Imagination Bassin Company Information

This last week has come and gone so fast with most days on the water giving up some pretty fantastic bass action. Much of the bite has been early morning top water with plastics taking over by mid-morning.

Back on the 24th Mike Fasanella and his buddy Phil joined me in search of a lunker. Our one shot at a big fish came up short of completion as she hunkered down in wood with the result of a broken line for the effort. We had to work that day for each and every fish and the count hit 29 by days end.

On the 26th Scott and I headed out to do a bit of search and find. Our early morning start was in the area that so many fish have been caught over the last couple of weeks but the results were fish in the "wee" category. Moving west and just north of the nursery proved to be a move in the right direction with not only larger fish but some top water action for our effort. However, plastics were the better bait in the area as we got quite a few in pretty short order.

As you can see from the above picture the water was calm with no wind whatsoever. The big gal came on a Senko, but not from where one would have expected. This fish is a Stick Marsh lady. We decided to spend some time on some of the historical locations on the woody side and had positive results immediately. Several fish in the 6-8 pound class were located and by quitting time at 12:30ish we had boated 48 of our green line sided ladies.

On the 28th Scott had Mike Gies and his grandson out for a 1/2 day AM trip. With a wind blowing out of the north things slowed drastically as they worked Senkos on the Farm and the Marsh. One point of excitement as Mike laid into a big gal, but as in so many instances for those not overly familiar with working heavy wood, she found the brush and and ran around until she became unbuttoned.

Basically if the wind is down look for top water to be the best action. Slow has been better with the top water. As the breezes come in, (usually mid-morning), start thinking plastics, and none are working as good or better than the Senko. Any dark color will do.

Last week, while Scott was busy working on the lake, I spent my days in Woodruff, SC. watching and flying large scale radio controlled aircraft. The fly-in is the "big Daddy" of what is known as "giant scale fly-ins" and literally their are hundreds and hundreds of pilots, planes, and friends that converge for this event.

The report that follows is based on the results of Scott and his anglers endeavors and triumphs.

5/21/2006 I had out Frank Fasano and his son Frank for a day of bass fishing. My regular client Frank Delucas and his friend Eric followed me in his boat. We Left the ramp at 6:00am and headed to the south end of the farm. Frank had some motor problems but straighten them out quickly and the Chug Bugs started flying has soon as the trolling motors entered the water. The top water bite took a while to get started but once they began eating the Chug Bug the fun began. The top water bite slowed down around 10:30 and a switch to Senko’s kept us catching bass until we called it a day at 12:00pm. The Chug Bug produced to big bass one weighing 9lbs and one weighing 6.5lbs. The best part of the day was when Frank Jr. landed an 8.5 pound beauty on a 5” Senko. He did an excellent job keeping the bass out of the wood and landed his largest bass to date. Don Willis was next to us when Frank caught the bass and recorded the entire fight and made a DVD for Frank. By the time we called it a day our boat landed 45 bass up to 9lbs and Frank’s boat landed 12 bass up to 4lbs.

5/22/2006 I had out Mike Thomas from Fort Pierce, FL and his friend Doug from Boca Raton, FL. We left the ramp with great anticipation of yet another great day of bass fishing. It did not take long for the first bass to give in to the irresistible sound of the Chug Bug. The bass ate the Chug Bug all day long, and an occasional bass was caught on a black & blue 3/8oz jig and a 5”Senko. By the time we called it a day at 2:30 72 bass where landed of which over 62 where caught on Chug Bugs. Mike and Doug caught all their bass on Chug Bugs including 3 bass over 6 pounds.

5/23/3006 I had out returning client Mike Moore from Hendersonville, NC. We left the ramp at 6:00am and headed to the south end of the Farm. You know you’re in for a good day when you both catch a bass on the first cast. The bass blasted the Chug Bugs most of the day and if you stick with it you will be ready for them when they start eating it again. We did switch over to 5” Senko’s for a short period to give our wrists a rest and caught bass immediately. We finished the day the way we started with the bass hammering the Chug Bug. We called it a day at 2:00pm landing 70 bass up to 9 pounds.

Scott

When the weather cooperates the bass fishing has been excellent. We have had a few minor cold fronts push through Florida and the strong north winds slowed fishing down for two days this week. The bass are spread out along the entire south end of the farm everywhere you find wood. Most day's the top water bite has been good but if the bass are not willing to play with the Chug Bugs then Senko's have been wearing them out. The water levels are perfect for excellent bass fishing, but they do make boat handling work.

