Bass Junkies Fishing Addiction

The Bass Geek Part 2: Backyard Casting

2013-05-21T08:11:00.000-04:00

BASS GEEK
noun - slang

1. An expert or enthusiast (a term of pride)
2. A person who is pre-occupied or knowledgeable about Bass Fishing
3. A person prone to arranging pots, pans and planters in their back yard to practise their "flipping and pitching"

How to become a Bass Geek Part 2:

When the warm weather starts to melt away the cool bleak remnants of winer many an angler gets the itch to hit the water and start casting, but what if your lakes are still frozen solid? what then?

you set up a back yard flipping course, thats what!

Step 1: Start rummaging around your home searching for a collection of items you will be able to use as targets, maybe some pots, or pans, and of course your wife's planters also will make great targets and since they are weather proof there is less chance you will damage when you lazily decide not to clean up after yourself

Tip A: be sure to find items with various sized openings, the smaller the opening the more accurate you will have to be, so if the goal is to improve on your skill, look for small items. If the goal is to just have fun and cast a bit, look for larger items that will make you feel good about yourself

Tip B: turn some of your items on their side so you can practise skipping up into them. This is the best way to practise your dock flipping

Tip C: don't use anthing made of glass, it will break, and you will make a mess

Step 2: Grab a rod or two and set them up just as you would if you were out on the water. Be sure to use the same rod, reel and line you would normally flip/pitch with. Same goes for your bait selection, if you fish 1/2 jigs, then you need to practise with 1/2 jigs.

Tip: Safety First, I like to practise with a couple old flipping jigs or baits that I have cut the hook off of. You dont want to spend your practise time removing snags from your deck, dog, cat or toddler.. it takes the fun out of it

Step 3: Practise when ever you can.. I try to get in some time 3+ times a week, and find the best way to make time is to grab a rod and take it with me when Im out BBQ'ing dinner. If gives me something to do while the BBQ works it's magic and the wife thinks Im out back slaving away

There you have it, part 2 on how to become a Bass Geek. You are now well on your way to pocket protectors (for hooks of course) and tape between the lenses of your polarized glasses (Numa's of course). If your wife wont let you use her pots and pans, put your google skills to work and you will find a cool game by Booyah, called the Flipstah its like an obstacle course in a box

Fishing Tip: How to Pack for an Fishing Trip

2013-05-17T08:18:00.000-04:00

Packing for a multi-day fishing trip is like packing for any other vacation, if you wait to the last minute and rush it, there is a good chance your going forget something, but unlike that forgotten tube of toothpaste, it is not as easy to swing by the corner store to replace a missing key piece of fishing equipment... Here are some tips on how to pack for those extended Fishing trips

Step 1: Prepare Early

When packing for an extended trip I try to begin the packing process no later then 2 full days prior to the trip. For example when preparing for my recent trip to Lake Erie, I was scheduled to leave late on Wednesday evening, so I began my packing process on the Sunday prior to leaving.

I find that starting the process early, not only helps you keep a mental inventory of what you actually need on the trip, but it gives you time to make changes, add items you may have forgotten about, and remove items that you realize are overkill or unneeded.

Step 2: Keep all your gear in one place

When starting to pack or compile the items I need for a trip, I try to always keep them together. I start to make a pile of gear and clothing in a spare room, and any food I'm taking will be stored together on the counter or on the same shelf in the fridge. Too often I have heard stories from anglers who forgot something simply because they had their gear spread out all over the house. Only having to check one spot, makes loading the car quick and painless

Step 3: Be Prepared

There is a fine line between under and over preparing for a trip, and you need to find that happy medium. When talking about gear that simply means you need to pack the gear you plan to fish, and you need to pack the gear you will end up fishing when the weather, conditions or the fish don't co-operate.

Please don't misunderstand this, and attempt to pack your entire fishing arsenal for your trip, the idea here is to select one or two fish catching techniques that are polar opposites to the techniques you actually plan to fish. As an example, if the plan to fish shallow cranks, as a backup I will always throw one or two deep diving cranks into my shallow crank box, as "just in case" baits.

Tip: I organize all my baits into technique specific plano boxes (Deep Cranks, Shallow Cranks, Top water and so on) but I always keep a spare empty box that I label "trip box" I fill this box up with odds and end that I don't plan to use, but want to take "just in case".

