Trout season in full swing across the US

Guide Josh Sheldon with a great stream Brown Trout from Wharton Creek, in New Berlin NY

There is little purer than Trout fishing in America. It's timeless, romantic, and above all else it represents the end of winter. Much of what I learned came from my grandfather, Les. It's not easy, and unlike other bodies of water, small streams require very specific conditions to be productive fisheries. In streams like this one, if the water is too high, too low, too warm, or too cold, and you're not properly prepared it'll leave you empty handed.

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My first appearance in a product catalog

Here is a glimpse at the Dobyns Catalog for 2014.  I was very fortunate to be included in it and am really excited about it.  Huge thanks to all of them!!!

Take Me Fishin' Youth Clinic follow up

By: Josh Sheldon, Outdoors Columnist
Published: June 27th, 2013


On Sunday, June 23, the Take Me Fishin’ Day took place at Cook Park in Greene. Jim Root, designer of the program – along with the help of friends and generous donors – brought this program to fruition.



The air was filled with excitement and anticipation for the day's activities. The stage was set and the children were ready for a day full of fun and education. Because of different experience levels and a larger group than expected the kids were separated into three groups. The day began with an important message, followed by a lesson on how to tie a Polymer Knot.




"We told everyone the most important part of fishing is to protect our resources so that this wonderful sport can be enjoyed by the future generations,” Root said. “Clean water is an essential part of maintaining a healthy fishery. We told kids how important it is not to litter, and to carefully and quickly return all caught fish back to the water."

The first-timer group was headed up by Jim and his buddy, Dylan Howe. They went over bobber fishing, how to bait a hook, how to set the hook, and how to remove the fish from the hook without being spined by it. Dylan, age 15, did an amazing job helping the inexperienced in a way that only adults are typically able.




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Oneida Lake Northern Open 2013

The second Northern Open of 2013 is over, and I can tell you that it's probably gonna be awhile before I can fully get over the sting that still exists from not having had done as well as I know I should have.  I had very few bites, I knew the lake would fish like that going in, but I didn't deliver.  I really needed to stay focused, not miss fish, and I didn't.
Day one I fished with Randal Tharp, FLW legend.  We began out deep, targeting smallmouth.  I really needed to do a better job of trying to get those fish to bite.  We were hovering over them in 25 feet of water, and I didn't do enough to fire them up and get them to eat.  I saw them on the screen and I threw all the things that I would normally throw, but when that didn't work I really needed to dig in and start going through everything else until I found what it was they wanted.  I didn't do that.  Instead I sat there for almost two hours, waiting for them to bite the things I'm really accustomed to catching them on at that lake.  It's almost as if my knowledge of the lake betrayed me, because it prevented me from doing what I do best:  finding what the fish want to eat.  I did the one thing I always pride myself on not doing:  I was stubborn, and I only used what I was used to using.  I wish I could have it back.  I didn't manage to get my first fish until noon, I missed two fish flipping grass, and caught my second fish on a drop shot at 1:30.  Although I was lucky enough to catch two good fish, one of which was the big bass up until the last 10 minutes of day 1 and have my picture taken and posted here on Bassmaster, not having the third fish I needed left me 4 pounds off the lead.  Had I been able to bring in any of the fish I missed I might have found myself in the lead or in the top five.
Day two I was paired up with Greg Pugh.  We began the day targeting smallmouth and I did the same thing:  I threw the same things, with the same results.  None of the fish we saw on the graph ate the things I threw at them, and I didn't try to throw anything else.  We left those fish after two hours, flipped grass, again I didn't catch anything.  We left there, flipped docks, I got frustrated and shut down a little, my knowledge of that lake and drive to win it got the best of me because it was noon and in my mind I was already defeated.  I caught my first fish at 2 pm on a drop shot, caught a good fish at 3 cranking, and lost (sadly) what might have been the biggest fish of the tournament with less than ten minutes to go on a crankbait after the fish buried me in some deep weeds.
Both of my boaters were great guys, and I had an excellent time fishing with both of them.  All my fish were caught on soft plastics made by Bass Attacker Lures.
Probably the highlight of the tournament for me was getting to see my friends I've met this season.  I got to spend a lot of time practicing with John McGoey and we even got to have a special evening at a local bait shop where we were fortunate enough to meet some great people.  We talked fishing, shared stories, and gave away some gear to some really deserving people.  The looks on their faces was incredible, and it made me feel really great to be able to share my love for this sport with men and women and children.  I also got to spend a little bit of time with Brandon Palaniuk again after meeting him at the James River when we were paired up on day two.  We didn't get out this time, but I'm sure we'll fish together again.  Probably not out of the same boat in a tournament (this is my last year fishing off the back) but we'll get out again.
With just one tournament left (Northern Open #3, Lake Erie, Sandusky Ohio, September), it's really important to me that I thank all my family, friends, and sponsors for their support:  Dobyns Rods, Citizens Bank, Rahfish, Schuler-Haas Electric, Bass Attacker Lures, and Quantum Fishing.

