Fishing for Charities Tournament Trail

Bass fishing is more than just a hobby for me, it’s a way of life.  I love to fish bass tournaments.  I think those anglers who enjoy fishing tournaments enjoy the competition like I do.  I like matching my skill against someone else.  The money when you win makes it all the better.  With so many tournament trails it’s hard to know which to fish.    

                I wanted to tell you about a tournament trail that is only a year old.  I recently found out about this trail and I am sold.  Fishing For Charities is a bass fishing tournament trail that is devoted to raising money for various charities.  Dwayne puts it like this “was founded out of our love of fishing and our dedication to help charitable organizations that have personally touched lives.”  The money from entry fees is split.  40% of the money is donated to the charity of each event.  The other 60% goes back into the anglers hands.

The tournament trail was born after Dwayne Linkous’ son, Raiden, was diagnosed with Niemann Pick Disease.  Dwayne who has been a TBF director realized that bass fishing tournaments could be used for something more than just competition.  “Our tournament directors have over 53 years of tournament experience.”  With that much experience in running good quality tournaments you can count on a quality tournament when you sign up to Fish For Charities.

Fishing For Charities helps raise money for NPD Raidens Hope, Wounded Warrior Project, Make-A-Wish of Greater VA, Autism Society of East TN, Relay For Life of Hamblen CO and Victory Junction Camp.  Fishing For Charities currently has 6 tournaments scheduled for 2011, in North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.  You can see the full tournament schedule here.  

With the tournament trail starting its second year there are many things still to come.  Dwayne told me that they hope to be able to have a classic of sorts for the top anglers each year.  The tournaments are a team format but you can fish alone.  It is the top five fish per boat that is weighed in.  The tournaments themselves are 100 dollars per boat.  You can become a member of Fishing For Charities for 15 dollars which entitles you to some bonus pay outs.  Membership in Fishing For Charities is not required to fish the tournaments.  The pay back scale is based on the number of boats in the field.  

So this year help out some local charities and go fish with Fishing for Charities. If you would like information for a charity close to your heart contact Dwayne Linkous.

Down Time

I’ve been spending the last few days pondering if I want to man up, load the boat, and head out and battle the cold weather in the hunt for a few green fish. Here in the south, we don’t see ice so thick you can drive a full size truck over it. We see some teen and above temps, but pretty much you can dump your boat at any accessible ramp anytime, considering you can bare the elements. Around this time I take a look at all my inventory, rods, reels, tackle and so on and develop a plan to restock, clean and organize everything I have, gearing up for next spring, well really February when the johnboat trail begins. I like to make these things a regular thing, therefore it will become second nature and it really helps your equipment in the long run. I keep a pretty good selection of line, keep it out of intense heat/cold and it’ll last for quite some time. I also strip my reels of the old line, take them about halfway down, clean them thoroughly and oil and re grease where needed. I am a Quantum PT guy for the most part, so a dab of Quantum Hot Sauce on specific places will keep me firing smooth casts all year long. I will also clean my rods with a cleaner wax on the blank, wipe the cork with lacquer thinner to clean the “black” we all put on the handles from use and check the guides for burrs and blemishes with a Q-tip. These are just a few minor tips you can all do to protect your investment, and make it last.  From there I’ll go through my tackle, every aspect and add to what I’m low on, replace new hooks and add what I think I’m going to try the next year that I may not have in my boxes. 

This is also a good time to get your game plan together, whether planning vacation days to fish a club tournament or just to plan to take the family or friends out. This time for me is where I enter my learning curve to deal with sponsors. I’ve landed a great deal with Sasquatch Soft Plastics and I cannot wait to try out some of their new products in the coming year. I am also excited to meet and talk some with some great companies and people over time and perhaps put together a plan to catch some quality fish and cash a few checks as well. That is the most important part, you have to know how to fish, sounds cliché, but you have to be able to figure them out on any given day and circumstance. Simply, putting your head down and fishing is what you have to do…period! These are some key things to make your fishing trip better, make your year run smoother, the will to prepare, cover your bases and be ready. Now is the time, set your goals, go after them, but for now, enjoy the cold and have a little down time! 

By: 
Cale Milam

Tis the Season

 It is that time of year again; the smells of warm grass and dead leaves are behind us.  Gone are the days of shorts and flip flops and dangling your toes in the water. It is time for that very special season we know as bass fisherman to be winter.  That’s right; most of the northern states are in the beginning stages of a deep freeze that will last for months.  Most of the casual anglers have long since put their boats in storage and stored their gear until spring, but some are already biting their nails in anticipation of the season to come.  If that nail biting, manic depressive is you, silently wandering the fishing aisle at Meijer on a cold winter night, here are a few things that might ease the winter chill.

