Hot Tip Of the Week?

[RK]

Hiya -

TR21 - Most of what I learn about fishing is exactly like that - accidents that pan out

Juan - I let it sink all the way. The Big Dude head does seem to help keep form getting snagged - it's such a big wide head it's almost like a football jig. But there are some places where it's just so snaggy you can't fish anything on the bottom. One of my favorite reefs is like that. Vertical jigging works if it's deep enough. Or a Carolina Rig with a Lindy No-Snag Sinker or slinky sinker... You're gonna lose some jigheads in any case though

[TonkaBass]

I liked it RK!

[Larson15]

Good article!

[Superduty]

Good article RK. I love to hear about how others are going after smallies. I'm a big fan of swimming grubs and it's great to see your take on the subject.

[JConrad]

Excellent RK.... thanks...

[Larson15]

HOT TIP OF THE WEEK 3/1

Turning those bad days into good days

This article is similar to an article I found by Hank Parker that I think can help everyone that might be having a bad fishing day.

Lets face it, when we are having trouble catching fish we like to blame anything we can to justify our results. May it be the weather, lake conditions, or the good old saying "the fish aren't bitting." All it may take is a little change and acceptance to the situation and thinking positively.

Here are some of the conditions that we like to blame and how we can make them work in our favor:

Windy Days - Heavy wind can make it difficult to cast and position the boat. However fishing spinner-baits and crankbaits along wind-blown banks and flats can create great success. Wind pushes bait into an area and stirs the water, giving bass a false sense of security.

No Wind - The toughest time to catch fish during summer is when the lake is dead calm and the water is clear. If you scale down to light line, use smaller baits on a drop-shot, split shot or shaky head, you can catch fish.

Muddy Water - A spinnerbait is awesome for muddy water. Bass usually go shallow and the spinnerbait can really draw them in. When muddy water is cold (under 55 degrees) seek clearer water.

Moon Periods - Most of us cant taylor our fishing days and hours around moon peak periods, so we go when we can. However, it helps to be aware of the major and minor feeding periods that occur when we are fishing. Go to areas known to hold fish and fish them aggressive.

Cold Fronts - This is the most blamed condition there is for having a bad day of fishing (especially in Minnesota). A cold front can shut bass down that were aggressive the day before. They will burrow up in the cover and won't chase a bait. But they will bite a jig or soft-plastic bait, especially if fished in the center of heavy cover. The fish are very predictable because thats where they stay during cold fronts. You have to put the bait into the heart of it, so flipping is the best technique. You may have to make multiple flips into the same cover to get them to bite.

Falling/Rising Water - Bass generally follow the water level. If its rising, they move up. If its falling, they move away from the shore or into deeper water. A great tool for this is the new Lakemaster chip with the lake level offset feature. Cant wait to use it!

Regardless of the kind of day you are having, alway stay confident and fish the condition. You will be rewarded with a better day of fishing.

[TR21HP]

Larson,

While fishing wind swept shorelines or points I may not use spinnerbaits or crankbaits all the time but I will definitely upsize baits that I'm using whether its plastics or jigs so that I get a larger presentation in front of them when the water is riled up and make it easier to locate.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Olski, your on if you have time.

[olski]

Hey guys and gals if I have 1 quick tip it's DON'T OVERTHINK IT! I'm pretty sure I myself am the best at doing it.

A couple of examples of what i mean is a few years back I was pre fishing for a club tournament and found 2 spots that held fish, on a part of the lake I had never seen anybody else fish. 1 small spot had quite a few fish in the 2 to 3 pound range but the other spot was a little bigger with 3 to 4s and maybe a 5 pounder or so. So me being a smart guy figured I would run to the small fish spot catch a quick limit of OK fish then hit my "big fish" spot. Got to the first spot took a bit but got a limit, started to head to the other spot and you guessed it, another boat sitting on it. I OVERTHOUGHT IT! Should have hit that first and lost by 3 pounds or so.

Another example is I think as we get more "educated" we maybe forget what got us hooked on catching these fish in the first place. What I mean is I remember when I would go to a lake drop the trolling motor just start fishing docks, and caught fish. Then as time passes and I learned more I had to study maps, buy a ton of baits, get umpteen rods, a boat that goes 70mph. etc. Then go fish a tournament get to the weigh in, watch a couple guys in a little tin boat weigh a great bag and ask them "how did you get um?" and they say "dropped the trolling motor and fished docks."

The last quick one. Last spring fishing with a buddy at the cabin. Smallies on beds, I'm throwing a ring fry to the beds and get the fish to pick it up every time so I set the hook and get half a ring fry back. After some time and trying to figure out why they won't take the whole bait and maybe a few choice words. My buddy laughs and says hook 1 of those halves of a ring fry and throw it back in there they have to get the hook then.................. Don't think I missed another one.

So there ya go. Keep it easy and don't OVERTHINK IT.

[TR21HP]

Valuable advice olski. I was fishing as a co angler with Larry Nixon 4 or 5 years ago. I'm in the back and I'm picking my spots, changing techniques and rods every half hour or so and finally Nixon asks,"what are you doing? I replied ,"well I figure we have this condition with a falling barometer and cloudy skies so I'm doing this and using that." I ask him what are you doing?

He replies, "I'm just fishing." He goes on to say,"you know the fish aren't very bright, just fish and have fun." We went on to do very well that tourney as I followed his advice and simplified things.

[TonkaBass]

I liked it olski! LMAO, half a ringfry! Kinda like Dietz's KISS theory

[Deitz Dittrich]

thats right.. keep it simple stupid!!!

