Personal Fishing Records

Posted On January 19, 2012

  Personal record catches are a measure by which an angler grades his or her self against their personal best. The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from catching a larger fish is part of the reason anglers continue to fish.  With the widespread use of cell phones and inexpensive digital cameras, trophy fish can be recorded and then released. This gives an angler the opportunity to increase his personal best from the same honey hole later on. In this post I will share a couple of my trophies and the story behind the most productive method for landing a trophy in my area.         

  Fishing wood is a great start for landing a trophy. Of the bass that I have caught of more than five pounds, I would have to say that wooden cover such as submerged trees, wooded stake beds or underwater log jams are among the best places to find bass. A basic need of a bass is cover.      

 Wood serves as perfect cover. Another aspect in the fulfillment of the needs of a bass is food. Wood grows algae, algae draws minnows and baitfish, minnows and baitfish draw game fish of all sizes and descriptions.      

 Wooden cover also presents a spawning place for crappie and a current break for river or stream inhabitants like catfish, trout, bass and more. Shade is another benefit afforded by water logged trees.      




 There are lots of reasons for fish to hover in and around wood and it makes it a great place to start your search for fish. Make sure you don’t pass fallen trees and submerged wood with making a cast or two with a jig or crankbait into and around this critical cover.        


 Almost every big bass I have caught was the result of bumping stumps with a football jig and allowing it to fall along the wood to the bottom and come to rest. They a couple of short hops before reeling it in and flipping it again.    

  If you are in search of your personal best I would suggest that fish wooden cover, and wood surrounded by lily pads or grass can increase your chance to get into the Lunker Club.   
 
 Bass relate to the wooden cover most of the year, in the summer it provides food and shade and as the cold water the wood provides a degree or so of warmth. Laydowns, stumps, logs and even wooden docks are a great place to seek bass. 

Happy Fishing!




  I almost forgot, as for Crappy… I caught this monster on a spinnerbait while fishing for bass. Sometimes you never know what will be on the line.

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About

Mark Bilbrey
Mark Bilbrey
Crossville, TN
Joined July 6, 2010

Growing up on Dale Hollow Lake, in Tennessee, fishing with his family in the shadow of legendary bass angler, the late Billy Westmorland, gave young Mark Bilbrey a solid foundation in the sport of fishing. Mark became an Eagle Scout through conservation projects on Dale Hollow lake and other area parks. He received a skipper certification through the USCG at the age of eighteen navigating and fishing Dale Hollow Lake. Now, after many years as a businessman, Bilbrey has completed professional fishing guide training at Foley/Belsaw in preparation for a future in the industry. A registered Master Angler in Tennessee, and an Ambassador to the World Fishing Network he shares his tips, techniques and stories in hopes to help teach new anglers how to locate and catch fish. His articles have been featured on the web sites of the North American Fishing Club, Monticello Big Bass, and Catfishing Journals. Mark was recently on ESPN Radio's "Set the Hook!" with Pat Rose talking about, what else? Fishing!. Bilbrey holds memberships in several fishing organizations including B.A.S.S., NAFC, and FLW. His passion for sport fishing has been recognized in a promotional video on the World Fishing Network and he was recently selected as "Ambassador of the Year" by WFN. He credits his passion for fishing to his wife Donna and his childhood fishing with his father, Billy Bilbrey, his three older brothers and to his cousin Jack Huddelston, owner of Dale Hollows, Horse Creek Dock.

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