Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Fishing-Headquarters Magazine Volume 4. Issue 1 Num. 17
March & April, 2014 Spring Edition
• Tip Up, Big Boy Addiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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.
• Springtime Channel Catfish . . . . . . . . . . . 27 • The Skinny on Prespawn Largemouth . . . . . 39 • Playbook for Wind and Sun Smallmouth . . . 49
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.
• Seeing The Softer Side of Muskies . . . . . . . 67
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.
• Spring Bass and Compact Swimbaits . . . . 87
• No Boat, No Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
• Tackle Technician Spring Reviews . . . . . . . 101
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
It was about time we got a trophy walleye on the cover of FHQ. Pictured on Issue-17 cover is Scott Bleifuss of Verona, WI, with hefty walleye from the Wisconsin River. In this issue, Roy Vivian and Scott collaborate on a piece inspired by the river rats, and those who are boatless. Walleyes from shore abound in most major river systems each spring season and can be caught in number and size. Don’t miss out on the 2014 spring runs!
Fishing-Headquarters Issue-17 I don’t care about all of those songs that start playing on Chicago’s radio stations in early November. No matter what Andy Williams sings, March and April is the most wonderful time of the year. The ice is melting, our waterways are opening. Our team of anglers and writers are planning their annual trips and adventures that will be taking them to various destinations throughout 2014. After reading issue 17, you might be getting ready to do the same. I know I am! Andrew Ragas
Editor In-Chief, Designer, and Owner.
2014 Issue Releases Remaining Schedule
• Issue 18: May 5, 2014 • Issue 19: July 7, 2014 • Issue 20: September 1, 2014 • Issue 21: December 1, 2014
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Introducing a new season of open water fishing, Issue 17 takes readers first to Northern Ontario where the ice fishing season lasts through end of April. The Bassassins share tips and techniques on some hot late ice strategies that are guaranteed to give a good melt. We then head eastward and south to Jim Gronaw where he shares tales of early spring channel catfish gigs, and Cory Allen where year-round muskies are his daily ritual. We then conclude with stories of big spring bass fishing with Josh Peacock and myself tag teaming the smallmouths and largemouths of spring. Finally, walleye pro Roy Vivian tells us if you have no boat, no problem. Big walleyes can be caught by shore fishing our Midwestern river systems by way of the river rat. With great pleasure, I introduce you to issue 17 of Fishing-Headquarters Magazine. I would like to thank our team of writers, friends, contributors and sponsors for allowing us to make this one again possible. Be sure to visit their websites and links where listed, and give them the support they deserve. This industry calls for your support thus allowing us all to succeed. Copyright © 2014 Fishing-Headquarters. All rights reserved. The usage of articles, excerpts, photographs, and any reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited.
I S S U E 17 F E A T U R E D W R I
Cory Allen
Robert Conley & Robert Fuchs
Jim Gronaw
Issue 17 Editorial Staff • Paul Ragas Contributed Photographs • Scott Bleifuss • Matthew Gunkel • Frank Weilnhammer Online Contributors • Joseph Alfe • Brian Pentecost • Tyler Uteg Layout and Design By • Ragas Media Designs Sponsors and Advertising Partners • Bearpaw’s Handpoured Baits • Camp Narrows Lodge • CB’s Hawg Sauce • CAST Crew 312 • Cortland Line Company • Dragin Bait Company • Dynamic Lures • Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle • Freedom Tackle Corporation • Go-Pro Camera • GNUGEN Lures • Lazer Trokar Hooks • Quantum PT Fishing • Ragas Media Designs • Real Deal Tackle • Stankx Bait Company • Wright & McGill
TERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
Josh B. Peacock
Andrew Ragas
Roy Vivian
NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY TOPICS. Stankx Bait Company Releases New Website and NXT LVL Soft Plastics in 2014 In January 2014, our partners at Stankx Bait Company launched its new website. It features an all new powerful shopping cart and online ordering platform which accommodates its ever-growing line of custom soft plastic fishing lures. Additionally, they have also released a new airbrush designed soft plastic called “Next Level”. http://www.stankxbaitco.com
Cortland Line Company Rebrands For The Present and Expands Product Line For Future One of the most storied names in fishing writes a new chapter. Not only did the domestic line manufacturer get a new logo, but a new website is finally on the verge of completion. Not only are new things happening for the present, but the future too. New fly lines, monofilaments, and fluorocarbons are set to hit shelves in 2014. http://www.cortlandline.com
Fishing-Headquarters Inks Partnership with Freedom Lures for 2014 and Beyond
http://www.freedomlures.com
Freedom Tackle Corporation, a leading jig and spinnerbait manufacturer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada has quickly become a multispecies innovator in interchangeable lure rigging since its 2012 inception. Freedom Tackle’s objective is to produce the ultimate line of fishing lures that incorporates fundamental, traditional fishing tactics with state of the art technology. This rigging concept is universal, advanced interchangeable with all hook types, and one that has never before been tested by any other industry brands. Competitively priced and available in United States retail markets (Tackle Warehouse, Big Rock Sports), their jigs will change your fishing game forever.
Fishing-Headquarters Also Partners with Wright & McGill Fishing Tackle For over 88 years, Wright & McGill has been a leader in the sport fishing industry. Today, the W&M brand includes signature series rods, saltwater rods, fly rods, reels, travel bags, tackle management products, fishing tools and performance guide wear, all designed to look better, feel better and perform better than competing brands, at a fraction of the price. http://www.wright-mcgill.com/ Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Smallmouth Bass on the Fly Wisconsin River, Oneida County
SOLUNAR CALENDAR March 2014
April 2014
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. Catfishing Gigs Jim Gronaw recently read a timely piece in the In-Fisherman Magazine that pointed out the feeding activity level of channel catfish at the very first hints of spring. Intrigued, it completely made sense to him and son, Matt. Page 27
Photograph by Jim Gronaw Fishing-Headquarters.com
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LEADING OFF. Smallmouth Bass and Spring Meteorology These last few spring fishing seasons, precise sunlight placements and weather based wind patterns have played major roles in the success of our smallmouth bass fishing trips. According to observation, patterns, and lake selection methodologies, precise wind patterns and specific lake locations that conduct heat are instrumental in scoring early season smallmouth success. Page 59
Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Photograph by Andrew Ragas
By Robert Conley and Robert Fuchs
BIG BOY ADDICTION
Flaaaaag!!! This has got to be the most anticipated cry on the ice. There is no sweeter sight than a bright orange flag pointing up towards the skies. With winter coming to an end, it’s time for us to put some pressure on our favorite species, big old northern’s. Esox Lucius will begin to pre-spawn and they are desperate for some much needed extra calories. The weapons of choice when targeting these beasts are clearly a dead stinky bait and a tip up. It is simply the easiest way to present a succulent meal that no predator could ever resist. Tip ups are not just a filler for the second line slot. For us they are the big guns, the ace up the sleeve, and we would never venture without them. Perhaps it’s the low tech, the no hustle approach to this simple method that is so appealing or maybe just its endless track record to produce big trophy pike. Welcome to the Tip Up Guide - Big Boy Addiction.
