ProdUCtiVe patterns
Changes in these parameters compared to a reference – practice or earlier in the day – give me the confidence to continue with my pattern or blow the whole thing up and try something different.” of course, if the forage is crayfish or tilapia, the evidence may be gleaned in some other manner, less by sonar data and more by using the eye test. looking at recently exposed clay banks may unveil crawfish burrows, which suggests these crustaceans have had to relocate. and if that is the case, they have had to expose themselves to predators, at least for a time, suggesting the crays could factor into bass feeding patterns. on the other hand, from my experience, tilapia are not particularly skittish. However, if the water is clear and these african perch bolt away when i pitch in around the bushes, it tells me something in their environment has them on edge. Maybe it’s a water level issue that’s bothering them or maybe they are being hunted, but in any event, it’s a clue. Brea’s tammy Morrow made a comment that also relates to bait. acknowledging that diving birds or nervous water on the surface are indicators of forage presence, you may not “see” every clue, but you may sense it otherwise. “i love to hear a big swirl in a bush,” she said. obviously, this is clear evidence of a good, aggressive fish in the area. But sometimes, when we get locked into what we are doing, we hear, but we don’t always immediately acknowledge what it means. Because startled coots or a belly flopping carp also make a commotion, we sometimes tune out certain sounds. We should be at least cognizant of the location of such noise, because if it is the sound of predation, it could mean anything from a wolfpack hunting, to a unique shoreline feature that draws repeated feeding, or just that one big kicker that could make your day. related to these clues of immediate, localized activity is one that suggests a broader view of what could be going on out there—including one that dates back as long as there has been animal life on the planet. Three-time U.S. open champion Mike Folkestad reminded us of that with this tidbit that he got from his father and still employs. “When you see the cows get up and start to move around or other animals becoming active, it’s probably an activity period for all wildlife .” over the years, tournament fishermen have been less concerned with activity charts or tables, because they have to catch something to be in contention. However, not relying on those charts doesn’t mean you
have to ignore their reality in the field. if you witness animal activity, especially during the mid-day hours, that could be a clue to turning you to a feeding area or at least a transitional route that the fish could be using.
OIL AND wATER
Since i first met San Jacinto guide and lure-maker, Gregg Silks, more than 25-years ago, something he said has stuck with me as i have fished in California and around the country. Before he became immersed in the fishing business, he had aspirations of becoming a fisheries biologist, and as one of those outdoorsman kind of guys, he discovered what he thought was a correlation between key water conditions and the presence of predator fish. He referred to the slick or sometimes that froth you find on the surface in certain parts of a lake. He contends, “Those slicks are from the fish, the slime usually from bait—and [increased] by the [predator] fish that are after them.” it may not always provide direct dial to largemouth bass because of the nature of the lake or waterway. Silks admitted that sometimes salmon, stripers and even carp are responsible for the residue found on the surface. But he is adamant about the condition, and made the comparison to the albatross, a sea bird, and its ability to find krill over such vast distances. The data seems to indicate these birds can smell the krill oil on the water, and such is likely the case of grebes finding “oily” shad 10- to 50-feet below the surface— without sonar, of course. While it might sound homespun, the fact is the relationship between fish oils and water make this possible. as Gregg reconfirms, “Suds—that’s the key. if there are no suds [in the wake] behind the boat, there are no fish. if the fish are heavy in an area, you’ll see suds on the shoreline.” Furthermore he adds, “The whiter it is, the fresher they are,” and that’s a great clue. When the fish are biting for us, of course, we’re all pretty smart. But when they’re not, there is no magic formula. That’s when you need to pay attention to the clues and find your way to a better day on the water.
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