Fishing Report: Oneida Lake 5/30

Oneida Lake report for 5/30



I fished Oneida last Thursday with my good friend Bridget Allen (some of you know her). We got on the water around 10 am, and spent a lot of time really just looking at different areas and their bottom compositions and didn't really spend much time fishing until around 1:30. For two hours we did fish (1:30-3:30) and for the conditions (hot, bluebird skies, no real wind to speak of) we actually did very well. Here are some pics from that day. We caught our fish between 7-10 feet of water, flipping grass. I think she caught one smallie in like 2 feet of water. I can't recall exactly how many fish we caught, but we both had limits and I think I might have caught a couple more fish than she did.

None of our fish were on beds. And they didn't want anything aggressive.

We were using almost two completely different setups. I can't tell you exactly what her's was, but I can tell you she was using Fluoro, texas rigged senko, no weight. I was using 65# braid, and two baits 1) 1/2oz sinker, texas rigged bass pro shops magnum flipping tube on a Trokar hook, 2) blue and black Bass Attacker 1/2oz football jig with a blue and black craw trailer, Quantum Smoke 151HPT reel, Dobyns Champion 766FLIP Heavy Flipping fast action casting rod.


It was probably the best two hours I've ever had on that lake. I know there a lot of people who are on the fence about Trokar hooks. I started out the day using a Gamakatsu wide-gap hook, and after I lost my fourth or fifth fish I decided it was because the weeds we were fishing were surprisingly thick for this time of year, and I just didn't feel like that hook was penetrating deep enough for me. I cut it off, put on the Trokar, and I maybe lost one other fish the rest of the day. My theory on the Trokar, is that under normal circumstances you can't try to cross their eyes when you set the hook. But when I was fishing these deep weed beds, I really felt more comfortable with the Trokar's ability to penetrate through the tube (just the very tip of the hook was exposed to reduce snagging) through the weeds, through the mouth. I think if you try it, you'll see it actually works very well and you don't have to gently set the hook.

5 In The Box with Allison Shaw

Allison Shaw is relaxing at home in California watching the Everstart weigh-ins live at Lake Okeechobee, Florida's "Big O".  Our initial greeting is interrupted by us both being shocked at the weight of the current leader, Ben Todd, who is currently waaaaaaaay ahead.
Allison
"Dude that's a six pound average...God I wanna be there right now!!!"

We laugh; hers is more of a giggle really, but it's infectious and makes you want to laugh more when you hear it.

Q:  Allison, why do you fish?

I got the bug, I grew up fishing, I caught a huge, I mean I caught a 7 pound bass when I was 8 which is huge for any 8 year old, and I've been fishing ever since.  My Dad and Pappa (my grandpa) taught me how to fish.

Q:  Is it different now?  Does the pressure of competition take the fun out of it?

It's different but if anything it's more fun.  I'm competitive by nature.  I don't have all day to just lay around, get a tan, wait for the bite and reel it in, and that requires an understanding of the science and biology of fishing:  migration, prespawn, postspawn, and you'll never know everything.

Q:  We've talked before about techniques and presentations and I know you love to throw a drop-shot whenever you can.  Who do you watch or read about to get better?

I watch a lot of Aaron Martens videos, in fact I watched a few of his the night before my first day of filming The World Series Of Bass.  I mean I know how to drop-shot for the most part, but just watching someone do what you like to do the most is really helpful.  There are so many different ways you can throw it, bring it in; there are a million different things you can do with that one simple bait.

Q:  Some people have said that you're the Danica Patrick of fishing, how does it feel to have your name said in the same sentence as someone who's had such a tremendous impact for a whole world of women on what has for years been considered a "male dominant" sport and what do you see as your responsibility to other women who look at you and see an opportunity that maybe they didn't see before?

Ever since that all started when I was back in college (people referencing her to me) I've interpreted that to mean being an advocate.  It's really flattering to be put in the same category as her, I mean honestly I'm nowhere near her level yet but if I help promote this amazing sport to other women then maybe I'll have an impact on them in some small way that will lead them to trying to positively impact others.

