Bill Van Bruggen shows off a bass he caught.
By Jack Payne
When a bass strikes a lure, the adrenalin gets flowing. Bass put up a great fight and spend as much time out of the water as they do in. Bass is a species that I wish I chased more often.
Bass techniques are numerous, and I will mention my favorites. These might not be the same for you or a serious tournament angler, but they work well in my boat.
Without a doubt, I caught more bass on the old K&E Tackle Bass Stopper Worm than any other bait. Hands down, this is my favorite bait from the opening day until the Fourth of July.
When I fish the real shallow waters or the inside of new weed growth, no extra weight is added. Just cast the worm out, and it slowly dances side to side while sinking towards the bottom.
When a sinker is required I will add one No. 7 split shot. Normally I can work this configuration to a depth equal to the deep side of the weeds.
You can work this worm over the tops of the weeds. You can crawl it over the bottom. This worm works.
My second choice bait would be the Charlie Brewer Slider worm, and we fish it in the Do Nothing Method that Charlie Senior had perfected. Simply add the worm to the Charlie Brewer Slider jighead and crawl it over logs, rocks or any bottom structure.
This worm I will use all season long. I can fish it from the shoreline to a depth of 18 feet or thereabouts.
The next lure up would be either a three-inch or the four-inch Charlie Brewer Bass/Walleye grub. Most often this plastic will be fished on a Brewer Slider jighead of various weights. This plastic is along the lines of a paddle tail and can be fished quicker. It can also be fished much along the lines of a swim bait. It’s my number one walleye lure and the smaller versions are my favorite crappie and bluegill lures.
When I think of bass fishing, a spinner comes to mind. I will fish a spinner year-round. A spinner can be fished over the weeds, logs or obstacles. You can crawl a spinner along the bottom on the deep side of a weed line. Spinners are extremely versatile and many books have been written about this bait. I just love ripping this bait in where the blades are just busting the surface of the water. Strikes super exciting and water will be flinging.
During the summer season, I like nothing better than throwing buzz bait under low light conditions. A buzz bait works great the very first hour of daylight and once again just as the sun drops in the evening. There is just something fun watching a bass explode on a noisy buzz baits when it’s dead calm and quiet out.
I use live bait whenever I fish a lake that holds walleye. We use two techniques that are nearly as old as mine. The first one is patterned after the book “Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers.” This is a fantastic book and I would suggest searching the internet for it or reaching out to Midwest Outdoors for a copy.
This technique originally was designed to fish a crawler in the most natural manner possible. Very light line and small hooks were used along with a long and limber rod.
We use circle hooks and they rarely will gut hook a fish. Nearly all fish will be caught in the corner of the mouth. With a circle hook do not slam the rod home. Just some steady pressure will do the trick.
During the summer, my favorite bait is a jumbo leech. We might fish it with a circle hook, a floating jighead, or under a slip float. The slip float works great on suspended fish. The floating jighead works wonders on the deep structure holding fish.
Truthfully, anglers would catch more fish using a slip float than just about any other technique. And a floating jighead gets your bait just off of the bottom and adds color. Give bass fishing a try this summer and stop in at Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
When a bass strikes a lure, the adrenalin gets flowing. Bass put up a great fight and spend as much time out of the water as they do in. Bass is a species that I wish I chased more often.
Bass techniques are numerous, and I will mention my favorites. These might not be the same for you or a serious tournament angler, but they work well in my boat.
Without a doubt, I caught more bass on the old K&E Tackle Bass Stopper Worm than any other bait. Hands down, this is my favorite bait from the opening day until the Fourth of July.
When I fish the real shallow waters or the inside of new weed growth, no extra weight is added. Just cast the worm out, and it slowly dances side to side while sinking towards the bottom.
When a sinker is required I will add one No. 7 split shot. Normally I can work this configuration to a depth equal to the deep side of the weeds.
You can work this worm over the tops of the weeds. You can crawl it over the bottom. This worm works.
My second choice bait would be the Charlie Brewer Slider worm, and we fish it in the Do Nothing Method that Charlie Senior had perfected. Simply add the worm to the Charlie Brewer Slider jighead and crawl it over logs, rocks or any bottom structure.
This worm I will use all season long. I can fish it from the shoreline to a depth of 18 feet or thereabouts.
The next lure up would be either a three-inch or the four-inch Charlie Brewer Bass/Walleye grub. Most often this plastic will be fished on a Brewer Slider jighead of various weights. This plastic is along the lines of a paddle tail and can be fished quicker. It can also be fished much along the lines of a swim bait. It’s my number one walleye lure and the smaller versions are my favorite crappie and bluegill lures.
