Fishing University Feb 27/ March 4
 

Charlie Ingram, host of Fishing University and Hunting University, is one of
our middle-Tennessee neighbors, and he invited me to be his guest on an
upcoming episode of his show that is scheduled to air Sunday, Feb 27 (8:30
AM CST) and repeat Friday, March 4 (1 PM CST). Check your local listings.

He's recognizable, having been a prominent BASS and FLW competitor for years
and a show host for . I'll be the short guy in the back of the boat who
can't catch a bass.

Ingram told us a few years back how impressed he was with Rickard's design,
and he's been real encouraging to us all along, suggesting a few
modifications and configurations that produce well for him.

For the show we fished a lake down in Alabama. I usually manage ok when I'm
tossing Secret Weapons, but I couldn't hold a candle to Ingram. He's a real
pro with the spinnerbait, pulling fish out of places that I'd cast to a
couple of times just moments earlier. He caught 20 bass ranging from one to
four pounds before I caught my first. I think he kept fishing, and the crew
kept filming, much later than planned in hopes that I'd finally catch a bass
or two. I ended up with two... each of them about three pounds. We'll see
how they turn out after editing.

I studied Charlie's lure placement, presentation, and retrieve and tried to
match it. I switched blades several times during the day, trying to come up
with a combination that worked as well for me as his did. He was fishing
what I suppose is his favorite SWL -- a 1/2 ounce chartreuse and white with
nickel willowleaf blade. He may also have had a single CO blade in front....
I don't recall for sure.

I was throwing a 3/8 ounce Blue Avenger (chartreuse, white, with blue
accents) with similar blades, just slightly smaller. I also tried another
color or two in 1/2 ounce or 3/8 ounce sizes, including chartreuse and
white, like his, but to no avail.

Charlie finally laid it out for me.... When we both retrieved at the same
speed, having put both our lures in the same spot, his lure was swimming
back up to a foot lower in the water than mine. My bait was swimming by
overhead, ignored by bass that were hunkered down among submerged logs and
brush piles. Charlie's bait, though, was smacking into the wood all the way
back... banging and careening off logs, enticing bass that were waiting for
something to swim by within easy reach. In the end, he stopped casting and
pointed to where I was to cast, and then coached me to slow down enough to
feel the timber, and that's when I finally connected.

Another thing he pointed out.... I have a tendency to twitch my rod tip
every fifth crank or so. I noticed that when I momentarily pause and then
twitch the bait during the retrieve, the skirt flares just before the bait
darts forward. My theory has always been that erratic motion triggers
strikes. Charlie threatened to whap me if I didn't stop that, and I noticed
that his retrieve was steady and moderate all the way back to the boat,
altered only as he guided the lure over and past obstructions.

I wasn't discouraged by my lack of success..... there are days that my
technique and retrieve would have paid off, as they have in the past. But on
that day, as we fished a variety of areas (docks, weed beds, clay banks,
standing timber, log jams, and old flooded fencerows) he was able to pattern
the bass and consistently produce fish that eluded me.

One other piece of advice he offered was that I should take advantage of any
opportunity I had to fish as the non-boater in BASS or FLW competitions. He
said that was a great way to learn to fish better as well as to network in
the business. Judging from my day on the lake with him, that sounds like a
good idea.

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________

Joe Haubenreich wrote:
Charlie Ingram, host of Fishing University and Hunting University, is one of
our middle-Tennessee neighbors, and he invited me to be his guest on an
upcoming episode of his show that is scheduled to air Sunday, Feb 27 (8:30
AM CST) and repeat Friday, March 4 (1 PM CST). Check your local listings.

snip

Thanks for sharing, and congratulations on the show! Talk about being
"on the spot"! I can imagine the pressure to perform when the camera is
rolling and your partner is just reeling them in.

Joe, one excuse for my often poor golf game is that "I need a bigger driver"
etc. etc.. My buddies counter with " it's the Indian, not the arrow" to
thoroughly deflate me. You've just proved that statement for fishing.

It takes a lot of courage to admit that you were in the same boat, throwing
nearly the same lure, and one guy out-caught you. It takes more of a man to
admit it was the other guy's "presentation" that made the real difference.
Armed with two great SW baits, one guy outfished the other.

