Saltwater Fishing

The Rise - May/June 2012

Bass Pro Shops Altoona White River Fly Shop Newsletter

By: Scott Sickau, White River Fly Shop
 

Choosing Breathable Waders

In today's fishing environment, many anglers take the opportunity to fish a wide range of places...everything from Midwestern rivers in the winter months to the salmon rivers of Alaska and Russia.

One of the most critical pieces of equipment that an angler needs is a set of good waders. There are many styles of waders to be found here at Bass Pro Shops.  Everything from the old rubber boot-foot waders to the new breathable waders.

When choosing waders, two questions need to be addressed. 

#1 - How often will they be used and during what time of the year?

#2 - What type of fishing will they be used for?

For the money, the best choice would be the breathable wader.  These range in cost from $69.99 for boot-footed waders to around $450 for some of the guide-tested stocking foot waders.

For the boot-footed variety, the weight of the wader/boots combo should be considered as well as the environment in which they'll be used.  Let's face it, who wants to be slogging through muck with something that weighs over 10 pounds by itself...and then add an additional 20 pounds of mud on each foot! 

The breathable waders allow the fisherman to roll the top portion of the wader down to the waist when the weather is warmer.  On the other hand, you can leave it up to wear when the weather is nasty, staying warmer and drier.

The boots for the stocking foot waders add $40 to $130 to the cost, but allow the fisherman more comfort and mobility.
 

Upcoming Demos

Want to introduce someone to fly fishing?  Know someone who could benefit from the therapeutic benefits of fly fishing?  There are several workshops coming up over the next few months. Visit our Events page at www.facebook.com/bpsaltoona or  www.basspro.com!

Fly of the Month - Clouser Minnow

One of the most popular fly fishing patterns of all time is the Clouser Minnow. This pattern was developed in 1987 by Bob Clouser from Pennsylvania. It has been credited with catching over 86 different species of fish ranging from bass and trout in freshwater to numerous saltwater species. This pattern is one of the favorite patterns in the fly fishing world. The most common material used to tie it is deer hair, although other materials can be substituted to create unique versions for pursuing many types of fish. It can also be tied in many different sizes to suit both the tyer and fly fishermen, ranging from a size 16 or smaller all the way up to a size 1 or even larger.

It is hard to believe that there are actually 35 individual steps in tying this pattern, although many are not noticeable to the experienced tyer. I had the rare opportunity to sit down with Bob Clouser many years ago at the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association's annual convention and watch him go through each step for tying this pattern. Scott came away with the actual fly Clouser was tying as a gift and a signature card to go along with the fly.

By: Ed de Almeida, Marine Team Lead, San Antonio, TX

            So you just bought your Ascend FS12T kayak now you want to make it the ultimate fishing vessel out on your local lake.  I will go over everything that’s needed to make that possible but because there is so much information this will be broken down in to two sections safety and accessories.

SAFETY:

Safety is a must at all time.  Being safe and having the most comfortable ride while kayaking you’ll need a life jacket that is designed for paddle sports:

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The Snip. From the Boomerang Tool Company is a revolutionary retractable heavy duty line cutter. Will conveniently attach anywhere with the retractable cable. Stainless steel jaws will cut clean and smooth. Works great on braid, fluorocarbon and mono lines.

 -G. Loomis Pro Green Spinning Rods. These are part of the G. Loomis saltwater spinning product line. We are currently carrying the 6’10” and 7’4" models in both Medium and Medium Heavy actions. These would be a great addition to your rod arsenal for trout and red fishing. Wade fisherman would appreciate their light weight for the all day wade trips.

-We are fully stocked with the new Yeow Monn freshwater baits. This is the freshwater version of the popular Fish Bite products.  Though made for Catfish they are excellent baits for the Redfish at Calaveras Lake. We have all 3 flavors: Shad, Liver and Crawfish.

The Destin Bass Pro Shops Aquarium holds some 10,000 gallons of water . . . about as much as a backyard swimming pool . . . or about as much water used in one month by a typical 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, containing one teenager.  The water is kept a a constant 74.3 degrees and between 500 and 1,000 gallons of water are changed out every week.  For every 750 gallons changed, some 180 pounds of sea salt mix are required.

The tempered glass surrounding the aquarium is 3 1/2 inches thick to hold the enormous pressure of the water.  At the bottom of the tank, that 10,000 gallons of water weighs some 83,500 pounds . . . more than is legal for a fully-loaded tractor-trailer rig on Florida's highways.

We feed our fish 4 times each week; on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1:30 in the afternoons.  Usually, between 2 and 3 pounds of small fish and shrimp are fed to the fish on these days.  Like any home aquarium, introducing too much food can cause the water quality to suffer.  About once a week, a dry-suited diver enters the tank to vacuum and scrub algae and debris from the structures and the glass.

The largest fish we have in our aquarium is also our newest.  The approximately 85 pound Goliath grouper came to us in August, 2010 from a Bass Pro Shops' tank in Missouri.  Considered a critically endangered species, Goliath groupers are found in waters off the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, the Carribbean, down the coast to Brazil and toward west Africa.  Goliath Groupers can grow to some 8 feet and weigh over 800 pounds.

Our Red Fish or Red Drum is our second largest fish and ranges in habitat from Massachusettes to the Gulf of Mexico.  Red Fish feed in shallow water around grassflats and structures, eating small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks and can grow up to 90 pounds.  Fishing for red fish is very popular along the Gulf of Mexico and in the numerous bays.

Our three Jack Crevalle are often on the move, swimming together around and around our aquarium.  Jack Crevalle are preditory fish and inhabit tropical and temperate waters in the Atlantic and as far away as the Mediterranian.  They can be found migrating to warmer waters in the fall and winter.  Not considered to be a good eating fish, they are harvested commercially for fish oil and high protein fish meal.

Our Mutton Snapper, the one with the yellow fins, is found from the waters of North Carolina through the Carribbean to South America.  It prefers reef structures, is quite delicious, and is a favorite of spear fishermen.

Lastly, we have our Gag Grouper.  Considered a vulnerable species, they inhabit hard substrate, including reefs, ledges, and rocks in tropical waters.  Gag Groupers average 10 to 20 pounds and are considered delicious eating.

Destin Bass Pro Shops hopes you will join us for our fish feedings and trust you will have a pleasurable shopping experience today and every day you spend with us.

