Shallow Water Anchoring Systems

I remember my first shallow water anchoring system I ever had.  It was a cinderblock that I firmly secured to my canoe via a piece of twenty foot rope that I found in my parents’ garage.  I was so proud of myself.  I got out on the water, threw it over the side, and watched my delightful smile fade away as I began spinning around in a circle.  The next day I returned with a dual anchoring system that consisted of my cinderblock and a 25lb dumbbell.  My first mistake was deploying my new friends both off the back.  This created a twisted mess that required my frail 13 year old frame to heave what I only imagined was the equivalent of 5 dead bodies up and over the side at the same time.  Lesson learned, no great success comes without bumps in the road!  Launched the dumbbell forward off the front, check!  As I launched the cinderblock off the back, already rejoicing in my triumphant ingenuity, my rope broke somewhere around the 15 foot mark, carrying to the bottom of a murky pond my brilliant invention and taking with it what was left of my pride.

 

There are more stories similar to mine than I can’t even begin to imagine.  Some are far worse.  Somewhere along the line there was a mind that resolved that because the need to anchor would never cease to exist, there had to be a more “user-friendly” option.  So for those of you who haven’t found a co-angler who can hold their breath for hours at a time and patiently sit on the bottom of the lake, here are some options for you.

Minn Kota Talon

The Talon, by Minn Kota (Johnson Outdoors), is designed to drive a spike straight down from within the large apparatus which is mounted on the rear of your boat.  It’s easily mounted, and comes standard is silver with black or white trim in either 6’4” or 8’4”, with a quick release bracket making it easy to remove when not in use.  The Talon is designed to deploy quickly and quietly.  Simply push the button once on your remote (which can be programmed to operate two units simultaneously) and the spike will stop automatically when it reaches the bottom.  Anglers who want to know how deep their Talon is need only look at the LED indicator lights which are defined in one foot increments.  

Minn Kota is known for building high-grade, long-lasting products, and this is no exception to that.  Being constructed of marine-grade extruded anodized aluminum, it’ll withstand saltwater as well as freshwater, and the spike itself is made of fiberglass reinforced composite material, and carries a lifetime guarantee.  

Power Pole

The Power-Pole, by JL Marine, is a slightly different design than the Talon.  While the Talon offers direct vertical deployment, the Power-Pole is designed to stretch out and down like an arm, offering completely unobstructed casting area.  With a mounting system that offers strength and flexibility, you can rest assured that your boat will remain in place without having to worry about durability.  Power- Poles are operated by a system which applies constant hydraulic force.  The other major differences are options, colors, and price.  

 
Both companies offer wireless remotes, alarms to prevent outboard motor operation while anchors are deployed, offer lifetime warranties on spikes, are environmentally friendly, and claim to be the quietest and fastest deploying.  I can say that I’ve used them both, and really haven’t found one to be superior to the other.  But I will say this, I have a good friend who I believe can fix anything marine related, and he once told me something that I’ll never forget:  “You can blind fold me, and I can take that (blank) completely apart, and put it back together.  Hell I might even be able to do it in my sleep.  But I wouldn’t have the first clue how to work on a Minn Kota.  Ya know why?  Cuz I never to work on the ###### ######!  The way you fix a (blank company) once and for all, is to buy a Minn Kota.”

So which is better?  You decide.  I’m sure either of them is better than a piece of old rope and your father’s weight set.

My first review as a part of the team at RahFish is published!

Here's the link to my review of Cashion Rods at RahFish.
Click here to read it.

