Mass Bass Association Supporting Bass Fishing Throughout Massachusetts Mass Bass Electronic Newsletter Founded By Mark Linehan Mass Bass Newsletter # 0004 DESCRIPTION SECTION Q&A FORUM: The Rat-L-Trap Technique 1 OFF THE TRACK: Trout Fishing 2 Q&A FORUM: BIG BASS & PICKEREL By Mark Linehan I was angling the other day, at a small lake in Middleton, I'm not sure of the name. It's funny how you can fish somewhere for so many years and never even know the name of the lake. It's pretty small, maybe there is no official name for it. It's a long narrow strip of water, shaped lie a finger. I call it Old East Street Pond, because that's where it is located. If you are ever in the area, try to find it. There are some really good size large mouth in there if you have the patience and the knowledge of where to drop your bait. I was using various lures, and getting nothing that day. It was a clear day, late in the afternoon, say around 6:00. I was getting fed up with the lack of action, and just for laughs I tied on my Rat-L-Trap. It's a pretty big lure for this area, and I had never had any luck with it before, so I threw it in and started cranking. Now I never got any pamphlet with this lure, so I wasn't exactly sure how to fish it, but here is the logic I used. The lure did not float, so I knew I would have to crank at least faster than a slow draw, but it wiggled back and forth very nicely, so I knew I didn't want to crank at full speed either. It rattled nicely when I drew it in, so I picked a pretty quick retrieval speed on it, and I fan casted in the spots I had caught bass in before. Nothing. For about twelve casts I didn't get a thing. Then I changed my tactics. I started cranking in faster, but instead of a steady even pace, I would crank it fast, then stop for a couple of seconds, crank again, etc. Well after stopping for the third time, I got a hit and at first it didn't seem like much. Just a little tug here and there as I drew it in. When I got it about five feet from shore the fish must have realized its predicament because it went haywire darting back and forth along the shoreline. It broke the water once and I saw it was a very big bass. At least for this area. My largest landed large-mouth right now is at a little over 4 pounds. This one, was longer and fatter than my biggest caught. Unfortunately as it continued to cut back and forth in the water (and I was holding onto my south bend with both hands at this point) it must have loosed up the hook. I realized, as the Rat-L-Trap sprung up into the air, that I had neglected to set the hook. The fish was gone faster than I could scream, unceremoniously into the surrounding trees. Needless to say I fished a while longer with the Trap, and I nailed two pickerel and they also got off the treble hooks mere feet from shore. I am frustrated with this lure, and I would like some response from the readers who are familiar with the Trap lures. How hard do you have to set these lures? They are treble hooks, and a medium size lure, so I wouldn't think you would have to set it as firmly as you would set say a single hook in a texas rig style. If you have questions and answers for the Q&A FORUM of Mass Bass Association, please send them in. We'd love to hear from you. OFF THE TRACK: Trout Fishing Ahh, trout fishing. I think they should have named TROUT, catfish. They are the most picky paranoid fish I've ever tried to reel in. You have to do things JUST right or you won't ever get the strike, never mind reel them in. However trout give a very good fight, and they are good eating to boot! I'm afraid I can't say that for BASS, I never got a taste for large mouth bass, but to each his own. On with TROUT fishing. Fall is the time of year, at least in my area, when they start to stock the lakes with trout. This is good. Yes? Yes. Unfortunately, catching these newly placed fishies is somewhat of a task. It requires the utmost care and patience when rigging your line. In fact, the hardest thing about trout fishing is rigging your line. There are a few key facts about trout you should be aware of before you go out and try to catch them. For one thing, trout don't do weight. Which is to say if they feel any weight at all when they take the bait, they'll spit that hook out faster than you can say "Got any more grubs?". So here's how what you'll need to rig your line. The smallest split shot you can find (those are the ones shaped like a ball with two appendages on one side so you can squeeze it open and closed), a sliding weight (those are the tubular sinkers with the holes drilled through them so they slide up and down your line), a swivel lead, and a small hook (say about size 2 is good). Now what you do is, first slide on the sliding weight, and put the split shot bead weight about two feet up the line. The split shot will keep the slider from sliding down into your lead, and wearing out your knot. tie on your lead and hook. That's about it. Make sure you wrap the line twice around the split shot to be sure it doesn't loosen and get forced down by the sliding weight. Here's what you'll want to fish with for bait. Get yourself some of those tiny marshmallow's, slide it onto your hook first, this will give flotation to your bait. Now if you choose to use a grub, hook it through the tail, and you're ready to go. If you choose to use trout formula power bait (that's the pink goop), with dry hands roll a small portion into a ball and firmly place it over your hook. If you use power bait grubs, hook them through the tail as you would with a live grub. Throw your line out, let it settle to the bottom, then tighten the light up enough so you'll see the rod tip move when the trout come calling. Keep in mind that you may have to wait a while so you'll want a stand for your rod, rather than try to hold it steadily for ten or fifteen minutes. Trout like deep water, so find yourself a lake with a serious dropoff or hole. That's where you'll want to drop your line. THE MASS BASS ASSOCIATION A non-profit organization dedicated to BASS fishing in and around Massachusetts MEMBERSHIP FOR 1994 IS ONLY $5.00 To join the MASS BASS ASSOCIATION: Submit your Name, Address, Phone # to MASS BASS ASSOCIATION 32 Beaver Street Salem, MA 01970 This is a brand new organization, and we don't offer much yet, but that is why membership is $5.00 As we grow and we can offer things for becoming a member we will charge a modest membership fee. All money brought in will be used to FURTHER "The MASS BASS Association", and to sponsor various events involving BASS Fishing such as the following: Lake & Pond Cleanups Tournaments Purchase & Evaluation Of New Fishing Products The collection and distribution of pertinent information We Need Your Help! That's right, we need the help of other bass fishermen in and around Massachusetts who are willing to send us the following: Hints & Tips Lure Reviews Lake & Pond Reviews Information on conventions and seminars and any information that pertains to Bass Fishing in Massachusetts All submissions are done voluntarily and no fees are paid for this information. All information and submissions become the property of The MASS BASS Association. Send submissions to The MASS BASS Association 32 Beaver Street Salem, MA 01970