January generally starts off the consumer fishing show season.  This corresponds with the public release of all the great tackle and gear we have read about in the latest issues of fishing magazines.  These shows are a great way to soothe your need to battle those beasts of the deep.  Most of the dedicated fishing shows, such as the Showspan Ultimate Fishing Shows, have good selections of new products to get your hands on.  This may also be the best time to find that new piece of equipment you need.  Showspan consumer shows also have multiple vendors on hand allowing you to compare prices or combine purchases.  Many will even offer discounts for multiple items, include free lures or will have combo prices on rods and reels not available in stores.  Fishing line manufacturers will often match purchases with complimentary product.  However, this is not even the best reason to attend.  Generally, a good customer based company will be well represented with pro-staff or factory reps to explain and highlight product features and other information that most salesman and big box chain stores may not be familiar with.  These factory set-ups are the real gem at a consumer fishing show.  Most of them offer extensive knowledge and customer support, product demonstrations and new product displays.  To a consumer, this is the best place to get the most value for your hard earned dollar.  Don’t be afraid to compare and inspect products thoroughly.  Ask questions about what you are looking at and take advantage of the opportunity to talk to your peers; knowledge is buying power.

Some may scoff at this next suggestion while others may wretch and moan like the undead, but all should at least consider it.  Without argument, the best way to keep your game sharp this winter is to keep fishing, and for a great deal of people it means “Ice Fishing”.  Though it sounds contradictory to bass fisherman, there is much merit in this cold and blustery activity.  The seasoned fisherman will agree that the toils and troubles associated with drilling holes and fishing with tiny gear in the dead of winter is beneficial to an angler’s skill set.  Fishing for bluegill and other panfish through the ice helps to develop and extend abilities in key areas; locating fish, reading sonar, relating to depth, adjusting for weather conditions, and feeling light bites to name a few.  All of these are big players to a bass fisherman and can help bridge a gap in knowledge from September to April.  By knowing the location of the panfish (bass forage), a fisherman can narrow down a starting location in spring.  Information about forage can help with lure selection and presentation when the ice comes off.  Being able to make subtle adjustments to presentation due to sun, clouds, wind or pressure helps to create logical reasoning patterns.  Using electronics to locate, target and entice finicky fish through the ice gives a better understanding of how to read and use sonar when in the boat.  Most importantly, what better opportunity will a serious angler have to examine the lake and plot an attack than when standing on it?  Someone new to ice fishing can get involved for as little as $100.  All one really needs is an appropriate rod ($15-19), a small reel (which some already own), and a way to make a hole (augers can be purchased for as little as $50).  Truly, ice fishing can be an asset to a serious fisherman offering multiple avenues to increase knowledge and skills.

Finally, the most obvious way to keep your wits about you is to hook up and head south for better conditions.  Depending on your relative location to the “freeze line” there may not be much travel involved.  One can quickly determine how far to go by using satellite imagery or simply calling some tackle shops in the selected area to be sure the water is clear of ice.  It will still be winter bass fishing, but most tackle shops in the area should be able to give you a fishing report, and will likely point you in the right direction.  Winter trips can be fun, and it can even be a good way to get in some pre-practice for an upcoming championship or summertime trip.  Impoundments will often be drawn down during winter months allowing you to see cover and structure that is normally submerged during the prime fishing season.  This is a great time of year to burn up some of last years boat fuel using a tool like the Lowrance Structure Scan Imaging (LSSI) to see details that will attract and hold fish in months to come.  These trips may not always be the most productive for catching fish, but sometimes reconnaissance is a better reward.  Any information gleaned during the “off season” is priceless if it puts you ahead of the crowd when the ice is gone. 

So you can put together a car load of your best fishing buddies and head to the Bassmaster Classic in February, where you will find enough bass fishing stimulation to keep you going long into spring. You can head out and see all the new products at the consumer shows or hit the ice for some bluegills, but don’t waste away thinking about what is to come.  Get out and enjoy yourself, learn as much as you can, and get prepared for the season to come.  After all, it will be here before you know it.

By:

Kendall Ulsh

A New Kind of Scent

Bass fishermen all seem to have an opinion on what scent is best for bass fishing.  Maybe you like a garlic scent like JJ's magic, a crawfish scent, or maybe it's a homemade mix.  Berkley has built an empire on the Power Bait scent and has the science to back it up.  All of those scents are fine and work, but they are also focused on one thing; the scent of prey.

So when I first heard about Trigger X and their line of baits that are infused with Pheromones, I had to do my research.  Basically pheromones are a "secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a response".  All living things have them, and until now it hasn't hit mainstream in the bass fishing world.  Trigger X combines "aggression" and "fear", which mimic the natural predator vs. prey response.  Sounds interesting, huh?

In addition to the added attraction of the baits, the full line-up of plastics is also Phthalate free.  Again, I had to do my research to see what the heck they were talking about.  Basically this has to do with the type of plastic.  Phtalates have been found to have some health effects.  This isn't the only reason I would buy these baits, but it can't hurt.  You can see more about the problems with phtalates by clicking here.  

The baits themselves come in all of your favorite styles; worms, tubes, frogs, creatures, lizards and more.  The color selection is also pretty good and covers all of the favorites you need.  I haven't had a chance to use these yet, but they are on my list of things to try for the new year.  You can learn more about them by checking out their site.

By:
Tyler Brinks

Sasquatch Soft Plastics Skunk Apes

Upon starting my own custom soft plastics company i wanted to create baits that were truly unique.