When I think of bass fishing, a spinner comes to mind. I will fish a spinner year-round. A spinner can be fished over the weeds, logs or obstacles. You can crawl a spinner along the bottom on the deep side of a weed line. Spinners are extremely versatile and many books have been written about this bait. I just love ripping this bait in where the blades are just busting the surface of the water. Strikes super exciting and water will be flinging.
During the summer season, I like nothing better than throwing buzz bait under low light conditions. A buzz bait works great the very first hour of daylight and once again just as the sun drops in the evening. There is just something fun watching a bass explode on a noisy buzz baits when it’s dead calm and quiet out.
I use live bait whenever I fish a lake that holds walleye. We use two techniques that are nearly as old as mine. The first one is patterned after the book “Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers.” This is a fantastic book and I would suggest searching the internet for it or reaching out to Midwest Outdoors for a copy.
This technique originally was designed to fish a crawler in the most natural manner possible. Very light line and small hooks were used along with a long and limber rod.
We use circle hooks and they rarely will gut hook a fish. Nearly all fish will be caught in the corner of the mouth. With a circle hook do not slam the rod home. Just some steady pressure will do the trick.
During the summer, my favorite bait is a jumbo leech. We might fish it with a circle hook, a floating jighead, or under a slip float. The slip float works great on suspended fish. The floating jighead works wonders on the deep structure holding fish.
Truthfully, anglers would catch more fish using a slip float than just about any other technique. And a floating jighead gets your bait just off of the bottom and adds color. Give bass fishing a try this summer and stop in at Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
How To Help Baby Wildlife? Leave Them Alone, DNR Says
A spotted white-tailed fawn is curled up in a grassy nest, hidden by its mother for safekeeping. If you find a fawn like this, leave the area quickly so you don't leave your scent and expose the fawn to predators.
Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Free Fishing Weekend this Weekend
This weekend is Free Fishing Weekend across the state of Michigan.
On Saturday and Sunday, all fishing license fees will be waived. Residents and out-of-state visitors may enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes waters for all species of fish. All fishing regulations will still apply.
A Recreation Passport will not be required for entry into state parks and boating access sites during Free Fishing Weekend.
The summer Free Fishing Weekend is held in conjunction with "Three Free" weekend, where residents and nonresidents can grab a fishing rod, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks and boating access sites - all free of charge.
During Free ORV Weekend, Michigan residents and visitors legally can ride without buying an ORV license or trail permit. All other ORV rules and laws still apply. For more information about Free ORV Weekends, visit Michigan.gov/ORVInfo.
The state offers Free Fishing Weekends twice a year. The winter weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday of President's Day weekend and the summer weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday following the first full week of June.
On Saturday and Sunday, all fishing license fees will be waived. Residents and out-of-state visitors may enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes waters for all species of fish. All fishing regulations will still apply.
A Recreation Passport will not be required for entry into state parks and boating access sites during Free Fishing Weekend.
The summer Free Fishing Weekend is held in conjunction with "Three Free" weekend, where residents and nonresidents can grab a fishing rod, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks and boating access sites - all free of charge.
During Free ORV Weekend, Michigan residents and visitors legally can ride without buying an ORV license or trail permit. All other ORV rules and laws still apply. For more information about Free ORV Weekends, visit Michigan.gov/ORVInfo.
The state offers Free Fishing Weekends twice a year. The winter weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday of President's Day weekend and the summer weekend is always the Saturday and Sunday following the first full week of June.
Outdoor Truths
By Gary Miller
This year’s turkey season was full of all kinds of different experiences.
I shot and killed. I shot and missed. I witnessed lots of gobblers strutting just out of range and others close enough, but just behind me. There were four jakes that constantly came to my decoy party and would stay until I ran them off.
I hunted in the cold, the heat and the rain. Some days I walked miles, and other days I set up only a few feet from my truck. At times there were so many turkeys roaming around my farm, I would get stuck in the paralysis of analysis, just wondering which direction I needed to go.
But there’s no doubt the most difficult part was trying to outwit several of the older and wiser birds. It seems to me there’s a big difference in how a tom acts after it reaches its third birthday.
The actions of a two-year-old bird versus an older bird are like night and day. The younger toms are predictable and gullible. They make moves the older birds never do. I guess that’s why more two-year-old toms are killed each year than the mature ones.
