'Artificial' Fishing

Okay when you see the pictures you might think that I'm just bragging about that big ole fish I caught, that's what Ben said...ha ha.

But really I wanted to share that I used to be one of those folks that just fished with worms, a bobber and the occasional artificial green pumpkin lizard. But then I met a friend who just fished artificial stuff and boy she out fished me four to one when it came to pulling bass out of the water.

So I tried a couple of things, spinner baits, buzz baits and yes a crank bait or two. This was a big jump for me because I'm not personally a creature of change. I like to do the same things, use the same poles and fish in the same places. I know, I know a bit boring, but I took the challenge from my friend Dawn and ventured out with a spinner bait and, BOOM, I caught a bass. That bit of success sparked me to try a buzz bait which looks like a spinner bait but it bubbles across the top of the water. I landed a fish on that one too, but I've got to say it's not my favorite thing to use.

Now lets talk about the popper bait. This is the one that for some crazy reason I never thought I could master. It looks like a crank bait with a circular head that makes it splash across the top of the water. You throw it and then jig it a bit. Dawn was tearing it up with these poppers we got off a discount table at a local store. So I tried it and double WOW. The bass really seem to go for it... poppers mimic a flailing minnow. And that's what I caught this fish with. Ironically I was going to let any bass go that I caught that day, I just didn't want to mess around with cleaning them. But when you land a bass like this well its worth the effort. I'm happy to say this whopper is filleted and sitting in the freezer and waiting for the next fish fry.

Suzanne shows of her catch with her friend Bonnie

The moral here...try different baits, you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

See ya,
Suzanne