HOOKS, WEIGHTS, AND BAITS, Part II

PART II



BAITN' UP SOFT PLASTICS



SOFT PLASTICS ARE A VERY GOOD WAY TO CATCH FISH, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE PATIENCE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR ME AT TIMES; HOWEVER, THEY ARE EFFECTIVE. IT IS NOT JUST DROPPING IN A LIZARD OR A WORM AND CATCHING FISH EITHER. YOU HAVE TO USE SOME FINESE TOO. WEIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT AS WELL AS COLORS AND DEPTH AND TEMPERATURE. GENERALLY SPEAKING THE COLDER THE WATER, THE SLOWER YOU WORK ANY KIND OF BAIT. FISH ARE COLD WATER ANIMALS AND THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE IS WHATEVER THE WATER TEMP IS. WHEN WATER IS COLD, FISH MOVE SLOW AND VICE-VERSA.



FOLLOW CLOSELY THE STEPS IN RIGGING YOUR SOFT PLASTICS AND YOU SHOULD HAVE SUCCESS IN CATCHING FISH. ALTHOUGH THESE TYPE OF BAITS DEPENDING ON SIZE, WILL CATCH ANY KIND OF FISH. THEY WERE REALLY DESIGNED FOR BASS FOR THE MOST PART BUT THE SUCCCESS WITH BASS, THEN CREATED LARGER BAITS FOR LARGER FISH OF ALL SPIECIES. THE LIVE ACTION OF THESE BAITS IS INCREDIBLE AND A KEY ELEMENT. I REMEMBER AS KID USING RUBBER WORMS, BUT THEY WERE STIFF AND DID NOT REALLY HAVE MUCH ACTION. TODAY, THEY LOOK ALIVE IN THE WATER AND HENCE TO A FISH.



THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE THESE ALSO. YOU CAN WORK THEM SLOW ON THE BOTTOM, SWIM THEM, BY REELING IN SLOWLY WITH AN OCCASIONAL HESITATION OR A JERK. YOU JIG THEM, WHICH IS DROPPING TO THE BOTTOM AND LIFTING THE TIP OF YOUR POLE AND LETTING THEM DROP TO THE BOTTOM AGAIN. JIGGING I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE KNACK YET. BUT THE IDEA IS TO KEEP THE BAIT IN TOUCH WITH THE BOTTOM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND DANCING IT UP AND DOWN ON THE WAY UP. BUT BEING I AM NOT EXPERT ON THIS, I WILL STAY AWAY FROM JIGGING.



IF YOU ARE GOING TO WORK THE BOTTOM, AND THIS IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS WEEK'S SUBMISSION, CAST YOUR LINE, LET IT FALL AND WAIT A MINUTE. DO NOT GET TO ANXIOUS. HOLD YOUR ROD TIP HORIZONTAL IN FRONT OF YOU. THEN LIFT YOUR TIP UP PULLING YOUR BAIT TOWARDS YOU, AND THEN DROPPING IT IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN AND REELING IN SLOWLY THE SLACK. WAIT A BIT AND CONTINUE DOING THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE EITHER GOT THE ATTENTION OF A FISH AND HE TAKES YOUR BAIT, OR REPEAT THE PROCESS. NOW, IF YOU GOT HIS ATTENTION, THEN LET HIM HAVE THE BAIT. GIVE HIM LINE, BY OPENING THE BAIL ON A SPINNING ROD, OR PULLING OFF LINE ON A BAITCASTER. WHEN YOU REALLY FEEL HE HAS THE BAIT AND IS RUNNING WITH IT, THEN YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN TO SET THE HOOK. DO NOT WAIT TOO LONG, BUT DO NOT REACT TOO QUICK OR YOU WILL JUST YANK IT OUT OF HIS MOUTH. A TEXAS OR FLORIDA RIG IS THE BEST WITH THIS TECHNIQUE. IT IS REALLY GOOD IN THE SPRING WHEN THE WATER WARMING UP, BUT THE FISH ARE NOT SWIMMING ON THE TOP YET.



BTW, WHEN LOOKING AT THE PICTURES, CLICK ON THEM TO ENLARGE AND READ THE CAPTIONS.

