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

Fishing Academy

I just had to read this story, as I never heard of a full blown fishing academy before. Turns out, it's something similar to an after school kind of thing. The guy teaches kids how to fish, builds self confidence, and promotes clean living. Not a bad way to spend your day I suppose.

One thing I noticed tho was - "...Parents just don't have time to spend with their kids any more..."

That's kinda sad when you think about it. Has our society gone so far down hill in personal relationships with our children that we need to ship them to special camps just to get that one-on-one parenting deal? Pathetic, I say.

Hat's off to Mr. John Hoffman for putting an organization together to help these young folk.

Another interesting tidbit from the article shows where Mr. Hoffman tossed out some pieces of bread into the water, presumably to see where the fish were. Hmmm... Makes you wonder how effective those fishing lures REALLY are.

But I digress. Much can be done in many communities to help teach a kid to fish. A great place to start is www.takemefishing.org . They have a wealth of information just a few clicks away!

Cheating at Fishing

Some folks that frequent the local fishing tournament have at one time or another thought about cheating.

Before you consider such a thing, read this story.

Poor shlum is going away for a while.... Dumbass.

Not like he was going for a $1,000,000 jackpot or something. If he got away with it, he would've walked away with a lousy $800.

Hmmmm.... $800 or potentially lose everything you have? Gee, such a tough question.

Need A Boat?

Shore fishing isn't a whole lot of fun (which I'm slowly coming to terms with). But that doesn't mean you're stuck with whats for sale in the paper, or paying high prices at a dealership!

Just did a quick search on-line and found some sites for you to check out!

Boats Depot - Lots of boats to be found here, and good prices too. The only thing setting this site back is the fact that you can't seem to search (or narrow down your search) by State.... leaving you to sift through all the boats by hand. Oh well, good place to start anyways.

Boats.com - The site isn't as fancy, but the search options are much better. In no time flat, I found a few boats in my neck of the woods, and lots of options.

Yacht World - Ok, I had to throw this one out there for fun... Some of you just might interested in what they offer. Either way, a boat is a boat... these just get a lot bigger. hahaha

There are several more out there I'm sure (sheesh... not going to fill up a whole page with nothing but boat sites), but those sites make a great start. Just remember, DON'T attempt to make large purchases on-line. Contact the people in person, and go see the goods for yourself.

Promoting Fishing

Maybe I'm having an off day, or perhaps the hang-over from this weekend is still taking it's effect. But whatever it is, I'm starting to develop a grudge with some key players in the fishing community.

First - All us fishermen hear every year, "Take a kid fishing" or "Help grow fishing". Not that I'm against the growth in the fishing community, but have you ever thought about exactly WHO is making these statement/questions? If you take a closer look, it's more than likely the fishing tackle companies that are behind this campaign. And do you think they care? Heck no... they just want more people to buy more fishing tackle.

How do I know this?.... read further -

Second - Even if you've never seen it, there is a huge tax placed on all fishing goods sold inside the U.S.. The tax dollars raised from this are suppose to go to the development and promotion of fishing nation wide. Granted, supposedly a chunk of these fishing dollars are suppose to go to state GFP's, who in turn help develop local fishing spots. Not a bad plan... but the tax is a whopping 10%!! Thats a truck load of money being swallowed up by state and local large-mouth-blow-hards, with no real proof of exactly where it's going.

Or perhaps it's going here....

Third - An organization called Take Me Fishing was introduced to help promote 'youth fishing' amongst current and potential anglers. An entire PR campaign, with top-quality professional ads and slogans were created for their one and only purpose. Not bad really... but are we getting what we're paying for? The organization is owned and operated by the RBFF (Recreation Boating & Fishing Foundation), who in turn is driven to promote the sports of boating and fishing. However, if you look at their website here , you can see that the stakeholders of this so-called 'Hero Group' is made up entirely of fishing tackle companies, boating companies, and of course government agencies. Hmmmmm... Government Agencies.... Gee, do you think that this organization is getting money from that 10% Tax that everyone is paying? Nothing up front says so, but if "I" worked for them, I would sure make that happen. It's only common sense.

So whats so evil about that third point? Well, if we're paying an outlandish 10% tax on fishing tackle goods, and that money is going to an organization entirely geared for the promotion of fishing.... then why the heck don't I EVER see commercials on TV for it? Where are the radio ads? How come you never see anything in the newspaper? Nothing! Nadda! Zip!