What your story gives me is HOPE. How many times have I been someplace
where I just --know-- the fish are there.........but I am not catching
anything. I change my lures all of the time. I thought I changed my lure
speed enough. ...I guess I don't change my "presentation" all of the time...
at least not enough.

Thanks a lot for sharing your slightly embarrassing moment. I learned more
than if you would have come back with ten fish in the boat, but not really
understood why he caught twenty. RichG TX
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

That's too funny Joe. Remember this?

hit it with a rock!! or rather, hit the rocks with the spinnerbait. bang
it off structure, cause a commotion. let them know there is some thing in
trouble looking to get et'. this can also work if you have had a short
strike, cast out again and really hit the bottom like you can barely swim
after that vicious nip from that bass a minute ago. this has produced my
largest small mouth bass on a hot spring day using a white and chartruse on
a rock point, casting out near the tip and reeling back parrallel to the
point.

Now he doesn't talk about speed or rettrieve, but you and Bob picked ipop as
the winner in the spinner bait tips contest when he said to keep it in
contact witht he structure.



--
** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com


"Joe Haubenreich" rofbmail (at) secretweaponlures (dot) com wrote in
message ...
Charlie Ingram, host of Fishing University and Hunting University, is one
of
our middle-Tennessee neighbors, and he invited me to be his guest on an
upcoming episode of his show that is scheduled to air Sunday, Feb 27 (8:30
AM CST) and repeat Friday, March 4 (1 PM CST). Check your local listings.

He's recognizable, having been a prominent BASS and FLW competitor for
years
and a show host for . I'll be the short guy in the back of the boat who
can't catch a bass.

Ingram told us a few years back how impressed he was with Rickard's
design,
and he's been real encouraging to us all along, suggesting a few
modifications and configurations that produce well for him.

For the show we fished a lake down in Alabama. I usually manage ok when
I'm
tossing Secret Weapons, but I couldn't hold a candle to Ingram. He's a
real
pro with the spinnerbait, pulling fish out of places that I'd cast to a
couple of times just moments earlier. He caught 20 bass ranging from one
to
four pounds before I caught my first. I think he kept fishing, and the
crew
kept filming, much later than planned in hopes that I'd finally catch a
bass
or two. I ended up with two... each of them about three pounds. We'll see
how they turn out after editing.

I studied Charlie's lure placement, presentation, and retrieve and tried
to
match it. I switched blades several times during the day, trying to come
up
with a combination that worked as well for me as his did. He was fishing
what I suppose is his favorite SWL -- a 1/2 ounce chartreuse and white
with
nickel willowleaf blade. He may also have had a single CO blade in
front....
I don't recall for sure.

I was throwing a 3/8 ounce Blue Avenger (chartreuse, white, with blue
accents) with similar blades, just slightly smaller. I also tried another
color or two in 1/2 ounce or 3/8 ounce sizes, including chartreuse and
white, like his, but to no avail.

Charlie finally laid it out for me.... When we both retrieved at the same
speed, having put both our lures in the same spot, his lure was swimming
back up to a foot lower in the water than mine. My bait was swimming by
overhead, ignored by bass that were hunkered down among submerged logs and
brush piles. Charlie's bait, though, was smacking into the wood all the
way
back... banging and careening off logs, enticing bass that were waiting
for
something to swim by within easy reach. In the end, he stopped casting and
pointed to where I was to cast, and then coached me to slow down enough to
feel the timber, and that's when I finally connected.

Another thing he pointed out.... I have a tendency to twitch my rod tip
every fifth crank or so. I noticed that when I momentarily pause and then
twitch the bait during the retrieve, the skirt flares just before the bait
darts forward. My theory has always been that erratic motion triggers
strikes. Charlie threatened to whap me if I didn't stop that, and I
noticed
that his retrieve was steady and moderate all the way back to the boat,
altered only as he guided the lure over and past obstructions.

I wasn't discouraged by my lack of success..... there are days that my
technique and retrieve would have paid off, as they have in the past. But
on
that day, as we fished a variety of areas (docks, weed beds, clay banks,
standing timber, log jams, and old flooded fencerows) he was able to
pattern
the bass and consistently produce fish that eluded me.

One other piece of advice he offered was that I should take advantage of
any
opportunity I had to fish as the non-boater in BASS or FLW competitions.
He
said that was a great way to learn to fish better as well as to network in
the business. Judging from my day on the lake with him, that sounds like a
good idea.