I think the more mature ones have finally come into their own. They have finally figured out how they were created. They have discovered that life, health, and success come as they function within how God created them and the world. Maybe there’s a lesson here for us.
I think it takes every young man and woman a few years to come into ourselves. As a young adult, I did stupid things. I mean, I do stupid things now, but back then I held records for stupid things.
A lot of it was from trying to figure out who I was and what I was meant to do. And that some things that sound good and look real may just be a trap that would leave me hanging on the wall in the devil’s trophy room.
But here’s the good news. My years of stupidity were not uncommon. Yours weren’t either. In fact, all your predictable and gullible moves that led you into a snare were already factored in by God. Before you committed one dumb move, God anticipated it and went ahead and made provision. He was, and always will be, one step ahead, making messages and ministries from your messes.
You’re here today with a few feathers missing, just as God planned. You’re here today with a limp, just as God planned. These are not only to keep you from prideful strutting, but they are your story that lets everyone know God uses wounded people.
__________
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
This year’s turkey season was full of all kinds of different experiences.
I shot and killed. I shot and missed. I witnessed lots of gobblers strutting just out of range and others close enough, but just behind me. There were four jakes that constantly came to my decoy party and would stay until I ran them off.
I hunted in the cold, the heat and the rain. Some days I walked miles, and other days I set up only a few feet from my truck. At times there were so many turkeys roaming around my farm, I would get stuck in the paralysis of analysis, just wondering which direction I needed to go.
But there’s no doubt the most difficult part was trying to outwit several of the older and wiser birds. It seems to me there’s a big difference in how a tom acts after it reaches its third birthday.
The actions of a two-year-old bird versus an older bird are like night and day. The younger toms are predictable and gullible. They make moves the older birds never do. I guess that’s why more two-year-old toms are killed each year than the mature ones.
I think the more mature ones have finally come into their own. They have finally figured out how they were created. They have discovered that life, health, and success come as they function within how God created them and the world. Maybe there’s a lesson here for us.
I think it takes every young man and woman a few years to come into ourselves. As a young adult, I did stupid things. I mean, I do stupid things now, but back then I held records for stupid things.
A lot of it was from trying to figure out who I was and what I was meant to do. And that some things that sound good and look real may just be a trap that would leave me hanging on the wall in the devil’s trophy room.
But here’s the good news. My years of stupidity were not uncommon. Yours weren’t either. In fact, all your predictable and gullible moves that led you into a snare were already factored in by God. Before you committed one dumb move, God anticipated it and went ahead and made provision. He was, and always will be, one step ahead, making messages and ministries from your messes.
You’re here today with a few feathers missing, just as God planned. You’re here today with a limp, just as God planned. These are not only to keep you from prideful strutting, but they are your story that lets everyone know God uses wounded people.
__________
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 21 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
Motor Vehicle Permits Required at County Lakeshore Parks
Ottawa County Parks and Recreation reminds county residents that a motor vehicle permit is required for entrance into its Lake Michigan beach parks, as well as the boat launch at Riverside Park through Labor Day.
Ottawa County Parks that require a motor vehicle permit Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day include:
• North Beach Park
• Olive Shores
• Kirk Park
• Rosy Mound Natural Area
• Tunnel Park
• Kouw Park*
• Windsnest Park*
• Riverside Park (boat launch only)
*Ottawa County Parks manages Kouw and Windsnest Parks per a management agreement with Port Sheldon Township. The township subsidizes the cost of an annual motor vehicle permit for their residents.
Motor vehicle permits can be purchased several different ways.
• Online: Purchase annual or daily motor vehicle permits from your phone or computer. Discounted permits available. Pay online at ottawacounty.rmcpay.com.
• On-Site: Pay stations are available at all Lakeshore beach parks including Kouw Park, Windsnest Park, and the Riverside Park Boat Launch. Discounted permits are not available at pay stations because residency cannot be verified.
• At Parks Offices: Permits are available for purchase during business hours at the Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing or the Parks Office at the Fillmore Complex. Cash, check, or credit cards accepted. You will need to provide the license plate number for each vehicle being registered, as well as your mailing address and date of birth. Discounted permits available.
The Nature Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The center is closed on Mondays.
The Parks Office at the Fillmore Complex is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discounted permits are available for residents, senior residents (60 years of age and older), and United States military members, including active duty and veterans, when purchased online.
The only way to purchase your discounted permit is online or at our office. Discounts are not available at the pay stations.