5/17/2006 I had out Tom Sell from Lakeland, FL. Unfortunately a cold front moved in and we where greeted with 20+mph north winds which makes the south end of the Farm very difficult to fish. We started in the spillway using Carolina rigged Senkos. There was minimum current and the bass where not hitting. We managed to catch one bass and one cat fish before leaving to head to the south end of the Farm. We started out tying off on stumps and working the areas with Senko's. We managed to catch a few bass but nothing like we have been doing. As the day progressed the wind let up a little and we were able to work the area using the trolling motor. While the bass never turned on we did managed to catch 18 bass by the time we called it a day at 2:30pm.

5/18/2006 I had out Marshall Terkel and his friend Barry from Boca Raton, FL. The winds laid down some and we where hopeful the bass would cooperate. We never had a good top water bite so we switched over to Senko's immediately. We picked at them all day but with the high barometer the bass never really turned on. By the end of the day we had around 25 bass with Barry catching the biggest bass of the day.

5/19/2006 I had out returning client Reid Ofseur and his son Pierce from Port Orange, FL. Reid brought along his friend Dave from New Mexico. We left the ramp at 6:30am and the wind was blowing 20mph out of the WNW. We headed to the south end of the Farm and began throwing Chug Bugs and Senko's and found out right away the bass wanted the Senko. We worked the area and caught 4 bass pretty quickly. With the wind blowing I decided to head west to see if we could get some break from the wind. We added 1/16oz weights to the Senko's to get them down and right after I put the trolling motor in the water a bass was already coming in the boat. We where catching bass on almost every cast and then Pierce hooked into a big bass. Pierce did an excellent job getting the bass out of the heavy wood and landed his new biggest bass which weighed in at 7.75lbs. We continued to catch bass all day and Dave got into the big bass action landing a nice 6.5lbs bass. Unfortunately Reid lost his big bass of the day but that's the way it goes sometimes. By the time we called it a day at 2:30pm a grand total of 78 bass made there way into the boat.

Pierce Ofseur

Dave

5/20/2006 I had out local returning client Jim Tso and his friend John. The winds where down but the fog was thick so we took are time and headed to the south end of the lake. We started in the same area as the day before and the bass started hitting top water plugs right away. The 5^th bass of the day was a beautiful 9lbs bass on a Chug Bug. The top water bite lasted until the fog lifted and then just shut off. We switched over to Senko's and started catching bass right away. Jim was working a Big Mama Worm when he set the hook and the fight was on. After a great fight Jim landed a beauty weighing in at 8lbs. Jim also landed a 6.5lbs bass on a Senko type. By the time we called it a day at 2:30pm we caught 57 bass up to 9lbs.

Jim Tso

5/7/2006 was another beautiful day in the sunny south with almost no wind and the bass very willing to play. It's interesting to watch the fish move from the heavy wood to the more open areas and then back. It was again a case of bump the stump to get a bite. Scott and I plied the area we have been working with Senkos from 6:30 to 9:30 and managed a healthy catch of 30+ bass in that short period. Most of the fish were in the 2-3 pound range with a couple in the 5 pound range.

Yesterday I had Mac Hoffman and his friend Graham from Morganton, NC out for the first day of their three day trip here. We covered safe navigation on the way out and the baits we expected to use. The weatherman had promised a fair day with light winds and Mac and Graham were champing at the bit to start casting their top water baits. Our plan of attack was Chug Bugs, (plan A) to be followed with weightless 5" Senkos (plan B) if the top water bite wasn't there. I informed the crew that if anyone sticks the guide with a hook, (Mac did that on his first trip with me several years ago) that they would be walking back to the ramp. That part of the trip went very well throughout the entire day.

As the trolling motor entered the water the bugs flew through the air. First retrieves produced nada. Second casts were launched and two bass were hauled to the boat. Okay, so this just might be one of those super days. Checked the water temps: 81 degrees and visibility was better than yesterday - high expectations all around as Mac advised Graham to be ready for a big fish at any time.

"This is what I'm talking about" Mac told Graham, "these are the kind of fish this place is famous for".

It didn't take Graham long to retaliate with this gal. Chug, chug, and that's all it took to bring fantastic bass to the boat.

There is just nothing more exciting than to watch these gals slamming top water baits, and there is no better lure for enticing that bite than the venerable Chug Bug. Bass colored or other didn't matter - just the chug, chug, chugging was the key to bass after bass.

From the time we arrived to the time we left there were only very brief periods that the chug bug rods sat on the deck in deference to the Senkos, The Senkos did account for some fish, but the thrill of the top water made the Senkos use short lived.

Today the fish were out more in the open and the bigger fish were further out. The closer to the heavy wood we got the smaller the fish we caught. Throughout the day I doubt that more than 10 fish were under two pounds, but we weren't looking for the two pound bass.

