Monster Hunt: Ledge Lunker Blues
Summertime angling for trophy-sized blue cats on huge reservoirs can be tough. Peer across an expansive lake and the sheer vastness will seemingly swallow you whole. Where do you start? Do you just go out and look around with a good locator and hope to see some arches and begin fishing? Based on past experiences you know two things. Sometimes you have to drift. Other times you'll have to anchor.
How do you know which to do first and what types of structure are you looking for that will hold big burly blue cats? Procat pro-staffer Jeff Williams ardently targets big blues on Truman Reservoir and Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. A lifetime of big-lake catfishing has taught him a thing or two about catfish behavior in reservoirs, and according to Jeff you can put more fish into the boat if you learn a few keys to summertime blue cat location. Before we get into the fishing part let's look at the two lakes Jeff fishes. Lake LedgesMany lakes around the country have different bottom styles from sheer drops down into as much as 180 foot of water on canyon terrain reservoirs, to relatively shallow featureless bowls with subtle drops in depth. Not all lakes are built alike but trophy-sized blues behave in similar ways wherever they swim - especially when it comes to relating to the same types of cover and depth according to the season you are fishing.
Ledge BluesWhile Jeff targets cats in a variety of situations during the summer period, he reports that during the warm-water post-spawn period, drift fishing is in his most productive pattern for most days on both lakes for numbers of fish. He looks for areas where the bottom has subtle rises and drops going from just below and well above the thermocline. "During the hotter water period, the thermocline is everything." Jeff uses his locator to mark fish on gently sloping ledges with the right depth before he deploys his baits and begins a drift. "You can find fish holding on steep ledges in the summer but steep ledges are difficult to get the right drift to stay in contact with numbers of fish. I prefer gentle rises and drops in a long diverse bottom contour area.
Once you catch a few fish, make a note at what depth you're catching them in. If you're catchin' fish in 16 foot of water around a 12 foot hump ? you'd better find some more 16 foot of water to drift around in." Why Drift During SummerJeff anchor fishes ledges, flats, trenches, wood cover, and steep drops during most of the year except during the hot-water post-spawn period. Big blues will hold on specific cover part of the time and roam around in tight areas looking for food before relocating during the cooler months which allows him to set up on a good number of fish. He still has to look for fish with his finder during the colder water periods but once he finds them, he can anchor up and fish a specific area. Jeff's theory about blue cat metabolism may hold the key to understanding why he does better while drift fishing during summer and the opposite during the cooler water period.
"I think as the water gets hotter, their metabolism rises with it and the blues need to roam around searching for food a lot more. It seems that I have to move around a lot more as well so I drift over areas targeting the active fish and don't worry about fish holding in one area. In hot water, when the fish are active ? I can set up on them and by the time I've caught a few fish they've moved. When the fish are acting this way I feel like I've made the right choice by drifting." The Controlled DriftJeff admits that drift fishing for blues isn't really targeting big fish specifically, but he is still targeting structure that holds big fish. He finds an area that is showing the right drift scenario according to his experience on his lakes.
He looks for fish arches on his locator holding the right distance off the bottom according to the thermocline. He likes to see fish on the graph holding either really close to the bottom. "Somebody out there might have some success with these loosely suspended fish but I haven't done well trying to target them yet." Make sure to read Part 2 of this article to learn more about catching monster ledge lunker blues! Copyright ? 2004-2005 Jeff Williams and ProcatsFeel free to include a link to the rest of this article above the copyright information: ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com/ledge-lunker-blue-catfish.htm You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include the author bylines immediately visible with the article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in the author bylines, both where the web address is listed as well as well as with the text "Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service":.
Hummingbirds
Many individuals are fascinated by hummingbirds. So much so, that they will do anything in their power to attract these petite creatures to their yards. So what is the best way to attract these wee feathered friends?Here are some tips to help make your home a hummingbird hot spot:What Do Hummingbirds Eat?Hummingbirds usually feed off flower nectar and sugar water that is left out for them in birdfeeders. They also feed off of small insects like ants, slugs and spiders. If you really want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, make sure your bird feeder is always filled with nectar and sugar water.What Should My Hummingbird Feeder or House Look Like?It is a well-known fact that hummingbirds are attracted to the color red.
That being said, if the feeder you already have isn't red get out your paint brush or stick a large red bow on it to get their attention. The best hummingbird feeders have perches for the birds to stand on while they feed. The holes in hummingbird...
Hummingbirds
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Goal Setting - Forget about it
Many motivational speakers and self-help books will tell youthat you must have goals. I've even advocated goal settingmyself in the past. You write down your goals and detail them for family life,friends, finances, career, recreation, health, learning,education and your spiritual life. However, I've now come to the conclusion that successfulpeople with strong self-belief don't do goal setting in thisway - why? - Because their too busy doing what they need todo to get what they want to get.Successful people don't spend time writing down what theywant out of life they just get on and do it. To besuccessful at whatever it is you want to do, you need to askyourself - what do I really want to achieve? What are mydreams and desires, what do I want to build, to create andwhat sort of person do I want to be.
