Sometimes, a little finesse is needed to catch bass
One of the most frustrating fishing conditions is when bass are found in clear, shallow water — plainly visible yet almost impossible to catch. Because you are as visible as the fish, it takes plenty of finesse to get close enough to cast. And because shallow bass spook so easily, it takes the patience of a saint to entice them to bite.
A bit of savvy from veteran bass guide Dan Thurmond and B.A.S.S. pro Gerald Swindle may help you gain confidence enough to catch a decent share of the big fish. “It seems the clearer the water, the more lunker bass gravitate to shallow margins, especially in a natural lake and river.” Thurmond says, “Because of the sandy bottom at shallow areas, weed growth is usually thickest there and that is where the majority of bass tend to live. The presence of crawfish, bluegill and shiners in these shallows are an added enticement for foraging bass. Any stick-ups, stumps or weed clumps, no matter how small, will hold bass when they’re up really shallow waters — a good place for pitching a weedless jig.”
Swindle feels shallow bass relate strongly to shadows from overhanging trees. He makes his initial presentations with a Zoom Super Fluke and a Lucky Craft Sammy topwater bait casting 5 to 6 feet past his target. Then he twitches the lure several times, slowing it up when it gets by a spot where he had spotted a fish holding earlier. Check with the Hideaway for other lures they know to work under these conditions. Swindle goes on to say, “If a bass doesn’t respond, he will twitch the lure quickly out of the strike zone; this gives the lure the appearance of a fleeing baitfish and often elicits a strike.” Swindle says, “Using a slow retrieve in shallow water gives a bass too much time to examine your lure. So don’t go slow. This is where a good pair
of sunglasses are essential.”
While smoke-colored lenses tend to make bass melt into the background, he uses glasses with a yellow tint for sight fishing shallow bass — they really make a fish stand out from its surroundings. He prefers dark lure colors that he can see easily, while other bass anglers often use light translucent colors such as amber or watermelon. At times, he’ll use bubble gum or hot orange to provoke a strike from a finicky bass. Keep a low profile when sight fishing — avoid bright colors. An ideal time for camo clothing. “Noise can spook the fish so avoid using a trolling motor, try for no noise at all. Better to anchor or tie up to a tree branch. Keep lures and colors you intend to use handy.”
Fishing clubs
• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish”: Don’t pass up the opportunity to get in on the next tournament on June 1 at Colorado River waters launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Whenever and wherever you go fishing, make sure to bring plenty of drinking water, sports beverages, long sleeve cover-ups, towels to wet and sit on, sunscreen, insect repellent and lots of patience. Jet skis, paddle boards, pleasure boats and skiers have little understanding of the ‘rules of the road’ on the river — don’t assume they are paying attention. Be careful in the backwaters and channels of traffic. Take it slow coming out of lakes and be safe. The Ferguson Lake corner can be deadly. Keep your speed on the ramp at Fisher’s below 5 mph and have your boat rigged before going to the launch ramp, then keep your lights on at the ramp for everyone’s safety. Remember to use the club’s black bags to bring your fish to the scales. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984 or visit rjsm09@msn.com with questions and tournament times.
• Desert Draw Pro/Am Series: Hope to have results from Saturday’s tournament to report prior to the end of May. Take advantage of the May 25 Military Appreciation Day fishing derby being held by YVRGC. Another tournament to take advantage of will be held by the Pro/Am Series on June 8 launching out of Fisher’s Landing. If you don’t have a boat, come anyway — all pro/am series tournaments are boater and non-boater when lone anglers don’t have a boat of their own. Call Michael Obney at 928-750-7081 with questions.
• ABA: Hope to have results for next week’s column from the fish off (final ABA tournament for this season) held Saturday. The next season, beginning this fall will be a good one to get signed up for. Call Billy or Deena Clothier at 928-919-0304 with questions. There is a tournament planned for September at Lake Havasu that I hope to have details about to report soon.
• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Members of the YVRGC who are fishing the annual Bass Contest need to check out Jimmy Waits ‘FishingJimmy.com’ to learn some great news for club members who are on the bass board this year. Hope to have results of the May 4 Ted Townsend Memorial Catfish Derby next week or call Matthew Phillips at 919-9907 or Mark Loghry at 920-0233. I’ll also have the results from the qualifying Bass Derby at Mittry Lake or you can call Blake Hash at 581-4725 or Robby Ballew at 919-2453. Don’t pass up fishing the May 25 Military Appreciation Day fishing derby. Call Clint Fraser at 580-3231 or Danny Woods at 448-8476 for details of times and locations.
• Visit the Hideaway (previously Sportsman’s): The shop is now located where Mitch’s Bait Shop had been — you’ll be extra surprised at all they have. The new owners Danny Woods and Blake Hash as well as Edgar will assist with your every fishing need. Check out the YVRGC bass board while there — you might decide to join the club and get in on the fishing action.
• Yuma High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any high schooler, both boys and girls, to learn about fishing for bass with members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assisting the kids in providing them with boats and equipment as well as guidance as they learn — it is an exciting year so far for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing/Martinez Lake. Interested high schoolers can call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started.
• Fishing Arizona and the Colorado River: The summer tournament is definitely set for June 15, so for now, Bob La Londe will report with information where on the Colorado River the fishing will take place. For complete information and to get signed up, go to yumabassman.com/ forums-new/index.php/topic,9542. msg43567/topicseen.html#net.
Shooting sports
• 4-H Shooting Sports: The Yuma County 4-H shooting sports is open to any 4-H youth ages 9-19. Call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740 with questions or if you have a youngster who might want to join a 4-H club and get in on the shooting sports at the Ware Farm in Gila Valley. I have a great story about one of the young, new 4-H youngsters to include in next week’s column so be sure to check it out.
• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Archers are always welcome to shoot with the club, let me hear from you if you’d like to enjoy shooting the 3D trail shoots. Give us a call at 726-0953 and we’ll be glad to set up the trail for your shooting enjoyment. We are glad to assist anyone in their learning as well with free archery instructions. The practice range area is open (use is free) daylight hours all week. Because of vandalism, we will have to take torn apart cotton bales down for proper disposal, best bring your own target for use at the practice range.
• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet? Shoot 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays at Adair Park, located off Highway 95, 15 miles east of Yuma, turning west onto Adair Range Road, 1st range on the right. Range fees are $1 to sign-up with $6 nonmember fee per round of 25 targets. Member’s fee $4 per round with 5 shooting fields available — field 1 & 2 skeet, field 3 wobble trap, field 4 & 5 trap. Eye and hearing protection required. Annual dues $30 per calendar year. Call Bob Avila at 928-9190622. The May board meeting will be 6 p.m. May 28.
• The Yuma Young Guns with the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP): The program, open to ages 9-25 still in school, will continue this fall with a team of Arizona Game and Fish Department certified instructors assisting. Call head coach H. McNutt at 928-580-0918 or John Gross at 580-1836 if with questions.
• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Get in on the open black powder matches at the Adair Park range, 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453 with questions or to ask about .22 matches.
• Cholla Gun Club: Club NRA approved matches (NRA membership not required) will resume in November at Adair Park. Call Rick Kelley 928-502-0736. The range will remain open to the public for safe shooting practice through the summer until the maintaining club returns.
• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: All shooters are welcome to shoot the 3X 600 long range match May 25 with sign-up at 7:30 a.m. Call Joseph Murek at 928-627-4556 with questions. Shooting activities with the club’s junior club “Whipper Snipers” for all ages are also on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Check club matches as well as Whipper Snipers news listed on the club website at hprifleyuma.net.
• Yuma Matchmasters: A variety of matches are offered each month at the range, all open to shooters at 7 a.m. with the steel challenge the 1st Saturday, multi-gun matches the 1st Sunday, IPSC combat matches the 2nd Sunday with the cowboy fast draw the 3rd Saturday. SASS cowboy fast draw matches have moved from Saturday to the 4th Sunday. Interested in cowboy action shooting? Call Irene Snyder at 209-613-4598 or Bob Wiles at 920-2158 with questions.
• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club at Adair Park: Archery is offered on Sundays with the practice range open all week. Call Keith Parsels at 782-1086 with questions.
Hunt happenings
• Update on the 2018 Mexican wolf count cause for optimism: The recent Mexican wolf count indicates that the population of Mexican wolves has increased by 12 percent since last year, raising the total number of wolves in the wild to a minimum of 131 animals. This number is among the findings of the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT), a task force comprising federal, state and international partners. From November 2018 through January 2019, the team conducted ground counts in Arizona and New Mexico that concluded with aerial counts of Mexican wolves in February. Among the IFT’s findings, 131 wolves are nearly evenly distributed — 64 wolves in Arizona and 67 in New Mexico. Last year, the team documented 117 wolves. This year’s total represents a 12 percent increase in the population of Canis lupus baileyi. “The survey results indicate the Mexican wolf program is helping save an endangered subspecies,” said Amy Lueders, regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southwest Region. “The Mexican wolf has come back from the brink of extinction, thanks to scientific management and the dedicated work of a lot of partners. With continued support and research, we can continue to make progress in Mexican wolf recovery.”
“The numbers highlight the wolf’s progress in the wild,” said Jim deVos, assistant director of Wildlife Management for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The results of this census are very important as they reflect the great progress being made in the recovery of the Mexican wolf in the United States. The increase of about 12 percent in the Mexican wolf population is not an isolated year, but rather a continuum of increases over the last 10 years.”
This year’s findings confirmed: There are a minimum of 32 packs of wolves (two or more animals), plus seven individuals. A minimum of 18 packs had pups; 16 of these packs had pups that survived to the end of the year. A minimum of 81 pups were born in 2018, and at least 47 survived to the end of the year. That’s a 58 percent survival rate. The population growth occurred despite 21 documented mortalities last year. Eleven wolves were captured during the aerial operations. Seventynine wolves — 60 percent of the population — wore functioning radio collars. The collars help researchers manage and monitor the population and are vital to collecting scientific information. The discovery of crossfostered wolves was a bright spot in the annual survey. The IFT last spring placed eight captive pups into four wild dens to boost the genetic variability in the wild population. The team began cross-fostering in 2014.
“The survey shows that crossfostering — taking days-old pups born in captivity and placing them in packs in the wild — is bearing fruit,” said deVos. “One of the key recovery criteria addresses the need for increasing genetic diversity within the wild population. Using the proven approach of cross-fostering, the IFT documented survival of no fewer than three fostered pups from 2018 fostering events.”
The Mexican wolf is the rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America. It is listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Once common throughout portions of the southwestern United States and Mexico, it was all but eliminated from the wild by the 1970’s. Working with the Mexican government, the service in 1977 began developing a captive breeding program to restore the wolf’s numbers. It started with seven wolves, aiming for the day the program could release wolves into the wild. That day came in 1998, when the service released 11 wolves within a range called the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area in Arizona and New Mexico. In 2011, the program expanded to Mexico with the release of wolves in the Sierra Madre Occidental. An estimated 30 Mexican wolves now live in the wild in Mexico. Today, approximately 280 Mexican wolves live in more than 50 facilities throughout the United States and Mexico. They contribute to the species’ recovery and genetic diversity. In November 2017, the service completed the Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, first revision. The recovery plan uses the best available science to chart a path forward for the Mexican wolf that can be accommodated within the species’ historical range in the southwestern United States and Mexico. This revised plan provides measurable and objective criteria for successful recovery. If those goals are met, the service will be able to remove the Mexican wolf from the list of endangered species. The wolf’s management would be turned over to the appropriate states and Native American tribes.
In addition to the service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, partners in the recovery program include the Mexican government, White Mountain Apache Tribe, U.S. Forest Service, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, several participating counties, and the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan. For more information on the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, visit fws.gov/ southwest/es/mexicanwolf or www. azgfd.gov/wolf.
Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.