king fisher

If the fishing is slow, I stick to my favorite lure for that time of year and body of water. I will try to cover more water hoping to find active fish. If the fishing is medium, I will slow down, move around less, and try to cover the water from top to bottom with a few different lures, at different speeds. If the fishing is fast, I will try every thing in box, especially lures I have no confidence in, new lures I haven't tried yet, and cheaper versions of what is working. I love to experiment on good days, going from my favorites to something new, back and forth, until I find what works best and what doesn't work at all. Then I will go to another area that I have never fished before and start all over again. I drive my freinds crazy with my experimenting. They always say if it aint broke why fix it, I say lets try to breaK it, then see if we can fix it a different way. Then there are the days I want to keep it simple. A shovel, dig some worms, one rod, one hook, a bobber, and a frying pan.

When I was a kid I fished a local lake almost every day for two summers. One of the only lures I had was a Heddon Sonic. It had no rattles, but It many bass and was my favorite lure. The following winter, I got a rattle trap. My first day fishing the rattle trap was the best fishing I ever had at this lake. I caught fish on almost every cast. My friend was fishing everything in his box including his favorite sonic, but didn't get a fish. Have been a fan of baits with rattles ever since. Now that so many baits have rattles, maybe I should try my old sonic again.

I don't remember, and if I could I wouldn't say, because it is classified information. I will say the bait monkey has my numbe,. knows where I live, follows me home from work, and I can't prove it, but I'm sure he has hacked into my bank account.

Great work. Have you tried using EP fibers, or other similar artificial hair? I started tying jigs for saltwater a couple months ago. I used to tie flies, so I'm not exactly a beginner. My favorite salt water jig has a combination of Yak hair, and Steve Farra's Flash blend. I just started making smaller jigs I plan on using for small mouth. Just curiouis if anyone has tried any other material than bucktail. Also have been experimenting with bunny strips to add action. Anyone use bunny?

I have been tying jigs with EP fibers, and Yak hair, with lots of flash. They seem to have more action then buck tail, and keep their profile better than Maribu. They have been working great for Snook, and red snapper, haven't had a chance to try them in fresh water yet. Has anyone been using these and other similar fibers, for their bass jigs?

I have not made any spinners that I used for bass, but have made hundreds for salmon, size #3 and up. I have had best luck with .031 -.035 size wire depending on spinner size. The Thicker wire doesn't get bent as much when releasing fish. I have used wire that came in a roll, but it is impossible to get completely straight. You can buy pre cut straigt pieces with one end twisted for almost as cheap as buying a bulk roll and they are perfectly straight. I used to use a wire forming tool, but have found two pairs of needle nose pliers to work as well. As others have said a small barrel swivel, on the front, and a split ring on the back helps with line twist and changing hooks. Making spinners for salmon is very popular in the North West. Look on line and you will be able to find numerous sites selling more components than you can try in a life time. Many of them will have charts showing recomended sizes for hooks, weights, swivels, beads, and blades in their catalogs.

I used to think the only part of a surface lure a fish could see was the belly. Then I tossed some lures into a swimming pool, jumped in and looked at them at many different angles without taking my eyes out of the water. Depending on the angle, I could see almost the entire lure, and had no trouble making out different color paterns. I'm sure a bass can do the same. As far a catching bass goes, I don't think color matters much with a surface lure. If a fish is aggressive enough to hit a bait on the surface, I don't think color is what the fish will key in on. That said, I like Rebel Jummpin minnows in bone, for both fresh and salt water fish.

I have never had luck with white. I always have used either black, or purple single colorado blade sinnerbaits. Always had good luck with them, regardless of water clarlity. Sometimes bulging a wake on the surface, other times slow rolling on the bottom. After reading this post, I'm going to give white a try more often.

The reason many states don't allow the use of live fish for bait is because many people will use gold fish, and other species that aren't native to the waters in the state. Bait that get away end up starting populations that can be difficult to eradicate.

