Doing The Jig - Fish Style

Everyone has their favorite lures for catching anything. The 'go-to' lure if you will. But of all the lures available on the market today, not too many can compare in usability and flexibility as the standard Jig.

We all know what the jig is, a small piece of lead thats molded around a hook of some kind. Small, cheap, and effective; the jig can be fished in any situation for all species. Lets gander at some jig uses.

• By itself (no brainer there)
• With a hair or plastic trailer
• Rigged INSIDE a soft-plastic body
• Weedless

By itself - Most commonly used in ice fishing... you know... where you sit over a frozen chunk of lake waiting for the fish to drop by. Not my cup of tea exactly, but most fishermen turn to a Jig as their primary weapon of choice for cold winter fishing.

Hair or Plastic Trailer - Any box store will carry soft plastic bodies that you can run a jig through. Stab with hook, and your done. Hair on the other hand might be harder to find. Some smaller tackle shops may have a tackle component section where various hair-like material can be found. Watch out... sometimes this isn't the cheapest route to go! Ties some hair over the hook with thread. Red is a popular color for thread-choice. To do this, you'll also need the type of jigs that have a 'blank' area, a little less than a 1/4", thats flat. You'll know it when you see it.

Rigged Inside Plastic - This is a very popular set up lately, especially in the Bass fishing world, however, in this case we're looking for plastics that can 'float' relatively easily. So you need plastics with a bit of air inside, or a very light weight lead. Sometimes folks just use a hook, no lead attached, however, we want the tip of the jig to lay on the lake bottom, yet allowing the worm to 'float' upwards. Scavenging bass can't resist! Try it out at home in a fish tank or bath tub to make sure your rig is working.

Weedless - These jigs are manufactured with a lightweight weed-guard, usually made of stiff plastic. Fishing them in the weed beds alone, or add some skirting for extra attention. Great for searching the thick for bass.

Other than that, you'll need some skill to fish this multi-species lure. 'Jigging' is precisely what it implies, however it may take some time on the learning curve if you plan on casting and retrieving. Play around with it, and have fun!

Fishing Memories, Then and Now

Every so often you read someones blog post like this one, and wonder "Why not get back in the water?" I hear things so often like "I used to fish", "My dad took me fishing", etc. It's a shame really. The knowledge our fathers (mothers?) passed to us about fishing and lots of people don't pass it on to their children.

Maybe our lakes are too crowded. Maybe there isn't enough money left over to buy all that tackle. Maybe we just don't take the time....

Whatever the reason, we all need to get out and do a little more fishing. Not for the sake of 'fishing' per say, but for reasons underneath the hood. Like the serenity. The idle chat with a peer or loved one. Fresh air! Or maybe.... just to fish.

Here's an article for taking a kid fishing.... kinda' funny. =)
http://ezinearticles.com/?Fishing-Lures---Keep-Kids-In-Mind&id=317304


Another one for all around fishing (Texas tho.. I think)
http://www.captaincarl.com/FishingTips.html

Cool... another....
http://www.home-life-7.com/fishingandgear.html

Knot Resources

A while ago I did a post on drop-shot rigging. In that post I mentioned that a Polomar knot was best used when using the stand out hooks.

I stumbled on this site today that gives animated shots for making the Polomar knot, as well as many others. VERY nice tool, for those anglers (like myself) that have trouble following a text/picture book for knot tying.

Spoon Fishing - Lost Artifact or Still Alive?

I was reading this article here, about spoon fishing for bass, and it got me thinking....

"How come many people think that using spoons for fishing is strictly a 'jigging' type lure?"

How boring is that... just sitting there, twitching the rod every so often. Not me. I find that spoon fishing is still alive in many parts of the industry. A lot of these guys in fact have brought this old fishing lure to a new level to boot. Here are some tips (and reasons) to dig out those spoon fishing lures. These tips cover some basics for trolling spoons, and I'll go into more complex ones on another post.

1) What does your spoon have on the tie end? Swivel? Ring? Changing either of these to a new set up (even go naked!) can dramatically change the action of the spoon. Where and how the line attaches is one of the most common things you can change.

2) Type of line - Sure, monofilament line is the most widely used fishing line in the entire fishing industry. But there are other types like 'Lead Core' line. Commonly used to get those lures deep, the lead core is a great way to specifically target a depth. These types of line come in 30 ft. increments, coded by color. You could have 10 colors (300ft.) of line on one spool. Not getting deep enough? Just let your reel send out a new color!

