By Steve Chaconas The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) recruits people into fishing and boating, targeting young children, teenagers, and college kids. Women, the low hanging fruit, rock the cradle, bait youngster hooks, and are fishing’s future. When thinking of someone who fishes or is good at fishing, 8 in 10 women think of men. Ignoring this background noise, veteran Green Top pro staff angler Christie Bradley thrives on competition and opposition. Earning the esteemed position as the highest finishing female angler in a top level “men’s” Bassmaster tournament, Christie encourages and educates women and young girls on fishing’s benefits. “I’ve been examining what is it about me that makes me enter into male dominated stuff, like working in cyber security. I like challenging myself.” Along with barriers and participation challenges, RBFF research indicates that women who fish are happier and healthier than those who don’t. Christie says fishing encourages confidence. “It’s a snowball effect. As you master skills, you want to learn the next thing and you’re more confident and proud of what you’ve learned and you share it, a sense of accomplishment and that feeds the desire to continue to perfect other skills.” As female participation in fishing hits record levels, nearly half of female anglers don’t feel respected by the angling community and 1 in 3 feel stereotyped. While appreciating that the industry targets women Christie, pro staffer for Pure Fishing, Mare Marine, and Ranger Boats, says women complain about being underrepresented. “It’s our own fault. If we can’t put aside excuses, we can’t blame the industry for lack of support for us…companies are seeking us to represent their brand if we’re good representatives. We shoot ourselves in the foot, damaging our own brand when complaining. We have more opportunities than men, but women are so…
By Steve Chaconas Boating decisions at the pump are getting worse. Aside from regular, mid-range, and premium, a new ethanol blend – E15 – is finding its way into gas pumps and boaters are being warned with bright orange labels. It’s been the advice of many mechanics to avoid the standard E10 if possible or use an additive if only ethanol is available and don’t let ethanol gas sit in your motor for more than two weeks. The problem with ethanol, E10, is the alcohol content. Alcohol is “hygroscopic,” meaning it attracts water molecules. Unfortunately, boat fuel systems are vented, and moisture collects in fuel. The moisture bonds with the alcohol and sinks to the tank bottom where the fuel pick-up is located. At this point nothing good happens ranging from performance issues to catastrophic engine damage as the powerful astringent in alcohol loosens fuel tank debris. Intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50% compared to petroleum, ethanol works well in cars, but not in small engines or outboard motors. As if E10 fuel wasn’t bad enough E15, with even more alcohol, is showing up unannounced at pumps across the country. This fuel is not approved in outboard motors by every manufacturer. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) reminds boaters that it may take a little more effort to ensure the right fuel goes into the tank while fuel sellers don’t make the obvious clarification between mixtures. Federal law prohibits using E15 fuel in boats as well as motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and power equipment, voids the engine warranty, and it has been proven to cause damage to marine engines. Recreational vessel engines may only use gasoline containing no more than 10% ethanol (E10). Any pump dispensing E15 fuel must have an approved orange warning label. Major engine manufactures include a warning label on fuel…
By Steve Chaconas Bass boaters are opening their hatches and their wallets to lithium batteries, despite their high cost and potential for fires. To be clear, lithium battery technology and safety have been improved and they don’t combust like they used to, however, if they are involved in a fire, they are nearly impossible to extinguish. Proper charging and preventing lithium batteries from being bounced around are required to prevent lithium issues. Anglers are putting those risks aside because of the space and weight reduction they offer. One lithium can replace 3 standard batteries, reducing the weight by 2/3. Accessories like livewells and electronics can be powered with a long lasting lithium. Due to the nature of lithium, giving no notice that they are empty, many have opted for a redundant battery set ups. Two 36 volt lithiums for trolling motors and maybe two more for accessories. But a standard lead acid battery