Fishing-Headquarters Magazine by Fishing-Headquarters Online Magazine

Photograph by David Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Fishing-Headquarters Magazine Volume 3. Issue 3 Num. 14

July & August 2013 Summer Edition

• Pay Lake Common Carp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 About Fishing-Headquarters The Fishing-Headquarters began as a small homepage in 2005, featuring a collection of photos and YouTube fishing videos. It even featured a small contingency of misfits and rebellious anglers who were tired of the internet elitism and racism expressed by other websites built by uneducated nonangling entities towards specific groups of anglers and species of freshwater gamefish.

• Bushwhacking to Backwoods Lakes . . . . . 27 • Sunrise to Sunset River Smallies . . . . . . . . 47 • Muskies: Cool Under Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Formally established in January 2007, the FHQ was created for like-minded anglers to share the wealth of information, and enjoy the beauty in diverse fishing. This greatness as we presently know it is multi-species fishing.

• Biohackings: The Art of Angling . . . . . . . . . 73

Designed and created by posessed and gravely obsessed angler, Andrew Ragas, the website has grown to a large world audience. Our basis as an online media platform is to drop the ego, and catch anything that swims and has fins.

• Weeding Out Smallmouth Bass . . . . . . . . 97

• Fly Fundamentals with Chris Willen . . . 85

• Modern Kayak Advancements . . . . . . . 109

All fish are created as equals. Only to be pursued as opposites.

COVER STORY Important Biz Stuff http://www.fishing-headquarters.com info@fishing-headquarters.com telephone - 708. 256. 2201 Questions or Comments, and if interested in contributing or sponsoring, please contact Andrew Ragas at: andrew@fishing-headquarters.com Magazine layout and design by Ragas Media http://www.ragasmedia.com

Pictured on the Issue-14 cover is Chris Willen, musky fly fishing guide and outfitter who is based in Northern Wisconsin. In this issue, Chris writes about the importance of boat control on rivers and streams, and fundamental angling when in pursuit of muskies with the fly rod. Read about fly fishing for muskies by turning to page 85.

Fishing-Headquarters Issue-14 Another summer season is here at FHQ and we’ve been busier than ever adding web content to our site, producing informational videos, and writing stories for this publication. Our team is busy in their craft, traveling for the summer months, catching fish, and being the influential, younger voices in today’s world of angling.

Andrew Ragas

Editor In-Chief, Designer, and Owner.

2013 Issue Releases Remaining Schedule

• Issue 15: September 3, 2013 • Issue 16: December 2, 2013

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Everything we do at Fishing-Headquarters centers on our love of multispecies fishing and the ongoing process of educating ourselves and to catch more fish. In order to accomplish this, we’ve released yet another diverse issue for you. In issue 14, we’re focusing on summertime species such as common carp, king salmon on the Great Lakes, wading for river smallmouth bass and muskies, and tips to help you beat the heat in summer 2013. Along with tips and tricks to help you catch fish and diversify your angling approach, we also share some overlooked, influential angling philosophies by Cory Allen. We encourage you to especially give that one a read. With great pleasure, I introduce to you issue 14 of Fishing-Headquarters Magazine. We’re all about showcasing fin and new up and coming anglers at what they do best. In this issue Rob & Rob of online fame, The Bassassins (Ottawa Ontario), make their FHQ debut. In closing, I would like to thank our team of writers, friends, and all contributors for allowing us to make this one again possible.

I S S U E 14 F E A T U R E D W R I

Cory Allen

Robert Conley & Robert Fuchs

Adam M. Glickman

Contributed Photographs • Pat Harrison • Kenny Lookingbill • Jacob Saylor • Frank Weilnhammer • Wisconsin DNR Issue 14 Editorial Staff • Paul Ragas Layout and Design By • Ragas Media Designs Sponsors and Advertising Partners • Bearpaw’s Handpoured Baits • CB’s Hawg Sauce • CAST Crew 312 • Cortland Line • Dragin Bait Company • Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle • Go-Pro Camera • Heartland Outdoors • Lazer Trokar Hooks • Midwest Digital Corp. • PivotHead Video Eyewear • Quantum Fishing • Ragas Media Designs • Stankx Bait Company • Time on the Water Outdoors

TERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

David Graham

Rob Wendel

Chris Willen

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY TOPICS. Video Camera Sunglasses from Midwest Digital Corporation. In partnership with Chicago based Midwest Digital Corp, FishingHeadquarters will exclusively wear Pivothead sunglasses for the 2013 season. Pivothead Video Recording Eyewear, is the first step in redefining True Point of View video and photography. Hands free, full 720 and 1080HD, in clear sharp quality. http://www.midwestdigitalcorp.com/

Swimbait. Paddletail. Minnow. Our partners at Stankx Bait Company have released a number of new products for the 2013 season. The latest for summer 2013 is the Swimz 4.5â&#x20AC;?. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a revolutionized swim bait available in both solid body and hook slot. Over sized round paddle and slender tail give this bait phenomenal action. Soon to be released on the main site and all ready for custom orders. http://www.stankxbaitco.com

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July / August, 2013

Smallmouth Bass on the Fly Wisconsin River, Oneida County

SOLUNAR CALENDAR July 2013

August 2013

This fishing forecast is based on solar and lunar influences that cycle daily. The chart shows each hour of the day. For instance the hours with the higher rating, and days shaded the darkest have a greater combination of solar and lunar influence and thus indicate the best times to fish. This chart is a general recommendation and all data has been compiled by Weather & Wildlife.

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LEADING OFF. Fishing Wilderness Lakes In this issue, editor in-chief Andrew Ragas takes readers on a virtual journey into his world of fishing the backwoods of the north. Since his formative angling years, Andrew has molded his skills on these waterways and to this day they are frequently fished by him and friends and continue to produce fish like never before. Learn about lake types, fisheries, access issues, angling benefits, and watercraft in order to fish these places successfully. Turn to page-27 to begin your next fishing trip

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Photograph by Jacob Saylor Fishing-Headquarters | Page 8

LEADING OFF. David Grahamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annua alligator gar trip to Oklahoma is in the books. Read more about it by visiting this link to his FHQ blog, Boundless Pursuit:

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/boundlesspursuit/

Photograph by David Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Fishing-Headquarters | Page 10

Photograph by Andrew Ragas

PAY On a typical day of â&#x20AC;&#x153;paylaking,â&#x20AC;? anglers pay in on a drawing. The system may involve placing numbers into a bucket to determine who gets to pick their favorite station or peg on the lake first. After anglers set up on the location they draw, competition begins and all anglers battle it out for the money. A winner may be determined by whoever catches the biggest fish for that time frame, or the most.

By David Graham

Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Y LAKES

Photograph by David Graham Fishing Headquarters | Page 14

PAY LAKES

Photograph by David Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

By: David Graham

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

n the South, even the smallest change is often perceived as an unwelcomed threat to one’s way of life. Southern anglers often display the same pugnacious fortitude in traditional fishing ideals. For the multi-species enthusiast working to eliminate the “trash fish” mentality of old fashioned anglers, the South is a tough battle ground. Some fish, despite undeniable sporting quality, have simply been buried by scornful

myth, particularly our non-native carp species. Scorned for indiscriminately vacuuming up game fish eggs, smelling up the water, and spreading out of control, carp face a major uphill battle among anglers in the South. There are communities of anglers tucked away, however, who are promoting this worthy species by offering to pay anglers to catch them! These “pay lakes” are drawing massive interest across the South and slowly but surely exposing carp as a formidable species to pursue by rod and line. “Paylaking” involves competition at all levels, and rewards angler’s with a competitive edge with a variety of prizes including cash. On a typical day of “paylaking”, anglers pay in on a drawing. A system may involve placing numbers into a bucket to determine who gets to pick their favorite station or peg on the lake first. After anglers set up on the location they draw,

tion begins and all anglers battle it out for the money! There are typically several different ways to win. There may be winners in 10 minute intervals, or every hour depending on the specials being run on that particular day. A winner may be determined by whoever catches the biggest fish for that time frame, or the most. Blending money, gambling, and the excitement of a big fish, paylaking is extremely addicting. For example, 50 anglers could pay 20 dollars into a pot offering an overall winner the opportunity to take home $1000 dollars just to catch big fish! Events drawing a big number of competitors can result in huge payouts. There are many different ways that anglers can cash in on trophy fish and big numbers at pay lakes. Many lakes stay open 6 days a week and often times there are prizes for the angler who caught the biggest fish or the most during the course of

Photograph by David Graham Fishing Headquarters | Page 16

PAY LAKES

the week. Prizes can be cash, tro- myself confident that I could surely tie into dozens of fish in such a phies, or fishing gear/bait. small body of water. It became immediately apparent that anglers canPineyside Lake not simply go in to a pay lake with a Having been carp fishing for a can of corn and expect to catch fish. number of years recreationally, I re- With weekly events pressuring the cently tried my hand fishing at a well fish all year round, carp swimming established pay lake in my home in these lakes have seen it all. It state of South Carolina. Pineyside became quickly apparent that some Lake and Grill is located in Inman of my elementary methods of capSouth Carolina and that means big turing carp with bread, corn, creep fish in good numbers scarcely more pellets, or basic dough recipes were than a half hour away from my simply not going to cut it. Pineyside Lake is among the home in Greenville. I was enamored by the countless photos on the oldest pay lakes in SC. The lake Pineyside Lake and Grill Facebook dates back to the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where it page of fisherman displaying mas- was originally an irrigation pond sive fish and getting money in the for a peach orchard. 10 years later process! I made a visit to the lake it was transformed into a carp pay Fishing-Headquarters.com

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lake. In 2006 the lake was acquired by USCarpPro co-owner and prostaffer Keith Cisney. Since then, the lake has made a radical transformation with efforts from Gary Ruble and friends. The 56 peg lake now operates year round and during the Spring and Summer months there are tournaments nearly every day of the week. The community surrounding the lake is tight nit and competitive. Anglers from the surrounding areas find themselves immediately drawn to the competitive atmosphere with a family feel to it. The lake also hosts events which draw interest from anglers all over the country, and why would it not? There is a real chance of pulling in fish exceeding 40lbs from this lake.

Pineyside Lake owner, Keith Cisney, with a 40lb 9oz common carp.

Pineyside Lake angler, Barry McPeak, with a 25.9lb common carp.