3) Dodgers / Flashers - Seems to be the hot product right now in the spoon fishing world. Lots of guides are using these to add new presentation for the targeted species for many reasons. One being the flash can fool fish into thinking there are other 'fish' in the area, and another is adding a different action to the spoon. Be sure to try some out as they're worth the money.

4) Leader - If you're using a flasher or diver with your spoon, you may want to use the proper leader (line being tied from the flasher going to the spoon). Some guys like it short, which will deliver a more erratic motion of the lure, while other guys like it long, giving the lure a more subtle approach. Choose leaders any where between 5' to 13'.

5) Change it up! - No matter how you change your depth, leader, or tie ends, sometimes just changing the color will trigger the fish all day. When purchasing new spoons, I like to grab several color variations. Eventually, you'll develop a list of 'lucky' lures for your specific area... which no one knows better than you!

Finally, keep in mind what species you're targeting. Many avid spoon users are in the salmon, chinook, or pike regions. But it doesn't hurt to bring out those old fishing lures and try something new. Heck, it would be nice to see someone win some bass tournies using a spoon.... it could happen! =)

Weedless Spoons - Your Bank-Friendly Lure

So you're fishing local water hole, and can't figure out why you can't catch fish? Not very uncommon. In fact, a lot of anglers have this trouble when fishing from the shore. But why? What is it that makes bank-fishing so hard?

I don't suppose it has anything to do with the fact that your fishing in the ONE spot your 1,600 acre lake has to offer, does it?

Every fishing guide on the planet 'Go Where The Fish Are'. And if you don't have a boat, that doesn't mean that you can't catch anything. Just means you can't make it to the deep parts in the center of the lake.... which in some cases, don't have any fish anyways. Try getting in as many spots as possible 'around' the lake. Even if that means plowing through some tall brush, and dodging trees. Chances are, you'll increase your catch rate, with just a couple of bumps and bruises, which are definitely worth it. Here's a few things you'll need when shore fishing for bass, pike, or other larger fish....

1) Fishing Rod (well, duh). But not just any rod. Remember, we're trying to cover as much ground as possible. Use a medium action rod. This will give you the sensitivity you need, yet have enough boost in the 'snap' to toss your lures a good distance. Try to cover as much water area as possible from left-to-right, or right-to-left.

2) Did I mention lures? Not just any old lure. If a guy wanted, they could use poppers and other top water baits (caution - could snag on debris you can't see up close). But sometimes you're going to need to get the thing down deep, depending on the depth of the water in front of you. I'd recommend taking along a couple of weedless spoons. On the cast, most times this lure will land on it's back side, down in the water. Bait for scent, and slowly retrieve. Use 1/4 oz or 1/8oz so that it catches a little water when bringing it in. It'll add a little action. The weed-guard will help make sure you don't get caught up on under-water debris that you're bound to have.

3) Pliers. It's already in your regular tackle box for obvious reasons. But since you might not want to bring that bulky tackle carrier, you'd better take this all-important tool. In fact, a multi-purpose tool will assist you with those situations that we can't think of.

4) Bug and tick spray. Yeah... it's infested. Either bring this stuff along, or hose yourself down before you go. Last time I was in the brush, I think I stumbled on a tick nest (do these things have nests?) On the way home I literally picked off more than 15 ticks from all around myself. Protect yourself with good quality repellent.

5) Pack light - You're going through some serious over-growth. Pants or vest with several pockets to carry your lures and other mandatory gear, like line, hooks (if you're using anything other than weedless spoons), bobbers if you plan on sitting in one spot for an extended time, and anything else you think you might need. Snacks?

With all that said, I'm sure there's something I'm missing. Guess I'll figure that one out as soon as I hit the local hole again. ;)

Float Fishing

No, I'm not talking about floating down the river with a stick and string. I'm speaking of the good old bobber. The tried and true style of fishing that works everywhere, all the time.

Until recently, this technique has been reserved for the poor shore fisherman, stranded on the banks of lakes and rivers around the country. Now, this simple tactic is coming to a boat near you. Own a boat? Are you too much of a man to tie one on?

Nay, bobber fishing (now known as 'float fishing'), is gaining strength in the walleye circuit as young and old fishermen alike are once again recognizing the obvious strengths of bait-display. While fishing lures will still remain as a consistent go-to weapon, your bobber presentation can still out perform many lures depending on your knowledge of the water.

Small Lakes - If you fish in a small lake with your boat, and already have a good idea of the underwater land layout, then your day will be that much more relaxed. Without a depth finder, you'll need to guess at the water depth, and simply tie on a leader of desired length. Drop bobber and leader in the water, and sit back, waiting for the bites. Add a leech to maximize the presentation, as leeches tend to wiggle around, trying to get off the hook. Fish can't resist!

