Bassbaron,

Been there, so I know it really sucks.

I have had success with dragging a metal clip type stringer, with the clips open. We snagged the line and were able to retrieve the rod that way.

If that doesn’t work, and since it is realatively shallow, you might try a pole with some sort of hooks on the end of it. I’m not talking about fishing hooks, just bent pieces of metal that are not sharp. A cut up cloths hanger and duct tape might do it.

A great pole for this would be the kind used to clean pools. Try to borrow one because they are pretty expensive.

Another Idea for the pole would be an extendable golf ball or lure retriever.

As a last resort, contact your local SCUBA club or volunteer fire department’s search and rescue unit.

They may be looking for a challenge or training oportunity. I had a friend loose a wedding ring at a boat landing and the local search and rescue team volunteered to look for it.

Good luck,

Steve

Woolybugger,

My favorite / most productive lure for catching white bass (strippers) is a shad colored rattling rap, a good second choise is a no. 6 panther martin spinner. As others have said, when there hitting they will eat just about any white or shad colored 1-3 inch bait in there way. Once I have caught a few I usually switch to surface lures. Zara puppies in silver or other light colors are a blast.

Later in the summer, you will see active schools chasing bait fish. I find these schools near current breaks off the main chanel. I am not necessarily fishing for the stripers, but find that bass, walleye, and northern get turned on when the strippers are feeding.

If you can get your lure through the stipper school, a lot of time you will get bite by these other species.

Have fun,

Steve.

P.S. They are good table fare as well. Don’t forget to remove the mud line.

Bass Tracker,

Thanks for the info. Do you have contact information for Bomber. Getting unpainted bodies sounds good.

Got any pictures of your handy work?

Steve

Kensyl and Rivereyes,

Thanks for the replies. I will let you know if I come across any. But they better have a lot cause this is my confidence color for the river.

Rivereyes, I have already ordered a couple of the color you suggested, and I like this color. But >>>>>>>

Here comes the story (remember its been a few years and I am at heart a fisherman)

About 15 years ago, my buddy and I got into trolling and casting cranks on the the Miss. We both were using bomber Model As, size 6A with basically the same rod, reel line, ect. The only difference was the color. His favorite was the chart crawdad (a real good color) and my favorite was, what I call fire engine red with black marks (could have been more orange than I remember). Anyway, to make a long story short, on most occasions I kicked his butt. The only thing that saved my and my limited supply was that he was too stuborn to change.

Steve

Jon J,

No, I’m a civilian now (former US Army) working for a contractor that does environmental clean ups on the Navy and Airforce Bases.

Its the Dry Season now with the trade winds up, so not much in the way of Typhoons.

No Marines Stationed on Guam currently, but it looks like both the Navy and Airforce are going to increase there presence here so the Marines may return as well.

Take Care,

Steve

Stillakid 2,

Thanks, would be very interested and getting some more in that color.

I think I must have got that color about 15 years ago (wow am I old) and only have 1 left.

If they have stopped making this color, I will have to start bringing my SCUBA gear fishing.

Thanks

Current Break,

Thanks for the info. Why do you like the MH action better? Would you recommend the MH for tossing my favorite crank bait the Bomber Model A, size 6A, which is 1/4 oz.

Thanks

Still a kid 2,

Thanks for the welcome and the advise. Yes, Jim’s article was great and stirred up many crank baitin memories from the past.

One such memory was made last July when my brother and I were casting riprap off the main channel near Casseville about an hour before dark. We ran into the biggest hungryest mixed bag of fish I ever saw. In about a 1 hour period we caught LMB (up to 4lbs), SMB (up to 6lb), one gar (near 20 lbs), numberous stripers and walleye (up to 7lbs). All crankin with either shad raps or bombers. It doesn’t get any better than that.

I, as the name suggests, live on Guam and only get to fish my home waters (pool 11 and 12) once or twice a year, usually in the summer. For me, summer means crankin riprap and wingdams, something I love to do.

I’ll be home this August and will try to give them hell with my new BPS crankin rod.

P.S. My favorite crank is the Bomber Model A, I think the 2″ 1/4 oz size. Favorite color is fire engine red with black markings. Can’t find this color on line anywhere, do you have a source for these?

Thanks,

Steve

Ecnook,

Thorne Bros (www.thorne bros.com) has the GP12 for $139, which include free shipping.

I use my GPS primarily for the navigation (both on water and land) for areas that are hard to naturally navigate. For example open water or flat woodlands. I have never used mine for fishing the Mississippi, because natural navigation is all that is needed to get me back to a particular spot, but have used it on the river for safety purposes.

If you are caught out after dark, or in some low vis situation (rain, fog, snow ect.), having your course plotted could get you home safely.

Steve