Contributed Photographs

Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing Headquarters | Page 18

PAY LAKES

Photograph by Erin Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

The body of water is less than 4 acres large, but with proper management it sustains an estimated 40,000 lb of fat carp! The average fish caught in a typical day at Pineyside is close to 20 pounds. The lake offers more than just common carp, however. Blue catfish and Smallmouth Buffalo also inhabit the lake and have been caught in trophy size. The idea of calling any fish average at that size is hard to wrap your mind around but this propensity to deliver such size in numbers is planting a seed in this region of the South which is, perhaps, opening the minds of local anglers. Competitive carp angling is also driving fisherman to take a scientific approach to bait selection. Paylakes like Pineyside are ground zero for the growing market for new and improved baits, scents, and rigging technique. Because paylakes can be so pressured, fishermen have to try new things to keep the fish happy, and stay ahead of the competition. First Try At Paylaking Being completely novice to ‘paylaking’ culture, I failed miserably on my first attempt at catching even a single fish at Pineyside Lake. This was not because the lake couldn’t deliver, I could see huge shadowy figures looming about all over the entire like. There were carp breaching out of the water every few seconds and a group of anglers on the other side were pulling fish left and right. On my next trip to Pineyside Lake I stepped into the shop, where Sharon Ruble operates an outstanding grill that keeps anglers well filled and fueled up for long hours of battling big fish. Gary Ruble, Keith Cisney, and the whole Pineyside Crew are extremely ac-

Photograph by David Graham

commodating and genuinely want to put their customers on the fish. I found myself quickly fixed up with a basic ‘pack bait’ set up complete with a variety of CarpPro scents and a mixture of scents concocted by Pineyside patrons. The crew set my wife Erin and I up on a wide stretch of the pond working almost 10 rods on bite alarms. Gary Ruble laughed to us and said “I hope yall brought your running shoes!”. As darkness took over the pond it became clear as to why we would need a good pair of sneakers. As the peak hours hit the bite alarms were buzzing every few

seconds from all directions. We got our fill on fish but the tips and techniques acquired by the staff and lake regulars were priceless. Anglers of all ages and walks of life flock to the shores of pay lakes like Pineyside and it was extremely gratifying to see the young anglers who will undoubtedly lead the charge for carp as a formidable game species in the future. As discouraged as I have found myself when attempting to promote carp fishing, the element of competition in pay lakes is pushing many anglers to re-think outdated notions about carp.

Photograph by Erin Graham Fishing-Headquarters | Page 20

PAY LAKES Pineyside is one of the oldest paylakes in South Carolina, dating back to the 1950s when it was first built by Bill Jolly. Construction on the lake started in 1950 and finished in 1952. Pineyside is a 56-peg lake and during the busy spring and summer tournaments run 5 or 6 days a week. Although the lake is open year round, March 16 marks the beginning of the new season when it is warm enough to run nighttime competitions. The evening tourneys run through the end of September or early October depending on the weather.

Photograph by David Graham Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

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PAY LAKES

Boundless Pursuit A non-species specific approach to angling by David Graham.

David Graham is an extreme multi-species angler and featured columnist for Fishing-Headquarters Magazine. Follow his monster fish adventures by visiting his blog:

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/boundlesspursuit/ Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Photograph by Erin Graham Fishing-Headquarters | Page 24

By: David Graham

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

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WILD

back路woods (bkwdz)

pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) 1. Heavily wooded, uncultivated, thinly settled areas. 2. An area that is far from population centers or that is held to be culturally backward.

DERNESS LAKES Fishing the difficult to access unpressured waters, often ignored by most anglers, leads to new discoveries with gem fisheries. By Andrew Ragas

Photographs by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 28

BACKWOODS LAKES

By: Andrew Ragas Editor In-Chief

andrew@fishing-headquarters.com

Photograph by Kenny Lookingbill Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

housands of years ago, following the melt of the ice age, specific regions of North America and its landscape were littered by the abundant remnants of glaciers in the form of wilderness lakes. Scattered, yet heavily concentrated, throughout the lakeland regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, The Dakotas, and several areas of Canada, these small bodies of water are overlooked and little known to the masses of anglers. Because of their difficulty of access and little-known unpressured fisheries, they are filled with multi-species delight. Having spent every year of my life fishing throughout the north, wilderness lakes (backwoods lakes) are no secret to my family and me. I acquired my fishing skills on them at a young age, and have caught some of my largest and most memorable fish from them. Due to their location on the map, they contain some of the finest freshwater fishing that anyone can ever experience. Backwoods Locations If you study Google maps or any gazetteer, look closely, as these lakes are more abundant than anyone thinks. In Illinois, you will find wilderness lakes scattered throughout the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. Never fished them before, but others have and many believe the next Illinois state record largemouth bass lives there. Northward in Wisconsin, two specific regions offering outstanding fishing opportunities come to mind. The first is where I live for half the year in the Oneida, Vilas, and Iron County region. Among those 3,200 listed lakes, approxi-

mately 50% of them can be classified as wilderness lakes. As for the second region, travel westward across the state down Highway 70 to Sawyer and Rusk Counties and you will find a bunch more around Hayward, Spooner, and Minong. West of Wisconsin is Minnesota’s “Land of Ten Thousand Lakes” and the Dakotas. Minnesota is loaded with lakes throughout the state with many wilderness lakes around the Brainerd, Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Grand Rapids, Bemidji, and the Boundary Waters; all of which are popular angling regions for locals and out of state travelers. West of Minnesota is North and South Dakota. Due to its prairies and farmland most anglers wouldn’t associate either of these states to having any fishing opportunities. But looking closely at South Dakota, you will see an unbelievable cluster of lakes in the Northeastern part of the state near the towns of Watertown, Webster, and Roy Lake State Park. Further north in North Dakota, the Devils Lake region has lots of places too. Let’s not forget about Michigan either. Wilderness lakes are prevalent throughout Upper and Lower Michigan. The “yoopers” have a fantastic selection of lakes located throughout Gogebic County and the Ottawa National Forest. Meanwhile down south in the mitten, anglers have wilderness opportunities south of Traverse City and throughout the Manistee and Huron National Forests. Lastly, look at Canada and all of its drive-to and fly-in opportunities. Most lakes in Canada don’t even have access or any roads in order to reach them. These are the lakes that never get fished. Fishing-Headquarters | Page 30

BACKWOODS LAKES Backwoods Lakes Defined You may be wondering what constitutes a wilderness lake. Most of these lakes range in size from 20 to over 200 acres in size. In Canada, these lakes may be larger than 1,000 acres. For those of you residing in the rural parts of the country, these lakes are not to be confused with puddles such as ponds or farm ponds that are located in subdivisions and on private farmland. Some wilderness lakes are large enough to allow boat access thanks to poorly developed boat

launches or roadside access. Most offer little to virtually zero fishing pressure. These lakes may contain a few residents, private land owners, and houses along their shorelines. But for the most part they are generally undeveloped and surrounded by forests with fully natural and undisturbed, pristine shorelines. Most of the time, they are difficult to access which is a turn-off to anglers. However, if access is available and if motivated to get there, they require lots of energy and effort in order to reach through the avenues of some off-roading and portaging. These

factors are the reasons why wilderness lakes contain such good fishing for action, numbers, and big fish. Due to their poor public access, wilderness lakes remain generally untouched by our state agencies and Natural Resources crews. For this reason, most of these gems contain natural, self-sustaining populations of gamefish. They also probably have never been scanned by sonar, nor do they have available maps, and they certainly arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shown in detail on our boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GPS systems. However, for the lakes containing adequate boat launches or the

Photographs by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

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BACKWOODS LAKES

Oligotrophic lakes are commonly found throughout Northern Wisconsin, Minnesotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boundary Waters, and all over Canada. These lakes are mostly infertile, usually deep and expansive with open water, have extreme clarity, and are sand and rock based possessing little to no shallow water vegetation. Many of them are best suited for a population dominated by largemouth or smallmouth bass. Photographs by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com

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occasional private resorts that are visited by tourists and traveling anglers, these places may be stocked with certain gamefish species on an alternate-year basis in order to sustain their fisheries. Due to state management, their fishery histories are publicly known. Whether or not wilderness lakes are managed by our state agencies, they all deserve care and strict regulations. Because most are unmanaged and lack public access, resource management is an important issue. Catch and release on large adult fish - the spawners is critical to population sustenance and the future of the fishery. Anglers may definitely take enough for a fish fry or a shore lunch, but should certainly never overfish these little gems. Also, a courtesy rule is to never publicize these types of lakes as most folks and especially fishing guides and outfitters tend to keep these lakes to themselves as their own little secrets. Lake Types and Fish Species Freshwater lakes are generally classified by type for determining age and the specific fisheries they contain, and all other limnology studies. The three lake types are oligotrophic, mesotrophic and eutrophic. The wilderness lakes I fish are available in each of these three types, and all are comprised of very different fisheries. Oligotrophic lakes are commonly found throughout Northern Wisconsin, Minnesotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boundary Waters, and all over Canada. These lakes are mostly infertile, usually deep and expansive with open water, have extreme clarity, and are sand and rock based possessing little to no shallow water vegetation. In their furthest northern locations, their

Growth rates on oligotrophic lakes are exceptionally slow unless there is a presence of abundant baitfish and pelagic species. Pictured is an 18 inch smallmouth bass, which is probably one of the largest from this particular lake. cold, deep infertile waters are best suited to lake trout, northern pike, walleyes, brook trout and grayling. However, most of the. lakes where I fish are warmer and shallower, and tend to feature a biomass dominated by slow growing smallmouth or largemouth bass. This is fairly common in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.P. Besides bass with slow growth rates as the primary dominant gamefish species, these lakes may contain some walleyes (some natural, some stocked), possibly rainbow or brown trout (some natural, some stocked),

lots of stunted panfish such as perch and bluegills, and small fishable populations of self-sustaining or stocked northern pike, or muskies. In the small oligotrophic lakes I fish, most gamefish species are stunted in size and possess slow growth rates due to the lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infertility and lack of good forage structure. Despite these limitations, these Photograph by David Graham lakes contain some trophy potential for all species when anglers adhere to catch and release. Fishing-Headquarters | Page 34

BACKWOODS LAKES

Middle mesotrophic lakes throughout Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Northwest Ontario are home to muskellunge populations. Pictured is a 39 incher that was caught from a mostly-private lake that required access from a roadside creek. The second lake type, which is the most common of all wilderness lakes, is mesotrophic. These moderately fertile lakes with some depth rank among the top producers of all gamefish species. The best mesotrophic lakes have clean, well-structured bottoms; enough sand, gravel and rock to allow for successful natural reproduction for all species. They also contain plenty of areas with shallow vegetation and quiet bays with weed growth to rear young-of-year fish and forage species. Mesotrophic lakes possess diverse fisheries as they’re able to support a few dominant primary gamefish species and populations of secondary species as well. Depending upon region and latitude, mesotrophic wilderness lakes generally contain diverse fishFishing-Headquarters.com

eries. Most of these lakes I fish tend to be dominated by healthy populations of largemouth or smallmouth bass and panfish. Some others I’ve fished are surprisingly good walleye factories. Also, some secret gems are even populated primarily by muskies or northern pike of both action size and trophies. The most common trait of all mesotrophic wilderness lakes is they support a variety of gamefish species; all of which can reach trophy potential and generally don’t require stocking unless there is a presence of a good public boat landing or resorts. The third lake type is eutrophic. Eutrophic lakes are exceptionally fertile, shallow, warm and heavily vegetated. Seldom deeper than 10 to 15 feet, they are bowl shaped and often lack well defined structure.

