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Summertime Bass Fishing in Nebraska – Hot!

Jaesen Yerger — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:55:15 +0000

I have been taking my boys out to multiple Nebraska lakes over the last couple of weeks and fishing has been “hot” … not just temperature-wise, put catchin’-wise too! We’ve been throwing lots of crankbaits recently and have been doing pretty good on any rif-raf … down deep as well as the shallows … anywhere there is cover and most importantly … “SHADE.” As far as where we’ve been over the course of the last few weeks, here’s just a few in/near the Omaha area: Lake Wehrspan, Lake Zorinsky, Standing Bear Lake, Glen Cunningham Lake, Fremont SRA Lakes, Walnut Creek, Summit Lake, and a few of the I-80 Lakes in Nebraska. We’ve hit these lakes multiple times each and the pattern is running true on each of them – colder water, shade, rif-raf and laydowns, early AM or late evening, Yamamato worms (downsized and in darker colors), scum frogs, crankbaits, and small booyah jigs (dark colors). We’re fishing slow and picking everything apart methodically … sometimes, casting as many as 15-20 times to a log or stump to get that “reaction/feeding” strike. The strategy is working, but it’s tough and you’ve got to be patient. Water temps all around are in the upper 80′s (I’ve seen as high as 88 degrees Fahrenheit in some lakes). You’d think the temp would get the bass moving around … but it’s been the opposite. When it gets this hot, they get somewhat sluggish and need a “trigger” to feed. Additionally, I believe with the water temp (and outside air temp in the 90′s each day), the algae and water weeds have had a hay-day growing. We’ve seen blooms in all lakes (not severe, but the green-tinted water with algae is certainly taking its toll on the oxygen in the water) and my guess is the fish are holding shallow in cover where its cooler and they can ambush food … or they are holding deep on cover (above the thermocline and where its cooler). All of us boys have downsized our fishing tackle, fishing line, and custom fishing rods … we went to lower-geared fishing reels to help us “slow” down our plastic bait presentation, and are really working our crankin’ … the more life-like on the cast-and-retrieve … the better we seem to do with these artificial baits. BTW: we’ve been successful on several different crankbaits: crawfish, shad, minnows … if I had to say a color, I’d say “different” or ‘as close to the baitfish color as possible.” We got skunked a few times out and I sat down to “rethink” what we’d done on those trips and what we needed to change. So, we pulled out the custom fishing rods designed for smaller line and lure weight, strung em’ up and gave it another shot at those same lakes. Voila! Smaller and slower … hammer-time! We’ve been netting between 3-12 bass on our 4-6 hour weekend fishing jaunts and the boys have had a blast with their light-tackle Cajun Custom Rods … makes a pound-and-a-half or two pound bass feel like a five-pounder every time. As we dig in and get ready for the end of summer, I suspect the “bite” will prove to be steady state for the next month or so … then comes the fall and the bass are certain to start lining up for the buffet in preparation for the winter. Keep at em’ and remember to take a kid fishing … they’ll never forget you and will make it their sport of choice in the coming years. Tight lines.

