Your fishing gear can help you land the big one, so you should make sure you choose wisely when it comes to lures, reels and rods. It isn’t always the most expensive piece of equipment that wins - you have to present the right lure to the fish in order to get him to bite. Depending on the conditions and where you are fishing, you may want to be sure our tackle box is filled with equipment that will tackle any fishing situation.
Fishing lures come in all shapes sizes and colors. Some look like they belong on a disco floor while others are more subtle. Of course, you will want to have a wide range of lures in your arsenal, but when you are fishing you want to make sure you cast the right one out. In order to do that you need to know a bit about the fish you are trying to catch. Find out what he eats and pick a lure that resembles that.
The color of your lure can tempt a fish that might not otherwise bite. Match your lure selection to the type of water you are fishing. If the water is full of sediment, then pick a brightly colored lure. If you are fishing a crystal clear body of water then choose more natural colors. Dual colored lures work good in muddy streams as well.
It’s also important to have a good quality reel for fishing. If you are picking out a fly reel be aware that there are two types of drag systems. This is what provides the tension on the line and prevents the fish from running away with the line. You want to be sure to pick the right reel and drag tension if you are going after those larger fish.
Of course, you also need a great fishing rod and they come in many styles. Depending on the type of fishing you will be doing, you could choose a fly rod, surf casting rod, casting rod or deep sea rod. Using the right rod is imperative for a successful fishing trip. Quality is important too as the low quality rods break and fall apart easily. You don’t want that to happen when you are reeling in the big one!
The best rods today are made of graphite, they are the strongest but still lightweight. When selecting a rod, make sure the cork fits properly and the guides appear to be durable. Also, the guides should be covered with paint or something that will protect it from rust.
If you are planning an early morning fishing trip, it’s best to select your fishing gear the night before and test it out. That way you can run out to the store if you don’t have that perfect lure or your reel isn’t working properly. Make sure everything is working and you have enough line wound on your reel. Don’t forget to pack enough hooks, sinkers and other accessories.
Make sure the equipment you select is geared for the type of fishing you will be doing. The rods, reels and lures you will use differ depending on if you are in a fast moving stream or fishing from a canoe on a quite lake. Of course, the species of fish you are after makes a big difference in your choice of equipment as well.
So next time you plan a fishing trip, make sure you plan ahead and find out what the fish are eating at this time of year and what the water is like. Select your gear accordingly and you’ll be landing that prize catch in no time!
Lee Dobbins writes for Fishing Around where you can find out more about all types of fishing and how to make the best of your next fishing trip.
Every true angler knows that no matter the species being fished the prime time starts when the ice melts. This is when male fish will start moving into shallow spawning grounds and more importantly 1-3 pound walleyes.
To seek out the best spawning points you’ll want to look for shallow sloping sand bars or points with small rocks and gravel. This is when the male walleye will start actively feeding. This feeding frenzy will last around a month before and after spawning. The bigger female walleyes are difficult to catch while the spawn is in full swing, but can be caught during the pre-spawn.
Your best method for catching active male walleye is in early spring fishing very slow. Fast moving bait isn’t going to attract them as they are cold-blooded and the water temperature is what regulates their metabolism. Wait until the late spring for your more aggressive fishing methods.
You’ve heard of ?Location, Location, Location’ for keying in on business opportunities, however it also applies to late winter and early spring walleye fishing. Add ?Presentation, Presentation, Presentation’ to that, and you will learn that image is key to this species of fish. Look for cover and obstacles in some sort of pattern. Cast out and entice them to come out and snag your bait, presenting a natural image. Typical walleye will dart out and grab the bait, and return back to its cover to finish the meal and await the next.
One keen difference between the walleye and other fish species is their tendency to remain in the shallow waters throughout the year. You’ll locate more aggressive walleyes in these shallow regions sticking to their cover than you will in the deeper waters.
Understanding the physical properties of the water is an advantage you should focus on. The water’s current will determine whether the fish are holding out in groups or scattering. In strong currents walleye tend to group up in tight patterns along structure.
Concentrate on the shallower waters and locate schools of bait fish as this is the walleye’s main forage. The fish that are going to get you the strikes are the ones that are keeping up with these schools in as little as 2ft. of water.
I always say the best techniques and tactic will come from the local anglers. Ask questions and seek advice and tips. Wet a hook and good luck on your next walleye fishing trip.
Blake Stoffregen writes for various websites including http://www.4fishin.com, a online fishing equipment store. He’s an experienced web developer and enjoys fishing as well.
As we move into December, for many fishermen this marks the beginning of the “Dark Season” of fishing.
By “Dark”, I don’t mean anything secretive, nor do I imply any sort of clandestine operations taking place on our rivers and streams.
By “Dark”, I simply mean the time of year when it is cold, gloomy,wet, and short of light–you know- perfect steelhead weather!!
Which is exactly my point.
Not that I don’t appreciate the time when I can reflect on the years past “light filled” fishing adventures, places like, The Henry’s Fork, The Rogue,The Kenai, The Owens, The Klamath–(and a few places I won’t mention)–Or, grabbing a good book, re-charging my fishing wires-while the fish enjoy a break from the trevails of being a fish. And not that I don’t appreciate the time to sit and tie the two fly patterns I know, and pick up magazines and start to plan out next year’s wish list,BUT the year isn’t over and there are still some fantastic fishing opportunities still out there.
One of the real nice things about this time of year is the lack of fishing pressure. Unless you live in the southern U.S., or have the means to fly to Patagonia and start the second season, most folks aren’t really too excited to venture into sub freezing temperatures and chip ice off of the ferules on their fishing rods.
So while most fishermen are content to grab the remote, watch some guy grab a bass by the lips and have another egg nog, others are out there enjoying the solitude of the season.
With todays’ hi-tech clothing technology, except when fishing in the Arctic or Swen and Ole’s six inch hole in the ice, you can pretty much get yourself suited up to spend two or three hours comfortably outdoors chasing fish that usually have enough sense to remain where it is relatively warm.
At least WARM for a fish.
Fish don’t stop feeding in the winter and the results can be INCREDIBLE!!
Even fly fishermen, if they can get their fingers to work on a size twenty-six midge, can coax fish up to the surface to take a microscopic offering.
Again, the point here is, if you put a little preparation, and thought into your fishing endeavors, you can still be out there enjoying the sport during the “Dark Season”. It sure beats sitting around eating Aunt Holly’s Double Lard Fruitcake!!
To me, there are still very little downsides.
Unless of course you count hypothermia,frostbite and freezing to death as downsides.
Of course, for some of you, sitting in a fish hut on some frozen lake, or standing in the steady drizzle of a Northwest rain, or cross country skiing to your fishing hole still won’t sound like fun to you, so there is always Patagonia and New Zealand.
Thank God for Visa cards…..
A.J. Klott
Author, writer of fishing humor,and “fly tack” peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.
If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at:
http://www.twoguyswithflys.com
To see a fisherman perfectly mastering a double-handed fly rod is rare enough. When the fisherman turns out to be a woman, we are in the realm of the exceptional. It was on the banks of the river Blackwater in southeast Ireland that we met Glenda Powell. She teaches the art of salmon fishing with talent.