is required to start a bass boat outboard. There are not many studies about boat handling or performance affected by the drop in weight from lithium. Anglers report differences in hole shot, turning, and top speeds. Hit and miss modifications to jack plates and propellers are needed to restore performance. Bass boat engineers plan for the weight of conventional batteries in their boat design and there’s no boating industry news about adaptations for lithium. A big downside to lithium batteries is they can’t handle being bounced around, which is what boat batteries typically go through. Even regular lead acid batteries are subject to premature failure being bumped around. But lithium really loses year round anglers as they don’t charge or perform well in cold weather. Adding to lithium concerns is lithium confusion, with many manufacturers making specification claims that most don’t quite understand. Special charging systems need…
By Steve Chaconas This has been the subject matter of my June column for over 10 years and it still holds true. Dude, don’t get Dad another tie! He might wear it…only when you’re in town or when you mention it. He really dreads having to tie one on for you! It’s Father’s Day, put a bit of thought into gifts for the guy who was always thinking of you! Show Dad he’s legendary. Nothing bugs dad if he’s using Thermacell’s E-series mosquito repeller. A 20 foot bug and scent free zone works up to 9 hours on a single charge. Lightweight Thermacell EL55 is portable, and ambient dimple lights set the mood for evening entertainment without taking up a lot of space. Audio and LED alerts for protection and battery life. Within 15 minutes, Thermacell casts a safe and EPA reviewed effective barrier repelling mosquitoes that may transmit Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and Zika Virus. People and pet friendly. thermacell.com If an American made Gerber knife or multi-tool isn’t enough, allow your imagination to custom design the perfect knife or multi-tool showing who dad really is. An extensive library of designs creates the perfect surprise Father’s Day gift! Gerber’s website allows colorful customization from the blade to the screws of original Gerbers for hunters, fishermen, or any outdoorsman. Founded in 1939 and based in Portland, Oregon, customized Gerber’s innovative knives and problem solving tools meet unique needs of specific activities with the most individualized gift. gerbergear.com Don’t leave dad in the dark. Shedding light into his tackle box or under the hood, a reliable and durable working flashlight will come in handy. 5.11, known for supplying professionals with tactical gear, has the EDC PL 1AAA mini flashlight. This big light comes in a small package with a removable clip. Requiring only 1 AAA battery,…
By Steve Chaconas Whether capitalizing on their product reputation or to stay relevant, fishing companies are expanding product lines. In the competitive fishing electronics world, Garmin set the pace with forward-facing sonar. While other major players played catch up, Garmin raised the bar. They did so without requiring anglers to completely upgrade systems at a great expense. New and improved LiveScope shows more detail and at a greater distance with a new transducer and free software updates. This is very rare in the electronics business as major improvements usually require replacing entire systems at great expense. The new LVS-34 transducer upgrade is an easy install and allows most users to keep their existing screens and enjoy improved screen clarity, transducer sensitivity and target separation. Garmin is setting another bar, not only with new transducer technology, but with how upgrades are sold to users. garmin.com Dominating a product category combined with quality service, Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors own the market they created, setting a standard for the fishing industry’s best customer service. Taking on a very crowded trolling motor field, Power-Pole isn’t doing it on price, nor are they marketing to the masses. Instead, boaters with high standards will be on board. A decade of research and development has produced Power-Pole’s MOVE ZR Trolling Motor Black, a brushless trolling motor for elite anglers. Powerful and quiet, the MOVE ZR is built for durability and performance with service to back it up. Power-Pole started from the bottom up, literally, reinventing the trolling motor. Even Power-Pole’s pull cord is beefed up with Dyneema fibers, many times stronger than steel wire ropes. Enduring full contact fishing, a shaft constructed of unbreakable aerospace-grade titanium includes a lifetime warranty. Steering through the toughest terrain, Power-Pole’s custom-built steering motor maintains near absolute silence. A brushless design makes the MOVE…