When the "Beaver Style" bait hit the fishing industry everyone copied the design... There are smooth versions, ribbed versions, some versions with tentacles even..

When it came to making a Beaver style bait for Sasquatch o wanted to take a little from here and a little from there as well as add a little Sasquatch Flair to the bait.

So what i came up with was the futuristic Body style, with a smooth body and for that extra Sasquatch Punch i added little hairs or feelers protruding from the body to add a little vibration as well as some extra, unique action

Most Of the baits in the Sasquatch Soft Plastics lineup are named off of a Sasquatch theme... So it was only fitting to name our beaver style bait the "Skunk Ape" which is what florida has named they're "bigfoot"

Sasquatch Soft Plastics Skunk Apes come in 3.5" & 4.20" sizes and as with EVERY Bait in the lineup, they come in whatever custom or common colors the customer likes.

You can check out tank tests of the Skunk Apes, Order them or Even Contact Me at the website

www.sasquatchsoftplastics.com

Get Yours Before Spring and CATCH A MONSTER!!!

BY:
Derek Kaalberg

Painting Perfection

Have you ever walked into your favorite tackle store, you know, the place you call your second home,  the aisles have become second nature, you know exactly right where your preferred hard bait  is hanging.  We all do it, those of us who are constantly on the hunt for that new crank bait that doesn’t track, that will run the true depth as stated and has very quality components. Thing is, you’ve found what you came for, but, one problem, their out of your color. Or as you remembered from your last trip on the water, those chunky spotted bass are chasing blue backs. You are standing there, wondering, “what if” you could key in on your home waters forage. I am saying, those key blues, greens, silvers. Why not consider taking that square bill, suspending jerk bait, lipless shad imitator and have it essentially “match the hatch”? Well now is your chance, the option is out there, and there are several artists to choose from. I have recently had the pleasure of talking some with two great artists, Rob Jordan, owner and artist of Xtreme Lure Creations in Suwanee, Georgia. Checking out some of Rob’s work, from his large variety of shad patterns, to a bluegill/sunfish  scheme and his largemouth and spotted bass patterns that are unmatched, Rob can definitely bring your tackle box to life and put more in your livewell on any given day. Check out his work and see what he has up his sleeve next at XtremeLureCreations.com, you wont be disappointed.

I also had the pleasure to chat some with Dwain Batey, owner and artist of Bait Werks from Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Dwain, like Rob and many of the other artists in the industry, does some very detailed work, redefining the shad patterns, craw patterns and even some realistic bass patterns.  You will even find some one off, color specific requests from some of these guys, that keep you guessing what is next, and what can I think of that will work for me on my home waters or that next tournament that will give me that advantage over my competition. You can check out Dwain’s work at BaitWerks.com, he has even released some new colors and patterns taking the custom lure painting scene strong into 2011 and beyond. These were just two options, two guys doing what they do best, simply…..painting perfection! 

By: Cale Milam

It's Time for My 2010 Christmas List

Last year I posted a Christmas Wish List of my Top 5 items for 2009.  I was a good boy and ended up getting four of them throughout the year (didn't end up getting the Citica).  I have been making a list for a few months now and had to expand this year's list to my Top 10 items (in no particular order).

1. Shimano Caenan Reel. Shimano has long been know for making great reels.  The new entry to the lineup is the Caenan.  It's priced right and ready to fish.  I have played around with this reel at the store and I was really impressed. At $89.99 you can't go wrong with this reel.

2. iRod Punch Rod For heavy cover and big bass you need a strong rod.  The Punch Rod delivers everything you need to punch a heavy weight all day.  I had the chance to use my buddy's iRod a few weeks ago and didn't want to give it back after using it.  It's light, strong, and ready to work.  I need to get one of these in time for the upcoming tournament season.

3. Paycheck Baits Head Case.  The perfect addition to your soft plastic swimbaits and Senkos.  The proven design is a must have on lakes with grass. 

4. ZMan Chatterbait TrailerZ series.  The Chatterbait is a proven fish catcher, and now with the addition of the extended skirt as a trailer, you can show them something they can't resist.  I have some in Sexy Shad and Black/Blue on order and I know they are going to be great for pre-spawn fish.

5. Norman Lures Flat Broke Crankbait.  I know, I already have some and love them, but can't I ask for some more?  This crankbait works wonders around wood and rocks.

6. Bass Brigade Gear.  I have become a big fan of the Bass Brigade movement and I have been looking for a way to show it.  The new Bass Brigade lineup of shirts and hats will make it happen.  I am impressed with their first release of goods and waiting to see what they have in store for us next.  

7. Power Team Lures Craw D'oeuvre.  After watching that video of JP DeRose and those monster smallies, I have to get some of these.  I know they won't be good for just smallies and I have plans on flipping and pitching these this year. I'm loving the Black Blue swirl color.

8. Sufix 832 Braid.  Some would argue that braided line is braided line and it doesn't make a difference when you are fishing heavy cover.  I would disagree.  After having line snap on hook-sets and braid that gets old and unusable after a few trips, I have been looking for something more reliable.  The 2010 ICAST Best New Line winner is up to the challenge.  They say it is the most durable braided line ever because of technology like the added Gore Performance Fibers (think Gore-Tex) fibers and precision braiding.  I am anxious to get some of this line and put it to the test on Lake O. 

