Stratagems and Fanciful Thinking

The future is wide open. Last year was the first year I was able to fish on the water courtesy of a few friends in Pennsylvania, and a few things came to light almost immediately. Firstly, to be successful fishing the lakes in the area, especially the Nock, you must be flexible, and be able to discern patterns of fish movement, and their relation to water temperature and weather conditions. Secondly, I got a little frustrated by not being the 'captain of the ship' so to speak. One friend in general was stuck in the 'pound the shoreline' mode, even in the face of obvious signs that different tactics were neccessary, obvious signs like no bites, no hits, no fish etc. This first year as the Admiral and Supreme Avenging Overlord of the "Bass and Other Desirable Fish Species Expeditionary Catch and Release Force", my first priority will be to get the lay of the land, so to speak, to do alot of guerilla-style fishing, hit and run tactics with the aim of finding prime habitat and locations of the enemy, unhindered by restrictions of superior officers, as it were.

The main target species are the Northern Black Bass, other wise known as the Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), and the Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieui), with secondary but no less welcome species like the Tiger (Esox lucius x Esox masquinongy)
and Pure Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) , the Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) , the Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), the Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), the Striped Bass Hybrid (Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops), and the Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

(Above image of The Admiral himself at the Nock, with a 4.5 lb Largemouth Bass)