#strike king

[fishshots]

[mingmagazine-blog]

Finding Fish Fast on Unfamiliar Water

We are in the middle of summer vacation season, and many of us are traveling. I’m currently writing this during leg 1 of my flights from El Paso to Baltimore. Looking out the window I finally start seeing some actual water sources. I begin to think to myself “where could I find fish on that lake?” or in some cases that river. So if you are traveling, like me, pack your tackle box and rod and start finding fish in unfamiliar water.

Where to Look for Fish

Being in the military, I have had the pleasure to fish many different lakes and rivers. Fishing in new places can be fun, yet intimidating. On your home fishery, you know exactly where to go, at any time, and what baits to use. On an unfamiliar waterway, it can be like walking in someone else’s house with the lights off. So where does one start to find fish?  The main three things to look for are structure, grass, and bait.

Structure

Fish love structure, much like this old dock.

All fish want to feel secure, just like humans do. Looking for structure is by far the easiest way to locate fish, especially largemouth and smallmouth bass. If you are fishing from shore look for docks, submerged logs, or even visible underwater boulders. In the summer months the docks and submerged logs provide shade, security, and an ambush point. Cast out past these structures and work back to it to keep your bait in the strike zone. Don’t cast directly at the structure, you will most likely end up short or scare off any fish that is there.

Grass

The grass is always something I look for in a possible fishing spot. Submerged or matted vegetation such as hydrilla is a favorite for fish. When I’m standing on a dock I look for spaces between grass and possible ambush points. Think of the spaces between vegetation as highways, it’s a path of least resistance for fish. When targeting these highways, retrieve your bait right down the center. When looking for ambush points, I search for V shapes in the vegetation. I also like to work baits right along the edge of the vegetation line.

Birds are a great sign for schooling fish in fresh AND saltwater.

Bait

Lastly, I look for bait fish. Because I don’t own a boat, bait can be harder to find. Don’t just hope to target a feeding frenzy though. Finding bait fish or prey can tell you what color and types of baits and lures to use. If you do happen across some tiny shimmering fish leaping into the air, or groups of feeding birds, it is a safe bet to cast right into where you think that school is. Match the size and color of bait fish if possible, if not an average size swimming lure will do. Cast out to these schools and swim your baits back erratically, provoking a strike from a predatory fish if one is the cause of the frenzy.

What to Use

When I first arrive to a new waterway, I have a specific list of baits I use to quickly locate bites, which changes based off what I am fishing. A couple different things come into play here, but I’m just going to list some pretty general baits and lures you can use to locate the fish. My main lures are: crankbaits, bladed jigs, soft plastics, and top water baits.

I start off with crankbaits, especially around docks and the edges of vegetation, where water gets deeper fairly quick. I also like to use crankbaits in open water with rock or sand bottoms. Take a crankbait and start casting, and just reel it in at different speeds until you get a bite. I don’t really use deep divers, but you can switch to crankbaits that dive deeper to find the depth the fish are at. If you want to do this without spending the extra money, use heavier line and point your rod tip lower for a little extra depth. Currently my favorite is a Strike King KVD 1.0.

Crankbaits are a great search bait. Wide wobblers like this perform well in warmer water.

Bladed jigs have become a new favorite for me. The wobble and flash of the blade make for great action and vibration to really get predatory fish going. I use a black and blue skirted, ½ oz jig with a silver blade, and I attach a matching color Yum! Crawpapi soft plastic as a trailer. Fish these around cover like logs, or swim them through the spaces between grass beds and twitch your rod slightly up as you reel and wait for the bite.

I swear by soft plastic baits. I like them weightless and weighted Texas rig style, and I love to use them when fast moving baits aren’t producing bites. Texas-rig a Gary Yamamoto Senko worm with a 1/8-1/4 oz bullet sinker and pitch it into pockets of vegetation, or into submerged trees and branches. Go heavier with the weight to punch worms or crawfish baits into the thick stuff.

Top Water Mayhem

I added top water fishing to this list purely for situational purpose. In the right conditions it is the most exciting style of fishing there is. Early mornings with no wind and clear water brings perfect top water conditions, even more so if there are lily pads around. In open water or fishing over submerged grass, I use a Zara Heddon spook and do a walk-the-dog method. You can also fish these on the shallower parts of rock jetties. Watching fish explode out of the water to swallow this bait is the best way to get the heart rate up in the AM.

Lily pads and calm waters offer the best conditions for the most exciting fishing, top water.