T
he market is flooded with tip ups and everyone has his own personal preferences, essentially any type will do. Brand or build doesn’t really matter as they all accomplishing the exact same thing. The goal is to have the bait suspended off bottom, preferably a foot or two. The flag is triggered once line gets peeled off the spool, indicating a bite. It is as simple as that. A few ground rules however
By: The Bassasins Fishing-Headquarters Contributors
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shall be established. First and foremost, the line. Standard tip up braid in the 30 lb ranger will work just fine. It’s thicker than regular braid and gives you a good grip when push comes to shove. Don’t be discouraged by the large diameter as pike are not too shy at all. If however clear water or a lot of fishing pressure is present, you can switch to a regular 30 lb instead. This should fill about 90% of the spool and is your main line. Let’s talk about the business end. A good old swivel connects the
braid to a mono leader which should be around 25 -30 lb test and about 3 to 5 feet in lengths. When we fish super shallow, let’s say crawlspaces with less than 3 feet of water, the leader is quite a bit shorter because you don’t want the swivel getting snagged on the spool guide. This could potentially block the line and will result in a lost fish or broken equipment. A second swivel is tied on and a small split shot can be placed above if you are fishing in deeper waters or if a current is present. Next the star of the whole rig, the quick strike. We can’t stress the importance of this presentation. We catch and release therefore the fishes well being and health means everything to us. The quick strike usually launches itself right in front of the jar and makes for a fast removal and quicker release. In frigid temperatures, sensitive fins and eyes can freeze over within seconds, the less time spend out of water the greater the chances are for a second rendezvous another time. Quick strikes also allow the bait to sit perfectly horizontal which makes for a more natural presentation. The Bait We prefer large dead bait and when we say large we mean it. The weapon of choice for us is frankly quite brilliant. It’s effective and affordable, easy to get a hold of, and easy to store in your freezer for the entire season; Xxl frozen sardines, herrings and mackerels. Any Asian food store generally sells a dozen for 3 or 4 dollars. Wal Mart has them too and any local fishmonger will be happy to hand you a bunch for next to nothing. Out of experience, the smellier they are the better they work. We like
Photographs by The Bassassins Fishing Headquarters | Page 16
BIG BOY ADDICTION
Photographs by The Bassassins
to take ours out of the freezer a few days before the trip. Let them thaw and get nice and stinky. The natural oils will leave a wicked scent trail that will make your wives angry but draws fish in from a mile away. Locations Now we got the bare bones covered, lets find a suitable location to deploy this mean machine. Just because it’s winter, it doesn’t mean the fish will completely 180* change their behavior. Feeding patterns will carry over throughout the year. With this said use your own knowledge to your advantage and target them toothy critters in the same spots as you would in spring and summer. Shallow bays, the edgFishing-Headquarters.com
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es of weed beds, flats with access to drop-offs, and the mouths and inlets of feeder creeks, Pike like to cruise along points and structure, ready to ambush any prey. Once the perfect location is chosen we like to drill and prepare every hole at once, settling on a few promising spots and committing to them. Make all the noise now and give them some time to settle while you set up camp for the day. On super cold days it pays off to carve a good sized trench and punch a hole at one end so it fills up with water. These are used as makeshift livewells to keep our trophies safe and sound while we handle them. How to: For an optimum presentation the rule of thumb is to be 1 or 2 feet off bottom. If there are a lot of weeds make sure to be at least a foot above those too. Most predators look up and a suspended bait will be easier for a fish to identify and attack. Knowing how deep you are is crucial. We use our flashers to find the optimum spot and depth. There is nothing worse than lowering your bait into mud and weeds only to pull it up later in the day covered in green like a Christmas tree; fancy but useless. Once the desired depth is found we like to mark the line with a colored sharpie or such, this will make resetting the trap a breeze later on. After every fight the line should be spooled back in a neatly fashion as messy loops could potentially block the line at some point and will result in tragedy. Baiting the rig is easy. Attach the last treble to the base of the tail and the second treble in to the back, slightly closer to the head to balance the bait properly. Using one point only and just tucking it under
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BIG BOY ADDICTION the skin will make the bait come off easily during the fight and sets the stage for a clean hook removal. Now gently lower it down the hole towards the bottom. Once it’s at the desired depth, set the trigger. Attaching a bell to the flag will ensure you never miss a bite and being able to observe your traps from the get go is a crucial factor to success. The waiting game begins and in the mean time we will always be actively fishing the area for perch, crappie, walleye or lake trout. Keeping schools of panfish busy nearby is not just fun but often attracts larger predators also. It’s a good idea to frequently slush the trap holes to prevent them from freezing over. There is nothing worse than a trophy pike spooling off line and your tip up is frozen solid to the hole. All over sudden, there it is: Ding-ding and a flag is up!
Excitement levels are high but it is important to not just storm over and start yanking the line. Stay cool, calm, and collected. Grab your pliers, camera and quietly walk over. Even though the flag is triggered, it doesn’t mean we got a pot of gold quite yet. Loud stomping could spook the perp. and he might drop the loot and take off, leaving both parties empty-handed. A pike generally T-bones the bait and retreats to a better spot where he can turn it around and starts swallowing. A little patience will increase the odds of a secure hook set. When the fish takes off again, the little pin on top of the spool starts to turn again. If it doesn’t it means either one of two things: There is no fish or most likely the pike has stopped to get a better hold of its prey. This can be nerve wracking
but one must wait till the pin goes again. If you set the hook right now, chances are you will rip it right out of its toothy embrace. Alright, if everything goes according to plan we have some action and line is peeling, lift the tip up out, place it away from the hole while grabbing the line with your other hand. A sharp jerk will set the hook just right. Fighting a big northern on a hand-line in shallow water is tremendous fun but must be executed with some caution. Oftentimes the pike will just come alongside and all you feel is its weight, but be prepared for its explosive long runs. When he takes off, let him go. Your hands are the drag. Adjusting the pressure on the line with your fingers should ensure that there is always just enough contact to the fish and never any slack. Laying the gained line on the
Photographs by The Bassassins Fishing-Headquarters.com
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ice should be done with care to prevent messy knots. The last challenge is to guide the head through the hole but I find hand-lining gives you great control over this issue. Care should be exercised that no hooks get stuck on the edges. And that’s it. Pliers and the livewell should make unhooking process a breeze; a quick picture and it’s time for the release. Bait and set the trap again. Wait, fight, release, repeat. Whoever is lucky enough to be able to enjoy safe ice this time of the year is in for a real treat. Late season ice can bring some of the best fishing opportunities of the year. Mild temperatures make the experience a lot more fun and the big guys are out on the hunt, hungry and feisty. So next time, tip up the scale for the big boys. Tight lines. Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Photographs by The Bassassins
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BIG BOY ADDICTION
Photograph by The Bassassins Fishing-Headquarters.com
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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 fish 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.
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G I G E H Springtime T Channe mer
ilnham ank We r F y b h
rap
Photog
Photograph by Jim Gronaw Fishing-Headquarters.com
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By Jim Gronaw
Gel Cats Fishing-Headquarters | Page 28
SPRINGTIME CHANNEL CATS Photographs by Jim Gronaw
F
By: Jim Gronaw
Fishing-Headquarters Contributor Fishing-Headquarters.com
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or some reason, we just can’t seem to get a string of nice, warm days around here. Of course, this time last year, in the Mid Atlantic, we were enjoying record high temperatures for March and coming off one of the warmest winters since 1932. Not this year…we are well below seasonal norms, despite a few 50-degree days here and there. So…what’s a fish-starved armchair angler to do? The shad aren’t running yet and only crazy people fish for trout and yellow perch in the cold. How about this…channel catfish…while the water temps are still in the low forties? You betcha’!
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I recently read a timely piece in the In Fisherman that pointed out the feeding activity level of channel catfish at the very first hints of spring. In Mid West or northern climes, this would be referred to as ‘ice out’ catfishing. But here in the Mason Dixon area, we’ll refer to it as ‘early spring, cold water cattin’. Waters temperatures are still struggling to reach the mid forties in the region and with predicted highs to be well below normal, expect those magical 50-degree marks to be late this year. But as for the cats, they often take advantage of winterkill shad die-offs or warmer influx of any rain events that could elevate the water just a tad warmer. In some reservoirs of the country, the easiest and best catfishing is immediately after the ice comes off, and in relatively shallow water where the shad have been blown or washed into shoals and backwaters where they are easy pickins for the hungry cats. Made sense. So, my son Matt and I recently hooked up with a local pond owner who actually wanted to have some of the big whiskerfish removed from their pond to help get the struggling bass population back on track. Seems the big catties have been foraging on just about all the largemouths once they hit the 6-inch size. We collected our gear and spent an easy day when the weather finally got almost to 60. We rigged up with a variety of baits to include cut fish, shrimp and chicken livers and put a nice spread of baits out on one half of the pond. If bait is tough to get in the cold, try any oily fish such as mackerel or imitation crab meat from the local food store. We were using 10 and 14 pound monofilament on medium heavy spinning gear with baitrunner reels that would allow us to let
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SPRINGTIME CHANNEL CATS
the fish take off with the ‘running’ drag, then the ‘fighting’ drag kicked in when engaged with the real handle and the hookset. We used 2/0 Octopus-style hooks snelled to 15pound test Trilene Big Game and a ½ ounce slip-sinker completed the package. The tactic is simple…chuck out a bait, set the bait runner and wait them out. With the classic European bite alarms we would place the line in the groove and wait for a run, and wait…and wait…then, a screech from on of the alarms, Then it stopped, then shot off again for a few feet. Spring catties coming out of hibernation can be lethargic on the take. Finally, a fish moved off, and I set the hook to a satisfying weight. After a spirited, if not slugFishing-Headquarters.com
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gish fight, I banked my first cattie of the year…a fine 7 ½ pounder. That one quickly made the stringer for fish cakes.
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Action wasn’t fast, but that can be the gig for cold-water cats. About 45 minutes after that first fish, Matt had a pretty solid run on cut bait and
Photographs by Jim Gronaw
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SPRINGTIME CHANNEL CATS
Photographs by Jim Gronaw Fishing-Headquarters.com
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put the stick to a hard-fighting, and obviously bigger, catfish. Patiently playing the fish to the bank, he put the grip on and impressive cattie…a fish that would prove to be his new ‘personal best’ for the species. That one, too, was headed for the ‘deep grease’ release! At just over 30 inches, it was a great way to start the new year fishing! Although local ponds and small reservoirs are great starting points for jump-the-gun catfishing, don’t overlook smaller municipal and park lakes that have received a channel catfish stocking and then were forgotten about. Larger, manmade impoundments can cough up some beefy fish as well. In my Mid Atlantic region, two Quaker State lakes, Pinchot and Marburg, both in York County, have almost untapped populations of big cats finning in their waters. Additionally, Both of these lakes have the abundant shad population that can draw them shallow this time of year. Throw in the fact that fish in excess of 20-pounds have been taken in recent years and you have a legitimate shot at a trophy channel catfish, with bank fishing in March and April being prime times. We would have but one other run that evening last week when the sun came out and gave us a chance to cash in on the catties. That fish ran Matt into some sort of structure and got off. But as the next few weeks warmed up and the fish became active, we found another small, underthe-radar public lake that would provide action on numerous 24 to 30 inch channel cats. Big fish fun and early in the season…I like that! Springtime cats… I think I’m going back. Fishing-Headquarters | Page 34
SPRINGTIME CHANNEL CATS Although local ponds and small reservoirs are great starting points for jump-the-gun catfishing, don’t overlook smaller municipal and park lakes that have received a channel catfish stocking and then were forgotten about. Larger, man-made impoundments can cough up some beefy fish as well. In my Mid Atlantic region, two Quaker State lakes, Pinchot and Marburg, both in York County, have almost untapped populations of big cats finning in their waters. Throw in the fact that fish in excess of 20-pounds have been taken in recent years and you have a legitimate shot at a trophy channel catfish, with bank fishing in March and April being prime times.