By Steve Chaconas Finger pointing is rude but, in the case of the introduction of the Alabama bass into Virginia water by anglers, it’s poking a finger into the eye of the entire bass fishing community. All because of the ignorance of an angler or two who thought adding a new species would enhance their fishing efforts. Moving fish around, called Johnny Apple Seeding, is illegal. Now it’s gone way beyond spreading disease or adding another predator, it’s put us on an unimpeded course to ruin bass fishing in Virginia. This time, the sky is falling. The introduction of Alabama bass in Virginia waters is creating imminent danger to largemouth and smallmouth bass fisheries. While Alabama bass may be nearly identical in appearance to largemouth bass, their presence leaves a lasting impression on fisheries where they are nonnative. Virginia waters are being invaded by a fish that looks like a largemouth bass, swims like a largemouth bass and can be caught like bass. However, this fish is not a good neighbor to the more native largemouth bass. Aggressive Alabama bass outcompete with native largemouth and even small mouth, and they hybridize with them. They dilute the gene pool of larger northern bass and can wipe out entire smallmouth populations. As an invasive species, Alabama bass can cause declines in largemouth populations. Once Alabama populations establish, stunting occurs, resulting in greater abundance of smaller bass. Fisheries are likely to shift from being dominated by 2–3 lb. largemouth or smallmouth bass to being dominated by 1 lb. Alabama bass. Hybridization and declines in either population will result in the loss of sportfishing opportunities and the million dollar economic benefit. Destruction of quality largemouth fisheries doesn’t take long! Well known North Carolina lakes, like Lake Norman, saw a decline in largemouth. Lake Chatuge…
By Steve Chaconas On a warmer than usual January day, a Virginia bass tournament angler was checking out a few Potomac River spots. A Maryland Natural Resource Police officer pulled up and checked the angler’s registration and safety gear. When asked for his license, the angler presented his Virginia Freshwater license. The officer informed the angler he was required to have a Virginia Saltwater License, but gave a verbal warning followed by the promise of a ticket should the angler show up again without the “correct” credentials. This was incorrect as the angler did indeed possess the proper license. The DNR realized this and is passing the correct information to all officers. For now, this situation has been resolved. But the fact remains the Tidal Potomac persists as a licensing quagmire. Just a few years ago, anglers fishing the Tidal Potomac River only needed 2 of three licenses. MD residents purchased a MD Tidal Fishing license and Virginia anglers purchased a VA Freshwater License. These MD and VA licenses were reciprocal. To fish in the waters of the District of Columbia, a DC Fishing License was required. Even fishing from the Alexandria waterfront, a DC fishing license is required. The DC border starts at Jones Point and runs diagonally to the northeast. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission has an easy to read chart to answer most licensing questions. http://prfc.us/reciprocity_guidelines.html Boating isn’t easy either. Boating in DC waters requires a unique Coast Guard Approved Safe Boating Course. A different course is needed in Virginia (required for vessels over 10hp) and another for Maryland (required if born after 1972). VA and MD reciprocate; however, courses must be equivalent. (Thankfully, BoatUS.org has free online safety courses.) In 2010, Potomac River anglers were required by the Federal Government to sign up (at no cost) with…
By Steve Chaconas Groups of tournament bass anglers gather nearly every weekend and often during the week as well. They launch at safe light and return with their day’s catch in the early afternoon. With two fishermen on the boat and a five fish limit in a field of 50 boats or more, at least 500 fish are brought to the scales alive. They are released alive at the launch site. With several events conducted concurrently, thousands of fish are released in the launch area every week. In VA and MD there are nearly 1500 tournaments a year. It’s called stockpiling. Tournament release fish pile up at launch sites. More than 70% of the country’s fisheries managers are concerned with this catch and release side effect. Studies aren’t conclusive as to what happens next. Various methodologies are used to track released fish. Moving