July / August, 2013

They tend to have silty muddy bottoms, and may feature bog shorelines and tannic stained water. Eutrophic lakes are best suited to largemouth bass, often fish of trophy size. Besides largemouths, they commonly contain panfish, a few pike, and the occasional rough fish that includes bowfin and bullheads. Eutrophic wilderness lakes are most prevalent in the southern ranges of the “wilderness belt” as well as in regions with marshy lowlands, bogs, and swamps. These lakes aren’t as common as mesotrophic lakes, but their fishing can be just as good, if not better, for largemouth bass and other warm water species due to fast growth rates and trophy potential.

TOP - Private lakes can hold a number of surprise species such as this 22 inch walleye. We accessed this 30 acre “meso” lake through my friend’s private land by dragging the boat 25 yards from vehicle and trailer into the water. It was work, but worth the physical labor. BOTTOM - Eutrophic lakes are most suitable to populations dominated by largemouth bass. Pictured is Jacob Saylor with an 18 incher caught in May, 2013.

Photographs by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 36

BACKWOODS LAKES Lake Access

Public Access Through Creek or Roadside Dump-In.

Difficult access is the main reason why wilderness lakes barely receive any fishing pressure. Despite access limitations, there’s always a way to reach these lakes whether it’s through public or private lands. The internet and gazetteer are my best sources for finding these hidden gems. Through research I mark my traveling routes, locate boat landings, and possibly determine the fisheries of nearly every lake through online research. When researching these lakes and determining their accessibility, it’s important to scout them beforehand. Locate their access sites first and observe their boat landings or dumpin areas to determine whether or not they’re usable for boat. When visiting these places for the first time, leave the boat at home as you never want to get stuck with it or be on a dirt logging road that doesn’t offer a turn-around site. Public land access off state owned land through a boat landing, dump-in, and roadside access is most often used. Nearly all of these access sites will be poorly marked and undeveloped, making them best suited for trucks and 4x4 vehicles for launching. Because these lakes have a better chance of allowing boat access, they tend to get fished most often because they’re less difficult to access. Besides public lands, anglers can get to wilderness lakes through private lands, but with greater difficulty. It pays to make friends with private homeowners or landowners for direct access from their property. Fishing-Headquarters.com

Access Through Private Lands - Homeowner, Landowner, or Resort.

You are more apt to get permission if you present yourself well. Don’t be a slob. Clean up after yourself by packing out whatever trash you generate. It will also help you for future trips if you pick up any trash left behind by previous visitors. Meanwhile on larger lakes with resorts or campsites, access can be had by a for-fee boat launch or boat rental,

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which is fairly common with resorts. Many larger wilderness lakes in Wisconsin and Minnesota have resorts on them that give its customers access and may allow outsiders access to their excellent, exclusively private fishing.

Public Access Through Developed Boat Launch.

Photographs by Andrew Ragas

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BACKWOODS LAKES Watercraft Wilderness lakes often require the use of lighter, smaller boats due to shallow unimproved landings and roadside access. My personal preference is to fish out of the comforts of my 16 foot fiberglass Lund where launches are deeper and outboards are allowed. We use trucks and 4x4 vehicles to launch my boat. Other than carelessly towing with my front wheel drive vehicle we’ve rarely experienced any problems or gotten stuck. My boat is light enough, under 1,200 pounds fully rigged, that it can be launched from most boat landings and any types of

surfaces. It is also shallow enough that it can float in less than a foot of water and get through anywhere. When my primary boat isn’t an option I make use of my aluminum boats. This usually occurs when the access site is too shallow, roadside dump-in is the only option, or if there is an outboard ordinance or electric-only rule. For the much unimproved access sites, I use my 12 foot semi-v or newly rebuilt 14 foot Lund jon boat. These lightweight, durable, comfortable, reliable tin boats allow for easy portaging and carry-in access amongst two people. Both can be equipped with a small outboard, trolling motor and basic

fish locators which aren’t overkill for successful effective fishing on these types of lakes. Meanwhile, for anglers without modernized fishing boats, wilderness lakes are accessed easiest by canoe, kayak, and pram. These boats fish without any limits. They can get anglers farther and deeper into the woods than any aluminum or fiberglass fishing boat ever will. Once the challenging access hurdles are cleared and you finally make your way onto the water, keep the rods and reels and tackle to a limited, simplified selection. Because this may likely be your first time fishing a newly-discovered lake, you

When my primary boat isn’t an option I make use of my aluminum boats. This usually occurs when the access site is too shallow, roadside dump-in is the only option, or if there is an outboard ordinance or electric-only rule. For the much unimproved access sites, I use my 12 foot semi-v or newly rebuilt 14 foot Lund jon boat. These lightweight, durable, comfortable, reliable tin boats allow for easy portaging and carry-in access amongst two people.

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might not have the spaciousness or luxury of fishing from of a modern boat with storage space. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to be simple and fish with gear that can be used for multiple techniques and allows you to enjoy the possibility of a multi-species outing. For these trips, I tend to fish with a spinning rod or two, and a baitcasting rod or two. I bring a small tackle bag with a selection of search lures (crankbaits, spinnerbaits and topwaters) along with an assortment of jigs, soft plastics, and possibly live bait for special situations. If I have previous experience fishing a particular wilderness lake, then I may go more in-depth by fishing with technique-specific rods and reels towards a particular targeted species.

Photographs by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 40

BACKWOODS LAKES Backwoods Benefits In an angling era where most popular waterways throughout the country are being pounded and pressured by the masses of anglers, consider traveling to the wilderness belt of North America to alleviate you from having to deal with conditioned fish. Enjoy the angling experience on wilderness lakes and the hidden gems that are filled with undiscovered and unexploited fisheries. Until I explored my way to lightly fished wilderness lakes and discovered their pristine resources and undisturbed fish populations, I never imagined that fishing would require so much strategy and physical work. Most anglers I come across today are simply too lazy to go through the challenges and adventures of accessing these places. Likewise, many anglers lack the necessary knowledge and resources to be able to fish them. This is ultimately a benefit for anglers like me who are willing to travel the extra mile down the dirt road to get into the water. Once I get my boat in there, chances are I will be the only person out there fishing. Every fisherman has his or her favorite secret spot. By fishing the little known wilderness lakes, your favorite spot has a better chance of really staying secret.

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Photographs by Jacob Saylor Fishing-Headquarters | Page 42

BACKWOODS LAKES

Until I explored my way to lightly fished wilderness lakes and discovered their pristine resources and undisturbed fish populations, I never imagined that fishing would require so much strategy and physical work. Most anglers I come across today are simply too lazy to go through the challenges and adventures of accessing these places. Likewise, many anglers lack the necessary knowledge and resources to be able to fish them. This is ultimately a benefit for anglers like me who are willing to travel the extra mile down the dirt road to get into the water. Once I get my boat in there, chances are I will be the only person out there fishing. Every fisherman has his or her favorite secret spot. By fishing the little known wilderness lakes, your favorite spot has a better chance of really staying secret. Fishing-Headquarters.com

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Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 44

Photographs by Andrew Ragas

Photograph by David Graham

SUNRIS BASSTARD

SMOOTH

Photographs by Bassassins Fishing-Headquarters.com

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SE TO SUNSET Wading for River Smallmouth By Robert Conley & Robert Fuchs

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RIVER SMALLMOUTH

By: Robert Conley & Robert Fuchs

Fishing-Headquarters Contributors

s the alarm sounds you will always laugh to yourself at its irrelevance, you have been lying there with your eyes open counting down the minutes. Is it the part of your brain that is instinctively waiting for the sound? Is it the anxiety that you didn’t pack everything you needed to bring? Or is it the anticipation of that first blow up? The first reel scream? Or that new PB at the end of your line? We will never know the answer to this but the sunrise fisherman can relate and share this undeniable understanding of all of the above. Most think we are crazy, but to us, we wouldn’t think of doing it any other way. Equipped as light weight as possible; a good pair of waders, polarized shades, a small bag for our favorite tackle and a waterproof camera, bare to the bone, ready to go. Your silent arrival on the water is only interrupted by the intoxicating sounds of nature, birds chirping, water running, wildlife rummaging Fishing-Headquarters.com

through the shoreline foliage. This is what we have been waiting for. Looking down at your tackle bag what are you going to use to put this silence to rest and make the waters explode with your first beastly river smallmouth? Our go-to option for the first cast on a sun kissed morning river is without a doubt a popper. This old classic is loaded with confidence. It is never a surprise when the biggest bronze back of the morning comes from those first few casts. Targeting those river edges, sand/rock humps, boulders, deep pools or any random out of place structure. Making continuous noise allowing your bait to pause in between pops until the ripples disappear and you will not be disappointed. This bite is fast, vicious and heart stopping, it will stir up the perfect feeding frenzy for your next tactic. Bass in general will soon get tired of all the surface noise, what do you grab next once the popper

July / August, 2013

bite has stopped? Shallow running cranks - bait fish imitation is the key in this choice. But hold on before you are moving to your next spot. Just because the top water bite has seized, it doesn’t mean you have played this spot to its full potential. This exact same location will likely hold a lot more fish, allow your crank to pause after impact and retrieve it through the mid to higher water column. Your speeds will vary so mix it up and throw in the odd twitch before each pause. By using this approach after the popper, it will entice those strikes from fish that were too shy or too annoyed to hit the surface lure or even those that wanted to chase their breakfast. Either/or the crank will continue to pick up fish as long as they are still feeding. When the water warms up and the sun gets higher, the late morning to early afternoon bite can be the hardest time of day to find quality fish. On a lake or a deep river

SUNRISE

Photographs by Andrew Ragas

Our go-to option for the first cast on a sun kissed morning river is without a doubt a popper. This old classic is loaded with confidence. It is never a surprise when the biggest bronze back of the morning comes from those first few casts.

Photographs by Bassassins Fishing-Headquarters | Page 50

RIVER SMALLMOUTH you will hear those with boats “going deep” to find these fish. On the low lying rivers you don’t have that same luxury, the fish are still there but you have to find what will coax them into biting. Again looking at your tackle bag wondering. What now? Mid day when the sun is up high the fish will lay low, still feeding but towards the bottom, picking up crayfish and small insects from the rocks. This is the time when finesse soft plastics come in to play. A grub or craw on an octopus style hook with a small split shot or a simple drop shot is the most deadly presentation when the fish are lazily hanging during the day. Equipped with laser sharp KAMAKAZI hooks and a fresh pack of our PowerTeam Lures we tackle the hardest part of the day. Both techniques are quite similar in build and presentation, in the end they will both result in the same fate - reactionary, pure instinct strikes.

