Visitors From OZ

Sometimes we just don’t realize how lucky we are. Several years ago I met a quite unique gentlemen down here on the lake. We meet a lot of unique people down here on the lake, but that’s another story. Dave Howell was his name but we all called him “Doc”. Doc was from Australia and he was a consultant that through his job traveled all over the world. After meeting him a few times and listening to his amazing stories I asked Doc how many countries he had been to in his life. He rather quickly responded 136. At the time I did not even realize there were 136 countries on this planet. However, through the magic of the internet I have since learned that we actually have 195. What I found even more amazing that a man literally from the other side of the world, one that traveled to more countries than I even imagined we had, chose to live right here on Lake Talquin. We lost Doc a few months back and some of his family chose to travel half way around the world just to see why Doc loved it here. Some were from Australia and some were from Vietnam. While they we here they went to all of Doc’s favorite places, they hung out here at The Whip, met many of his friends, and yes they got a little fishing time in, too. Tim and Mike, Doc’s nephews “from the OZ” (Australia) as they called it, set out one morning with David Heflin. David had been on to some pretty good speckled perch fishing and that was their plan for the day. They trolled for specks and had been doing pretty good when they noticed some fish schooling about 100 meters away. That’s about 90 yards or so, mates. Casting the same small jigs tied on to 4lb test line with light crappie rigs the three boated several nice stripers, the largest weighed over 11 pounds. They had a great time here on Talquin and took some wonderful memories with them back to the OZ. Sometimes we just don’t stop and realize how lucky we are.

After an unusually long and enjoyable spring, no bones about it, summer has officially announced that it is here! With day-time highs tipping the 100 degree mark in early June, the surface water temps on Lake Talquin have reached the low 90’s. Luckily for the fish the water down a little deeper is a bit cooler and the conditions are quite pleasant. While it may be true that a rocket scientist designed your bass boat, it doesn’t take one to figure out that the fish are going to hang out where it’s cool. The highest percentage of success for hooking bass and crappie will come to those anglers keeping their baits in the cooler climate range of 10-16 feet. Carolina rigged worms and deep running crank-baits are effective throughout the summer on largemouth fished over the reservoir’s river channel ledges and main lake points. Tommy Pipkin from Coral Springs and his friend Apollo from Atlanta used this pattern to land over 20 nice bass while fishing recently with local guide Mike Mecuri. Tommy is a financial adviser by trade, very comfortable offering his guidance on investments. Thanks to his time on the water and investment in Mike as his guide, Carolina rigging for Talquin bass has been added to his June fishing portfolio.

School may be out for the kids. But, for bass it is just getting started. Keep a rod ready at all times rigged with a rooster tail, casting spoon, or Little George. At any given moment a school of bass, maybe largemouth, maybe white bass, or maybe stripers may pop up. And, if you don’t want to miss the bell you better be ready.

Shell cracker and bluegill like it hot and they will hang a little tighter to the shallows. Red worms fished just off the bottom in 6 to 8 foot of are hard to resist for the hard pulling shell cracker. Bluegills like the shade from low hanging tree limbs and boat docks. Pitch a cricket their way and who knows you might be lucky, too.