An annual permit for a single vehicle is $25 while a daily single-vehicle permit is $8. For Ottawa County residents, a single vehicle annual permit is $15, a multi-vehicle permit (limited to two vehicles) is $20, while a senior or veteran/military single vehicle annual permit is $9 and a multi-vehicle permit for seniors, veterans or military member is $12.
For Port Sheldon Township residents, a single-vehicle annual permit is $10, a multi-vehicle annual permit is $15. A single-vehicle permit for seniors, veterans or military members is $4 while a multi-vehicle permit is $7.
Active Bridge Card holders in Michigan can receive a free Ottawa County Parks annual motor vehicle permit. Limited to one permit per household. To receive a coupon code, inquire inside the DHHS office or call (616) 394-7200 and press "0" to speak with an operator.
Ottawa County Parks that require a motor vehicle permit Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day include:
• North Beach Park
• Olive Shores
• Kirk Park
• Rosy Mound Natural Area
• Tunnel Park
• Kouw Park*
• Windsnest Park*
• Riverside Park (boat launch only)
*Ottawa County Parks manages Kouw and Windsnest Parks per a management agreement with Port Sheldon Township. The township subsidizes the cost of an annual motor vehicle permit for their residents.
Motor vehicle permits can be purchased several different ways.
• Online: Purchase annual or daily motor vehicle permits from your phone or computer. Discounted permits available. Pay online at ottawacounty.rmcpay.com.
• On-Site: Pay stations are available at all Lakeshore beach parks including Kouw Park, Windsnest Park, and the Riverside Park Boat Launch. Discounted permits are not available at pay stations because residency cannot be verified.
• At Parks Offices: Permits are available for purchase during business hours at the Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing or the Parks Office at the Fillmore Complex. Cash, check, or credit cards accepted. You will need to provide the license plate number for each vehicle being registered, as well as your mailing address and date of birth. Discounted permits available.
The Nature Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The center is closed on Mondays.
The Parks Office at the Fillmore Complex is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discounted permits are available for residents, senior residents (60 years of age and older), and United States military members, including active duty and veterans, when purchased online.
The only way to purchase your discounted permit is online or at our office. Discounts are not available at the pay stations.
An annual permit for a single vehicle is $25 while a daily single-vehicle permit is $8. For Ottawa County residents, a single vehicle annual permit is $15, a multi-vehicle permit (limited to two vehicles) is $20, while a senior or veteran/military single vehicle annual permit is $9 and a multi-vehicle permit for seniors, veterans or military member is $12.
For Port Sheldon Township residents, a single-vehicle annual permit is $10, a multi-vehicle annual permit is $15. A single-vehicle permit for seniors, veterans or military members is $4 while a multi-vehicle permit is $7.
Active Bridge Card holders in Michigan can receive a free Ottawa County Parks annual motor vehicle permit. Limited to one permit per household. To receive a coupon code, inquire inside the DHHS office or call (616) 394-7200 and press "0" to speak with an operator.
The Why and How of Deadheading
A gardener using an Ergocut dead header in the garden.
Photo courtesy Corona Tools
By Melinda Myers
Keep your flowers blooming longer and your garden a bit tidier with deadheading. Removing faded flowers can promote repeat bloom on some plants, encourage fuller, more compact growth, and tidy up the garden.
Use a bypass hand pruner, garden snips or other dead-heading tool to remove faded flowers. Bypass tools have two sharp blades like scissors, resulting in a clean cut that closes quickly, leaving your plant looking its best. Corona Tool’s Ergocut dead header (coronatools.com) has a finger loop that provides better control and an ergonomic design for less stress on your hands and wrist.
The type of flower will influence how and where to make the cut. In general, remove the stem of faded blooms back to the first set of healthy leaves or nearby flower buds.
Remove the flower stem of salvias, speedwells (Veronicas), and snapdragons as the blooms begin to fade. Cut below the spike of flowers just above the first set of leaves or the side shoots where the new flower buds are forming.
Encourage additional blossoms and improve Shasta daisy’s appearance by removing faded flowers. Prune back just above a set of healthy leaves.
Cut the flowers of plants like Armeria and coral bells back to the base of the flower stems that arise from the foliage. This improves the appearance and encourages more blooms on some of this type of flowering perennial.
Plants like daylilies and balloon flowers require a bit different care. Remove the individual blooms as they fade if you don’t like looking at the faded flowers. Once all the individual flowers have bloomed out, you can cut the flower stem back at the base.