Q:  Along with that likeness to her comes the image of you as being just a sex symbol as opposed to a real threat to compete.

Yep.  That's always been a concern.  There are advantages to being a woman, of course.  But I was lucky enough to show people in college that I'm not just trying to take pictures with fishing rods.  I watch videos and read and practice every day to get better and to become a better angler.  I'm from LA, I'm not from the country, though I am at heart and spent my summers fishing at my Grampa's.  But honestly, at the end of the day my goals are the same as everyone else's on the water:  catch big fish and win. 

Q:  What's your favorite lake?

That's tough.  I love The Delta because I like the idea of having tides in fresh water I feel like it adds a whole different dynamic and it really offers many different places for you to fish your strengths.  But at the same time when I was in Texas I had an opportunity to fish Lake Amistad and oh my goodness it was like Lake Mead on steroids and there are huge fish.  The water is really clear and the landscape is breathtaking. 

Q:  What do you have planned for 2013 other than fishing?

I was a child development major in college, and this year I've started a program called "My Mom said there's nothing I can't do".  Basically I'll be travelling to elementary schools all over the country, talking to them about pursuing their dreams, working 100%, and not letting anyone tell them they can't reach their goal to be whatever they aspire to be.  I mean, a girl from LA, who would've thought she would be competing professionally with all these guys from the south?!?  So if I can do it, and I'm in my fifth year now, then clearly anyone can do it.

That's really great.  I have always given back to my community so I value that in others.

Yeah there are a couple of charity tournaments that I'm going to be at as well.  One of them is in Newtown Connecticut, there hasn't been much detail released yet, but it'll be coming out soon and I know it's going to be a great event.  And the other is The Indy Bass Club there are two people who are members of that club who have been diagnosed with cancer and they wanted me to come out and be a guest speaker at their fundraising event.  I'm going to record some footage from everywhere I go and put together a sort of memoir that should be really cool to watch because it'll show that you really can accomplish a lot if you want it bad enough. 

Q:  You're an artist too, right?

Yeah, (laughing).  I paint anything:  horses, people, babies, dogs, pets, pictures from trips to Fiji, poems, really I can paint anything.  I paint a lot at Holidays or as gifts.  I paint with my fingers.  I put white on my pointer finger, black on my ring finger, and the color that I'm using on my middle finger, and that, in my opinion, is the best way to blend water-based acrylics.  That's how I taught myself.  Then when I'm done I go back over everything with a really, really fine painter's brush.  It takes me between 18 and 30 hours per painting and I am taking deposits all the time. 

Q:  How do people contact you if they want something painted?

Most people contact me through Facebook or they can email me.


OK Allison, it's time for the 5 in the box:

Q:  Let's start with the obvious, the one that I'm sure a lot of guys want to know:  Who is Allison Shaw dating?

Allison Shaw is dating herself (giggling).  I'm being selfish for the first time in a while.  Everyone thinks it's really cool to date a tournament angler until they actually date one and for the moment I need to focus on myself.

Q:  Tell me one thing nobody knows about you?

(Laughing) I was on two really lame MTV dating shows when I was in high school. 

Q:  Do you have any pretournament rituals or superstitions?

I have a wooden fish key chain that my Gramma gave me that I always take with me.  I always used to have it with me as a kid when we would fish as a family and have a contest to see who could catch the first fish for a dollar and I had it with me when I qualified for the National Championship in College.  (Between giving this interview and it being written almost all of Allison's gear was stolen out of her boat, including that wooden key chain.)

Q:  If you had to guess where your best finish would be in 2013 where would it be, and where do you think you might struggle?

Probably The Delta.  Oroville is closer to Chico but I only fished Oroville once.  And I really wanna do well on The Delta.  Clear Lake will definitely be the hardest for me just because I've never fished it before.

Q:  What's the one body of water you would pick to fish in 2013 if you had your choice?

I wanna go to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.  I heard it's really beautiful there.

I'm sure they'd love to see you there.  Good luck this year, Allison! 

Thanks, Jim.  You too.  And a huge thanks to Hennessy Funds (Title), ATF Fishing News, My Webfix, Topwater Clothing, ATX wheels, YoZuri, Heroes on the Water, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, Dobyns Rods, Rod Glove, PCI, Phoenix Bar and Irish Gathering, Golden State Orthopedics, Rayjus Jerseys, Oakley Big Bass Tour, Salamander Sinkers, Pizz Customs, Lake Fork Tackle, Lazer Trokar, Damiki, Bass Hookups, Pink Fishing, and all my family and friends for supporting me!