Step 4: Don't trust the Weather Forecast

This one is kinda self explanatory, but to be blunt, I don't care if you are fishing in the middle of the Sahara desert, you need to pack your rain gear. I dont care if the forecast calls for 3 days of pouring rain or maybe even a snowstorm, you still need to pack sunscreen. This may sound obvious, but even as I type this I can easily recall multiple time in which I did not take my own advise, and paid for it dearly

Weather is a huge intangible when preparing for a multi-day fishing trip, and if you want to enjoy your time on the water, you need to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at you. You can thank me later

Tip: There are a select number of items that I always ensure to pack (2) two of. For example I pack 2 pairs of shoes, 2 Hats and 2 pairs of sunglasses. All three of these items are key to a safe and comfortable day on the water. I know we have all been there, your hat fly's off during blast-off, or your sunglasses get dropped in the water (or maybe sat on), and lastly depending on the style and brand of shoe you wear, a full day in the rain will leave them still soggy and cold for the next days outing. Think about it!

Step 5: Take Your time

This is important to remember as rushed packing leads to rushed decisions, so pack slowly and think it through. The same goes for when your loading the the gear into your car, and finally when packing back up at the end of the trip, "no rod left behind" is a motto to live by.

Tip: Protecting your gear while traveling is important, there is nothing worse then driving for hours to get to your destination, only to find a rod tip or guide snapped off. I protect my gear with the full line of Rod Glove products, this includes the rod gloves themselves, as well as rod wraps and the reel gloves to keep my reels looking pretty. Any pre-rigged baits are wrapped in a bait glove, to keep the hooks from rubbing on other rods or getting tangled up

Fishing Trips are exciting, I hope this quick 5 Step program makes your next fishing trip a successful one, on and off the water. And remember, no matter where you are, or where your going, treat every body of water like it was your home lake.

Daiwa Project T begins...

2013-05-13T09:39:00.001-04:00

There are some exciting things happening at Daiwa HQ, and although "Project T" is still officially on the down-low, over the next few months Team Daiwa will be teasing and tempting us with 10 web videos leading up to the official launch at ICAST 2013

If you are a stickler for punishment (like me) be sure to check out "Episode 1" and get ready for the next generation of Daiwa reel

Project T is coming! watch the right side panel for weekly "project T" videos as they become available

Episode 2: (Updated May 15th 2013)

Test Drive: The Daiwa Lexa 2000 Spinning Reel Review

2013-05-12T09:05:00.000-04:00

I do a lot of product testing, everything from soft and hard baits, to lines to hooks and more, but there is nothing more satisfying then getting the opportunity to test drive a new rod or reel. I think this is due to the fact that although we may buy many new baits each season, we rarely add more then one new piece of equipment. And when we do add , often the new gear, no matter how expensive, does not live up to the hype, or more importantly our expectations. That being said this season, I had the opportunity to add a few new reels (and one rod) to my ever growing/changing arsenal. "What to choose, what to choose"...The Hype behind Daiwa's Lexa series of fishing reel is quite impressive and made it nearly impossible to not give one a test drive.

Unlike other quieter Daiwa reel releases, I have heard the Lexa talked-up on and off the water, on fishing boards and in chat rooms (do we still have these?) months prior to them hitting the store shelves. It seems anglers everywhere are very excited about this new relatively inexpensive reel that can compete with reels many would consider out of it's weight class.. so with that in mind I took the Daiwa Lexa 2000 for a test drive and pit it against one of the industries best.. the Shimano Stradic, and here is what I found...

PROS:

There is a lot to like in this spinning reel, but lets start off with the obvious.. it's sexy as hell. You cant look at this sleek design and tell me there is a better looking reel on the market today.. and it doesn't hurt that it pairs really well with my rod of choice, the Dobyns Champion Extreme line of spinning rod (insert whistling sound here)

When it comes to spinning reels I'm always torn, I prefer to fish what most companies calls a 1000 series reel, but you don't get the same line capacity or drag strength as you would from a larger reel. That being said the Lexa comes in a 2000 series, and to me it fishes just as large as a standard 2500 series reel, without the added weight that comes with the large size. The line capacity is listed at 6/110, and I can confirm that it is slightly underrated as I spooled my Lexa 2000 up with 20lb Samurai braid and was able to fit the entire 150 meter spool on and still had room for my 4ft of leader.

To me there is no better honor to bestow on reel then to compare it to an "old standby" or "personal fav" so I'm going to do just that. In my opinion the Lexa spinning reel fishes like if not better then a Shimano Stradic, it is solid, yet light weight (8.1oz), it has a strong smooth drag (8lbs) and casts braid and mono line extremely well. All of these features rival if not approve upon what the Stradic has to offer, and yet the Lexa comes in on average $60 cheaper, across the board.. if that's not a pro, I don't know what is.

I know I touched on it above, but I don't want to understate how impressed I was with the overall smoothness of this reel, from cast, to retrieve, and of course drag, the Lexa spinning reel performs at a high level and really helps you fight the fish (instead of it fighting you)

Im no scientist, so I wont dive too deep into the full range of claims made about the Zaion carbonate Air rotor system on the Lexa, but to put it in angler speak: " it looks slick and gets the job done." And lets be honest, anytime you are able to reduce weight but improve strength, it is a good thing, and that is exactly what the Air rotor was designed to do.