[Larson15]

Good Tip! I hope this site doesn't go down again, I actually had to do some work today because of it.

[mattrd]

03-22-10 Tip of the Week

The first thing I have isn't really a tip, but more of a reminder. This year try to introduce someone new to fishing. Teach them the importance of being a responsible angler. There are many organizations and tournaments geared toward teaching young children the importance of getting out and enjoying this resource, so try and get involved with one of these groups. As fun as it is to catch a fish yourself, sometimes it's even more thrilling to see the look on someone elses face when they catch their first fish. Even though they are the future of this past-time it doesn't always have to be a child you introduce to fishing. It can be anyone, an elderly person, a disabled person, someone who has never been fishing, or just someone who hasn't been out fishing in a long time and would like to get involved again. Because remember it may only be a 2-3pound fish to you, but it may be a fish of a lifetime to them. Most of us can remember the person who got us involved in this wonderful past-time!

As far as a tackle tip: These are two that I saw Clark Reehm talk about:

1. When storing hooks, keep them in the original packaging and store them in a 3700 box. That way you know what size you have and when you are running low. This keeps them organized and doesn't take up much room. You can store a lot of hooks in this size box. You can have different slots for different size and style hooks.

2. When storing crankbaits in your takle boxes, use a small plastic style rubberband to keep the hooks pinned to the bottom of the bait. This way they are not flopping around getting tangled with other hooks. Just start from the back screw and bring the rubberband up over the hooks and put it over the front screw. It's simple enough and lets you spend more time fishing instead of untangling tackle.

Just my input. Hope this helps anyone out!

[TonkaBass]

nice tip Mattrd!

[NTW]

Thanks Mattrd, I've made a habit of tearing the cardboard label off the hook package and laying under the hooks so when I'm run out I can remember what I ran out of.

[ikeslayer]

Tip for week of 4-5

My tip originally stems from being a dj. Yes that’s right I guess I will come out of the dj closet - dj by night basser by morning and pastor by day. Anyway one of the first times I djayed with a fella he had hundreds of cds to chose from and tons of music - he had everything covered and then some. The only problem was it was too much. He couldn't think of artists’ names and songs because he was completely swamped by his own stash of music. What I learned from this was knowing your tools and equipment is necessary.

I know many of us set out to learn a new technique each year and about 2 new rods and 4 new full 3700's however I don't know if this is best. I think many times I am at my best when I am fishing simplest. If you want to be one of those people that learns a new technique every year great but I know what I like to do and it is not that I am going to stop learning I am just going to do what I have the most confidence to do anyway.

The first bass tournament I ever won was just a measly little Tuesday night tournament down here on Lake Zumbro. However that evening in the excitement of going to the tournament I forgot my tackle. That’s right so when my partner got in the boat I sheepishly asked to borrow a few things. And when it came right down to it I asked for 2 hooks and one pack of worms and that is all I fished all night and we managed to win.

I know that we want to learn every new presentation and buy all the new lures but unless you are aspiring to go to the Elites I am not sure if that is necessary. You even hear guys like Gary Klein say that the only reason he is very confident in fishing any type of presentation or style is only because conditions forced him to fish like it and because he has been fishing competitive since the invention of the trolling motor. He didn't learn new techniques just for fun he did it out of necessity. One other interesting thing is that Rick clunn says, “In my quest for simplicity I have gone to one length and action rod for all presentations."

Sure Rickys probably sacrificing on the extremes of a few things but he knows his tools really well.

So that is my challenge/tip to all of you

* Be content with the tools you have and learn them well - learn your electronics, your reels, your casting - become intimate with your tools

* keep it simple no need for all that stuff in the boat at once that just clutters your mind

[zepman]

That's some great advice ikeslayer...something I've been working on for a couple of years now...simplifying!!

[mabr]

VERY WELL SAID! On of the best tips ive read.

[TonkaBass]

One of my favorite tips so far! Thanks Ike...

[RK]

Hiya -

A+ Ike. Great tip. Couldn't agree more...

[NTW]

What they said Ike...

[st.crioxfishin]

Tip of the week - 4/12

Modified tube rattle:

When I'm fishing dirty water or when I just want a loud presentation while using tubes, I like to put a glass rattle inside the hollow body. I like the glass rattles better than the plastic ones you would find on a jig because the glass ones are a lot louder. However, I always had the problem of the glass rattles easily sliding out of my tubes if I ever hooked a fish, got hung up, or just snapped the tube to hard.

This winter I've been messing around with the rattles trying to find a way to get them to stay in the tube better. Shrink Tubing solved my problem.

To make glass rattles that will stay in your tubes simply take about a 1" long piece of shrink tubing that has a diameter comparable to your glass rattle. Put a few drops of super glue inside the 1" tubing. Then slide 3/4" of the shrink tubing over the glass rattle and leave 1/4" hanging off the end. Heat up the tubing with a lighter until it fits snug aroung the rattle and then pinch together the part that hangs off the rattle until its flat. Next take a small hole puncher or drill bit and punch a hole in the flattend shrink tube, this is where your hook will go through in order to secure the rattle.

To rig it with the tube just wet the modified rattle, slide it into the tube bait with the flat end first, and texas rig the tube making sure the hook point passes through the hole in the flattened part of the shrink tubing. I used this modified rattle a little bit on the AR River this spring and it worked flawlessly.

I wish I had a picture to show, but my boat is in a shop in MN and of course I forgot all my tackle in it too... When I get it back, I'll try to remember to post a picture of it. It looks very similar to strike kings tube rattle, but its much louder.

[Deitz Dittrich]

very fun stuff Bob.. nice thinking!!!