Jaesen Yerger
www.cajuncustomrods.com

Bug Catches Yet Another Lake Standing Bear Bass

Nebraska Bass Fishing Report 2

Jaesen Yerger — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:59:46 +0000

Fremont State Recreation Area – I took my 6 year old son out on Monday afternoon (5 July) … in search of a good time on some new bass-fishing water close to Omaha. We took a short drive to Fremont and fished Fremont State Recreation Area. We arrived approximately 1:00 PM at the main gate to the “south lakes” at the state park and were greeted by a young man who was knowledgeable about the area. After a radio call or two to a few of the park rangers, they suggested #20 based on the recent restock and renovation to Lake #20 that occurred in 2007 (they said there were “good” numbers of bass). Additionally, we were told that Lakes #1 and #2 held some decent size bass, but not quite the numbers. After consulting the map provided, we decided to go to lake #20 as it allowed a boat and motor to be used whereas #1 and #2 Lakes only allowed electric motors (and I believe only Lake #2 had a boat ramp). Additionally, I wanted my son to have the best opportunity to catch fish … so “good numbers” sounded “great” to me. So, with our minds made up, we briefly rigged out and were fishing by 1:30 PM. Lake #20′s water was relatively clear for about 2 feet vertically and light-tea-stained after that; water temps ranged from 82-84 degrees Fahrenheit; the skies were overcast with a light mist on occasion (clouds at 5-8 thousand feet); wind was light (less than 5 mph). For the most part, Lake #20 has good vegetation and lay-down around the perimeter of the water with trees, logs, and other stick-ups scattering the clay and sand banks. Additionally, there are hydrilla and other aquatic weed scattered around the lake’s banks … but not too much … just enough to provide a nice forage base and cover for the fish. From what we could decipher on the fish finders, the weed line ceased on average 5-20 yards from the bank and the lake had some good coves and points with good shade and cover. We started with a 6 inch root-beer Senko and a 6 inch “christmas-flecked” Senko (dark Senko worm with red, green, and gold flake) rigged without weights and Texas-style. We each caught a 14 inch bass after about 30 minutes – tucked in close to the bank and throwing to any structure, twitching our retrieves with pauses to get the Senko about a foot or so beneath the water … all the way to the boat. The little bass hit about half-way from the bank to our boat (or about 10-15 yards off the bank). As there were multiple jet skies running rampant in the lake (another post for another day will involve “water courtesy”), we fished a little faster around the northeast and southeast sides of the bank on the larger portion of the lake than I would have liked, but I wanted to make our way around to the western end of the lake where there were no jet skiers and a bit more “peace and quite” in the smaller portion of the lake. As we thought, once we got to the back of the lake, slowed our fishing down and began to pick apart the banks and any structure we could find using black and blue Berkely Power “Flappin” Craws with a 1/8 ounce pegged-weight in front of the lures. My son worked the outside of the weeds and lay-downs and I worked flipping, skipping, and casting to those “hard-to-get-at-spots and cover.” We were pretty successful with this approach and ended up catching 6 bass … all between 13-16 inches between 3:30 and 5:00 PM. After making our way around the bank perimeter to the boat ramp, we decided to pull the boat and head over to Lake #2. We wanted to use the same strategy we used in Lake #20, but were looking for bass with a bit more size. Well, wouldn’t you know it, but I noticed when I was doing my walk-around on the trailer noticed that my trailer lights were out. So I troubleshot the wires/lights for about 30 minutes and made the call to head back to the house in the daylight versus at night (as I was able to get the lights up and working with my main headlights on). I didn’t want to chance the drive at night with questionable lights … or worse, losing them completely. So we called it a day and headed to the house, main beams on, and with trailer lights.

In all, we had a blast and caught 8 bass total in the Fremont State Recreation Area, Lake #20 … all bass between 13 and 16 inches. My son ended up catching half of the fish and reeled in all of mine for me … so the trip was a success … he had a blast fishing and “catching” … and I got to spend some “dad-time” with my youngin’ … a win-win for both of us.

Here’s a few pictures of my son and his fish … notice the “Big Smile” of success … can’t beat that and it’s the type of “fishing-smile” that will turn a kid into a fisherman for life.

Feel free to check out our website at: http://www.cajuncustomrods.com/

Take a kid fishing, be safe, and “Tight lines!”

Jaesen V. Yerger
Cajun Custom Rods, Inc.

Nebraska Bass Fishing Report 1

Jaesen Yerger — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:54:27 +0000

Omaha Area Lakes – July 1 – Fished from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Lake Zorinsky in Omaha, Nebraska. Caught three small bass: 15, 14, and 17 inches – all released in good condition. Landed the first on a grey, pepper-flaked Zoom lizard near the northwest bridge piling. Second bass hit a grey, pepper-flaked tube on the northeast side of the lake in about 4 feet of water off of a rock-structured bottom. Third bass hit a white spinnerbait (with silver willow leaf blades) on the southeast side of the lake (off of timber in about 4 feet of water). The water temp was between 82-84 degrees at surface, air temp was 8 degrees Fahrenheit, wind was 5-15 mph, clear skies, water seemed high due to rains as of late (maybe a foot or so the norm?), and the water was tea/coffee stained. Weeds weren’t too bad on the lake, just a slow day fishing … so we pulled the boat and made a run south.

We headed south to Lake Wehrspan (again in Omaha) and were fishing by 5:45 PM … fished until dark. Threw a grey, pepper-flaked; a baby-bass, a root-beer, and a black 6 inch senko without weight (Texas-rigged) … lots of “looks” and miss strikes, but no takers. Launched a few buzz baits in chartreuse, white-black, white, and green pumpkinseed but again, missed strikes and no fish. Last hour or so, switched between a green and a black scum frog and missed a few strikes. Only a couple of the strikes were legitimate … the rest were swirls, but all the fish seemed to be fighting through the same weeds we were … us to get to the fish and the fish to get to the bait. Lake Wehrspan is thick with milfoil and hydrilla grasses … clogged the trolling motor all evening … the “no-see-um” gnats were out in swarms as well. The highlight of the day was that we got to watch a young boy (maybe ten to twelve years old) land a 3-4 lb largemouth bass (he was fishing a dark-colored sluggo in about 3-4 feet of water). Nice fish and I am certain there wasn’t a bigger smile on the lake that day. The few boats in the vicinity gave the boy some good cheers while he fought the bass to his father’s boat. After a few pictures with the fish, they released the bass unharmed.

