Looking for the bright side

In this day and age, too often we find ourselves dwelling on the negative. Often, positivity is all around us but we just don’t look for it. After putting my kayak in the lake the other day, I quickly moved away from the ramp to let other boats in and out. To my surprise all the other boaters that day did the same thing. They were each and every one very courteous and respectful. Usually, you have at least one boater who waits until he backs onto the ramp to get his boat ready and holds other boaters up…not today. Courtesy is something everyone should be mindful of, not just fishermen. But, for today I’ll stick with us fishermen. As a boater you have the ability to move about a great deal easier than say a bank or dock fisherman. When a boater comes upon a person fishing on the bank the polite thing to do is to simply go around. Not crowd them out, not tell them you are in a tournament, just let them fish, relax, and enjoy their day. I have fished tournaments for thirty years and not once have I felt like I needed to encroach on someone else. For our sport to continue to grow and have a good reputation with the public, good sportsmanship and courtesy must be shown at all times. For those of you up and coming tournament anglers with a few product sponsors taking interest in you, imagine how it will look to your sponsors when complaints start coming in. You won’t have those sponsors long. Instead of arguing with home owners and bank fishermen about who owns the lake, you should take the opportunity to do a little PR work. Tell them how sorry you are if you have bothered them and hand out a few free samples. This is what needs to get back to your sponsors, not complaints. Sometimes biting your tongue and moving on is the best career choice you can make at the time. You will soon learn there is much more to fishing for a living than just fishing. You guys have a great day. If you see me out on the water, pull up, drop anchor, and we’ll talk awhile. Lowell Henderson P.S. I’m gonna leave you a little video so you’ll know how to find me out on the water. I’m the one blown up against the bank picking out a backlash. LOL. https://youtu.be/66hj8ULf8x4

Catch and Release

For many years, catch and release has been drilled into our brains. Thankfully, most fishermen understand, and abide by this policy. No longer are bass tournaments allowing anglers to use stringers. Stringers have been replaced by live wells. The pictures of early bass tournaments back in the seventies used to impress me tremendously; these same pictures horrify me today. While the mortality rate isn’t perfect even today where bass tournaments are concerned, heavy emphasis is now placed on releasing every fish back alive. Fishing as a sport has come a long way.

 

Catch and release has insured our lakes, rivers, and even our oceans will thrive and continue to produce for generations to come. But, is catch and release always the best policy. The answer to that question will surprise many fishermen. Sometimes for a body of water to produce better quality fish, catch and release is not the answer. When not managed properly, a body of water can become unbalanced. I will use farm ponds as an example. A farm pond has the same eco system as the bigger lakes, just on a smaller scale. Often, a farm pond owner, or the people a farm pond owner lets fish in the pond, keep only the bigger fish and throw all the little ones back. This is a very bad habit that will quickly unbalance a pond and cause the fish to be stunted. These small stunted fish will continue to multiply, and soon you will have a pond of teeming with small, starving, undersized fish, that will never reach their full potential.

 

Farm owners these days often get help from their local fish and game agency. These state agencies will often come in and shock a pond to see just what numbers, and sizes of fish are there. They can then recommend how to best manage the specific body of water. While I used a farm pond as an example, this type of management also applies to our larger lakes and rivers. This is why slot and size limits are often put in place. This practiced saved Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama. In the past, the locals referred to Smith Lake as the dead sea…it is now thriving and getting better each year.

 

If you are a fisherman that loves to eat fish like I do, take the time to find out about the body of water where you fish. What species may need to have their numbers brought down some, and what sizes need to be put back in order to keep balance in check. Responsible fishing, and teaching of our children will keep our waterways healthy and productive for the years to come. You guys have a great day.

Lowell Henderson

PS. If you enjoy my blog, please take a minute and subscribe. Thank you and I’ll see you out on the water.

Over the Years

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have fished in many different places. From Key West Florida, to the Canadian border, each place I have visited holds a special place in my heart. I like to think that each of these wonderful places has rubbed off on me a little, making me the person I am today.

 

For me, fishing has become more than just pulling in a fish. Sure, I still love the challenge fishing presents, but I believe I now realize the experience is way bigger than just that. The great outdoors has more to offer than most people can even comprehend.

 

The outdoors provides a relaxation/stress reliever than many could benefit from. The call of a loon on a brisk misty morning is nothing short of magical. To watch an unaware black bear foraging in the reeds along the water’s edge is both fascinating and intriguing. To have a family of otters play alongside your canoe, unafraid, is priceless.

 

I would hope that many of you read this and make a conscience decision to not only teach your children how to fish, but also to open their eyes to their surroundings as they fish. Show them the beauty the outdoors provides us. Explain to them how the food chain works and why it is important to keep it in balance. Teach them in a way that will inspire them to get out and explore the world they live in, instead of staying cooped up indoors constantly. This is the first step in insuring our sport we so dearly, love, will live and thrive forever.