9. Sebile Soft Weight System Sebile has been dominating the awards at trade shows across the globe with their new products.  The Sebile Soft Weight System is a combination of super sharp hooks and Tungsten gum rubber weights.  The system comes in different sizes of hooks and weights.  I am looking to use this system on my Flukes and Senkos.  

10. Stanley Back Weighted Double Take Hooks.  I am already a believer in the two hook design of the Double Take hook.  I have used them and honestly believe my hook-ups have increased using soft plastic frogs.  The weighted back design will allow for longer casts and will make sure the frog stays upright no matter what you do to it on the retrieve.

If I am good, I should have all of these items in stock in time for my busy Spring tournament season.  What's on your Christmas list? Did I miss anything?

How To Winterize your Boat

It’s getting close to time for winter in Michigan and the dreaded task of putting the boat up for winter is looming.  So what does someone need to do if they are going to winterize their boat for the winter?  I hope to give you an easy check list for those of us stuck in the north and with no choice, except to put the boat up for another year.

            Let’s begin with the engine.  The heart of your boat is one thing you don’t want to let the winter take its toll on.  In states where freezing weather occurs you don’t want water in your gear case or engine.  When the water freezes it can cause serious problems like a cracked engine block or a cracked gear case.  This can cost serious money to fix or replace. 

There are a few things you will need before you get started.  You will need a flat head screw driver, fogging fog, “ear muffs” or container to run motor in, STA-BIL and lower end gear oil.

            You will need to run your engine when putting it up for the winter.  You can place the lower end in a container of water so you don’t over heat your engine, but I have found that the “ear muff” attachment for a hose works best.  You want to start the motor and disconnect the fuel line.  You are doing this to clear all the gas out of your engine.  You will want to give the carburetors a shot of the fogger.  Before all the gas is used up your motor will begin to run ruff, when this happens give the carburetors a bigger shot of the fog this will help make sure the engine is coated in the fog. 

            Now you want to remove the engine from the container of water or take off the “ear muffs”.  Put the motor strait up and down, this may mean you need to crank your trailer way down or even put the tongue of your trailer on the ground.  Let the water drain from the pick up on your lower end.  Some engines have drain plugs you can open, check your owner’s manual to see if you have one.  You also need to drain the water from the motor itself.  You can hand crank your fly wheel a few times or crank the motor a few times.  Like I said if you live in the north where it freezes this step is critical, if all the water is not out of the motor you could end up with some serious repair bills come spring.

            Once you have removed all the water from your lower end and the motor, you need to remove the spark plugs.  Once you have removed the spark plugs spray the fogger in to each spark plug hole.  Since you have the spark plugs out it is a good time to inspect the spark plugs.  Make sure they are gapped correctly, if the spark plug looks bad take this chance to replace it.  Once you have fogged the spark plug holes and checked over your spark plugs put them back in.

             Now we come to the point in the task that has two theories when dealing with the gear oil in the lower end.  Some say you need to drain the lower end oil and fill it back up all the way.  I, however, was taught that you need to drain the lower end oil and leave it out until spring.  The idea in both theories is that you want no water in the lower end.  By draining the lower end you are removing the water.  Some say that filling up the lower end with gear oil will push any water still in there out.  Like I said I was taught to drain all the oil out and leave the plugs out so any water can run out.

            Now let’s turn our attention to the fuel in your boat.  The most damaging thing that can happen come spring if you take care of winterizing your motor is water in your fuel.  Once again there are two theories on dealing with your fuel when winterizing your boat.  Some will fill the fuel tank all the way up, the idea behind this is that if your gas tank is completely full there is no room for condensation to build up and ruin the gas.  If this is what you chose to do I recommend that you use a fuel additive such as STA-BIL (which can be bought at any auto parts store or boat dealer) to help combat this.  The other option is to drain the fuel tank.  You can take it in and have it done by a professional (safest option) or you can siphon the fuel tank yourself.  Please if you do this yourself be careful.

            From the motor we turn our attention to the boat itself.  First and for most make sure you remove the drain plug from the boat.  You don’t want any water in the haul of your boat.  If it freezes you can develop a crack in the fiber glass and have serious problems.  Make sure that you jack the front of your boat so all the water in the haul runs out the back end of the boat.

            If you live in extremely cold areas of the country you may want to consider bringing your batteries indoors.  You want to make sure your batteries are fully charged.  This is a good time to check the water levels in the batteries and make sure they are full, if not fill them.  If you move your batteries into your house leave them on a trickle charge or don’t charge them at all.  Every so often you can check the batteries and see if they are still charged and if they are not you can charge them.

            When you are putting up your boat for the winter, it’s also a great time to clean out your boat.  Over the summer we all tend to accumulate things in the boat that we don’t need.  So this is a great time to clean out all the unneeded items in your boat.  I also take out all my tackle and store it in the house.  I want to keep it from getting mice in it.  It’s also a good time to go through your tackle and reorganize it (more to come on that subject at a later time).