Ten years ago I was guiding two fly fishermen for Artic Grayling in Alaska. The silver salmon run was late, and they chose to spend a couple days fishing for grayling. There was a hatch going off at the first place we tried. I tied on what looked to be a similar color and size of dry fly. Grayling are usually not picky, and I expected to get fish every cast. After fifteen minuets without a fish, and watching a few perfect dead drifts go right over nice fish I was getting frustrated and thinking of moving. Then one of the hatching flies landed on the front of the boat. It was brown like the flies we were fishing, but had a small amount of yellow on the body. I looked through my box and found a fly with a yellow body. Caught fish every cast for an hour after tying on the one with some yellow. Tried a nymph below the surface with a bit of yellow, it worked too. Then tried many different flies without any yellow on my rod while the No bites. The clients continued catching fish every cast on the yellow flies. There was no doubt the color was what made the difference. The next day I went to the same place. No hatch going, but the fish were still there. Tied on a couple flies the same size as the day before. Again no bites, from what many believe are the dumbest species of fish alive. One of the clients failed to mend his line causing the fly to skitter across the surface. I was about to tell him he had to mend his line in order to get a drag free drift when he got a bite. That was the key. Most of the time a dead drift is what works, but that day the fish wanted the fly skittering across the surface. Changed our presentation, and landed fish every cast on many different colors, and sizes. Color was not a factor that day. Color may be at the bottom of the list most of the time, but some days it is at the top.

I would change the color of the lure rather than the lure itself, when like your example, I'm getting out fished with the same lure, and I'm sure my retrieve and depth are the same. The other time would be if the prey the bass are feeding on have some different color or flash that could be what the fish could be reacting to. The flash of gold instead of silver, bright orange claws on a crayfish, or any other significant color of the prey. I wouldn't bother changing colors if the prey is similar colored as the lure I'm fishing. You might only have to add a small amount of a key color, or change from a metallic color with flash, to a dull color with no flash. I have seen times when a fish would hit anything with red,same with the flash of gold. I do believe most of the time a certain retrieve or action is what the fish are keying in on, but there are time, when it is the only thing they are keying in on.

Biggest rainbow trout I have ever seen in my life,(close to 20#) about 20 years ago. Was landed by a kid on the Spokane river, at River Front Park, which is in the middle of down town Spokane. I didn't even know there were fish in that section of river. There are always hundreds of ducks there eating bread crumbs, and popcorn that people throw to feed them. This kid put a piece of popcorn on a hook and landed the monster trout. Maybe you should try half a white Senko, and cast it into the middle of the ducks, and geese. Maybe Bass like bread crumbs and popcorn too. If they don't I know they would love to eat any other fish, that have a taste for those snacks.

There is an old saying, beware of a man who owns one gun, because he can probably shoot it well. I'm sure the same is true for an expert with one fishing technique. Problem is fishing is supposed to be fun. Trying different lures is part of what makes fishing fun for me. I even change lures when I'm catching fish, just to see if I can catch them on something else. I'm always trying new guns, for the same reason.

Try the Rebel Jumpin Minnow. It was the first lure I learned to walk. Since then I have tried many walking baits. and have yet to find one that is as easy to walk. It also catches fish as well as any I have tried.

I fished a small river last week with the water temp. in the low 60.s. I normally catch lots of nice small mouth in this river on inline spinners, floating rapalas, and crayfish colored crank baits. A friend and I fished our normal holes, and riffles with every spinner, jerk bait, top water, and crank bait in our boxes landing only a few small bass, and a couple of rainbow trout for our efforts. I decided to try a green pumpkin Hula grub on a quarter ounce round jig head in my favorite whole. I caught a fish almost every cast. The bass were between 2 and 3 pounds. Also landed a dozen rainbow and brown trout. Biggest bow was pushing five pounds. I guess the fish were feeding on crayfish and wanted a slow presentation. Firs time I ever fished a Hula Grub. Wish I would have had more time to try other plastic craws and other colors to see if they worked as well. I did try an inline spinner before I quit, just to see if it was the lure or the time of day. No fish on the spinner, put the hula grub back on and landed two more nice bass. I was shocked. Until then I would have bet any amount of money, that I could always catch a fish on a spinner in that hole if fished properly. My friend was to stubborn to borrow a Hula Grub from me, but I'm sure he has his own now. I guess what I'm trying to say in way to many words, is if you only catch small fish, try fishing slower in less current.