Tying up a drop shot with a size 1 circle hook, 3” hammer shad and allowing the weight to keep constant contact with the ground will allow the bait to do all the work; swaying in the current, tantalizingly moving and dipping like an injured bait fish, bouncing through the deeper pockFishing-Headquarters.com

ets, it will drive even the laziest smallmouth nuts. Unlike the previous two techniques this strike will be softer and quicker, so really use your senses to anticipate the right moment to set that hook.

sive and you can usually see the football shaped shadow moving in before the twitch - set the hook and get ready for a show. A resting bass has a lot of build up energy and can give you the best acrobatics of the day. Remember the afternoon bite with the high sun will turn into a The Crayfish Connection sight fishing adventure. Be aware of everything going on around you, A similar approach during you never know when and where those dog hours is rigging a 3.5” the next beast will hide and strike. Craw D’oeuvre or any other crayfish imitation soft plastic on a large Afternoon Delight octopus style hook, weighted down with a small split-shot or bell sinkThe last phase of the day will er. sneak up on you and unfortunately Every river we fish here has this one has a fast closing window an abundance of crayfish and this is of opportunity. You have thrown the smallies preferred meal anytime everything you have in your bag at of the day, you are purely going to them throughout the day... What do become the crayfish. Find rock beds you turn to now? and realize you may not see the big The late afternoon/early evefish but they are there! Numerous ning is the best time of day for retimes in the past we have walked flection, realizing and focusing up onto a large boulder and spooked on the patterns you established the biggest fish of the day out from throughout the day can help you behind, in the most unappealing wa- produce your biggest smallmouth. ters. So you must learn from this and Go back to what has worked before, don’t hesitate to hit every exposed if your crayfish presentation was on flat, boulder, log, mat of grass, etc. fire continue on with that, if the drop During the warmest part of the day shot was dialing them in continue the beasts are in the shadows find- on with that and if the crank was ing cover and shade in virtually any what turned them on then get back structure. With this presentation to that. The fish will progressively you want to slow down, allowing get more aggressive as the evening the bait to sit on the ground for what moves forward. Use the knowledge may feel like forever but a quick you have gained all day to maximize twitch will turn on any bass. You on the spots that you were finding want them to almost forget it was fish before and eliminate those areas splashed in above them and that it that were less fruitful. You are your is a crayfish trying to escape, skip- best teacher at this point and we alping and bouncing off anything you ways draw up a quick plan of attack can with small pauses between each on how to be successful as we are run. These strikes are very aggres- heading off the water.

July / August, 2013

Mid-day when the sun is up high the fish will lay low, still feeding but towards the bottom, picking up crayfish and small insects from the rocks. This is the time when finesse soft plastics come in to play. A grub or craw on an octopus style hook with a small split shot or a simple drop shot is the most deadly presentation when the fish are lazily hanging during the day.

Photographs by Bassassins Fishing-Headquarters | Page 52

RIVER SMALLMOUTH

SUNSET

The late afternoon/early evening is the best time of day for reflection, realizing and focusing on the patterns you established throughout the day can help you produce your biggest smallmouth. Go back to what has worked before. The fish will progressively get more aggressive as the evening moves forward. Take the time to enjoy these last couple of hours, these are the unforgettable days we dream of as anglers when we are stuck at work and if done right you can embark on an adventure that will produce quality and quantity all day long. The thing we most want you to take away from our approach of a full day on the water is to be versatile! You will learn your own water systems and create your own perfect recipe to tackle a full day but if you are looking for a starting point this is how the Bassassins keep producing even during the hardest hours. As fishermen that strive to make the most of our time on the water, we don’t have the pleasure of getting out every day so knowing how to Fishing-Headquarters.com

take advantage of your days off and maximize on every hour is very important. Get the best from the most and the most from the rest. We hope the next time you pack up your gear, head out onto the water and reach into that tackle bag, a few of these suggestions will help you turn a good day in to an amazing day that you won’t forget any time soon.

If you are seeing our work for the first time we are Rob Fuchs (Basstard) and Rob Conley (Smooth). Two best buds from Ottawa, Ontario that spend every free moment on the water all year long. Whether it’s wading the rivers or braving the ice, we always stay passionate and dedicated in pursuit of the biggest and meanest Ontario has to offer. To follow our adventures or see more of our work please check out www.thebassassins.com or www.facebook.com/TheBassassins.

July / August, 2013

Photographs by Bassassins Fishing-Headquarters | Page 54

RIVER SMALLMOUTH

Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

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MUSKIE Finding cool water during the heat of summer is the key to finding good musky action. By Adam M. Glickman

Photograph by Andrew Ragas

Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Cool Under Fire

Photograph by Adam Glickman Fishing-Headquarters | Page 60

MIDSUMMER MUSKIES Blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, are a group of photosynthetic bacteria that many people refer to as “pond scum.” Blue-green algae are most often blue-green in color, but can also be blue, green, reddish-purple, or brown. Blue-green algae generally grow in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams when the water is warm and enriched with nutrients like phosphorus or nitrogen. When environmental conditions are just right, blue-green algae can grow very quickly in number. Most species are buoyant and will float to the surface, where they form scum layers or floating mats. When this happens, we call this a “blue-green algae bloom.” Blue-green algae blooms generally occur between mid-June and late September.

By: Adam M. Glickman

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

he dog days of summer just aren’t what they used to be. What used to be a week or two of bloomed out hot water in August has turned into lakes that are often 80 plus degree tubs of goo for 2-3 months at a time. Summers do seem a little warmer than they used to be, but he real culprit is nutrient pollution mostly in the form of phosphorus runoff from farms, yards, and golf courses. Algae thrives due to the increased fertility and lakes turn green early. The murky water absorbs much more of the sun’s energy and warms at an increased rate. Fishing-Headquarters.com

The warmer water supports even more algae growth and the problem compounds. The hot water is not capable of containing good amounts of dissolved oxygen, the water stagnates, game fish lie low, and action turns lousy. Even if muskies were biting well, safe effective catch and release becomes tricky at best. Summer musky activity peaks at 70-74 F, and good action can be had up to 76 F. Any warmer than that, and I notice a serious decline in activity. I live west of Minneapolis and all of my local lakes I consider pretty much unfishable for 1-3 months during all but the coolest of summers. I refuse to fish muskies in 78-86 F water, especially when the water is the color and consistency of pea soup. I have literally motored through pockets of algae bloom so thick that they have slowed my boat down. I cannot justify fishing muskies under such conditions because it is neither fun nor ethical. However, this does not mean that I don’t fish muskies during these times. I find conditions that are conducive to good action and proper catch and release. By that, I mean finding cooler water.

July / August, 2013

Deep Muskies Most natural lakes and many reservoirs stratify during summer, which means they separate into a lower, middle, and upper layer. The middle layer is the thermocline. Below the thermocline is a cooler usually oxygen deficient layer. Above the thermocline is a warmer layer that is usually at least oxygen sufficient. During hot summers, many fish would like to drop below the thermocline to satisfy their physical temperature needs, but their bodies would not tolerate the lack of oxygen. However, the upper layer while warmer is not of uniform temperature. The upper layer is usually 18-26’ thick. At the surface it may be 84 F, but just above the thermocline it might be only 72-74 F which is perfect for peak musk activity. Fish Hawk makes excellent products for taking temperature at various depths. A cheaper solution I use is finding the thermocline on my graph, tying a few fish tank thermometers to a bell sinker, lowering them to just above the thermocline, leaving them in that zone for a minute or two, then pulling them up

Most natural lakes and many reservoirs stratify during summer, which means they separate into a lower, middle, and upper layer. Most fish in any system will be looking for this cooler yet still oxygen sufficient water. If available forage uses open water and does not relate to structure (ciscoes for example), the forage will be over the main lake basin at the magic depth. Muskies will be where they are most comfortable and have food. Find that combination, and it is only a matter of putting in time.

Photograph by Adam Glickman

very quick to take a reading before they change too much. It sounds a little ghetto, it is a little ghetto, but it works in a pinch. Most fish in any system will be looking for this cooler yet still oxygen sufficient water. If available forage uses open water and does not relate to structure (ciscoes for example), the forage will be over the main lake basin at the magic depth. If available forage is the type that uses structure (yellow perch or white suckers for example), the forage will be using structure at the magic depth. Muskies will be where they are most comfortable and have food. Find that combination, and it is only a matter of putting in time. Any presentations that put a lure into the right depth and keep it there will be the most effective. Trolling cranks, jigging Red October Tubes or Bondy Baits, and casting and counting down any lure that sinks are all tactics I would bank on to produce.

Deep Muskies

Red October Tube

Bondy Bait Fishing-Headquarters | Page 62

MIDSUMMER MUSKIES Seiche Tides Seiche tides are a phenomenon that, among other things, draws cooler water from the depths into the shallows. Seiche tides occur when prolonged strong winds persist for a day or more from any one direction. They push most of the warm surface water to the downwind end of the lake, forcing cooler water to well up from the depths on the upwind end to replace what has left. Weed edges or any other form of cover on the upwind end of the water body that are right next to deeper water can all of a sudden drop 10 F when all of this falls into place. Muskies often take advantage of the opportunity to use shallower cover, and action can be tremendous though fleeting and tricky to time.

water by the wave action. With no direct sunlight to warm the water, this process occurs quickly. Cold rain on top of all this also hastens the decline in temperature. As the water temperature drops from the neighborhood of 80 F closer to the area of 70 F, muskies often become very active. Sadly, severe weather (heavy electrical activity) will most often put the fish down regardless of what the water temperature is doing.

ing a cold front. These rivers either have long uninterrupted stretches (no dams for at least 15-20 miles) or lots or cool ground water influx or both. Dams on rivers create man made lakes which build up more warmth and hold on to that warmth more than the free flowing river would. Most dams in the upper Midwest have a spillway over which the surface water from the reservoir falls, and as such the river below has

Coldfronts Cold fronts, while detrimental during the early part of the season when warming water is desired, are great during the heat of summer. Cloudy, cool, windy, rainy weather can quickly cool certain types of water or certain areas of a water body to the point that a massive feeding trend is triggered from muskies that had been lying low. Lakes that are deep and mostly contained in one large basin are usually effected very little by a change in weather. The same is true of large deep rivers. Smaller, shallower lakes can be a gold mine though. A cold wind ripping across a weedy flat or into the weed edge at the mouth of a bay cools the water quickly, as the cool air is literally folded into the Fishing-Headquarters.com

Photograph by Andrew Ragas

Small and Medium Sized Rivers Small and medium rivers are especially prone to cooling rapidly during cold fronts, or any time the blistering sun isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pounding down on them. All it really takes is a cloudy warm day or just an overnight period to get a significant drop in temperature. Put the two together, and some of my favorite rivers will drop 10-12 F in a 24 hour period. They will drop 12-16 F dur-

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a constant warm water influx during the summer. The more dams a river has the warmer its water will be. It is usually the case that water clarity decreases and water temperature increases during the downstream progression on a river. However, if a river is getting warm murky water coming over a dam, but it gets a lot of clear cool water influx along its downstream course, water quality will improve downstream. Hitting these waters when the time is right and/or in the right areas can yield

Small and medium rivers are especially prone to cooling rapidly during cold fronts, or any time the blistering sun isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pounding down on them. All it really takes is a cloudy warm day or just an overnight period to get a significant drop in temperature. Put the two together, and some of my favorite rivers will drop 10-12 F in a 24 hour period.