            The last thing to deal with then winterizing your boat is your trailer.  This is a great time to make sure that the wheels are greased and if the bearings need re packing this is a great time to take care of it.  It also a good time to check your lights and make sure they are working properly, or even need to be replaced.

            I hope if you live in the cold climate these tips will help you so if you take them to heart next spring when you fire up the boat you don’t have an unwanted surprise in the form of a giant repair bill. 

Wintertime For the Weekend Tournament Angler

So I Start Noticing when Getting Home From 3rd Shift That on my Covered Triton Tr-20 Sitting in the driveway that had been acustomed to many morning trips this summer, ( kind of a drive home-unplug-hook up-and get gone kind of scenario repeated randomly throughout the week) is progressivly getting covered more and more with frost from cold illinois nights. "Not Yet!" i think to myself wondering where in the world the warm weather has slipped off to...

Time to face reality i suppose as living in the midwest isnt quite as fair on us as it is on my Southern friends. Following trucks in the morning pulling small trailers with camoflaged ATV's should have been my hint, but i still wait out those unseasonbly warm days to hook up the boat and get on the water. When Those Days seem to be a shot in the dark here is the break down.

First and foremost get the boat winterized!! 

I just call up the dealership where i bought it from, schedule an appointment, and drop it off. They can usually get it done within a days time and this year i was even able to pick it up a few hours after i dropped it off. 

My Parents own a Marina on the Mississippi River and i have seen my share of Large Yachts and Housebouats get winterized but i still choose to have my dealership winterize the boat for me for a couple reasons.

• Generate Buisness For The Dealership in an economy that has not been too kind to the Marine industry

• Peace Of Mind That the winterization is being done correctly; these guys do this for a living there has to be something good about that as opposed to me struggling with it on a Saturday afternoon

•Probably the MOST important reason for me taking my boat to the dealership for maintnance is so they know i am taking the time to take care of my boat by professionals and not taking shortcuts to save a few bucks. This helps in total resale of the boat when i want to trade it in on a newer model down the road. This way they have documented every single time i have taken the boat in to them and they know exactly what has been done to the boat.

After the Mind is at ease that my Outboard will more than likely start March when i start Fishing again, it is time to stare at the Moutainous pile of tackle that has accumulated in my Basement.

What to do? 

My Custom soft plastics buisness keeps me quite busy year round, but in between orders to keep my mind at ease an for a little change of pace these are some things i do while theres a foot of snow on the ground and 8" of ice on my favorite lakes..

I like to start one project at a time....first thing that comes to mind when looking at all of this tackle sitting in front of me is "I wonder just how much tackle of mine is sitting on the bottom of the lakes on a stump or in a brush pile" ( Hint: Some Lakes drop there water levels in late fall so i go back and have retrieved SOME tackle i had lost in the summer while flipping brush and laydowns ) so i think one technique at a time... Crankbaits, Texas Rig, Spinnerbaits, Jigs are all things that tend to get snapped off. Take the time to go through your inventory and replace all these things and even re organize each box. Small things Save Big amounts of time while on the water in Tournament Situations

Take a Look at all hooks, sharpen and replace them if necessary

A Small Thing that i also do is take all my rods one by one and take the reels off and wipe my rods down, usually with just warm water to get any algae & hard water spots off of the blank. Then ill take a cotton Q-tip and get each end wet with warm water and swab out the line guides. I like to use Braided Line on My Spinnerbait rod and Flippin stick which brings in alot of debris and leaves line guides straight up filthy.

As far as the reels go, i take warm water and wipe off any algae build-up on the line guide an on the outside face of the reels. I leave the strenuous cleaning to my local Bait shop. They Call it COAG service on the reels COAG being a synonym for Clean, Oil and Grease. They take the reel completly apart and use special cleaning solutions to clean every part of the gears and bearings in the inner workings of the reel. The best part about taking my reels to the Shop i take mine too is that they hire High School Kids on the Moline High School Bass Fishing Team to help out in the shop, This gets High School kids into Tournament Fishing and they really get to learn every little part of the industry.

March Really isnt THAT far away and ill be Back on the water, so now is the time to control the few aspects of this game that i can...

Hopefully This Helps Ease the Start of Cabin Fever With a Little something to keep you occupied as well!

CATCH A MONSTER!!!

By: Derek Kaalberg

Small waters Big fishing

With an ever changing up and down economy, many of us have felt the hurt of trying to follow our passion of bass fishing. Many major corporations have taken a downturn along with us as consumers  and the money we invest has become very slim. I’ve followed the old golden rule of if there is a will, there is a way. With that said, I did my homework, and purchased a new Alumacraft and began to build a full custom reservoir boat. This was a pretty cheap investment in construction, doing everything myself from paint, flooring and add ons such as trolling motors, batteries and a reputable Humminbird unit.  It has been a fun build, I completed the construction around mid March, and from there I was ready to hit the water. I did some research, found some very quality fisheries in my area, and also found a few traveling tournament series that operate much like their counterparts. For someone looking to pursue a professional career in tournament fishing and can also help the serious angler fine tune his skills, test some new lures or just simply get away from the pressure of everyday life for a much cheaper investment. Aluminum johnboat fishing is a key component all around for those wanting to spend a little and learn a lot on smaller waters where the fishing pressure isn’t bad, and the payoff for a trophy bass is quite great. Give it a try if haven’t already, a lot of fun and a little money, hit up the small waters for some big fishing.