Jim Gronaw, 61, is from Westminster, MD, and has been published over 600 times at the local, regional and national level – First published at the age of 17 in Fishing World. Licensed freshwater fishing guide for Maryland – Maker of RiverCritter Hair Jigs, featured several times in the In-Fisherman. You can read more of Jim’s work at BigBluegill.com, and throughout the Fishing-Headquarters website.
Photographs by Jim Gronaw Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Photograph by The Bassassins
THE SKI
Photograph by Josh B. Peacock Fishing-Headquarters.com
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INNY On Prespawn Largemouth Bass You’re headed into the jungle and after Gorillas, best to come prepared.
By Josh B. Peacock
By: Josh B. Peacock
Fishing-Headquarters Contributor
Rising water means more available cover. As a diehard largemouth angler I often affectionately refer to this gnarly environment as the “junk, jungle, or even Amazon!”. During the spring, largemouth bass will filter into these areas in order to take advantage of the warmer water and increase in baitfish activity. Fishing-Headquarters | Page 40
PRESPAWN LARGEMOUTHS
Photographs by Josh B. Peacock Fishing-Headquarters.com
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O
ftentimes the main lake may only be in the low to mid 40’s °F, and yet the backs of bays, and inflowing creeks, can be in the mid to upper 50’s °F. A 10° F difference in water temperature for a bass is like Northwestern Ontario vs. Southern Florida in March to us Canadians. Largemouth will be shallow early, and oftentimes earlier than you think. If you’re a smallmouth fisherman, chances are you will be dragging a minnow bait in 18-25 feet of water in early spring. Myself, I will be in 6 feet or less. Those inflowing creeks and shallow dark bottomed bays on the north shore are the absolute first places you will find warm water. Look for any baitfish activity, and the best available cover. The remnants of last year’s pencil weeds (hardstem bulrush), winter weath-
ered cattails, floating bogs, and other emergent aquatic vegetation will be your best options. On to tackling these prespawn northern strains! In the immediate first weeks after ice out, the feeding windows of largemouth can be small as they shake off their winter rust. Those first few warm, calm spring days can lead to their first active foray into the shallows. A slow falling vertical presentation is usually key when the water is in the 4852 F range.
Shallow Jungle Combat The best option to fit this niche is my personal favourite the flippin’ jig! A ½ oz Venom Lures True Image Vertical Jig is a good start. If the fish get ultra shallow, (and they will, 2 ft or less), I’ll switch up to a lighter 3/8 oz version. It’s hard to beat black and blue or a green pumpkin/brown type of colour. You want your trailer to have minimal action at this time of year, stick to chunks and beaver style baits like
Venom Lures True Image Vertical Jig
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PRESPAWN LARGEMOUTHS the Venom Lures Sweet Dream or Strike King Denny Brauer 3x Chunk. Once the water gets into the mid 50’s and up I’ll switch over to a Venom Dream Craw, these baits are extremely soft, garlic and salt infused, and the claws kick like a 2 year old getting yanked out of the play zone by his mother! Venom Lures Sweet Dreams Another great alternative vertical presentation option is a Texas rigged soft plastic creature bait or craw. My favourite is the Venom Better Beaver paired with a 4/0 Lazer Trokar TK130 Flippin’ hook and a ¼ oz tungsten bullet weight, pegged with an Eagle Claw bobber Venom Lures Dream Craw stop. These two techniques require at least 30 # Vicious Fishing Braided line and are not for the faint of heart. Don’t be shy on the hook set. Make sure you cross their eyes! On tough cold front or off-bite days the streamlined profile of a Texas rig can oftentimes garner more bites than the bulk of a flippin’ jig. Trust me; I’ve learned that the hard way. Pitch your jig or Texas rig right tight to the cover, and make sure your en- Strike King Denny Brauer 3X Chunk try is as silent as possible. Since you’re pitching into just inches of water, technique can be critical, and quite possibly the difference between having a highlight reel day Eagle Claw TroKar TK130 Flipping Hook worthy of any WFN time slot or a day you can’t soon wait to forget. Make sure your safety is off, and you have a hair trigger ready to set the hook at a moments notice. Oftentimes a slight jump in your line may be the only inkling of a bite. The Grass Armory My setups for these tactics inFishing-Headquarters.com
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Photograph by Josh B. Peacock
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PRESPAWN LARGEMOUTHS
Josh Peacock, 29, has a diverse background in everything fishing. He cut his teeth at just 16 years old as a fishing guide on Lake of the Woods. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries Management from Lake Superior State University. His current ‘9 to 5 job’ is a Fisheries Biologist. And if that wasn’t enough, all of his vacation days are dedicated to, and coincide with bass tournaments. Boasting a list of top 10 tournament finishes in prominent Canadian Bass Tournaments; Josh is always a threat, and downright scary when the ‘long rod’, and flippin’ & pitchin’ bite comes into play. In 2014 he is fishing the FLW circuit as co-angler. Photographs by Josh B. Peacock Fishing-Headquarters.com Fishing-Headquarters.com
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March September / April, / October 2014 / November, 2013
clude: a St.Croix Legend Tournament Flippin’ Rod (TBC711HF) for the jig, and a St.Croix Legend Tournament Pitchin’ Rod (TBC76MHF) for the Texas rig. I prefer a longer rod when fishing the jig. I want the added length, control, and hook setting power of the longer rod to help drive home my jig hook past the barrier of that heavy weed guard, and I believe that the extra length in the rod allows me to feather that heavier jig upon initial entry into the water. If you’re in search of new areas or expanding on your pattern throughout a given lake, your best bet is to go horizontal and cover water. My two favourite search tactics for early season largemouth are the swimbait and hollow-bodied frog. When largemouth are active and capitalizing on the spring baitfish runs in attempts to fatten up for the spawn; a swimbait can be downright lethal. I prefer the Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper or the Strike King Shadalicious swimbait rigged on a 5/0 Lazer Trokar TK170
(weighted) or TK140 (unweighted) swimbait hook. A slow, simple, and steady retrieve covering skinny water and heavy cover is best left for braided line. You’re headed into the jungle and you’re after gorillas, I prefer Vicious Fishing 65# braided line. A frog may seem like an unconventional early season application but I’ve actually destroyed heavy limits of largemouth in inches of water as early as late April! The key to early season surface success is baitfish activity. If you see baitfish flitting around the surface and fish busting shiners, you’ve got the green light! This technique can be frustrating as oftentimes northern pike are the likely culprits of this type of early season activity but every once and a while it can be pure largemouth magic. I’m talking topwater destruction, cannonball dropping, toilet bowl flushing, Kermit the frog chaos! My setups for these tactics include: a St.Croix Legend Tournament Frog Rod (TBC74HF)
for frogging, and a St.Croix Legend Tournament Swimbait Rod (TBC710HF) for skinny dippin’. St.Croix recently revamped their frogging rod blank by adding an extra 4 inches in length. The added power and casting distance is noticeable when winching big bass out of Amazon-like conditions. So the next time you’re out for one of your first early season spring bass trips, take a look at the calendar, drive some back bays and creek mouths, look for baitfish activity, and check the water temperature. If you observe some of these key ingredients, you might just want to pack a flippin’ jig, Texas rigged creature bait, swimbait, frog, and or a machete.
Photograph by David Graham
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EAGLE CLAW FISHING TACKLE
Denver, co
By Andrew Ragas
Photograph by Jacob Saylor Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Precise wind patterns and specific lake locations that conduct heat are instrumental in scoring early season smallmouth success.
Smallmouths And Spring Meteorology
SPRING SMALLMOUTHS
Photograph by Andrew Ragas
door sports, including fishing. For smallmouth bass anglers in particular, a wind capable of warming water temperatures plays a significant role in determining early spring fish locations and feeding habits. A beneficial wind and its corresponding warming water temperatures drive feeding patterns in early spring and wake smallmouths up from their dormant winter state. Anglers who By: Andrew Ragas fail to understand wind patterns, and Editor In-Chief andrew@fishing-headquarters.com lack a sense of spring smallmouth lake locations, learn to embrace the skunk. Meanwhile those who follow the wind and have learned to use it to their advantage will experience he wind plays a role in the hot early season bite. determining the outcome of all outIn early season, usually as ear-
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ly as mid-May, once water temperatures crest above 48-49 degrees, my best and most productive smallmouth bites of the year take place on big water. On my inland lakes of Wisconsin, these waters range in size between 1,000 and 5,000 acres and possess a border-line cold water fishery that is home to pelagic ciscoes and few trout. Most bass anglers make errors, believing these waters take forever to warm, thus entirely avoiding them until bass are in the shallows and ready to spawn. Don’t believe what those guys (namely guides) tell you. I’ve learned that avoiding these large waterbodies is a costly error to make. You will miss out on a short window of opportu-
nity for better-than-average smallmouth fishing as more smallmouths in shallow water at this time of year are trophies at this point than at any other time of the year. When smallmouths leave their wintering holes and begin staging for the spawn, it’s best to be at the edges of rocky shoals and spawning flats waiting for them to arrive. When and where they will show up in the most heavily concentrated wolf packs is determined by wind and the warm undercurrents it creates, and the angle and placement of the sunlight above.
