Broken boat leads to a maintenance lesson

August 2, 2025

There’s nothing like a floating trailer bunk to dampen spirits at the end of a fishing day. With chagrin, I spied the starboard side outer bunk askew and bobbing in the ripples as I idled the Bass Cat toward the waiting trailer last week. After 50 years of launching and loading my fishing boats, I immediately recognized the predicament: Getting home and escaping the blistering heat was going to be delayed. For anglers who fish from boats, the effort to get our watercraft to and from our lakes and rivers is not to be taken for granted. We rely on smooth-rolling, easy-loading ...

Hot temps and hot fishing

July 26, 2025

Have you had it with this summer’s heat? I can’t speak for all the other people who fish near Youngstown and Warren, but I can tell you that I am ready for cool mornings and breezy afternoons, the kind of days when the fish are in the mood and the catching is plentiful. Hot weather is one thing. But the days when your shirt sticks to your back after simply hitching the boat trailer are quite another. Anglers nevertheless persevere. It’s tough out there, but somebody’s got to get out there and keep the fish honest. Cooler days are coming. In the meantime, this dog-day ...

Fish decide which lures work

July 19, 2025

Fishing is full of mysteries and riddles to be solved by anglers who pull from their experiences and the multitude of truisms that are passed down from generation to generation. One of the so-called truths that many anglers take to the lakes is about lure size. I am among them. For years, I stocked my Plano boxes with lures that over the years had become standard equipment for bass anglers. I went to the lakes with preconceived notions that for certain fish, I was going to throw lures of a certain size. I didn’t give much thought to whether bigger might be better or, for that ...

The joy in enjoying your catch every time

July 12, 2025

Imagine a time way back in antiquity when an early angler dragged a fish to the mud at his feet and expressed disdain for his catch. That seems improbable considering prehistoric fishing was a subsistence activity, the opportunity to gain protein to feed family and friends. But at some point, I am certain, ancient anglers began to specialize in their hook-and-line pursuit of fish for the table. For the hungry, a fish is a fish, a meal for the table. But among sport anglers, fish snobbery is a thing these days, as we increasingly specialize in our pursuit of our favorite species. ...

Making the decision on new fishing technology

July 5, 2025

New technology comes to the fishing world about as frequently as most of us change socks, tempting anglers to reach deep into their pockets with hopes of gaining more satisfaction during our days on the water. Temptations are everywhere for people who fish. New lures, rods, reels and accessories are just a few clicks from delivery to your door. Who can resist grabbing goodies while strolling the aisles at our favorite tackle retailers? Who hasn’t marveled at the quality and reality displayed on the screens of today’s sophisticated sonar units? Every purchase comes with a dream ...

Words on Wheels: Honoring the Wellers

July 4, 2025

As the family, friends, community and the racing world mourn the loss of the Weller family I reflect on what I’ve known of this great family. Jim Weller II was a prominent businessman and steel tycoon. Always with a smile and handshake. I once worked for him at the Warren plant, where once a week when in town, he would walk the plant stopping to shake hands and talk with the workers. This says a lot about the character of the man. I have worked for others who felt they were above the common workers and seldom, if ever, talked to them, but not Jim. He could connect with one and all. ...