Lake Guntersville - June 2009

There is no place like it. That is Lake Guntersville in Alabama of course. I have never seen so many four and five pound fish in my life. It is truly a bass fishermen’s paradise. This year I was invited to fish the 10th Annual Coaches Kickn Bass Tournament. It is a fund raising event and it is first class. I got down there Thursday morning to do a little pre fishing. The grass was not topped out on the flats but the bass were still there.
By midday I picked up Chris Brown from Strike King Lure Company and we went back out to do some fishing together. Chris brought a few packs of the new Strike King Thumper worm. It is somewhat like the Anaconda but looks more like the old curly tail worms from years ago. Lake Guntersville is known for swimming a ten inch worm. The bass absolutely go crazy on it. We started on a river ledge and immediately Chris boated a three pounder. Small for that lake. Then another nice keeper. I took the worm I was using off and put on a Thumper and caught one. We left there and hit a rip rap point where I caught a nice five pounder on a Series Six crankbait. We ran to a shell bed and once we located the sweet spot Chris and I proceeded to catch fish on almost every cast. We had to catch at least twenty bass in a row. We had a blast fishing together.

The next day I took Jake Tippie from Ardent Reels out. We started shallow with little success then headed out to the main lake and started swimming the Ten inch Thumpers. The bite was on as Jake and I exchanged good fish catches with the biggest being right at five pounds. This was Jakes first time swimming a worm in the grass and I can guarantee it won’t be his last. The technique is simple. We used 15 pound Vicious Fluorocarbon line, a medium heavy rod, a 6.3:1 Ardent XS1000 reel, a 3/16 ounce weight, and a 5/0 Mustad hook. We would make a long cast out over the submerged grass and slowly reel it in letting the Thumper Worm tick the tops of the grass. When they bit, it was with a vengeance. No other place do I know of can you use this technique with such great success. On our last spot we fished I broke a giant off due to my lack of retying after so many bass we had caught. I quickly marked the spot with my GPS and decided to go back there and start for the evenings big bass tournament. I knew it was a big fish and once you find one fish there are usually many more. I picked up my partner for the evening. We ran straight to the spot I marked. Arnold caught three reel quick including one over five and a four pound fish. I needed a good one. We were getting plenty of bites when I set the hook on one almost six pounds. Once I got him in the boat we decided to leave and go explore new water for the next days tournament. We caught several more on the Strike King Thumper but could never get any ones bigger than the two we had. I ended up getting 5th Place that evening out of 91 boats. I was surprised that my fish held up because normally there are some giants weighed in but it all worked out. The next morning I was fortunate to fish with Ben Leird. Former quarterback for the Auburn Tigers. I told Ben that we would be fishing one spot most of the day. When we got there I rigged up a Thumper Worm for him. It didn’t take long for Ben to boat a four pound fish. Then it was my rod that doubled and the next four pounder came in the boat. We continued taking turns catching one after the other and quickly had our limit of three. This year they had changed the limit to avoid fish fatality in the extreme heat. We fished for several hours combing the grass for a big bite and I finally got one but the six pound bass decided that he was going to win the battle. We ended up catching a little less than thirteen pounds with three fish and that one big fish cost us. It took over eighteen to win. What is so incredible is that even in less than favorable fishing conditions due to the heat, the bass bit well. Four pounders are comman with the chance to catch a real big fish in the eight to nine pound range. Lake Guntersville is one of the nation’s best when it comes to bass fishing. I would like to thank the people that hosted the tournament especially Jeff Bergstresser with The Orthopedic Center for all of his hard work and dedication to putting on such a great event. I look forward to next year for more fish catching action.

