Category: Fishing Videos

2020 Fishing Goals

Catch Personnel Best Smallmouth. Broke this record multiple times this last year. Ended the year with 4.90lb caught at Milford on topwater. I have linked the video http://www.triplehooked.com/2019/10/11/big-smallmouth-on-milford

It is that time of the year for setting goals for the upcoming year. First, I want to review a couple of goals from last year that I accomplished.

2019 Goals:

Finish in the Top 3 boater in Flint Hills Bass Club. Won Angler of The Year.

Catch some fish on Bull Shad Swimbait. Had a couple of nice strikes on the bull shad. But, I don’t have the right gear. So this year, hopefully, I can make the adjustment to my gear in order to land the fish when they strike.

Catch some fish on Spoon. I wasn’t able to fish the spoon that much this last year because of high water. Hopefully this next year, I can try it some.

I have to say the best lures this last year were Spinnerbaits and Lipless Crankbaits.

2020 Goals:

I plan on fishing Mr. Bass at Melvern and the Second State Qualifier on Wilson. Goal is to be a Qualifier for the Kansas State Team.

Learn to use my depthfinder better. Last year, I got the Garmin Panapotix. What a game changer! It was incredible to watch where the fish were in the water depth. Also, helped a lot with finding brush piles and make multiple casts.

Catch 20 fish on a Bull Shad Swimbait. I really enjoyed throwing the big bait this last year. I had more strikes on the 6 inch model then the smaller Bull Shad. Funny thing, I throw it more in tournaments then just fun fishing. I would like to build more confidence with it. I really like pitching around cover; something about the fall makes the fish strike it.

Learning to be able to catch fish multiple days on the same water. Last year, we lost the KBN Youth Team Championship on Wilson because we didn’t adjust on the second day. But, at the club classic on Truman, I was able to make adjustments to get the win. I learned a trick that hopefully will keep the boys and I going in the right direction.

Like to introduce more kids to fishing this next year. I will try to take more kids fishing with the boys and I to teach kids about the great outdoors and have some fun fishing.

It is always fun to make fishing goals. In order to keep getting better at something, it always takes a lot of work and determination. So, never settle, always push yourself to get better.

Final Day on Truman

Day two of Truman classic and last tournament of the year, with points counting towards Angler of the Year, meant this was an important tournament . The day before I caught them really good. So, I was leading with 15.31lbs on a spinnerbait, and most of it came out of the same pocket.

Day two plan was to start in the pocket. The weather was supposed to be sunny and calm, but the two days before the weather was cloudy and windy. I had focused on dirty water throwing a blade. When we got to the pocket, it was still early. My partner hooked up on the first cast. I figured we were going to catch them. Ok, I can do this. Then finally way back in the pocket, there were three trees making a triangle. I cast to the back of the tree. Set the hook on a really big fish. Of course, it swam around the tree the wrong way and got hung up on the tree. We tried to fit through the trees, but the boat was too big. The fish kept jumping, and then the line went slack. I just lost a fish in the 5 pound range. Just blew the tournament and angler of the year. Next 10 casts, I caught two more small keepers. I was not in a good mood.

Finally, I caught a limit, but my only big fish was 15 inches. Not good. We moved to another pocket without any luck. The night before I was studying the map of the lake, and saw a good pocket the wind would be blowing into. We decided to go try the pocket. I noticed right away there were a lot of shad. As we worked to the back of the pocket and started working our we back out, I hooked up with a good fish on the spinnerbait. I wasn’t sure it was a bass. But as it got closer to the boat, I got a good look at it. It was a big bass around 4 pounds. Just want I needed. As my partner netted it, I right away felt I had a chance. Just still wishing I had the other fish. As the day went on, I was able to creel one more time. I had a little over 10 pounds. I was not sure that was going to win me the Classic and Angler of the Year in the club. But after everyone turned in their sheets, I would end up with 25.39 pounds for the weekend. The one big fish of the day got me the win and back to back Angler of the Year in the Club. It felt so good to win a tournament on Truman in the fall. Also, I caught big bass both days. Great finish to the season. Thanks to my non-boater for keeping me focused and calm after losing the big fish.

