# of fellow fisherman that have visited since April 27th, 2010

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Fishing Lines

There have been a lot of new inventions in the fishing industry recently but none has impacted the sport like the new lines have, especially in bass fishing. Braided line is extremely popular now and has been a player in bass fishing for at least the last decade but as far as I'm concerned nothing compares to the impact fluorocarbon line has had. Most pros use the fluoro on the majority of their rods and it has made monofilament almost obsolete.

I went to fluorocarbon a few years ago and now use it on the majority of my applications and only use mono for topwater lures and am considering using braid for even that. The thing that got me thinking about fluoro originally was that if most of the pros use it almost exclusively then why shouldn't I? Yes it is quite hard to use on a spinning reel but I feel that an average fisherman like myself can use all the help I can get. If a line will get me a few extra bites each day then it is worth a few line twists as far as I'm concerned.

Fluorocarbon is virtually invisible underwater, it sinks and has better sensitivity and abrasion resistance so I even began using it on my spinnerbait rod last year with great success. But nothing is perfect and the problems I have had with this product is line twist, especially with spinning reels. I like to drop-shot and I get terrible line twists when casting a drop-shot rig all day. Another drawback is the price, between $15-$20 for a spool so a bad tangle can be expensive. But like I said, the extra bites I get are worth the headaches.

I have used several types and the BPS is my favorite so far. I can get a spool for around $12 at the spring sale so I usually load up and buy all my line for the year then. I've used more expensive line but can't say they are any better then the Bass Pro stuff and Kevin VanDam uses it so that's all I need to know. I use 8lb for my spinning rods and 10lb for my baitcasters and breakoffs are never a problem. I also use 12lb for my spinnerbaiting and last year started experimenting with braid and fluoro leaders on some of my spinning applications. I'm not sure I trust this set up completely yet but I'll give it a test run this spring.

With the clear water that we have in most lakes around here I think fluorocarbon is a must and would urge anyone to try it. One thing I will caution people of though is using the Berkley Vanish product. This is the cheapest fluoro on the market and it is an awful product and I can't believe it is still being sold. This junk will break guaranteed and believe me, I have tried it a lot. Don't waste your money, go with BPS or for some extra money use the Berkley 100% fluoro or the Seagar. Spend the extra cash and see why all the pros use the stuff.



Friday, February 19, 2010

Looking ahead


The Bassmaster Classic got underway today and nothing gets the juices flowing this time of year than following the Elite series pros trying to win the Super Bowl of bass fishing. It always makes it seem like our club season is right around the corner and slightly shifts me into my own tournament mode. One thing I always do this time of year is think about new baits and techniques that I can incorporate into my fishing arsenal in order to improve as a fisherman. I don't strive to be great at all the new techniques but it never hurts to be proficient at a lot of things.

I think back to 2008 when I was in position to win Angler of the Year at the last tournament over at Austin Lake. I had one small fish at 1pm and could feel everything slipping away. The sun was high and bright and the water was calm as glass when I stumbled onto a small pad field that had lots of cruising fish nearby. I had never flipped in a tournament before but I thought that was the only way to quietly present a bait to those skittish fish in order to get a bite. A few minutes later I caught the biggest bass of the event flipping a jig and ended up finishing second in the event and claiming the AOY. Like I said, I had never flipped in a tournament but had practiced it numerous times over the years and was confident enough to do it when the conditions called for it.

I have a few techniques that I need to work on this year and hopefully I'll gain enough confidence in them that I won't think twice when they're needed.

FROGGIN'
I started working on this application towards the end of last summer and it can be downright lethal. Big line and big rods are required and it can deliver some of the biggest fish of the season. It is a high risk, high reward tactic but I know I will need it on a few lakes like Center, Muskegon and Ovid. I was suprised how many bites I got during the course of a day but when the frog bite is on it is awesome. I used a few types but the Spro Bronzeye became my favorite. I still have some work to do in perfecting this tactic but can't wait to use it in a tourney.

