, which really surprised me, especially with BPS being the king of knock-offs.
• Did you know that "every NITRO® is built to help you win"? Starting Z-6 with a 115 Merc Opti is just over $20,000 this year, with their top end Z-9 w/250 Opti hitting $5 shy of $40,000.
• Daiwa Steez reels are pretty hefty at $500-$590 each, but they take a back seat to the $700-$750 Shimano Stella's. For that price, I hope they don't bind in rainy weather like some of their models have in the past. Daiwa Steez did take top honors in the rod category though, with a $720 8' Heavy baitcast model. Loomis' actually look affordable now days.
• You can still buy most any model of Ugly Stick for $30. Is there any wonder why they are the best selling rod in the world?
• PowerPro is coming out with a multi-colored braid in 2012.
• Bass Pro now has their RC/KVD square bill knock-off on the market for just $3.99.
• Speaking of crankbaits, looks like circuit board lips are making a big presence in 2012.
• Takahiro Omori is now the new "name" behind the Lucky Craft Square Bills. Fortunately it looks like they kept all the good colors in the line-up; unfortunately, they also kept the $17 price tag.
• Jackall tops the high $$ frog market with a $13 a pop amphibian.
• Hart is the latest company to take a go at spinner jig designs. If past success is any indication, they won't be around by this time next year.
• Several new jigs on the market pushing the $5 mark, which seems like a bit unrealistic price point - at least I'm not going to buy one for that.
• I thought Jackall's new Super Cross Tail Shad took the cake at $10 for just 8 baits, until I saw BPS new giant worm, the 16" Snake Worm, selling for a measly $3.15 each...but it is impregnated with "8up Scent", so that exlains it  ;)
• Swimbaits and giant flutter spoons seem to have taken a back seat this year.
• Pretty amazing what you can get in a depthfinder these days for a little over $200, especially when compared to just 8-10 years ago. Why don't rods and reels follow the same increased technology/decreased price point model?
• BPS now offers free "ship to store" shipping, which is great unless like me, you don't live within 125 miles of one of their stores. When is Indy or an Indy suburb going to get one of these megastores?
• On a related note, just saw today where SpotSticker lures is back. They were one of the original shaky head pioneering companies, and it seems that Ryan Coleman, Lake Lanier guide, has bought the company and is making marketing headwaves again. 

Castable Umbrella Rig Specifics - Video

One of the better (and longer) videos out there dealing with the specifics of fishing freshwater castable umbrella rigs (a.k.a. The Alabama Rig®, though that name is now an officially registered trademark of the Poss's/Slick Lures, LLC and will need to be defended with some authority else it goes the way of 'Aspirin' or others due to genericizing).

Black Friday - Split the Difference

Well, I certainly wasn't the first boat to the ramp today, but I was the last to leave. Figured it would be a bit more crowded on the lake today, but didn't expect half a dozen boats when I arrived at 12:45. Probably should have given the weather and the holiday for most people. I know there probably wasn't too many bassers up before dawn to wait in long lines just to go shopping.

The whitecaps returned today, with strong winds from the SSW. Being a late comer to the ramp, I thought that might hamper my fishing a bit since I figured most guys would tend toward the calmer protected water. Of course, most guys aren't fishing in a jon boat. The big rigs had no problem sititng out in the open and fishing in the wind, so I was able to pretty much fish where ever I wanted, or where I could more like it. Still, the plan was to hit some smaller isolated stuff with the thought that most of the guys wouldn't mess with it.

Spent most of the day tossing jigs and jerkbaits, though the jig bite was much better for me than the jerkbait bite was. Still, managed several fish on a new bait today, the Rapala Clackin' Minnow. I was throwing the size 9 in Olive Green today. I like that this bait doesn't jump all over the place. I thought a more toned down bait might work good. I also like the feather hook on the back, just something different that I also use frequently on various topwaters. A nice bait that throws well. It is labeled as a slow sinker, which had me worried for a minute, but it's so slow that it almost suspends, so that worked out great.

The jig ended up doing most of the damage today though. Had one rigged with a trailer and one rigged without, and they both caught their share of fish. When I finally called it at 5:45, I had nabbed another 71 bass, leaving me exactly 71 bass shy of my 2,011 goal this year. I'm pretty certain there won't be any more days that will be as warm as this one left, and the rain forecast for this weekend looks like it could be a washout. That might put a damper on adding anything else to the tally until next weekend. The cold weather sets in good on Sunday, with rain and snow showers in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday. Still, with surface temps today running 48.5 degrees and no hard freezing weather in the extended forecast, there might still be enough open water time to reach the goal. It's likely to be snowmobile suits and gloves from here on out though, which is fine if that damn wind will just settle down.