2019 First Qualifier of the Year

Kansas BASS Nation Youth Team Series was on Melvern Lake September 8th. There were 22 teams that showed up for the first event of the year. Twins and I were on a really good pattern, and we were hoping that it would continue. We had checked out a spot the day before and had to shake off a couple of really good fish.

The morning of the event, there was a strong storm passing through the area. The Tournament Director decided to delay takeoff until 8. The takeoff was going to be a little different. Once you got your boat in the water, you could drive to your starting point. But, you couldn’t start fishing until 8:30. So, we decided to start on the main lake point. That was the spot we had to shake off the fish the day before. Once we started, the boys were able to catch a limit by 8:50am and also creel once by 9am.

Then after fishing the point for a little longer and hitting another point without any luck before break, Boys decided they wanted to fish the prime spot. I had held off fishing it so far due to the wind. No time waiting to fish the spot. It was time to give it a try even with the wind. As we pulled around the corner, there was another boat on the spot. So, we just pulled behind them. It was an adult team fishing another tournament. As we watched them fish up the bank, we were hoping they wouldn’t catch a fish off the prime spot. There was a little cut between some trees and bushes that the fish use to cut through the point without going all the way around. The whole area holds a lot of fish, but that little spot held some really good smallmouth. As we got near the spot, both boys casted into the spot. Nick hooked up first, but the fish came unbutton. Just then, Kyle hooked up with a really good fish. We would fish the stretch until weigh-in. Creeling three times and losing one big smallmouth in the 4 pound range. It was finally time to go to weigh-in. We had a great day on the water, and every decision we made worked. I knew we had a chance. Only thing that didn’t go right, we lost a couple of good fish. Just as the boys got to the scale, we started to hear that fishing was tough for the field. Nick and Kyle would have the only limit of the day. As the scale stopped, we ended up with 15.97lbs. Nick and Kyle would win the 1st Qualifier of the year. I was so proud of how the boys fished. Even after losing fish, they wouldn’t stop fishing the pattern. I would like to thank the two adult anglers that shared the spot with us. Thanks for showing so much sportsmanship to my boys. Also, I really feel like the equipment helped the boys catch the fish that day. All the fish came on Powertackle PG144-70 rod. The strength and backbone helped the boys hook the fish. Next event will be on La Cygne. There could be the chance for some really big fish to show up at the scale.

SPINNERBAITS

We are coming into the fall season in Kansas. Around October, I always have a Spinnerbait tied on. Spinnerbaits work year round, but there are two times of the year. They work best for me; April and October.

Spring is when I like throwing a really big Spinnerbait with double Colorado blades. I throw two different colors white and white/chartreuse. It gives off a really big thump to help attract bass. Use a very strong rod with heavy action and reel 7:1 gear ration. Prefer to throw 20 lb fluorocarbon.

Fall is the next time I like to throw a blade. The fish are feeding up for the long winter. So, the fish can really be very active and covering water with a blade can help you find fish fast. Since the baitfish can be any size, there are about three different type of Spinnerbait I like to throw. Look around at the baitfish size, and it can help you choose the right Spinnerbait. I like to throw a 1/4oz. small Colorado/Willow Spinnerbait in white. Last year, we had a great time throwing a little bigger Spinnerbait 3/8oz. in White around laydown and standing timber for some really big fish. Twins caught some really good fish last October. If the water is really clear, I prefer to throw a shad color Double/Willow spinnerbait about 1/2oz. You can burn it just below the surface. I throw the smaller or medium size spinnerbait on medium heavy action rod with a 7:1 gear ratio reel. Will throw the 1/4oz. spinnerbait with 14lb fluorocarbon and 3/8oz. blade. I use 20lb fluorocarbon.

One tip when you throw a blade, you can just reel it straight in. I like to jerk or pause the blade. That little bit of action can really entice a bite. I have seen it multiple time on my videos. When I throw a Spinnerbait right when I jerk or pause the bait, a bass will hit.

So this fall choose a spinnerbait you like. You may catch your personnel best bass this fall.