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________

That's pretty exciting news Joe. Fishing for fun and fishing for TV are two
entirely different things aren't they? :-)
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Congratulations Joe and Bob! That's great exposure for the SecretWeapon
product and a learning experience as well.
"Joe Haubenreich" rofbmail (at) secretweaponlures (dot) com wrote in
message ...
Charlie Ingram, host of Fishing University and Hunting University, is one
of
our middle-Tennessee neighbors, and he invited me to be his guest on an
upcoming episode of his show that is scheduled to air Sunday, Feb 27 (8:30
AM CST) and repeat Friday, March 4 (1 PM CST). Check your local listings.

He's recognizable, having been a prominent BASS and FLW competitor for
years
and a show host for . I'll be the short guy in the back of the boat who
can't catch a bass.

Ingram told us a few years back how impressed he was with Rickard's
design,
and he's been real encouraging to us all along, suggesting a few
modifications and configurations that produce well for him.

For the show we fished a lake down in Alabama. I usually manage ok when
I'm
tossing Secret Weapons, but I couldn't hold a candle to Ingram. He's a
real
pro with the spinnerbait, pulling fish out of places that I'd cast to a
couple of times just moments earlier. He caught 20 bass ranging from one
to
four pounds before I caught my first. I think he kept fishing, and the
crew
kept filming, much later than planned in hopes that I'd finally catch a
bass
or two. I ended up with two... each of them about three pounds. We'll see
how they turn out after editing.

I studied Charlie's lure placement, presentation, and retrieve and tried
to
match it. I switched blades several times during the day, trying to come
up
with a combination that worked as well for me as his did. He was fishing
what I suppose is his favorite SWL -- a 1/2 ounce chartreuse and white
with
nickel willowleaf blade. He may also have had a single CO blade in
front....
I don't recall for sure.

I was throwing a 3/8 ounce Blue Avenger (chartreuse, white, with blue
accents) with similar blades, just slightly smaller. I also tried another
color or two in 1/2 ounce or 3/8 ounce sizes, including chartreuse and
white, like his, but to no avail.

Charlie finally laid it out for me.... When we both retrieved at the same
speed, having put both our lures in the same spot, his lure was swimming
back up to a foot lower in the water than mine. My bait was swimming by
overhead, ignored by bass that were hunkered down among submerged logs and
brush piles. Charlie's bait, though, was smacking into the wood all the
way
back... banging and careening off logs, enticing bass that were waiting
for
something to swim by within easy reach. In the end, he stopped casting and
pointed to where I was to cast, and then coached me to slow down enough to
feel the timber, and that's when I finally connected.

Another thing he pointed out.... I have a tendency to twitch my rod tip
every fifth crank or so. I noticed that when I momentarily pause and then
twitch the bait during the retrieve, the skirt flares just before the bait
darts forward. My theory has always been that erratic motion triggers
strikes. Charlie threatened to whap me if I didn't stop that, and I
noticed
that his retrieve was steady and moderate all the way back to the boat,
altered only as he guided the lure over and past obstructions.

I wasn't discouraged by my lack of success..... there are days that my
technique and retrieve would have paid off, as they have in the past. But
on
that day, as we fished a variety of areas (docks, weed beds, clay banks,
standing timber, log jams, and old flooded fencerows) he was able to
pattern
the bass and consistently produce fish that eluded me.

One other piece of advice he offered was that I should take advantage of
any
opportunity I had to fish as the non-boater in BASS or FLW competitions.
He
said that was a great way to learn to fish better as well as to network in
the business. Judging from my day on the lake with him, that sounds like a
good idea.

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________

Yep, that was a useful tip. I know more than I do already, but it helps to
be reminded of some of the basics from time to time.

Joe
__________________
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
That's too funny Joe. Remember this?

hit it with a rock!! or rather, hit the rocks with the spinnerbait. bang
it off structure, cause a commotion. let them know there is some thing in
trouble looking to get et'. this can also work if you have had a short
strike, cast out again and really hit the bottom like you can barely swim
after that vicious nip from that bass a minute ago. this has produced my
largest small mouth bass on a hot spring day using a white and chartruse on
a rock point, casting out near the tip and reeling back parrallel to the
point.

Now he doesn't talk about speed or rettrieve, but you and Bob picked ipop as
the winner in the spinner bait tips contest when he said to keep it in
contact witht he structure.