My first time out in Omaha fishing (just moved here from Florida about a two weeks ago) … same fishing styles, just different areas and the fish tend to be smaller overall. As I get to know the area and try out all the little “honey hole” fishing spots, I’ll continue to keep y’all posted. If you have any recommendations or favorite spots for bass fishing from a boat (18 foot aluminum Triton), please drop me a line. Who knows? Maybe you’ll put us in the right spot so my sons have the opportunity for that “big-bass-fish-smile?”

In summary, we had a great trip out that day and we can’t wait to get on the water this weekend (though we know there’ll be plenty of pressure on the fish). My 6 year old and I just look forward to hanging out and spending some “dad-time” together and fishing is a perfect fit for the two of us. Feel free to check out our website at: http://www.cajuncustomrods.com/

Tight lines!

Jaesen V. Yerger

Super Grade Premium Cork – Now Available for your next Cajun Custom Rod!

Jaesen Yerger — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:01:06 +0000

We’ve been hard at work prepping yet another release of premium custom fishing rod components for y’all – Super Grade Premium Cork is now available! Now when you design your own custom fishing rod at Cajun Custom Rods, you have the freedom of choice to choose Super Grade Premium Cork as a custom rod component with the following handle systems:
– Full Casting Grip
– Full Spinning Grip
– Split Grip (Casting)

Our Super Grade Premium Grade Cork grips are the absolute best cork grips available in the industry … period. Don’t let the soft touch fool you as these super-dense cork grips are tough, durable, and extremely sensitive. On top of that – they look great!

You’ll feel every bite, nibble, chomp, and hit from walleye, bass, perch, catfish, redfish, trout … you name it … using these Super Grade Premium Cork handles. Additionally, hard-rubber composite infused cork is utilized where “normal wear-and-tear” of cork handles regularly occurs … at the cork ends and where the reel seat rests … trust us when we say ” This cork is made to last!”

Keep in mind, all of the Cajun Custom Rod handle systems and grips are treated with U-40 cork preserver and designed to provide you the right leverage with the right feel. Your Cajun Custom Rod Super Grade Premium Cork grips are certain to provide spinning and casting performance you can trust and certain to be the next deadly weapon in your fishing arsenal!

Run and Gun (Jax Fishing Report 26 March 2010)

Jaesen Yerger — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:31:17 +0000

I had the day off work, so I decided I would go wet a line and do some moving around on the water today. I fished this morning and early afternoon in Black Creek at the back of Doctors Lake … the bass aren’t on the beds yet – caught 2 largemouth around 2-3 pounds each, missed a good one (4-5 lbs). All bass were caught with a Terminator chartreuse spinnerbait (1/2 oz) – I was surprised because I fished (carolina rigged and flipping-pitching) a 6 inch Zoom Junebug curl tail worm for two hours and nothing even looked at it. I worked the spinnerbait around the lay-downs and over the flats in the back of Black Creek (water temp was around 67/68 degrees). Then I ran back northeast into Doctors Lake to see if there were any bedding bass in Flemming’s Cove … no beds and the winds were putting up 1-3 foot waves, so I booked out of there and headed back to the marina at NAS Jax. While in Black Creek, I saw a couple of nice size gators (one was an easy 7-8 feet … just hanging out and enjoying the sun today). Since the west wind really picked up, I pulled the boat and traveled north up the 95 to the 9A to drop the boat in at Clapboard Creek to fish the incoming high and outgoing low tides tonight. I put in at Clapboard Creek around 4:30 PM and ran the river behind Blount Island to the Dames … then to Dunn’s Creek to hit a few spots I like (man, the west wind was putting out some chop on the main river). After catching a few flounder and a red before sunset, I headed back east and fished behind Blount Island and into Broward Creek. I ended up with another small flounder, three 15-17 inch reds (1 at the base of an oyster bed and the other two in little grass cuts where there was water moving through just as high tide steadied up), and about 15 trout once the sun went down … only one was over fifteen inches – the rest were little guys. Water temps in the creeks on the incoming tide was 64-65, water temp in the creeks at slack was 66/67. I caught all the trout in and around Blount island … in the lights, near structure (dock pilings, rocks, etc.), and once the high tide started dropping out and moving the water out into the main river.

Pretty much from around 10:00 AM this morning until around 8:00 PM this evening the wind was steady out of the west at 10-15 knots. Then, the wind dropped off and went light/variable up to 5 knots. I got off the water around 10:30 PM … fishing was just slow today for me, but man was it gorgeous out there … ready for the heat and the sun

I fished a gold/speckled with white underbelly Mann’s jerk-bait, a white chub-tail plastic minnow on a 3/8 oz jig head, and a 4 inch Berkley Gulp Natural Molt shrimp. No takers on the jerk-bait, a few trout on the minnow, and everything else hit the Berkley Gulp shrimp. All fish today that were caught were released back into the wild … to catch again another day.