fish around and handling stress are major concerns of fisheries managers. Tagging studies monitor rates of dispersal from release points to capture areas. Return is dependent on how far away they were released. Also, higher stress limits return. When displaced more than 20 miles, return is more unlikely. To address and curtail stockpiling, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Black Bass Advisory Committee is encouraging several Best Management Practices. Reducing the number of fish released at the site can be accomplished with a redistributing plan, to include moving fish by boat or truck or long chutes to move fish away. Working as a partner with tournament organizers, MD DNR will coordinate with organizations to redistribute some fish when requested. If considered biologically necessary and if the organization offsets expenses and provides volunteers, arrangements for release trucks can be set up. Creating fishing off-limits areas at release sites gives fish an opportunity to recover and disperse. By using…
By Steve Chaconas When looking into the tournament goodie bag 40 years ago, the pack of Zoom centipedes on the bottom of the bag didn’t interest me. No legs, no tail, no nothing. Just a French fry-shaped slab of plastic. Not catching my interest, how could it interest a fish. So, I stashed them in the bottom of the boat for a few years. Preparing for another tournament, we found fish were biting Carolina rigged lizards. Lots of them. Not wanting to burn up the supply, the bag of centipedes volunteered to be a place keeper. Surprisingly, these do-nothing baits produced bigger fish. Excitement and anticipation followed and a trip to the local tackle shop came up empty. There was no internet, no Amazon, and no way there would be centipedes for the impending tournament. Seeing a frowning face, my wife suggested making some. Impossible I said. Never having poured soft plastics or even knowing anything about it, I was at the mercy of my spouse. She gathered up some plaster of Paris and took the single remaining centipede and poured the molding solution over the bait and the next day, we had a single cavity mold. Using old soft plastics and the microwave, a centipede was born. However, after cooling, it was learned that plastic shrinks when cooled. Putting the baits back in the mold, more plastic was poured. Since coloring wasn’t an exact science, this homemade version was a laminate. A few days later the two-tone bait performed like magic. I loved it and so did the fish. So intrigued with this bait, it became my primary lure, not only for Carolina rigs, but for split shot and drop shot rigs. It was so effective that my guide clients wanted to take a few home to try in their home…
By Steve Chaconas Shopping for anglers is frustrating. For people on the receiving end, there’s a guaranteed stint in return lines! Choose gifts for on and off the water! Quality, comfort, and durability in a variety of enhanced materials make for long lasting gifts. In 1897 people were tough and clothes were tougher. Filson became legendary to outdoor enthusiasts. Filson’s Lightweight Alaskan Guide Shirt, a multi-seasonal heavyweight, is comfortable with plenty of room for outdoors activities. Midweight 5-oz. cotton twill allows comfortable airflow during activities. Prewashed for shrinkage control, Filson’s Alaskan Guide Shirt feels broken in. Gusseted chest button-close flap pockets are secure. Perfectly placed pleats provide comfort and function. filson.com Give the boot to someone. Comfort and quality are sewn into Tecovas timeless Western footwear, clothing, and leather goods. Better quality and half the price of similar top-quality boots, Tecovas cuts retailer markups with direct-to-consumer pricing. Artisan teams in León, Mexico take over 200 steps by hand making a single boot, sitting on stacked leather heels with rubber end caps. Gift the right pair of boots to suit his or her style or color. They’ll look taller, feel taller and find comfort in their new favorite ultra-soft, hand-burnished calfskin, bovine, or goat leather boots. tecovas.com Fish are wet, you shouldn’t be. For 45 years, Gill has been perfecting outdoors gear for on and off the water. Features and function abound in 2 layers with Gill’s Aspect waterproof and breathable lightweight jacket. A soft touch mesh lining wicks moisture away. A unique hood adjusts securely for boat rides. A fastener pulls the hood away for better views. Gill’s 2-way Vortex Hood Technology streams airflow to keep the hood in place with ventilation. Covered zippers, double cuffs and a shock cord hem seal the deal. Three outside pockets stay dry. No…
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