By Cale Milam

Trokar® Hooks: Does the Hook Live Up to the Hype?

All anglers have faced the challenge of setting the hook on a fish, and coming up empty handed.  At times we don’t set the hook hard enough, which allows the fish to come free from the hook.  Trokar has come out with the sharpest fishing hook on the market to help us catch more fish.  Trokar hooks are surgically sharpened and allow an angler to set the hook with less force.  The three sided cut makes the hook sharpening process different from all other hooks on the market and allows an angler to set the hook with less force and still have a better hook up with that fish you are fighting. 

            I have always been a Gamakatsu hook man, but when I got a call from Lazer Trokar® to test out the new Lazer Trokar hooks, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.  When the hooks arrived, the first thing I did was get in touch with Shaw Grigsby, one of the pros who helped design the hook shape and someone who uses Trokar hooks exclusively.

Grigsby told me that no matter how many fish you catch with it will never dull.  To be honest I wouldn’t believe it if I had not put the Trokar hook to my own test.  I took the Trokar TK 130 flipping hook and drove the point into a block of wood repeatedly.  Then I took the same hook and used it to pitch and flip with.  The hook still set easily into the mouth of the bass.  According to tests, the Trokar hook needs less force to set the hook.  This has shown in my own fishing experience.  It seemed that every bass I caught on the Trokar hooks set themselves, even when pitching and flipping.

            The high carbon steel that is used to make the hooks show its strength and stands up to the toughest logs and still comes back in the same shape as when you started.  The Trokar B.A.R.B. works wonders as well.  It holds the plastic in place, securely like nothing I have ever seen.  With two barbs it keeps the plastic in place better then just one barb like on other hooks.  This allows you to spend less time pushing your soft plastic back into place between casts.  With 11 types of hooks there is a Trokar hook for every application.

            Trokar hooks are also being used by lure makers as well.  Wayne of Atomic Tackle Company (atomictacklecompany.com) even offers hand poured jigs with Trokar hooks you can order casting jigs in 3/8, ½, 3/4 and 1ounce with these awesome Trokar hooks.

            There are drawbacks with the Trokar hooks.  According to Grigsby “You can’t use the Trokar hooks for practice”.  The reason for this is because you will not be able to shake the fish loose before getting it back to the boat.  There is also the price of the hooks.  A package of four hooks runs around $10.  If you consider how sharp the hooks are and the fact that I have not lost a fish using the hooks, it is money well spent in my opinion.  I believe that the hook lives up to what Trokar says, and that ten dollars may be the difference of winning a tournament or losing it. In that case, does the ten dollars really make a difference?   

           

Now that I have tried the Trokar hooks and seen what they can do, I know that I cannot go back.  The point on the hook is too good and there is nothing like it out there.  So if you want a better hook up ratio and want to lose less fish do yourself a favor and go get some Trokar hooks today.  For more information about Lazer Trokar hooks visit www.lazertrokar.com

By Chris McDonald

Have You Heard of the Neko Rig?

Have you heard of the Neko Rig? It's the newest thing to hit the U.S. from Japan and it's basically a new way to wacky-rig a soft plastic worm. One of my favorite ways to catch them is with a wacky-rigged senko or a flick shake, but this is different. As always with new techniques, the tackle companies are putting out some great new products to use when fishing.

One of these items is a Damiki Neko Sinker, which is really cool and allows you to put a screw-in type weight into one side of the worm so it falls faster on one side. Lunker City also makes a version of the weight. You could also fish it with the weights in both sides to get to deeper water much quicker. I have been hearing about this technique for a few years now after tournaments on deep California waters like Lake Shasta. In fact, Brent Ehrler won the FLW Series event earlier this year with help from this technique.

Bassfan talked about another item the Neko Rig Master, which "makes it much easier to wacky rig finesse plastics, or any other type of plastic bait. The product is a copper screw – much like the screw-locks on hooks – but on top is a rubber section that securely holds a hook. Anglers can therefore screw in the product anywhere on a soft-plastic bait for all sorts of wacky-rig configurations. Plus, there's much less plastic in the hook gap.

Wacky-rig a tube so it falls backward and into cover. Wacky rig a soft-jerkbait so it swims perpendicular to the boat and under docks.Wacky rig a Senko and save serious money without having to mess with rubber O-rings." Bassfan.com

No matter how you fish it, I think technique is going to work!

bassfan.com

Fishing the Ultravibe Speedworm

Everyone seems to have one bait that they can always count on, one they know will catch fish. Some would call it your confidence bait. Without a doubt, my confidence bait is the Zoom Ultravibe Speedworm. If you are not familiar with the bait, it’s basically a paddle tail worm with a slit cut in the tail. The tail is key to everything about this bait and the action is second to none. It comes in two sizes, the 5 ¾ inch version and the Magnum 7 inch version. Since it’s made by Zoom, the color selection is diverse and proven. My favorite is the regular sized version in Junebug.