Portrait
Northern Irish - Glenda grew up in the suburbs of Belfast. A place where you learn quickly not to let others walk all over you. Her uncle was the best fisherman in the family. She was only nine years old when he died and left her a precious legacy - all his fishing tackle. Under the amused gaze of her three sisters and other boys of her age, she decided - with a determination well beyond her nine years - to learn to use it by herself. Not easy by any means, but more a question of pride. Within a few years, many Northern Irish trout had paid the ultimate tribute to her ability with the worm and then the fly rod. Even as an adolescent, she knew that fishing would be the focal point of her existence.
Good, and now ???.
Do we go fly-fishing or would you prefer that we go and catch a salmon?
Glenda’s question is clear.
The fly is beautiful, and she has just given us a superb demonstration. Single Spey or double, roll cast, snake roll and other subtle variations on the theme of double handed fly-casting, she executes them all gracefully.
But the Blackwater is running bank high and the water’s colour lives up to its name. Not much hope with a fly rod in these conditions. For the worm, on the other hand, the conditions are good.
But her preference is to teach fishing and fly casting, to teach her clients the basics of double handed fly casting or to correct the bad habits of the more experienced anglers (we all have them!). She loves teaching fishing. “I prefer teaching individuals or small groups. The most important factor is not to stress the clients. A beginner must feel at ease. Before he picks up the rod, I always start by explaining what he will have to do - how and why. Always in plain English. I demonstrate how it should be done, and break it down into the important steps. The pupil must see the correct movements - his goal is to emulate them. Then, before he starts to fish, I point out the stages which could cause problems. It’s easier to avoid an impasse if the pupil is aware of the difficulty”.
For Glenda, this psychological aspect is very important.
“It’s no good drowning the pupil with details, but to bring out the essential points. If he has problems with a particularly difficult movement, I don’t insist. We go on to something else, less difficult, but in any case different. When he has regained his confidence or changed his ideas, we go back to it - and things invariably go better”.
Consequently, even during a fly fishing lesson, she won’t hesitate to suggest a couple of runs with the worms or a few casts with a spinner, just to put him at ease.
“I’m not a fly fishing purist. I love fishing worms in particular. To fish them with the right weight & speed down the right line isn’t so easy. Then - the sensation of the salmon taking the worms whilst we give him line - the suspense is much more prolonged than a pull on the fly or a hard hit on the spinner”.
I watched Glenda fishing with worms. She knows exactly what she’s talking about.
In fishing, a woman’s place is always marginal.
In spite of a competence and experience of Atlantic salmon fishing that few people of her age possess, we could well ask if the fact of being a woman isn’t a handicap in her chosen profession.
“Of course, some men don’t like the idea of learning to fish from a woman. But they are few and far between and, overall, I think it’s positive for the learning process. Advice is often better accepted by a man from a woman than from another man. Not getting blocked, vexed or stressed is undoubtedly easier. Not withstanding, a woman doesn’t have the right to make a mistake. Much more than a man, she must strive for excellence to remain credible.
As for female pupils, they are still few and far between in Glenda’s clientele. But her observations paint an interesting portrait of the fisherwoman.
“A woman who fishes is rarely average. If she does so solely to please her man, without real motivation, she’s a lost cause. At best, she will remain mediocre, and progress little with time. On the other hand, if she fishes for herself with a real passion, then she will probably be extremely good. To persevere in this predominantly macho sport where women are at best tolerated, necessitates an approach & motivation which permits her to progress above the level of the normal fisherman.
The Spey-casting Myth
Teaching and perfecting the use of a double-handed rod are Glenda’s speciality:
“There is a myth surrounding the Spey cast. Many fishermen who master the use of a single-handed rod for conventional casting have a complex about spey-casting.
It’s true that to learn the spey-cast is complicated by the habits of casting single-handed.
Generally, the right-handed fisherman who picks up the double-handed rod completely underestimates the role of the left hand. He imagines that it only serves to support the rod, which requires two hands purely because it is longer and heavier.
In fact, it’s the scissor movement between the two hands that gives all the power to the cast.
Until this manipulation is mastered, it is impossible to cast correctly. The rest in simply a variation of a roll cast. When a pupil already knows how to do this with a single-handed rod, they already feel more at ease”.
Glenda has some memorable moments in her time as a casting instructor of which she is particularly proud. The story of the sturdy man, who in spite of being a keen fisherman, had given up after trying for years to spey-cast properly. After 20 minutes of teaching, he was casting right across the river. Tears of relief flowed down his cheeks as the frustration of so many years trying in vain evaporated. Two days later, a large bouquet of flowers arrived for her with the message “I’ve always been in the dark with my spey-casting - thank you for showing me the light”.
Then there was the story of the guy who caught his first salmon on fly with her on the Blackwater after fifteen years of trying in Scotland, Norway & elsewhere.
But her favourite tale is the one about the Royal Air Force veteran with two wooden legs as his were blown off in the Second World War. At the tender age of 86, he caught his first ever salmon on his second day fishing with her.
Indulging one’s passion throughout the seasons on a magnificent salmon river, it’s the little boy’s dream that still haunts many a fisherman.
In a Belfast suburb, a little girl had the same dream??..
Glenda Powell’s webpage: http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/Tuition/Tuition.htm
Original Article written by Olivier Plasseraud (editor - Salmo magazine) & translated & edited by Ian Powell from the French original.
Ian Powell can be reached via the website
Angling for Salmon on Ireland’s Cork Blackwater on
http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net
Planning a perfect fishing trip isn’t as easy as loading your tackle box into the car and setting off in the direction of water. You need to really define what exactly you want in your fishing experience and plan accordingly.
There’s lots to consider when planning your trip and even more so if you are planning a trip with buddies or for your family. Not everyone has the same idea when it comes to the perfect fishing trip and a little bit of planning can help make it a trip everyone can enjoy.
Here’s some things to consider for your next fishing trip:
Catching That Perfect Fish
Before you can catch the perfect fish you have to decide which species of fish you want to go for. While some people love trout others might be avid bass fisherman. Since bass are found in warm waters and trout in cold waters, someone might be disappointed if you did not consider the type of fish before picking a location.
Deciding on what type of fish you want to catch narrows down your destinations for you a bit which can help in further planning. Don’t worry though, there’s plenty of places to go no matter which type of fish you are angling for!
Size Or Quantity?
Some anglers like to catch fish after fish after fish. They aren’t happy unless they are reeling them in and size isn’t really that important, although there’s always that hope that the next nibble could be a big one. Others are only interested in catching the big fish in the pond and will sit patiently all day waiting for him to give a nibble.
While there are many places that offer an opportunity for both types of fishing, this should be discussed beforehand so that each member of the trip can be sure they are getting the type of fishing they enjoy.
Fishing Style
One other thing to consider is the method you will use to catch the fish. Will you be wading into streams? Trolling? Deep sea fishing? Each one is a different experience and many people have their preference. Make sure your group agrees on a method of fishing and that the destination you are thinking about offers that type of fishing.
Cost
As with anything, what you can afford will largely impact what you can get for your fishing vacation
You need to get together with your group and decide what you can spend. Perhaps you will have to make some compromises such as sleeping in a tent instead of a cabin so you can afford a couple days with a good local guide.
The hard part here is getting everyone in the group to agree on how much to spend and where to put the bulk of the money. One way to save money is to do your own cooking or have everyone in the group bring a frozen dish along (enough to feed everyone) and you’ll have free meals for several nights.
