Yum pearl stick worm 6-6-10
The day was beautiful after a night of storms and tornado activity most of the night. The sky was partly cloudy and the temperature was in the low 80’s…perfect. As you can see from the photos above the fishing was excellent as well.
The first lure that I tried was the Yum stick worm in the watermelon/green color with red specks…that got no reaction. So, I switched to the Yum in the pearl/black color…that got immediate results. I was fishing in that area with the tree in the water where I caught and released that 14 1/2 inch crappie earlier this year. This area also holds some nice bass on occasion…but not always. Fishing the pond last week got me absolutely nothing there. But, today the crappie shown above charged the Yum to the surface twice, he came right to the top of the water so I could see him but couldn’t hook him. I pulled out my fly rod with the white wooly bugger and that got him, he was 16 1/4 inches long. If that was the same crappie that I had caught early this spring he has grown some. Well, he’s back in the water and I hope that he will grow some more.
The bluegill shown actually grabbed the Yum and was halfway in his mouth. I was surprised, the crappie with its big mouth didn’t get hooked but the bluegill, even with its much smaller mouth did.
The bass shown above were all about in the two pound class, maybe a little larger. I caught seven of them all about the same size…no big ones today but lots of fun anyway. I will say that they put up a good fight.
I’m using a 6 1/2 foot Field and Stream, rod medium action and a 7 foot medium action Abu Garcia rod with one a different worm on each. I use the Abu Garcia Orra sx casting reel and the Rick Clunn RCX10 HB Bass Pro Shops bait casting reel. Both these reels cost about $100. and are excellent for the money. The rods cost between $30 and $40 dollars each. I use 10 to 12 lb mono Trilene or Stren lines for most applications but will use fluorocarbon leaders or straight fluorocarbon when using the drop shot during summer in deep water. That’s the most expensive line I will use. This shows that you don’t have to be spending a fortune on tackle in order to catch fish and have some fun.
I use two 9’ St Croix fly rods that I got on sale from Cabela’s, an 8 1/2’ Cortland fly rod, a Cabela’s 9’ fly rod ($50. on sale) and a Pflueger 9’ fly rod all in the 5/6 or 6 weight and I use Cabela’s Prestige fly reels on the most part. All inexpensive. I’ve already indicated where I get most of my flies in other postings. I also get most of my lures when they are on sale.
I take good care of my equipment and I still have and use rods and reels that I purchased 50 years ago. My older reels are mostly Garcia and Mitchell, they used to make and still make the best inexpensive reels going in my book. My spinning rods are a mix of brands that I have purchased since I was a kid and they’re all serviceable now. I have about 20 of them. I have maintained them, i.e., changed the tips, or rewound some of the guides, etc. I even have the first bait casting reel, A South Bend, and a 4 foot long steel rod that was given to me by my father when I was twelve years old. I have to admit though that my newest rods and reels are the best.
I’ a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, since 1974, and I’m having fun and you can too. Of course I also have a wife, who was the girl next door, and who understands me. We’ve been married for 53 years and she is the best partner any man could ever ask for. She IS the best and I am truly blessed. I hope you are too.
Tight lines
Jim
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It appears that you had a lot of success with those lures! Good job on your selection.
It makes fishing a lot more fun/exciting when they put up a good fight. It is amazing how tough those fish get sometimes in that pond.
I got a skillet to put that crappie in!!