The last thing I will touch on, is the size options available for the Lexa. As mentioned above I really like fishing with 1000 series spinning reels, but often they are too small, and in turn the most 2500 series is larger/heavier then Im looking for. Daiwa has this issue licked, as the launched the Lexa with a 1500, 2000, and 2500 series. I really like that the 1500, and 2000 come in at the same weight and strength, the only real difference being the line capacity. I can now do everything I want to do with a spinning reel without having to jump up to a 2500 series

CONS:

Not really a con, but I will admit it took some getting use to the Daiwa "AirBail". This hollowed out light weight bail is common on Daiwa reels, but from a guy making the switch from Shimano I will admit it looked and felt a little large for the first few casts. That being said it feels very durable and should not bend, dent or deform as easily as the thinner "wire" bails, thus keeping your reel running smooth longer

I have heard anglers talk about this reel as being a bit heavy, and I don't think I understand? The Lexa 2000 weighs in at 8.1oz, and comparing that to a standard stradic that means it is .5oz heavier.. not exactly mind blowing. If they are comparing it to reels like the CI4, then that's not a fair comparison, as we are no longer looking at apples to apples.

The biggest con I can throw at this reel is availability, In Ontario, it is not yet widely available, unless you are in a major market. I found myself making long treks to the few shops that carried Daiwa only to be told "soon".. but let me reiterate "it was worth the wait".

The Wrap-Up

After this test drive I have to say, Im impressed with the Daiwa Lexa spinning reel, so much so that I will be adding a second one to my arsenal very soon. This reel is built very well and is the perfect match for finesse techniques like Dropshotting, finesse jigs or even t-rig or wacky rigged soft plastics (you know, if your into that kind of stuff).

I was very happy with the 2000 series its has the slightly smaller frame that I want, but still feels tough and it could easily handle heavier techniques like dragging tubes, and the odd crank bait. These are things you would not usually be able to pull off on a 1000 series reel.

Weapons of Choice:

My Daiwa Lexa 2000, has been paired up with a Dobyns DX742SF rod. It will primarily be used for drop shot fishing.

I have plans to add a Lexa 2000 series reel to be paired up with my Dobyns 703SF, this combo will be used for texas ridges soft plastics, skipping up under docks and the occasional tube.

Bass Fishing in May: 2013 Photo Journal - Lake Erie & More

2013-05-08T07:29:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I was invited to take part in the 8th annual Lake Erie/Lake Chatauqua fishing excursion with a group of anglers simply referred to here as "the old guys" (sorry Brian). This was my second such invite, and after a successful first trip, I was excited to use what I had learned last year to do battle on these big fisheries again.. oh what a difference a year makes!

Day 1 was spent on Lake Erie, the weather forecast called for high winds moving in in the afternoon, so we knew we had to get out early and pound'em before the winds sent us scurrying for shelter.

As usual I shared a boat with "Kenny" we spent some early time shallow looking to see if any big females had moved in to spawn. What we found was a large school of Sheephead making a ruckus in the shallows.. Here is Kenny with the first fish of the day

The only one in our group that really hit'em hard on Erie was "Brian". He found the right presentation and the right colour, and even with 4 of us throwing the same bait, he was the only one boating fish, after fish, after fish (sorry, I'm all for giving away my secrets, but cant openly give away my co-anglers)

At the end of the day, I managed one fish on lake Erie, but I'm happy to say it was a good one. this football smallmouth succumbed to a tube jig

Day 2, was a 5am wake up call on Chatauqua Lake. This is a view from my room, and as always the sunrises never disappoint. (just add coffee)

I had the majority of my success in 2012 on a spinnerbait (war eagle of course) and I was bound to give one a run again this year. It was not long before the fish started to take notice (Dobyns DX744 paired with a Daiwa Zillion)

I dont know about you, but I could fish a spinnerbait all day long, something about that dead stop strike or watching the shine from your blades vanish on mid retrieve

The pattern we found was that the majority of the fish were hanging off the end of the docks, and that by burning a blade at a 45 degree angle across the corners you could easily pull a fish out.

We were surprised how aggressive these shallow fish were, they ignored flipping baits and and soft plastics, but hammered every blade that buzzed by.

Paired up with Kenny again we took to the shallows, and pounded the shoreline and any dock we could see. Kenny landed the biggest fish of our 35 fish caught on Day 2 (see below)

I loved the look of these busted up old docks, I wished they held more fish, but oh well, they still make for a great photo.