A friend pointed out that show times on the OLN Website are reported in
Eastern Standard Time. The show will air Sunday, 2/27/2005 at 8:30 AM EST
(7:30 AM CST) and again on Friday, 3/4/2005 at 1 PM EST (noon CST).

Joe

Good story Joe, I'm looking forward to the show. When Charlie was fighting a
fish, did he say to the bass, "don't you get tangled up in my Minn-Kota"?

"Joe Haubenreich" rofbmail (at) secretweaponlures (dot) com wrote in
message ...
Charlie Ingram, host of Fishing University and Hunting University, is one
of
our middle-Tennessee neighbors, and he invited me to be his guest on an
upcoming episode of his show that is scheduled to air Sunday, Feb 27 (8:30
AM CST) and repeat Friday, March 4 (1 PM CST). Check your local listings.

He's recognizable, having been a prominent BASS and FLW competitor for
years
and a show host for . I'll be the short guy in the back of the boat who
can't catch a bass.

Ingram told us a few years back how impressed he was with Rickard's
design,
and he's been real encouraging to us all along, suggesting a few
modifications and configurations that produce well for him.

For the show we fished a lake down in Alabama. I usually manage ok when
I'm
tossing Secret Weapons, but I couldn't hold a candle to Ingram. He's a
real
pro with the spinnerbait, pulling fish out of places that I'd cast to a
couple of times just moments earlier. He caught 20 bass ranging from one
to
four pounds before I caught my first. I think he kept fishing, and the
crew
kept filming, much later than planned in hopes that I'd finally catch a
bass
or two. I ended up with two... each of them about three pounds. We'll see
how they turn out after editing.

I studied Charlie's lure placement, presentation, and retrieve and tried
to
match it. I switched blades several times during the day, trying to come
up
with a combination that worked as well for me as his did. He was fishing
what I suppose is his favorite SWL -- a 1/2 ounce chartreuse and white
with
nickel willowleaf blade. He may also have had a single CO blade in
front....
I don't recall for sure.

I was throwing a 3/8 ounce Blue Avenger (chartreuse, white, with blue
accents) with similar blades, just slightly smaller. I also tried another
color or two in 1/2 ounce or 3/8 ounce sizes, including chartreuse and
white, like his, but to no avail.

Charlie finally laid it out for me.... When we both retrieved at the same
speed, having put both our lures in the same spot, his lure was swimming
back up to a foot lower in the water than mine. My bait was swimming by
overhead, ignored by bass that were hunkered down among submerged logs and
brush piles. Charlie's bait, though, was smacking into the wood all the
way
back... banging and careening off logs, enticing bass that were waiting
for
something to swim by within easy reach. In the end, he stopped casting and
pointed to where I was to cast, and then coached me to slow down enough to
feel the timber, and that's when I finally connected.

Another thing he pointed out.... I have a tendency to twitch my rod tip
every fifth crank or so. I noticed that when I momentarily pause and then
twitch the bait during the retrieve, the skirt flares just before the bait
darts forward. My theory has always been that erratic motion triggers
strikes. Charlie threatened to whap me if I didn't stop that, and I
noticed
that his retrieve was steady and moderate all the way back to the boat,
altered only as he guided the lure over and past obstructions.

I wasn't discouraged by my lack of success..... there are days that my
technique and retrieve would have paid off, as they have in the past. But
on
that day, as we fished a variety of areas (docks, weed beds, clay banks,
standing timber, log jams, and old flooded fencerows) he was able to
pattern
the bass and consistently produce fish that eluded me.

One other piece of advice he offered was that I should take advantage of
any
opportunity I had to fish as the non-boater in BASS or FLW competitions.
He
said that was a great way to learn to fish better as well as to network in
the business. Judging from my day on the lake with him, that sounds like a
good idea.

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________

I don't recall him mentioning the trolling motor by name, but I know we were
taped using several of his sponsor's products -- boat, motor, rods, line,
sunglasses, scents, etc. -- and I expect they survived the edit cuts.

Joe
____________________
"Marty" wrote in message
...
Good story Joe, I'm looking forward to the show. When Charlie was fighting a
fish, did he say to the bass, "don't you get tangled up in my Minn-Kota"?

great news Joe !

--
God Bless America

Josh The Bad Bear