By Gary Feduccia

We are excited to welcome the newest member of our Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine boat family into our store; the Mako Pro 17 Skiff CC. Once thought only as a saltwater boat line, the Mako offers a wide variety of freshwater applications. Originally designed as a work boat to carry heavy load of nets or traps across shallow, protected coastal waters, the Mako’s nearly flat bottom design allows a unique versatility for inland anglers that its traditional deep-V cousins don’t. When you want to get back into the shallows, or you want that smooth, dry ride while maintaining durable and stable through rough and choppy waters, the Mako Pro’s tunnel hull design shines through as the best choice to navigate in these situations. In addition, the Pro Skiff will do all of this while carrying big loads with power from a smaller horsepower engine.

The wide open cockpit provides ample space to cast and it’s non-skid surface throughout allows you to move freely and confidently out on the water. Pro 17 Skiff CC is equipped with an 85-quart cooler/ that doubles as a helm seat and is foam-lined to maximize ice-keeping capabilities. The molded center console is loaded with rod holders (5) and a baitwell/livewell as well as a windscreen, grab handles and navigation lights. The Skiff’s dash features a tachometer standard and space for the optional Lowrance Mark-5x Pro.  Striper and catfish folks have been known to add an additional large baitwell for shad.

As if all of this wasn’t an incredible setup for our Tri-State anglers, the trailer for this boat is awesome. It is a salt-water ready, all-welded aluminum trailer with 13-inch wheels fitted with vault oil bath hubs on a galvanized axle. The standard rig is equipped with  30-hp Mercury ELPT Four-Stroke outboard, with packages available for 40-, 50- and 60- outboards as well.

Maybe one of the best features is that the cleanup on this boat is minimal; hose it off and you are done. No pesky carpet to worry about. The 100% composite material makeup affords incredible durability and despite it's lightweight design it has a 1400 pound load capacity and is rated for up to 5 passengers.

Inland anglers of all varieties of fish here in the Tri-State will be pleasantly surprised of the performance and versatility of the Mako Pro 17 Skiff CC. Stop on out and check out our newest "toy" for yourself. You won't be disappointed !!!

Take a poll among avid anglers and you’ll find that favorite seasons to fish are varied and opinions run strong.  Some prefer the immediate pre-spawn period in April while others prefer the advantages of finding concentrations of fish during the summer and winter months.  But, one thing that most anglers will agree on is that the late spring topwater bite is the best time of year to be on the water.  Both spotted bass and linesides are feeding heavily at this time.   Aggressive wolf packs of these predators often chase schools of baitfish right up to the surface making for some very exciting opportunities.  Few things in nature rival the adrenaline rush of watching a calm surface erupt with slashes and boils of feeding fish as you’re trying to get your plug into the action.  This phenomenon can get pretty dramatic and it’s common to spot activity from long distances in calm water conditions.  Look for topwater schooling to begin in early May and go strong through the month.  Striper action will typically taper off by early June while spotted bass with continue this activity through the summer months.  Although action can occur at any time, early morning and evening periods tend to be the most productive.  As always during the spring, weather factors can have a big influence on the fishing.  While it’s a great time to exploit topwater action, a strong frontal system can put the bite down for a day or two.  It’s important to have a back-up plan in case surface action does not materialize.  While searching for this, focus your efforts from the middle sections of creeks out to main lake areas near the creek mouths.  Although the predators are keying on roaming schools of baitfish, remember that “points point out the fish”.  Activity will very often erupt in the vicinity of a prominent point or submerged hump which is typically the extension of a point.

V-Wake a Redfin

 If you’re parked off the best looking point in your favorite creek and looking for surface activity, blind casting is always a good idea.  Just remember that you should be covering open water with some significant depth and not targeting the shoreline.  Blind casting a plug can put a lot of extra fish on the end of your line.   What type of topwater plug should you choose?  It’s no secret that fishermen are a highly opinioned bunch.  While “swear by” lure choices will vary widely, there are a handful of tried and true favorites that you’ll not go wrong with.  It’s now been over a decade since the Sammy by Lucky Craft hit the topwater scene.  And, it’s still going strong.  It’s a pricey choice at about $15 per copy but the results are hard to argue with.  The trademark American shad is a great color if you’re shelling out a few dollars for one of these.  If you’re looking for a more modest investment, you’ll not go wrong with the old fashioned Zara Spook.  This plug has been around for quite a few decades with good reason and still evokes lots of strikes from surface feeders.  The classic color for this classic lure is blue shore minnow.  It’s a north Georgia favorite.  While the original Zara Spook is very good, I eventually became a big fan of its newer big brother, the Super Spook.  As the name implies, this is a beefed up version and weighs in at nearly an ounce.  Long casts can be important when pursuing schoolers and this lure can be fired to impressive distances with the right tackle.  It also sports rotating treble hooks that really make a difference in improving the strike to fish on ratio.  Bleeding Shad is the only color I need for the Super Spook.  Another plug to consider is the Redfin by Cotton Cordell.  Technically, this lure is a jerkbait and will run subsurface on a medium to fast retrieve.  Savvy anglers use a different approach.  They use a slower retrieve and keep it on the surface producing what is known as a “V-wake”.  This has a great effect on stripers and will elicit strikes from real bruisers of the spotted bass world.  Die hard Redfin fans pick the chrome and blue color and swear that it’s even better when the finish is chipping off exposing the bone colored plastic beneath.  There is also a sub-cult following of the Smokey Joe color.

Two Rods Are Better Than One

Lures such as the Sammy, Zara Spook, and Super Spook mentioned in the previous paragraph are often called stick baits because of their basic shape.  There’s only one way to present this style of topwater plug.  The proper retrieve is referred to as “walking the dog”.   Reeling combined with short twitches of the rod tip will cause a stickbait to zig-zag or dart from side to side resembling a fleeing baitfish.  It only takes a little practice to master this and some plugs are engineered to walk with a minimum of effort imparted by the angler.  When it comes to topwater tackle in May and early June, opt for medium heavy gear.  Both casting and spinning set ups are appropriate.  Six and a half to seven foot rods get the nod.  Pair these with reels that will handle at least eighty to one hundred yards of twelve pound test line as a minimum.  If you pick up your favorite shallow spool model that’s in vogue with bass fishermen, you’re playing with fire because stripers are out there waiting.  When it comes to line, avoid fluorocarbon products.  While they do a superior job in many applications, they are heavy and will suppress the action of topwater plugs.  This is especially true with maximum distance between you and the lure.  Spool up with your favorite traditional monofilament product and you’ll be in good shape.  On the subject of tackle, it pays to have two rods rigged and ready on deck.  Backlashes and tangles do happen.  This is good insurance for those times when you’re on top of a school of predators kicking up water as they churn the surface.  Simply drop one rod and pick up another.  If you’re downed bait is floating motionless in the attack zone you may want to put one foot on the rod butt or put it in a holder…..just in case.  I’ve actually had fish become hooked up when striking a free floating lure attached to a tangled rod on a couple of occasions.  It can be quite the circus, especially if you’re fighting another fish as well.  On another note, it pays to be cautious when landing fish hooked with large topwater plugs.  I highly recommend investing in a good lip gripper type device.  These have become very affordable for the average angler and are much cheaper than a trip to the emergency room at the local hospital. 