When planning your trip, don’t forget about shower and bathroom facilities - especially if this is a family trip. If you have opted for camping, the showers and bathrooms will be community so you will have to share. A cabin on the other hand will provide some privacy.
So, if you really want a great fishing trip, start by planning just exactly what you want out of the trip and how much you are willing to spend. Do it right and you can have the fishing trip of a lifetime.
Lee Dobbins writes for Fishing Around where you can find out more about all types of fishing and how to make the best of your next fishing trip.
Fly Fishing in saltwater has become so popular in the last twenty five years in the Florida Keys that the Bonefish census board determined each fish is “worth” about 3,000.00. This is mostly due to the overwhelming amount of tourist who visit the Florida Keys each year to go fishing.
Fly fishing in saltwater has always been a known sport amoung its enthusasts but not until the last few decades has it sparked an interest in many more anglers. It provides the ultimate challenge to many, the cast must be perfected, take into account the wind, the moving fish, the moving boat, and you have your perfect saltwater fly fishing scenario.
Many fly rodders flock to the Florida Keys each year for the annual Tarpon migration. Depending on the temperatures, tarpon can start showing up in the lower Keys as early as February and tarpon fishing will last well into the summer months. For a fly fisherman the first few seconds of a tarpon hookup is the most exhilarating. The hook set on one of these prehistoric silver monsters has to be strong and often you will strike two to three times to get the hook in the tarpon’s cinder block mouth. Once he’s hooked you will know it and most likely he’ll take you on the ride of your life. Don’t be disappointed if after a few jumps he gets off, that’s tarpon fishing and it should be enjoyed for what it is… a great display of gamefishing.
Other fly fishing target species here in the Florida Keys include the bonefish and the elusive permit. Permit are considered the ultimate gamefish taken on fly tackle. Some purists will even venture to say it has been the pinnacle of their saltwater fly fishing. Permit are nervous all the time. In my opinion they are a deep water fish who just do time on the flats to get food. A bandit of bait. They feed on blue crabs about the size of a silver dollar and shrimp. Therefore fly fisherman tie up many forms of crab patterns including the classic Merkin crab fly. This pattern in its many shapes and forms works best for fly fishing for permit here in the Keys.
Some of the largest bonefish in the world live here in the Florida Keys. Large bonefish cruise the flats from Biscayne Bay down to the Marquesas Keys west of Key West. The most concintration of large bonefish is in Islamorada. Many think this is because Islamorada hosts so many release bonefish tournaments and these fish are relocated after they are released at the tournament weigh station to grow up in “downtown Islamorada” as many of the guides call it. Bonefish in the Keys range from 4lbs. to over 10lbs. and are not easy to catch on fly but it can be done.
Advice to the Florida Keys visiting flyrodder, practice your casting as often as you can. Many visitors come to the Keys to try fly fishing for the very first time. It is a great way to either fall in love with the sport or become completely frustrated. There are casting clinics held at various fly shops in the Keys and Sandy Moret holds a fly fishing school a few times a year.
Loren Rea is an avid fly rodder and lives and works in the Florida Keys. She writes a report weekly at http://www.flyfishingthekeys.com</a/>
The modern period has been dominated by the development of new materials, and there is no doubt that without plastics, fly fishing as we know it would be unrecognizable as a sport, although the basic principles would be the same.
Glass-fiber rods first appeared in the late 1940’s, but it took a while for the new material to be adopted. Suppliers showed varying degrees of enthusiasm for the material. Hardy’s first glass fiber rod was built in 1954, and after a period in which glass and cane uneasily coexisted, their first carbon fiber rod followed in 1976. Rod weights plunged, reaching the point where line weight became a consideration in rod handling. A modern fifteen foot carbon fiber rod typically weighs around the pound mark, and a nine-foot rod three and a half ounces.
If anyone wonders why fiberglass did not replace split cane overnight, the answer lies in the table. Glass rods weighed much the same as their split cane equivalents, and offered the fisherman few advantages other than price. Carbon fiber, on the other hand, approaches half the weight of either split cane or glass. Once the technical problems of using the new material had been solved, carbon fiber rods entered mass production and neither of the older materials could offer any contest. Cane was swept away by the mid nineteen eighties, although it is making something of a comeback on aesthetic grounds.
The Fly Line. As with rod development, the post-war period was dominated by the development of new materials. The taper on these lines could be controlled to a precise amount, and the invention of methods of altering the specific gravity of the PVC coating (and hence its buoyancy) gave the product greater flexibility than anyone had ever dreamed of in a fly line.
The Reel. We are very nearly up to date on the subject of gear, but is one small piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing. At the beginning of the modern period, it was unusual to find fly reels with exposed rims. The last twenty years have seen a surge of nostalgia, and it is fascinating to see the designs appearing that imitate reels of a century ago.
The Salmon Fly. In a sign of growing American dominance in the field, hair-winged patterns didn’t take long to make the transfer across the Atlantic. The hair-wing had become a significant influence on British patterns by the 1960s, with many traditional patterns being adapted to allow hair-wing ties. The origins of the tube fly are less certain. We know that North American native people tied lures for salmon on quills as long ago as the nineteenth century, but the idea seems to have entered mainstream salmon fly fishing during the 1940s.
There is an interesting post-script to the development of the hair-wing salmon fly. Fishermen took a long while to give up their affection for the fully-dressed ‘gaudy’ fly, and it was commonly stocked by quite ordinary tackle shops well into the late 70’s and even early 80’s. As it became harder to find fully-dressed flies, collectors moved in, and a substantial market in “specimen-tying” began to emerge.
Shannon Brown is a native of Colorado and an avid fly fisherman. He has created a new website just for fly fisherman. Stop by and visit him at: All About Fly Fishing
Night fishing for speckled trout has become my favorite saltwater fishing tactics. Start off the morning waiting at home or at work for sunset, load up the truck with my heavy-duty night light, rod and reel, lure box and head off to my secret fishing spot were it’s only me and 100’s of speckled trout to be caught. Speckled trout night fishing is easy for youngsters to start getting in love with saltwater fishing at night. I would suggest that the first outing would be some were private. I have seen many things happen at night on a fishing pier, mostly kids getting hooked in the face or knocked down by a fisherman not looking where he was going.
Speckled trout at night can act so different at times when night fishing. They can be 2 feet below the water having a feeding frenzy or they can be on top of the water as if it were an underwater firework display. I have 3 lures that I absolute love to use when fishing for speckled trout at night.
1. Glass minnows
2. Speck Rigs
3. Crystal Minnow plug
Usually I use the glass minnows tandem rigged (two of the same lures used at once) when the trout are real active at night. When I take my own light it is ran on a tripod stand. This makes a perfect fishing experience for night fishing for speckled trout.
Ty Wagner is owner of Texas Fishing Home and loves Speckled Trout Fishing
Fly-fishing is an ancient angling method especially effective in catching trout and salmon. This distinct method of angling uses artificial flies to lure or excite fish. Fly-fishing helps anglers catch the fish easier than the traditional way.
There are two basic forms of fly-fishing, dry flies and wet flies.