11th Annual 17th St. Bar & Grill Bass Tournament

91 boats showed up on Saturday at Kinkaid Lake for the 11th Annual 17th St. Bar & Grill Bass Tournament. The weather started out nice but soon the clouds rolled in and then came the rain. Finally the sun popped out for the afternoon weigh in. Previous fishing reports had been mixed with the shallow water bite good and yet some fish had moved out deep. The weigh in was not disappointing .Most of the teams caught fish shallow but some were able to catch a few out deep. There was a ton of fish weighed in. Over a dozen five fish limits were weighed in, but none topped the winning team of Hastings and Copedge in which their five fish limits topped the scales at 18.09 pounds. They took home $2200.00 for their catch. Second place was not far behind as the team of Berner and Toiges weighed in 17.60 pounds. They received $1400.00 for their efforts. Third place was within ounces of second as the team of Sweitzer and Hublar weighed in 17.58 pounds. They received $1000.00. Big Bass honors was taken by the team of Estel and Carruthers. Their 5.55 pound bass put $600.00 in their pockets. Here are the rest of the top eleven that took home cash prizes.
4th place- Kirkland/Kirland 17.17 pounds. $800.00
5th place-Mileur/Alexander 17.07 pounds. $600.00
6th place-Feltman/Link 16.17 pounds. $500.00
7th place-Mueller/Korando 16.14 pounds. $400.00
8th place-Evans/Thompson 15.55 pounds. $300.00
9th place-Armstrong/Armstrong 15.13 pounds. $200.00
10th place-Trollinger/Trollinger 14.28 pounds. $150.00
11th place-Shoot/Johnson 14.11 pounds. $100.00
I would like to thank all of the fishermen who showed up for the event. The crowd at the weigh in was great and everyone had a good time. I also want to thank the sponsors of this event. Without them this tournament would not be what it is today. 17th St. Bar & Grill for all of the free BBQ. Thank you Mike Mills. Miller Lite for all of the anglers. We had more than enough this year. Chris Brown from Strike King Lure Company. Every year we have so many Strike King goody bags for the competitors. Sure-Life Catch and Release. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seosoning. Kinkaid Marina. The Southern Illinois Bass Club for donating their scales.Thank you all for your continuing support. Look for next year’s event to be around the same time as this year. I hope you all can make it again and look forward it.

Go Deep this Summer

GO DEEP THIS SUMMER

The weather here in Southern Illinois is almost unforgiving. It goes from the 40’s to the 80’s in about a two week period. Or so it seems that way. The bass are done spawning and heading out to their summer homes. In deeper lakes the majority of bass hang around points and ledges that have a good amount of depth on top of them. This is my favorite time of year. I throw two baits this time of year. My absolute favorite is a Strike King Series Six big crankbait and the other is the Rage Tail 10” Anaconda worm. I do not even start early in the morning shallow with a topwater bait. I go straight out deep. With these two baits I can comb the depths searching for that one piece of cover that just might have the mother load on it. Find the right cover and you will find the bass. The equipment I use plays an essential part in catching these summer time giants.
Let’s start with the Strike King Series Six crankbait. A lot of anglers throw crankbaits using the wrong gear. I have seen fishermen using a flipping stick with 20# test and a 7.1:1 gear ratio reel out there trying to throw a crankbait. Wrong! Crankbait fishing is an art. You must use the right stuff. A glass rod is number one. I actually use a rod that was my dad’s back in the 70’s that I had rebuilt. It is a 7’ glass rod and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. A glass rod is a very soft, flexible rod. By using this rod, when a fish is hooked up, the rod acts as a shock absorber not letting the fish ripping the hooks out of his mouth. A stiff rod will only result in a lost fish. The next thing is the reel. I use an Ardent XS1000 reel that has a 5.0:1 gear ratio. It allows me to crank the bait at a moderate pace without wearing me out. You cannot burn a big crankbait. A slow steady retrieve usually works the best. I can cast 50 plus yards with this reel and the longer the cast, the more I can keep that bait down deep in the strike zone longer. Line is also important. Remember that the size of line determines how deep the bait will go. The lighter the line, the deeper the bait will travel. I use 10# Vicious Ultimate line. Unlike fluorocarbon lines, Vicious Ultimate is a copolymer line that has a little more stretch. I believe that by using this type of line my hook ups increase. One reason is I cannot feel the fish as well when he grabs the bait. That split second difference allows the bass to engulf the lure before I set the hook. The line stretches along with the rod flexing giving me the stability I need when fighting the fish to the boat. This keeps the hooks buried in his mouth and not ripping them out. That is the best way I know how to explain it. While we are on the hook thing, let’s talk about it. I replace all factory hooks unless they have a premier hook already on them. Mustad hooks make a treble hook called Triple Grip. They are extremely sharp and very strong. A sharp hook is one of the important factors in landing a big bass on a crankbait.
The Strike King Rage Tail Anaconda is a big bass bait. For some reason big bass go nuts on this worm. The action and vibration of this unique worm is unlike any other worm on the market. This bait can be thrown around the same deep structure as the crankbait. Points, ledges and other deep water structure are dynamite places for this worm. Equipment again is essential. I throw this big worm on a 7’ medium heavy rod. You can go bigger but I prefer this size. The line I use is 17# to 20# Vicious Fluorocarbon line. It has exceptional feel and very little stretch. It allows me to get a good hook set on a long cast and bury the hook deep inside the fishes mouth. A fast retrieve reel is also important so I can catch up quickly when I detect a bite. I use 6.3:1 Ardent XS1000 reel. Not only is it a strong reel but you can cast a country mile with it. Other key components are a sharp 5/0 Mustad Ultra Point hook and a tungsten weight. With the right combination I can feel the slightest of strikes.
This summer go deep. Fish points, ledges, and other deep water structure with these baits. You will soon realize that by using them and the right equipment you will have great success.