I did get to break in some of my new Reins baits, not many fish were interested in a slow presentation, but I did manage a couple on the Ring Craw

Boat #2 Consisted of Rick and Brian, they headed to deeper water and focused on "quality over quantity" and I think you will agree it paid off, this is a 6.1lb smallie that gave Rick a new personal best

(Ignore the image date, for a former TV man, Rick is not known for his prowess with a camera)

This was the only time all weekend that the lake was flat, the winds really picked up and night and day there was a constant chop making it hard to hit deeper water or mid lake humps without getting blown around

Day 3, found Brian and I partnered up, and after a success Day 2, we headed back to the shallows to find some fish that Kenny and I missed. The Spinnerbait bite was still on, and Brian and I picked up where Kenny and I left off

The fish were smaller on Day3, but in 2 hours (or so) Brian and I still managed 16 fish from an area in wich 35+ fish were caught just 12 hours prior

Later in the morning we decded to push out deeper looking for big fish, but after getting blown off a few of our secondary sports, we looked to a popular gravel bar and began to work crank baits, lip less cranks, and of course the odd spinner bait. The smallies were quick to oblige us, and the bit was arm-tiringly fast

the lipless crank proved more popular then the spinnerbait so I made the change and stuck with it the rest of the day. The Lipless Crank of choice was the Rippin Rap by Rapala, I picked one up before leaving for this trip, pretty much right after I watched an episode of In-Fisherman and Doug who was using this bait to great success, I'm happy to report, he was telling the truth

Brian and I pretty much spend most of the afternoon either fighting a fish, or netting one for each other. It was a blast and when all was said and done we topped the 35 fish Kenny and I landed on Day 2

We were even surprised by the odd large mouth that came to join the party. This beast hammered my Rapala rippin rap, and fought harder then any of the smallies

Gotta love that shiny golden colour. These fish were all super healthy, and no matter the size big or small they were all well fed.

In 2012 almost all my smallmouth success came from a drop-shot rig, this year, it barely saw the water and when it did, it was useless. It always amazes me how the fish can change from day to day, or minuted to minute

Meanwhile in Boat 2, Kenny and Rick both landed their best Largemouth's of the weekend...

Day 4 was not my day. Kenny and I re teamed up and he promptly kicked my ass. The shallow bite switched off between a fast presentation (spinner bait) to a slow one (tubes). I was too stubborn and stuck with the spinner bait way to long. When I finally made the change, I still had little to no luck, while Kenny continued to slam fish after fish, the dude is a maestro with a tube jig

In the last 10 minutes of our shortened day, I went back to my spinner bait and mustered 3 quick fish, all in the same hole, a spot a local angler was kind enough to give up the day prior. (thank you)

After that we packed up and headed home. It was a long but amazing trip. No matter if we are gone for one day or 10, this is always a welcome site.. it's good to be home

Weapons of Choice:

Spinnerbait: Dobyns DX744 w/ Daiwa Zillion, War Eagle Screaming Eagle Spinnerbait on Daiwa Samurai Braid

Lipless Cranks: Dobyns Savvy 704 (microguide) w/ Dawia Advantage reel. I used 8lb Sunline super sniper FC and the bait of choice was a Rapala Ripin Rap

DropShot: Dobyns DX742SF w/ Daiwa Lexa 1500 Spinning reel, New Gamakatsu SwivelShot hook and Strike King Bitsy tube

Tubes: Dobyns Savvy 703SF w/ Daiwa Ballistic Spinning Reel, and ElGrande Tubes (bluegill)

Crappie Tubes: One Bait 3 Techniques

2013-05-04T09:02:00.000-04:00

If you ask a selection of Crappie fisherman about their preferred bait for targeting crappie, most would quickly answer a crappie or micro tube, and I would have to whole heatedly agree. A good crappie tube is not only my first choice but it is my second and third choice when it comes to targeting crappie, and here's how I do it.

Slip-bobber:

Slip-bobber fishing is the most common technique I see used to target crappie. It not only allows you to easily adapt to almost any depth, but it allows you to offer the fish both a slow and fast presentation all without changing baits.

To be successful with a slip bobber, all you need to do is remember a few basic steps. First, set your bobber depth so your tube is approximately 1 foot off the bottom. The objective is to make accurate casts to the deeper pockets or structure the crappie are holding to. Using your rod you want to slowly (at first) pop and move your tube, while only slightly moving your bobber. Depending on what the fish want on a particular day, you can start to do harder rod pops, and start to drag the bobber across the surface while still keeping your tube in the strike zone. Crappies will chase down a meal, but the water temps will often dictate how far.

Tip: if the action slows, don't be afraid to adjust your bobbers depth, move up or down in the water column to find fish that may have been ignoring your earlier attempts

when first starting out slip bobber fishing you will quickly realize that not all bobbers are equal, to date the best slip bobber I have found is the "Mr Crappie Slipper" by Betts. It is a cigar shaped bobber that comes in weighted and non-weighted models. I personally prefer to use the weighted model as it allows me to down size my jig heads weight (providing better, softer motion in the water) but still gets me the casting distance I want/need. The shape also allows this combo to be skipped up under overhangs and bridges

Slip Bobber fishing is a great technique when the season is getting started and the water temps are still relatively cool. But, like with any technique, there are times when a simple slip bobber wont cut it, what then?