Dry flies need coating with floatant in order for it to sit in the surface of the water. Dry flies are mostly effective in upstream and moving water. Dry flies help anglers’ spot where fish resides like pools and pocket in streams. Thus, it is easier to detect them and catch the fish.
The use of wet flies is beneath the surface of the water. Wet flies are nymphs, lures and true wet flies. It works as effective as dry flies except that in cases where weeds are many and almost touching the surface, wet flies blends with the weeds and thus may not be as effective as the dry flies.
Fly-fishing was developed in the 19th century, dry fly technique is very effective especially for slower and clearer rivers.
This is because weeds in rich rivers tend to grow closer to the surface, thus traditional wet fly fishing is almost ineffective. Dry fly fishing is thus useful by keeping the fly and the line floating on the surface. This makes fish excited and aggressive; the angler can then spot the location of the fish and in turn catches fish easier.
Later developments of fly-fishing made this concept as basis, thus in the latter part of the 19th century, anglers develop love for fly-fishing. This gave birth to fly-fishing, the sport among its aficionados.
Various parts of the United States host fly-fishing sports such as in the waters of Catskill Mountains of New York and the provinces of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, British Columbia, Alberta and California.
Anglers in North America also develop various literatures pertaining to fly-fishing. The sport of fly-fishing and all these literatures gave North America the reputation of being the birthplace of dry fly-fishing, specifically the City of Calgary, Alberta. It is arguably one of the world’s best trout rivers, thus it remains to be the epicenter for the Western Fly Fishing in North America.
Various other states in America keeps the growing number of fly-fishers such as Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Arkansas. The growing number of anglers that are drawn to the sport of fly-fishing keeps the popularity at its peak.
Dry or wet fly-fishing, whichever is more effective in the rivers where you fish will help keep the sport exciting. It may not be long that other countries will learn to love the sport and make it a globally loved sport.
How does fly-fishing work?
Fly fishing uses longer and lighter rods; sizes vary from 2m (6 ft) for fresh water and up to 4m (14 ft) for salt water fly-fishing. Weight for fresh water rods are between two to five ounces.
Popular types of casts in fly-fishing follow its variety in situation specifics. Anglers uses common cast when the angler whisks the fly rod forward and back using his forearm and upper arm, the wrist is used to soften the motion.
The rod movement varies from 10 o’clock position to 2 o’clock position without touching the ground. Anglers do this to load the rod tip with energy and to travel the fly line creating distance and control; they call this motion false casting.
False casting needs to be done to excite the fish or make it aggressive enough so that when the fly touches the surface, it will be sure that the area where the fly touches is where most of the fish are located and thus will be easier to spot and catch them.
Whether you are a fly-fishing aficionado for outdoor excitement or having fun with your family, using the proper equipment will help you develop love for the sport. Keep it exciting and enjoy fishing at its finest in most popular fly-fishing locations in the country. There are many locations, thus you will not have a problem in spotting nice locations for you and your family for this wonderful outdoor adventure.
Shannon Brown is a native of Colorado and an avid fly fisherman. He has created a new website just for fly fisherman. Stop by and visit him at: All About Fly Fishing
We all know how effective tubes fished on internal weighted heads can be. The fact is that if you only use them this way, you are seriously hampering the true potential of this bait and its versatility. I’ve discovered, many years ago that fishing a tube in weed choked waters was a great way to catch fish. The problem I encountered was the open hook continuously and unmercifully getting snagged all day long. To combat this, I simply tried to rig the tube on a Texas rig. Ultimately I settled on a brass and glass type rig that has always scored well for me. This rig mixes sexy tubes, scent and sound to form a complete package of bass grabbing attention.
Equipment: 6-6 medium fast action spinning rod. The best rods for this method are high modulus models with a solid backbone. I use a Kistler Helium LTA 6-6 He66MS. This rod provides me with light overall weight and a soft tip but also the brute gorilla strength to yank larger bass towards the boat. Not finesse fishing you say? Well consider that I normally use 8lb line and occasionally drop that down to lighter 6lb Yo Zuri Hybrid. Even in the thickest cover, I’ve gotten by with the lighter lines. You could utilize a 20lb super line like Sea King’s 20/6 or 14/4. These will help slice through vegetation with ease. I prefer a fairly fast ratio reel. For tubing, I go with Shimano, no surprise, Sustain 2500 FD. This reel is as dependable as they come.
Terminal Tackle: My tube rig works best with brass Weenie Weights. I like 1/16 or 1/8 Top Brass Tackle Weenie Weights painted black. The weenie weight is simply a shorter, wider sliding bullet weight that is made of brass. This produces much better sound amplification and is environmentally friendly. For hooks, I use either Sugoi 3/0, 3/0 Owner Rig n hook or a 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG. What sets this method apart from standard Texas rigs is that I use a fire polished faceted glass bead. This accomplishes two things. First the bead reflects light and flashes. I truly believe that this is one of the best attributes of the rig. Secondly, the bead and the weenie weight slap back and forth, thus sometimes attracting fish to its location. The fire polished, faceted glass beads are super hard and will not cut your line.
The Tube: The ONLY tube I use is a Wicked Tube by Micro Munch Tackle. This bait is a thick walled hand dipped tube that holds the hook nicely. The double thick wall gives the tube durability and is necessary in the thick cover to prevent tearing. Fish do not hold on to the bait, they eat it. This tube is dipped in a salt impregnated plastic mix and then Kick N Bass scent is added to the plastic before the tubes are molded. This produces a tube that is noticeably stinky.
This tube rigged on a Sugoi 3/0 hook has figured for me in almost every tournament I’ve fished. If you have been paying attention so far, you will notice that this rig employs sight, scent, taste, and sound to tantalize Mr. Bass. If you’ve ever fished with the Wicked Tube you surely have noticed the oil slick the bait produces in the water. Its odor will have every cat in the neighborhood clawing to get in your dry storage box to get at them. I prefer the standard 4″ tube but occasionally I will upgrade to the larger El Gordo style tube. This is a quad dipped tube that is extremely durable and adds insane bulk. It is truly different and I think that is why it works well for me, not too many other anglers throw it regularly. Its size alone may intimidate some. I’ve noticed it catches bigger fish as well.
Colors: I prefer the following colors; Green Pumpkin, Black Grape, Water Melon Magic, June Bug, Smoke Purple Flake, Road Kill Camo, and Black Red Flake. I match the glass bead to the bait. Black, Brown, Purple, or Green beads will match all the previously mentioned colors.
Rigging: This rig can be set up just like the traditional Texas rig. Slide the Weenie Weight up the line followed by the glass bead. It isn’t necessary to peg the weight or the bead. Next tie the hook on with a Palomar knot for strength. Bury the hook point about a 1/4 inch dead center in the head of the tube. Pull the hook through the side of the bait until the hook eye enters the tube head. Next pop the hook back into the side and pull the point through, penetrating through the opposite side of the tube (back out again). The tube should be straight. The point of the hook should be exposed and tight to the fleshy side of the tube. The exposed point allows for easier penetration on the hook set. The hook doesn’t have to penetrate the extra plastic in the tube, thus sticks into the fishes’ mouth with minimal effort.
——————————————————————————–
“With this rig I usually notice one of two things: either I feel the bass chewing on the tube, similar to a plastic worm pick up, or I don’t feel the bait at all which means a bass has picked it up and is usually moving off with it.”