Stay Mobile to Find Fish

If you’re out for striper action, live bait fishing will often pay off while searching for the topwater bite.  When searching an area and making blind casts with your favorite plug, bait up and trail a couple of flat lines about a hundred feet behind the boat.  Tie a small balloon inflated to golf ball size about ten feet above one bait and weight the other line with a medium size split shot about six feet up the line for a slightly deeper presentation.  Frisky blue back herring or shad are great choices when it comes to live bait.  If one rod hooks up on two consecutive fish, switch the other one to the same style of presentation.  If fish are erupting on the surface all around, the live bait flat lines can quickly become more trouble than they are worth.  This is especially true if you’re doing a lot of maneuvering with the electric motor.  This time of year, it really pays off to stay mobile. If conditions are favorable and you’re not seeing signs of life in seven minutes or so, move on to the next spot.  For greater efficiency, have a route planned in advance.  Although topwater action is the name of the game, choppy water can inhibit the surface bite.  However, in these conditions, a good jerkbait can produce well when cast towards the points.  As late spring turns into summer, striper action fades but good news is that the spotted bass continue to chase bait at the surface.  Windows of opportunity during the summer months are mostly early and late in the day for schooling action.  Smaller surface plugs tend to become more effective as the season progresses.  Poppers such as the Pop-R by Rebel are good choices along with smaller versions of the earlier mentioned lures.   Sometimes bass will key on small baitfish and ignore even these smaller topwater plugs.  One classic trick is to use a saltwater popping cork with a trailing leader.  On the end of this leader, tie on a very small shad imitator such as a Pop-N-Stripe or the highly realistic Gummy Minnow.  You’ll find the latter stocked in the fly fishing shop.  In closing, there’s plenty of room for opinion about the best time of the year to go fishing but most will agree that May is hard to beat.  If you’re up for the excitement and adrenaline of some serious surface action, this could become your favorite too.  Until next month, take care and enjoy the lake!

Thank you for reading!

Tommy H. Wilkinson

Fishing has never been easier it seems this year. Every day I am hearing fish tales of thousands of oversized fish caught in secret spots from Dauphin Island all the way to Clearwater FL. Inshore fishing has taken off with the schooling reds and huge specks but what could be the best catch of the year are the cobia. Cobia, also known as ling and lemon fish, like to stay near the top of the water and hang out around buoys, wrecks, oil rigs, grass beds and other floating structures. They have seemed to come in early with the great weather and will be here to stay for a good while. So for all the newbies out there or a seasoned veteran, here is something to try.

Cobia Jigs, also known as stand-up jigs are exacly what you need! Cobia tend to be picky eaters so what you will need are brightly colored jig heads as well as feathers and hair attached to the back for maximum attractant. The jig heads come in different sizes and shapes from squid head to round head.

They are offered in multiple colors so come check our selection out! They are located in the Saltwater section of our fishing department and ask one of the associates for assistance choosing a perfect size for your needs.

Or visit our website or click here for the direct link to see what we carry ; Cobia Jigs

Thanks for reading!

Clark Brownlie-Carey

Fishing Dept.

Spanish Fort, AL

This is Captain Keith Kalbfleisch, Bass Pro Shops-Orlando’s Saltwater Pro Staff.  Spring fishing is going great!  It seems like the fish are happy with the warm weather we have been having, and there are excellent numbers of redfish, black drum, and seatrout on the flats.  The saltwater flats just east of Orlando are around the Kennedy Space Center Wildlife Preserve, and not only is the fishing great, but the spring wildlife is spectacular also, with daily sightings of dolphin, manatees, roseate spoonbills, ibis, snowy egrets, and more.

I am having my best luck with lures right now, particularly jigs and soft rubber baits.  The advantage to lures in our area is that you can cover significantly more water than you can with bait.  If you are sitting, soaking bait, then you have to wait for fish to come by your bait.  If the fish are not moving significantly, or if they have moved out of the area (they move around all the time), then you may sit quite a while without a bite.  However, with lures you can slowly drift or sneak along, casting to fish you see or covering as much territory as possible.

Some of the best lures are flats skimmer jigs, like the ones made by HookUp Lures, I like a dark brown or tan one.  Another good choice is a rubber jerkbait like a DOA 5-inch CAL in a green and white or golden bream color.  Be sure and set the hook quickly, these fish won’t hold onto the lure if they think it is artificial.  Also, if you like topwater, this is the best time of the year.  Try a medium-sized ChugBug for some explosive action!

I have some great articles on my website, www.Capt-Keith.com, which will help you in your sight fishing success.

Go catch some big ones!

Capt Keith

Captain Keith on The MTC

Saltwater Adventures of Central Florida

www.Capt-Keith.com

321-279-1344

Hi!  

I'm Garrett Sells,  a supervisor in the Fishing department. 

I grew up with San Diego as my 2nd home, and I now continue to fish out of the Long Beach, California area.  I'm a huge "iron" fisherman off of all the boats.  My two favorite fish to catch are yellowtail and calico bass. Yellowtail are a lot of fun to catch no matter what way you catch them be it on iron jigs or live bait.  They are an excellent fish to eat.   When it comes to catching calico bass, there is nothing better  than to be throwing soft plastic lures at them.

Currently, we are in rockfish season.  Whether you are going out on a half day, 3/4 day, or overnight trip, the head boats will be targeting rockfish.  You can catch reds (vermillion), sculpin (California scorpion fish),  salmon grouper, perch, sand dabs, white fish, starry eyed flounder, copper rockfish, and ling cod. 

