The Chatterbait

The chatterbait is simply a jig with a blade attached to the jig eye that makes the sound of a“chatter” as it wobbles vigorously back and forth as water is displaced. The blade strikes against the head of the jig and this is the simple reason for the unique sound and action. Sometimes paired up with a soft plastic trailer, and other times without, this hybrid between and jig, buzzbait and a spinner bait provides enough sound, vibration and flash to gain the attention of bass in the murkiest of water. This makes the chatterbait a good choice for fall bass fishing as the bass return to the shallow water. The chatterbait is not entirely snag proof but will avoid hanging up better than some lures do. It is best fished where there is no heavy cover of grass or wood.

In the fall when seasonal rains cloud the water nothing can get the attention of a bass like the erratic movement and the unique sound of these unique lures. Using a steady retrieve on the beginning and then burning the lure to cause it to change direction. This will result in reaction strikes from the transitioning bass of fall. When fishing in deeper water, fish it like a jig allowing it to fall down along structure, quickly raise your rod tip when it reaches the bottom then let it fall once again to the bottom and repeat this presentation. Vary the cadence and the speed of this presentation until the bass show you where they are and what they want in a chatterbait offering.

 

Soft Plastics

Rigging and Presenting Late Summer and Early Fall Soft Plastics

In the minds of many bass anglers they think of late summer and early fall as the season of the crankbait. Others associate the changing season as the time for spinnerbaits and topwater lures. And still with the changing leaves, shorter days and cooler night some anglers throw a football head jig in honor of the football season getting started. Each of these popular lures produces bass at the end of summer and on into the fall. But for the most consistent bass presentations are those made using soft plastic baits. And there isn’t any bait that can consistently out produce soft plastics on those tough late summer, early fall days when bass refuse to chase lures. Guides and professional anglers have proven time and again that the classic go to of soft plastics cannot be beat in this season of change.

There are many types of soft plastic baits that can be fished with endless presentation choices for the early fall bass. These versatile baits offer anglers choices to suit the conditions with various rigging techniques to suit the area and the time they choose to fish them. PowerTeam Lures in just one of the many soft plastic manufactures that recognizes the full potential that the soft plastic baits can offer an angler and that there are several ways to catch bass. They offer some of the best soft plastic baits on the market today. With their truly unique designs that were created for the hardcore angler that has proven to put more fish in livewells. From the tournament pro that relies on a winning to the weekend warrior looking to land a bass of a lifetime, PowerTeam Lures continues to deliver success. There lures are designed for flipping, pitching, punching, Carolina rigging, Texas rigging, drop shotting, wacky rigging and even throwing on a shaky head jig. PowerTeam lures has many baits that will excel in this season, here a just a few and some tips for rigging them.

The 6” Gator with its broad “offset” tail creates vibration and creates a lethargic swaying motion that bass can see and feel. The buoyant plastic PowerTeam has created along with the forward leg design keeps the Gator nose down and tail up at a 45 degree angle that imitates a feeding lizard which is an enemy of bass especially when they are on the bed and throughout the year bass will greet a lizard with an aggressive reaction strike. A great way to fish a Gator in the late summer is on a Carolina rig with bullet weight on at least a 2 foot leader. Rig weedless on a 2/0 to 3/0 extra wide gap hook and hook sets will be a sure thing. Fish the Gator on ledges and points in eight to fourteen feet of water when the water is the clearest in early fall.

The 3.5” and 4.5” Food Chain Tubes when Texas rigged with a 3/0 – 4/0 Extra Wide Gap hook and a bullet weight can imitate a crawfish very well and bass love to eat crawfish. The modified body texture and skirt length arms of our 3.5” and 4.5” Food Chain Tubes convinces the bass that it’s one of their favorite meals…the crawfish. The 4.5” Food Chain Tube has a meaty profile, a ½ inch solid head (for Texas rigging), and will quickly become your favorite tube for flippin’ grass and cover when you’re looking for a bigger bite. The compact profile of the 3.5” Food Chain Tube is perfect for a downsized finesse presentation and has a ¼” solid head which allows for drop shotting, Texas rigging, mini C rigging , shaky head and hopping them on a tube head. These baits are serious producers when fished near shallow wood cover or isolated weed beds. These are a great lure for fishing fall cold fronts, when fish hold tight to cover. The baits can provide a slow spiraling fall that is achieved when rigged with a 1/8 to 3/16 ounce bullet weight that is irresistible to bass. These are best fished on a medium heavy worm rod with 12- 14 pound test monofilament line.