Oh thats right... they produced some commercials that you can see on-line. But if these commercials were EVER aired on TV, then surely they must've been on the fishing show's (that NOBODY watches), or during that 4 hour paid programming marathon at 3 a.m. Sounds to me like fishermen are paying some big money, and getting NO results.

In the end, we should all take a kid fishing.... but consider using a broken branch for a pole, kite string for line, and a dime for a fishing lure.

Slow Start

Well the fishing season started off nice here, then all of a sudden, it got cold as all he11!. So, while I was being drug through Walmart with the wife and mother-in-law, I decided to stop in the fishing section with the kids, to help put some stuff in their tackle box.

Surprisingly, they had some nice, small-sized jigs, plastics, and other much needed trinkets of disposal. I learned my lesson from last year, and picked up some of the smalled jig bodies I could find, coupled with some really small plastics. Of course, some split shots were in order too.

All in all, as soon as this weather breaks, I can't wait to get the kids out there again. There's a lake in the area that will have some small crappie and blue gill, so I'm sure we'll have much better luck this time.

Get A New Hook Up

Easter weekend.....

A time for family to get together and gorge themselves on massive amounts of food, drink, and chips. Adult conversation fills the air, while kids playfully discover hidden eggs in the back yard. Aaaah... what a sweet time. Family-gatherings such as these always fill my heart with pride.

But sometimes (or what seems to be 'all the time'), you have to go visit your significant others' side of the family. Bad? Not really, but inevitably you'll find that you have little to say since you really don't know anyone, nor anything about them.

I did such a journey this weekend, but it proved quite useful! Somewhere between the dip and bean casserole, I fell into a lengthy conversation with some random family member. Obviously, the subject turned to fishing at some point.

Turns out, I get invited to the next big shin-dig over the 4th of July, where they happen to have three boats and a Cabin at a near-by lake. The GFP also made mention that the fishing will be exceptional this year in that neck of the woods.

So..... boring? NO! Guess you just never know what you'll get when you have idle chat with people you don't know!

Fishing Communities

For those of you who may be more inclined to join a 'community' of fishermen, online, here are some sites of interest.

Tricky Jig - Brand new site with a lot of plans on the table. Some things that are in the works are interactive maps, places to fish, etc. They have a community forum thats looking for members. So help a little guy out and stop by to 'Hi'.

Catch-N.com - This site has been around for a little bit, and is doing a membership drive right now. You could win a Mankota trolling motor just for answering a few quiz questions. How cool is that?!?! They also have a lot of very knowledgeable staff that can answer all your questions.

Ontario Fishing - In the Canadian region? Check out this site and find new fishing buddy's, places to go, and more. They've been established for a long time and are one of the friendliest sites on the net.

Paddle Fishing - Very nice site dedicated to the sport of Kayak Fishing. Yeah... I know... strange but it actually looks pretty fun! Mostly a Florida based community, with good people and lots of fun. One of my favorite places to hang out at!

Sure, there are countless other sites available, but those few should get you started.

Fishheads & Necklaces

Need a custom gift for that hard-core woman angler in your life? (don't think I've ever met one tho...) Then swing on over to Etsy to get a modified Heddon lure that was made into a necklace.

Better hurry tho - There's only ONE of these $45.00 treasures left. ;)

As for me, I think I'll pass. My wife doesn't even like fish, let alone their heads hanging from her neck.

April Fishing

Too cold yet? No way!

There are some great advantages to fishing in the early months of the year, and Steve Sarley from the Northwest Herald in IL., points out the many reasons why. He also has a clever selection of tackle to bare thought too.

I found the article extremely informative as I have two children myself. Any tips I can get for this time of year is helpful. Especially since the kids are already hitting me up for fishing.

According to that handy tidbit, I'll probably stay away from the fast action lures that are common in todays over-hyped industry. I'll simply stick to the bobber and worms rigs. Perhaps a handy worm harness will do the trick.

On the flip side of things, there are those fortunate ones that live in much warmer weather, all year around. The guys at Central Florida Fishing have some really good fishing reports, along with some tips for what works in those regions. I speculate that since the fish are in warmer water, then your choice of lures is much broader in scope. Leave behind hardcore tactics in these parts of the world, as you can probably catch fish with a beer can!

