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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
Another Fishing Season Has Begun
by Mike Guarino Welcome back! Another fishing season has begun and early indications show we are all in for one heck of a year! Before we even begin to talk about what's hot in the Belgrade Region for 2009, let's all take a minute to reflect on this past winter. Personally, I'm glad to see the end of what, in my opinion, was the coldest winter EVER! I'm not a meteorologist, but the weather seemed to be harsher than in years past, making warm spring mornings on the lake even more enjoyable. To make matters worse, it seemed like every weekend came with brutal temperatures and wind that would hit just in time for our days out ice fishing. Fortunately, when conditions were right, the fishing was exceptional and there were many happy (all be it frozen) ice fishermen with plenty of great stories to tell. After the ice FINALLY went out around April 15, anglers were chomping at the bit to hit the open water. Fortunately in late April and early May, we were blessed with summer-like conditions for about a week and anglers were pouring out of the woodwork to hit the lakes. Mid May produced typical Maine weather which changed by the minute and caused a little confusion for both the fish and the anglers! However now we've settled into normal weather patterns just in time for peak season for smallmouth bass, northern pike and trout trolling. Smallies rule the roost for many local anglers now, and they can be found on their beds or thereabouts. Pitching plastic worms or jigs is a great way to catch them and as long as they are released quickly and back on the same bed, there's very little damage caused by fishing this way. When conditions are just right, top water bass fishing can be phenomenal for the next few weeks. The bass are very aggressive and will attack anything that flutters, pops or twitches over their heads. The other day on Great Pond we had crystal clear visibility until around 10 a.m. when the breeze picked up. The amount of beds we saw explained why the smallmouth fishing has been so hot. We were fortunate and found bass on just about every bed, making for a fun morning. When cold fronts hit or a big blow stirs up the shorelines, look for these bass to be in 8-10 feet of water off the nearest drop-off from the beds. They will take crankbaits with a vengeance! This Week's Tip: Holding BigWhen holding a big bass for a photo or to show off to your fishing buddy, anglers should keep in mind that by holding a bass by the bottom jaw and lifting the fish parallel to the water, we put an enormous amount of pressure on their jaw hinge. A dislocated jaw can be a fatal injury for a bass. It's best to put one hand under the belly and lift the fish by the jaw and midsection to reduce tension or hold the fish like Kevin is in the attached photo. While smallmouth bass often run smaller than largemouth, the amount of pressure is proportionate, so use this technique when hoisting up that big smallie for your trophy photo. Lure of the WeekFor obvious reasons, the Senko has become a Belgrade staple for smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing over the past few years. They are extremely versatile, come in a variety of colors and sizes, and best of all, bass crave them! The bait can be fished Texas style, drop-shotted or whacky with equally exciting results. The 4-inch Senko probably accounts for more smallmouth bass than any other bait during this time of year. Mike Guarino can be reached at | ||