Removing fading flowers of fuchsia and lantana will prevent the plants from going to seed and encourage more blooms. Remove any berries that do form to keep these plants flowering throughout the growing season.
Deadheading peonies is strictly for aesthetics and won’t extend the bloom time. Remove the faded flowers or seedpods as they form. Cut just above a healthy set of leaves to keep the stems more upright and create a tidier appearance in your garden.
Prevent some flowers, like columbine, Amsonia, and Alliums from reseeding and spreading throughout the garden by removing the faded flowers. Even though it won’t promote additional blooms, it will help eliminate unwanted seedlings in next year’s garden.
Remove flowers as they appear on coleus, grown for its colorful foliage, to promote more compact growth. Late blooming, flowerless varieties and self- branching coleus hybrids reduce or eliminate time spent on this task.
Reduce time spent deadheading by including some self-cleaning, also called free-flowering plants, like impatiens, fibrous begonias, Calibrachoa, and moss rose. Lobelia, many of the newer petunias, and verbenas are also self-cleaning but may benefit from a bit of grooming. Prune back heat-stressed lobelia and verbena that get leggy and petunia stems that need to be kept in bounds.
Allow seedheads to develop on coneflowers, rudbeckias, and other plants that provide winter interest and food for the birds. And consider skipping the deadheading of late blooming perennials. This allows them to prepare for winter and form seedpods for additional winter interest.
And while you are out in the garden deadheading, pick a few flowers at their peak to enjoy in a summer bouquet indoors.
__________
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers was commissioned by Corona Tools for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Keep your flowers blooming longer and your garden a bit tidier with deadheading. Removing faded flowers can promote repeat bloom on some plants, encourage fuller, more compact growth, and tidy up the garden.
Use a bypass hand pruner, garden snips or other dead-heading tool to remove faded flowers. Bypass tools have two sharp blades like scissors, resulting in a clean cut that closes quickly, leaving your plant looking its best. Corona Tool’s Ergocut dead header (coronatools.com) has a finger loop that provides better control and an ergonomic design for less stress on your hands and wrist.
The type of flower will influence how and where to make the cut. In general, remove the stem of faded blooms back to the first set of healthy leaves or nearby flower buds.
Remove the flower stem of salvias, speedwells (Veronicas), and snapdragons as the blooms begin to fade. Cut below the spike of flowers just above the first set of leaves or the side shoots where the new flower buds are forming.
Encourage additional blossoms and improve Shasta daisy’s appearance by removing faded flowers. Prune back just above a set of healthy leaves.
Cut the flowers of plants like Armeria and coral bells back to the base of the flower stems that arise from the foliage. This improves the appearance and encourages more blooms on some of this type of flowering perennial.
Plants like daylilies and balloon flowers require a bit different care. Remove the individual blooms as they fade if you don’t like looking at the faded flowers. Once all the individual flowers have bloomed out, you can cut the flower stem back at the base.
Removing fading flowers of fuchsia and lantana will prevent the plants from going to seed and encourage more blooms. Remove any berries that do form to keep these plants flowering throughout the growing season.
Deadheading peonies is strictly for aesthetics and won’t extend the bloom time. Remove the faded flowers or seedpods as they form. Cut just above a healthy set of leaves to keep the stems more upright and create a tidier appearance in your garden.
Prevent some flowers, like columbine, Amsonia, and Alliums from reseeding and spreading throughout the garden by removing the faded flowers. Even though it won’t promote additional blooms, it will help eliminate unwanted seedlings in next year’s garden.
Remove flowers as they appear on coleus, grown for its colorful foliage, to promote more compact growth. Late blooming, flowerless varieties and self- branching coleus hybrids reduce or eliminate time spent on this task.
Reduce time spent deadheading by including some self-cleaning, also called free-flowering plants, like impatiens, fibrous begonias, Calibrachoa, and moss rose. Lobelia, many of the newer petunias, and verbenas are also self-cleaning but may benefit from a bit of grooming. Prune back heat-stressed lobelia and verbena that get leggy and petunia stems that need to be kept in bounds.
Allow seedheads to develop on coneflowers, rudbeckias, and other plants that provide winter interest and food for the birds. And consider skipping the deadheading of late blooming perennials. This allows them to prepare for winter and form seedpods for additional winter interest.
And while you are out in the garden deadheading, pick a few flowers at their peak to enjoy in a summer bouquet indoors.
__________
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers was commissioned by Corona Tools for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
