Cold Fronts Suck

My ride

Some days are just pain ole’ harder than other days when out on the water. Today, was one of those days. Here in Alabama we had a really strong cold front come through last night, even spawned a couple of tornados. What that left us fishermen with today, was bluebird skies, wind, and much cooler temperatures. Oh yeah, and really tough fishing. At least it was for me.

 

Just having entered the online fishing tournament known as Kayak Wars, I had high hopes of putting my first points on the board, it didn’t happen. The minimum length bass you can enter is sixteen inches long, and all I could grind out today were five dinks. The biggest of which was a whopping fourteen inches. What’s sad is for the past few weeks most of my trips have produced several bass over sixteen inches.

 

My day started by throwing my favorite big bass bait…a jig. After about an hour without a bite, I switched to a combo I knew would help me to not get skunked, a seven inch, Crème, Ribbon tail worm on a 3/0 Gamakatsu wide gap hook. Almost immediately I caught my first fish. This combo helped me put four more bass in the boat. Unfortunately, not one big fish bit today.

 

But, even after a tough day on the water, I am now more determined than ever. The leader in the southeastern division has only 110 points. Living here in north central Alabama I am surrounded by lakes and rivers that give up sixteen inch bass, on a regular basis. I am also encouraged as I look ahead at the weather forecast. Beginning next week, we are about to have several days in the low 70’s. I will then make up ground on the leaders.

 

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

 

Custom Baits vs Factory Baits

 
 

Every day it seems that a new, custom made, lure, hits the market. Many times these baits are almost identical to other baits offered by larger companies. What often surprises me, is that some of these baits cost a little more than their factory cousins, and fishermen are still buying them. So…what’s the appeal? How can a smaller company sell the same baits at a higher price?

 

Well, I believe people will pay for a product, if they believe it is truly a quality product. The small bait maker for instance takes a tremendous amount of pride in his or her work. When you are dealing with only one or two people running a small business, you get the bosses looking at every bait heading out to the public. This is the best quality control you could ever hope for.

 

The paint on every jig and spinner bait has to be perfect. There can be no burrs on any lead, or paint in any hook eye. This kind of quality isn’t always found in the larger companies. Sometimes bigger isn’t always better. When a company out grows its quality control staff the product will suffer.   The companies that have been around for a long time are the ones that do everything in their power to put out a good product. These are the companies that will stand the test of time…big or small.

 

While I have my own personal favorite lure companies I buy from, I still have a tremendous respect for the small business man too. I have a friend that is now fishing in the big leagues, that used to be a rod maker. I still have and use one of his rods. It has caught everything from bass, cats, to carp. We hear the term on a daily basis, “Let’s make America great again.” Well, we can as Americans certainly do that by checking and re-checking the products we build. If you are in the lure making business, make lures you would be proud to sign your name to. If you want customers to buy what you build, then build what they want.

 

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

Mulberry River Bait Co. https://www.facebook.com/Mulberry-River-Bait-Co-942787962471153/



 

Another life lost on a boat ramp

Only weeks ago the fishing world was rocked, when 53 years old Gregg Hawkins, was murdered as he ended a fine day out on the water. Today, it saddens us all again as we begin hearing of 18 years old Keith Poche’s murder, as he finished up a day of fishing. Times certainly have changed since I started fishing many years ago. Never was I afraid to fish alone in my boat and come in late at night by myself. It just never crossed my mind to worry about be mugged or killed at the boat ramp.

 

At this time when gun control is such a big deal, I’m going to have to say that if Mr. Poche was armed he would still be with us today. Most fishermen fish with a partner, many do not. A lone fisherman on an empty boat ramp late at night is an easy target. If you are going to put yourself in that situation, arm yourself. Keep your cell phone and your firearm close at hand. Safety is no longer just an on the water thing. It’s terribly sad, but it’s true.

 

If possible I suggest always fishing with a partner. Sometimes this alone will keep you safe. Criminals are cowards and usually only prey on easy, single, targets. Since I have started my You Tube channel, Simply Fishing, I mostly fish by myself. There is no room for a partner in my kayak, and I do my own camera work. Yes, this does make me nervous at times. Many places I plan on going, I have never been before. Will being afraid keep me from fishing, I don’t think so. I take my own advice on this one. I keep my fire arm on me at all times, and my cell phone close too. I’m not afraid to use either.