The Spring Smallmouth Movement In natural lakes, smallmouths winter in moderately deep basins, along the base of main lake points, rock humps and ledges, or out in deep flats that vary between 20 to 50 feet (all depending upon the lake). It’s noted how ritualistic smallmouth bass are, thus they will often return to the same spawning sites and feeding flats year after year. Because of these characteristics, a sense of location and understanding of the lake’s topography is critical.
When smallmouths rise up from their wintering holes is determined by water temperature, which is heavily influenced by sunlight and wind direction. It’s like clockwork, basically. When the water temperature hits a certain number, fish will rise from these habitats, and follow a trail of underwater structure to the shallows they will be using for feeding and spawning. Many of my favorite and most productive smallmouth lakes contain multiple staging areas, sometimes dozens, where fish show up early in spring. Most successful an-
Photograph by Jacob Saylor Fishing Headquarters | Page 52
SPRING SMALLMOUTHS
In spring, all fishing locations should be based upon sunlight penetration, wind direction, and ideal water temperatures. Assuming there is a south wind, and fish are near their ideal spring spawning habitats, this map displays the common situation. Not every lake is the same, but on most lakes I fish, smallmouths spawn on northern sun exposed regions. glers know the spots that will turn on first will be those that warm the fastest. The areas that warm quickest are determined by underwater structure and the lake’s geography. Typically, shallow bays with exposure to the southern skies will warm the fastest unless a north wind is blowing all of that warm water back out towards the open basins of the lake. On my waters, wind direction usually determines where the hot bites will take place. The success of the wind pattern depends on several factors which includes air temperature, sunlight penetration, wind speed, rainfall, and under-currents Fishing-Headquarters.com
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day fishing on a thousand-plus acre lake that has historically fished well for me in early season and produces numbers of 3 to 4 pounders. With the ice melt a week earlier, we didn’t know how it would fare. Throughout the day’s first half, it uncharacteristically didn’t fish well. From 7 am, when we launched the boat, through 12 noon, water temperatures barely crested 47 degrees and we did not catch a single fish other than a few accidental walleyes that were still in Wind Strategies midst of spawning. By then, we had already done a tour of the lake and In May of 2013, within a week had no idea what was going on. Poor Jake was losing his pafollowing a late ice out, my partner Jacob Saylor and I spent an entire tience while I kept calm and was the beneath the water’s surface. Big water that takes forever to warm in spring is intimidating for the simple reason that much of the surface acreage of the lake is deep and still cold. It’s possible to make predictions about how good or bad a spot on a specific lake might produce without having to travel there. However, one will never know without launching the boat and burning gas to get there.
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confident boat presence we needed. I knew it would be an abnormally slow outing until the sunlight finally worked its spring magic, and wind speed and direction had enough positive effect on surface temperatures. I gave him the option we could leave the lake and miss out on the potential hot afternoon bite. But by doing so we would have to go through the process of re-patterning a new lake that likewise hadn’t warmed yet or peaked during the day. He took my suggestion that we erase the memory of the miserable morning, and that we remain on the lake because I observed the weather influencing the lake in a positive way and the temperature gauge of my Lowrance Elite 7HDI climbing. The day was quickly warming. A westerly 5-10 mph wind had shifted to a very warm wind of similar speed from the south. Additionally, air temperatures ballooned from a cold 50 degrees to a humid 70 degrees. The power of sunlight was finally burning off the cloud cover and penetrating through the water. Slowly but surely, water temperatures were finally on the climb and peaked during the afternoon at 50 degrees. With winds blowing from the south, and a large shallow rocky and sand spawning flat located up in the lake’s far northern end that we had already fished unsuccessfully earlier in the morning, we raced back over there again for a re-do. Like clockwork, the smallmouths moved in from the nearby deep water and responded to our Rapala X-Raps. Likewise, we patterned other similar areas of the lake with equal success. The south wind and its accompanying warm front was the required catalyst for our 40 fish afternoon and the feeding frenzies we experienced. By fishing big water like this,
Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing Headquarters | Page 54
SPRING SMALLMOUTHS I learned some important lessons. Never create a complex game plan the night before or morning of. The best plan is to wait until launching the boat, and allowing the weather and its wind patterns to dictate technique, and the locations you will fish. Wind Influence and Locations An early spring wind fishes best when the sun is shining. When wind is blowing inward and sunlight is present, the water will warm along shorelines and in shallow bays adjacent to deep water. By keeping track of wind history and its effect on specific spots, it’s possible to predict the locations of the lake where water will be warming. Wind creates currents. For instance, if the wind has been blowing from the west for 24 hours or more, there is a possibility that the rocky shoals and spawning flats facing west will most likely be the warmest and have the most active fish. Likewise, if wind is from the east or another direction, the opposite will be true assuming the weather and water temperatures remain on the warming trend. Wind affects how much sunlight penetration the lake receives. Any warm wind is excellent, but the best is one that allows the sun to work its magic too. When sunlight hits specific pieces of structure and reflects off certain bottom types, the surrounding area will bake and warm rapidly. I generally reference these areas as “microwaves”. Every lake I fish for smallmouths is full of these unique spots and they are nothing more than natural heat Fishing-Headquarters.com
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^ Above: Jacob Saylor with one of many smallmouth bass we caught within the short afternoon feeding window. Allow weather to dictate and influence your techniques and lake locations. Stay patient, and you will score early spring smallmouth bass like this northcountry four pounder. > At Right: Jerkbaits are spring smallmouth’s most formidable foe. The south wind and its accompanying warm front was the required catalyst for our 40 fish afternoon and the feeding frenzies we experienced on this memorable day. conductors that can only be found on your own. Good heat conductors to key in on throughout early spring are shallow sandy spawning bays (north and east shorelines best), sand flats, rocky shoals, boulders, downed wood, and windblown shorelines that are exposed to sunlight. Many smallmouth fishermen whom I get to converse with make the mistake of believing that mud bottomed bays are ideal too. For early season smallmouths they are a non-factor as they do not conduct any heat whatsoever.
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Photographs by Andrew Ragas Fishing Headquarters | Page 56
SPRING SMALLMOUTHS Wind affects how much sunlight penetration the lake receives. Any warm wind is excellent, but the best is one that allows the sun to work its magic too. When sunlight hits specific pieces of structure and reflects off certain bottom types, the surrounding area will bake and warm rapidly. Good heat conductors to key in on throughout early spring are shallow sandy spawning bays (north and east shorelines best), sand flats, rocky shoals, boulders, downed wood, and windblown shorelines that are exposed to sunlight.
Photographs by Andrew Ragas
Plans and Presentations On my big lakes each spring, both baitfish and smallmouths are looking for the warmest water they can find. In water temperatures between 40 and 57 degrees, smallmouth bass movements are nothing more than foraging movements that are associated closely to nearby spawning areas. In early spring, the best feeding window peaks at 50 to 56 degrees. On these big waters, it becomes crucial to gather as many key spots all over the lake and to plot out a milk run of spots that can be reached and revisited repeatedly throughout the day. Once on the spot, follow your electronics and gauges closely. If the water is warming, stick around and camp on the spot for as long as necessary, especially if the spot produces annually. If water remains Fishing-Headquarters.com
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cool, move onward to the next spot. Following the warm winds of spring is a strategy that will direct you towards windward shores with more waves. Just about everywhere I fish in spring, smallmouths will often take a suspending jerkbait. It works great in wind. Suspending jerkbaits catch early spring smallmouths better than most other baits I throw. Part of it is through technique while most of it is due to their capability to freeze in space and hover in the faces of fish. Since jerkbaits seem to outfish other artificial minnowbaits by a wide margin in spring, I can only speculate that suspense and rattles are at the forefront of its success. My favorite jerkbait and smallmouth lure of all time is the Rapala X-Rap in sizes 08 and 10. I’ve written extensively about them but never in an early spring themed article. They work in most situations, allow for long casts and maximum
Rapala X-Rap 08
Matzuo Phantom Minnow
Strike King KVD Jerkbait Fishing Headquarters | Page 58
SPRING SMALLMOUTHS water coverage, trigger active and inactive fish, and suspend the best of any bait in its class. Smallmouths respond to the pause about 99% of the time. They suspend perfectly, and work best when worked progressively faster as the water warms and when retrieve is catered to the activity level and feeding moods of fish. Color choice is purely optional as I’ve caught smallmouth on almost every color in its lineup. But if I were to select, my best producers are hot head (yellow and orange), moss chartreuse shad, albino shiner, purple gold, and rusty crawdad. Other jerkbaits are similarly productive in cold water, and tend to become increasingly effective when a specialized presentation is required. One particular jerkbait I introduced to my lineup in 2013 is the 4 inch Matzuo Phantom Minnow. This 3/8 oz jerkbait with oversize internal rattle system is meant for substantially slower fishing. It fares better than the X-Rap when faced with coldfronts and cooling trends, inactive fish, and larger concentrations of staging fish when they are really stacked and covering water isn’t required. A great number of jerkbaits are available on the market today through the super retailers. There are several other brands that I can mention but don’t have the space. It pays to experiment, because as you become proficient with this wickedly successful style of early spring smallmouth fishing, you will come to learn that each specific jerkbait in the box will serves a specific function. Along with specialized lures, Fishing-Headquarters.com
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An early spring wind fishes best when the sun is shining. When wind is blowing inward and sunlight is present, the water will warm along shorelines and in shallow bays adjacent to deep water. By keeping track of wind history and its effect on specific spots, it’s possible to predict the locations of the lake where water will be warming.
