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She's the boss when it comes to bass fishing There's a lot to like about smallmouth bass. For many, it's the smallmouth's never-give-an-inch tenacity. A trait from which the often-quoted phrase "inch for inch and pound for pound, the gamest fish that swims" was coined. For legions of others, the admiration for this prized gamefish runs deeper, as deep and as clear as the water in which they swim. Consider that from spring through fall - and even winter for some die-hards - smallmouth bass can be pursued by the young and old, from a pricy bass boat or on a rock from shore. Moreover, the tackle can be as simple as a discount store spinning rod, a nightcrawler, a hook and a lead weight to rods, reels and lures that run into the hundreds of dollars. Perhaps best of all, for those living in the Mid-Columbia, the smallmouth is one of the most abundant - but often overlooked - gamefish around. For two decades now, I've been casting for smallmouth on the Yakima, Columbia and Snake rivers. And while it has taken years to figure out some of the smallmouth's seasonal patterns and habits, it's been time well spent. Burbank Heights angler Fred Carlson couldn't agree more. For more than 20 years, Fred, 50, and her husband, Terry, 55, have been fishing for smallmouth bass in the Mid-Columbia. Fred - a k a Connie - and Terry also are longtime members of the Columbia Basin Bass Club. And Fred, to be sure, is no armchair angler. She has earned the title of ladies' club champ the past three years and has also finished in the top 10 of the club's best anglers, men or women. "I've been fishing ever since I met Terry, when I was about 19. My father had a pond on our Nebraska farm, and I think the main reason Terry asked me out was so he could get permission to fish it," she joked. For the curious, Fred landed her nickname shortly after meeting Terry. He said she looked a lot like his uncle, farmer Fred, because when they met she was wearing overalls and baling hay with her brothers. The nickname stuck, and Fred and Terry were hooked on each other and fishing. Today, they regularly fish together and often compete as a team in club-sponsored tournaments but only for the joy of fishing for smallmouth and being together on the water. "I've had offers from people willing to sponsor me professionally," she said, "but I prefer to fish for fun. But I do love outfishing the guys." One of the secrets to Fred's success has been her choice of tackle. "I guess you'd have to say I'm a finesse angler because I use lighter weight rods, reels and lines," she said. Fred also favors soft plastic tube jigs and Zoom lizards and rarely uses crankbaits. "They're too much work." she tossed in. "My favorite colors are green pumpkin, watermelon and gray with blue flakes. If I'm ever in doubt, though, I go to green," she added. In fact, Fred's choice in gear, she says, is something other women should consider if they are interested in bass fishing. "Many women tell me they are intimidated by all the heavy-duty gear they see men using. So many of them are surprised when I tell them I only use a lightweight spinning outfit and catch some very large bass," (including her largest, a 5-pound bronzeback). With summer here, Fred said bass fishing should be heating up with the weather. "While I don't really change my gear or the way I fish during the summer, I do fish deeper water, 12 to 18 feet, and I fish different locations," Fred said. However, perhaps Fred's best tip for inexperienced, or anglers new to the area, is to join the Columbia Basin Bass Club. "It's a very family oriented club, with at least eight different derbies for anglers of all levels of ability," she said. The club also holds a monthly meeting and members receive an informative newsletter. "One of the best things about smallmouth bass fishing," Fred added, "is that you never know what's going to happen next. One minute there's nothing happening, and the next it can just turn on." But even if they don't get a nibble, the Carlsons never come home empty-handed. Like many of us, Fred and Terry have a tackle box full of memories beyond catching fish. "One I will always have is sitting in the boat on the Columbia and watching the sun set behind Mount Hood after a good day fishing," she said. But perhaps what's most important to Fred and Terry is the time they've shared. "No matter what, we always have a good time when we're fishing. I guess you'd say we're a dream team," she said. For more information on CBBC, visit to the club's Web site at www.columbiabasinbassclub.com.
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