This morning my father Chester Moore, Sr. and I went out to a little ultralight fishing. We stopped at several locations: a bayou (two different spots), a roadside canal and a pond.
Before I picked up Dad I stopped at a little canal where I used to ride my bike down to fish and flipped a shiner rigged on a 1/16-oz jig down between some lily pads and caught this pretty little largemouth.
(Photo by Chester Moore, Jr.)
Since I was an early riser this morning, I had awhile before Dad was ready so I stopped at one of my favorite ponds and hooked up with this nice bass. I have become a stickler for wearing polarized shades while fishing and this morning I had on a pair of Costa Del Mar with their 580 lenses. I never would have noticed this particular fish had I not had them on. I pitched a shiner on a 1/16-oz jighead and hooked up with the fish.
(Photo by Chester Moore, Jr.)
I was using a Fenwick Elitetech River Runner rod with a Pflueger Supreme spinning reel spooled with six-pound Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorocarbon. This was the first time I had used the line and I was impressed with its abrasion resistance. This bass got the line tangled up in a tree and I was able to let it swim free with no problems.
(Photo by Chester Moore, Jr.)
After I picked up Dad we tried a new spot on the bayou that runs through our town and caught some nice crappie. We use shiners fished under a popping cork.
I have found fluorocarbon to be great for use in crappie fishing for several reasons.
The first it is more sensitive than monfofilament with the main factor being it sinks and sits tighter against the rod so there is more contact and room for vibrations to travel to my fingertips as I feel out the bite. Additionally the aforementioned abrasion resistance is helpful when fishing around brush.
Also, crappie, especially the big ones, can be very line shy when the water is clear. Fluorocarbon has the same refractive properties as water so it is virtually invisible underwater.
Remember each fishing trip can be an educational process if we hit the water with the right attitude.
Until next time…