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Photographs by Andrew Ragas
rods and reels for jerkbait fishing are also becoming more specialized for these techniques also. For this type of fishing, I strongly recommend a spinning rod and reel over a baitcasting set-up. A 7 to 7 ½ foot medium heavy fast action spinning rod (Quantum Tour Edition or Superlite) with a large capacity reel (Quantum Catalyst size 30) spooled with 8 or 10 pound copolymer line (Cortland Camouflage & Endurance) allows for exceptional casting distances, faster retrieves and reactionary time, and generates more power and greater jerkbait action which all baitcasters fail to produce. Line is also important. Some folks will use braided superlines with
fluorocarbon leader material but I strongly don’t recommend it. The name of this game is suspending the bait and keeping it within 5 feet below the surface at all times. Braided lines float and fluorocarbon leaders sink, offering zero line control. They also don’t offer any stretch which is needed for really good hook sets. I’ve seen anglers lose more fish and miss many more opportunities fishing this way than they would with copolymer lines. Since early spring presentations such as jerkbait fishing must be slow, subtle, and controlled, use the wind to your advantage when casting and covering water. Keep the wind behind you as often as pos-
sible and use the trolling motor to adjust casting angles. Early season smallmouths tend to move onto their shoals and spawning flats in pods and sometimes in heavy concentrations. Fan cast these areas in order to locate them. The key to catching early season smallmouth bass like this is to have a wind-based strategy. It’s always tempting to cover as many spots as possible to maximize productivity but in early spring it’s unnecessary. Most early season trophy smallmouth will be scored from specific spots on the big lake where the water is warmest.
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SPRING SMALLMOUTHS Following the warm winds of spring is a strategy that will direct you towards windward shores with more waves. Just about everywhere I fish in spring, smallmouths will often take a suspending jerkbait. It works great in wind.
Suspending jerkbaits catch early spring smallmouths better than most other baits I throw. Part of it is through technique while most of it is due to their capability to freeze in space and hover in the faces of fish. Since jerkbaits seem to outfish other artificial minnowbaits by a wide margin in spring, I can only speculate that suspense and rattles are at the forefront of its success. My favorite jerkbait and smallmouth lure of all time is the Rapala X-Rap in sizes 08 and 10. Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Photograph by Jacob Saylor Fishing Headquarters | Page 62
SPRING SMALLMOUTHS
Photograph by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com
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The key to catching early season smallmouth bass like this is to have a wind-based strategy. It’s always tempting to cover as many spots as possible to maximize productivity but in early spring it’s unnecessary. Most early season trophy smallmouth will be scored from specific spots on the big lake where the water is warmest.
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Photographs by Roy Vivian
LINEBACKE In Tu-Tu’s
Photograph by Matthew Gunkel Fishing-Headquarters.com
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ERS
Come See the Softer Side of Muskies
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In the study and execution of what it takes to successfully interact with the king of freshwater apex predators, the immediate gravitation is towards the audacious, belligerent, and the sheer violent aspects of this pursuit. Without question, there is no darker side to a janus-personaed piscivore than the muskies rage. Yet especially in the cooler periods of the year, the emphasis remains on the boisterous, when the stealth, guile, and steeled attentiveness are the true keys to hooking into a giant musky. Let’s face it, even linebackers take ballet, and muskies are the ultimate synthesis of deadly maliciousness and the grace of an assassin.
By Cory Allen Fishing Headquarters | Page 68
SOFTER SIDE OF MUSKIES
By: Cory Allen
Fishing-Headquarters Contributor
Matthew Gunkel, CEO of Llungen Lures poses with a big Tennessee bruiser from a January 2014 trip with Allen. Photograph by Cory Allen Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Even in the “south� of musky fishing here in Tennessee, though we do experience periods albeit brief of more summer-reminiscent reckless abandon, the majority of the time our opportunities are won and lost in the cracks of detail. Few are the absolute guidecracking slams at the boat side, and more often are the dull grabs, almost like a senior eating sliced pear, or a slight tap sometimes indistinguishable from the days of panfishing yore. Fishing slowly, methodically, and patiently may seem tedious. But when we signed on to musky fish, we kind of relinquished our common expectations of consistent success or even validation. This is where the men are separated from the boys. Location in the cooler months of the south becomes much more crucial as the ecosystems themselves become much more tightly retained. Predator and prey are sometimes literally huddled together in deeper water haunts, almost resolved to a temporary truce due to the Nature of the given circumstances. This is where understanding just how fine the line is between success and failure as it comes into play. If you’re often not fishing THE spot on THE spot, the fish will be almost entirely resolved to not react to a presentation of an aggressive an often times even a passive-aggressive nature like a Medussa rubber bait. Though utilized properly, such tools can trigger reaction strikes.
Chaos Tackle Medussa
Fishing Headquarters | Page 70
SOFTER SIDE OF MUSKIES Location in the cooler months of the south becomes much more crucial as the ecosystems themselves become much more tightly retained. Predator and prey are sometimes literally huddled together in deeper water haunts, almost resolved to a temporary truce due to the Nature of the given circumstances. This is where understanding just how fine the line is between success and failure as it comes into play.
Photograph by Matthew Gunkel Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Passive Presentations During this period, as a basic means of metabolic energy conservation, muskies are hard wired to rest on the bottom (and more often the rest of the year than most people realize). Understanding this and taking advantage OF it is paramount. While bottom bounce trolling can be effective at times, it is often just too fast in nature that even a reaction strike isn’t triggered. This is where selections such as Medussas, big jigs, and smaller deep diving crankbaits come into play. These tools allow presentations on and near the bottom, both with the advantage of hanging in the minuscule strike zone of a neutral negative fish during the cold water period, and being able to utilize as an evasion tool triggering reaction strikes. The Medussa, especially mid and regular sizes, can be fished and tracked closely to the bottom during cold water periods, let settled and then pulled to create a sudden speed burst with a rise in depth (both natural evasion triggers in predators) while still retaining a somewhat subtle lateral line stimulus. Bingo; a passive-aggressive cold water presentation. Now what about a more passive presentation for precision in these negative neutral situations? We’re talking putting the dot right on the “I” and keeping it there. What better tool for sitting and staying than that old dog the jig-and-trailer combination. Even though this tackle box standard has learned a few new tricks like swimming, standing up, and even shaking.... it still does the ol’ “sit and stay” routine better than any breed of bait, and its still the perfect tool for creeping down steep channel driven banks into winter haunts. In fact just this past week I caught a 47.5 inch, 30 pound bruiser using this very same approach. Fishing Headquarters | Page 72
SOFTER SIDE OF MUSKIES
During this period, as a basic means of metabolic energy conservation, muskies are hard wired to rest on the bottom (and more often the rest of the year than most people realize). Understanding this and taking advantage OF it is paramount. While bottom bounce trolling can be effective at times, it is often just too fast in nature that even a reaction strike isn’t triggered. This is where selections such as Medussas, big jigs, and smaller deep diving crankbaits come into play. Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Photograph by Cory Allen
Even on more aggressive-passive baits like gliders and twitch cranks, this time of year it’s not uncommon to see the larger fish barely tag the back hook, while the more scrappy younger guns just tie into them full force. These bigger and albeit older animals are much more affected by the metabolic creep of the cold water on their exothermic system and often don’t have the energy to exert past a slight half-hearted tag. Being able to know how your baits feel normal and when the glide or slide is briefly delayed or interrupted can be the difference between a nothin’ or a net. While the muskies are more than adapted to the cold, even in Tennessee where we literally can fish 365 days a year including the coldest of winter, there are definitely times where slow and steady wins the race (ironically even in the warmer water periods). The absolute awareness and attentiveness to detail, finesse, and the much more benign and graceful feeding nature of these apex predators at times during the cold water periods of the south may be tedious and often times gratingly slow, but can result in some of the more epic battles of your life with these fish at their absolute fattest body mass indexes of the year.