NOW THE CHOICE IS YOURS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO USE. YOU NEEED TO REMEMBER, SAME BAIT DIFFERENT COLOR MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE. THEN IF THAT DOES NOT WORK A DIFFERENT SOFT PLASTIC MAY BE THE ANSWER. SO THIS WEEKS STORY WAS ABOUT WORKING THE BOTTOM AND USING A TEXAS OR FLORIDA RIG, NEXT TIME I WILL ELABORATE ON THE OTHER METHODS. HOPE YOU ENJOY, I AM GONE FISHN'.



NOTE: IN PART 1 I REFERED TO A CAROLINA RIG, WHICH IS REALLY A TEXAS RIG. I WILL EXPLAIN AT A LATER DATE A CAROLINA RIG, IT IS VERY DIFFERENT, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

HOOKS, WEIGHTS AND BAITS: Part One

Note: Don't forget to click on the thumbnails below to see the enlarged photos, complete with labels of the hooks and baits.

THE SUCCESS OF FISHING WITH ARTIFICIAL BAITS DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON PUTTING THE BAIT WHERE THE FISH ARE. I AM AN ARTIFICIAL BAIT FISHERMAN. I NEVER USE LIVE BAIT AND IF I DID I PROBABLY WOULD CATCH MORE FISH, BUT I LIKE THE CHALLENGE OF FOOLING THE TRICKY LITTLE BUGGERS INTO GOING AFTER MY PRESENTATION. SO THE TYPE OF BAIT YOU USE AND HOW MUCH WEIGHT IT HAS IS VERY IMPORTANT.



MOST FISH LIKE STRUCTURE OR SOME KIND OF COVER. STRUCTURE BEING ROCKS, SUBMERGED TREE TRUNKS, THINGS OF THAT SORT. WEEDS AND GRASSY BOTTOMS ARE ALSO VERY GOOD PLACES FOR FISH TO HIDE AND ATTACK THEIR PREY, SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE RIGHT BAIT AND THE RIGHT WEIGHT ARE MATCHED FOR WHATEVER TYPE OF PATTERN YOU ARE GOING TO FISH.





THE COLOR OF YOUR BAIT CAN BE IMPORTANT. WATER TEMPERATURE AND CLARITY ALSO DETERMINE THE BAIT AND HOW DEEP YOU WANT THAT BAIT TO GO DOWN. THERE ARE HUNDREDS DIFFERENT KINDS OF BAITS & WEIGHTS AND COLORS THAT HELP ENHANCE YOUR SUCCESS. SOME OF MY FAVORITE WEIGHTS ARE BULLET WEIGHTS, WHICH ARE SHAPED LIKE BULLETS. THERE ARE SPLIT SHOTS, NO SNAGS WEIGHTS, STEEL WEIGHTS AND MANY MORE.




YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT TYPE WEIGHTS IN THE PICTURES IN THIS STORY. LIKE WITH A RUBBER WORM OR LIZARD THAT I WANT TO DRAG ACROSS THE BOTTOM. IF THE WATER IS NOT TOO DEEP I WOULD USE A BULLET WEIGHT EITHER A REGULAR TYPE WHICH WOULD BE CALLED A TEXAS RIG OR A SCREW IN TYPE WHICH IS CALLED A FLORIDA RIG. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE NAMES COME FROM OTHER THAN FROM WHERE THEY ORIGINATED. THE DEEPER THE WATER, THE HEAVIER THE WEIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE MIGHT BE CURRENT.





GENERALLY I WOULD USE A ¼ OUNCE WEIGHT AND WORK SLOWLY BY RAISING THE TIP OF MY ROD AND DROPPING TO THE BOTTOM AGAIN. WAITING A LITTLE BIT BEFORE MOVING IT AGAIN IS VERY HELPFUL IN GIVING THE FISH TIME TO ZERO IN ON THE BAIT. YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT BAIT IN THE STRIKE ZONE. YOU'LL KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE A FISH. YOUR LINE WILL TIGHTEN, BUT DO NOT REACT TOO FAST. BE SURE THE FISH HAS IT AND IS REALLY RUNNING WITH IT. GIVE HIM LINE. ONCE YOU ARE SURE HE HAS THAT BAIT, THEN SET THE HOOK WITH A DELIBERATE HOOK SET.