The PowerTeam Lures 4.5″ Grub proves that not all grubs are created equal. If you’re looking for a grub with a little extra kick, PowerTeam Lures has just what every angler needs. They have added extra weight to the tail of the 4.5″ Grub with a staggered offset design that creates a “thump” as it ripples through the water. They have then cut the bulky body with a forward ribbed pattern to ensure the displacement of the maximum amount of water with every crank of the reel handle. Rig it on a 1/4 ounce jig head, scrounger head, or use it as a trailer on your favorite wire bait when bass are schooling bass in open water of the fall. If you can find bass breaking on minnows cast past the school and allow the grub to sink a couple of a foot or two before retrieving the grub with short, rapid twitches. Grubs can also be jigged on a tight line for less active bass, this classic technique has caught many fish over the years.

For those days in late summer and early fall when the bass are in a finicky mood, a finesse presentation can be the only way to turn a bad day into a great day on the water. Its times like these when the subtle horizontal quiver of a drop shot presentation. When PowerTeam Lures decided to add a drop shot bait to their line up, they paired up with professional angler, JP DeRose from the World Fishing Network and created a bait that literally mesmerizes bass with its action. At 3.6” long, the JP Hammer Shad has a profile that is at the top of the menu for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Combined with its perfected effortless action and neutral buoyancy, the JP Hammer Shad makes it unbelievably easy for fishing on a drop shot rig. Along with the JP Hammer Shad, PowerTeam has introduced the Finicky Tickler in their lineup. With either of these baits on the end of a drop shot hook will instigate those stubborn bass to strike. Even weary and negative bass can be enticed into a strike with a quivering presentation of a drop shot bait. These baits can be deadly when fished points and flats in clear lakes in the fall. They can be fished on a drop shot rig or a shaky head for an even more subtle presentation. Bait fish like shad thrive in the fall, and these finesse baits are a convincing mimic of baitfish. When fished in a drop shot rig they are best with at least a 24-36” leader between the weight and the bait. Cast on a 6 1/2 foot medium-action spinning combo loaded with 6 to 8 pound test mono filament line. Slowly crawl these baits on the bottom and say good bye to the phrase “the fish just weren’t biting today”.

It’s no secret that big worms are responsible for numerous wins on the tournament trail in late summer and early fall. The PowerTeam Lures 10″ Ribbon Hinge Worm is the front runner of modern designs in the classic soft plastic worms. The overall size of this worm displaces a large amount of water, and the buoyancy of the plastic creates a sway in the hinged tail with a quirky action that falls in between that of a ribbontail and a straight tail worm. Whether you Texas rig it, Carolina rig it, or even throw it weightless on a 4/0 hook, this large profile worm will demand the attention from bass. These oversized worms will catch trophies after dark in late summer on into the stained water of lakes in the fall. Fish areas with isolated wood or submerged grass cover with the oversized hinged tail on a 7 foot jig rod loaded with 12 to 20 pound line.

Rigging soft plastics and knowing which terminal tackle is needed can be confusing to anglers that are beginners. I hope that todays tip can be of some help.

First the straight shank hooks in sizes 2/0 to 4 /0 are great for Large worms, crawfish, creature baits and lizards when used for Texas rigging with bullet sinker or a Carolina rig. The best thing about these hooks are there hook set. However baits will not stay in place with offset hooks, you will need to adjust the bait often.

Fine wire off set hooks in sizes of 1 to 2/0 Are great for worms and crawfish when Texas rigged with a bullet sinker or a drop shot rig. The finesse baits hold up well but the wire hook is not the best for heavy cover.

