Beard Headed Walleye

Beard Headed Walleye

Like most angling days it started at O’Dark Thirty. It was cold…very cold. I had dressed for the weather but what I pictured in my head was warmer. I met JC1Crappies and Redhook62 both DuPageAngler.com members. We all sported floats and crawlers for the lion’s share of bites. We caught a mess of small fall walleyes, a couple bass, and red caught one very nice white bass before the sun was even out!

The cool thing about today, it was our first day field testing BeardHead.com products!!!

The hats themselves are very good quality and did the job of keeping our heads and ears warm while fishing. Just look at these things!!!! They rock!!! On their site they have a wicked selection of BeardHeads. When I first got mine, the kids and I ran around the house with them on. These are perfect for fisherman. Why? Well besides the whole fishing in the elements thing, there is the fact that these are a guys guy thing. Besides the Oxy Clean Guy (God rest his soul) and DA Member Wilks what guy does not dream to sport a full blown in your face beard? Also, do you know why there is a “Talk Like A Pirate” day? Because guys like it!! I mean I always wanted to be a Viking! We, as fisherman, are out there many times to hang out with our friends, have some laughs, catch some fish and these BeardHeads help us do that.

My head was the only part of me that was toasty. My fingers and toes were shot. Once they get that cold, even hand warmers don’t help any more. Bad part about a constant bite is all the baiting hooks and getting the ice off your guides.

I want to thank Chunsum (Crappie) and Tom (Red) for going Barbarian and slamming some small cigars today. 

Wind Current Finesse Bass

In a hurry, I grab a rod and went to a near by larger lake. The problem was I grabbed the wrong stuff for the conditions. I brought a spinning rod, pack of 4 inch power worms, some small hooks, shot, and pliers. I was ready to do some finesse fishing except the wind was chucking across the lake into my face. Something I would have noticed had I not been in such a hurry. I was too lazy to go back. I walked so the wind was parallel to me and just launched a cast as far as I could. The bait would not drop as it normally would in this in wind The presentation was blowing across the water and so I was about to leave and POW fish on!  Next Cast another fish. Then it all came together. I used the wind to push my set-up as if I was wading and drifting helgies in the current. I held the rod up let the wind push it, if the bait settled I would give it a little pop as I would anyway. The only thing left was maintaining the slack. This technique produced 16 fish landed in an hour and a half!!! Of course I missed a bunch. The rig I use alot for small plastics consists of a number 6 circle hook, one small shot 12 inches up, and small plastic of your choice. Next time your set-up is too light for windy conditions use the wind as current and catch those finesse bass!