PERFECT TIMING

Matt with a very big bass!

Wow! What a month April of 2013 has been for us! Ususally, we are questing bluegills and crappies at this time of year. But a prolonged progression of spring kept water temperatures down, thus pushing the panfish bite back but maintaining the pre-spawn gig for largemouths in local lakes and ponds. We probably had our best spring bassing in many years, taking them on first Rat-L-Traps, then Mepps Spinners, and most recently on Travis Crossman's outstanding stick worm ... the Stank X Stix in Bluegilla color. Here are some of the highlights recently...

Two plus pounders were all over the place.

We picked up some dinks while scouting for panfish.

Matt with another nice one.

Spinners worked earlier in the month, but the Stix soon took over.

This past week April 22 to 30, we found bass trying to spawn. A few small males were observed on beds, but backed off with an incomimg front and cold nights in the mid 30's. We figured that the larger she-bass were cruising the outskirts of the bedding sites but the water hovered around 60 degrees...too cold to lock them down on the beds. Hardware wouldn't work, so we switched to plastics, and that's were the the best stick worm in the industry, the Stank X Stix at 4.25 inches, shined brightly. Check 'em out...

By far the best stick worm I've used is the 4.25 inch Stix by Stank X Baits.

I seldom hawk products through my blog or columns, but this bait is just too good to not talk about. I have used all the top-line, big name, high-priced stick worms so popularized by the bass fishing industry. But these are phenomenal, tougher than the brand names and , at least for me, just catch more and bigger fish. I am sponsored by no one but my own wallet, but strongly tout American made, quality products by the small business man. Check these out at stankxbaitco.com.

This past Sunday, my son Matt and I fished the local Bass Mart and had an astounding day, for us anyway, as a chilly rain and overcast and windy conditions allowed us to effectively put the worms in front of the cruising mamas. Here is more of the story...

Matt with another rainy day lunker!

We doubled up frequently in the wind and rain.

Even I got in on the 'big fish' action. Cool!

We've been covered up in 3 to 4 pounders this month.

Matt with one of 35 bass he caught and released in the pelting rain.

And on a sunny day, I got this pig on light tackle and the Stix.

This girls got a weight problem!

And here we go...another shot of Matt's monster he got on 6-pound test.

That rainy day effort was a personal best for Matt and I. When the dust finally settled, we had totaled 44 bass, most of which were from 2 to 4 pounds, all in just 2.5 hours of fishing! Wow! Our previous best total here was 16 fish. But we theorized that conditions were just right, 'perfect timing' for this exceptional catch. The bigger fish were cruising and the wind and, at times, pelting rain, allowed us to cast where we 'thought' fish might be roaming, just outside of the bedding areas. We never caught a single fish off of a bed, because they just weren't on them! And we didn't spook any, either.

A memorable trip, exceptional fish, and great times with my boy! Everything was perfect, even if the weather wasn't, for a 'harvest' of great fish, even though we released them all. Timing...that's the key, to fishing and to a life in Christ. In my life, that 'perfect time' came at the age of 23, when I had had enough of what the world was telling me I had to have in order to be happy. 'Sex, drugs and rock and roll' was the anthem of the day. But all of that fell way short in making me happy. As a matter of fact, I was miserable. Praise God! He pulled me out of the pit and mud and mire and 'put a new song on my lips, a hymn of praise to our God' as said in Psalm 40. God has a plan for your life, and He has a perfect time for you to accept His Son Jesus Christ as your personal saviour. Your time may be this very moment, as you read these words. To put it off is dangerous, for none of us know of our days on earth. You may never get another chance to humble your heart to Christ, who will forgive you of all your sins and make you a new creature in His Grace. Simply ask Him to enter your heart and your life, to forgive you and cleanse you, and to create in you the desire to walk as Jesus did. Your life and eternal home will change immediately and forever.

                                  TIME IS SHORT...IS THIS MOMENT YOURS?