Desert Fishing

Yeah... who knew?

Just when you thought you've heard it all, suddenly you get a bit of news like this. The Pahrump Valley Times has a full fledged report detailing some of the fishing 'Hot Spots' (no pun intended) in the state of Nevada. Gee, and I thought it was all desert. hahahah

Also appears to be excellent fishing in the Wayne E. Kirch wildlife management area. Turns out that spoon fishing lures and baits are working well.

Good luck to all the anglers in Nevada. Seems that you folks have something to look forward too!

The New Season

After a long hard winter, I see all the boats are coming out and getting dusted off. People are making reservations at their favorite watering holes, and fishing tackle is flying off the shelves.

I suppose a core of them are gearing up for tournament time, while others (like myself) are just trying to spend more time with the kids. So whats your fishing-new-years resolution? Going to try out some new baits? Perhaps pick up a new style of fishing?

Hot lures this year appear to be soft plastics and plug baits. Will that change soon? Some magazines have reported great success on spoons in certain key areas, while falling short in others. Maybe it's the rods... hahah Doubt it!

While you're gathering the essentials for this years adventure, be sure to visit some new areas to fish. Grab a lake map from your GFP (if available) or purchase one on-line. There are several quality fishing map sites out there. Here's one just for fun - Lake Maps

Have fun this year, and remember to try something new!

First Weekend to try Fishing!!

Well, ok.... The key word here is 'TRY'.

The weather finally started turning around here. The temp was up, the wind was blowing pretty darn hard.

After listening to "I'm bored...." from the kids all day, I mention that we're going to scout out a spot for fishing, as I don't know the area all that well.

But oh no... We won't just 'find' a place dad - We're going to fish that new hole as soon as we find it!!

So I packed it all up, and we came home empty handed. Not really a surprise tho. The water was muddy looking, high winds, excessively cold water, you name it. But I still let them fish.... it's much more than the catch. ;)

Find A Place To Fish

Are you new to fishing, and need to find a place to fish?

No problem! Just go to Google and do a search for your states Game Fish & Parks, or key in "(state name) fishing".

Most states have a GFP site available. Some are listed as a .gov or .org (some might be a .com even).

At your states' site, you may be able to find maps of local area lakes, complete with depth, conditions, shore and/or boat ramps for fishing, camp grounds, etc. You might also be able to purchase your fishing license on-line.

If you're already an avid angler, you just may find useful reports, or new places to take that rod too.

Good luck!

NOT just any KNOT

Since this blog is aimed at helping new people to the sport of fishing (much like myself), I thought I'd toss together a collection of fishing knot resources.

Why? Simple.... The average knot (like how you tie your shoe) won't be good enough. Well, maybe for some small stuff, but nothing serious. So try out some new knots to make sure you don't lose the next big one!

Active Angler - The instructions on this site are easy to follow, and cover the basics.

Lake Link - Excellent page with different types of knots that cover multiple situations.

Kill Roy - Fly fishing site with a wealth of information for those seeking advice on fly fishing.

For those that would prefer a printed copy, you can order one from Amazon.com.

Give those resources a try, and surely you won't lose any fish due to a bad knot!

Fishing Tackle Manufacturers

The landscape is literally smothered with fishing tackle supply companies, wholesalers, etc. But what if you have a new big idea that you want to pitch to Cabela's, Wal-Mart, Bass Pros, or other major distributors.

These high-profile merchants demand excessively low purchase prices, and the only way to get your products to that level is to partner with companies that can provide your supplies in large quantities. Aside from the Chinese companies, there are still a few U.S. based tackle manufactures still available.

For your spinner blades, casting spoons, split rings, etc... I recommend the following U.S. based companies -

Worth - Based out of Wisconsin, this company can supply components to various degrees, including swivels, snaps, wire forms, and a lot more. The core of this business is metal based products.

Lakeland - This company offers a nice selection of spoons, blades, and an assortment beads and brass bodies. They are located in Minnesota.

Hagen's - Hagen's is a fishing tackle manufacturer located in South Dakota. Their catalog of fine products covers a wide range of fishing tackle components, much more than the previous two. In addition to the casting spoons and spinner blades, they also offer several painting products, a huge selection of beads, hooks by every major brand name, mylar tubing, and... well pretty much every thing a guy could ever need. They also have a knack for working with smaller bait shops, whom supply demand is very low.

