Predict Fish Length and Possibly Win Big!

To celebrate the official launch this spring of www.BlackwolfeCommunications,com website and "Fishing with Darl Black Guide Service" as well as a new cover photo on this blog, we are having a contest! I will give away two impressive lure packs, each with a retail value of well over $50. (See photos) The winner of each lure pack will be based on the length in inches of the first Smallmouth Bass and first Crappie which Darl catches in NW PA after ice-out. The winner of each category (Smallmouth Bass and Crappie) will be drawn from the pool of entries which correctly guess the length of each species to the nearest 1/4 inch. The tie breaker will be the type of lure used by Darl to catch each species. Whoever is fishing with Darl at the time he catches each species will measure and photograph the fish. The contest is open to everyone and remains open until Darl catches his first Smallmouth Bass and first Crappie in NW PA. Now this is very important! You can ONLY ENTER your guess through the BlackwolfeCommunications.com website.Go to the website.Check out content on SmallmouthQuest Page and CrappieQuest Page for possible clues to the size of fish Darl usually catches at ice out and the possible lure he may use. Next press the "Contact US' button and enter the required information. In the body of the email message provide the following: (1) Your name; (2) Your guess in inches to the nearest 1/4 inch for both the first Smallmouth Bass and first Crappie which you predict Darl will land after ice out; (3) the lure you predict Darl will use for each species. Then Submit. Only guesses coming from the website are valid and only one entry per email address will be honored. Then sit back and wait on ice-out and Darl's initial open water outings - which will be recorded on this blog. Fish will be measured on a flat surface ruler device, measured to tip of tail (according to PA Fish & Boat Commission standards). There will only be one winner in the Smallmouth Bass category and one winner in the Crappie category, each randomly drawn from among those who correctly guess length and lure. The two winners will be notified through their email, and will be announced on "Fishing with Darl Black" Facebook Page.

Watching Ice Fishing TV

Watching Ice Fishing TV

Over the weekend, I joined Dave Lefebre and his buddy Brad on the ice at Presque Isle Bay. With air temps above freezing, I figured there would be good numbers of ice anglers out. But I was surprised just how many fishermen were sitting around  holes in the ice! There was no place to park when I arrived at the parking lot at the Chestnut Street Ramp. I looped around the lot twice until a vehicle left and I slid into the spot. Most of my time was spent watching the Mar

Brad with on-camera perch

cum Underwater Camera, snapping images of the screen when fish appeared near Dave's bait. Meanwhile Dave was watching on his Marcum Ice Sonar. Dave was able to see the fish on his flasher while I watched on the camera. I learned a lot about teasing fish under the ice into striking your bait -- which I will share on the Havalon Blog in the near future.

PIB Sunset

The Ice Fishing Gene

I believe fondness for ice fishing is a genetic trait among certain fishermen in the northern tier states. As many times as I  have tried ice fishing, I simply cannot get excited about pulling a mess of gear out on a frozen lake, drilling holes in the ice, then sitting around those holes trying to make a fish bite. Yes, I know ice fishing is a way of life during the winter in the most northern of the northern states, but I do not have that gene. Meanwhile the the majority of my friends in southern regions where lakes do not freeze cannot understand why anyone could go ice fishing. The one exception is noted outdoor writer Jeff Samsel of Georgia, who makes repeated trips to the frozen north each winter in order to ice fish. However, Jeff proves my point that enjoying ice fishing is a genetic trait - he was born in Minnesota!

Here in NW PA during a typical winter our waterways are frozen from about January 1 to around mid-March. So what do I do during those winter months? I go ice fishing! Everyone has some part of their job which they don't like but must do it regardless. I don't enjoy ice fishing, but I  must do it. That is why I look forward to Dave Lefebre's Erie Ice Camp.

"Isn't Dave Lefebre a professional bass angler on the national tournament tours?" someone asks. Yes he is. But next to chasing bass, his second most favorite activity is ice fishing. As a member of Rapala's Ice Force Pro-Staff, Dave has access to the latest equipment. When I play on the ice and need to come away with cutting edge material for stories, the best source of material each winter is Erie Ice Camp where a handful of outdoor media types gather to learn new tricks.

The first thing everyone does is strap on a pair of STABILicers (www.32north.com) in order to stay upright when walking on slick ice; without a doubt these are the most effective boot cleats I've ever used. Of course Dave dazzles everyone with the number of panfish he catches while using the futuristic Black Betty inline reel and the fantastic Tickle Stick. Dave says the new flat tip Tickle Stick renders spring bobbers obsolete. Check both out at www.13Fishing.com. On the end of 1-pound Suffix Ice Line, Dave has VMC Tungsten ice jigheads tipped with Trigger X soft plastic Nymphs and Wingdings. Intently watching the MarCum Sonar, Dave teases 'gills and perch off the bottom towards the jigs, setting the hook when the fish line and jig line merge. All these items may be found at www.Rapala.com under the Ice Force tab.