Jig Head: Dragging and hopping

This is a technique I tend to use more as the water temps warm up. It is a faster presentation that is more erratic then when using a slip bobber (it moves in and out of the strike zone). It works particularly well when the fish are active or when trying to pick out fish hanging out below the rest of the school.

like a jerk-bait, I cast the jig out, let it sink and give the rod sharp pops to make the bait hop and sink back down. Not exactly a weedless presentation, but it keeps you active and keeps things moving. Try varying your speed, you can slow hop and pause these baits so they hit the bottom and the line goes slack. Other times I will steady retrieve so the bait swims just below the surface. Let the fish tell you what they want.

A perk to fishing a Crappie Tube on a jig head is how easily you can change out a damaged tube, or change colours. Unlike with a slip-bobber there is no need to tie and retie your bait, the tube simply slides off. My jig heads of choice tend to be the 'Fin-S" painted heads from Lunker City, (pictured above) or the Southern Pro Painted head tboth have a nice finish and hold up well to banging off rocks and other structure (or as well as can be expected)

Tip: Try varying the angle of your rod when jerking or hopping the bait. By holding the rod high you will be hopping the bait vertically exposing it to more of the water column, while jerking the rod to the side, will glide the bait along keeping it deeper at all times

Blade/Spin Baits:

The technique I enjoy fishing crappie tubes on the most has to be a small blade/spin bait like the Southern Pro Creek Runner (pictured above) . This baits allows me to cover water extremely well, and active fish hammer it, similar to a spinner bait bite when bass fishing.

Depending on water temps and what time of the season you are fishing, there are many ways to present a spin bait. The most obvious one is a steady retrieve. Soft and slow will run the bait deeper and a fast retrieve will burn it just under the surface. I also like to pop and twitch a spin bait, allowing the blade to really do it's thing calling fish in on the fall.

Spin baits are very versatile and allow me to make quick changes to my bait without having to retie over and over again. Simply slide the tube off and slip anew one on. These quick changes are important as I find many anglers get lazy and wont switch up an ineffective bait if it means tying and retying (yes we as a group can be lazy at times)

Tip: Like when spinner bait fishing for Bass to be successful with a blade bait you need to be fearless. Bang it off rocks and timbers, weave and rip it through grass, do whatever it takes to get noticed

Tube Selection:

If you are an avid visitor to this site then you know I'm a bit of a tackle whore, I love to try new baits, even after I have found what I believe to be the perfect bait.. the search for the next best thing is always on-going. When it comes to Crappie tubes, I have two brands that I trust and use more often then not.

Southern Minnow Pro: A great looking minnow style tube bait, these babies are durable and have a different motion then the other tubes in my arsenal. The wider hollow cavity also allows for larger tube jigs or various sizes

Bass Pro Shop Squirt: This is my go to crappie tube, they are extremely durable and proven fish catchers. I use both the Squirming Squirt (1.5") as well as the Magnum (2") which is also salted

Tip: You may have noticed a bit of a colour trend throughout this article, you can ignore it, pink/white are awful choices for crappie fishing. lol

There you have, 3 uses for a bait I know any angler calling himself a "crappie man" has to own. So the next time your on the water in search of these golden beasts, be sure to test drive a new technique, it may just set you apart from the crowd

Looking Back: A Photo Journal of my fishing past

2013-04-30T08:13:00.000-04:00

Yep, thats me, circa 1990, at one of my favourite (secret) bass holes. I came across this photo while flipping through one of my Dad's old photo albums a few weeks back. It made me laugh, but not quite as much as the below pic of him ( I dont know whats worse, the hat, shirt or the hair... nope it's the hair)

My parents separated early in my life, and my Dad not one to have an abundance of money spent his weekend time with us at one of a few easily accessed fishing holes. We would be up early on a Saturday morning, stop for a coffee, and a couple dozen worms and then off we would go. The day would be spent casting from shore and targeting pretty much anything that would bite.. perch, sunfish and of course bass. To this day I still point to these outings as one of the main reasons that Im "fishing crazy" to this day.

Both of the Fishing Holes pictured in the journal are drastically different today. The above photos where taken at a bass hole along an old dirt farmer road. Today that road is nearly impassable, the last time I swung by for a nostalgic look back I had to park the car and hike the mile in one foot. Time and teenagers have not been kind to this spot, but to this day I still have the urge to head down and fish

Below is an area I highlighted in one of my very early blog entries (HERE). It was an old unused train bridge and the area was loaded with fish. Today the city has taken it over and turned it into a beautiful hiking/walking/bike trail. The fishing has died-off and although I still stop in once a summer I havent caught a fish there in years.