JIG HEADS ARE WEIGHTS AND HOOKS COMBINED AND USED WITH RUBBER GRUBS AND WORMS, RUBBER MINNOWS AND OTHER SIMILAR BAITS. SOME PEOPLE USE THE TERM SOFT PLASTICS BECAUSE OF THEY ARE VERY SOFT LIFE-LIKE MOVEMENT IN THE WATER. THEY ARE THE HOTTEST THING GOING. THEY ARE ALSO VERY EFFECTIVE, IF YOU ARE PATIENT.





THE PICTURES SHOWN HERE WILL GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA ON WHAT BAITS MATCH UP WITH YOUR HOOKS AND WEIGHTS. IN THE COMING WEEKS I WILL GET MORE INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW TO USE THEM, HOW TO TIE GOOD KNOTS AND HOW TO CORRECTLY RIG YOUR SOFT PLATIC BAITS. THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK, I THINK I'M GONE FISHN'.

FRESH WATER FISHING EQUIPMENT

THIS WEEK I AM GOING TO WRITE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT RODS AND REELS AND WHAT THEY ARE GOOD FOR. I WOULD ALWAYS SUGGEST A GOOD GRAPHITE ROD FOR YOUR USE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS ON THE MARKET BUT A GOOD REASONABLY PRICED ROD THAT IS LIGHT IN WEIGHT IS GREAT FOR STARTING OUT IS, "UGLY STICK", MADE BY SHAKESPEARE AND PRICED AROUND $39.00. THEY ARE ALMOST UNBREAKABLE. ACTUALLY I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS EVER BROKEN ONE, SO THEY JUST MAY BE UNBREAKABLE. THEY COME IN DIFFERENT LENGTHS, RANGING FROM 4 ½' UP TO 8'. AN 8' POLE IS A PITCHING POLE MOSTLY.



I PERSONALLY LIKE A 6'-61/2'MEDIUM ACTION ROD. THE LONGER THE ROD, THE LONGER THE CAST. THIS IS HAS ENOUGH LIGHT ACTION AND YET IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HAUL IN A BIG FISH. THE ACTION OF THE TIP IS IMPORTANT IN SETTING THE HOOK. A QUICKER TIP HELPS A LOT. A STIFF ROD TIP, MANY TIMES, CAN YANK IT RIGHT OUT OF THE FISH'S MOUTH. YOU CAN CHECK THE ACTION OF THE TIP BY BENDING IT. IF THE TIP BENDS EASILY TO 1/3RD OF THE OVERALL LENGTH THAT IS A NICE ACTION TIP. THIS WOULD BE GOOD TO USE WITH A FISHING LINE UP TO 20LB. TEST, ALTOUGH 20 IS A BIT HEAVY. ON THE OTHER HAND, A SLOWER TIP IS BETTER FOR HEAVIER LURES AND FISHING LINE AND HEAVY COVER(WEEDS).



THERE ARE SPINNING RODS AND THERE ARE BAIT-CASTING RODS. THE TWO ARE VERY DIFFERENT. ON THE SPINNING ROD THE GUIDES WILL BE ON THE BOTTOM AND ON A BAIT-CASTER THEY WILL BE ON THE TOP. BOTH HAVE DIFFERENT HANDLES ALSO. A LONG HANDLE GENERALLY ALWAYS COMES WITH A SPINNING ROD AND BAITCASTERS HAVE DIFFERENT HANDLES BUT ALL HAVE A TRIGGER OR PISTOL GRIP. I ALSO LIKE CORK FOR THE HANDLE. THESE ARE REAL COMFORABLE.



WELL THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA ON FISHING RODS. NOW, LETS MOVE ALONG TO THE REEL.

