Did you get out over the weekend or one afternoon and do any fishing?

It is official—I saw my first hummingbird of the year last Tuesday. Time to get the feeder out and start to welcome these beautiful little birds. I better hurry before I get my annual visit to my door, with one hovering and looking in as if asking me why I hadn’t done it yet.

Last Tuesday afternoon, I slipped over to Wilna Pond with Tim Gray to do a little fishing. It started off slow for both of us before I finally got my first bite. I had pitched my Missile Baits Chunky D, Texas-rigged, into the lily pads when I felt the tick as the bass picked it up, and I set the hook hard.

What a fight! She tried to run under the boat, and I fought her back out so I could slide my net under her. And then came the relief of knowing I had done it all right. A few quick pictures and a quick weight, and I released my 4.78-pound beauty back into the pond to grow bigger.

We continued to fish around, and while I managed to catch five bass, Tim just couldn’t get one to take his bait. I kept trying up to the last minute before we loaded up and headed home.

I stopped by the firehouse and cast my “no” vote in the special election on the way home. I then headed up to church for Bible Study before finally getting a late supper.

Last Wednesday morning, I slipped over to Wilna for a little early morning action, but the bite I was expecting just wasn’t working. I tried topwater, wacky, and my Texas rig, but nothing wanted to work.

I finally got a bite on my Texas rig and I set the hook. But it felt small, not like a big bass at all. And it wasn’t a bass at all; it turned out to be a nice warmouth, or “google-eye,” sunfish. It’s not the first I have caught at Wilna, and hopefully not the last.

I continued to fish around, trying to find one of the big bass. I finally pitched my Chunky D around the edge of the lily pads, felt that tick, and set the hook hard once more. This time, it was a beautiful 3.88-pound post-spawn bass. After a few pictures, I watched her swim off back down to the bottom. What a great time.

I then headed home to do a few things before heading up to my daughter Tiffany’s Thursday to start helping her move. Thursday, it was just Tiffany and I hauling things. Friday, my brother Bill helped take a load, and Saturday, I had my grandson Bentley help with the last load.

Although it wasn’t fishing, it was an awesome weekend. I got to see my daughter laugh hard as we tried to bring a sofa around a corner and she let out the word “PIVOT!” like Ross did on the TV show Friends. Billy had her laughing by just saying it, and Bentley just loved being around his aunt. It does a heart good indeed.

Around the Pond

In the local ponds, the weather and moon should have the last of the bass moving up onto beds this week and weekend. Topwater is still my first choice as I am searching for the “big girls.” A frog is always my top choice for over the lily pads.

I like hollow-bellied frogs for being able to stop in place and stay on top of the water. If I am constantly moving the bait, a soft plastic version like the Zoom Horny Toad is a good choice also. For working the outside edges of the pads, around laydowns, and in open water, I have a few choices. A walking bait is my first choice, but I also love a buzzbait, a popper, and a moving bait like a plopper or prop bait. But don’t overlook the old-school Jitterbug or Hula Popper.

Work the shoreline with a wacky-rigged worm, a Texasrigged worm, a creature bait, or a jig. These will allow you to work slowly and let the bass get your bait. Let it fall to the bottom and sit for a bit, then raise the rod and shake it to trigger any bass looking at it into biting. If nothing happens, hop it a little and repeat. This works along the edges of the pads for all three, and in the pads and laydowns for the Texas rig and jig.

Also, use moving baits in the shallows and out along the drop-offs. A spinnerbait or crankbait are my top choices, but so is a lipless crankbait. As the bass move off of the beds, they will be looking to feed up and replenish the energy lost during spawning. Don’t overlook bigger baits as well, like a glide bait or a big swimbait. Just be patient no matter what you are throwing.

Kids Fishing Day Ahead

We, the Friends of the Refuge and the Refuge, are getting geared up for the Kids Fishing Days in June. We are having one on June 6 at Wilna Pond. We are also having one on June 13 in Port Royal at the town pier.

These events are free and for kids ages 4 to 15. Space is limited, so reservations are requested. You can sign up on the website www.rwrfriends.org, by sending an email to fishing@rwrfriends.org, or by calling 804-250-6528. We can’t wait for June to get here.

Safety in Mind

The weather has been springlike for sure—warm days, cool nights, hot days, and freezing nights—but hopefully it will stay more normal for a bit.

The water temperatures are still cool, and the risk of hypothermia is still a real concern. If you fall into the water, your body temperature starts to drop quickly. Getting out and getting warm fast is so important. Carry a complete change of clothing and a towel in a dry bag for such emergencies.

Wear your life jacket, especially when the motor is engaged. And always wear it when on a jet ski or in a canoe or kayak. Remember to think safety first, have fun, and live to fish another day!

If you get to go fishing one afternoon, evening, or this coming weekend, take some pictures of your catch or the kids having fun. I want to see them and share them here for everyone to see just how beautiful the Northern Neck is for fishing. Send your pictures, fishing reports, questions, or comments to FishingNNK@gmail.com. This column is about you and for you and fishing in the Northern Neck. Remember: “Do yourself a favor, take a kid fishing.” Make a memory to last a lifetime.