CRANKIN'
I also began experimenting with the crankbait late last year and honestly, once I started I had trouble throwing anything else. This technique is made for offshore fishing in darker water but I think it has a time and a place around here. Jim Rice won the Michigan Center event last April throwing a small crankbait and I know lots of guys are crankin' over on St. Clair instead of just dragging tubes. I am so sure I'm going to be a cranker that I'm buying a special crankbait combo this spring and I'll be ready when the time comes. Notice how KVD started dominating the BASS circuit since he started throwing the hardbaits? That's all I need to hear.

FLIPPIN'
Like I stated, I have done this before and have confidence in it but my technique still needs some tweeking. I'm not as accurate as I need to be and when flippin' docks, accuracy is paramount. I will probably pull out the big stick early on Baw Beese and probably on Center, Devils and Ovid as well. There isn't tons of wood to flip around here but pitching to holes in weeds is something I think could work during the hot summer months.

Granted, I will probably still stick with my old standbys most of the time but it can't hurt to be able to adjust if I feel I have to and be able to do it with confidence. Or I can just get on a weedline and throw a senko. Just one more thing I need to work on I guess.

Friday, February 12, 2010

February Meeting

Although I was not there (again), I heard some good reports from the monthly club meeting last night. The best news is that two new members joined, Mike Mullaly and Robert Schlosser and I'm sure these guys will be welcomed additions. Any time we can grow the membership it is a good thing. Secondly, it was announced that the clubs annual Spring Open will change venues and move to Wamplers Lake, site of the fall open as well. Due to scheduling conflicts Bill Maurer thought the move would eliminate competing with the carp carnival and possibly increase participation.

Like I stated before, I was not present at the meeting but I heard through the grapevine that actual fishing information was shared during the get-together. Roy Albert and Jim Rice were kind enough to share some of their experiences on the water and hopefully enlighten some of the other members as to how they are so successful. Both are past Classic winners and I would like to thank both for sharing good fishing information. The meetings should be about fishing and hopefully this will start a trend for the club.

In other relevant fishing news, the Bassmaster Classic will get underway next weekend and nothing gets me in the mood for fishing like the BASS tourney trail. I don't care much for the weigh-in drama but the actual "fishing" show will be aired probably a week later. I will be in a "Classic Pool" and hope to win a few bucks just in time for the Bass Pro Shops spring sale.

Speaking of BPS, for anyone who likes good deals the "Spring Sale" has some of the best prices of the season. Especially if you are looking for a rod or reel combo, there are some awesome specials and I will be taking advantage of a few. The actual sale begins two weeks from today and runs for about two weeks. I have been going to the Rossman, Ohio store the last few years and found it is a few minutes closer and you don't have to deal with the Detroit traffic. I've got good directions if anyone needs them so give me a call and be prepared to talk fishing.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

It's a long winter


A few years back this is how my end of season usually shaped up. I'd fish through October and sometimes into November and then the holidays would roll around and with our busy schedule before you knew it, it was January. Only nine more weeks until March and we'd usually have some sort of open water this month so if I could only get to March I would be OK. But by mid-February I would be chomping at the bit, wanting to rip the lips off anything that swims and I would actually be seen flipping soft plastics to snow drifts in my front yard (no lie).

Well two years ago I decided that I was not going to spend my winter depressed waiting for ice out and that it was time to embrace the winter season. I decided I was going to be an ice fisherman and that would ease the transition into the spring fishing season.

Fast forward to 2010 and I am now the proud owner of an ice shanty, an underwater camera, several ice rods, ice fishing electronics and as of last month my first ice fishing tournament win. I never thought I would take to this sport but I am an ice fishing junky and the winter days are flying by. I never thought I would get to this point and I'm not sure if it's the tournament angle or just the fact that I'm fishing but I love it either way.

I'm not saying that the open water season is forgotten, I still can't wait to rip the lips of my first largemouth of the spring, but is sure is a lot easier waiting for open water. There are a lot of winter activities available in this state and I can't believe I waited this long to take advantage of them. I'm not saying folks will embrace the winter season the way that I have this year but it sure beats the heck out of watching old BASS videos and cleaning reels. I suggest giving ice fishing an opportunity and give me a call if you ever want to get out, I'm always looking for a partner.