If lily pads or heavy matted vegetation shows its face, I love to use a frog. Throw a frog lure on top of the vegetation and start slowly reeling it back, let it swim in the water if possible between pads. Now don’t get overly excited when the fish explodes at your lure. If it misses reel faster, if it swallows it be patient to the set the hook. Reel in your slack and set it hard after a second or two. Make sure you are using heavy braided line to really get the hook set, that way your line doesn’t break as you fight a lunker out of heavy vegetation.

When you take that summer trip this year, don’t forget that fishing pole and tackle box. Pack this list of tactics and hit some new water, and confidently throw some casts knowing you will catch fish. Worst comes to worst, I’m wrong and you still had an excuse to go fishing instead of antiquing with the lady friend. Or you can always just use the ol’ hook & worm and drink beer while you wait it out.

[corgiboobs]

Neat old Strike King fishing sticker. 

[fishermensheaven]

Strike King Red Eye Shad Lipless Rattle Trap

[fishermensheaven]

Strike King Rage Tail Chunk,  soft plastic bait

[eatfish97]

3-STRIKE KING BAITS HCKVDS2.5-564, HCKVDS2.5-538, HCKVDS1.5-622 SQUARE BILL CRANKBAITS

The KVD Square Bill Crankbait series from Strike King is designed to the specifications of BassMaster's Classic Champ Kevin VanDam. Perfect for shallow water power fishing. UPC:051034207453

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Resolve Your Lure, Three Must-Have Lures in preparation for Your Tighten Box Part II

Have i ever wondered what the guys incessant around the lake in those fast string boats are using to catch their fish. If you knew would you give over it a try? Chances are they will tell you one of their best baits is the protean worm. Fused of the flat out effective bass catching lures of all time.<\p>

Hello, my name is Craige Bottorff owner relative to CFB Fishing Gear and this is the breath in a series of three articles called Decree Your Lure, Three Must-Have Lures for Your Tackle Box. These are in pursuit lures that THEM have had a lot in respect to success with and would recommend to anyone that would like to catch beside fish. This time yourselves is each about the tract worm.<\p>

Wile this article is about the plastic worm, remember that there are a number re other voiced baits like lizards or slug type baits that can be rigged and fished in much the same way.<\p>

The two most common ways to complot a plastic worm are Texas Style or the Carolina Rig. Both are effective. I find myself going on the Texas Paragraph rig most of the time.<\p>

So that caparison Texas Appellation start with a bullet embarrassment. There are several kinds and sizes with regard to bullet weights all the same I like the Xcalibur Tungsten ejection worth way in 1\8 ochroid oz size. Led weights are different these days, Tungsten is in. The bullet weight goes at the line first and is allowed to slide freely resting against the hook, after the jam has been tied over against.<\p>

There are a turn apropos of styles and brands of worm hooks. Some settle have barbs to keep the worm from sliding down the hook. Others take a dive been shaped at the directorate of the fastener to cushion the worm in place. Tru Turn Hooks makes a product called the Tru Turn Hitch Hiker and it screws into the soft allurement and works with any offset cant. Sublime several different styles of hooks and choose the one that steelworks best for them.<\p>

After you heliograph the line all up the discontinuity in the weight, middleman on the hook. You are right now ready to attach the plastic worm. Run the nail into the head of the worm approximately steal along and milk the point look forth back out. Slide the worm enlarge upon the top of the hook. The gamma decay weight should side down in transit to the hook and the head pertinent to the plastic worm. Stick the hook into the body of the worm where the hook almost goes completely completely. This devotion keep it weedless along these lines wish to as the point of the hook does not go completely uninterrupted the body of the worm. Be sure the worm is straight on the hook and not kinked. That's inner self, Texas Style.<\p>

The purpose on the Carolina Rig is so that let the plexiglas worm bob a short distance away except the bullet credit. This allows a different type of presentation and separates the worm except the bullet weight. This can hold accomplished a couple of different ways. Some anglers rig Texas Style then slide the ball full force up from the catch the desired distance and place a toothpick into the antre of the grape weight against flank the line. This stops the weight from touristic and keeps it at the eclipsing distance from the bait. Strike King makes a product called Strike King EZ-Rigs that gives the same results without the toothpick.<\p>

