Tons of good options for topwater lures

Surface lures do the trick for bass this time of year in Yuma area waters, best during the cooler night and early morning hours.

Toss a topwater plug against a dock piling or a partly submerged tree or bush, or into cover along the shore.

The Hula Popper, Jitterbug and Zara Spook are all-time standbys that should be fished with patience in mind - it's a good idea to check with local dealers for new products now on the shelf that work as well.

Whatever topwater lure you choose, cast up as close as you can to the cover, allowing the lure to sit for a moment, then twitch it gently, pause, and twitch it again. If this slow approach doesn't work, gradually speed up the retrieve.

Another good choice for topwater is the minnow-shaped floater-diver plug such as Rapala, Rebel Minnow, Bomber Long A or Bagley's Bang-O-Lure. Cast to the cover and once the water settles, retrieve with short sweeps of the rod tip, pulling the lure under briefly, then letting it float back to the surface like a wounded minnow.

The skittered (weedless) spoon also brings a lot of action. After you toss the lure into a thick clump of weeds, crank like mad, skittering the spoon across the surface. A Johnson Silver Minnow is good. Also worth a try are the Timber King, Heddon Moss Boss and the Weed  Walker. Add a tail of no-mess Dri-Rind.

Soft plastic worms can be used in all types of cover for bass. Bury the hook in a 6- to 7-inch long body Texas-style and weight it with a slip-sinker. Black, purple, motor oil or flametail are all good colors. Bass will also go after soft-plastic crayfish, salamanders, frogs and snakes.

FISHING CLUBS

• Yuma Women's Reel and Rifle Club: Club members will host the Family/Youngster Fishing Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Yuma West Wetlands for all who have signed up with me at 726-0953. A potluck lunch will be enjoyed at 11 a.m.  A reminder to members that the Late Bass and Catfish Derby is ongoing now through Nov. 30. New members are welcome - must pay dues at least 10 days prior to weighing in a fish with dues now $10 ($5 for youngsters) through the end of the year.

• Yuma Desert Bass Anglers: Check this column next week for results of the latest team tournament or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

• Yuma Bassmasters: Attend Tuesday's 6 p.m. meeting being held at River Marine for information on current fishing plans or call Curtis Cernik at 941-2993.

• Yuma Pro/Am Series: A great get-together for both experienced and beginning fishermen to share teaching/learning opportunities on how best to catch bass along Colorado River waters in our neck of the woods. Call Bob La Londe at 580-1270 or visit www.yumabassman.com.

• Bass Class on the Water: Call Dave Willhide at 782-2621 to check out his guided fishing class where you learn to catch bass like the pros. Seminars are also available for RV park and home groups.

HUNT HAPPENINGS

• Yuma Friends of NRA Banquet: The 16th Annual Dinner and Live Auction is Oct. 18 at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center. Seating is limited so get your tickets early from the office at 2554 W. 16th St.

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Call Bill Shook at 783-8110 for details on the Oct. 11 club hunt.

• Deadline to apply for spring hunts: Apply for hunt permit tags for turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear by 7 p.m. Oct. 14 (postmarks don't count) with 2009 Regulations now available at local dealers and at the Yuma office of Arizona Game and Fish Department.

 New over-the-counter nonpermit tags are available for juniors-only (17-and-younger) for spring turkey hunts, shotgun shooting shot; archery-only spring javelina hunts in metro units 11M, 25M, 26M, 38M and 47M; general spring bear in all units, except 6B and Fort Huachuca, and early archery hunts in units 3B/3C (annual and hunt unit harvest limits still apply).

• Three hunts are now available to young hunters ages 10-17 including: Either Oct. 10-16 or Nov. 21-30 for juniors-only fall javelina big game hunt. Tags are limited and must be obtained by submitting an application by mail - visit www.azgfd.gov/draw; the Oct. 3-9 juniors-only fall turkey big game hunt with unlimited tags purchased over-the-counter for $10 at any dept. office; the Dec. 12-14 juniors-only sandhill crane hunt in Southeastern Arizona. Tags are limited and applications must be submitted by mail - visit the web site for instructions.

 Note: Young hunters ages 10-13 are required to have completed a certified hunter education course to hunt big game (javelina and turkey) while they do not need a general hunt license when accompanied by a licensed adult when hunting sandhill cranes.

 Small game hunts (no draw needed) for quail, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl opened Friday. Get your general hunt license, buy shotgun shells and hit the road. Kids 13-and-younger can hunt for free with no license (two max when accompanied by a licensed adult). Hunters ages 14-20 must have a $26.50 youth combo hunting and fishing license.

• Elk Poaching: a large bull elk was shot with archery equipment, then left in a field to waste, during the Sept. 6 weekend (one week prior to the archery-only season opener) just east of Williams near Scholz Lake and Garland Prairie along Forest Road 141.

The bull was also shot several times in the head (possibly someone coming across the wounded elk put him down by shooting him). 

This was a major loss to all of us in Arizona and our wildlife resources so If you have been in that area recently, try to recall anything you might have seen or heard, then call Operation Game Thief at 800-352-0700 - you may be eligible for a reward of up to $350 and can remain confidential upon request.

SHOOTING SPORTS

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Enjoy some great practice and recreation shooting the 3-D animal trail at 6:30 a.m. Sundays at the Foothills Archery Range. Call Jean Wilson at 726-0953. Latest winners: TRAD: Men - Michael Rosner; Women - Sheila Rosner; PeeWee boy (first shoot ever) - 3-year-old Chris Rosner; Cub boy - Kevin Rosner; Cub girl - Edith Rosner.

• Southwest Bowhunters: Open archery shoots at 8 a.m. Sundays at Adair Park with the practice range open all week. Call Wayne Wittenberg at 314-0140.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Open trap and skeet 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays at Adair Park. Call Jaime Almazan at 246-8299.

• Shooting Sports for youngsters: Call 4-H Project Leader Stan Gourley at 344-0740; boys and girls ages 14-18  can learn gun safety and take part in the shooting sports program offered in Yuma by the Boy Scouts - call Mike Brick at 783-9268.

• Yuma Matchmasters: Open IPSC Combat Match Oct. 12 at the Adair Park small bore range with sign up at 7:30 a.m. Call Ron Gissendaner at 726-0022.

• Yuma Rifle and Pistol Club: The Oct. 19 Cross-course High Power Rifle Match is open to civilians, service, women, men and junior shooters who sign up by 7:30 a.m. at the Adair Park big bore range. Call Paul Lerma at 783-6766.

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles: Open black powder match at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 18 at Adair Park. Call James Ingram at 726-6632.

• Cholla Gun Club: Call Jim Stewart at 342-7392 for club and shooting information at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range.