Chaos Tackle Medussa
Fishing Headquarters | Page 74
SOFTER SIDE OF MUSKIES
Cory Allen, 28, of Cookeville, Tennessee is the founder and lead guide of Stone’s Throw Adventures. Cory’s specialty is casting and trolling for muskellunge on the reservoirs and river systems of the south. 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. Book your fall and winter fishing trip by visiting:
http://www.stonesthrowadventures.com/
Photograph by Cory Allen Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Photograph by Jim Gronaw Fishing-Headquarters.com
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SPRING WALLEYES F Photograph by Scott Bleifuss Fishing-Headquarters.com
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NO BOAT NO
PROBLEM
FROM SHORE
By Roy Vivian
Fishing Headquarters | Page 80
WALLEYES FROM SHORE
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By: Roy Vivian
Fishing-Headquarters Contributor
I fell in love with walleye fishing at a young age. While fishing from shore, on the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers, I would dream of how many more fish I would catch if I had a boat. Fast forward thirty years and I have a boat that is beyond my wildest dreams, a decked out Lund 1975 Pro-V. You might ask why on earth would I leave my Lund in the garage and fish from shore? The answer is simply big walleyes! My favorite river to target in March and April is the one with a decent walleye population close to my home. When I was growing up it was the Rock River in Oregon, IL. When I lived in St. Louis, MO it was the Kaskaskia River. Since I have been in Madison, WI since, it has become the Wisconsin River. Each of these rivers are quite different. However, the formula I use for catching walleyes is the same. Fish an hour before and after sundown, find a current seam within a Fishing-Headquarters.com
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few miles of a dam, and cast a jig/ twister or a #13 Floating Rapala. It is that simple! When shore fishing I like to travel light. I bring two 7 foot spinning rods spooled with 6 lb. diameter Power Pro braided line. One is rigged with a #13 Chartreuse Floating Rapala, the other is rigged with an orange 3/16 Oz. Hutch Jig and a 4� twister tail. I bring a small Plano box with some jigs, a couple of Rapala’s and a few bags of twister tails. I wear a light that clamps on
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to the bill of my cap and wear knee high rubber boots and that is all. On the Wisconsin River in the Dells area there are sandstone bluffs that, when under water, create a feeding shelf for walleyes. A few of my favorite areas are current breaks with a feeding shelf that is about 3 feet deep. Other key areas are feeder streams and river mouths, bridges, and storm water culverts. On warm, sunny, spring days the snow melt will trickle down asphalt roads and parking lots. This warmer water will
Rapala Shallow Shad Rap
Photograph by Scott Bleifuss Fishing Headquarters | Page 82
WALLEYES FROM SHORE attract bait fish and walleyes. When fishing the jig and twister I swim the jig, grazing it just off of the bottom with a slow steady retrieve. The size of the jig will depend on current and depth for most cases it is a 1/8-1/4 ounce. I cast out into the main current and let the river sweep my bait downstream. I try to position my rod tip as close to the area where the reverse current of the eddy hits the main current. The bites will often come from deeper water when the sun is out and shallower under low light conditions. The bite will be a slight tick to a shoulder jarring thump. Either way set the hook! When fishing the Floating Rapala I fish it the same way with a steady retrieve. The rule of thumb is the colder the water the slower the retrieve. I usually will throw the jig until sundown and then switch to the Rapala. When walleyes move shallow they are usually there to do one thing and that is eat. The Rapala allows me to fish quicker and cover more water. I have had several nights where I have caught as many as 15 or more nice walleyes within only a few hours of fishing by this method. Scott Bleifuss of Verona, WI spends a lot of time shore fishing the Wisconsin River in March and April. Scott has over 15 different unique areas that he fishes from the Dells to Prairie Du Sac. He has a very good idea of which spots will be best depending on water level and current flow. “I like to fish the Dells area in March. I do fish up by the dam but I like to fish down river, away from the crowds,� he Fishing-Headquarters.com
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Original Floating Rapala
Scott Bleifuss of Verona, WI spends a lot of time shore fishing the Wisconsin River in March and April. Scott has over 15 different unique areas that he fishes from the Dells to Prairie Du Sac. He has a very good idea of which spots will be best depending on water level and current flow.
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Photograph by Scott Bleifuss
Rapala Countdown
Photograph by Scott Bleifuss Fishing Headquarters | Page 84
WALLEYES FROM SHORE says. Scott explains, “In April, the snow melt begins up north so I head down river. I have a couple of spots in Prairie Du Sac that are excellent high water spots and produce big fish.” Scott’s game plan is similar although he fishes a little differently. “I prefer to use the lightest jig I can use, a 1/16 ounce if possible, or an 1/8 ounce if needed. “ Instead of swimming the jig, Scott prefers to slowly jig the twister or ring worm up the slope and along current breaks. His go-to jig is chartreuse with a 4” silver twister tail with silver flakes. Scott and I disagree on jig and twister color. I think the most important factors are location and presentation with the color combination being a distant third. He agrees in the location and presentation but thinks his color combination will beat my orange jig and whichever tail I choose. He has challenged me to a contest this spring. I have a feeling the person who does a better job of dialing in where the fish are along with the speed and cadence of the retrieve will catch more fish. I will report the results. As for crankbaits, instead of a #13 Floating Rapala Scott likes to use a #7 Shallow Shad Rap or a Rapala Countdown when fishing a deeper break. As for color “Anything with a lot of color works,” he says. As you can see with the pictures it is hard to argue with the results. Don’t wait for a perfect day to come this spring. River walleyes don’t seem to mind coldfronts like their lake cousins and will bite unFishing-Headquarters.com
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Photograph by Scott Bleifuss
Scott Bleifuss grew up and resides in Verona, Wisconsin. He acquired his true passion for walleye fishing on the Wisconsin River in his teens as he annually treked to the Prairie du sac Dam for the spring walleye run. He has kept that desire ever since to learn how walleyes live in the river and apply that to his angling. der any horrible conditions unless it’s flooding. The one exception is if there is a rainstorm or snowmelt, which causes a significant rise in water levels and turns the river to mud. This is especially true in rivers that run through productive farmland like the Rock and Pecatonica in IL. The Wisconsin River generally runs pretty clean just be sure to keep an eye on water levels. Every year there are stories of
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10 lb. plus walleyes that are caught from shore. This year let that someone be you! Roy Vivian is a walleye tournament angler who has fished the MWC, AIM, FLW and NWT Circuits. He is on the Pro-Staff of Lund Boats, Mercury Motors, Shimano and EZEE Step. You can follow him on his fishing page: Roy Vivian Pro Walleye Angler.
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SPRING BASS Photographs by Andrew Ragas Fishing-Headquarters.com
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There comes a time when the seasonal spring power and reactionary strike of a lipless crankbait fails to produce largemouth bass. An ideal alternative spring fish catching option in recent years is the compact soft plastic swimbait. In my opinion, it might be the better spring option. By Andrew Ragas
and Downsized Swimbaits Fishing Headquarters | Page 88
SWIMBAIT LARGEMOUTH
By: Andrew Ragas Editor In-Chief
andrew@fishing-headquarters.com
Fishing-Headquarters.com
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It was a typical early May morning in Wisconsin’s northwoods. Air temperatures were in the high 40’s, water temperatures not much greater and windless with the skies lacking cloud cover. Despite this coldfront and within a week following ice out, sunlight penetration was warming the water temperatures, making the bass on my home lake less sluggish. As I was casting my way down the lake’s deepest sun exposed shoreline, my soft plastic swimbait was engulfed by a bass in mid-retrieve. As I set the hook with a Bill Dance accent, a four pounder erupted from the water and made its way to my landing hand. A few years later, catching largemouth bass of this caliber on compact soft plastic swimbaits has become a common scene for me each spring season wherever I fish.
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Photographs by Andrew Ragas
O
ver the last 15 years, swimbaits have gained fame and some tournament anglers applying their novel techniques have earned a fortune. In this same 15 year span, swimbaits have accounted for the largest bass caught in angling history, more than any other lure type. Popularized and revolutionized in the Western United States where some of the biggest bass in the world reside, these oversized lures taken from the pages of musky and other big game fishing during the 1980’s and 90’s, have spawned into modern downsized variations which anglers are applying to bass fisheries in different areas of the country. The idea of catching big bass is exciting. Here in the upper Midwest, oversized baits aren’t required on most waterbodies. Swimbait success isn’t confined to places where big bass roam. Each spring season
from ice out through pre-spawn, I enjoy success casting with 3 and 4 inch Storm WildEye Live Shiners, and a variety of 4 inch soft plastic hollow belly and solid body swimbaits with paddle tails that can be burned and retrieved in a variety of swimming techniques. The revelation that downsized swimbaits catch quality bass everywhere won’t surprise Western anglers who popularized this angling concept. However, it greatly surprises those who live and die by the classic lipless crankbait each spring.
and lasting throughout pre-spawn. When the seasonal compact reaction baits of spring don’t work, soft swimbaits are the ideal substitute. Unlike the summer and fall periods when swimbaits are most often associated with open water schools of baitfish and deep suspended bass, swimbaits in spring are downsized presentations that are always based on precise shallow water locations and oriented with cover that’s as shallow as mere inches and as deep as 10 feet. This is why the technique works so well. On my natural lakes of the north, they catch more When, Where, Everywhere trophy bass for me than any other early spring technique. AdditionWherever you cast for spring- ally, throughout the years it’s been time largemouth bass, this lure style well documented that pond fishing can increase your catch rates and has is my biggest weakness as a bass anthe potential of quickly becoming a gler. On these small waterways that go-to lure. The success of compact populate every region and county soft plastic swimbaits has been best of Illinois, compact swimbaits have exemplified on 45 to 60 degree waFishing Headquarters | Page 90 ters where bass feed, from ice-out
SWIMBAIT LARGEMOUTH resulted in my largest bass caught from the state. These soft early spring substitutes work exceptionally well for me. So well, that a few seasons ago I converted my friends into believers in them. During my university days, I often visited my group of friends attending school in Central Illinois. They were the ones to have first crack at early season bass fishing on their local ponds so it only made sense, regardless of my inabilities to fish them. Every March and April, they lived and died by the lipless crankbait and its abilities to quickly cover every pond and hop over to the next. Although they annually caught bass weighing up to 7 pounds from these waters, there were certain days in which the lipless crankbait failed to produce a single fish. On one of my early spring weekend trips in 2010, we experienced the futility of a nonexistent lipless bite. Unlike my friends however, I did not die by it. Moments after tying on a Storm WildEye Live Shiner, a pair of 6 pounders were nearly caught from the same identical areas that were pounded by the lipless crankbait minutes before. The soft swimbait is an early spring savior. In spring, weather and conditions of your waters play an integral role in swimbait success. The most ideal conditions for me have always been early mornings, windless days, postfrontal, and bluebird skies. For water conditions, the clearer the water the better. Clear water is optimal because swimbaits contain a combination of appealing visual elements and reactionary properties. On these waters, bass can see better for long Fishing-Headquarters.com
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On many natural lakes and ponds (yes, I said ponds), I like to fish compact swimbaits quickly. For casting quickly over emerging weedgrowth and burning through the shallows, I like working 3 to 4 in models of most brands that have downsized models available. Your hook set ratio rises from about 50 percent with large oversized baits to about 90 percent with these compact baits. Most hollow belly and soft bodied swimbaits allow their hook systems to penetrate bass jaws easier than other bigger soft bodied swimbaits.