——————————————————————————–
The Presentation
This tube is very effective in 8ft of water or less. Its light weight won’t allow it to be fished effectively beyond that depth. Because it is weedless, it can be fished just about anywhere and if you add a heavier weight, you can surely probe the depths with it. I prefer docks, boathouses, any overhead cover, inlet points, and flats. Of course the rig will work anywhere provided shallow cover can be found. The rig works when skipped under or through cover. This is what sets the rig apart from conventional tube rigs. The tube itself is weightless. When cast the Weenie weight falls away from the bait and slowly drifts to the bottom. The tube flutters to the bottom even slower. Its slow fall is a crucial trait to its success. Standard tube rigs that are internally weighted spiral to the bottom.
They are directly weighted and fall throughout the strike zone faster then the Texas rig. As the weight of the Texas tube rig slides forward, it slowly pulls the bait along. This is the reason I don’t use bait casting gear. Flipping and pitching are not accurate presentations for this rig. I aim to skip my bait past the target so it slowly falls through cover. After I cast to a piece of cover, I try to maintain a tight line because very often the bait is struck just as it enters the water. If I don’t feel a strike, then I may jiggle the rod tip to get the bead and weight to make some noise. I then let the tube fall on controlled slack line and cover the lower column of the water I’m working.
I don’t fish this bait in open water as I would prefer internally rigged tubes for that. I target specific visible cover and try to pick it apart as best as I can despite the “falling away from cover” action the bait has. Getting the bait to skip is the real art of an accurate presentation with this rig. Sometimes I will try to crash bait through cover so it actually passes by my target. This is because a forceful cast won’t allow the weight to create drag on the cast and keeps the bait on target. The bait will pass through the cover and remain in the strike zone longer. You might also be able to feather a skip cast to put the bait right on the target. The 1/16 oz weight won’t pull the bait as much as a heavier size.
Get the brass weight and glass working to produce some sound. I move the rod tip ever so slightly, perhaps only an inch or two at a time. You do not want to over exaggerate your movements. The slight movements are key because you do not want to physically move the bait while you are attempting to make it sound off.
The Bite: Many tube bites simply feel like a mushy wet rag on the end of the line sensation. With this rig I usually notice one of two things: either I feel the bass chewing on the tube, similar to a plastic worm pick up, or I don’t feel the bait at all which means a bass has picked it up and is usually moving off with it. This happens because the tube is weightless and the bass doesn’t feel resistance in the form of an unnatural internal weight. Normally the line will just start moving off. Polarized sunglasses are a must for this technique. It is important with this and most other jig techniques to “weigh the line”. What this means is to learn what the bait feels like in the water. Usually any lighter or heavier sensation is a strike. When I detect a strike I really like to crank the hook home. Even though I tend to use light line and set my drag tight, I rarely break off on a fish. Normally if I hang a monster, I will disengage the anti-reverse and back reel. I use a sweeping set as this allows me to move more line than the standard over the shoulder jig jerk. I’m not exaggerating when I say that fish don’t spit the tube out. They just don’t. They really do eat it.
Seasons
The Texas rig tube excels during the early spring and through early fall. I simply prefer to fish other baits at different times of the year. It is an excellent big fish attractor because it has a thick profile and doesn’t give off many, if any, negative cues. Rigged with a glass bead, it appeals to all bass senses’ and like I stated earlier, “These tubes get eaten”. The combination of salt and scent are hard for any bass to reject.
Gear Breakdown: Texas Tube Fishing Insanity
Rod: Kislter Helium LTA 6-6 M He66MS
Reel: Shimano Sustain FD 2500
Line: Yo Zuri Hybrid 8lb
Hook: Sugoi or Gamakatsu 2/0 or 3/0 EWG
Tube: Micro Munch Tackle Wicked Tube 4″
Terminal: Top Brass Tackle Brass weight and fire polished faceted Glass bead
Alternatives
The Texas rig tube is a very consistent producer. If by chance bass want a different look, there are several alternatives. I’m a big fan of finesse techniques from the West coast. My sleeper tube rig is the same rig, but with the bead pegged 18 inches above the hook. The sinker is still free to slide and a striking fish won’t feel extra weight. This rig can be crept along the bottom similar to a Carolina rig. This is a noisier presentation as the bead and weight are always in contact.
We all know that tubes are very versatile. I have used these tubes to work bass on inside/outside weed lines with amazing consistency the last few seasons. This is one of those great baits that nobody should be without. It can be especially important to guys who do not prefer to throw a jig.
copyright 2005 Micro Munch Tackle
No part of this article may be reproduced without the written permission and consent of the author
Craig DeFronzo has written over 300 articles that are bass fishing related within the past decade for several of the top bass fishing web sites and periodicals. He is the author of over 12 books and eBooks on bass fishing and is the creator of Micro Munch Tackle. He started a small bait company based on the belief that unique custom tackle would be more appealing to bass that are continuously bombarded by the same commercial baits every day. Custom baits and lighter tackle have helped him achieve success in competition. For more information on custom handmade baits and more articles and ebooks visit http://micromunchtackle.com/
“I keep my eyes clear and I hit ‘em where they ain’t.” This was baseball’s Willie Keeler’s famous explanation for his .432 average in 1897. This applies well for baseball, but not fishing. To be successful, you need to be able to get where the fish are, not be “where they ain’t” and a great way to accomplish this to use a kayak.
As a child, I sat on the bank of many a river and many a small lake with my grandpa trying to catch fish. While I cherished the time we spent together, we did not catch as many fish as I would have liked. In fact, I know that I would have enjoyed these trips more if we would have had more action. Now that I have my kayak, I am mobile. If I spot feeding fish I can get to them with just a few short strokes, make a cast, and BINGO “Fish On!” This makes for a much more exciting day.
My favorite lake to fish is Lake Angelus in Michigan. This is a private lake; I am fortunate that my sister has a house on the lake and allows me access. Anyway, my point is that I have discovered where the fish are and now I can get to them. The lake has a “flats” area that cannot be reached by heaving bait as a landlubber. Also complicating things is that the fish are easily spooked from the sounds of boat engines. Consequently, the kayak is the ultimate tool for achieving success. I have literally “snuck up” on 5-pound small mouth bass, seen the lunker lying on the bed, worked my “Texas” rig, through the shallows, and then had the fight of a lifetime. At times, the fish have towed the kayak quite some distance before being landed.
Serenity Now!
For those of you familiar with the comedian Jerry Seinfeld, you may remember the famous episode when one of the characters thought they could obtain peaceful bliss by screaming “SERENITY NOW!” Of course, this did not work, and the character ended up being institutionalized. However, I know how you can obtain bliss, simply take the kayak to a secluded place and enjoy nature. I am a good angler, but I am sure there are many other fishermen who have developed more skills at this sport than I have. Consequently, I do not have a fish on constantly (nor do I want to have a fish on constantly). When things slow down on my quests for fish, I can obtain Serenity by paddling around the lake and observing nature.
I also am a birder and like to identify the different species that gather around the wetlands. My kayaking trips have allowed me to observe birds and other wildlife that could not be seen in suburbia, where I live. Some examples are a bald eagle in Upper Michigan, an elk on the Two-Hearted River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, some loons also in the U.P., and moose and Grizzly bear in Alaska.