I should also mention that if you have a new blade, or spoon idea, these companies should also be able to accommodate your development needs. The cost for plat-design can be quite expensive tho, so be prepared for a hefty bill.

If you would like to create plastic-based products (fish plugs, etc.), then sadly, your best bet would be companies based in China, as much of that industry has gone over seas. To find those suppliers, it may be best to check with Alibaba.com. That site is dedicated to all manufacturers, and yes, you might be able to find a few American companies.

Another site for finding tackle manufacturers would be Tradekey.com. I've seen many more American business's listed there, so that might be the best place to start initially (if you're looking for something that the other big three doesn't offer)

As always, try to stick with U.S. based companies, as you'll find that the customer service will always be much easier to contact (and understand).

Drop Shotting - New Tactic for Anglers

Every so often, fishermen find out genius ways to incorporate something from one industry to another. Excitement builds, and before you know it, everyone is using the new fad. The latest one being Drop Shot rigging.

Originally, this odd ball tactic was developed and heavily used in the saltwater fishing industry to keep bottom-feeding creatures (such as crabs, etc) from devouring the bait. Recently, this fantastic rig has grown into the bass fishing market, and then dwindled up north for walleye fishing. These rigs work well during drift-fishing situations also.

What does a drop shot set-up look like? Easy....

Picture, if you will, your standard run-of-the-mill fishing line. At one end you'll have the hook with some bait, a fishing lure, or nothing at all (god knows why). Just a bit up the line you might have a split-shot lead weight attached. Simple, elegant, effective. Now lets take a look at our drop-shot-rig, and notice the difference right away....

At the end of your line, you WON'T attach the hook. Simply attach your weight (actually this is done last, and I'll explain 'why' in a bit). Some people prefer specific types of weights for this, however I've examined everyones personal lead-based-buddy's and came to the conclusion that it really don't matter.... as it shouldn't. The point of the weight is to keep the bait down, and to be able to feel the bottom. Next, about 12" to 36", you'll have your hook. Strange? Yes... but let's look closer.

Once your rig is tied (explained later on), you'll lower it into the water, paying close attention to where the bottom is. If you've fished enough, you'll be able to tell, as it comes with practice. Now, once the lead hits bottom, stop. Every-so-often, twitch the rod. This will make your bait 'dance' or 'wiggle', enticing your target. From underneath, the bait appears to be a natural 'food' just hanging out in the water, above the forage on the lake/basin floor. Completely irresistible to a hungry fish looking for a quick and easy snack. Many tournaments are being won with this type of rig, and for obvious reasons. People claim that this set-up has caught fish when nothing else will. But enough of the chatter.... lets get you hooked up!

Tying - Fishermen can use any style of hook, line, rod, or knot to make this rig. It's very simple. However, one company (TTI Products) has created a hook, specifically to this type of fishing. I'm excited about this, as this design eliminates the potential problem of tying hooks on upside down, sideways, or just all weird. See below -


TTI Products Stand-Out Hook.













The eye of this hook is at the bottom, where the remaining line passes through, and a lead-weight is attached. At the top will be the source (rod) of line. Notice how this hook quite literally stands-out on it's own. Pay close attention to the tie-loop. It's NOT recommended that you use your standard fishing knot, and virtually impossible to utilize a snell-hook knot. The highly-recommended fishing knot is the Palomar Knot. Why? I believe this one works well as the tye is double wrapped, so it won't allow the line to easily pass out of the hooks bend/hole.

These hooks come highly recommended by intense fishermen as they take the trouble out of getting your hooks just right. The downside is the tying. With practice (a lot of practice), you'll be able to create your own flawless-rigs on the fly, in just a few minutes. You can buy these hooks at Cabela's, Daiichi's site (TTI Products), or if you want to buy in bulk, you may get them from Hagen's fishing tackle manufacturer.

No matter what you're fishing for, this rig is worth giving a shot!

Your Tackle Box - Does It Have Everything?

Over the past century, fishing tackle has seen tremendous evolution in both design, and usability. So much so, that deciding what to purchase (or create) appears to be a daunting task, at face value. Below is a list of the most widely known types of products and their most common uses.

