Crowdsourcing

I went out on the Potomac River Friday, bracing for a crowd because I knew there was going to be a BFL on Saturday. What I didn’t know was that there was also a big Friday charity tournament. When I arrived at the ramp at 6 it was packed, but since I was just out for fun I resolved not to let it get to me.

Indeed, I was the first boat out and arrived at a major community hole well before anyone. By 7 o’clock, there were 20 boats within sight. That’s not unreasonable – it’s a big flat that can comfortably fit substantially more than that. I’m sure I’ve seen at least 60 or 70 at one time on the occasional past spring derby day.

The crowds don’t surprise me – that’s life in the big city and I’ve fished here for nearly 30 years – but because I had pre-mellowed my attitude, I had some time to think. Here are five late-in-life realizations that amused me:

1. On-the-water confrontations grabbed the headlines, but it was a pleasure to see the bass boat ballet that went on out there. People kept a respectful distance and separated themselves, and that benefitted everyone with fish catches.
2. One side effect of the technology and gear revolutions is that spinning gear is more reliable and more relied upon. Between Braid and Fluoro and better hooks, even the hardcore bubbas have to admit that it works. Just about everyone who was catching was at least alternating in the old egg beater. I caught all but one of my 15”+ keepers on it.
3. Speaking of tech, we were fishing in 4 feet of water on a big relatively featureless flat. I was shocked at how much time several anglers spent fiddling with their electronics. Maybe they know something about perspective mode that I don’t, but they didn’t seem to be catching more or better fish than anyone else.
4. I was also surprised at how many tournament fishermen, in the midst of competition, spend what seems to be considerable time in the storage bins and the bottom of the boat rigging up or working on tackle. I may have been too reluctant to do that during my competitive days, but there must be a happy medium.
5. Even after 30 years, it continues to amaze me that one boat can go right over a spot or a fish and another angler can catch it right in his prop wash or shadow.

Three additional random notes:

• I’m gaining a lot of confidence in the relatively new Blue Craw Senko color.
• Now that Mann’s seems to be defunct, I wish someone would make a carbon copy of the Original Baby One Minus.
• The Potomac River catfish continue to like bass lures.