Okay, let’s say you don’t like fishing, and birding isn’t your bag either. How about surfing? Or riding the rapids? Or sailing? The kayak can be used in all of these sports. No kidding, I have surfed in the Atlantic Ocean with a kayak. I paddled out to the breakers, timed the wave, and rode it to shore. This was very exciting! I have also taken my kayak through white water on a river, an adrenaline rush. Before you try this, you must make sure you are properly equipped and have the skill to make it through safely.
Sailing is something I have yet to try, but I’ve seen it and want to give it a go. The kayaks really move out on a windy day!
Lastly, I am 5′7″ tall and weight 200 pounds (sometimes more). The reason I bring this up is to let you know that I need exercise. Sadly, I do not have the svelte physique I used to have back in the day. The kayak provides me with an aerobic workout opportunity. It helps me keep my weight down and to keep my muscles toned.
The above reasons are why I have the passion for kayaking. Dollar for dollar, the kayak is the best investment you can make if you share the same interests that I do.
Scott Hamilton, Kayak fisherman http://www.kayakquest.com
Fishing boats have come a long way since the days when you had to purchase the large metal or wood boat with the massive gas guzzling motors attached.
Now even though these boats are still popular, some fishing enthusiasts are searching for alternatives to this expensive investment, and are now turning to the inflatable fishing boat, also known as the fishing kayak.
Kayak fishing has grown in popularity for individuals that enjoy the peace and tranquility of their favorite fishing spots, which allow them to get away from the traditionally hectic areas that attract the large amounts of fishermen and women. These congested areas such as the large lakes and rivers, bring many sport fishing boats that are bulky, noisy, and in most cases they smell of gas and oil.
With many inflatable boats and catamarans that can easily set-up in minutes, the fisherman can quickly stroll down their newly found winding trails, and hit their secret spots in no time to enjoy the un-chartered territories that supply unlimited fish resources.
The angler has much more on their catch agenda, and as the sport fisherman becomes more in tune with his/her environment, it only makes sense that obtaining a watercraft that is safe and non-polluting to our world is an added bonus.
Many inflatable fishing vessels are lightweight and only require a small electric motor to navigate through the water. This keeps the lakes clean, and offers you the added flexibility to get to your recreational fishing area quickly, so you can take advantage of the surplus of fish available!
Sports Fishing Should Be Fun And Affordable, Not A Second Mortgage!
Unless you’re a professional, and you enter many sport fishing tournaments, we believe that most individuals want to enjoy themselves without having to pay thousands of dollars for sports related boats that are only for entertainment.
Online Outfitters have taken the time to cater to this type of boat fishing need! They have designed many inflatable-fishing boats that range from small dinghies to large catamaran boats that can carry many persons and gear. Depending on what you’re looking for, these boats are all made with rugged materials, and can be customized with all the top fishing accessories to make your angling experience the most enjoyable on the waters.
If you’re really serious about getting your hands on one of these fishing vessels, you can easily go online and search for your desired boat in minutes. Once you have chosen the right one that fits your style and budget, the next step is to get more information, or take advantage of the online inflatable boat supplier’s trial period. This offer is very rare in the retail outfitter industry, and if you can find a local company willing to do this, jump on the chance to take one out and give it a try.
What better way to test out the inflatable fishing kayak or catamaran, to see if it achieves all your outdoor requirements! Remember, even though these crafts are not as expensive as the traditional fishing boats, they still are an investment in your future fishing adventures, and will play a large part in your leisure activity for many years to come.
About the author: William is the owner and the author of “Rugged Inflatable Kayaks” available at http://www.rugged-inflatable-kayaks.com A great source for inflatable fishing boats! Read great article information and tips on many fishing boat styles, including kayaks for fishing, catamarans, and inflatable boats in a variety of sizes that can handle many persons, fishing gear, and outboard motors for a flexible and convenient outdoor adventure.
For many die-hard fishermen, autumn bass fishing is one thing that is anticipated all summer long. A fisherman can expect great things from the streams when the weather turns chill, changing the sluggish pools into the cooler, feeding grounds.
As the oak and maple leaves turn into brilliant orange, gold, and crimson, a bass fisherman is keen to get his hook in the water. The folks who are anxious to try their hand at fishing flock to the most accessible rivers and ponds. So much so, that you almost have to make reservations if you want to get good spot on the riverbank!
If you are planning on joining this crowd, you better know what you’re doing, too. Or at least, try to look like you know what you’re doing. So if you’re a little green and can’t quite walk the walk, you can at least be outfitted like you’re trying.
That means bringing along a good tackle box for all of your flies, lures, and other fancy fishing gear to make yourself look like a know-it-all. High-tech cases these days come made with heavy duty plastic polymers that seal tight when you shut them. Some tackle boxes even are built to float in case they accidentally go for a swim. If you really want to display all of your colorful worms, flies, and lures, pick up one of those clear cases.
Of course, your fishing rod is an essential piece to the puzzle. The right rod has a significant impact on your perceived skills. For instance, a high-quality rod can directly affect how well you cast.
And then, a fishing vest is a desirable item to obtain for your autumn fun. This will make you look really impressive. Just be sure that you have got all sorts of fishing paraphernalia hanging from the many pockets and hooks on your outfit.
You’ll surely need tools to file hooks, cut lines, tie knots, etc. Whether you have one multipurpose tool to do all this handy work, or individual items for it all, as long as you have the equipment, you’ll be guaranteed for an smoother fishing trip.
If you assume the part of an expert fisherman, being appropriately dressed for the occasion and carrying the right gear, you’re sure to get nods of fellowship from nearby anglers while you enjoy your bass fishing in nature’s beautiful autumn season.
Copyright 2004 Camp Spot all rights reserved. Republished with permission from author.
Maria Jeffs is an enthusiastic outdoors lover. She is the webmaster of http://www.my-favorite-camping-store.com Visit her site for fun camping tips and other resources for campers. For more fishing tips visit: http://www.my-favorite-camping-store.com/camping-and-fishing-supplies.html
**Publishing guidelines:
Publication is permitted so long as the article is unchanged and the resource information at the end of the article remains intact, and links are live and intact with no redirect.
Fishing. Take a rod and a line and throw it in some water. Splash it around a bit and wait until something tugs. If only it were that easy. The truth is, fishing as a sport is not as easy as most people think and is a lot more complicated than just throwing your line is some water. For starters there are several types of fishing depending on what kind of fish you want to catch.
In this article we’re going to focus on fly fishing and it’s origin.
Fly fishing goes all the way back to around 200 AD. The first reference to it was written by Aelian who was born around 170 AD. Early in his life he knew nothing of the sea. In his early writing “On The Nature Of Animals” he writes about a certain way of catching fish supposedly invented by the Macedonians. A particular fish that runs through the Astraeus River in Macedonia happens to feed on flies that are peculiar to that region. These flies are not found anywhere else. The natives of the land called this species of fly Hippouros. These flies seek their food over the river and are never very far away from the fish in the river below. Because of this it is relatively easy for the fish to jump out of the water, catching the flies in their mouths and eating them.