You need to clearly identify what it is you want out oflife, what do you hunger and thirst for, what do you reallywant to achieve? If someone held your head under water you'd quickly...
Goal Setting - Forget about it
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Exotic Types of Bonsai Tree
Not all types of bonsai tree are of a coniferous or deciduous species, with the occasional fruit tree forming part of the collection.
The bonsai artist can choose a type of bonsai tree that is much more exotic.
One of the more exotic choices is the Wisteria bonsai.
A native of China, Korea, and Japan, they can reach 30 feet in the wild.
Forming them into a bonsai is a difficult challenge, since they don't conform to any of the usual styles.
The flowering habit of the Japanese bonsai tree is perhaps the most spectacular of the Wisteria bonsai.
The Wisteria flower, assuming a variety of colors including blue, purple, pink, and white, are both beautiful and aromatic.
The Wisteria flower carries a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes.
The early flowering time of the Japanese bonsai tree Wisteria can cause problems in temperate climates, where early frost can destroy the coming year flowers.
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National Technology Transfer, Inc. brings Chillers Training to Nashville
(ContentDesk) September 29, 2005 -- Whether you maintain and service HVAC systems, chillers, or cooling towers, or oversee all the functions of a facility, it is imperative that the water-cooling system operates at maximum efficiency. This 3-day Hands-On seminar, held October 25?27, '05, will provide you with the skills and experience necessary to keep your system functioning at optimum performance. You'll also get up-to-date information on the latest technology so you will understand all of the available options for maintaining your system at peak performance.You should attend if you are involved with the use, care, or economics associated with chillers or chilled water systems; including building or facilities managers, superintendents or maintenance managers, foremen, maintenance technicians, and HVAC service technicians.NTT has been the industry leader in hands-on industrial training for maintenance, operations and repair professionals for over twenty one years. NTT earned that position...
National Technology Transfer, Inc. brings Chillers Training to Nashville
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Get Radiant Skin Fast
Winter is a tough experience for any skin type. Even if you have an oily skin, you may suffer from severe skin dehydration due to prolonged exposure to central air heating, contrasting temperatures, and harsh winds. People with acne can hardly balance the act, torn between the need to calm down those nasty pimples with alcohol-based toners and pimple-drying masks and desperate need to slap on that comfy moisturizer. And those with sensitive skin suffer most of all. No matter what skin type you have in warmer seasons, winter skin care is all about care .
This means putting aside those oil-stripping toners, mattifying gels, face washes with scrubbing particles and face powder. In winter, you have to be mindful and adapt your skin care regimen accordingly. First of all, in winter your skin needs moisture to keep it supple and healthy. Humectants (to attract and retain moisture) and emollients (for a smoothing and softening effect) are essential, the more the better. That doesn't...
Get Radiant Skin Fast
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Rea-TMA Appointed to Market ?60 Billion Research Capability for Technology Transfer into UK Building and Construction
Inventa Partners have appointed Rea-TMA Marketing to promote its capability to transfer advanced military and aerospace technology to major project applications in the UK construction industry.
Inventa's European technology partners - which include QinetiQ and the Fraunhofer Institute - have a resource of ?60 billion of research funding and 30,000 scientists."Inventa Partners selected Rea-TMA because of its ability to interpret and effectively communicate often complex technology issues through a range of media to the construction, engineering and science sectors," says Gideon Davenport, director of Inventa Partners.Rea-TMA of London and Bournemouth has developed strategic plans and implemented campaigns for clients that include Penny Streeter, CBI Entrepreneur of the Year, who has achieved annual growth in excess of 120 per cent for recruitment business Ambition 24 hours every year since it was founded.
The marketing agency are the developers of 'sales process engineering',...
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Why Count Strokes When Swimming Freestyle?
You may have had coaches that make you count strokes throughout the workout, either by mixing it into drill sets, the main set, or at the end of workout. Some coaches recommend making a habit of always keeping track of your stroke count. As a coach of distance swimmers and triathletes, I believe stroke counting is a necessary part of most swimming workouts.If you stick with it and do it on a consistent basis, stroke counting in swimming is an excellent way to increase your DPS (Distance Per Stroke). The world's best swimmers are faster than you because they travel further with each stroke, not because they are moving their arms faster. Keeping track of the number of strokes you take per length will allow you to begin to lengthen out your stroke, as well as add more speed and distance while keeping your heart rate down and allowing you to save your energy for later in the swim or race.The goal should be to bring down your average stroke count per length.
Great swimmers like Alexander...
Why Count Strokes When Swimming Freestyle?
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