You will typically be fishing in water between 200-400 feet deep.   I recommend using 10 to 16oz torpedo weights to get your bait to the bottom and keep it there.  If your bait is not on the bottom you will not get a bite.  If there is a lot of current the day you are on the water use the heavier weight.  This weight will be tied to the bottom of what is called your "dropper loop rig."  This type of rig is going to have two hooks tied on it.  The normal hook size that I like to use is a 1/0-2/0 octopus hook.  This size hook will catch a variety of rockfish.  If white fish start biting, I recommend switching to a smaller hook because their mouth is a lot smaller and you will miss a lot of hook ups if you have too big of a hook.

When thinking about what kind of rod and reel set up you want to use, take these factors into mind.  What size rockfish are you most likely going to be catching?  How long of a trip? How heavy of an outfit do you really need? Do you prefer to use an 8-9ft rod compared to a 6-7ft rod? And as far as the reel goes, you want a lower gear ratio reel, narrow spool,  loaded with either 65lb braid or dacron, then "top shot"  the spool with approximately feet of 30-40lb monofilament leader.

You can use different kinds of baits including squid, anchovies, sardines, sardine filets, and even small mackerel , which is provided by the head boats.  Just like other kinds of fish, certain rockfish like certain baits more than others. When it comes to fishing for rockfish and ling cod, the bigger bait will usually catch the bigger fish.  When using either a larger live sardine or small  mackerel, make sure you let your fish take the bait before you set the hook. 

Now if you are willing to do a little more work to hopefully catch some better grade fish,  you can start using jigs.  These can include diamond jigs, banana jigs, and big boneyard grubs.  Depending on the amount of current there is, you will need to assess how heavy of a jig you will need to be using. If you are trying for ling cod, try using pink and or white for both the jigs and the grubs.

Well, I have given you a lot of information to digest.  Come and visit me at the store and I will be glad to help set you up for a successful saltwater fishing trip.  In the mean time.....

Tight Lines!

Garrett

By Ed Nelson

What’s better than catching a limit…? Catching a limit on one cast. That’s the goal of every angler who ties on the Alabama Rig. What is the Alabama Rig and what kind of equipment does it take to throw it? That’s the object of this month’s blog.

First the rig, the Alabama Rig is the hottest thing to hit the tournament fishing scene since the Sexy Shad color pattern. Oddly enough it’s been around for some time but was made famous when on Oct. 23, 2011, at Lake Guntersville, Paul Elias put the finishing touches on an impressive tournament that included 4 consecutive 20lb plus weigh-ins totaling 102lbs 8oz, an incredible 17 pound margin of victory and a check for $100,000. All caught on the Alabama Rig. So what is it? It can best be classified as a castable umbrella rig. It has a light-weight head (in most cases weighing about 3/8 oz.) and 5 wire arms with swivels for attaching baits. It is designed to resemble a school of shad and that makes some sort of soft plastic swimbait the most common bait of choice. That’s not to say other baits can’t be used. Just keep in mind that the Alabama Rig is designed for a horizontal presentation so the baits you choose should meet that criteria. Anything from soft plastics like worms, lizards, tubes and grubs to hard baits like spinnerbaits, jigs and in-line spinners can be rigged.

The original Alabama Rig is currently being produced by Mann’s Bait Company. There are also a number of other companies producing similar rigs including, Yum Baits making “The Yumbrella”, Swarming Hornet Lures making “The Swarm” and Bass Pro Shops making “The Deadly 5 Shad Rig”. Regardless of the name on the package, they are all pretty much similar in their rigging and presentation. Simply hang your choice of 5 baits then cast and retrieve. Just keep varying your depth and speed and maybe add in a few pauses or twitches until you start getting bites. There’s also something else these rigs have in common; “Go Big or Go Home!!”

This brings me to the most important part of this article, the tackle. This is no finesse technique. It requires you to break out the big guns. Your usual fishing tackle is not going to work here. You need a 7’ or longer heavy or extra heavy action rod. No less than 65lb braided line and a 6.4:1 gear ratio reel. I guess a lot of you are asking: why do I need that kind of beef for a 3/8 oz. rig? Excellent question, to answer it lets look at each component individually.

• 7’ or longer heavy or extra heavy action rod - Even though your rig starts out at about 3/8 oz. by the time you add in the 5 swimbaits and weighted hooks your rig can easily top out at 2, 3 or even 4 oz. Most medium or medium heavy action rods are not capable of handling that kind of weight. I’ve been throwing my rigs on a Bass Pro Shops 7’ 6” Heavy action Graphite Series Rod. It rates out for 3/8 oz to 2 oz lures and handles the job remarkably well. As far as the rod length goes, I recommend the longer rods for 2 reasons. First, when you cast this rig, you don’t really cast it, you lob it. It’s the same way you would cast a Carolina Rig. When it hits the water it’s anything but stealthy. So the fish in the immediate area of “splash down” are probably going to be spooked. The longer rod gives me a longer cast and the further I can get the rig away from the boat the more fish I can show the rig to on each cast. Second, the longer rod allows me to take up more line on the hook-set, especially on those long casts.

• No less than 65lb braided line - With a rig that weighs in at somewhere between 2 and 4 oz. there is an incredible amount of stress being placed on the line with every cast. Weaker lines are just not going to be able to handle the workload. I don’t know about you but I don’t think I could stomach having to watch $30 to $50 worth of rig and baits flying freely through the air because my line broke on the cast. Now, let’s say you make a good cast but this time you hang that same $30 to $50 worth of rig and baits on a log. There’s nothing on the bait to break free. Your hooks are attached to snap swivels, swivels to wire, wire to eye and eye to line. You better have a line with enough strength to straighten out a hook or your line will break and again $50 lost. My line of choice is either BPS Excel 65lb braid or 65lb Magibraid both in green. A lot of manufactures are recommending 80-100lb braid.

• 6.4:1 gear ratio reel - The first reason I like a 6.4:1 gear ratio is for its versatility. I can speed up my presentation when I want to yet I’m still able to slow down when I have to.  The second reason and probably the most important is multiple fish. Doubles and even triples are not uncommon on this rig. When you have multiple fish on you do not want them to swim around each other as they fight with the rig. This will twist up the wires and can cause you to not only loose the fish but can also lead to wire breakage. The 6.4:1 gear ratio allows me a slow enough retrieve to keep my bait down but when I get a double on I have enough speed to keep the fish behind the rig and coming to me. My choice here is the Johnny Morris Signature Series JMX10HD Baitcast Reel. I’ve been throwing the Alabama Rig for about 3 months now and my Johnny Morris has handled the excessive workload with ease.