The Spawn

The Spawn


As the water temperature rises on lakes and rivers, largemouth bass instinctively migrate to shallow water to begin their annual spawning ritual. Here in the heartland of America largemouth spawn in a very small window of time. Unlike southern lakes where bass may spawn several times a year, around here it is a two to three week event. For most anglers catching spawning bass is not their strength but by practicing and learning what to look for on a bed can become some of the most heart pounding fishing there is . First is locating the beds with bass on them. A good way is to locate clearer water on a particular lake. Bass tend to gravitate toward the backs of protected pockets and creek arms. Once an area is selected drop the trolling motor and go down the bank looking for lighter spots in the water. One key to remember is the use of polarized sunglasses. An amber lens usually works the best. Without them, you will not see the bass. Once a bass is spotted continue to go down the bank making a mental note of where that fish is located. If the bass swims off and comes right back, she can more than likely be caught. If the fish is very skittish and does not return, then keep moving down the bank. Let the fish that you just spotted settle back down. Return to the bed but keep the boat out far from her so that a long cast can be made. If you cannot see her then she cannot see you. The bed has been marked so take a cast. The fish will usually bite on the first cast. Make repeated casts if she does not bite. If you cannot get her to bite, then move in closer to see how the fish is positioned. There is always a sweet spot in the bed where the fish keeps going to. That is where the bait needs to be. The sweet spot can sometimes be seen by a darker small area within the bed. Make several casts repeatedly to that same spot. If the fish keeps turning and coming back to the bed it is only a matter of time before she bites. One key is not to crowd the fish. Boat position is critical. Do not cause the boat to cast a shadow on the bed. Also leave room for the fish to swim in and out of the bed without over crowding her. Try and pay attention to the fish and her mood. Not all bass on beds can be caught so unless a particular fish could be the winner for you in a tournament, do not spend all day on her. However keep coming back to check and see if she is ready to be caught.
No w let’s talk about bait selection. There are a variety of baits that can work well for bedding fish. One of my favorites is the new Strike King Rodent. Natural colors seem to work the best but if you are having a hard time seeing the bait and the fish, a good bait to throw would be the Strike King Bleeding Tube. This bait is one of Shaw Grigsby’s favorite site fishing baits. Other baits are the obvious Rage Tail Lizard or the Rage Tail Craw. These baits have great action in the water and can coax some of the most finicky spawners. Have several rods rigged and by making repeated casts into the bed with a different presentation, it can agitate the fish into striking. The key is to make a subtle pitch into the bed. Move the lure into the sweet spot of the bed and shake the bait without moving the lure out of the bed. This will anger the fish into striking. All my baits I use have a heavy gauged Mustad hook in them.
The right line is also important. A bass can suck a bait into her mouth without you feeling it unless you are using the right line. Fluorocarbon line is the key. I usually use 17# to 20# Vicious Fluorocarbon depending on the situation. If the area is clear from obstructions and I have to down size my presentation, I will use 10# to 12# Vicious Fluorocarbon line. If there is a lot of heavy cover I will switch to Vicious Braid in either 50# or 65# test line.
A fast reel and a stout rod are important. When the fish grabs the lure you want to reel down fast on her and set the hook before she spits it out. If you wait that extra second it will result in a missed fish. I use an Ardent XS1000 reel with a 6.3:1 gear ratio. I use a 7ft Team All Star rod with a fast/medium heavy action.
Using the right equipment is one of the most important things and angler can do to up his odds on catching a spawning bass.
Realize that site fishing for bedding bass is far from easy. And with the limited amount of time to practice this skill, it can get frustrating. Using these few tips and the right tackle just might help you the next time you encounter that big female sitting on her bed.

Luke Estel

LAKE DARDANELLE, AR

Congrats Mark for finishing 2nd on Day 1 at Lake Dardanelle!!! We're rooting for you!!