Mac and Graham took us up on our special and had what could be considered on the finest days of fishing they ever had. By the days end we had boated over seventy five bass, and probably had another 25 or so come unbuttoned on their way to, or right next to the boat. We only counted what made it over the rail.

This makes several weeks of pretty solid top water action and I anticipate a lot more and plenty of days were the fish count will exceed one hundred fish. Give us a call - not only is the price right, the fishing is fantastic.

Yesterday Scott took out regular client Frank Delucas and his friend Frank. They met Scott at the ramp at 6:30am and they left the ramp loaded with Chug Bugs and Senkos. Anticipation ran high as they headed to the south end with of the Farm with the knowledge that was based on the last couple weeks of reports. The weatherman gave a good call for 5-10 MPH winds which made the excitement higher: top water was what they came for and with Chug Bugs they began catching bass right away. Anticipation was replaced with expectation as the second bass of the day weighed a healthy 6.5 pounds. They spent the entire day fishing the heavy wood in pinball alley and to the east and the catch was a pretty evenly matched throughout the day between the Chug Bug and the Senkos. Fishing both the 5” and 7” Senkos in dark colors it was determined in short order that the 5” Senko was the one the bass preferred the most. The bass averaged between 3 and 6.5 pounds with a couple of bigger ones lost. The guys all agreed that they had a lot of fun and called it a day at 1:00pm with over 50 bass landed. Fishing the wood is tough but more made it to the boat then those that got away. Score another great day for Mr. Frank Delucas and his friend.

Today I had Brad Hill and his son Grant from Huntsville, Alabama for a 1/2 day AM trip. As with all our trips lately the anticipation for top water was high as we headed south towards the Farm. This bass fishing thing is kind of new for 12-year old Grant, but guess who landed the first fish, and for that matter the second one also. It took him no time to be casting the spinning equipment like a pro. We did manage several on chug bugs, but the switch to Senkos proved to produce more bites and fish to the boat. Brad nailed his first 6-pound bass early on and led the way for big fish.

Somehow, Grant forgot to get any sleep last night so it wasn't too long before we lost him to a bit of a power nap. However, Dad was having no part of snoozing and continued to place a lot of bass in the boat.

We switched to top water occasionally, but the return to Senkos came quickly. It was a morning of bump the stump to be successful. At morning close it was the Hills trip 43 which for 4 hours of fishing was quite a respectable trip to remember.

We have some openings and would be more than glad to introduce you to this fantastic fishing. Give us a call, you will definitely be glad you did. Inquire about our summer sale - it's a fantastic deal. See you out there. Say hi if you get the chance.

The weatherman said 5-10 MPH for the wind, which was music to my ears. The water was in in second day of clearing up and the anticipation of top water was strong as Matthew Lee from Stockton, California and I headed south at first light.

We started in the open water areas of Pin Ball Alley and had our first fish on about the third cast. She went for the popping slurp of the venerable Chug Bug. As we worked our way eastward no more would rise to the bug so there were a few casts with Senkos. However, as we approached the heavier wooded areas the bite broke loose. By 9:30 we already had over 25 when Matt landed the beauty below.

They bit the bug or similar chuggers throughout the day. If there was any unfortunate part to the day it was the three hawgs that came unbuttoned before being lifted into the boat. There were plenty of 4-5-6 pound fish to keep us from fretting over the missed ones. As we bumped our way out of the stumps at days end we left as very happy fishermen with 71 bass to the boat. Matt won't soon forget his memorable trip of all day top water and all good sized solid bass.

I have had plenty of people out that told me to let them know when the top water was really strong. Well, here's your notice: Give us a call!

As we moved into the month of May the north winds again assailed us with pleasant breezes that hit over 25 MPH. These winds blew from the 29th until yesterday. They subsided yesterday according to the weatherman to a mild breeze of 10-15, but as he is so often the weatherman was wrong again as the winds swung to the NE and blew at about 20.

I went out yesterday morning for a short while and managed to land 6 bass in the south end of the lake before being blown out. I went and checked the spillway and although the flow is still there I was unable to land a fish.

This morning the weatherman gave us a good call with winds projected to be 5-10 and he was correct in his call. Scott and I spent 1/2 a day out in the south end of the lake and managed to land bass using Senkos, Chug Bugs, and 10" Lake Fork Worms. Our biggest fish came on a Senko.

We almost didn't get the picture as the batteries in the camera were dead. Wanting to get the fish back in the water we didn't bother resetting the date which is why the 1/1/01. Although the water was still somewhat dirty we ended up with a respectable 42 bass. By tomorrow things should be even better.