La Londe offers up tips for sight fishing

Bob La Londe, avid bass fisherman and tournament director for Yuma Pro/Am - see below had this tip to offer for bait-shy sight fishing. La Londe says, "If you see bass swim up to your bait, check it out, then turn away repeatedly when chasing clear water cruisers, try this: Estimate the average distance where they are turning away and watch as the next one approaches your bait. When it's just a few inches further away than that magic distance, jerk your bait violently away from the fish. This can provoke an even more violent reaction strike from the fish. Be prepared to crank down and jerk again to set the hook. You can move this bait several feet in your reaction provoking jerk. If it sets them off, they will catch it."
 
Well worth a try, I'd say!

Fish findings

 *Military Appreciation Benefit Bass Tournament: As reported in The Sun by James Gilbert this past week, the March 15 fishing tournament honoring active-duty military personnel and veterans for their service to the country, is open to active military personnel, veterans and area anglers with the competition  sponsored and hosted by Fisher's Landing and River Marine for the Yuma Homefront Optimist Club. Anyone who has a boat that meets tournament standards can enter as a front-seat boater while the back seat of each boat will be reserved for active duty personnel and veterans who want to enter. Fishing equipment will be provided. A day of onshore fishing and other activities is planned for the families who bring their own equipment. Pick up a flier at Big 5, Sports Authority, American Legion, or Veterans of Foreign War Post 8242 or download at yumahomefront.com. Call Marvin Copeland at 580-8820.

Fishing clubs

*Yuma Pro/Am: it was a tough bite for some, but many teams still brought limits to the scales at latest competition. Bucky Leigh and Randy Bowen certainly didn't have any trouble with this spring day. They won with almost 15 pounds and a 4.99-pound big bass of the day. Not far behind were Lannes Brock and Phil Starkey with a solid second place finish. Dave Willhide and Brandon Phipps finished third and had the second place Big Fish of the day. Connect with this inexpensive draw-team format club to meet your next partner, even if you don't have a boat - or if you're not sure and just want to see if competitive fishing is for you, or just want to have fun - this club might be for you. Call Bob La Londe at 580-1270 or visit www.YumaProAm.com.

*Yuma Bassmasters: 25 boats with 25 pros and 15 co-anglers enjoyed fishing fun at Mittry Lake with Kuami "Hammer" Kuanda taking the top spot with 17.99 as well as a 5.96 largemouth for second place Big Fish. Other results: 2. Chris Walker 16.24 and his No. 1 Big Fish weighing 6.36, 3. Mac McDermott 12.53, 4. Craig Johnson 11.40, 5. Brian Christensen 10.53; Co-anglers: 1. Ed Kennedy 11.40, 2. Joe Robinson 10.53. Make plans to fish the March 22 tournament out of Fisher's Landing - There's plenty of room for beginning fishermen and a great way to learn those tricks to catching the big ones. Call Curtis Cernik at 503-0511.

*Yuma Women's Reel and Rifle Club: This club is set up for ladies and their daughters/granddaughters who like to fish as well as hunt or enjoy shooting sports as well with a catfish derby taking place this week-end ending at 5 p.m. today. The club will have a table at the Murphy's Gun Show today at the Fairgrounds theater bldg. if you'd like to learn more or call me anytime at 726-0953.

*Yuma Desert Bass Anglers: Watch next week's column for results of this week-ends tournament or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

*Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: To fish the March 9  Mittry Lake Open Bass Derby - with weigh-in at 3 p.m. at the Mittry Lake ramada - sign up at Wednesday's 6:30 p.m. monthly club dinner/meeting at American Legion, 2575 Virginia Dr. or at the Sportsmen's Hide-a-way the week prior to the tournament. Call Lannes Brock at 210-8128.

*Goin' Fishin' Productions: For a great "bass class on the water" to learn to fish like the pro's, call Dave Willhide at 782-2621. Instructional seminars are also available at your RV park or home groups.

Shooting sports

*Renegade Archers of Yuma: Enjoy the 3D animal trail shoot at 8 a.m. each Sunday (Saturdays by request) at the Foothills Archery Range located (taking the south frontage road) 2 miles east of south Foothills Blvd. (from I-8) and 1 mile south off Avenue 15E. Great archery recreation fun and bowhunting practice with youths always free of charge - bows/arrows on hand for those not having their own. Call me anytime for details. Latest results: UNL: 1. Ken Wells, 2. Lowell Lehman; TRAD: Men — 1. Dick Gilleland, 2. Cisco; Women — 1. Jean Wilson; PRIM: 1. Dick Gale.

*Southwest Bowhunters: Open archery shoots each Sunday at 9 a.m. at Adair Park with the practice range open all week. Call Wayne Wittenberg at 314-0140. Ask about latest results with Uschi House at (760) 572-0020.

*Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Open trap and skeet 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Adair Park. Call Jaimi Almazan at 246-8299.

*Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Open black powder matches the first and third Saturdays each month at Adair Park with sign up at 8:30 a.m., shooting at 9 a.m. Monthly meetings are held the first Saturday each month. Call James Ingram at 726-6632.

*Cholla Gun Club: Get in on a variety of "open" shooting fun and competition beginning at 8:30 a.m. Fridays for .22 rifle and pistol (call 314-4695), Saturdays and Sundays for a variety of pistol and rifle matches, and Bench Rest .22 Varmint shoots on Wednesdays with sign up at 8 a.m., all at the Adair park metallic silhouette range (call Glenda Graves at 314-1029).

*Yuma Rifle and Pistol Club: March 16 Long Range Match, open to civilian, service, women, men and junior shooters for those signing up by 7:30 a.m. at the Adair Park big bore range. Call Paul Lerma at 783-6766.

*Yuma Matchmasters: Open IPSC Combat Match March 9 at the Adair Park small bore range. Sign up at 7:30 a.m. for the 8 a.m. shoot. Call Ronnie Gissendaner at 726-0022.

Hunt happenings

*Hunter Education: The next "free" class March 10-22 will be held 6-9 p.m. at the Yuma office of Game and Fish, a great refresher for all hunters and mandatory for any youngster 10-14 who want to hunt big game animals in Arizona. Arrive early as it's first-come, first-served. Call 342-0091.