distance and oftentimes follow the lure a great distance before eventually striking it. These ideal conditions may be extreme to most anglers, but I feel these baits have the necessary design properties and characteristics to trigger strikes from bass as well as any aggressive reactionary hardbait can; and sometimes better. What Makes Small and Compact Swimbaits Work
March / April, 2014
In a Midwest spring, there is a distinct situation that calls for soft swimbaits. Warming waters draw huge colonies of bluegills and schools of baitfish into shallow environments. When these preyfish are congregating, you can count on big bass roaming nearby. You might not see them on your electronics, or in the water below, but they’re there – often tucked into vegetation, next to cover, or staging deeper than the bluegills and baitfish. When I see these schooling fish, I cast from various angles towards every cover
Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer
object, and swim it across its face. If a big bass is around, you can usually get her to commit on these soft compact plastics. Downsized baits have less weight, allowing them to be fished through shallow water environments. There are several key design factors leading to the swimbait’s success in shallow water. First and foremost, their downsized compact sizes are similar representations of a lipless crankbait in terms of shape and physical features. Storm WildEye Live Shiner, for example, is molded over a stand-up jig weight system and follows the design con-
Storm WildEye Live Shiner
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SWIMBAIT LARGEMOUTH Photograph by Andrew Ragas
cept of lipless hardbaits. A second key factor is the paddle tail and its side-to-side wobbling action during retrieve. The amount of vibration emitted by the swimbait is entirely dependant on speed of retrieve and weight of the paddle tail. Think of the tail imitating the bait’s rattle system which is the triggering factor behind lipless crankbaits. The bulkier the tail segment and its paddling action, the greater vibration the bait gives off, leading way to reactionary strikes. Most swimbaits represent identical swimming movements and behaviors of fleeing baitfish and preyfish. The best soft swimbaits are those that can be retrieved in varying speeds and are tuned to run straight through the selected water column. Fishing-Headquarters.com
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On many natural lakes and ponds (yes, I said ponds), I like to fish compact swimbaits quickly. For casting quickly over emerging weedgrowth and burning through the shallows, I like working 3 to 4 in models of most brands that have downsized models available. The advantage of fishing small swimbaits is bigger bass tend to be selective on shape and color. Downsized presentations seem to eliminate that behavior in spring. Another is improved hook sets. Your hook set ratio rises from about 50 percent with large oversized baits to about 95 percent with these compact baits. Most hollow belly and soft bodied swimbaits allow their hook systems to penetrate bass jaws easier than other bigger soft bodied swimbaits.
March / April, 2014
Spring Swimbait Styles While no fishing industry definition for the word “swimbait” exists, I suggest that the lure category includes baits that not only produce a wiggling tail action, but move and vibrate in the manner of a crankbait. While some swimbaits have lips and diving features, others produce action through their shape of plastic and combination of weight whether it’s by jig, weighted hook system, or interior mold. The swimbaits I choose to fish with during the spring season are at the miniature end of the size spectrum, and range in sizes from a minimum of 2 inches to a maximum of 5 inches in length. To date, I’ve had my best swimbait success with Storm Lures.
Stankx Bait Company Swankx Swimabits (Rigged with LazerTrokar TK 170)
My all time favorite for this spring technique, the WildEye Live Shiner, is an internally weighted lifelike swimming bait available in 2-, 3- and 4-inch models. With the soft outer body molded over a 3/8 ounce weighted inner body, an incredibly lifelike swimming action results. For improved hooking percentages, I recommend removing its VMC treble hooks located on the belly and replacing them in favor of Eagle Claw Trokar’s TK300 round bend treble hooks in sizes 4 or 5. In a separate class of its own, the YUM Money Minnow is a great versatile hollow belly option. At lengths of 2.5, 3.5 and 5 inches, it of-
fers bass a longer, more streamlined presentation that minimizes weight and increases buoyancy. For recreational and tournament anglers, it’s becoming a serious go-to bait that can be fished through heavy cover, over grass beds, and deeper water. Tapering from a broad head section down to a thin tail section emitting a pumping side-to-side wiggle, the Money Minnow features a natural swimming action that garners attention from hesitant bass. Rigged with a weighted extra wide gap swimbait hook, it’s a weedless paddletail swimbait that’s more than capable of matching nearly every bass fishing situation and prey imitation.
Lighter swimbaits are better for slow-rolling or stop-and-go retrieves from the surface down to 5 feet or so. Some new swimbaits fitting this mold are the Swimz and Swankx, manufactured by Stankx Bait Company from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Introduced in spring 2013, I’ve had the pleasure of fishing with these solid body swimbaits for less than a year now. Both are available in 4.5 inch models featuring hook slot and solid body options, and are manufactured with durable medium plastic blends that maximize fluttering and tail kicking action. Where the two products differ greatly is in the tail action. The 4.5” Swimz is mold-
Stankx Bait Company Swimz Swimabits Fishing Headquarters | Page 94
SWIMBAIT LARGEMOUTH ed with a deeper belly and slender tail segment, allowing it to be fished deeper and slower. Meanwhile, the 4.5” Swimz is more compact and solid from head to tail, and serves best when speed fishing and burning the shallows is necessary. Both can be fished with weighted jigs, or specialty swimbait hooks which is my preferred method. One other feature making Stankx swimbaits special is its custom color options and competitive pricing. Travis Crosman is more than capable of matching the hatch for any preyfish prevalent in spring. He now offers airbrushed swimbait color patterns called the NXT LVL Series, available in 20 different colorways, making them the most lifelike and detailed custom soft plastics on the bass angling market today. When rigging these soft plastics with swimbait hooks, look into Eagle Claw Trokar’s magnum
rally on ambush spots which may include underwater points, primary drop-offs, floating vegetation, bogs, lilly pad lanes, laydowns, emerging weedgrowth, and boat docks. Always consider the shape of the structure or cover and the direction you want to retrieve the bait. Understanding your casting angles and the direction from which you approach fish and trigger bites is critical to the success of this style of fishing as is deciphering what the fish are telling you. In any style of retrieve, you never want your lure to hit bottom. The name of this game is to always keep it moving through shallow cover. Techniques and Tackle For these downsized swimLong casting swimbaits is the baits, tackle selection depends enmost popular approach, though tirely on the style and size of swimquick fan casting is the most thor- baits being fished, and to an extent, ough strategy for shallow water personal preference. Because this fishing. Anglers should concen- involves power fishing and quick trate on presenting the baits natu- retrieves, reels with a 7:0 gear ratio weighted swimbait hooks in both 3/0 (1/8 oz) or 5/0 (1/4 oz) sizes. A secondary swimbait rigging option I’ve also enjoyed using is Freedom Tackle Corporation’s Stealth and Hydra jigs. Their interchangeable jig head system allows bass anglers to cater hook size and type to the length and style of plastics being fished. Rigged with Eagle Claw Trokar’s magworm hooks, the Stealth and Hydra heads allow a deeper swimbait presentation and promote a natural, unrestricted swimming action that isn’t affected by a connecting jig head.
Stankx Bait Company NXT LVL Fishing-Headquarters.com
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March / April, 2014
or greater are most ideal. I prefer fishing with a 7.3:1 Quantum Energy SS which allows a whopping 34 inches per turn. The rod should have a medium action tip, allowing a bass to inhale the bait. A 7 foot medium heavy fast action baitcasting outfit spooled with 12 to 17 pound copolymer is ideal for most situations around vegetation and minimal brush. Fluorocarbon in the same diameter also excels for running swimbaits deeper, and allows more powerful hooksets due to reduced stretch. Lures that are larger in size and weight, and thicker cover require heavier set-ups. In these situations, use a heavy action rod with softer than normal tip to prevent tearing hooks loose from fish. Braided superline such as 30lb Cortland Masterbraid will minimize missed fish, detect strikes, and allow you to swim and rip your weedless swimbait rigs through dense shallow cover and its openings. Downsized swimbaits represent a new, overlooked way of catching bass. It’s also a potent presentation that has not yet been exploited by the masses to catching largemouth bass during the early spring season. It’s a lure style possessing its own unique role, and is the lone ranger within the swimming soft plastics category. The select baits described and highlighted represent some of the best options for downsizing during the spring season, and give bass anglers an ideal early spring alternative when more seasonal power fishing techniques fail.
Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer Fishing Headquarters | Page 96
SWIMBAIT LARGEMOUTH Long casting swimbaits is the most popular approach, though quick fan casting is the most thorough strategy for shallow water fishing. Anglers should concentrate on presenting the baits naturally on ambush spots which may include underwater points, primary drop-offs, floating vegetation, bogs, lilly pad lanes, laydowns, emerging weedgrowth, and boat docks. Always consider the shape of the structure or cover and the direction you want to retrieve the bait. Understanding your casting angles and the direction from which you approach fish and trigger bites is critical to the success of this style of fishing as is deciphering what the fish are telling you. In any style of retrieve, you never want your lure to hit bottom. The name of this game is to always keep it moving through shallow cover.
Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer Fishing-Headquarters.com
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March / April, 2014
Fishing Headquarters | Page 98
SWIMBAIT LARGEMOUTH Downsized swimbaits represent a new, overlooked way of catching bass. It’s also a potent presentation that has not yet been exploited by the masses to catching largemouth bass during the early spring season. It’s a lure style possessing its own unique role, and is the lone ranger within the swimming soft plastics category. The select baits described and highlighted represent some of the best options for downsizing during the spring season, and give bass anglers an ideal early spring alternative when more seasonal power fishing techniques fail.
Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer Fishing-Headquarters.com
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March / April, 2014
Fishing Headquarters | Page 98
TACKLE TECHN SPRING 2014 DOES YOUR COMPANY OR BRAND HAVE PRODUCTS FOR US TO USE AND TALK ABOUT? SEND YOUR INQUIRIES TO INFO@FISHING-HEADQUARTERS.COM
Chaos Tackle Assault Sticks S.W.A.T. Muskie Rod By Joseph Alfe
The Chaos Tackle Assault Sticks are high performing, elite level rod options that break the mold of traditional Muskie rods by offering light weight, fast tips, and extreme power in a stylish looking package. The fact that Chaos Tackle has priced them so well makes adding them to your arsenal that much easier. The Assault Sticks lineup includes the “Mother of all rods” powerful Shock and Awe model rated to 24 Oz. and designed for the biggest rubber baits such as the Monster Medussa. The S.W.A.T., a powerful rod rated to 10 ounces, perfect for heavy, all-purpose use. The Tactical Strike, rated to 6 ounces. and ideal for smaller bucktails, twitch baits, etc., and the Surgical Strike, A light weight model rated to 4 ounces. and designed for rattlebaits, smaller twitch baits and spinners, and other small offerings. All rods are offered in lengths from 7’8” to 9’ with full cork or split-grip handles.
Read full review at fishing-headquarters.com
$180 chaostackle.com
Trigger Happy Comfort Grip By Tyler Uteg Near the end of last season, I began experiencing some tendonitis in my wrist, along with some pain in my pinky from the plastic trigger grip on all my rods. I tried a variety of things for my wrist, but wasn’t able to figure out a way to help my fingers. I tried taping them, taping the grip, etc., but nothing worked to solve the problem. Recently, I discovered a product that should put this problem to rest. It’s called a Trigger Happy Comfort Grip, and it’s designed to fit snugly over the trigger grip on your rod handle. I could immediately tell a huge difference when I put it on my jig rod, as my fingers now rest on the soft and pliable new grip. These grips are designed to fit over most triggers, and should help keep you on the water all day. If you find that it makes the trigger too thick for you, there’s also a thinner model that was recently released. Additionally, the company is rolling out a similar product for spinning reels. $6.99 triggerhappycomfortgrips.com Fishing-Headquarters.com
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March / April, 2014
NICIANS
Gear recommendations, reviews, insights and news (mostly new) from contributors & friends of Fishing-Headquarters.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR BRAND’S PRODUCTS! Korkers Metalhead Wading Boots By Andrew Ragas
Whether it’s wading or floating downstream in my jon boat, I spend a lot of time in rivers. I am very demanding of my apparel and wading gear. I also need footwear that’s comfortable, lightweight, and allows me to stand atop my decks and control the bowmount trolling motor. The Korkers Metalhead Wading Boot blends high performance and traditional styling with innovative technology. Metalhead wading boots feature the Korkers OmniTrax 3.0 Interchangeable Sole System which allows you to change soles quickly to adapt your traction to meet the performance needs of each river system or weather condition. One of the finest, most ergonomic features with these boots is the BOA lace system. This unique lacing system removes pressure points and allows for a super firm fit with no discomfort. This firm fit translates into support and increased wading ability and mobility. Additionally, Korkers also utilizes “True Fit” sizing, that allows you to order the same boot size as your street shoe size. Sizing your feet and waders has never been easier. $159.99 korkers.com
Read full review at fishing-headquarters.com
Reflexion Swimbaits By Tyler Uteg Swimbaits are quickly becoming more popular among anglers outside of the Western states. With the wide array of choices available, it can be hard to determine which ones work best for your needs. Recently, I’ve become a big fan of company out of Alabama called Reflexion Soft Plastics. The owner hand pours all the baits, and manually places the eyes on these 5” boot-tailed beauties. As of right now, the line-up includes some really great colors for all anglers, ranging from the sunfish mimicking Tate’s Sunfish, to the Bleeding Bass Chartreuse colorway. One of the best things about these baits, aside from their stellar rolling wiggle, is they come in both weedless, as well as line-through models to fit the conditions. They’re also equally effective in both fresh and salt water. If you’re just getting into the swimbait game, and want to try a soft plastic bait that is almost guaranteed to get you on some nice fish. Fishing Headquarters | Page 102 $10.95 reflexionsoftplastics.com
TACKLE TECHN SPRING 2014 DOES YOUR COMPANY OR BRAND HAVE PRODUCTS FOR US TO USE AND TALK ABOUT? SEND YOUR INQUIRIES TO INFO@FISHING-HEADQUARTERS.COM
Freedom Tackle Corp. Spinnerbaits By Andrew Ragas With a year under their belt, Freedom Tackle expands on their already unique line of hybrid jigs by introducing their spinner bait, new for 2014 (and now available). Based on its Stealth jig, the spinner bait arm of 300lb through-wire construction follows into its interchangeable free motion hook design. The free motion black nickel hook with trailer keeper, allows for a weedless spinner bait presentation and gives the fish little leverage, which means less thrown hooks. $9.99 freedomlures.com
Bigtooth Tackle KLACK By Andrew Ragas It’s all about the sound! A lure that produces a unique “KLACK” and squeal that those giant muskies can’t resist! The Bigtooth Tackle KLACK shreds the water and triggers muskies to bite and the hooking percentage is un-matched! Fish fast, hard, and cover more water then the next angler with this ultimate search tool. The “KLACK” is made with heavyduty components and is prepared to be the front gunner in any battle. $13.99 - $19.99 bigtoothtackle.com
The Chad Shad By Cory Allen Custom made by Chad Harmon, an avid Buckeye musky hound, these little flat sided shad profiles immediately caught my eye and then my attention when they hit the water. A very tight wobble, but not too hard, lets it scurry through the water column at speeds in excess of 8 mph, but the angle of the lip makes for a relatively steep dive curve, easily attaining flat line depths of 18 ft + in short order. $20 smokinbonesbaits.com Fishing-Headquarters.com
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March / April, 2014
NICIANS
Gear recommendations, reviews, insights and news (mostly new) from contributors & friends of Fishing-Headquarters.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR BRAND’S PRODUCTS! Streamside Predator Ice Fishing Rods By The Bassassins This was our first year using the Streamside Predator ice rods and we were very satisfied with the performance. All three sizes offer a really strong backbone but have a sensitive enough tip to feel the smallest taps. This made it simple to switch between rods when targeting panfish, walleye and pike or laker trout with confidence and ease. Our favorite part of their design was definitely the hard, nonslip cork handles; we found them longer and thinner than other rods we have used which adds huge benefit for us anglers that spend almost all their time on the ice without heat and a shelter. When the days call for the bigger winter gloves the thinner and longer handles are a breeze, eliminating the obstacle that can cost you a fish. $26 - $30 cgemery.com
GoPro HD Hero 3 By The Bassassins The GoPro Hero3 is the latest in personal HD cameras – even as GoPros become smaller and lighter, their performance continues to improve. For the adventure seeker on your list you can’t go wrong with this gift. Whether it is in the air, under the water or on land there isn’t a piece of equipment out there that can capture their experiences in such realism – who knows where they will take you. $199 - $399 gopro.com
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TACKLE TECHN SPRING 2014 DOES YOUR COMPANY OR BRAND HAVE PRODUCTS FOR US TO USE AND TALK ABOUT? SEND YOUR INQUIRIES TO INFO@FISHING-HEADQUARTERS.COM
Deck Master Rod Holders By Andrew Ragas Made in USA, The Deck Master fishing pole holder is a newly patented product requiring no tools, mounting accessories or multiple adjustments before fishing. Just push and turn the self-adjusting spring loaded locking device 90 degrees and the rod holder can secure to most docks and piers, outdoor decks, and ground substrates leading to comfortable shoreline fishing and lounging. $24.99 fishfromdeck.com
NICIANS
Gear recommendations, reviews, insights and news (mostly new) from contributors & friends of Fishing-Headquarters.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR BRAND’S PRODUCTS! Tight Rope Baby Firework Jigs By Tyler Uteg Early in the season, I prefer fishing smaller jigs with smaller trailers, especially up shallow in wood and stained water. Recently, I’ve discovered some new hand-tied jigs coming out of Chicago. They’re called Baby Fireworks, and are made by Tight Rope Fishing. The tiny jigs are hand-tied on ball-head jigs with a wire weedguard. While I really like them for largemouth, some of the guys from CAST Crew in Chicago have been absolutely crushing Smallmouth with them late this year. $3.99 tightropefishing.com
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