Fish Plugs - Usually these fishing lures are designed to look like a small fish, or more importantly... a bait-fish of some sort that your target species is readily feeding on. These lures are very popular in the bass fishing industry, and are showing their place in the walleye and pike industry as well. Certainly, there is no short supply of wild designs when it comes to this popular lure, but choosing your weapons doesn't have to be all that difficult. For plugs, typically you want to focus on color, and depth. Action is also a prime objective here, so pay close attention to your plug body designs. First, you'll probably want to pick some common colors, which include firetiger, chartreuse, and some shades of blue (blue is a mystery at this point, as fresh water fish may have trouble seeing this spectrum, given their background. See this article for more info). If you're fishing for bass, then pick at least two or three plug body designs. Then apply those colors to each design (or as much as you can afford). This sort of shot-gun tactic will cover most ground, in about any lake. When your skills improve, you'll be ready to experiment with different fishing techniques using various plug designs, to maximize the fishing in your lake or region.

Casting Spoons - Possibly the worlds oldest fishing lure, the casting spoon has caught countless fish from varied species all over the planet. These tried-n-true fishing lures have graced mans tackle box for a century, and yet, recently these lures have seen less use in the fishing industry. Perhaps the lure has been 'dated', or maybe the rise of bass fishing has stifled it's once prosperous glory. No matter how you look at it, this familiar tackle piece will catch fish, but depending on what species you target may determine how your day ends. The casting spoon is a conclave piece of metal. The base material used can be either steel, nickel, copper, marine brass, or pretty much any metal you can imagine. Paints range from nothing (sheer metal finish) to all the most common combinations of the rainbow known to date. The primary purpose of the lure is to create some sort of side-to-side motion, otherwise known as the 'wobble'. The motion is usually smooth, and steady. This type of movement is best used when targeting species of a slower nature... such as salmon, pike, musky, and especially lake trout (see this article for lake trough fishing). Troll your spoons at 1mph or less. Anything too fast is going to spook, or just lose the fish entirely. The action will probably not be erratic enough to trigger a strike from bass or similar species. Another way of fishing with casting spoons is 'jigging'. If done properly, jigging a spoon through an ice fishing hole, or just off the boat, can make your lure look similar to a dying bait fish. The added flash will help catch the attention of your target. Jigging spoons is a very well known, effective technique.

Spinner Baits - Two styles of baits, all rolled into one single name... even tho they both look very different from one another. First, the in-line spinner bait is just that - 'In-Line'. This lure consists of a single straight wire shaft and a single three point hook at one end. In the middle of the shaft will be, usually, brass bodies (painted or unpainted), and at the top will be a spinner blade. For this rig, the blade is usually a Colorado, Indiana, or French style blade. When pulled through the water, the blade will spin very quickly, making this type of lure a 'trigger' type bait. Very popular in the bass industry, and easy enough to make on your own. Tackle components are sold at most bait shops, and many high-level retail stores.

Safety Pin style spinner baits consist of a v-shaped wire, with a small amount of lead weight on the bottom shaft. (think of a 'V', and turn it on it's side) Wrapped around the lead weight is usually skirting consisting of rubber (most common) or natural hair. The top section of the v-wire contains the spinner blades. For this design, anglers prefer a Willowleaf or Indiana style blade. Again, the principle is the same. Fast moving blades help induce a strike by bass.... tho this lure could be used for many species. In fact, recently anglers have been using rather large versions of this bait for musky and other northern-region fish.

Soft Plastics - Hot in any market is the plastic worm. And more recently, crawfish, minnows, grubs, you name it... soft plastics have it. A person can use these types of fishing lures in any lake, in any region, for any species. A great all around product. But if soft-plastics are so great, then why doesn't EVERY fishermen use just that? Simple - These lures can break easily, wear out, and in some cases... destroy tackle boxes (read more here). A dime a dozen, these lures work well, but expect to run through them like water on some days. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't bother with 'em. Keep a small selection of these lures on hand and you'll do great.

In summary, not every lake will be the same. You'll hear plenty of pro-grade fishermen say they catch fish all the time on this lure, or that lure... but in reality, you should be combining worthwhile knowledge of your target species, with your fishing waters. Every place is going to be different, so feel free to experiment... just take the 'noise' with a grain of salt.