A bait saver hook in a 2/0 to 5/0 size is good for Crawfish, lizards worms, creature baits, and fat grubs. These also perform well when Texas rigged and the bait stays put. The bad thing about about these hook they take away from the natural presentation with more hook showing.

Weighted hooks in sizes from 2/0 to 4/0 work great on worms, and sink baits. These hooks are designed to fish deep at a faster retrieve giving soft plastics a more realistic profile. The draw back to these baits is the exposed weight is viable in clear water, but the faster retrieve compensates for this.

The drop shot hook in a size 6 to 1 is ideal for dropping minnows, finesse worms, and grubs. By nose hooking the bait in the nose with an exposed point is the rigging of choice for many anglers. This presentation gives a realistic visual appearance. But if the bass takes the tail of the bait, it can pull off the hook.

The EWG or extra wide gap off set hook in a 2/0 to 5/0 size again works great with finesse worms, minnows and grubs rigged weed less or on a Carolina rig. These hook are a good for many soft plastic bait applications but looses some of the sure hook sets the straight shank provides.

In this season versatile baits can mean the success of an angler on the water. The season of change as summer fades to fall after Labor Day can be the absolute best time to be on the water. Less pressure from pleasure boats and more active bass from the longer cooler nights can make some of the greatest days for fishing. These rigging tips only brush the surface of the versatility that soft plastic baits offer anglers. I will share more techniques in upcoming post.

Happy Fishing!

 

Nymphing Basics

SwittersB & Exploring

 

I recently had a friend remark about reading my blog, but not understanding a portion. I enquired about the confusion. It was a very simple concept. I had not elaborated with more specificity because I just assumed it was so obvious. But, that was a mistake on my part. The basics of fly fishing, like riding a bike, seem so simple, so natural that we (I) forget the beginner’s learning process…from the very beginning. This blog has always been steered toward two things: info for the beginner and visual/mental stimulation for the active fisher that wants, needs, craves to be out there, but because of real life, just can’t make it out there anytime soon.

Many people are out and about this time of year fishing, camping, picnicking, celebrating their family and friends. I notice my blog numbers drastically drop each weekend and surge back up on weekdays.  You…

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Trying New Lures

How Trying New Lures Can Help You Catch More Fish

Report AbusePosted On August 15, 2012

Having a wide assortment of lures and terminal tackle will give you a greater chance to catch fish in any condition.

Every angler has that one special lure in their tackle box that they trust to catch fish with every time.

This is especially true on smaller lakes, where options are limited and fish seem to be keyed on a certain color, size or action more narrowly than on other bodies of water with more foraging options. Getting the right bait figured out on these kinds of lakes and rivers is a real joy.

Tournament anglers often fall in the trap of being confident in just a few lures, refusing to “waste time” trying something out of their comfort zone.

The problem with that line of thinking is that there are always days when even your go-to lure or technique won’t do the trick. When this happens, it’s easy to feel like packing up and going home, believing the fish just aren’t biting today.

When fishing times are hard, it’s the perfect time to break out of your routine and try out new lures, techniques, and colors.

Prefer to only catch fish at or near the surface, but find they don’t always bite? Tie on acrankbait and see if they’re in deeper waters suspended somewhere. Trolling for trout not doing the trick? Throw out the anchor and try jigging off the bottom. Sometimes even the most unorthodox techniques can help land you fish.

Another problem is that fish get accustomed to certain lures. If everyone on a lake uses perch-colored jerkbaits, it won’t take long before fish learn not to strike those baits so vigorously. Go against the grain when this happens and try something they may not have seen in a while.

Weather also plays a major role in determining what lures you should be using. Bass may be up for chasing a noisy buzzbait one day, but if a cold front moves in, you’ll likely have to really slow things down to get them to bite, like dropshotting or tossing out a small football jig.

Sure, you may think dropshotting is boring and refuse to give it a try, but isn’t it more fun catching fish, regardless of how you do it, than not getting any at all?