 

Anglers, as you finish up your day of fishing, look around to see who is left. If there is one person left all alone, do the right thing, hang around and make sure everyone gets home safely. It’s these little things that separate the good guys from the bad guys.

https://youtu.be/hD0Ow-Ic3D4 My Simply Fishing You Tube channel

2016 A New Beginning

This blog actually started in my mind tonight, as I walked my dog under the canopy of stars with the crisp winter air nipping at my face. The beauty of mother nature surrounds us constantly, we only have to slow down a bit and take it in. I thought to myself as I walked along, this needs to be my office. This is where I’m the happiest, and this is where I need to make a living.

I don’t believe much in new year’s resolutions, most never last anyway. But, I do firmly believe in setting goals. Setting attainable goals and reaching them gives a person confidence. Confidence and a positive attitude are a person’s best tools for achieving anything. Many of you have watched my fishing videos by the same name as my blog, “Simply Fishing.” When I started making videos about 6 months ago, my goal was to bring the sport of fishing to a few people and friends that either were learning to fish or maybe had never fished at all.

Once I got my videos up and running I began to set new goals. First of all, I wanted to make better quality videos. I think in the last month or so is when I started actually getting comfortable with the camera running. Editing, to me, is harder than catching fish. So, editing better is a goal I am still working on.

Sometime around the first of the year my videos reached 1000 views. I realize that in internet terms 1000 views is a very small number. To me it is a proud milestone as I continue to reach toward the stars that I walked under tonight. I hope before the next 6 months is up to reach 10,000 views. Is that unrealistic, I don’t think so…we’ll have to see come the end of June.

I’d like to thank each and every one of you that have supported me over the years, I hope you find it in your heart to continue. This is my niche, this is what makes me happy and I plan on sharing my love with the outdoors for many years to come. My videos are meant to be honest reflections of my fishing adventures. They are meant to teach, and to entertain. I hope and pray that they do. Every like, share, and comment, means the world to me and pushes me on to do even better the next time.

I hope those of you with kids will share my videos with them. My videos are clean and they are purposely kept that way for the children’s sake. I firmly believe children need to get outside more. I have a big 2016 planned out, I hope you all will hang with me and share in my love for the outdoors. In case I’m reaching a few new readers today, I’ll leave a link to one of my favorite videos below…please enjoy.

You guys have a great day and an even better year.

Lowell Henderson

https://youtu.be/D7f2OTLsNnI

What is success on the water?

Most fishermen hit the water these days with only one thing on their minds, to catch a lot of fish. Pro Bass fishermen and commercial fishermen are prime examples of groups that share this mindset. Young fishermen are out to catch big fish. But, are either of these ideas of fishing really what it's all about? Well...yes and no.

 

Now as a YouTuber and a blogger, big numbers are necessary in order to be successful. However, when just out fishing, I don't have that same goal. It seems as the older I get fishing has become a more personal thing. Finding fish the old traditional way is still the most challenging puzzle I've ever tried to put together. Without the use of todays modern electronics I like finding and catching fish by using old school methods. Watching what the  weather is doing, figuring out where the  fish will be positioned according to whether it is sunny or cloudy.

 

I guess after being in the workforce for many years, when I get time to fish I want to slow down some and take it all in. Where I used to fly down the lake in a bass boat, I now spend many of my trips skirting the banks in my kayak. It's amazing what I've learned simply by slowing down and fishing each different area that I come to. I think this type of fishing needs to be taught more to the younger generation. All the glitz and glamor of todays TV fishermen seems to be losing what being in the great outdoors is all about.

 

In order for our sport to continue as we know it, we must not forget how it got to where it is today. Those that went before us learned the hard way, by spending time on the water and remembering what they learned. They then passed it down to their children and grandchildren. I hope those of you in the position to teach a child will teach them some of the old traditions. Teach them to learn and figure things out. This learning process can give a child lacking in confidence the ability to try things and be a success, even beyond fishing.

You guys stay safe,

Lowell Henderson

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

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