Tips & Tidbits - by Tami & Lisa

[Lisa Almquist]

Wow thanks teresa! You made my day-someone actually puts my tips into ACTION!!!

[delmuts]

aw sweet heart!

go to wally world or even a farm store, a pick up a couple of prs. of the CHEAP reading glasses.( i learned this from an old friend!) $2-$3 a pr.i have them in several of my fishing boxes. if they get lost or broke, no big deal! del

[reelemin]

yea - but cheaters for threading a fish hook, thats sooo hard to swallow. I don't want to , I don't want to

But the time is very, very near

[Jim Almquist]

You just have to go in Gander to the fly fishing area and they have these cheaters that attach to the brim of your hat.You really need them because of how small the flys are that you tie on

[Eric Wettschreck]

I've tried about a zillion times to try and explain how to tie that knot. This is the best, easiest explaination I've seen, ever.

[delmuts]

it's not that bad! especially with the fishing lines we are using now days. i mean; 2 & 4 lb. mono is small, and i use 1/8 PP. that is just as bad ! del

[teresa]

thanks all for the info. I'm trying this knot the next time out. I have a gadget for cleaning out the jig holes. My boys got this for me after I chipped my tooth doing it the WRONG way.

[Lisa Almquist]

I bought this whole Rapala setup-jig eye deholer(?), hook out, hook sharpener and line clipper on a lanyard. Really nice setup. I did replace the hook out for a stainless steel model since the Rapala did get rusty.

[bassNspear]

dont they usally say if its getting to rusty, your not using it enough.

[Lisa Almquist]

Well I think part of the reason is because they have lots of fish scales and grime because of OVERUSE.

[reelemin]

2 - 26 - 08

to piggyback off of Lisa's wonderful knot post last week:

If you are learning to tie a new knot, practice on dry land!. Frozen fingers don't work well, nor do 3 foot waves !!

Use different line strenghts when you practice, to gain expereince with how larger diameters affect the way you tie the knots.

As always, please give your comments on this weeks topics

[boatfixer]

No kiddin'. frozen fingers, 1-2lb line, I agree, practice at home.

[Lisa Almquist]

Week of 2-26-08

Deadsticking

Deadsticking is basically using a super sensitive, flexible-tip lightweight rod (I have a Scotty's Custom deadstick). You rely on the action of the rodtip to tell if you have a bite. I also use a rod holder so that when I have a bite, the rod tips down (it's balanced on a peg) so it offers less resistance. Loosening up the drag offers even less resistance when you get a bite. I use this set up in my portable when I am very close to my rod so I close the bail. I believe the advantages of this setup over bobber fishing is that you don't have to fool with resetting your bobber/bobber stop everytime you move. Often I use just a small jig/plain hook with a minnow for bait. I've caught more fish this year on a deadstick than jigging!

I'm quite new at this so please offer up any more tips on deadsticking to help me out!!

[glenn57]

lisa, with all your posts explaining your rash of bad luck fishing this past hardwater season how am i to take any of your tips seriosly? hehehe. just kidding. fm has been busy the past week. ive been out of town working so i havent had much time on fm. my tip of the week, if the fish arent biting go to fm and find out about one where they are an go there. with my luck it will go like this. should of been here yesterday.

[Lisa Almquist]

The very little fish I HAVE caught have been miraculously caught with this method for the most part!! Can you imagine what kind of state I'd be in if I hadn't experimented with something new this winter!? Scary!! But no worries Glenn, March is right around the corner-my favorite ice fishing month by far-I'll be out alot!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Great tip Lisa. If you don't mind, I'll add a little something to it.

When I use a minnow on a dead stick I like to tail hook it, especially if, on my other line, I use a rattling/noisemaking type lure. The tail hooked minnow offers the classic downward, escape style swimming motion. Many fish will be attracted to either that, or the noisemaking type lure. If attracted to the noisemaking lure, they see the minnow trying to swim away for it's life and it's many too easy of an opportunity for them to pass up. Also, while jigging, if you mark a fish checking out your jig, and it goes away, keep a real close eye on your deadstick. With luck, that's where the fish is going.

[glenn57]

your right lisa march is a good month ice fishing. what a tip!

[Lisa Almquist]

Exactly! I hook my minnow right behind the dorsal fin but I will try your way next time. I bet they stay alive a little longer too. Thanks for the tip BG!

[Lisa Almquist]

Week of 3-4-08

Here's something to do that you will NEVER regret. I bought a Fisherman's Journal and have been writing down all of our fishing adventures in it. The rewards of journaling is two-fold:

1) You can see what worked (or didn't) on your favorite lakes from one trip to the next. Write down all the specifics-time of day, GPS coords, bait and tackle used, most fish caught by, numbers of fish, etc.

2) Your family has a blast reading it since we have lots of family that regularly fishes with us! I also have some trips that they have written in personally too.

It's a wonderful rewarding way to remember those fish stories and takes care of that pesky husband who can't use his hands anymore to describe how big that trophy was in his mind since it's all written down!

[glenn57]

lisa, is this something you do on the lake? we have a log at the cabin we write in also. just little tidbits of info on what happened that weekend, not so much into detail as your expaining. how long have you been doing this?

[Lisa Almquist]

I usually recap after we get off the lake while it's still fresh in everyone's mind. I started back in Summer 2003.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I hate writing. This is something I'll let the Mrs handle.

[glenn57]

boiler, i kinda do it for a living so i dot mind writing. i am curios as to how much detail lisa puts into her log book though. i might have an idea. let me know it could help. do you add weather conditions.

[Lisa Almquist]

Yes it has weather/temperature info. The journal I have has actual spots for all sorts of info like area fishing reports, hightlights of the day and places to remember for next time.

[glenn57]

where did you get your ledger? im on a fixed income you know.