There is little doubt that the Alabama Rig is not a fluke. It has proven itself at the highest levels of tournament fishing. I have personally used it in three tournaments to date and have a 1st place finish and 2 top 10’s. It does require some special tackle but its worth it in the long run. One last point, the Alabama Rig is not legal in every state. PLEASE, before you use it check with the local DNR office. I have checked with North Carolina and South Carolina DNR offices. Both North Carolina and South Carolina have told me it is legal to use but South Carolina did specify that it was illegal for use in saltwater. I don’t know about North Carolina saltwater. When in doubt, ASK!

For a more in-depth discussion of the Alabama Rig or any other bass fishing questions drop me a comment on my blog at basspro.com or Bass Pro Shops Facebook page. You can also find me on YouTube at fyafishing or as always feel free to come visit me at Bass Pro Shop. Just ask for Ed.

Tight lines to all and to my bass fishing brethren “See you at the scales”

March is here, and the early spring weather will play a great part in the spring run of Fish. Here are the main focus points of the fishing opportunities to be had at this time.

FRESHWATER
Crappie and Yellow Perch (Ring Perch):
Right now is the time to get in on the great Crappie and Perch fishing that is going on. The mild winter weather is providing better fishing days for these species. Common tactics for these species will be curly tailed grubs, beetle spins, in-line spinner baits, small spinner baits, Cicada type blade baits, small crank baits and small swim baits. These fish will also bite live baits such as minnows and night crawlers with equal enthusiasm. This fishery should remain good till mid to late March.

Herring and Shad (Hickory and American):
NOTE: As of this year, it is illegal for anyone to have river Herring in their possession.  http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/
The Shad fishing hot spots on the James River will be the 95 bridge to the fall line. When the Shad are in full swing boating and Kayak traffic will increase in this area. In addition to fly fishing, Shad are easily caught on Shad darts, Shad spoons, Sabiki rigs and plastic Crappie jigs. This fishery is most fun when using light tackle in the 2 – 6 pound range. Shad typically average in the two pound range, and they put up a great fun fight on the light/ ultra-light tackle with plenty of areal displays, these fish will occasionally be called the “light tackle fresh water Tarpon”. While fishing for Shad you will catch Herring as well. It would be very wise to pay close attention to the Moratorium in effect this year. Also if you are keeping Shad for bait, please keep in mind that there are two different species of Shad, American and Hickory, and you cannot possess American Shad. The number one distinctive feature is that Hickory Shad are darker and have a lower jaw that extends past the upper jaw bone, like a tarpon, and the American Shad are more silver in color, and have equal length jaw bones. The fishing for these fish will be good starting in March, and could go as late as mid April.

Striped Bass (Rock fish):
The Striper, as well as all other big game fish, will follow the Shad and Herring up the rivers on their annual migration to spawn. This gives local anglers a fun opportunity to catch these fish in good numbers, and it is not uncommon to land fish over the 20 pound mark. This is a catch and release fishery, so try to use lure hooks that are easily removed to cause the least amount of stress to the fish. For the fisherman who uses chunked Shad, circle hooks are the safest bet for this type of fishing to help reduce the gut hooked fish that may not survive. Typical lures used will be larger swim baits, wake baits, crank baits, jointed twitch baits and top water lures like Zara Spooks, or Chuggers.  The top color pattern of all these lures will be Shad or Herring.

Catfish: 
The Blue and Channel Catfish begin stirring this month with the opportunity of large fish being caught. Your best bait by far will be cut Hickory Shad, with Gizzard Shad being a good second option. Your typical “Carolina” type slider rig will be your most productive rig to use with the flat river style weights. Fish near the shoreline of the James River in the slower moving water, pay attention to drop-offs, deep holes, and sunken trees. These areas will be your most productive.

SALTWATER
Spot and Croaker: 
As these fish begin to show up this month, your best tackle options will be a standard two hook bottom rig, baited with Squid, Shrimp, Blood Worms, and artificial scent bait like Gulp or Fish Bites. Medium Heavy tackle will provide plenty of fun for these scrappy fighters for the whole family.

Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum:
Warm days will encourage these fish to eat more often, and begin their shift from their oceanic hide outs into the Bay. Medium weight tackle will be sufficient enough to handle these fighting fish, providing plenty of fun. Mirro lures, curled tail grubs, paddle tail grubs and scented baits like the Gulp shrimp will be the best go-to lures for these fish.

Things to Prepare for:
With the Spring fisheries around the corner, now is a great time to get prepared for the fishing you will do later. Re-spooling reels, lubing bearings, replace hooks, dust off the rods, and re-stock missing tackle. Monofilament line pretty much has a one year life span, so it is best to start the year off with good line. Look at your rods, the reel seats on the rods, and the guides. With the nice fishing weather here, it will continue to get better, so prepare now and enjoy your fishing year!
 

By: Levi Slocum / Fishing Manager at Bass Pro Rancho

Spring is the time of the year when all bass fishermen get excited about going fishing and trying to catch that personal best. Most of the time these behemoth Largemouth Bass are up in the shallows full of eggs on beds getting ready to spawn. Every self proclaimed bass fishermen will tell their methods of fooling these fish, well now it’s my turn.

In steps the Alabama, Umbrella, Yumbrella, Deadly 5, Sworming Hornet, Bait Ball, and whatever else you want to call them. A castable umbrella rig is the biggest thing to hit the fishing industry, since invisible fluorocarbon line. It is so popular and effective it has been banned on the 2 biggest bass fishing circuits, the Bass Masters Elites and the FLW, to keep an even playing field. It is a method that has been around forever and mainly used for trolling applications in both fresh and saltwater, until now. This is a fish catching machine if used properly. It does not guarantee you’ll catch fish but it certainly will give you a better chance. Fish don’t want to always expend energy to chase one small baitfish, but the same fish will do it in a second if it sees a school of baitfish, because it gives the fish a better chance at getting more food using less energy, the best of both worlds. That is what makes this method so popular; it gives you the fishermen more chances to succeed.

