2012.02.10
Big bass lure winter fishermen
My feature on today’s Outdoors page in The Roanoke Times was about some of the region’s die-hard bass anglers, a few dozen of whom have been hitting Smith Mountain Lake every Saturday for tournament out of Smith Mountain Lake State Park.
Those guys have been catching some great fish the past couple of months. This is Douglas Eubank with last week’s lunker pot winner — a 6-pound, 13-ounce largemouth.
When I heard about the tournament series I thought, “Man, those guys are hard core.”
They are hard core. But they haven’t really had to be this year because the weather has been so mild.
I think it was Danny Towe who said to me that the weather was actually colder in the early fall than it has been the past couple of months.
The last tournament in the series is tomorrow. It’s going to be cold and windy, one of those days that could be really miserable.
We’ve all had them, right?
I think my most miserable “fishing” day was during the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. I was the media observer on the boat with Virginian Jeff Freeman, who had qualified through the BASS Federation Nation. It was rainy and about 33 degrees. And I wasn’t fishing. If you think fishing in brutally wet and cold weather sucks, try NOT FISHING in brutally wet and cold weather.
Who can top that one?
Fishing in Adak Alaska out to sea it was a mild 50 degrees when we tied up along pier side it was a whopping 4 degrees. And catching sizable 5lb Sheep heads.
Being in the Navy at the time the base was heavily female populated with an average of 4 to 1 male ratio.
Hmmm Come to think of it really wasn’t that cold after all.
Comment by The Amatuer — February 10, 2012 @ 10:27 pm
Nice fish. Why is he flipping us the bird?
Comment by Art Hill — February 11, 2012 @ 2:56 am
Beautiful Bass Douglas! Congratulations!
And great article Mark on the winter Bass Fishing !
Comment by Ralph Barton — February 11, 2012 @ 5:55 am
I would have HATED to be on the water today… And I’m normally someone who’d go crazy for fishing. Staying inside was bad enough. It sounded like the big bad wolf was at my door.
I hope everyone stayed warm
Comment by Maria — February 11, 2012 @ 11:54 pm
Mark,
My wife and I were at that Classic as well. We did not go out on the water, but we were at the launch and weigh ins everyday. You are right about the cold and wet. It was an awesome experience. It would have only be better, if I was fishing the Bassmaster Classic. Maybe one day???
Comment by Jamey B. — February 13, 2012 @ 8:56 am
My most miserable day on the lake, was last year on SML when College Bass was here. I was the boater for the team from Michigan State. It was freezing cold,snowing,freezing rain, and the wind was blowing like crazy.These guys (Rob Nowicki and Cody Harris were use to this weather. I on the on the hand was NOT. Still fun watching these guys do there thing.
Comment by Jamey B. — February 13, 2012 @ 9:06 am
Goliath Grouper Swallows Shark WOW!!
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCkQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DY27LSPcbeB4&ei=6eg7T-3yFaXr0QHBuNG5Cw&usg=AFQjCNFyb4UC5nM7JFZp6KypeDFQYbaDbg
Comment by The Amatuer — February 15, 2012 @ 12:21 pm