My first FLW Everstart

I just got back from Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia where I competed as a co-angler in my first Everstart Series Event.  This was not only my first Everstart but also just my second FLW event (I competed in a BFL on The Thousand Islands last year) after having competed in B.A.S.S. for the past two years.  If you haven't competed in both, there are very distinct differences between the two, and I was not prepared for some of them!  Luckily between a little quick thinking and some helpful tips from some of the FLW staff I was able to get through the rules without a hitch, but had they not gone over the rules, I might have been at risk of disqualification.
In FLW co-anglers weigh their best 5 fish (it's 3 in B.A.S.S.), and as a co-angler you're expected to use some sort of culling system on every fish that goes in the livewell, as soon as you put it in the livewell.  I didn't know this going in to the event, and culling kits aren't something you find at local bait shops or even large department stores like Wal-Mart or Target.  I thought about it while I was driving away after the meeting and it occurred to me that I could use a lot of things:  clips, zip-ties, carabiners, safety pins, twist-ties, or what I ended up using:  large barrettes.  Clips are bulky, don't always stay on, and do a better job keeping my potato chip bags closed.  Zip-ties work great if you go through the mouth and gills, and don't involve penetrating any part of the bass's mouth, but they also require something sharp to cut them, and I try to avoid sharp objects when on a moving vessel.  That's also the reason why I avoid safety pins.  Carabiners and twist-ties are nice if you can find them for sale, though both will still require that the bass already have holes in their lips for you to use.   In the end, barrettes are sold everywhere, open and close easily without easily coming undone, and don't take up a lot of room in my bag.

The other big difference between the two is the lack of the imaginary line that's often drawn across the middle of the boat.  While both FLW and B.A.S.S. insist that pros fish from the front, and co's fish from the back, there's no rule in FLW that says one can't cast in front of the other.  This can be particularly problematic when targeting spawning fish.  Pros don't want the guy on the back of the boat throwing a one ounce jig blindly up to a big bedded female, and co's don't want to be stuck fishing in water where there really isn't an opportunity to catch fish for 45 minutes while their boater works that female.  So try to be considerate of each other.  Pros, if you're going to target spawning fish, try to have a certain amount of fish that you've marked for your co, or give him or her a certain amount of time to fish in open water where they really have an opportunity to catch prespawn fish.  Co-anglers aren't paying $400 to enter the tournament to net your fish and then contribute to your gas expenses.  Co-anglers, don't throw on a bedded fish unless your boater tells you it's ok.  Don't cast over his line unless you're told you can.  When they say "We're leaving" be ready to go fast!  They've spent a lot of money to enter that tournament, and it's important that you be respectful to them while on their boat.  Remember that you're only allowed 5 rods, 1 tackle bag, and one bag for bad weather clothing, and be sure that you're not late in the morning.
If you are going to fish off the back of the boat, you need to be versatile.  If you don't throw a spinnerbait, you need to ask yourself why not and start doing it.  It's one of the greatest baits made, and you can fish it in almost every situation.  It's something you need tied-on.  Pay attention to what your boater is doing.  If they're catching fish, try as best as you can to do the same thing with the same kind of bait.  If they're not you should probably throw something different until one of you develops some sort of pattern.  Use baits that you can fish quickly and effectively in all situations.  Swimbaits, wakebaits, chatterbaits, and some sort of top-water bait are also great tools.  If you notice in the picture below, the boater who won at Smith used 4 baits, and one of them was a spinnerbait.  If your boater is fishing docks you can fish a lot easier with baits you can work fast.  Trying to flip docks behind him or her is probably a waste of your time, and if you hit the dock all you're gonna do is upset your partner.  Instead, work the edges or the weed pockets nearby.  The co-angler at Smith used a drop-shot and a shaky head.  He got just 13 bites in the tournament, but he fished exceptionally clean and landed all 13 fish, giving him the title.  Most of the time if you can catch a limit every day you're going to be near the top.

5 In The Box with Stephanie Hemphill

Stephanie Hemphill is sitting on her couch in her pj's editing fishing videos.  Having seen a couple myself I imagine it being really difficult for her to edit.  Big fish, huge Texas smile, I think Bill Dance might see a decline in his ratings in the near future...

Q:  Stephanie, why do you fish?

Because it's the love of my life.  It is every great memory I have growing up.  I can be myself and admire all the beauty the way I want to see it.

Would you say you were "born" with it, or you got it over time?

I was born with it.  My whole family fishes, women included.  At six months old I was in a playpen with my mom on her pontoon boat.  Every weekend from the time I was 2 I was in my dad's boat bass fishing.