It is from seeing this that the Macedonian’s got the idea to use these flies to catch the fish. However, because it is unclean for their people to touch this species of fly they had to develop a way to catch the fish without actually handling the flies. So what they did was fasten red wool around a hook. They then fixed onto the wool two feathers which grow under a cock’s wattles. The rod they used was six feet long and the line was also the same length. They then threw the line in the direction of the flies. The fish seeing this line which is disguised to look like the fly think they are going to have a nice meal and instead are caught by the fisherman’s trap. Fly fishing was developed.
It should be pointed out that according to accounts of what the fly looked like and what the actual “bait” looked like it would seem that the Macedonians didn’t try to imitate the fly exactly, as the fly color was yellow and the bait color was red. Some speculation is that the fly changed color when near water but this was never proven.
For those interested, the story above was taken from Radcliffe’s “Fishing From The Earliest Times,” which was published in 1921. This version of the story is the one most often printed with no credit given to the original author. Radcliffe himself states that he adapted this translation from “Lambert’s Angling Literature in England” first published in 1881. Prior to this there was a Latin translation which was printed in 1558. This printing however wasn’t discovered until 1834.
In a later article we’ll cover modern day fly fishing.
——————————————————-
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Fishing
——————————————————-
Ever wonder what you can do to get a fishing “fix” in the winter if your not an ice fisherman and you live in the frigid north? Besides the obvious magazine reading, and shopping, here are a few ideas.
- Clean your fishing rods and check for cracks - Everyone has had, or will have, a fishing rod break while the are fishing. Sometimes this cannot be avoided, but other times you can find these issues before the next season starts by wiping down your fishing rods and checking the guides for nicks, scratches, or cracks. If you find a crack in the rod, get a new one. I have never met someone who has repaired a graphite rod and been satisfied. If you cut it down it changes the action. If you try and wrap the cracked area it changes the action. If you have a crack in a guide, you can buy replacements and fix it. If you find a nick or scratch in a guide you might be able to polish it out with an emery cloth or diamond bit on a dremel.
- Check your lures - Look over your lures for paint issues on wooden lures, rusty hooks, dull hooks, bent hooks, etc. All of these things can contribute to problems down the road. Consider upgrading hooks if you have a lot of bent or dull hooks. Some people buy brand new lures and change the hooks to a different brand due to the better quality.
- Carve a lure - If your feeling adverturous you can purchase a chunk of balsa wood and try your hand at carving a lure. A basic lure is relatively easy to create and you can purchase all the metal hardware from a mailorder fishing catalog. It is quite satisfying to catch a fish on a lure you created yourself.
- Start a fishing diary - This may sound crazy to some people but it can give you a great insight into what the fish are doing. Get a notebook, buy a computer program, join a website, or whatever other method you can think of, but start logging the weather conditions, lures used, fish caught, etc. This can give you a better handle on what needs to be done to catch fish in similar situations on other lakes, or at other times, and keeps you from forgetting.
I hope this has given you a few ideas of things you can do during the winter that are both productive and fun.
Michfish.comMichigan fishing information, articles, online maps, online fishing diary, and more.
Most of my years of fishing for bass, I have been devoted to the Texas Rig. I had little understanding of the need for the Carolina Rig. Until lately…
New fishing situations and conditions I have encountered have shown me the value of this setup.
Right off the bat, I can tell you that one value of the Carolina Rig is more action from the bait. Since the bait is not quickly dropping to the bottom, it tends be more lively.
It is great for situations where the bass aren’t taking other baits because of weeds and visibility. Pulling one of these rigs over a bed of grass can be extremely rewarding.
It can be fished in any depth of water, but it seems most people use it in 8′ of water or less off islands, humps, coves adjacent to deep water.
The difference between the Texas Rig and the Carolina Rig is where the sinker is. In a Texas Rig, the sinker is a slip sinker that rides freely on the line with nothing else between the rod and the bait. In a Carolina Rig, there is a swivel or something else to allow a leader between the weight and the bait.
Both are used with plastic baits. The hook is usually embedded into the body of the plastic, making it virtually weedless. This is what drove me to love plastics, particularly worms.
The typical setup is to pass the line through a slip sinker then tie it to a swivel. Sinker weights can vary; usually a light sinker (3/8 to 1/2 ounce) for a shorter leaders, and heavier sinkers (1/2 ounce or more) for longer leaders.
Next, tie your leader onto the other end of the swivel. If you are new to this you might want to start with a shorter leader until you get used to casting it. Usually anglers use a leader of 1 1/2′ to 3′. If you are fishing deeper, you will probably want to go longer; maybe even as much as 6 or 7′.
Now tie the leader onto your hook. A size 2 or 3 worm hook is best, particularly one with a twist in it to aid in hookset. Once you have the hooked tied on, run the hook tip through the end of the head of the plastic and push it in about a quarter of an inch. Now run the hook tip out of the plastic bait and push the bait up the hook towards the eye. Now you can bury the tip of the hook into the bait near the abdomen or egg sac.
Some people push it on through and snug the hook tip near the body (on the backside). This allows for better hook set, but results in more snags. I like to push it through just before it breaks out of the back where I can feel that it will pop through easily. If you do this, be sure to set the hook hard to penetrate the plastic.
Presentation will vary. Let the lunkers tell you what they want. Try swimming it, pumping it, jiggling it, move it up and down, back and forth sideways, or drag it slowly through the weeds by starting at the 10 o’clock position and slowly pulling it up the 12 o’clock position then letting it falling while reeling in the slack. A very slow and steady retrieve can be deadly at times.
Sometimes you will feel a bump or a hard strike, but more often a pull, or something might just feel different (heavy, mushy), or you may feel nothing at all when you should. Watch the slack. Keep contact with the bait. If slack comes in the line for no reason, or you feel the weights dragging across something when you didn’t move the link, set the hook. Set the hook, set the hook, set the hook. It’s free.
Which plastics are best? Probably all of them at different times. A short plastic, like the french fry might be a good place to start. I recommend lively baits that float and have a garlic scent. You should do well with worms, lizards, crawfish or anything else that you have confidence in.
Many people love the Carolina Rig in the wind. Probably because it’s easier to keep the slack tight and it gives more action to the bait. They are also great in the heat of the day road beds.
Have fun with them.
—-
By Bobby Ivie
Bobby Ivie is an avid fishman and owner of Fishing-Hunting-Camping.com. He makes the biggest part of his living on the Internet, NetBizWorkshop.net
This article may be reprinted as long as this source box is added and the source box hyperlinks are kept intact.
—-
I’ve caught bass on crankbaits, spinners, plugs and others. But for me, the most fun is plastic worms on a Texas Rig. Don’t get me wrong, catching a largemouth bass is catching a largemouth bass, and I’d gladly catch one with my mother’s toe nail if they’d bite it. What’s my fascination with plastic worms and the Texas Rig?
Simplicity in changing baits from color to color and style, they are weedless and effective. But there’s more to it. I love them because I feel they are more interactive and you have to fool the bass more than with other baits.
If you throw out a worm and just reel it in, you are not likely to catch many fish. You have to know how to work it and you have to be very patient in your presentation and when the fish hits.
Sometimes the strike will be like an explosion, and you and bass both know what’s happening. Others it’s very subtle. Sometimes you won’t even know the bass has it until you reel in the slack and feel something different going on. Maybe there should be slack in the line but it’s getting tight. Or vice-versa. Or maybe you can see the line going sideways in the water.