After photographing the action for couple hours in the open, I'm ready for a break. So I retire to the insulated Otter Pro XT1200 Shelter and watch a little TV - that being a MarCum Underwater Camera where I can observe fish move to jigged baits live on the screen. Now this is my kind of ice fishing!

Magic Number

Since water temperature of the Allegheny River in the Oil City/Franklin area dropped into the 30s much earlier than normal this fall, I've struggled to catch more than one smallmouth bass on each trip to the river. Years of river fishing experience has taught me that the best fall smallmouth bite is with temperatures between 55 and 40 degrees. Once the temp dips below 40 degrees, the bites become few and far between. Normally, the river reaches the low 50s about November 1, and continues to drop slowly to 32 degrees by January 1. This year, with an incredible snow storm the first part of November sent river temps in a downward spiral from which it cannot recover. The last three trips to the river, the water temp has been 32, 38 and 37. Each time I could only manage one smallmouth. Each time, I keep thinking this is my last smallmouth for 2015. Yesterday, Gene Winger and I hit the river for four hours with water temp at 37 degrees. I caught a 15" smallmouth right off the bat on a small tube jig, and handed it to Gene so I could get a quick picture - thinking this would NOT be my last fish of the day. But it was. Gene caught one walleye on one of his favorite cold water jigs. But that was it. I'm thinking it is time to switch species for the balance of open water season, Maybe walleye, trout or steelhead - a species which likes colder temps. I don't see the smallmouth magic number of 40 degrees returning until March.

Last Smallmouth Bass of 2015?

Last smallmouth of 2015?

On November 12 in NW PA, winter arrived way too early with unexpected ferocity. With a blanket of snow on the ground and below freezing temps, lakes were skimming with ice and the rivers/creeks were icy slush. When it climbed into the 40 on Sunday Nov 23, Dale Black and I decided to hit the Allegheny for what we thought might be our lasting smallmouth bass outing of the year. We arrived to view large sheets of ice floating down river and water temperature at 32 degrees. Undaunted we fished hard, crawling small critter jigs, tubes and hair jigs over shallow flats, down slopes and into deep winter holes to no avail. We did witness a walleye angler fishing live bait catch a very large fish. After 3.5 hours, we were going to call it, but Dale had one more winter hole to hit which required an upriver ride through a wild rapid. I had just tied on a chartreuse Jimmy D River Bug hair jig after loosing my six jig of the day. On my second cast, I felt mushy resistance and set the hook on the only bite I had all day. That single smallmouth was a great boost to our spirits. Was this going to be my last PA bass of 2015? Remains to be seen. Moderation in the temperature should keep the river open through next week.

12 pound walleye taken on live bait

Rend Lake Crappie Camp

Sunrise on docks

Sunset on docks

Last Friday was spent on the road to Rend Lake, Illinois for a media Crappie Camp organized by crappie tournament angler and Rend Lake guide Kyle Schoenherr. Gamma Line owner Dale Black and I arrived at Rend Lake Resort just as the sun was setting, giving us just enough time to catch a few crappies from the dock - a very productive fall pattern if you do not have a boat. In the morning morning, there were anglers on the docks right at first light! Over the next two days my time was spent touring the lake with professional crappie anglers, sampling the fishing and shooting a lot of photos. As a first-time visitor to the lake, I found the various types of water and fishing styles of the anglers most interesting. In addition to fishing with Kyle, I had the opportunity to fish with pros Dan Dannenmuller, Kevin Jones and Team Bunting (Travis & Charlie). In addition to several other writers with whom I've worked with in the past, I finally had the chance to meet longtime writer Don Gasaway in person as well as being introduced to Josh Gowan. Rend Lake Resort caters to anglers, offering all the amenities including launching, docking, lodging choices and restaurant. If you are looking for a some place new for your next crappie fishing vacation, check out Rend Lake and Kyle Schoenherr at allseasonsguide@yahoo.com.

Team Bunting

Kyle and Dale pushing minnows

Lucky Hat?

Old cap works!

New cap has no experience at catching 

When Marilyn and I fish for smallmouth bass on area waters, she in the habit of wearing my favorite red G. Loomis cap during our spring, summer and fall outings. For good reason. Since she started wearing it a few years back, she always outfishes me by catching either the largest smallmouth or the greater number of smallmouths. We jokingly refer to it as our bronzeback good luck cap. However in early October while she was attending a heritage conference, she picked up a colorful cap which she thought would look good in photos. On our outing this past weekend to Conneaut Lake for big fall smallies, she wore her new multi-color cap while I wore the Loomis hat.  I caught a 4-pound smallmouth at the very first spot we fished. However, by early afternoon she had not caught bass. I suggested her new cap may not be so lucky after all, and offered her G. Loomis cap. She paused for a moment, then made the switch. On her very next cast, she caught a beautiful smallmouth on a jig. The red Loomis cap was responsible for the other lunker smallie that day too. Moral of the story: you cannot "name" a new cap as a good luck hat. That title has to be earned over time!