All this flipping through photo albums has be very nostalgic, so on a seperate visit I spent some time rummaging through the garage where I happened upon some very exciting finds, that I though woudl pair well with the theme of this article

The first item that jumped out at me was my first ever tackle box. A Woodsman Canada "fisher kid" kit. I still remember it like yesterday, this tiny little box came with hooks, bobbers, snap swivels and even a rope style stringer. I used that box for years traveling back and forth to the Trout pond just minuted from my backyard.

When moving the box to take the above picture I noticed that it was resting on another familair tackle box.. my Grandfathers. He and I had spent some time fishing together during many a summer while he ran a Boy Scout camp in Halliburton, Ontario. In my younger years he and my step father were both tasked with following me down to the pond while I fished for hours.

After finding his tackle box I then began to search for his old rod, as I knew the two would be close together. That bright green from his Johnson Century Model 100A was hard to mis. Not used in ears it was still strung up, and I half expected to see a dried up worm on the hook.

I dont have many pictures of myself fishing with my grandfather, but one I do have goes along with a great memory. The below image was taken during my first ever Salmon fishing trip. My grandfather and his friends arrange the trip but when one buddy fell sick they had an opening and invite this 15 year old rookie along.

The weather and fish did not co-operate, and with only one hour left in our day we officially hooked our first fish. To my surprise all the men on the boat pushed me forward to fight the fish (Me, the only one who did not pay to be there) and nearly 30 minutes later, I landed my first and to this day biggest salmon at just over 28lbs. (Thats my grandfather in the White hat)

I know this was a bit wordy for a "photo journal" but I hope you enjoyed this look back into the fishing past of a certified bass junky

Numa Sunglasses Wear to Win Program 2013

2013-04-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

First off, let me state that you will require no incentive to wear Numa Sunglasses, once you try on your first pair you will full understand what all the hype is about. They are light weight, crystal clear and tough as nails.. But hey if you are looking for that added bonus, then check out the Wear to Win program for 2013

If you are a register angler in any of the above events and place in the top 3, you are eligible for cash and or product prizes. The list is growing, I know I will personally be fishing in 6 of the event listed above and without a doubt will have my Numa's on

Remember: if you are fishing any of these events.. register you Numa glasses so you dont miss out

to learn more about Numa and their products click HERE

5 Canadian Fishing Bait/Lure Companies that deserve your business

2013-04-23T08:14:00.000-04:00

I often hear and take part in conversations with fellow anglers who nonchalantly throw around comments like "you gotta support your local shops and dealers" and although I agree with this sentiment, I think they are missing a major part of this statement, and that is we need to look at more then just "shopping local", we need to "Buy Local"

Whats the difference? Well shopping local is just that, it means giving your hard earned cash to the local stores that help keep your community running (and gives you a place to hang out and talk fishing) This is a good thing! . Whereas "Buying Local" is all about buying products that are made locally in Province/State or at the very least your Country.

And let me stop you here... before you start typing that email or comment in the comment section explaining to me all the reasons you cant "buy local". I get it, there is not exactly a large number of Canadian Bait/Lure companies banging out a full range of products, but there are some, some damn good actually, and they deserve the chance to get our business (money) just as much as the big boys do's.

So to help do my part, here are 5 Canadian Companies, that deserve your business (in no particular order)

1) BassMagnet Lures

You might remember I did a small piece on Bass Magnet Lures last season (found HERE). They are an Ontario based company that has been knocking our quality baits for over 10 years now.. yes 10 years!

They have built their business and good name on quality soft plastic baits and excellent customer service. They have booths set up in a variety of sportsman shows all over Ontario in which their ever growing pro staff and owners are on hand to show off the baits and field questions and comments from the angels using their products.

As an example of how well they listen to their customers: Last year they launched their own version of the Alabama Rig (I bought one) but over the course of the Toronto Sportsman Show and the Outdoors Show they got a ton of feedback from anglers who did not want to see this product on the market.. so what did they do? they pulled it. Yes this company spent time and money having an Alabama rig built only to stop selling it to please their fan base.. Now thats listening to your customers

The products themselves are high quality, I personally use a variety of their baits, including the Quiver Stick (a senko), their Flippin Tube, and the Shift'r Shad a ribbed swim-bait that works well on my now rare and collectable Bass Magnet Lure Umbrella Rig

To Check out their full line-up go to: http://www.bassmagnetlures.com

And if you like what you see, be sure to swing by their Facebook page (HERE) and hit the "Like Button"

2) LunkerHunt

You may not have heard of LunkerHunt baits prior to this past July (2012) when they shocked a good portion of the Industry by winning the 2012 ICAST award for Best Soft Baits with their Bento Baits a absolutely killer drop shop minnow

How many other Canadian companies can call themselves ICAST best in show winners? Hell many of the top dogs in the industry are still alluded by this honour

I didn't add LunkerHunt to this article based off their ICAST win (although it didn't hurt) I put them here more for their "Edu-Kits", a line of baits/techniques that was developed as a teaching aid to help expand the skill sets of all levels of angler. There are over 20 varieties of Edu-Kit currently available, each one comes with all the tools needed to perform a specific techniques, along with a booklet waling you through the process and set-up.. This is a great aid for young angler or those just starting out, it takes the guessing out of what size weight or hook they should buy and it helps gain confidence in a bait they would not normally use.