This year, the Ultravibe did very well for me and caught both numbers of fish as well as big fish for me. I had the great fortune of being Angler of The Year in the BFL Gator Division on the Co-Angler side and it was almost all because of the Ultravibe Speedworm. Each tournament, it played a big role and caught fish for me.

When it comes to fishing with this worm, the techniques and applications are endless. My favorite way to go Ultravibin’ is to fish a 5 ¾ inch size worm with a 3/0 Owner Offset worm hook and a 3/16 oz Eco Pro Tungsten weight on 15 pound Seaguar IvizX. In Florida, we are blessed with lakes that are full of a variety of grass species; Kissimee Grass, Reeds, Hydrilla, Lily Pads, Pepper Grass and more. All of these places are good places to start, but anytime you have a mix of grass you increase your odds. I like to focus on sporadic patches of grass and reel it slowly over the grass and let it fall in between the holes in the grass. Let it sink and then start reeling again. For Lily Pads and Reeds, I like to yo-yo the bait between the deeper stalks. If you have ever fished a swim jig, it is the same concept. The fish will tell you what retrieve they want that day, so adjust to what they want.


Besides the standard Texas-rig and sinker, the Ultravibe can be fished in many other ways. For the Magnum sized bait, I like to fish it weightless and reel it on top of the water like a soft plastic frog. The tail creates a great buzzing action and the fish will really attack the bait. Because the bait is so thick, casting this bait without a weight is effortless. Another way to fish this bait is on the Carolina-rig and I have done very well with the smaller size attached to a C-Rig and ½ oz weight. The bait design allows the bait to be fished in numerous ways and I still haven’t found a way that didn’t work.

If you are looking for a new confidence bait, or maybe just a new way to catch fish; try the Ultravibe Speedworm and hold on.

By Tyler Brinks

A Lookback At 2010, The Year of Sasquatch!!

Although the Season is not quite "Over" Many of us are heading to the deer stand instead of the boat ramps... All except Those of us hardcore folks.

As many of you may know, or at least i hope you know, i started Sasquatch Soft Plastics in December of 2009, so this season really was the "inagural" season for the company...

I had a Good Tournament Season in 09 fishing BFL's And Stren Series Events as a Co-Angler, Made My First Top-10 in only my 4th ever tournament and cashed a respectable check. but took this year off... Bought my first bass boat, a 2001 Triton TR-20 and Did what anyone SHOULD do when buying there first bass boat and spent some time Learning how to drive it...

I myself caught my first Sasquatch Bass in early april ( Green pmpkn 3/4 oz football jig with matching SSP 4" Edah Craw) but the year really started off with a bang in March when i asked a former boating partner and friend, Steve Ives, to try some of my 4" E-Dah craws in a FLW AFS touney he had coming up on Lake Of the Ozarks. Steve Ended up Placing 4th overall in the Event...

Now in 2010, my plan was to not only spend time learning to get used to my new boat, but also learning some new techniques i had learned from some respectable anglers in my 09 season. Being a Hardcore spinnerbait & flipper i knew this would be quite the task. While these techniques do win tournaments, lets be honest... Being versatile wins more! So i spent some time offshore, which is not easy when not having top of the line electronics mind you.. I took some time carolina rigging, deep cranking, finesse fishing and even, with the introduction of the Sasquatch Soft Plastics 5.25" Spooky Fluke, fishing docks with a fluke instead of a spinnerbait... Belive me, it was hard!!

Now saying that i am a die-hard spinnerbait angler obviously rules out most plastic baits for me, as i do NOT like any trailers or trailer hooks for that matter in the way.... So it wasnt until the Triton Owners Tournament in June on Kentucky lake that i really got to see my Product line really shine..... As most of you may know already, June + Kentucky Lake = Offshore. So time to ditch the Sniper Spinnerbait rod and do what i had been working on all spring ( when not in less that 1 ft of water sight fishing ) and bust out the cranks and football jigs. With the first cast it might as well have been my first day using a baitcaster... Im feeling things with my rodtip ive NEVER felt before... shellbeds, dropoffs from 6 ft straight to 30 ft.. I didnt know what to think, but i knew it had to be a haven for large fish.. I used a watermelon red, green pumpkin and black and blue 4" Edah Craw and 3.5" Skunk Ape on all of my jigs and the bass inhaled them! Also got into a school of fish on the second day that wouldnt let my double fluke rig hit the water without gobbling it up. That trip made me more confident in my own product than i can even write about. And while not doing so well in the tournament i still learned valuble lessons that i will never forget.

Upon returning home from Kentucky Lake i began to have a new respect for those offshore guys and spent a good deal of the rest of the season studying Navionics Maps on my iphone and really learning how things work offshore. But i always had my spinnerbaiting and flipping background to fall back on if the offshore game did not pan out the way i planned. And i will admit that most of my fish this year were caught while fishing in my comfort zone which brings me to this...