So back to catching that fish of a lifetime during the spring. This is my theory of why this will work. Since all of the fish are usually spawning up in shallow water usually 15 feet or less, this automatically eliminates bad water before you make a cast. So now with your castable umbrella rig with five baits on it (in California you can have 5 baits on your rig, but only 3 may have hooks, and up to 3 hooks per bait for a possible total of 9 hooks, hope that makes sense) you can cover a lot more water thus leading you to catch more fish. Now these fish will not be striking the bait out of hunger,  but more out of reaction of protecting their babies. So stick with colors of baits that resemble some of their natural predators of eggs...bluegill, crawdads, and shad. So why do I think most people will catch the biggest fish of their life using this method? It’s simply in the numbers and percentages. Cover better water and catch more fish increasing your odds of catching that Monster Bass 

My favorite rig is the Bass Pro Shops Deadly 5 Rig with 3 1/4oz heads with hooks and 2 1/8oz heads with the hooks cut off and five 4 inch NetBait BK Swimbaits in the hitch color. I also use 50lb braid because this rig will cost you about 26 bucks before tax!  Second reason I use braid is because with this rig there is a very good chance you might catch more than one fish at a time. Lastly remember it being the biggest thing since invisible fluorocarbon, well it looks like with all the wires we will not need the invisibility factor anymore. My name is Levi and I am the Fishing Manager, feel free to call the store and ask for me, thanks!  Bass Pro Rancho - 909-922-5500.

Traditionally, Yo-Zuri lures have been on top of the Saltwater competition which continues still today with there newest addition to their hard-bait series. The Crystal 3D Shrimp is a Ultra Premium Hard Shrimp Lure with very realistic attributes. The 3D enhanced frame, quivering arms, and 3 1/2" body makes it the most realistic Shrimp copy the Red Fish and Speckled Trout have ever seen! It is amazingly effective in shallow salt water and could also be used as a Crustacean imitator in freshwater. Coming in a variety of colors and glows, you have a large selection to best fit your waters!

Holographic UV Chartreuse Purple, Holographic Ghost Shrimp, Holographic Olive, Holographic Hot Pink, Holographic Pearl Blue, Holographic UV Rootbeer, and Luminescent Aurora Chartreuse are the colors out today.

Come visit our Spanish Fort Bass Pro Shop for our low price of $13.99 and check out our very knowledgeable fishing staff.

Shop online with our direct link : http://www.basspro.com/YoZuri-Crystal-3D-Shrimp/product/10215425/231836

Also check out our Yo-zuri Crystal 3D Minnow Deep Diver for similar results with a larger variety of sizes and styles!

Thanks,

Clark Brownlie-Carey

Bass Pro Shops Fishing Dept.

Due to the compact nature of kayak fishing, space and access on-board are somewhat limited.  This can make tackle storage a problem.  Tackle is especially vulnerable when exposed to saltwater, something kayak anglers must battle with more so than their boating friends.  Some new storage systems from Plano, however, have solved a lot of the problems facing the saltwater kayak angler.

Plano recently updated their line of sealed, Waterproof Stowaway boxes.  These boxes carry a heavy-duty O-ring gasket to make them water-tight, as well as three lock-tight cam latches that are best I have found in the industry.  They also feature heavier drop-resistant plastic that seems much more durable than your average storage boxes.  These boxes are available in a number of sizes and configurations: the #3440 size is perfect for keeping a phone or wallet dry, while the #3741 size is large enough to carry larger electronics or tackle.  Plano's Waterproof Stowaway series is now my go-to series of boxes.

There is another new series of boxes from Plano that also has a lot of utility for the kayak angler.  What if you took a regular Plano Stowaway box, and drilled holes in it?  At face value, this may seem silly- but it actually makes good sense.  When using hard baits in saltwater, a big problem can be salt contamination within a box.  If you use a saltwater lure for awhile, then return it to its storage box, it can end up corroding and ruining all of the other lures and tackle in the box if not properly cleaned.  Plano's new Hydro-Flo boxes solve this problem!   Its Swiss-cheese-like outer shell allows the contents of the box to be washed down with fresh water at the end of the day, preventing any saltwater corrosion.  You can even run the box through the dishwasher on a cool cycle to get everything cleaned off!

Like many inshore saltwater anglers, I use a lot of scented live-bait alternatives, like Gulp Alive Shrimp or Fishbites.  These baits are more durable than the real thing, and can often be just as effective as live bait.  This makes them ideal for using out of a kayak.  These types of bait do have special needs for storage: they dry out if not sealed up properly.  Also, the somewhat stinky scents can leak out and get all over your other gear.  Plano has come up with a great method of storage for them in the Liqui-bait Locker system.  Like the waterproof series, they use a heavy O-ring seal and a quadruple latch system to stay air-tight.  However, instead of keeping liquid out, these are meant to keep liquid in.  There are several sizes in this system, but the #4642 model carries everything you need.  It includes one screw-lid bucket and a sealed wallet for your bagged baits, as well as having enough room to hold 2 more Gulp Alive buckets.

Storing the boxes within the kayak is another issue many anglers can run into.  Long ago, many fisherman realized that milk crates fit snugly into the tank well of most kayaks and fit a number of tackle tray boxes.  However, milk-crates aren't always easy to acquire and are open to the elements.  Plano's series of marine dry-storage boxes are a great alternative.  The largest size they offer can hold 4 to 5 tackle trays with room to spare, and they will seal up when you need to keep your gear dry. 

This is the first in our series of kayak fishing courses.  Keep an eye out for new tips and content to help you become a more informed and successful kayak fisherman!

Indiana DNR director Robert E. Carter Jr. has signed a temporary rule that establishes a limit on the number of hooks allowed on a rig or lure array used for sport fishing, essentially making so-called umbrella rigs legal through the remainder of this year.

(Some examples of these rigs include the original Alabama Rig, Yumbrella Rig, Deadly Five Rig, and The Swarm Rig.)

Until recently, umbrella rigs were a traditional saltwater trolling apparatus used effectively in the northeastern United States to catch striped bass and bluefish, according to Ken Smith’s Fishing Encyclopedia.

The rig is an umbrella-shaped frame of multiple wires from which lures or hooks are attached. It is designed to resemble a school of baitfish.

Professional bass fisherman Paul Elias triggered a frenzy among freshwater anglers when he used a version of the apparatus, The Alabama Rig, to win an FLW Series national tournament in October. Elias caught a 20-fish limit weighing more than 100 pounds to beat his closest challenger by 17 pounds and earn the tournament’s $100,000 first-place prize.

Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society (BASS), the FLW’s rival tour, announced in January that umbrella rigs cannot be used in the Bassmaster Classic or the Bassmaster Elite Series.

In the meantime, states have been scrambling to see if umbrella rigs fall inside or outside of their fishing regulations.

Indiana’s existing rules do not adequately describe whether or not umbrella rigs are legal. Indiana Administrative Code 312 IAC 9-7-2 states that “an individual may take fish with not more than three poles, hand lines, or tip-ups at a time…(and) an individual must affix to each line not more than: two hooks, two harnesses for use with live bait, or two artificial baits.

The ambiguity with the umbrella rig is whether it should be defined as one lure with many parts or many lures on single line.

As DNR officials continue to study the issue, the temporary rule adds a fourth option to the existing regulation that allows “one rig or lure array for use with multiple artificial baits with not more than five hooks.”

The temporary rule expires on Jan. 1, 2013.

“This gives Hoosier anglers an opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the use and effectiveness, or drawbacks, of how umbrella rigs actually perform,” Carter said. “It also gives the DNR time to gather information on what, if any, future definitions or restrictions need to be considered.”

The temporary rule does not apply to trout and salmon streams that are tributaries of Lake Michigan or to the St. Joseph River downstream of the Twin Branch Dam in Mishawaka. The regulations on those waters continue to be limited to one single hook, one harness for use with live bait, or one artificial lure per line. Single hooks, including those on artificial baits, must be no larger than 1/2 inch front point to shank. Double and treble hooks on artificial lures may not exceed 3/8 inch from point to shank. All trout and salmon taken in Indiana must be hooked in the mouth (no foul hooking allowed).

*This post (with parenthetical BPS commentary) was originally from the Feb 26, 2012 Wild Bulletin from the Indiana DNR and used with the written consent of the IDNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Sign up for the Indiana Wild Bulletin and receive updates from MyDNR to stay up-to-date on Indiana fishing and hunting news!

Liked this? Check out the additional Portage Bass Pro Shops Blog about how to fish these deadly effective rigs the right way! And as always, visit us at basspro.com to check out all the good stuff we have to offer!

Have an A-rig success story? A question? A comment? Drop us a line in the comment section and let us know what you think!

Tight Lines!

Alex Ferguson

Portage BPS Fishing

New Reels 

New reels are arriving daily at the Bass Pro Shops in Katy Texas.  They have the finest selection of reels in Texas.  If you are looking for a new reel or want to have the reel you have re-spooled with some awesome line please let them do that for you.

They have many manufactures represented in their assortment you already know the names but they also carry their own signature brand of reels that are the envy of the industry.

Fishermen from around the world know the Bass Pro Shops and rely on their expertise and their products.  If you are looking for Fresh water reels look no further they have a full line of reels for every occasion.  Saltwater reels are our specialty and we have so many to choose from that you have to see them to believe them.

I was looking at the bait cast reels, I received a casting lesson from one of the Katy staff  and instruction on how to set up the reel and what line I needed to use.  I was thrilled with the selection and the incredible knowledge of the personnel at the Katy store.

If you are in the market for a new reel head on out to the Katy Bass Pro Shop and you will be amazed

With Spring right around the corner, fresh and saltwater anglers prepare their equipment for the busiest season of the year. Spring brings warmer waters to our coast, bringing in pelagic such as Dolphin, Wahoo, and Tuna’s. It also marks the annual spawning of freshwater species such as Large Mouth Bass, and Peacock Bass.

Water temperatures climb steadily throughout spring, gaining as much as 15 °F, bringing with it prized saltwater pelagics. Fishermen begin to prepare their techniques and tackle for the annual running of Dolphin or Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena hippuru). Dolphins are a prized game fish, valued for their excellent food quality and powerful acrobatics. They are usually found during the warmer months of the year however, anglers have reported catching them during the months of December and February. Dolphin spawn two to three times a year, producing between 80,000 to 1,000,000 eggs per session. They reach sexual maturity in as little as 4-5 months, this is why the bag limit is set at 10 per person, with a minimum measurement of 20 inches to the fork.

Top water frogs, worms on the bottom, or hard plastics, these are just some techniques anglers turn use to target spawning Large Mouth Bass and Peacock in the Spring. The Large Mouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) are a species of Black Bass, native to North America. These fish are known to have a veracious appetite, often consuming baits that are 25-50% of the Bass’s body length. They are sought after for their hard fighting abilities and their hook shaking acrobatics. Peacock Bass are a species of tropical fish that belong to the Cichla genus. They are native to Amazon River basin of South America. Spring time offers anglers the opportunity to witness schools of these fish travel down local canals as they look for a place to forage. Parental Peacocks become very territorial and aggressive, often hitting nothing more than a spoon in order to protect their young. This aggression often leads anglers to catch two fish at the same time, on the same lure?

Now we know that Spring time is one of the best times during the year to go fish. The question is, will you be fishing in Salt or Fresh water? Or are you adventurous enough to tackle on both?

Tight lines everyone, best of luck.

Erik Medina,

Fishing Associate

Bass Pro Shops Miami

Whether you fly fish freshwater or saltwater the last few weeks of winter is a prime time to check out our tackle and make sure that it is ready for the upcoming season. One particular component of our tackle that you might want to look at is your supply of flies. If you haven’t done it before you might even want to try your hand at tying your own flies.

The best way to get started is to attend one of our fly tying classes and learn from one of our expert fly tying instructors. This way you will find out if it is something that you would enjoy doing and you will also be learning good fly tying techniques. These classes are currently going on (for specific dates and times keep checking on the store website. Once you have learned the basics of fly tying, with a relatively small investment in fly tying equipment and supplies you can begin tying your own flies. For example three different kits are available, one is designed for tying flies for trout, the White River Fly Shop Fly Tying Kit – Trout tying, the second is designed for bass fishing and that is the White River Fly Shop Fly Tying Kit – Bass Tying and the third is designed for saltwater fishing and that is the White River Fly Shop Fly Tying Kit – Saltwater Tying.

Not only is fly tying a pleasant way to spend a winter’s evening but it is also an economical way to build up your supply of flies for the upcoming season. The classes also provide an opportunity to learn what other fly fishermen are having luck with and also how to tie these flies. For the experienced fly tyer or for the novice wishing to upgrade Bass Pro Shops has a large supply of fly tying supplies and equipment available. An upgraded fly tying vise such as the Peak Rotary Vise with Pedestal Base or perhaps the Griffin Spider vise might be good choices.