Outside of the Edu-Kits LunkerHunt has a pretty wide selection of baits, I personally use both the Revealer and 4" Double Dip Tubes along with the Spicy Bites a scent ball that you insert in the tubes (garlic). Their Lunker Sticks are a quality senko style bait with great color choices, and this year they have added a very unique hollow body frog call the Lunker Frog that I have on order and cant wait to review for the Frog Pond.

To Check out LunkerHunts website http://www.lunkerhunt.com to see their full line of baits, and locate a dealer near you.

If you are a social media junky (like me) be sure to head over to their Facebook Page (HERE) and click like if you want to be kept up to date on products and promotions.

3) The Perfect Jig

Like with many fishing lure companies the Perfect Jig was founded by a Fisherman in search of the perfect bait, and when he couldn't find it, he just went out and made it, thus "the Perfect Jig"

With a crazy assortment of jig and colour options the Perfect Jig will have what your looking, but if they don't, thats Ok, all you have to do is ask!

thats right although they shelve multiple lines of "perfect jigs" they also know that what they find perfect is not always what you may find perfect, so they give you the option of a completely custom jig, from the skirt strands to the make and style of hook, you want it, you got it

That being said their everyday line-up includes some pretty impressive jigs... , The Arky a round headed flipping/pitching jig (3 sizes, 12 colours) a Mini or finesse Jig (3 sizes, 5 Colours), the Stand-Up Jig is their version of a football jig in which the hook acts as advertised and stands straight up (4 Sizes, 5 Colours), the SwimJig is a traditional aerodynamic jig that moves very well through the water (4 colours, 4 sizes) and finally a Mop Jig (2 sizes, 4 Colours)

These truly are a quality jig, and if you are currently buying yours elsewhere, do your self a favor and at-least check these guys out at: http://www.theperfectjig.ca

to see more reviews on the Perfect Jig from the likes of BassEast and RAHFISH you can check out their Facebook page (HERE)

4) XZone Lures

If imitation is truly the most sincere form of flattery, then XZone should truly feel special as their Slammer baits have been knocked off by more then just one of their competitors.

XZone originally started out with one bait.. yes one.. the Slammer , a Great Lakes fish slayer this drop shop bait brought monster smallie after monster smallie to the scales all across southern Ontario. Thus the demand increased, and so did the demand for more bait options.

So XZone obliged and introduced the Swammer, a paddle tailed bigger brother to the slammer, this bait added more beef and more kick. Now on top of a stellar drop shot bait, XZone now had a killer swimbait that still could be drop shot as well as thrown on a jig head.

Other baits began to follow, including a smaller drop shot minnow bait "The Shiver Shad" as well as the wacky leech (the only product in the line that Im not a fan of).

The current dealer list is long, and includes many of Canada's biggest fishing tackle retailers, as well as a few notable American Companies. Like The Perfect Jig and Bass Magnet Lures, XZone staffers and owners are accessible, at shows and on the water, if you want to learn more, be sure to check out their website: http://w.xzonelures.com

This is where I would normally state "Like their Facebook Page" but since it has not been updated since November 2012, I don't think you will get much from it.. oh what the hell.. click HERE

5) Freedom Tackle Corp

Freedom Tackle Corp, may be the youngest of the the companies listed here, but their future is definitely bright. With testimonials coming in from Canadian fishing legends like Gord Pyzer (In-Fisherman Magazine) and TV Host Charlie Wray (FishFull Thinking), the team at Freedom are really making their presence felt.

Freedom Tackle Coprs current success and name is being built on their line of patented jig heads that they are calling "live action hybrid jigs". Designed for improved motion in the water, and less spit hooks, the Hybrid Jig has a detachable hook that swings loose when attached the a jig head. The heads, hooks and skirts are interchangeable and allow the angler to adapt to the changing conditions and the bite. For those of us use to tying directly to a hook, this may take some getting use to (and some trust) as the wire that holds the hook in place also needs to hold up during battle.