The lesson here is that to catch more fish consistently, you need to learn to switch things up, even if it means you don’t get to fish with your favorite lure. Remember, it’s about what the fish wants, not what you want to give them.

With all that in mind, how do you know what lures to try when you do decide to branch out? Go to any tackle store and you’re greeted by walls upon walls of lures that at first appearance all look the same. Buying new gear can be overwhelming for anglers of any expertise, and no one wants to spend a lot of money on tackle that won’t catch fish.

If you’re looking to try new lures, and want to get the most bang for your buck, then take advantage of a service called Mystery Tackle Box, a monthly subscription program that introduces you to new lures and tackle.

Every month you’ll get sent a whole batch of new gear, filled with lures you may never have even seen before, let alone think to pick up for yourself. Don’t worry if you get something unfamiliar to you: “bait cards” are included that not only give you an overview of each piece of bait, but include links to an in-depth online video review.

Mystery Tackle Box is only $15 a month, and you always get at least $15 worth of product. Best of all, shipping is free, and you can cancel the subscription at any time. All products have been tested by specialists to ensure quality.

At such a bargain price, you may think you’d be getting some cheap knock-offs, but Mystery Tackle Box has partnered with dozens of lure companies, from the big names to some smaller up and coming manufacturers. You’ll be getting quality fishing products from real brands, the kinds of lures you’d go and get at any bait and tackle store yourself.

You’ll get a variety of new lures every month with Mystery Tackle Box.

For a better idea about what’s included in a monthly Mystery Tackle Box, check out the package that was shipped out in August.

Those who sign up are also entitled to huge discounts from the online store. If you missed out on a product from a previous month, or really want more of something you already got in a package, just log onto the online store and take your pick.

And for all those WFN subscribers out there, there’s an even better deal: use the promo WFN499 and you can get your first box for just $4.99!

Becoming a better angler depends entirely on your own desire to get out of your comfort zone and master new techniques and lures. Mystery Tackle Box is your gateway to a larger fishing world.

Mystery Tackle Box Contest

Enter WFN’s Mystery Tackle Box Gear Giveaways Sweepstakes and you could find yourself being one of three lucky anglers to walk away with a FREE 6-month subscription to Mystery Tackle Box. Three prize packages for the months of August, September and October are to be given away to one lucky winner each month. Winners will be picked on the last day of each month and contacted within a week.

 

Tying flies

SwittersB & Exploring

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Rigging it

SwittersB & Exploring

 

FISH BIOLOGY..Dry stuff

Personally, beyond identifying various fish species, I don’t care about the why’s of color beyond adaptation and camo. I simply marvel at their individual beauty. Good enough for me. My mind, anymore, glazes over with too much detail re fish, entomology, climate change, etc. I simply want the decompression and want to think less and less. For now anyway.

 

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Great deals on custom tackle

Check out these guys online they got all the custom tackle you need Northwest

http://www.kndcustomtackle.net/

 

Great stuff

TJ Stallings' Fishing Blog

It may have been as far back as 1985 when I first experienced multi-lure rigs. An industry friend and I joined Frank Johnson of Mold-craft Lures for an afternoon of fishing.

Despite a passing cold front, we caught our share of fish in about an hour’s time. The secret was Frank’s “Predator Rig”. This simple rig was just two of his four –inch Little Hooker lures with a third, trailing behind. This last lure was the only one rigged with a hook.

The theory of “proximity” is the behavior-theory

that baitfish hide amongst themselves. Yet, it is this “safety in numbers” that makes them an easy meal.

Taking Frank’s rig home to dad’s tackle shop made me an instant hero. One angler was rather displeased though. He called me an SOB as he entered the store. Then he smiled. It seems he had nine knockdowns the day before, ALL on…

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Seeking Summertime Bass

When it comes to fishing deep offshore structure, the new swivel jigs are entering into a whole new region of deep water fishing. Jigs like the Biffle Hardhead, the stringease Fastach Football Weight, the Punisher Hail Mary and the Zorro Buzza Whiplash, to name a few, are definitely innovations designed with the angler in mind. Some baits have attached hooks, others have snaps, and some have snap rings all giving a new action to deep structure fishing.  I am sure even newer variations of these baits will show up at ICAST this year, and all of them will be put to use in weekend and professional tournaments from now on due to their innovation of allowing the angler to create his own baits.