Photograph by Adam Glickman Fishing-Headquarters | Page 64

MIDSUMMER MUSKIES

Photograph by Adam Glickman

tremendous results. Cool Water Inlets Cool water inlets are great places to target muskies during the heat of summer on rivers as well as lakes provided the area can concentrate the cooler water and there is some type of cover. Cool water inlets will attract muskies when the rest of the water is excessively warm if the cool water can collect in a decent enough volume for the muskies to hold in. A trickle of cold water entering the main stream of a large river isn’t going to cut it. However, Fishing-Headquarters.com

a good size trout stream entering a swift small to medium river will create a good seam and pocket of cold water along the bank due to thermal separation. Principals of thermal separation state that water masses of two different temperatures will resist mixing for at least a little while. This strip of cool water created by the inlet will only hold muskies if it enters into a deeper cut or creates a hole on its own. If it enters an area that is 200 yards of sand and 6” of water, the chances of it attracting fish are slim to none. Cool water inlets that enter lakes have a much better chance of

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creating cool water pockets, even if they are low volume. A wind pounding into the inlet further keeps the cool water from dissipating into the lake. With time and money, it would be nice to go around and stick a thermometer into every tributary creek during the dead of summer. In lieu of that, fishing regulation booklets help tremendously. If a stream is regulated for a trout fishery, it almost certainly has cool water. A solid game plan can be constructed in one’s spare time at home with no additional expense. Dams in the upper Midwest usually draw water from the upper

Cool water inlets are great places to target muskies during the heat of summer on rivers as well as lakes provided the area can concentrate the cooler water and there is some type of cover. Cool water inlets will attract muskies when the rest of the water is excessively warm if the cool water can collect in a decent enough volume for the muskies to hold in. This strip of cool water created by the inlet will only hold muskies if it enters into a deeper cut or creates a hole on its own. Photograph by Andrew Ragas

muskies in the dead of summer. our shared resources, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get heat They are certainly no El Dorado stroke, and have fun this summer. or miracle cure, but they will work if time and money are invested in them. One word of caution, if the muskies strike, fight, and are landed in cooler water; they are not likely to stress. Just lift them briefly for a picture, especially if the air is very warm. However, if the muskies strike in cool water and are pulled into a warmer water zone for fighting and landing; they may very well stress if extreme caution is not taken. If they must be photographed, only pull them from the water for 5-10 seconds. Dropping the net from Staying Cool Under Fire around them and never removing Fishing-Headquarters | Page 66 These options will produce them from the water is best. Protect warm water layer of the reservoir, or the reservoir is so shallow and currented that it is all the same temperature and it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter where the dam draws from. The dams on southern reservoirs are almost all cold water draws, which means they mostly or completely draw water from the cool depths of the lake above. If a water body and dam like this can be found in the north country, even if the discharge is only as cool as the low to mid 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s F when everything else is 80 F, it will draw muskies if they are anywhere near.

MIDSUMMER MUSKIES

“

What used to be a week or two of bloomed out hot water in August has turned into lakes that are often 80 plus degree tubs of goo for 2-3 months at a time. Summers do seem a little warmer than they used to be, but he real culprit is nutrient pollution mostly in the form of phosphorus runoff from farms, yards, and golf courses. Algae thrives due to the increased fertility and lakes turn green early. The murky water absorbs much more of the sun’s energy and warms at an increased rate. The warmer water supports even more algae growth and the problem compounds. The hot water is not capable of containing good amounts of dissolved oxygen, the water stagnates, game fish lie low, and action turns lousy. Even if muskies were biting well, safe effective catch and release becomes tricky at best. “I live west of Minneapolis and all of my local lakes I consider pretty much unfishable for 1-3 months during all but the coolest of summers. I refuse to fish muskies in 78-86 F water, especially when the water is the color and consistency of pea soup. I have literally motored through pockets of algae bloom so thick that they have slowed my boat down. I cannot justify fishing muskies under such conditions because it is neither fun nor ethical.”

Adam M. Glickman

Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Photograph

Photograph by Pat Harrison Fishing-Headquarters | Page 68

MIDSUMMER MUSKIES

Photograph by Adam Glickman Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honest Musky Adam Glickman, 32, has musky fished since 12. Born and raised in Northern WI, but currently residing west of Minneapolis MN, he fishes heavily throughout the musky range and travels the country in search of quality fisheries whenever he can. Adam is a field editor with MUSKIE Magazine, and has put hundreds of muskies in the bottom of the net. Visit Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website dedicated to musky fishing information, education, and multimedia at:

http://www.honestmusky.com

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BIOHACKING Buck Perry’s theories on fish behavior, proven fact by his success through spoonplugging were relegated to an antiquated reliquary of dilapidated knowledge considered outdated by today’s XBOX generation of electronically driven fishermen.

Photograph by Mrlurebox.com

By: Cory Allen

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

ngling as we know it today is probably one of the most complex and utterly incomprehensibly confusing pastimes a human being can choose to undertake. Not only does it encompass a plethora of Fishing-Headquarters.com

different styles, techniques, tactics, and target species, but the arenas upon which we wage our wars encompass literally 70 percent of the planet we share with our quarry. I almost pity the fool that comes into fishing at this point in time, bombarded with the future war that is commercialism and overbearing marketing campaigns can literally be a sensory overload and lead to the neophyte being pulled 7 ways at once, each denomination offering its own promises of splendor and riches. This includes kayak fishing, fly fishing, bass fishing, musky fishing and more. Let’s cut the chatter. Dial out the static. Get down to the nut cutting. Angling: The same general rules apply no matter where you fish, how you fish, or what fish you are pursuing, to quote the late

July / August, 2013

great E.L. Buck Perry, the father of our art, “A fish is a fish is a fish, no matter where it swims.” Buck Perry Was The Man Cryptically poetic in its simplicity, this statement utterly perplexed me in the earlier days of my development as an angler. Coming from a man who targeted largemouth bass more than any other species his entire life and career span, the prospect of seeing this fit into the greater whole of angling made little to no sense to my adolescent brain. Yet I knew there had to be some buried nugget of wisdom, perhaps connected to a greater wealth vein of knowledge, within this single phrase. As I got older, made more mistakes, recognized in fact that they

were mistakes, and adapted as best I could accordingly, slowly I began to realize the utter genius in this; the synchronicity implied within this singular truth. All fish, literally, fresh or salt, predator or prey, not only did, but HAD to abide by the same general rules for their world to exist. I would spend long hours not just fishing, but watching, observing, learning and assimilating what I would see into workable theories. Theories that by my own admittance I have neither the credential nor the right to necessarily share at this point, nevertheless, I feel the one thing that makes them valid enough for me to voice is that they transcend any one angler’s individual experience. But I’ve seen them duplicate themselves time and time again in the greater whole of angling.

of understandings and thus potential results over the life span of an angler’s learning curve. Along with his theory that “a fish is a fish is a fish,” Mr. Perry took that a step further. Now that we’ve established that in essence for the clock work of the aquatic world to remain in synchronization and thus working, it absolutely must abide by the same rules no matter where the water in located, with only subtle differences in species to accommodate each of their roles in the ecosystem. So, the problem therein lies...that we are intruders into this

seems destined to be a perpetual virus, for the fate of good or ill, no matter where we go. In some instances, our intelligence and will lets us enhance the environment around us for the betterment of both our society and the natural order of things. All too often, though, we are either intentionally or inadvertently destructive to the environment and thus ourselves. On this grand a scale, we can see not just how influential we truly are, but also just how much power of manipulation we have in the natural realm whether we like it or not.

Angling Theories Let me take a step back so I make sure we don’t leave anyone in the tour group here. Buck Perry’s theories on fish behavior, proven fact by his success through spoonplugging were relegated to an antiquated reliquary of dilapidated knowledge considered outdated by today’s XBOX generation of electronically driven fishermen. For our technological advances, we’ve all but forgotten that the fundamental elements that govern the quarry we seek to interact with have not essentially changed, aside from the slight adaptations of self preservation. While this often mimics what we would perceive to be “learning” or creative consumption, nothing could be further from the truth. While this seems a bit anal retentive on the semantics, something I’m rather notorious for, this difference in mindset can lead to an entirely different set

Photograph by Mrlurebox.com

mechanic already in motion. In essence, we are the viruses within the programming. Virus in today’s society has a negative connotation, more derived from the computer age than the microbiological definition, but they both have the same general role. A virus is an element outside the normal working parameters of a system that alters it beyond its usual status, be it negative or positive in end. Of all the organisms that exist on this planet, the human alone stands as the singular entity that

In essence, angling is nothing more than a low impact version of us imposing this ability in a means to seek an enriching interaction with a world we really can only perceive through imagination, a world literally through the looking glass. No gravity, an environment that literally combats the presence of light. The world of water truly is a different dimension from our own, which is why knowing the codes for hacking into the system of this Fishing-Headquarters | Page 76

BIOHACKING

Nature is programming. If it weren’t, it wouldn’t still exist. It has a set system it must abide by without insubordination or otherwise it would have ceased to exist a long time ago. There can’t be dissension within the ranks of the natural realm or it would fall apart, much as humanity displays in rare form. I hear so many people say “make the fish eat.” While this seems benign, I’ve thought about this statement a lot. Call me crazy... believe me I get it alot...but I don’t think fish are ever actually “eating” anything. Lock me up, and throw away the key. But think about it. Fish attack and kill other members of their ecosystems for sustenance. But is this a conscious decision? programming is essential no matter what species, what water, or what tactic you choose to employ. The same general rules will allow you to function better as a virus of aquatic interaction. Buck Perry basically outlined it as such: If you control your depth, speed, size, color, and action on and around the features that fish use in their daily and seasonal migrations, no matter what the conditions, you will “catch fish” - i.e. trigger an interaction. I don’t even feel worthy of saying this, but in my own limited interactions I’ve seen many reasons to believe that in that descending order of control importance, that Fishing-Headquarters.com

subordination or otherwise it would have ceased to exist a long time ago. There can’t be dissension within the ranks of the natural realm or it would fall apart, much as humanity displays in rare form. So now that we’ve established there is a set order to the existence of the aquatic world, how do we insert ourselves into this through the controls? And what is the purpose of this anyway? I hear so many people say “make the fish eat.” While this Big MACS and Muskies seems benign, I’ve thought about Let’s think about this. Na- this statement a lot. Call me crazy... ture is programming. If it weren’t, believe me I get it alot...but I don’t it wouldn’t still exist. It has a set think fish are ever actually “eating” system it must abide by without in- anything. Lock me up, and throw action [lateral line stimulus] falls either right behind size, or is a somewhat corollary factor to size. In my opinion color has to take a far last to any other factor, including that of sound and scent, which of course, do play complementary roles at times, but I do not feel it necessarily will dictate complete success or failure with most species, especially freshwater.

