The Perfect Cast...

[TTCal]

If thereÌs one thing that drives me during each of my adventures fishing for bass, itÌs the experience of mind, body and tackle all coming together in the perfectly executed lure presentation. To me, this is the essence of the sport: Spotting the perfect key above water (whether it be a submerged stump, rock, tree, or field of grass), putting that little ( or in many cases, big) bit of temptation right where you think that bass is hiding, and being rewarded in your presentation with a great big thump at the end of your line Ò fish on!

Having been absent from the consuming pursuit of bass for more than 5 years, IÌve renewed my quest with a vengeance this year and have dived full-on into all the advancements seen in the sport from rods to reels to lures. So many new variables in the equation now, itÌs been a dizzying experience setting up and matching technique to gear.

One of my discoveries this year has been the Kistler Helium LTA series. And one of the many Kistler Heliums I now own is the He69APC. On a recent trip, I matched this rod with a Shimano Conquest 51 spooled with 14lb Berkley Fireline.

At the outset, I was throwing a 1/2oz double willow leaf spinnerbait with this setup. I was amazed at the casting ability the rod and reel afforded me. The tip is so limber, I had to keep checking it to make sure I hadnÌt snapped the tip casting my lure! With the added advantage of the Fireline, I could feel the vibration of the willow leaf blades all the way down the length of the rod Ò unreal. Well, despite near perfect placement after placement, I couldnÌt get a bass to hit my spinnerbait.

I had other setups in the boat with me and by mid-morning we had concluded it was going to be a day for plastic worms Ò specifically, the Senko. What a wonder bait IÌve learned this is! (remember, more than 5 years away from the sport ) Well, I kept eyeing my He69APC wondering how wonderful a fish would feel at the end of the line attached to that pole, so, I retired the setup I WAS using that day for the Senko, and tied one on to my Kistler.

At about that time, the bite changed. I was fishing that day with my brother and his son. They were splitshotting 4 and 6 inch worms while I continued to throw the Senko on my He69APC. My brother was on a hot streak landing about 4 two pound bass in a row. It was great to see him having such a great time as heÌs the one that introduced me to the sport twenty years ago and itÌd been a long time since we shared a day with this much catching activity on the water. Even his son, now 19, finally landed his first keeper size bass Ò a 13 incher! But I was determined to break in my Kistler, so I stayed with the Senko hoping to find the right spot and the right cast to tempt a bass into biting.

The wind had been blowing on and off all day. We were approaching a long, extended point when it picked up again. I tried to control the boat pulling it out along the point so we could make some casts, first along the point, and then over it, but the wind wouldnÌt allow us the chance. A couple of feeble casts was all we could manage. Down along the shoreline, on the other side of the point I spotted a fallen oak tree. Its branches were in the water but the tree was out in the open along a very busy thorough fare for water skiers and other power boats. It was getting late, so that was likely to be our final ÏspotÓ for the day. I pointed the trolling motor in its direction as we fished the shoreline up to the fallen tree.

My first cast was to a spot between the shore and the submerged branches Ò tap tap, I felt the bite and set the hook on a bass that was no larger than the Senko it decided to engulf! It took a bit to unhook the feisty little bass and we had some other snags and line re-ties to work, but I finally repositioned the boat to the side of the tree as we continued our approach. I reached out and sent a gentle cast around the front of the tree in an opening between the two primary clumps of limbs - perfect. A second later I felt what seemed like a child sucking in a long strand of spaghetti. I quickly reeled in the slack and lifted the rod tip for what I hoped was a hook set. It was! Fish On!

The He69APC immediately bent and felt strong as I was able to move the fish away from the tree and out into open water. Realizing it was in danger, the fish turned tail and headed straight for the boat spooling off about 10 feet of line as it dove down and under. I kept the tension on and finally brought the bass alongside the boat where we landed it Ò a very long and slender 3 pounder Ò most likely a spent female, for if she had any girth, sheÌd have been 4 easy. Finally, the perfect cast on a great day and a great way to break in a perfect rod.

[Shimanoman]

Dennis- Good for you, well done !! Your rod is no longer a virgin! Sounds like a great time. Regards Shimanoman