Page 21 - MAY2022

May 2022
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM Page 21 Sports
May Shining Star:
By mJC
Off the Hook That Time of Year Again
It’s getting to be that time of the year again, and not a minute too soon! As the days get longer, and the temperature rises, the fishing action will in- crease exponentially. As the air temperature rises, so too does the water temperature. For Bass enthusiasts, this is a win, win! Conditions become more comfortable for both the fish and the fisherman. Bass will be on the move as the mercury moves. It is still a bit early for consistent success, but better days are on the horizon. They will begin to move from their deeper winter haunts to shallow water as spring progresses.
The key water temperature is for my favorite type Bass fish- ing is between 60 -65 degrees, that’s when the fish become ac- tive on top water presentations. The majority of Largemouth Bass genetically triggered to spawn when water temps are in the 55 degree range and warmer. This means there will be more big fish shallow than any other time of the year. The females are the big- ger fish of the species and will begin to nest accompanied by the smaller males. This is the time when sight fishing will pay huge dividends and success will be dictated by a quiet, slow ap-
proach to the shallow bedding grounds, boat noise will spook them and decrease your odds of seeing and catching the bed- ding females. Be sure to practice catch and release during this time, it is key to sustaining the population. Big fish are rare, it takes a lot of things to go right
but that doesn’t necessarily mean predictable conditions. There are opportunities for pre-spawn and post spawn fish- ing, but they can be very finicky so persistence is the key. Don’t miss spring fishing, it is a prime season for big fish. Be sure to stock up on spinnerbaits and
for a Largemouth Bass to get in the trophy class, (ten pounds or more) especially around here in the cooler climates where the growing season is considerably shorter than it is for our south- ern cousins. The New Hamp- shire State record Largemouth Bass stands at 10.8 lbs, and was caught in May 1967 according to State sources.
The Bass will be moving constantly during the spring, so it is hard to say where and when they will be in a certain depth or temperature range. As discussed earlier, they will be heading for the shallows as water temperatures increase,
buzzbaits, these two baits will tip the scales in your favor. I al- ways have a search bait tied on and at the ready for any signs of surface activity. For me, that search bait is a 1⁄2 oz. Rattle Trap. Whenever I spot feeding fish, I immediately throw that search bait into the fray and usually it produces, they are showing you their hand, so why not capitalize on the opportu- nity? Work smarter not harder, take the “freebies” when they are gifted to you. Whatever techniques you employ, be sure to get out on the water and create some memories and have fun!
Luke Gordon
By alex soBolov
Luke is a 4-year member of the Newfound varsity baseball team. He is a quiet, veteran athlete who leads by example. Luke’s roles with the team have been seen at 3rd base, shortstop & 1st base. In addition, he has been a strong, reliable pitcher for the program. His pitching will be called upon often this season for his senior year. As a hitter, he will be hitting near the top of our lineup. Last year he demon- strated an increase in his power and will be looked upon this year to drive in runs for the team.
As an athlete, Luke takes a lot of pride in preparation as he spent his summer playing American Legion baseball and
can often be found improving his strength and conditioning in the weight room. Unfortunately, Luke suffered a shoulder injury early in his career, which set him back in other sports. But, he was able to come back and be a con- tributing member of our varsity boys basketball team this winter with his strong presence off of the bench. He was also a Second Team All-State member.
Luke is a strong student in school and will be recognized as a 2021-2022 NHIAA Schol- ar-Athlete and will be finishing in the top 20 of his graduating senior class. He has also shown a lot of success stepping into a Teacher’s Assistant role with the Unified PE class during the day.
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