July / August, 2013

Photograph by Cory Allen

away the key. But think about it. Fish attack and kill other members of their ecosystems for sustenance. But is this a conscious decision? You show me a picture of a Big Mac, and hell yeah, I’m in the truck headed for the nearest golden arches for that extra 800 calories I don’t need, but ate because I was influence to eat. Have I ever been tricked into eating a plastic hamburger? Millions upon millions of fish per year are triggered by anglers to simulate a response that only exists in nature otherwise. I’m still a young buck but I can’t say that I’ve seen a natural feeding behavior of a musky a handful of times, but seen hundreds upon hundreds of simulated feeding responses triggered

by myself and other anglers. Does this not beg the question, if a fish at any time can be triggered to strike an artificial insemination into their environment, even a “live bait” presentation that never truly accurately mimics the “real thing” because of the prosthetics we must attach to suit our desires of hooking...do they truly ever have a “comprehension” of what is real and what is not? Or are we simply inserting ourselves into an already working system and becoming apart of it through our creativity and will? When you think of angling in this means, even during your times of failure or learning, you’re never a defeated opponent. The fish has never won. He’s not even in the

fight to begin with! He’s simply doing exactly what he would be doing with or without your presence and has absolutely no working comprehension of what you are or your will towards him. He’s just reacting to a different set of stimulus given to him by his environment or your viral influence upon it. From this perspective, it not only opens up your level of creativity as an angler, but also lets you see the correlation between any catch by any angler ever made, intentional or accidental and see that the fish’s role in that interaction was never an accidental. It was programming that got hacked within a singular moFishing-Headquarters | Page 78

BIOHACKING Ken O’Brien and his famous 1988 catch, a 65 lb monster. Disputed, and believed to be the world record by some.

ment where the controls of that angler synchronized with the environment’s dictations upon the animal’s programming at that instant. For instance in 1988, Ken O’Brien caught a 65 lb musky the Moon River, a tributary of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay, on a crawler harness walleye fishing. Apparently the musky missed the memo. How many musky anglers looked at this situation as providence and said “Wow, there must be something in the programming of even a beast such as that that sometimes demands a presentation with those sets of controls to trigger a simulated response.” Not many. Most if not all said it was caught by accident. I’ve said it many times, and Fishing-Headquarters.com

hopefully will get to prove it over the course of my life; I’d sure as hell like to have a 65 lb musky accident. Of course, that’s a big tongue in cheek, and this isn’t relegated to musky fishing. There is no such thing as musky fishing to a musky. As soon as any foreign element enters the aquatic arena, it is on stage at the Russian ballet, and is a part of the dance whether it likes it or not. While mimicry of nature is often an effective means of stimulating interaction, consider this: Not too many crappie are found inside the stomachs of sampled musky, yet I’ve never met a crappie fisherman that doesn’t have the tale of a giant musky grabbing a crappie off the hook. Hell, the first one I ever saw

July / August, 2013

was in such an instance. What’s the deal here? Because of their programming a big predator like a musky is quickly wired to not attack and eat things with dorsal spines. It’s called self preservation. In this instance, it isn’t until something behaving naturally begins to behave unnaturally, injured or hooked, that it stimulates a response to strike from a predator. Even though their natural programming seems to be to avoid such prey items that are difficult to swallow, this can be overridden by as specific set of controls. The observation of this fact opens up key elements into how we can duplicate these lines and hack into the same system. Fishing isn’t a test of wills.

It’s a rubik cube of ever changing sides and colors. The fish is merely a bit player beset by the elements that governs his existence... light, temperature, etc... the fish isn’t our opponent. The programming is our adversary. Tapping into and hacking into the given sequences that our dictating the actions of the ecosystem in any given moment is how we ultimately derive the enjoyment we seek from angling, whether we’ve known it to be that or not. Now that you better understand, don’t ever consider a day on the water without success of defeat at the fish’s hands. The fish was completely unaware of your actions. You may have never even crossed paths as he’s a bit player, a pawn. Just use the information you gained to better hone your skills and tools of interaction below the surface. You’re not an animal, you’re a human being. You’re the virus, and as such, you’re a bio-hacker whether you realize it or not.

Manta Hang 10 - Riverrun Tackle

Photograph by Cory Allen Fishing-Headquarters | Page 80

BIOHACKING

Cory Allen, 27, of Cookeville, Tennessee is the founder and lead guide of Stone’s Throw Adventures. As a member of the Jackson Kayak Fishing Team, Cory’s specialty is muskellunge by both kayak and boat. Allen’s team of guides fish the waters throughout Tennessee and Kentucky, guiding on a year-round basis, and offer their clients a wide variety of boat and wading trips for all species of gamefish.

http://www.stonesthrowadventures.com/

Photograph by Cory Allen Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

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Musky Fl Photographs by Chris Willen Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Stepping Up Your Game

By Chris Willen

ly Fishing Fishing-Headquarters | Page 86

FLY FUNDAMENTALS

By: Chris Willen

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

ly fishing for muskies is a team sport on my rivers here in Northern Wisconsin. On lakes anglers can definitely fish successfully by themselves, but it’s simply not the case on flowing water. The ability to row safely and fish properly is the fly angler’s main priority. Your buddy rowing you down the

river or guide rowing you down the river is fishing just as much as the guy who is casting. Proper speed and boat placement on the river is priority number one. Second step is fishing your zones of the boat properly. Boat control is a major emphasis, and it has to be a well oiled machine. Catching muskies with the fly rod is difficult, but when the fish are ready to play, it’s critical that we as anglers do everything right. The

Taking your musky fly fishing to the next level takes dedication and time on the water. If you are serious about putting fish in the boat consistently you need to be on your A game.

Photograph by Chris Willen Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

same can be said for anglers casting and fishing with conventional tackle, but it’s a different type of hook set and fight to the boatside in the fly realm. The Importance of Boat Control On small to medium sized rivers, your main obstacle is going to be finding a fishing partner to split rowing time with you. Rowing your boat and navigating the course, whether it’s with an aluminum Jon

boat, drift boat, or fiberglass skiff, is best done with oar power. It’s the only way to fly fish at 100% down the river (editor’s note – It can also be done with a bow mount trolling motor for those with sophisticated craft). Slowing down in the good spots, possibly anchoring, and letting the angler fish is obviously important. Your angles must be precise in order for the system to work best. As the one rowing and controlling the boat, you are the one in control and you need to think as if you are fishing and make sure that you not

hitting rocks and the proper distance away from your casting zones. Meanwhile if you are fishing you want to play the angles. Your best bet is to hit your 45 degree angles. The front angle needs to be at front, casting down stream and fishing your fly back to the boat. If you are in the back of the boat you want to be hitting your spot and a 45 degree angle up stream and fishing your fly back towards the boat. It’s really about using the current to help you and adjusting your lines and flies accordingly to the depth.

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FLY FUNDAMENTALS

Photograph by Chris Willen

rod in the sand and drag your fly in along the bottom, which is a killer Buoyant flies and sinking lines technique during the fall to move fish differently than intermediate fish. Other times you’re elevating lines and buoyant flies. Flies that the fly in order to swim retrieve it sink even further will fish differ- beneath the surface. Retrieves need ent scouring to lines as well. Pair- to be constantly adjusted while fly ing your line and fly set up to avoid fishing. getting snagged on the bottom, and putting the fly in the fishes target Hooking Up zones is the primary goal. When the hard work pays off Rod placement on your retrieves will help you achieve your and you get a hookup, its imperatarget. When retrieving the fly you tive to keep the fly rod tip down and can have your rod elevated or sub- strip the line in very hard repeatedly merged below the surface up to a to drive that hook home through few inches from the handle. In some its muscular jaws. Fishing a barbcases in the sandy less snag-filled less fly is beneficial to get the hook areas you can put the tip of the fly all the way to the bend like I menFly Selection

Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

tioned in issue 13. Constant tension is needed to ensure hooks don’t come free. You need to keep the rod down and avoid pulling the musky to the surface. If they begin jumping and rolling you’re in for trouble. Crossing them up is important boat side to keep a good bend and tension of the fish. In other words when the fish is going left, your’re pulling right and vise versa. Most musky battles are won boatside on a short line. Muskies in general have a tendency to swim towards the boat after you hook them therefore keeping up with them and getting that cross-up is what you want to do. It’s a little scary trying to keep up with the speed and power of a muskie but

Buoyant flies and sinking lines fish differently than intermediate lines and buoyant flies. Flies that sink even further will fish different scouring to lines as well. Pairing your line and fly set up to avoid getting snagged on the bottom, and putting the fly in the fishes target zones is the primary goal.

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FLY FUNDAMENTALS when you cross them, the rod flexes all the way, and you feel the full power of the fish, it’s a successful play. Figure Eight Techniques When stripping the fly back all the way to the boat and transitioning into the figure 8, you cannot have any knots in the line or wrapped around the rod. If muskies strike and you have a knot stuck around the guide it could potentially break the rod. So not only you’ve lost that round, but an expensive fishing rod. If a knot does happen, you can turn your rod over so that the knot goes down the blank instead of running down the guides. When playing muskies to boatside, you want to keep your figure 8 moving with big wide turns so the fish can still see and track it. Muskies have a blind spot in front of the tip of their mouth. Try and keep your fly under the boat so that the fish is seeing clearly behind the fly and not staring at the bottom of your boat. That can really help with weary boatside fish. The hookset is tricky and you want to make sure that you don’t just rip with the rod really hard expecting it to hook up. A lot of times when you do that you just pull the right out of their mouth. You want to achieve some sort of cross up and strip set.

spreaders, longnose pliers, hook cutters, and a quality musky sized net (Frabill Power Catch or Conservation Series). Muskies can sometimes get hooked deep with flies. They are a little smaller and more buoyant than a lot of baits and lures. Fishing barbless helps keep from killing deeply hooked fish. If you ever experience difficulties unhooking a fish you’re better off just cutting the hooks with a set of Knipex cutters, avoid the photos, and proceed with the revival and release. When releasing a musky in the river you want to point its head upstream so not to drown the fish. Water running backwards into the fishes gills will not let it breathe properly. Just hold the fish in the current, however long it takes, until it finally swims away. Don’t pull the musky back and forth in the water, as it will swim away when it’s ready - sometimes to the point of giving your face a good soaking. Best of luck musky hunting and taking your fly fishing to the next level in 2013.

Fly Tools and Release Equipment Lastly like in anything in musky fishing you need the proper tools and release gear. This includes Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Photograph by Chris Willen

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FLY FUNDAMENTALS

Photograph by Chris Willen Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

A lifelong, self-proclaimed fishing addict, from northeastern Illinois’ Lake County, Chris Willen has been fishing since he was three years old. Chris has spent the last five years focused primarily on pursuing Muskies. In the relatively short span of a couple seasons with the fly rod, Chris has become a world-class fly angler and he can’t wait to share his knowledge with anyone willing to listen. Chris’ passion for fishing and dream of making fishing a fulltime career drove him to put the lakes of Illinois behind him and head to the big woods of northern Wisconsin to guide anglers to glory. Hundreds of days on the water have honed his skill to a remarkable level for someone so recently converted to the fly game. E-mail or call Chris Willen to reserve your trip in Northern Wisconsin.

