The older I get, the more busy life seems to be? Correct me if I`m wrong. I`ve been wanting to get back with you, but this has to be the busiest season yet. I had a week taking 23 boys around doing Jiu-jitsu, climbing, shooting, basketball etc.. for the High Adventure part of Scout Camp (blew my knee out on top of it all playing). Plus each week has been cram packed with wall to wall work. The big jump Team Shark Bait thought that they were going to have on the early season Bassing has come and gone. Luckily though, it has not really been good fishing weather. We have had a strange Spring, and start to Summer. In April, we had two weeks of hot summer like weather, just after all the ice was completely melted, in the nineties. Great for early season spawning. All of the tad poles started to come out, the leaves were out early, and then, bam, first week of May we had two feet of snow. I think we lost some Frogs and other things that came out too early. Less than ten days later we had another foot of snow, the last of the seson. Since then, it has been mostly cooler, with lots of rain. An occassional sunny afternoon. Not really the primest Bassing conditions. The best day in the last two weeks was today, which we took full advantage of. We stopped fishing in order to come home because I`m so pumped to share today`s story with you. Team Shark Bait has only been able to get out on two occassions so far this season, but as you will see, experience and Bass Frogs equal success!

VERMONT FROGMEN BASS FISHING CHRONICLES 2010 - TEAM SHARK BAIT

Vermont FROG Fishing Up-Date 6/11-6/12, 2010

...Of Annacondas, Slow Retrievals, and Tasty Pants

Team Shark Bait got its first time out together on the water this past weekend. From noon on Friday, until noon on Saturday, with a break to eat and sleep in between. We started out our Team Shark Bait Tour De Force this year Frog Bassing in two different ponds located in the mid-western quadrant of the state. Friday we fished in rare, calm, beautiful sunny weather at Monkton Pond. Heavily vegetated, with thick swaths of lily pads, it looked to be ideal. My son Zak would be Bassin` with Team Member 'Demon', a Deep Jungle Tree Frog. Jed would be Bassin` with his new Custom Elite Ornate Designer Bass Frog that Captain Ken made specially for him; a "Candy Bananna Tree Frog." I would be using my own new Ornate Frog Capt. made for me; a Red Eyed Jungle Tree Frog.

As we arrived at the first lily pads on this perfect day, Jed couldn`t wait to cast another second. As soon as his Frog hit the water, bam!, a strike, although he misses his first connection. "I think that this is going to be a good Frog Dad." Little did he know how prophetic those words would be. Within minutes as we glided silently along, Jed`s Frog is completely hammered by a Northern Pike that comes completely out of the water trying to grab his piece of 'Candy'. The Pike gets it, and Jed scores his first catch of the season. (See Photo)

The day progressed with continued action by Northern Pike. Where were the Bass though? Finally, at the end of the afternoon, Zak placed Demon on just the right spot, and landed the first Large Mouth Bass.(See Photo) But something still didn`t seem right? As we rounded the bend on one corner of the pond, we spotted something that made our hearts stop ahead in the weeds. In about six feet of water, swimming back and forth, was an apparent 7-10 pound Bass. We had all we could do to keep quiet as we prepared our strategy to land this monster. Visions of State records were swarming in our heads. Jed`s Frog was chosen as the weapon. The first pass didn`t connect, nor the second, but on the third one when we had lost all hope....Jed`s med/light 7` pole was instantly taken down to the gunnels as he set the hook on this beast. "Dad I can`t reel in at all!" We could see the line spinning around in circles in the weeds on the bottom. "Keep the pressure on him son, you`ve got him hooked good", I said. Team Shark Bait went into action as we brought the boat to the fish, and readied the net. It took all of Jed`s strength to get this thing off of the bottom, and of course we`re just screaming our heads off we`re so pumped with adrenalin. The weeds were so thick we were only getting glimpses of the fish, until we finally landed him in the net. Wait a minute here, wait a minute...this thing is really long...and has a mouth full of huge teeth? Oh my gosh, it`s a huge Snake Fish!!! or Bowfin. (See Photo) A nine pounder! What the heck are these things doing in here? In the water from a distance they can look similar to a Bass, especially if that`s what you`re hunting for. No wonder there`s something up with the Bass here when you have these Annacondas on the loose. The Bass are hiding for their lives. These things were originally brought in to Lake Champlain years ago to help with the

Zebra Mussel problem, but unfortunately took off too well, and are notorious predators on all species of game fish. A Snake Fish this size would rip apart a 1-4 pound Bass in seconds. They are a terrible tasting species from somewhere over in the jungles of the Orient. After we took some photos, as responsible fisherman, we disposed of it. Luckily,for the love of our Designer BassFrogs, we had anticipated such an encounter(w/ a great Northern Pike though we thought), and tied them in to our 20 lb. test Pro-Line with a short 65 lb. test Pro-Line leader, and were therfore able to land this thing without loosing it or the Frog.

We drifted into happy hour, understanding the dynamics of this pond much better. Realising that the Bass were staying as hidden on the bottom as possible, we shifted our technique to extemely slow retrievel, leaving the Frogs sit in one place for a while before moving them again. This proved to be the magic as the Bass didn`t have to chase their meal far from their 'fox holes', and through the evening we were able to hook up with some nice 2-3 lb. average Vt. LargeMouth Bass! (See Photos)

On Saturday, the next morning in typical Vt. fashion, the weather changed, and it was pouring rain in segments. Undeterred, Team Shark bait went to a place called Bristol Pond, another LargeMouth haven with a mix of Northerns and some heavy fishing pressure. Even with rain gear, we were soaked by the time we reached the sweet spot. Gliding over the pads and nearby shoreline scrub, Jed`s unique Candy Bananna Frog was like opening the line on an all you can eat dessert buffet!. He scored a Northern (See Photo), and then proceeded to be relentlessly pounded landing Bass(See Photo) and Pike back and forth. He decided to name his Frog "Willy Wonka" the Candy Man, as he is just too sweet to resist.

At one point we had all three Frogs out on the water, and as if we were under morter attack, explosions were going off all over the place, some landing, and some misses. It was awesome!! Zak and Demon landed a beautiful healthy green Bass right by the boat (See Photo), I caught another Northern(See Photo), and then.......Willy Wonka looses his pants! Jed had cast him out into the deep opposite the shore to see what would happen, and something did...something gigantic came up from behind (we are pretty sure it was a trophy Bass), and took Wonka`s pants right off as he was trying to swallow him, and Jed was setting the hook. (See Photo) If only he hadn`t missed! Willy Wonka Needs some new pants please Capt. Ken. We were stunned and shaking as we decided to call it quits shortly after.

As we were rowing back, we kept saying over and over how incredible the Frogs are! They are such a blast to fish, and unlike any other lure out there, you feel a personal connection to each one. There is an indescribable pride and joy that comes from having "your" Frog work its magic on the Bass! What was the lesson we learned these past two days; It`s a jungle out there folks, so be prepared, anything is possible with these lures! and Kong is still on the loose! Do they work? Be the Frog!!