 

You guys have a great day, I’ll see you out on the water.

Lowell Henderson

Courtesy on our waterways

Over the past thirty years or so, I have fished in hundreds of bass tournaments, and a few catfish tournaments. I have witnessed the sport of fishing as it progressed to what it has become today. Sadly, for the sake of the sport, I'd like to step back in time a few years and make some changes.

The sport is now so money driven that many things I once took for granted as a fisherman, are now things of the past. Fishermen were once sort of a brotherhood, similar to what bikers are today. We looked after each other on the water, we shared information, and were generally nice people. I hate to say it out loud but much of that is now gone. In the last few years it seems that common courtesy has been lost. Fishermen pull up where other fishermen are fishing and do their best to crowd them out. Arguments at boat ramps happen way too often, and many boaters aren't respectful to bank fishermen. 

In this day of high school and college fishing teams, I sincerely hope that courtesy is being taught as well as how to find and catch fish. I know that these young and up and coming pros's are being taught things such as public speaking, appearance importance, and how to attain sponsorships, I hope the teaching doesn't stop there. Like any other athlete, building a fan base is crucial to a long career in the fishing industry. If a pro isn't constantly building his fan base, he is probably on a downhill slide. Sponsors want someone that can not only catch fish, but is marketable as well. Rude people aren't very marketable, at least not for long.

I personally like all types of fishing and fishermen. While I can't stand another boater trying to crowd me while I'm fishing, at the same time I don't mind someone pulling beside me just to say hi or ask a few questions. I feel it is my duty to help promote fishing and the outdoors in a positive way. Besides, being nice never hurt anyone. Help me promote this message by sharing everywhere you can. Maybe as a group we can make a small difference.

Take a kid fishing

My son and I worked in the yard all day yesterday, trying to get everything cleaned up before the rain arrived. Thankfully we managed to complete our work in time for me to squeeze in about one hour’s worth of fishing before it began to rain. I quickly loaded my ultra-lite gear in the truck and headed over to the city pond. Upon arriving I discovered a bible group of kids already there. They were eating and playing in the park and just generally having a good time.

Not being bashful I made my way through the children and over to the pond. I realized quickly that this wasn’t going to be the peaceful little outing I had planned on. As I walked along casting my tiny crank bait down the edge of the water, I was constantly stopped and asked questions. Kids are not bashful either. They were fascinated watching me catch bream after bream on my small rod and reel and tiny lure.

What struck me as sad was that many of these kids had never been fishing. Some wanted just to watch, some wanted to see a fish up close and one I actually let release a bream back into the pond for me. What I initially thought was going to be a wasted trip because of so many people walking around, turned out to be one of my most pleasant, and memorable ones.

If you have children, take them fishing. Give them something to do that will instill in them confidence, be rewarding for life, and keep them off the streets.

                                                                                Lowell Henderson

First trip of the season

Sadly, I haven’t been fishing much the last two years. Since moving from the farm that bordered the Mulberry River here in northern Alabama, I kinda lost my desire for a little while. But, for some reason, this spring hit me hard and that desire is now back in full force.

Having acquired permission to go back to the farm anytime I want to fish has really lifted my spirits. This weekend, unless the river is too high to fish that is where I’ll be. We are experiencing tremendous amounts of rain right now so my plans could change as the weekend gets closer.

This first trip of the season won’t be about how big a fish I can catch or how many; it will be about what fishing should be about…simply fishing. For that reason I think my tackle will in the ultra-lite range. Tiny lures and 4 pound line is always a challenge, and always fun. It can also be a humbling experience.

Well, having not finished this article in one setting, my first trip is now in the past. The water was indeed too high for me to fish the Mulberry so I opted to do a little pond fishing. Having fished this pond for many years, I knew that either bass were going to be biting or bluegill would be more active. Turns out that bluegill fishing was awesome. I did go with the small tackle and the four pound test line and it made for a very fun, relaxing, first, trip of the season. I have a little video of part of my day to share with you.  Enjoy, and you guys have a great day. https://youtu.be/bM7piM7srGY

April Vokey is the Real Deal

A very pretty angler caught my eye late one night while I was flipping T.V. channels. Her name was April Vokey. April is a writer, television personality, and a steelhead guide. She is also a conservationist that has a love for the great outdoors and the environment that is ingrained in her very soul.

As I watched her show “Shorelines,” I realized that I was watching someone special. She was truly more about fishing and conservation that she was about money. It was refreshing to see a show that wasn’t trying to cram the latest fad product down your throat every few minutes.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand a program needs sponsorship in order to survive. These days, most fishing shows focus more on product sales than on fishing. To me this is all very sad. It was even sadder to me when I found out April’s show had been cancelled after only one season.

More shows need a format like April’s show had; a format that teaches up and coming generations the traditions that are quickly becoming lost. It seems that today’s generation is being taught how to make money in a thirty minute time slot rather than how to fish, and the value of our grandfathers.

                                                                                     Lowell Henderson