Large Lakes / Rivers - If you're fishing in a larger areas.... say, one of the Great Lakes, then chances are you'll be relying a lot on 'Drift Fishing', where the boat does not drop anchor, and lets the natural waves push the boat along. A float fishing rig would be ideal for this set up, however, information is the key here. First, you'll NEED a depth finder, as the depth will change as you float along. Hopefully your depth finder will have a fish locater as well. You'll need to keep several leaders on hand to maximize your strike potential, and the length will be much higher (some places the depth could be around 18-30 feet). Choose leaders that would keep the bait off the floor by about 5-8 feet, during the beginning season, and possibly higher during the hot summer months (this is where your fish finder will come in handy). Add size 3-4 Colorado spinner blades to add flash. Leech? Worms, minnows, anything will be just as effective here. You'll be after the scent from the given bait, more than the aesthetics of the bait itself. Also, a proven bit of flare to add to the line.... beads. Small plastic beads, preferably red or white, have proven effective many times. Just keep an eye on your depth finder, and the bites will come naturally.

A cousin technique to this has risen in the bass world, called drop-shot fishing. Maybe those guys felt that using a bobber would ruin their credibility on the water. hahahha In the end, it's almost the exact same thing. ;)

Fishing Lake Erie

Wow! What a trip!

The boss pitched for a two day fishing extravaganza on Lake Erie that turned out to be an excellent time, and quite a learning experience. We learned about their favorite choices of tackle, got to know some locals, and had some great cookouts.

The trip in and out was long.... about a 15 hour drive. But the time there was well worth it.....

The first day, we showed up late (night before). Car trouble caused us to lose six hours, landing us in at 10 pm. Not much time for sleep before fishing, but we decided to make some supper anyways. Hamburgers off the grill, with beans. Can't much quicker than that (screw the microwave).

The second day we bought our fishing licenses and met our captain. "Rick" from 'Chief Charters' was (quoted by the boss) 'Hands down, the best fishing charter captain we've ever had.' This was my first trip, so I didn't know the difference, but the boss has been on several and on the first day he knew that he'd been robbed on all the other trips. So if you're ever in the Marblehead area of Ohio, look up Chief Charters. Rick is an excellent captain, found us all the fish we could ever want, and even put in EXTRA TIME so that we'd catch our limit..... despite the terribly cold and cloudy environment that we faced all day long. We were all frozen to the bone. That night, the crew cleaned the fish (36 fishies, yeah!), and we grilled T-Bones for supper. Combined with potatoes (off the grill), beans, and chips. Probably the best meal of my entire life.

On the third day, Rick took us out again. This time, the weather was much more agreeable. Sunshine all day long, and again.... caught our limit. This time Rick didn't need to spend any extra time on the water with us, however... he DID let us fish on HIS TICKET. How cool is that?!?! Maybe he figured it was the least he could do since we invited him for a fish fry that night, which in itself turned out to be an excellent event. Rick indeed did show up, and we had one hell of a cook out. "Here's to you Rick!"

The next day showed no mercy as we headed out. The 15 hour drive was fairly quiet the last 12 hours. We were just tired, and didn't really believe the experience was all over. Oh well. I hope we get to go again next year.

Now on to the tackle....
When we were buying our liscense, right away I noticed that the bait shops were selling the spinner blades found here - Hagen's Fishing Tackle Manufacturer

It's a nice feeling seeing your product in another store 1000 miles away (total guess). Turns out, just about everyone uses those spinner blades on their walleye rigs. Combine those with a few plastic beads and you got yourself a simple, yet effective Walleye Fishing Lure.

Two ways to fish these walleye rigs - Bottom Bouncing - Simple rig that keeps the leader (walleye spinner snell) off the bottom of the lake floor. Combined with the drift fishing, the spinner will spin only occasionally as you move along.

Then there was the bait casting - Put a lead weight on there and let it fly. Countdown to 8 or 12, and just start bringing your bait in slowly. The spinner blade with do it's thing the whole way through the water. Didn't catch anything? Cast and do it again!

We didn't use any planer boards, plugs, spoons, or what ever. Just a simple rig and a worm for some scent.

If you would like to make your own spinner fishing rigs, you can contact Hagen's for a complete fishing tackle lure components catalog, or if you prefer to purchase the finished product, you can find some basic harness's here - www.willylures.com