Muskyfly87@gmail.com 847-878-4781

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Weeding O SMALLMOUTH BASS

Photograph by Dan Cahill Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Out

Smallmouth bass prefer sand, rocks and wood in conjunction to major depth contour. However, they can also be found using weedlines at certain times of the year. On natural lakes and reservoirs, anglers can expect to find big smallmouths in the underfished habitat of weeds.

By: Andrew Ragas Editor In-Chief

andrew@fishing-headquarters.com

he dog days of summer are a perplexing time for smallmouth bass anglers. Predictably on most days, fish may be located on the same hard bottom deep water habitats they’ve been using all summer long. Even though finding these obvious summer locations can be easy with electronics and mapping systems, catching the fish is another story. Other days they’re nowhere to be found on rocks, or in deep water for the matter, and are eluding the very best anglers. The fish have definitely gone elsewhere. If smallmouths aren’t using rocks, where can they be? On the large natural lakes, flowages, and river systems encompassing weed habitats, it is common for smallmouth bass to dwell amongst the jungle of weeds and their corresponding weedlines. Smallmouths

in weeds happen far more often than anyone thinks. Largemouth bass anglers understand the dynamics of fishing weeds. However, smallmouth anglers in particular aren’t able to realize the connection as easily or efficiently. The natural lakes I frequently fish up north are notoriously difficult for the best anglers come late summer. The majority of these lakes feature a good number of rock and sand shorelines with deeper offshore structures and large expanses of deep open water. In addition, several of them contain schools of pelagic baitfish species which in turn attract smallmouths. In summer, these lakes are difficult to fish because few fish are ever found shallow, most food sources are scattered, and fish tend to roam. Along with these biological factors, fishing these lakes in late summer becomes laughable when faced with high pressure weather conditions and lack of wind. At this point we might as well put the boat away and wait until the first cold snap of autumn, right? Given these circumstances, anglers have no reason to fret or experience continued struggles in locating smallmouth bass. Fishing these types of difficult lakes becomes substantially easier if weedlines are present. I’ve observed that if the Fishing-Headquarters | Page 98

WEEDLINE SMALLMOUTH BASS

The best weedlines for smallmouths will typically offer equal amounts of pockets and openings, a number of inside turns, and scattered clumps that fish may use for cover. Unlike largemouths which bury themselves deep into vegetation, smallmouths will be on the move like a gang of bikers, swimming amongst the openings and scattered clumps to travel and ambush prey. Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Photograph by Andrew Ragas

lake’s largemouth bass use them, that cater best to smallmouth bass smallmouths will too. are cabbage beds (broadleaf), curly leaf pondweed, and sand grass. I’ve Why weeds and which fish encountered smallmouths in other best? types such as bulrush and coontail, but smallmouths associate with There are two main reasons for the aforementioned weed types the smallmouth bass to be in the weeds most often. It’s strange to think that and patrol their weedlines. First, smallmouths dwell in these habitats the oxygen content and sanctuary but it’s only temporary, as long as of weeds will attract crayfish and the forage is present. schools of baitfish including hordes The running length of weedof young of year perch and blue- lines can vary. Some productive gills. This predator-prey relation- stretches I’ve fished measure severship predominantly occurs in lush al feet while others can be a mile or green weeds that are vibrant with more. What ultimately determines life. Because of this factor, weeds its fishability are the three factors of offer smallmouths an easy ambush depth, location, and growth. If the point, and access to food. Second, if weedline features all three, then it’s the weedline is adjacent to deep wa- golden. ter, smallmouths have an easy outlet The best weedlines I’ve fished back to the depths and open water almost always run parallel with they originally traveled from. Deep shoreline, usually a great distance weedlines like this fish the best, and away from it, along the edge of a are convenient feeding and travel- large sandy shoreline flat. These ing stops for hungry packs of small- parallel weedbeds contain both inmouth. ner and outer weedlines, with adIn my opinion, the weed types equate depth being found at both

ends. Usually these weed beds of broadleaf cabbage and curly leaf pondweed are situated between the depths of five to 20 feet, along the primary breakline, with the inner weedline leading to a shallow sand flat, and the deep weedline giving way to sand grass and open water. Depth and location are critical in the productiveness of the weedline. On these deep clear lakes, transparency is at a premium as some weedlines can run to depths of 25 feet. Most, however, average 8 to 15 feet. The best weedlines are those with a deep inside and outside edge. Weedlines like these, which can be fished from both sides and offer boat positioning from shallow and deep, are always must-fish areas. The last point that determines whether or not the weedline is conducive to smallmouth fishing is its consistency and thickness. Most smallmouth weedbeds typically feature an inside edge with a noticeable wall of growth, separating the shallow sand and gravel flat from the

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WEEDLINE SMALLMOUTH BASS

Illustration by RagasMedia.com

The best weedlines Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve fished almost always run parallel with shoreline, usually a great distance away from it, along the edge of a large sandy shoreline flat. These parallel weedbeds contain both inner and outer weedlines, with adequate depth being found at both ends. Usually these weed beds of broadleaf cabbage and curly leaf pondweed are situated between the depths of five to 20 feet, along the primary breakline, with the inner weedline leading to a shallow sand flat, and the deep weedline giving way to sand grass and open water. interior of the bed, and an outside edge of scattered vegetation that eventually progresses to sand grass, a deep drop-off, and open water. The best weedlines for smallmouths will typically offer equal amounts of pockets and openings, a number of inside turns, and scattered clumps that fish may use for cover. Unlike largemouths which bury themselves deep into vegetation, smallmouths will be on the move like a gang of bikers, swimming amongst the Fishing-Headquarters.com

openings and scattered clumps to travel and ambush prey. The majority of the weedlines I fish on some of my largest and deepest smallmouth lakes are avoided by most bass anglers because they are perceived to mainly hold pike and muskies, and few quality bass. They are wrong, as many of these weedlines I regularly fish produce smallmouths up to five pounds each year.

July / August, 2013

Weeding out the Smallmouths There are endless ways to successfully fish a weedline. Given the nature of cruising smallmouth bass, and the need to cover water for active fish, logic says to rip crankbaits, rattlebaits, hollow body swimbaits and jerkbaits through the openings and edges of cabbage. Heck, maybe even a spinnerbait across the top of the bed too. All are viable options, and the likely first choices to try.

However, they are all mistakes to avoid thanks to fishing pressure and the wariness of bass in clear water. I epitomize power fishing, especially with a suspending jerkbait such as the Rapala X-Rap as it catches smallmouth bass almost everywhere. But in order to catch smallmouths from weedlines all the time, you must be versatile enough to finesse. In order to do so, and to be wildly successful at it, the jigworm must be fished. My introduction to jigworms first took place eight years ago as I began exploring the countless number of natural lakes of the Wisconsin northwoods with its bountiful bass populations. Since then, the jigworm has become one of my goto baits for year round smallmouth bass. Now, it’s a practice that outfishes everything else, including other boats.

The majority of the weedlines I fish on some of my largest and deepest smallmouth lakes are avoided by most bass anglers because they are perceived to mainly hold pike and muskies, and few quality bass. They are wrong, as many of these weedlines I regularly fish produce smallmouths up to five pounds each year.

Jigworms. Fishing So Easy. In comparison to power fishing, finessing the weedlines with jigworms elicits more strikes than minnow imitators and other plastics because they enable anglers to precisely fish edges and open pockets, and present a naturally looking presentation to fish. They’re exceptionally effective in clear water, when angling pressure is intense, during high pressure systems and windless days, and when bass aren’t actively feeding. They excel in water temperatures between 66-76 degrees, and are effective until the first cool down in early fall. During the early days of bass fishing, the first jigworms consisted of stand-up jig heads with reaper tails. Over the years, swimming tail worms became the standard. Today, everything from craws, to paddle tail plastics, swimming grubs, and straight sinking worms such as

Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters | Page 102

WEEDLINE SMALLMOUTH BASS

4 inch YUM Dinger or Stankx Bait Company Stix rigged shakey head.

senkos are employed by jig. If it’s plastic and has a tail, there’s a good chance it’s going to be fished with a jig. The best smallmouth worms are small in the 4 to 6 inch range. Color, texture, thickness and action are all equally critical and have to be matched to every situation. When rigged accurately to all the variables involved, a worm is dangerous on smallmouths and most of the time nothing works better. Since the early days of jigworm fishing, spinning tackle has been the gear of choice. As a finesse technique, light line in the 6 to 8 pound range improves the appearance and underwater action of small worms and leads to far greater casting distance when coupled with a long, medium fast action rod. When fishing for smallmouth bass on any lake, I always have at least two or three jigworm rods rigged and ready to cover all scenarios. Jigworms are harder to cast than most ordinary plastics, but medium fast action rods in the 7 to 7 ½ foot lengths are ideal. The perfect reel to handle 6 and 8 pound line is moderate in size, such as the Quantum Energy 20 and 30 models. With jigworms, it is important to spool supple monofilaFishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Photograph by Dan Cahill

ment or copolymer lines to maximize on casting distance, and allow for strength for hook-sets and weed absorption. Such lines to use are Cortland Endurance, P-Line Evolution, and P-Line Fluoroclear. With the light line and fast action rods, lost fish and break-offs are an afterthought. Jigworm Styles When rigged on jigs, action tail worms, ribbon tails, and swimming grubs in the 4 to 6 inch range look like most minnow species smallmouths want to eat. Each of these plastics offers different swimming characteristics and retrieves when fished with specific jig head styles. I fish with four particular styles of jigworms. They are ballhead, weedless, mushroom, and swimming. Ballhead is my favorite and most frequently used as light jigs such as the Owner Ultrahead in 1/16 and 1/8 ounce can be fished with most plastics. For combing through weedlines, the ballhead jig is solid for casting distance, and letting it fall into openings. Ballheads excel in dragging worms along the bottom, and letting them hang and drop slowly. The weedless jig is available in several designs to be fished through vegetation. Owner has a unique design with their Ultrahead Bullet, which is a Texas rigged tapered leadhead featuring a wide gap bend to hold plastics straight and securely. Another similar type is the Charlie Brewer slider head. When swam through weed openings, these jigs provide a horizontal fall and 100% snag resistance. The mushroom jig is the most popular style for jigworm fishing and is a staple for fishing outside weedlines and ripping through stalks of

Owner Twist Lock Shakey Head

Owner Ultrahead

Northland Lip Stick Jig

Owner Bullet Head

Fishing-Headquarters | Page 104

WEEDLINE SMALLMOUTH BASS There are two main reasons for smallmouth bass to be in the weeds and patrol their weedlines. First, the oxygen content and sanctuary of weeds will attract crayfish and schools of baitfish including hordes of young of year perch and bluegills. This predator-prey relationship predominantly occurs in lush green weeds that are vibrant with life. Because of this factor, weeds offer smallmouths an easy ambush point, and access to food. Second, if the weedline is adjacent to deep water, smallmouths have an easy outlet back to the depths and open water they originally traveled from. Deep weedlines like this fish the best, and are convenient feeding and traveling stops for hungry packs of smallmouth.