Fishing Lures

Recently I've joined the ranks of the fishing industry, mind you, I lack the necessary knowledge to tackle such a broad-scoped venture. But as with anything else in life, I decided to enter the job with an open mind, and solve problems based on facts presented before me. Little did I know that there seems to be a large lack of evidence supporting claims by most fishing tackle manufacturers. Despite the dastardly claims of this years 'Holy Grail' of new fishing lures, I stepped aside and applied my own personal, rational thought to the process. Not knowing anything about fishing, and a huge fishing trip planned with the boss on Lake Oahe in South Dakota, I geared myself to study a subject that had been tarnished over the past many years by manufacturers trying to make a profit.

Working for a fishing tackle manufacturer like Hagen's would make a great source for the product in question. They offer just about everthing the tackle industry has to offer, so there shouldn't be any shortage of fishing lures, or other tidbits that I could use. Second, we had two boats, and maps for all the good spots known for Walleye fishing.

Early in the first morning, we cast off just as the sun was coming up. A light wind cast a nice 'Walleye Chop' on the water. Indeed, according to my initial research, this would be a perfect day for fishing. Finding our first spot, we threw the float, and started preparing the poles. I prepared my line with a bottom bouncer (commonly used in these parts), and asked for the tackle box to attach my first test lure. However, what I was handed wasn't anything near what I had expected.

Attached to a leader was a small pink plastic bead, and a single hook. Nothing else. I asked my boss where the spoons were, the spinner baits, jigs, weedless, diamond patterns, glow products, scent boosters, brass bodies, line floats.... pretty much anything but this tiny, seemingly worthless little bead, which was completely dwarfed by the time I got the worm on. He simply explained that they don't use those products in these parts. But how could that be? If all these products are proven to catch fish, why are we using something so miniscule?

As we were trolling along, he simply stated thats what has worked for years, and he wasn't about to change. I figured he'd seen too much sun already, and we were heading for a dreadful day on the river. However, he managed to prove me wrong! The entire boat of four people, limited out before noon, using nothing more than a bead for a fishing lure. Yet, for some reason, the second boat was on the river all day and didn't catch anything. Why was this? They were using the same tackle, fishing in the same general area, and both boats were nearly identicle. Already, my first day had handed me unlogical results. Perhaps this was just the luck of the draw. The second boat, with three people, didn't limit out all day and only came home with about six fish.

The second morning arrived. Not to be discouraged by the first days results, I got ready for yet another study of the fishing tackle industry. Again we cast off early, and again we go to the same spot, using the same tackle. This time, people discovered what we had already known, and there were about 15 other boats in the area. So we discreetly made our way to one of the other spots on the map. Rigging up our line, our boat was ready to do the same damage we did the day before.

However, this time the tables had turned. We never caught anything for over two hours, yet the other boat was reeling them in left and right. Discouraged by our bad luck, we left the other boat and found some other hot spots on the river. Cast our lines, and began the hunt. But once again, our fishing results were far less than desirable.

Next we decided to start fishing with plugs. Finally, a change in the tackle selection. After about a half hour, our luck had turned around... but just slightly. We fished the area for a few hours and only got about four fish total. Not a very productive moment considering there were four of us in the boat.

We then moved to a new area, and tried the same combination. Fished with the beads for a bit, and then with the plugs. Neither one proved to be successful, and we we went home far beneath our limit. So what happened? Why was the fishing so different per boat, per day? Even with a tackle change, we didn't seem to procure much more than the other team the day before.

The only sensible conclusion that I could find, was to keep a variety of tackle selections on hand. Shear luck does seem to play a part in fishing, and having multiple options available could change things around. So keep a variety of fishing lures on hand, stick with your basic knowledge, and finally... don't give up.

Next year, I'll be sure to bring my own tackle selection.

Old Lures Are Worth A Mint

Don't toss away your old fishing tackle. Bob Frye from the Pittsburgh Tribune has an excellent article depicting some pricey examples of collectible fishing lures.... some even going for $100,000. So run out to the old shed and go through some tackle. You just might be sitting on something that'll pay for the kids' college tuition!

Florida Offshore & Maine Festival

The TCPalm from off shore to power plant regions, the fishing seems to be good all over. Bites are holding strong and if you're living in the area, the seasonal change should not keep you from the outdoors!


www.keepmecurrent.com has some exciting news for families in the Maine area. Two popular events will be combined this year for one outstanding fun filled family festival. Ice fishing, ice sculpting, snowmobiles, and much MUCH more. Read the article, as it sounds like a great time for everyone involved!