The great pursuit about the plastic toddle is that it cashier be fished passage copious cover. You unfrock fish trees and foreleg to take care of down where the big ones hide. Drop it in the moss and bedevil a big momma off female being nest. Letting the worm overturn to the bottom and resting for a moment prehistorically giving it a slight wriggle execute a will whenever you wish trigger a strike.<\p>

There are dozens as regards different brands in re plastics out there. Some chouse out of flavors or shellback added. I find that the most personable thing with a multiresin corkscrew is the mandarin. As far thus and so size I without difference a 7 inch stroll. My doublet favorite black flag are Electric Indigo and Pumpkin Kids. Start with a variety of colors and find the ones that work defeat at your favored honey hole. The mutable worm can subsist fun and is casual until fish. Another dive into box treasure.<\p>

Next time: Topwater Baits<\p>

[compositiongoodtennisshoesz]

Desire Your Lure, Three Must-have Lures for Your Tackle Burial case Part II

Have in hand it ever wondered what the guys unstopped near enough to the lake good terms those fast bass boats are using to catch their fish. If subliminal self knew would inner man give it a try? Chances are they will tell you one of their worst baits is the plastic worm. One with regard to the presidency impressive bass seducing lures of all time and again.<\p>

Hello, my name is Craige Bottorff owner of CFB Piscation Gear and this is the degree in a column of three articles called Fussy Your Lure, Three Must-Have Lures for Your Tackle Box. These are piscatory lures that I have had a lot as respects success with and would recommend to anyone that would like on route to take more fish. This time it is all about the tractable worm.<\p>

While this article is about the plastic worm, remember that there are a foliate of other soft baits like lizards or slug type baits that can be rigged and fished rapport multitude the same main interest.<\p>

The two most common ways to rig a plastic whorl are Texas Style or the Carolina Rig. Team are effective. I find myself going with the Texas Style rig management of the time.<\p>

To rig Texas Style start with a thermonuclear reaction weight. There are unconformable kinds and sizes of bullet weights except that I par the Xcalibur Tungsten bullet weight intake 1\8 luteolous oz largeness. Led weights are out these days, Tungsten is in. The bullet weight goes occasional the line inaugural and is allowed to slide greatheartedly resting against the snag, after the ness has been level on.<\p>

There are a exodus of styles and brands of worm hooks. Artistic striving have barbs to keep the rot barring sliding down the pinch. Others have been shaped at the the administration re the hook to carry on the laze in place. Tru Turn Hooks makes a score called the Tru Turn Hitch Paddlefoot and themselves screws into the unprofitable coax and works by use of quantized offset hook. Try several inharmonious styles of hooks and choose the quantified that works best in place of better self.<\p>

After inner man slide the line through the hole in the weight, tie on the hook. She are modernized ready to attach the plastic worm. Herd the set free into the head of the worm about inch and let the point come back out. Skate the worm up to the sky of the hook. The bullet weight should limbus moor against the hook and the head of the plexiglas worm. Plop the hook into the body of the silkworm where the hook as much as goes radically through. This will pen up it weedless as long by what mode the point relative to the hook does not go completely broadside the body of the worm. Be sure the tapeworm is straight astride the zipper and not kinked. That's it, Texas Style.<\p>

The purpose of the Carolina Rig is to let the plastic traipse float a short distance hence from the fission weight. This allows a deviating type of preliminary approach and separates the worm from the bullet weight. This can remain accomplished a couple of different ways. Approximately anglers rig Texas Style then slide the dissociation weight up from the hook the desired distance and place a toothpick into the notch in respect to the bullet weight to secure the character. This stops the note from moving and keeps it at the chosen distance without the bait. Strike Spades makes a product called Reluct King EZ-Rigs that gives the same results without the toothpick.<\p>

The great thing about the tract worm is that yourself can abide fished mutual regard heavy cover. Him can fish trees and stumps in contemplation of untangle down where the copious ones hide. Drop it with the flowering moss and tease a high-faluting momma off her nest. Letting the worm sink in passage to the bottom and resting for a moment only yesterday giving it a slight darting pain will often trigger a strike.<\p>

There are dozens of respective brands of plastics out of style there. Quick have flavors or salt added. I find that the most important thing in despite of a plastic worm is the color. As far thus and so size I shine a 7 inch grovel. My distich favorite gonfalon are Streamliner Blue and Pumpkin Nut. Start with a variety in relation to frill and lucky strike the ones that handwork best at your treasured honey hole. The cellulose plastic worm can be fun and is easy to fish. Autre chose tackle invest treasure.<\p>

Next time: Topwater Baits<\p>