When summer bass are too deep for most crankbaits, these jigs allow anglers to get down deep, and crawl a bait off structure such as ledges and drop offs to even greater depths as deep as 25 feet where bass have been taken. Several offshore structures that will hold bass deep such as a wide ridge or a point will produce fish if anglers get a presentation down to them. Cover in relation to the structure of a stump, rock, or a piece of brush is the places designed for these jig innovations.

Anglers fishing the 1/2- and 3/4-ounce sizes when fishing more than 12 feet deep on points, ledges and humps are finding the jig produces well in the summer.  These jigs can be customized by the angler on the fly by choosing the soft plastic and the color that suits the conditions. In stained water jigging a black and blue soft plastic can be a good choice and brown can be used in stained as well as clear water, and a green-pumpkin jig in very clear water. Whatever color or style of bait the angler chooses can be quickly added giving the pride and confidence of catching bass with their very own custom bait.

A 7 1/2-foot flipping rod is ideal for these style jigs when matched with 12-pound fluorocarbon and a high-speed baitcasting reel. The long stiff rod and fast high gear ration reel will quickly takes up slack during a hook set, as the low-stretch fluorocarbon line guarantees that the hook sets with power. The sinking fluorocarbon allows the jig sink faster which often initiates reaction strikes.

Successful anglers retrieve these jigs with quick, short hops and the moving head adds action the jig like nothing bass are used to seeing. By beginning with the rod tip at 10 o’clock position and hoping the jig three or four times as they work the rod up to the 12 o’clock position and quickly drops the rod tip to 10 o’clock position while taking up the slack to repeat the process has been producing bass in the extreme conditions of summer. The slight hops with the swiveling head jig keep it close to the bottom allowing the anglers to feel the often subtle bites even better than when fishing solid jigs.

Summer is a good time to try one of these newer baits if you haven’t already.  In a short time anglers have found these jigs to be fish catching machines. I look forward to new innovations that will be unveiled this week at ICAST.  Anglers that face the heat of summer and those that take on the harsh winter in pursuit of bass rely on innovation to help them make time spent on the water productive.

Happy Fishing!

Featured Baits in this post:

Stan Sloan’s Zorro Bait Company’s Buzza Whiplash – http://stansloanzorrobaitco.com/whiplash.php

The Punisher Hail Mary – http://www.punisherlures.com/jigs/hillbilly-football.html

Attack Pak Fishing’s soft plastics –  http://attackpakfishing.com/

 

Eyeing a Hoochie

Have you ever noticed that the simplest lures and presentations are often the best? Lures that are painstakingly created to exactly match the forage gamefish feed on are often, indeed almost always upstaged by simple impressionistic offerings.

In terms of simplistic lures there are few that are simpler than the hoochie. For folks that aren’t familiar with them, hoochie are nothing more than hollow plastic “squid”, basically a plastic skirt that can be slipped on a leader, rear hook of a lure or even on a jig head.

Hoochies in the 4 to 6 inch range first stormed onto the West Coast fishing scene as lures used for ocean salmon trolling. Commercial salmon anglers in particular embraced hoochies because they found them nearly as effective as anchovies and herring, but much simpler and faster to rig than baitfish.

These days hoochies remain an important tool for ocean salmon anglers, but relatively recently anglers that target trout, kings, kokanee and coho salmon residing in lakes, discovered how deadly small hoochies in the 1.5 to 2 inch size range can be.

If you are a trout or landlocked salmon angler that has yet to try trolling with hoochies, it’s time for you to get started. Not only will hoochies help you catch more fish, but they also help you save money since they are significantly cheaper than a lot of other offerings.