MOST PEOPLE START OUT FISHING WITH A SPINNING REEL OR SPINCASTER. THESE ARE PRETTY EASY TO USE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TROUBLE WITH BACKLASH. YOU MAY HAVE A TANGLE PROBLEM, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE YOU PUT THE LINE ON INCORRECTLY. ALWAYS LAY THE SPOOL OF LINE ON THE FLOOR WITH THE LABEL UP. RUN YOUR LINE THROUGH THE GUIDES AND TIE IT TO YOUR SPOOL IN THE DIRECTION IN, WHICH THE LINE SPIRALS. KEEP TENSION WHILE LOADING THE LINE BY HOLDING THE LINE BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND INDEX FINGER. THIS WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE CHANCES OF ENDING UP WITH A BIRDS NEST. (TANGLED LINE)
SPINNING REELS ARE USED GENERALLY WITH BETTER SUCCESS WITH FISHING LINE UP TO 12LB TEST. IF I WANT HEAVIER LINE I GO TO A BAIT-CASTER.

NOW THE SPEED OF THE REEL IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT. ALWAYS LOOK FOR A REEL THAT HAS 5 BEARINGS OR MORE, FOR THE SMOOTHNESS. THE SPEED IS SOMETHING ELSE. DIFFERENT CONDITIONS REQUIRE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. A 4:1 RATIO IS SLOWER THAN A 6:1 RATIO. THE RATIO DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF LINE YOUR REEL BRINGS IN PER REVOLUTION OF YOUR HANDLE (SPOOL SPEED). ON A 4:1 RATIO THE SPOOL ROTATES 4 TIMES FOR EVERY COMPLETE REVOLUTION OF THE HANDLE BRINGING IN MAYBE 14"-16" OF LINE. A RATIO OF 6:1 WILL BRING IN 20"-21". MUCH FASTER. FOR CLEARER WATER, YOU WANT A FASTER REEL; FOR DIRTY OR DARKER WATER, YOU WANT TO USE A SLOWER REEL. YOU WANT TO GIVE THAT FISH TIME TO SEE YOUR LURE, OR KEEP THE BAIT IN THE STRIKE ZONE LONGER. SPINNING REELS ARE USED FOR LIGHT SPINNERS, LIKE A ROOSTER TAIL, RUBBER BAITS, SPOONS, AND OTHER LIGHTER WEIGHT CRANK BAITS.



NOW THE BAITCASTER IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL ALL TOGETHER AND IF YOU ARE NOT A REGULAR FISHERMAN, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. IT TAKES A GOOD BIT OF PRACTICE AND PAYS OFF WITH A LOT OF AGGREVATION IN THE BEGINNING. WHEN I FISH, I TAKE 1 SPINNING REEL AND 3 BAITCASTERS, ALL LOADED WITH DIFFERENT TYPE OF BAITS. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH BAITCASTER IS THE BACKLASH. SOME REELS HAVE MAGNETS TO CONTROL THE SPOOL FROM BACKLASHING. THE MORE MAGNET THE LESS BACKLASH AS A RULE. THERE ARE NEWER MODELS THAT HAVE CINTRIFUGAL ADJUSTING BRAKES FOR DIFFERENT CONDITIONS. ONE SUGGESTION, CAREFUL WHEN CASTING INTO THE WIND. USE MORE MAGNETS OR BRAKES UNTIL YOU GET THE FEEL OF IT AND REDUCE THE MAGNET OR BRAKES A LITTLE AT A TIME. THE LESS MAGNET OR BRAKES THE LONGER THE CAST. BUT WIND IS NOT GOING TO BE YOUR FRIEND, UNLESS YOU THROW WITH IT. PROFILE BAITCASTERS ARE LIGHTER IN WEIGHT THAN THE ROUND ONE AND GENERALLY HAVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, BUT I USE THEM BOTH FOR THE SAME THING. THE ROUND ONE IS BETTER FOR BIG BAITS AND THE PROFILE FOR SPINNING BAITS AND CRANK BAITS. WHEN PUTTING THE LINE ON A BAITCASTER, KEEP GOOD TENSION ON IT. THIS WILL HELP REDUCE BACKLASH AND MAKE LIFE EASIER.



LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND YOU CAN FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE DIFFERENT REELS AND THE SELECTION OF BAITS BELOW.

WELL THAT IS ABOUT IT FOR THIS WEEK.

GONE FISHIN