Nightcrawling makes for a memorable Memorial Day

Have you ever wondered why some lure manufacturers put so much effort into coming up with something that looks, feels, smells, and tastes like a nightcrawler or small worm?

I offer the same postulate for members of minnow families.

They (the minnows) are often strung out from coast-to-coast, barely surviving, having been once netted and dumped in to massive vats. In spite of the rigors, those silver-sided little swimmers are, of course, a key to any complete angler.

But it's the nightcrawlers I prefer to have sitting packed in a moist container and gently placed in my stream bag, with all the other members of the supporting cast.

One reason is that nightcrawlers are much easier to transport than a bucket of minnows. No risk of spilling, and as long as cool temperatures are maintained, they're actually quite hardy.

So, we now have some very reputable companies issuing white lab coats to their researchers with orders to come up with something that could very well fool a mother 'crawler into thinking the artificial plastic cylinder laid next to her is the real deal.

That's because real nightcrawlers are such a great bait.

I have already shared with you about how I take a bunch of nightcrawlers and fatten them up. Because of the water absorption and refrigerator-infused temperatures, I ultimately wind up with some highly appetizing bass tempters.

I had the morning to my self this past Memorial Day.

After going through boxes of photos of my late father and his WWII experiences in the South Seas' Solomon Islands, I drove to a nearby pond. I was armed with a light spinning rod and one of my pond-use fly rods.

The spinning gear was rigged with 4-pound fluorocarbon and a No. 8 gold hook. This was just a test jaunt, so I had only brought along a dozen 'crawlers. I had a newly tied, small, sinking, silver-adorned streamer tied to the fly leader.

I never take my boat to an area lake during holiday time simply because I find navigating through a minefield of empty beer bottles and cans as well as bigger boats weaving around me to be too daunting. I was happier just being on the bank of a nearby pond.

The fly was a new creation I'd tied for a fall trip to Wisconsin's Menomonee River. I made over a dozen casts to a stand of emerging cattails with nary a strike.

I subsequently threaded a nightcrawler on to the small hook and then pinched a tiny piece of tungsten shot 10 inches above the hook.

The 'crawler never made it to the bottom. It may have been just a mere second when the line shot off to my left. I closed the bail on the reel and set the hook. I was fast into a big (an early judgment call) fish even though I hadn't seen it yet.

My tiny digital scale registered the weight close to 2 pounds. But for me, it really didn't matter how much the fish weighed, since I now knew the pond held some largemouth bass.

I put a fresh 'crawler on the hook and made a long cast to the opposite bank. This time the 'crawler made it to the bottom before a fish grabbed it. It was another bass, much smaller than the first one.

I got down to my last 'crawler, and now decided to go back to the cattails.

The rig barely bade it beneath the surface. The big bass of the day grabbed it and took off for Palatine. It headed for the very backside of the tails and worked its way around several stalks. After several minutes of give and take, I retrieved a 3-pound bass.

My day was complete, especially after a memorable visit with memories of my dad and all the fishing spots we shared together.

Fishing update:

The 2015 Illinois Free Fishing Days promotion will be held June 5-8. During this time, no fishing license is required. It is a great opportunity for families to try fishing, without needing to purchase a license immediately.

Despite the heavy rainfall in our area, the best chance for decent bluegill fishing is on the ponds.

Check the industrial park and apartment complex ponds recently infused with fresh water. Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, and Mount Prospect are areas where you may check.

In the meantime, look for close-to-the-bank for smallmouth and walleye action on the Fox River in Elgin.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.