That’s one of my favorites because you have to know the right time to set the hook. Set it too soon and the largemouth may not have it in it’s mouth good. Set it too late and it might have spit it out. That’s exciting; and frustrating.
The Texas rigged plastic worm (you can use it for other plastics, too) is very portable. If you want to hike around the lake and fish the shore, don’t lug your whole tackle box. Just get a worm pouch, load it with a few favorite styles, colors, hooks and sinkers, stuff it in your back pocket and hit the trail.
Plus, you can change lures on the fly. Once your Texas Rig is set up, it’s a matter of pulling the bait off the hook and sliding another on. No knots to retie. This gives you freedom to explore different colors and styles of plastics in a hurry.
In a Texas Rig, the sinker is a bullet slip sinker that rides freely on the line with nothing else between the rod and the bait (the benefit is that the bass cannot feel the sinker when it strikes). This drags the plastic bait down and allows it to bounce or swim along the bottom.
To set it up just run your line through a bullet slip sinker (best sizes are from 3/8 oz. to an ounce) and tie the line to a worm hook size 2 or 3. The twisted ones help with hookset.
Once you have the hooked tied on, run the hook tip through the end of the head of the plastic and push it in about a quarter of an inch. Now run the hook tip out of the plastic bait (belly side) and push the bait up the hook towards the eye. Bury the tip of the hook into the bait near the abdomen or egg sac.
Some people push it all the way through and snug the hook tip near the body (on the backside or top). This allows for better hook set, but results in more snags. I like to push it through just before it breaks out of the back where I can feel that it will pop through easily. If you do this, be sure to set the hook hard to penetrate the plastic.
When you cast the bait, let it settle all the way to the bottom and give it several seconds before moving it. Sometimes the longer you wait, the better luck you will have. Even 30 seconds or more.
Try different presentations from very slow to moderate (never very fast). I usually give the bait 1 or 2 short pumps, let it fall while reeling in the slack, then give it 2 or 3 pumps. Be careful. Always reel in the slack, but more often than not that’s when you’ll get the bite. They often hit it on the fall, so expect something every time you bring in the slack.
You can try longer pumps, like bring the line in 2 or 3 feet then let it settle. Try moving it painfully slow, try bouncing it quicker, try swimming it very slowly across the bottom and whatever else you can think of. When something works, stick with it.
Use the worms around vegetation and rocks. My best luck has been around trees in the water. Sometimes there will be trees that hang out into the water. These are hot spots for bass.
One trick I learned by accident is to cast the Texas Rig out over a weak limb hanging over the water. You want a weak limb because you want it to break or collapse when the bass hits, and it will. I move that plastic worm up and down, in and out of the water to tease and annoy the bass. If there’s one there, you’ll get a strike.
Happy fishin’
—-
By Bobby Ivie
Bobby Ivie is an avid fishman and owner of Fishing-Hunting-Camping.com. He makes the biggest part of his living on the Internet, NetBizWorkshop.net
This article may be reprinted as long as this source box is added and the source box hyperlinks are kept intact.
—-
Fall is by far one of the best times to fish any smallmouth lake. This is a great time to catch your limit of big fish.
Smallies like to stock up ahead for winter, a time when they are not as likely to get a belly full of shad or whatever baitfish is available in that lake.
So, the key is to locate baitfish. That’s where you will find the smallies.
Your focus in the fall will not be much different than in the spring. Set your sites on shallow shelves adjacent to deeper water (flats that drop sharply), also rocky humps and shoals with patches of grass mixed in.
Fish can be at any depth, but you will mostly want to look in 8 to 12 feet of water in the fall.
This is going to be a bit hit and miss because smallmouths gather in big schools of up to 50 fish. So if you don’t find them quickly, move on.
The best baits for this method are spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and hard jerkbaits fished quickly. These allow you to cover a lot of water fast. Keep the lure just under the surface.
When you do nail one and suspect there are more to be had, but they have refused your original offer, try using a slower moving bait like a soft plastic tube.
Work the area slowly and completely. Follow-up is extremely important to catching the maximum amount of fish from an area.
Once you have found them, you don’t want to leave any of them behind.
—-
By Bobby Ivie
Bobby Ivie is an avid fishman and owner of Fishing-Hunting-Camping.com. He makes the biggest part of his living on the Internet, NetBizWorkshop.net
This article may be reprinted as long as this source box is added and the source box hyperlinks are kept intact.
—-
Unless ice fishing is really your thing, you might do better fishing for southern smallmouth bass in the winter where the fishing can be good year around.
You will often find smallies suspended over points, humps, next to bluffs and ledges. Look for irregular features. Quick drop-offs with quick access to deeper waters are good prospects.
As always, if you can find the bait fish, you will find the smallmouths.
When smallmouth bass are suspended below schooling baitfish, try spinnerbaits, tail spinners and spoons. These can easily be fished in deep water and directly mimic a wounded or falling baitfish.
The small profile of these baits attracts finicky bass in coldwater. They also sink quickly to feeding bass and can be fished vertically like a jig in deep water.
One popular cold water method is the “float-and-fly.” This is a tiny leadhead jig or fly constructed of craft hair, a small bobber and a long spinning rod with clear line. It’s ideal for smallies suspended below baitfish in 45 degree or colder water. It works when other lures don’t.
Suspended below a fixed float, the hair on the jig puffs out and pulsates, mimicking a small baitfish. Putting a stationary float 8-15 feet above the fly enables the jig to suspend and the bobbing float adds lifelike action. Smallmouth bass have a hard time resisting this.
Put on the gloves and muffs and give the winter smallmouths a go. You are likely to catch yourself some real bruisers.
—-
By Bobby Ivie
Bobby Ivie is an avid fishman and owner of Fishing-Hunting-Camping.com. He makes the biggest part of his living on the Internet, NetBizWorkshop.net
This article may be reprinted as long as this source box is added and the source box hyperlinks are kept intact.
—-
So, you are done packing all the fishing gear for the trip? Are you sure? Whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler, there are some items that should be on your list. Here are the bare essentials:
- The rod - Of course you need a fishing rod. But, what type of rod will you take? When choosing one, here is some advice. Don’t head to the discount department store to purchase yours. Instead, go for a middle of the line priced rod that is comfortable, the right length and serves your purpose. If you plan to fly fish, get the right rod.
- The reel - Yes, you need the right reel to match. Can you buy them together? Sure. If you are saltwater fishing, you need a protected reel that will not become ruined by the water. Again, as a beginner, middle of the road quality is needed.
- The lure - These should be geared towards the type of fish you are expecting to catch. Live bait is a great choice if you don’t mind getting it. The best way to know which lures to use, though, in the artificial options is to ask those at the local fish shop what they have had luck with. Depending on the type of fish and the area in which they live, these individuals can help you determine what to purchase.
- The line - You have to have quality line. Nothing is worse than catching a fish and then snapping the line because it couldn’t hold the weight. But, that doesn’t imply that you have to go with the most expensive one. Look for the right weight of line for your approximate weight of fish.
- The cooler - The first hour won’t be that bad. But if you are going to stay out for several hours you will definitely need this one. Have the cooler ready with your choice of beverages.
Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.1-stop-fishing.com/ On his website, he provides articles about alaska guided fishing trips and rainbow trout fishing canada.