Are you fishing competitively now?

I am, but I'm selective about what I enter.  I'm paying my own way, so I have to use my money wisely.  I don't enter a tournament unless it's one I imagine I can win.  Nobody cares if you finish 20th or 50th.  I'm trying to do what's best for my career.

Does that change it at all for you, the sport of fishing?  Are you able to go out and just relax and fish with your buddies or are you disappointed if you come back having caught less than 17 or 18 pounds?

I'm OK with not always catching them.  I love fishing with my buddies and just enjoying the beauty that God made.  Wow if only everyone could experience that, then everyone would fish!  But I don't complain when I catch a big girl now and then!

We all love big girls!  And speaking of catching them, what's your favorite technique?  Flippin'?  Swimmin a jig?  Burnin' a crankbait?

I have a few.  Swimmin' a jig and carolina rigging for sure.  I love a good football head jig too.  

You hunt too?

I used to hunt as much as I fished, but I figured out I was missing some of the best fishing of the year in the fall and now I don't hunt anymore.

Do you ever think guys underestimate you and your ability and say to themselves "She's hot but she can't fish to save her life"?

Yes, but I don't let it get to me.  I know I can fish, and I can prove it!

I imagine you having that grin on your face thinking to yourself "just wait until I shove a 7 pounder in your face, buddy!"

HAHA, YES!!!

What is your favorite lake?

Falcon.  Because at any time you can catch a BIG girl.  That's what Texas bass fishing is all about!

Least favorite?

Sam Rayburn because it's my home lake.  I grew up (basically) being taught how to fish Big Sam so I'm supposed to be awesome here.  So when I don't do well on Rayburn I feel like I not only let myself down but my family as well.

The internet is such an amazing resource for information, but is there anyone who has shown you different techniques or who has helped improve your knowledge of the sport?

Yes, Elite Series angler Clark Reehm.  I live with him and we always have new baits being mailed to us.  So I get to not only see lures that aren't even out yet but I get to try them too.  I'm very hardheaded so when he tries to correct me on techniques I have to force myself to listen (but I don't always like too).

I believe everyone has their own way of doing things.  Sure a certain pro may say to do it this way or that way but it may not work for everyone.  So I basically listen to what Clark says, but add my own personal touches to it.

And on that note, let's jump into our 5 In The Box!

1.  What's it like on a Sunday when you and Clark are both at home and not on Tour?

I'm fishing and he is at home on the computer.  He is also the cook at our house.  You may die if you ate my food...

(I'm laughing)

It's true!

2.  Do you have any pre-tournament rituals or superstitions?

I eat a pickle during the tournament.

Why?  (I'm laughing)

First time I did it I caught a 7 and three 5's.  So eat a pickle every time and see if there's something to it.  

(I'm not laughing)

Oh, and I love them.  :)

I'm gonna try it.

Watch, you're gonna message me and say you caught a double-digit!  Also I fish with some of my pawpaw's rods.  He died on the lake a few years ago and he was the best fisherman I've ever known and I feel like they're lucky.  He would catch fish when nobody else could!

3.  If you had to guess where your best finish would be in 2013, where would it be and where would you struggle the most?

My best would be at Red River in September.  Worst I have no clue.  It all depends on if my little green friends like me that day.

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

Amistad.  My fishing style suits me well there.  I have a lot of confidence there (the big girl I caught there last year in the tournament helped a little with that...).

5.  What's one thing people might not know about Stephanie Hemphill?

When I was a little girl I told my dad that I wanted to be a pro fisherman.  I knew that at 7 years old. He told me that a girl couldn't be a pro fisherman.  Well I want to prove him wrong and become exactly what he said I couldn't.  I want other women to know that this isn't just a guy's sport anymore.


Thanks so much for your time.  I appreciate you giving me an opportunity to talk with you about this wonderful sport!  Good luck to you!

Thanks, Jim.  Good luck to you, too.  I'd also like to thank Omega, Dobyns, rahfish.com, xx2, and Tackle Center.