I Saw a video on U Tube of some kids wacky rigging gummy worms catching more bass than when they fished with soft plastics. Not going to sell my tackle yet, but maybe I should

I am captain of a private sport fishing yacht based on the west coast of Mexico. In the past I picked colors for bill fish lures randomly. This year the owner of the boat noticed most of the time I had at least one lure in a spread of seven that was purple and black. He wanted to know why I always fished a Min. Viking lure, He is a big Cowboy fan and thought I should have more Dallas lures out. Trolling at 9 knots, on the surface, I don't think color makes a big difference, I thought it would be fun to run an NFL spread, and keep track of which one had the most bill fish between Nov. first, and May first. One Silver and blue for Cowboys, one Black and purple because my first mate is a Minnesota fan, one Blue and green because I'm a Seahawk, and one Orange for Denver. All the football lures were the same make and size. The other three lures in the spread would depend on the local baitfish. Results for numbers of bill fish were, from first to last. Vikings, Cowboys, Denver, Seahawk. Largest blue marlin was a Cowboy, Sure hope my Seahawks do better next year. My favorite bass color would have to be Vikings, with Cleveland browns running a close second.

Great idea. I'm going to give this a try in my local river. Will use a nine foot spinning rod designed for steelhead fishing. Loaded with braided line I should be able to mend the line for a drag free drift, similar to drifting a nymph with a fly rod. Might be very effective catching fish behind submerged rocks and small pockets faster current. Should I copy fly fishing tradition by, referring to the bobber as a strike indicator?

You have more than enough in that list to catch bass. The original Rapala is on of the best top water lures ever made. The other lures in your list can be cover all other depths, seasons, and conditions. If catching bass is your only criteria, then you are set with what you have. As far as living a complete and satisfying life as a fisherman, you are just getting started. A good fisherman has way more lures, than they will ever be able to use. Buy two of everything in 5 different colors, then use three or four that you have confidence in and work for you. Then carry the rest around with you for that secure feeling you have it all. I do know people who keep the Bait Monkey at bay, and catch more fish than me. I live for the day one of them asks to borrow a lure from me they don't have. The day may never come, but I am prepared.

Give up. The Bait Monkey will always win. Why fight it? You know the first time you don't buy a lure you want, your best friend will use that lure and catch fish every cast, while you get skunked. If he is a good friend, he will loan you the lure, then never let you forget it. Think about how will it feel to have the ten dollars in your pocket instead of the magic lure on you line? Don't worry, most of the time in a divorce the wife will try and get useless things like the house, car, jewelry, time share, and other things of no real value, but you will most likely be able to keep the priceless items like your rods, reals, and fishing lures.

In 1977 was 14 years old and obsessed with bass fishing. I fished almost every day, and read everything I could on the subject. I read and article by Doug Hannon about some research he had done on reaction of bass to different colors. It was a long in depth article. One point he made was yellow was a color bass did not like. They were even repelled by the color. He believed that green was a much better choice. My confidence in the yellow lures I had used successfully before dropped to zero. I went fishing with a friend a couple days later, and he was fishing a yellow spinner bait. I put on a black spinner bait the same make and model. It had been black with a yellow built in trailer, I removed the trailer because I was sure the yellow would scare fish. Of course my friend started catching bass, while I caught nothing. It didn't help that I had told him not to use the lure because according to Hannon the leading bass expert, yellow would repel bass. When my friend landed his 10 th. fish, I gave up and put on a yellow sonic. I started catching bass. I don't know if the color was the dominate factor, I'm sure other colors and lures would have worked that day. I did learn that even experts can be wrong, and bass will hit yellow lures. That said, to this day I will always try green first before yellow and when I buy chartreuse lures, I try to get the ones that are more green than yellow. I don't know why that article has stuck in my mind so long. My friend still fishes yellow without any doubts.

Original floating Rapala gold black back Rapala DT 10 crayfish Vibrax inline spinner #3 gold blade sing Colorado spinner bait, black rattle trap

On your hair jigs, do you match the pork rind color with the jig, or do you use different colors?

What is every ones trailer color preference on spinner baits, jigs, and bladed jigs. Do you like the trailer color to be the same as the lure, or different. Not looking for specific color, just contrasting or not.

In salt water it is common to use a rubber band to attach the weight on a drop shot rig. That way if the sinker snags in the rocks, you can break the rubber band loosing only the weight rather than expensive floro carbon leader, hook, bait, or soft plastic. I have never heard of anyone using one in fresh water.