Clear days perfect for observing fish, bait

jack wollitz

Clear water and bright weather combine to deliver perfect situations in which anglers can observe and learn about fishes’ behavior, in particular their reactions to the lures presented to them.

I had that rare opportunity last weekend while fishing a clear-water reservoir that is brimming with bass. The fish were up and active in the shallow water, where I could readily see them cruising the banks.

It was the perfect laboratory for experimenting with baits and presentations.

While the clarity of the water enabled me to spot the fish, it also had them on high alert for anything suspicious in their environment. I could see them, and they no doubt also could see me as I inched along in my boat.

Lessons learned in the “lab” can be transferred to other waters, and improve anglers’ chances to enjoy success on a variety of lakes and rivers.

My casts to the cruising fish sometimes resulted in strikes, but more often they resulted in fish scurrying in the opposite direction from where my lure landed. The calm and sunny conditions helped me spot my targets, but reduced my chances of actually getting the hookups I desired.

Then along came a breeze. It ruffled the surface just enough to refract the sunbeams penetrating the water. And the fish started to hit my baits with reckless abandon.

The lesson, of course, was that the wind can be the angler’s ally. The breeze moves the water, stirs up the food chain, reduces the direct effect of the sun, and enables the fish to move about with just enough security to increase their aggressive behavior.

Aggressive fish are the easiest to catch, so anglers should use the wind to their advantage in locating and catching those more active fish.

The day’s other lesson underscored the value of changing lures when your initial offerings are not getting results.

As the day wore on, the bass in my clear water laboratory became less responsive to the weightless worm I was tossing. I could actually see the bass totally ignore the tempting bait, and that for sure is a frustrating observation.

Changing to a 4-inch finesse-style plastic worm on a 1‚Ñ4-ounce jighead, I jiggled the set-up around the fussy fish and immediately started getting strikes from the same bass that had scorned my previous efforts.

Next time you get the opportunity to fish in crystal-clear conditions, use the opportunity to learn how the fish react to your tactics. You’ll be surprised at the experience, and gain knowledge that will prove helpful in the future.

O’Charley’s Bass Classic today

The stage is set for the pro-am teams competing in today’s O’Charley’s Bass Classic, the ninth annual pro-am bass tournament benefiting Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way.

Competitors are fishing this morning for largemouth bass on Aqua Ohio’s Pine and Evans lakes and will trailer to Dick’s Sporting Goods for the weigh-in at 2:15 p.m.. Kids of all ages, meanwhile, are invited to the accompanying Lowe’s Kids Fish Fun event at the weigh-in site, beginning at 10 a.m.

Anglers in this year’s O’Charley’s Bass Classic include more than 40 top Ohio and Pennsylvania professional bass fishermen. They are teamed up with amateur partners, including Cleveland Browns star Joe Thomas, Youngstown Steelhounds’ Chris Richards and local business and professional people.

The public is invited to the kids fun event and to watch the weigh-in, which is certain to include many limit catches of lunker largemouths and opportunities to meet and chat with Thomas, Richards and all of the pro anglers.

jwwollitz@aol.com