Other items that you might want to consider could include a dubbing dispenser box, a dubbing twister, a rotating whip finisher or perhaps a White River Fly Shop Ceramic Bobbin.

One other benefit of tying your own flies is the satisfaction of catching fish with your own creations. So why not give fly tying a try you may find yourself a new fun and satisfying hobby.

Don Nelson

Bass Pro Shops

Foxborough

By Jeff Rowland

In my home state of Iowa, freshwater is our only choice to set a hook. Not complaining…we have thousands of farm ponds, many hold quality fish. Our government entities have provided hundreds of impoundments and city reservoirs. We have 19,000 miles of rivers to fish with the Mississippi and Missouri on our borders. Iowa also has some great multiple species abounding throughout the state. I have fished many different bodies of water in Iowa and in the late 90’s I turned my freshwater passion into a guide service. In 12 years I had taken over 200 clients from 11 different states and two foreign countries. I thought I had experienced everything an angler possibly could be exposed to. This all changed several years ago with a family vacation to the Gulf.

Since I was a total novice to saltwater fishing, I felt it would be best to explore the Internet prior to the trip. I was searching for any info I could find pertaining to the area I was going to visit, what species were there, and what methods could be used to catch them.

Fishing up north in freshwater land I prefer to throw artificial baits to attract whatever species I am pursuing. I decided that I would do the same in the salt. As I began researching species, locations, tides, and preferred forage, a common theme became apparent for what kind of lure I would be tossing… Shrimp. From the info I had, “shrimp” is one bait that few saltwater fish can turn down. My plan of attack was to use Berkley Power Bait Shrimp in two colors, natural and new penny. I had several different sizes of jigs that I could mix up depending on the force of the tide or water depth.

The first day’s arrival was a festive one that had several family members hanging out in front of the condo right on the beach. Since it looked like these festivities were going to go through the day, I thought I would just wade out in front of the beach and start chunking my offerings. Before long, I had several other family members wade out with me and we started chatting and hoping to see some action. Many unproductive casts went by until a school of baitfish came through. They were green in color and when the school would turn the sun would glisten off their bodies like a prism. As we were all commenting on how cool that was, large shadows in the three to four-foot range started passing through the school and bait fish were exploding out of the water all around us. I threw right into the scattered baitfish and received a powerful hit right away. I tried to set the hook, but my presentation had been bitten in half and now what was left of my lure was screaming out of the water and right towards me. I ducked out of the way without receiving any hook penetration as the shadows continued to pass through the bait fish and scattering them out of casting range. My heart was pounding and my adrenaline rushing as I was looking at the bait that appeared to be surgically removed with precise teeth marks. I never found out what species of fish were casting those shadows but the whole experience moved my wading a little closer to shore.

The rest of that week was spent exploring different areas. I caught some Sheepshead off a bridge piling, a Mutton Snapper in a bay next to a marina and, on my last day, landed a small Snook in a pass on the south end of an island. Far from pro status, but I was thrilled with my results and the opportunity. The best part of fishing the salt is the unknown potential of so many different species and your chance to tie into something very big every time you cast.

I have taken many trips back to the Gulf since that first experience. Been out on some charters and explored many backcountry areas inshore. Yellowtails, Grouper, Snapper, Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, small Sharks and some big ones have been on the end of my line. I still consider myself an amateur at saltwater fishing but I am all about trying to improve on my experience and look very forward to my next opportunity to fish in the salt.

___________________________________ 

From Brownsville to Key West, the Gulf is a paradise for anglers.
If you have never fished the salt I strongly recommend giving it a try. There are so many different locations and options for pursuing many different species of fish. There are plenty of guides and charters that are experts for putting you on some fish. If you are in an area near one of our Gulf-area Bass Pro Shops, the associates in the fishing department are all very knowledgeable and will help you out with presentations, fishing the tide, and whatever equipment you need to use. Check out our World Wide Sportsman’s inventories online. There are many applications and lures that Northern anglers have never been exposed to and it is very fun to look at and expand your fishing horizons.

 Bass Pro Shops Altoona Receiving Manager Jeff Rowland is an avid fisherman, outdoor writer, and former fishing guide. He is the author of Reel Adventures of a Marion County Angler and his expertise has been featured in magazines such as Iowa Game and Fish, Outdoor Life, and Field and Stream.  

 

The weather may be warm and inviting outside but don't think that winter is over yet.  The sunny warm days have one thing on every ones mind, fishing.  The great thing is you do not have to wait till warmer weather to catch that trophy of a lifetime, you can do it on the coldest day of the year.  The new Arkansas state record was caught just a few days ago, that though is a blog for another day. 

The newest craze is the Alabama Rig.  This multi bait presentation is just a remix of the classic umbrella baits used in saltwater and striper fishing for years.  It is a great lure and will increase you chances of catching multiple quality fish.  Before you fish with it make sure to check you local laws.  To find out more about the A-Rig, check Brandon's earlier blog.

When it comes to late winter fishing one of the go to baits this time of the year is the deep diving crank bait.  Bass are suspended deep and looking for easy meals during these cold months.  The Strike King 5 and 6 XD Pro Model crank baits are great for getting down deep and staying in the murky depths.  To guarantee your crank bait gets down to the 15 to 18 foot levels they are rated for spool your reel with Bass Pro Shops XPS Fluorocarbon. 

Another get way to attract bass during these late winter months is a slow rolling spinner bait.  The reflection from the blades resemble shad and other bait fish, and bass find them hard to resist.  The Bottom Dweller from Strike King is a great spinner to use during the cold months.  Its gets down to the bottom in a hurry and stays there as you slow roll it. 

Jerk baits are another tried and tested late winter lure.  They jerking actions of these baits mimic injured or dying bait fish triggering bass to strike.  The XCalibur EEratic Shad is a great jerk bait and is found in several colors for every type of water condition.

All in all you can have a great day on the lake no matter what you are using.  From jerk baits to the newest trend like the A-Rig, fishing is fishing.  The old adage that, "A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at the office," is all to true as temperatures are on the rise and spring is in the air.  I hope these few tips will help increase your stringer next time out on the water.

Stewart Williams

Fishing Lead

Memphis, TN