Fishing in late winter/early Spring

Fishing in late winter/early spring can sometimes be very challenging. That was the case for Mark Menendez and I on Kentucky Lake during a filming of Fishpaa TV. A severe cold front was blowing through and the temperatures were hanging around 35degrees. We launched the boat and waited under a covered boat slip to try and wait out the cold rain. The winds were howling out of the north east at 15 to 20 mph. Around 10 o’clock the rain let up and we were able to start fishing. The camera crew went and got into position and we started fishing. The water temperature was 45 degrees. From years of experience on Kentucky Lake Mark figured that even though it was bitter cold that a crankbait would be the best choice. Mark tied on one of the new Strike King Custom Shop crankbaits called a Stirke Shad. His reasoning behind his choice was that this balsa bait has a tight wobble and the thin profile of the bait simply catches fish this time of year. My doubts that this technique would work only lasted for about three minutes as Mark quickly hooked up on a solid four plus pound bass. A few casts later he caught another one. I was throwing a Strike King Series 3 crankbait and finally caught one, but Mark kept catching them on the Strike Shad. I finally had enough of getting my butt kicked and decided to tie on a Strike Shad. The weather was relentless as Mark and I fished but it did not seem to bother the bass. It sleeted, rained, and even snowed throughout the day but Mark and I kept on catching them. We were both varying our retrieve. Sometimes the bass would hit the bait on the pause and others wanted it moving fairly fast. When they hit the bait, they slammed it. We had a blast catching them. In all we caught over twenty bass with our best five weighing around 16 pounds. The camera crew was very pleased that they got enough to do a show and we were all happy to get off the lake. It was a great day of fishing despite the weather conditions. Mark credited his success on two things. One was his rod. One thing that Mark stresses is the use of a fiberglass rod. Because the action is much slower, it enables the bass to really grab the lure and suck it in before he sets the hook. He feels that his Power Tackle crankbait rod is the best on the market. The other is his bait selection. The Strike Shad will out fish almost any other crankbait during this time of year. It has a subtle wobble and this bait mimics a shad perfectly. I credit some of my success, besides following Mark’s lead, was throwing eight pound Vicious Ultimate line on an Ardent XS1000 reel. I was able to cast far and fairly accurate even in the windy conditions. Confidence in your equipment makes all the difference in the world. I always learn something when I get to fish with Mark and being able to do a show with him was even more rewarding. Even when it is cold, windy, and snowing, the bass will bite. Get out and experience some great winter time bass fishing. Just make sure to throw a Strike Shad and bundle up.

New video

Click here to catch a clip of Luke showing off some new baits at the 2009 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, LA.

Video courtesy of www.anglerschannel.com

My Five Best Techniques for Catching Bass with Luke Estel of Illinois

Click here for some interviews Luke did at Reelfoot Lake this fall.

www.strikeking.com

11th Annual 17th Street Bar & Grill Bass Tournament

The 11th Annual 17th Street Bar & Grill Bass tournament will be held May 30, 2009 @ Kinkaid Lake. You can email Heidi @ hestel@siu.edu for an application.

Also - you can visit www.724outdoors.com and view Upcoming Tournaments and print an application there.

Video Interview

Click here to see Luke's video interview while in Florida.

www.anglerschannel.com

A great way to start the year!

Luke made the cut in the first B.A.S.S. Southern Open starting off day 3 in 30th place. He finished the tournament in 16th with 36 lbs 3 oz.
Luke anxiously awaiting the final standings on day 2
Luke preparing for day 2

Photos courtesy of www.bassmaster.com

ESPN Photo Gallery

Final Standings

1st day B.A.S.S. Southern Open

Luke finished 18th with 14 lbs 2 oz. His big fish weighed 7 lbs 12 oz. Let's hope for another good day today!!!






Photos off of: Bassmaster

Click here for Weigh-In daily

Click here for Southern Open Gallery

Congrats Brian!

Congratulations to Brian Snowden for winning the 1st Carrot Stix PAA Series Tournament on Lake Toho this past weekend with a total weight of 52.44 lbs!!!!

Day 1- Toho

Day 1 wasn't as productive as Luke hoped - but he was definetely in high spirits and ready to go out and get some fish on day 2. We were very excited to see our friend, Shaw Grigsby catch a giant 13 lb bass on day 1. I told Shaw yesterday that it would be nice of him if he could share some of those with Luke. ha.ha. Here's a picture of Shaw's big fish! Congrats to him!!!

Weather will be a factor in this tournament

Here is a recent article from www.fishpaa.com regarding the tournament Luke is fishing. (Luke even made it in this article).

Luke hasn't caught a lot in practice - but he doesn't seem too down about it. We are wishing him lots of luck tomorrow as he heads into day 1. We hope that we don't see him until Sunday!!!!

He will return home for a few days before heading back to Florida on next Friday for the first B.A.S.S. tournament at Harris Chain of Lakes, FL.

Weigh in will be live each day starting Thursday - Saturday. Click here for the live weigh in.