If the weather will at least hold in the upper 60′s low 70′s and Mr. W. I. N. D. will stay away, the upcoming weeks for both freshwater and inshore/saltwater fishing should prove to be fantastic as the bite heats up. I can’t wait!

College Decals Are Here!

Jaesen Yerger — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:07:47 +0000

As the winter season begins to fade and we all start watching the weather in preparation the spring fishing season, we’ve also been busy adding to our line of custom rod components at CCR. That said, we now have “College Rod Decals” as a selectable rod component for your next Cajun Custom Rod. Yep – that’s right! At Cajun Custom Rods, we have provided you with the opportunity to add your favorite college team on your next custom rod. 57 of the most popular college teams from the ACC, BIG 12, BIG EAST, BIG 10, CUSA, MAC, MWC, PAC 10, SEC, WAC and independent schools. These officially licensed full color college decals are printed with UV resistant inks and feature “laser cut” edges with a thin white margin around the contour to provide contrast against your rod blank.

Louisiana State University (LSU) College Rod Decal

We’ll be adding military rod decals in the next few days so you can show your true colors and support our service members with pride. Be sure to stop back in and check ‘em out! Go Navy!

I went fishing on the St. John’s River this past weekend … just absolutely amazing to be on the water again … especially with a CCR custom fishing rod in hand. I worked a 4-inch Berkely Gulp root-beer colored shrimp on a 3/8 ounce jig for about 4 hours. The water was a chilly 55 degrees, but the sun was out with air temps hitting 65 degrees. Landed six Speckled Trout (all caught and released as February is a closed trout season in the Northeast Florida region) and three Redfish (all released to be caught another day). Wow! Talk about fun in the sun … especially with the frigid weather and howling north winds! Be sure to check out the CCR gallery for a few updated photos of a nice Speckled Trout and Redfish. Oh, the rod that I used for both the trout and redfish was a Cajun Custom Rod: 7 ft G. Loomis (P8400) rod blank, American Tackle solid titanium “Ring Lock” guides, Fuji casting reel seat, and a full handle of the finest quality 3A Portuguese cork.

BTW: Micro guide rod is laid up and turning … can’t wait for the “spin and dry cycle” to complete … stay posted because we’ll have a few pics to show ya’ once its done … and a field test comparison to follow.

It’s Official, the First Blog

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:28:13 +0000

Drum roll please!

Wow, welcome to Cajun Custom Rods’ Blog. It’s hard to believe we are a “real” company now. We were excited when we got our logo, then our business cards, our shirts and when Jaesen actually made the first rod. Now, almost two years later, we finally have a website, it is official, we are up and running! It doesn’t seem like that long ago when Jaesen came to me and said “Hey honey, I’m driving down to Orlando so that I can check out this company down there and build my own fishing rod.” He’s had ideas before and little ventures that he has done, so I didn’t really think anything of it. And then he was gone for roughly 11 hours and came home with a car full of stuff. I’m not talking just a bag of fishing components; I’m talking the whole back of the car full of stuff. His excitement level was off the charts and somewhere in there I actually caught him saying, “yeah, and I can do this as a business, I’m going to figure this out … build custom fishing rods … and then I am starting a business.” That was a red flag waving in a hurricane force gale for me. Now mind you, we aren’t just lying around here with nothing else to do. He had just gotten back from Iraq and was in transition with his new squadron for the Navy. I was halfway through nursing school and we have 3 kids ranging in ages from 8 to 2. So with all the assorted school and activities for kids, plus school for mom, plus a job for dad, I was a little concerned with where would we find extra time to start a new business. If you know Jaesen though, if it is truly what he wants, then he does find a way for it to succeed, not just work, but succeed. And so here we are just waiting for you to jump in to our site and design your very own rod. We are a small company and extremely customer oriented so when it actually does say contact us, you can be assured of a response from one of us, because that is what we believe in-what we think businesses should do for their customers. I will leave this blog entry with a few fun items that occurred in our first several months:

We decided to start naming our rods that Jaesen designed; we have a Green Goblin, a USA, and several college type rods.
Eating homemade pizza with the IRS guy who spent hours going over our business plan with us.
The absolute disbelief we felt when on our son’s grabbed a rod while the epoxy was still wet and sticky.
Trying to figure out where to store 50 shipping boxes in our own crowded garage.
Testing out bubble wrap products by letting the kids play with the wrap.
Jaesen taking out the first rod finished and catching a fish.
Deciding we could be our own photographers and learning a whole new business on top of custom fishing rods.
Boring the wife to tears on which color blue should I use as a guide wrap, metallic, light blue, navy blue, ice blue, cobalt blue, sea blue……… “wait, what’s a guide wrap?”