Growing up we learn to recognize & idolize anglers by there strengths, for me KVD was the guy who could sling a spinnerbait faster than anyone in the game, Dion Hibdon is the Jig Fishing king and Larry Nixon was a Worm fishing wizard.... So at what point do i ditch my comfort zone techniques and move offahore to play with the rest of the guys whose strengths are just that, offshore fishing. This trip i took to kentucky lake in early october proved to myself that even with a kentucky lake stick in the boat, i can still catch quality fish the way I fish... My heart tells me to go with what i know, and be proud of the outcome. And im comfortable with that, its just....... Idk...... 2011 will show me if i need to rethink things. This is a Game of learning and even Bill Dance said himself that he still learns new things while on the water.

As far as Sasquatch Soft Plastics goes, i couldnt be more happy! I have amazing prostaffers. I thank you all for your continued support of some guys dream to bring something new to the plastics market. I recieve prostaff offers weekly and to all of those who apply, i thank you! I am astounded by the interest you all have in my products. I have a record of all that have applied and hope to add everyone someday.

Be sure to Look for me and my prostaffer, Allen Hackert as we fish the 2011 Bassmaster Weekend Series on Kentucky Lake!!!!

By Derek Kaalberg

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Cold Water Jig Fishing

When the water temp gets to 52 degrees what is the first lure you have in mind to throw?  For me it’s a jig and not just any jig, I think, football head jig.  My favorite spot to fish it is a river near my house.  There is a long stretch of river that has a very steep sloping bank, near shore it is a foot deep but by the time you get out 12 feet from shore your boat is in 13 to 14 feet of water.  I want to share with you my trick for getting bass in the boat, in those cold water situations.

            When I am looking for a place to fish with water temps in the low 50’s, I look for big fallen trees and deeper water (deep being 10-15 feet).  I want downed trees with a lot of branches and big trunks. In Michigan, during this time of year, the leaves are falling off the trees along the river, so I also look for places where the leaves have piled up on top of the water.  The fish will hole up in this type of coverage looking for baitfish.

            Knowing the area to fish is important and now we will discuss jig choice.  My jig of choice is an Atomic Tackle Company ½ ounce football head jig in PB&J, especially when I fish the fallen trees.  However, when I am fishing the matted leaves on the surface I change to a 1 ounce Atomic Tackle Company flipping jig in PB&J.  I like to add a Strike King Rage Tail Craw in green pumpkin or watermelon red as a trailer.  I cut off the last little bit of the Rage Tail Craw before putting it on the jig.  Here’s a tip: just a dab of super glue on the end of the plastic near the skirt will help keep your trailer from sliding.  To finish my jig presentation and help get rid of any smell given off by the super glue, I dip the jig in JJ’s Magic Sauce in the clear version unless I want a little chartreuse on the end of my trailer. 

            Then I rig the football head jig on a 7 foot medium heavy Quantum rod and 7:01 Quantum Code reel.  I use 12 pound Vicious® fluorocarbon.  I know what you’re thinking, “Why fluorocarbon?”,you can use braid if you want but I believe I have better sensitivity with the fluorocarbon which allows me to feel more bites.  As for the flipping Jig I use a 7 foot medium heavy Quantum rod and 7:01 Quantum Code reel, spooled with 50 pound Vicious® braid. 

            So, we have the place, the jig, and the rod and line choice, now let’s discuss position of the boat. When using the football jig I position my boat just outside the tree and cast into it as close to shore as I can get.  Once the jig hits the water I let out a bit of extra line and let it sink to the bottom on a slacked line.  Despite what most people may tell you, I do it this way in case a bass hits it on the way down?  I feel the slack line allows the bass to grab the jig but not feel the pressure from my reel.  If a fish has not inhaled the jig by the time it hits bottom, I slowly drag the jig back to the boat.  Bring it back slowly, because with water in the low 50’s nothing is moving fast and you want to mimic the live bait in the area.  A slow moving jig when you are fishing around fallen trees will also reduce the risk of snagging a limb.  As you work the bait  back to the boat you should feel the bait as it climbs over limbs, and it will slow down even more, and then most of the time as the jig falls back down to the bottom from the limb it will get hit by a bass. 

            When I move to fishing the leaves piled on the top of the water, I fish the flipping jig just as I would if I was punching grass mats.  I look for what is keeping the leaves from flowing down river and flip my jig on top of the leaves next to it.  Most of the time the jig will sit on top of the leaves for a moment and then sink beneath the surface, until it reaches the bottom.  Once it hits bottom without a hit, I quickly bring it back to the boat to flip again. While fishing the flipping jig I still have a semi slack line but not much, I want to be able to set the hook as soon as I feel the pressure of the fish. Most often the bass will hit the bait as it sinks downward and I want to hook it quick. 

            I hope this helps you catch those bass in cold water, when everyone else is having problems putting bass in the boat. You can develop this technique and be the envy of your buddies who have had no luck and are considering putting their boats away for winter.

By Chris McDonald

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bb-lures.com, Fish Bait Radio.com, Bass Fury, Great Lakes Christian College, Atomic Tackle Company and JJ’s Magic Sauce, centermark Coaching.