cabbage and pondweed. Mushroom heads feature a forward line tie that enables them to slide through weed stalks. They are fished best on shortened versions of stickbaits, and swimming grubs that are meant to be fished along bottom. Finally, the last jigworm I frequently fish with is the swimming jig. Like its cousin the darterhead, the swimming jig has become popular in recent years due to its more streamlined swimming capabilities, resistance to vegetation, and abilities to catch suspended bass. Fishing-Headquarters.com

The swimming jig has a triangular shaped head style with a 90 degree eye that extends above the top of the jig. Like the ballhead and mushroom jig, the swimming jig is an open-hook jig that fishes best with sickle tail worms, ribbontail worms, and swimming grubs. Companies such as Matzuo and Northland offer realistic head versions of the swimming jig as they feature detailed color patterns and 3D eyes to resemble preyfish. The typical jigworm presentation on clear smallmouth lakes

July / August, 2013

requires little physical effort and depthfinder skills. However, it does involve a lot of sight fishing in order to observe weedlines and their openings, and to make long accurate casts to the targets. The standard weedline technique is to cast the jig and let it fall on a slack line. Some hits may come immediately on the fall, or as it hops and swims back to you. When smallmouths are relating to the bottom, let the jigworm sit for 5 to 10 second intervals between the retrieve. Most fish will usually end up watching the jigworm from

Photograph by Andrew Ragas

a distance, then approach close, and engulf it. On some days when wind is present, bites may go undetected. Always be prepared to set the hook. At this point of the season, suspending becomes a habit for bass. For fish that are cruising and suspending, and trailing schools of baitfish, swimming a jigworm such as a swimming jig with 4 inch grub is hard to beat. However you rig it, a jigworm fished amongst weedlines is irresistible to smallmouth bass. Despite its simplicities and unchanged qualities, it continues to be popular for finesse fishermen. Most traditional

bass anglers wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dare use spinning gear and light line to extract fish from any vegetation. But besides spooking fish with baitcasters and power lures, what do they know? Hopefully they come to realize that jigworms are an underutilized tactic for the underfished weedline smallmouth bass.

Northland Mimic Minnow Jig

Fishing-Headquarters | Page 106

“When you’re up against fish, fishermen and everything Mother Nature can throw your way, you want every edge you can get. You want the Ultimate hook. You want TroKar.” - Brent Chapman, 2012 Angler of the Year

the world’s first surgically sharpened hook Featuring a wicked point that is so sharp, it penetrates twice as fast as anything else out there. LazerTrokar.com

EAGLE CLAW FISHING TACKLE

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KAYAK ADVA

Photograph by Dan Roloff Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

ANCEMENTS Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14

Kayak fishing began as a Do-It-Yourselferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream. These plastic boats were just toys to paddle around in, but as anglers got a hold of them, they became platforms to mount homemade PVC rod holders, milk-crate tackle storage, and even modified trolling motors. The kayak fishing revolution is inspiring manufacturers to shift their focus from casual paddlers to serious anglers. Now the modern kayak fisherman has a wide variety of boats and specialized gear that rivals the most well rigged tournament boats on the water. Not only is the rigging better than ever, but the new boat designs are safer and more comfortable.

By Rob Wendel Fishing-Headquarters | Page 110

MODERN KAYAK ADVANCEMENTS

Hobie Revolution 11

By: Rob Wendel

Fishing-Headquarters Contributor

omfort is a top priority among top manufacturers. Oversized, fully adjustable seats are now the trend. Hobie Cat is leading the way in kayak innovation with their new Vantage seat that is available on the Pro Angler models. With just a quick turn of the armrests this seat can be adjusted to almost any position imaginable. The combined comfort and stability of the new Fishing-Headquarters.com

small crafts make long days on the To drill or not to drill? Where water an easy feat. Many new boats should the transducer go? Some no longer need stabilizers in order new kayaks are made ready to to stand giving anglers a chance mount fish locators. Ocean Kayak to cast from a high position or just and Hobie use over-size scupper stretch their legs from time to time. holes with mounts for transducers. The Hobie Mirage drive also helps The 2013 Hobie Pro Angler is fitted anglers propel themselves more ef- the Lowrance Ready System. The ficiently and leavers their hands free boat has waterproof cable plugs into fish. Hobie also created the H- stalled throughout the boat so fish Bar to make it even easier for stand- finders can be wired without drilling holes in the hull. They also created ing. Tackle storage is also charac- a great battery holder that prevents teristic in new kayak design. The the battery from sliding around inHobie Pro Angler holds as much side the hull. Kayak angling gear is evolvgear and tackle as many small power boats. For anglers like myself ing just as fast as the boats are. who need to bring the kitchen sink, Companies such as YakAttack and it is the only way to go. Hobie’s YakGear specialize in kayak fishing new Pivoting Tackle Management accessories. Gear tracks are some System is a great way to store tackle of the most interesting accessories in an easy to reach spot. The boat is to emerge. YakAttack’s Gear Trac also capable of carrying eight rods is compatible with adapters from and reels with just the rod holders Scotty Rod Holders and Ram Ball that are built into the hull. mounts so anglers can easily take In the “old” days, mounting accessories on and off as they please or justbymoving things around fish finders raised many questions. Photograph Musky Country Outfittersas the

July / August, 2013

The H-Bar is also a great platform for mounting accessories. Made of clearcoated anodized aluminum and designed with the stand-up angler in mind, the H-Bar helps with standing stability and serves as a convenient grab rail for pulling yourself up from a seated position.

Photograph by Rob Wendel Fishing-Headquarters | Page 112

MODERN KAYAK ADVANCEMENTS

The Hobie Mirage Series Pro Anglers come standard with a built-in transducer mount and pre-installed through-hull cable plugs. (Lowrance transducer not included) fishing may dictate. These tracks are just as strong as the mounting tracks used for salmon trolling so there are no issues with losing gear to big fish. Scotty’s Gear Track Adapters easily slide in and out of a track and will stay securely in place with a simple twist. They mount to a myriad of accessories with rod holders being the most popular. There definitely is a rod holder to suit everyone’s needs. Scotty takes their rod holders seriously. They recently came out with the Rocket Launchers and Orcas. The Rocket Launchers are a classic tube style holder that do a great job of keeping rod handles out of the kayak and out to the side. This reduces clutter in the boat and spreads lines out just a little bit further while trolling. The Orcas locks rods in for security but will quickly release the rod into the anglers hands with a Fishing-Headquarters.com

quick pull. This feature is especially nice for large rod and reels that are often cumbersome and tough to get out of other rod holders. All the rod holders are fully adjustable but for those who need extra precision Scotty Slip Discs and Offset gears allow anglers to fine tune their rod holders to the perfect position. Finding the perfect position applies to more than just rod holders. Boat position is a vital aspect of the sport. Correctly anchoring a kayak requires more that the stereotypical rope and weight. In fact, anchoring a kayak the wrong way can land anglers in dangerous situations. Properly mounted anchor systems keep the anchor on the bow or stern while implemented. There are several options available including the new model specific to kayaks by Anchor Wizard. It’s made of a very durable cast aluminum that is capable of use

July / August, 2013

Photograph by Rob Wendel

in fresh and salt water. One of the Anchor Wizard’s great features is the way it stows away the anchor when not in use. When the anchor is pulled out of the water it slides into a tube so it will not swing and bang into the side of the boat. Many river anglers avoid anchoring due to hazardous objects carried by the current. If a log threatens to capsize the boat, simply turning the Anchor Wizard backwards will completely release the rope from the kayak to avoid flipping over. Anchors are not the only boat control option for kayak anglers. The Park-n-Pole is Yakattack’s answer to the Minn-Kota Talon for shallow fishing situations. This simple yet effective tool works great as a stake out pole and a push pole for sneaking up to the spooky shallow water fish. On a recent trip to Door County the Park-n-Pole proved to

Scotty takes their rod holders seriously. They recently came out with the Rocket Launchers and Orcas. The Rocket Launchers are a classic tube style holder that do a great job of keeping rod handles out of the kayak and out to the side. This reduces clutter in the boat and spreads lines out just a little bit further while trolling.

Photograph by Rob Wendel Fishing-Headquarters | Page 114

MODERN KAYAK ADVANCEMENTS be a very stealthy way to approach clear water small mouth. When combined with an anchor trolley it is a great way to stay in position. Safety is always a concern in a kayak. Many boaters simply are not used to keeping their eye out for kayakers. There are many aids to help kayaks easier to see. Scotty and Yakattack make flag/light poles that really make a difference to boaters. The Visicarbon Pro is extremely convenient, compact, and Photograph by Rob Wendel strong. The pole actually collapses and stows away inside its own flag. The Vantage Seating system provides the comfort needed for long stretches out It is designed to fit Scotty and Ram on the water. mounting systems so there is no excuse not to be safe on the water. Common sense is of course always the best tool a paddler has. All kayakers should assume theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not seen, wear a life jacket and safety gear and be alert at all times. As soaring fuel prices force more anglers to jump on the kayak bandwagon, manufacturers will continue to innovate and advance the sport. Whether you fish small waters or big waters there is a myriad of options Photograph by Rob Wendel that fit the needs of all anglers. A molded-in cavity provides the ability to add a Lowrance fish finder and route wires effortlessly.

Scotty and Yakattack make flag/light poles that really make a difference to boaters. The Visicarbon Pro is extremely convenient, compact, and strong. The pole actually collapses and stows away inside its own flag. Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Companies such as YakAttack and YakGear specialize in kayak fishing accessories. Gear tracks are some of the most interesting accessories to emerge. YakAttackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gear Trac is compatible with adapters from Scotty Rod Holders and Ram Ball mounts so anglers can easily take accessories on and off as they please or just moving things around as the fishing may dictate. These tracks are just as strong as the mounting tracks used for salmon trolling so there are no issues with losing gear to big fish. Scottyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gear Track Adapters easily slide in and out of a track and will stay securely in place with a simple twist. They mount to a myriad of accessories with rod holders being the most popular

Photographs by Rob Wendel Fishing-Headquarters | Page 116

MODERN KAYAK ADVANCEMENTS Rob Wendel is a 3rd generation fisherman, originally from Arlington Heights, IL. Since catching his first salmon from kayak in 2005, Rob has fished almost exclusively from a kayak. He currently promotes the sport through teaching anglers how to fish from kayaks and also a member of the Hobie Kayak Fishing Team. Visit Rob online:

lakemichiganangler.com greatlakeskayakangler.com

Fishing-Headquarters.com

July / August, 2013

Photograph by Rob Wendel Fishing-Headquarters | Page 118

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