I personally have not used Freedom's baits, but I have held a few in my hands and do plan to snap up their Stealth, Rogue and Zodiac jigs

As mentioned, this company is young and growing. To learn more, you can check out their website: http://www.freedomlures.com/ (lots of pics and videos) and of course "like" their Facbook page (HERE)

So that's that, 5 Canadian Bait/Lure companies doing good work in the Fishing Lure/Bait Industry. I hope you take a moment to check them out, and give some of their products a test drive.

PS: I would be remiss if I did not include an honourable mention to "The Rod Glove" although not a bait/lure company, they are one of Canada's premier fishing run companies making a huge splash in both Canada and the US. If you are not already protecting you gear with a Rod Glove you need to check 'em out, HERE is their Facebook page, give it a "like"

Booyah Keeps things Crashing in 2013 with the Pad Crasher Jr and Poppin Pad Crasher

2013-04-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

It has been about 2 years since Booyah came crashing into the hollow body frog scene with their "Pad Crasher" frog, a super soft yet durable frog that rivals any other currently being produced. This year, they have added two new frogs to their line-up, including the Pad Crasher Jr. and the Poppin Pad Crasher

In their first go-round in the frog market, Booyah did everything right, they designed a hollow body frog that collapses incredibly well, yet is tuff enough to take the abuse that both the angler and the fish will throw at it. Furthermore they met the "realistic"standards set by their closest competitor (Live Target) and then proceeded to destroy them on pricing (a quality hollow body frog under $10!). I have said it before and Ill say it again, the Booyah Pad Crasher is the best dollar for dollar frog on the market today

The Pad Crasher Jr.

One of the fastest growing trends in the hollow-body frog market is what I call "froglets", these baby, Jr or mini versions of a standard hollow-body frog drive early and late season bass crazy. They offer a snack sized meal for fish looking for an easy bite. They also allow the fish to get more of the frog in its mouth, thus providing a better and higher hook-up ratio.

The Pad Crasher Jr, takes everything that was right about the original Pad Crasher and downsizes it. It's smaller 2" frame still provides the classic frog profile, yet causes less commotion when the bite gets tough. Weighing in a 1/4 oz, the Pad Crasher Jr is half the weight of its bigger brother but will still give you the ability to cast it with ease on bait-casting or spinning gear (for the weak at heart).

I have been using small to medium sized frogs for a few seasons now, and they have been producing extremely well for me. I have already made room in my primary frog box for the Pad Crasher Jr, as I know it will be getting a serious workout this season.

Poppin Pad Crasher

As an avid hollow body fisherman it took me some time to get into the popping hollow body craze, "I'm a traditionalist" I told myself, but what it really boils down to is that I'm stubborn and picky. (most fisherman are). What I wanted and was not able to find in most popping baits was the ability to move, walk,slide and glide like a traditional hollow-body and then make it "pop" on demand.

The first thing I noticed about the Booyah Poppin Pad Crasher was that the mouth was slightly raised so it does not sit flush on the water. If I want to "walk it", keeping the rod tip up I should be able to move this frog with ease. Then when it's time to "pop-it", a quick rod jerk will drive the frogs mouth down into the water and give you that loud "pop and spit" action that was promised.

The Poppin Pad Crasher simply put is the traditional Pad Crasher with a nose job. It comes in at the same 1/2oz of weight allowing for great casting distance in most if not all conditions. Unlike the Pad Crasher Jr, that quiets things down, the Popping pad crasher was designed to liven things up, and make as much commotion as possible.. objective complete

The colour choices for the entire line of Pad Crasher is pretty impressive. I really like the addition of the two shad colours for the Poppin Pad Crasher, as nothing says says "busting shad" like a nice shiny popper.

I cant wait to get both of these new frogs on the water this season, if you want to get your hands on one early (like I did) you may want to head on over to Lurenet to check out the full collection.

Reins Fishing: Making it rain killer soft Plastic baits

2013-04-13T14:15:00.000-04:00

Being hidden away in the "Canadian wilderness" (the term our American friends use to describe even the largest of Canadian cities) it is not always easy to get my hands on baits from small or medium sized bait companies. Most of our retailers focus on the major brands that the majority of the weekend warriors will quickly notice and trust (meaning "purchase") and who can blame 'em. So if I want to think outside the box that often means "thinking outside the Country".. that is exactly what I did recently when I took the plunge and ordered my first assortment of baits from Reins Fishing, a Japanese import that has made its way into the US mainstream.

Reins currently has 9 unique baits, that at first glance most anglers would simply file under: Swimbait, Worm, Creature and Craw categories.. but these baits are not as common as you think, here is an inside look at 4 of them...

AX Craw:

The Ax Craw is one of the baits that drew me towards Reins, it was the first bait of theirs that I really wanted or more specifically needed to try. I have been working my way through a pretty large assortment of craw style flipping baits over the past couple season and the AX Craw caught my attention mostly due to the beefy flipping bait body yet smaller head and agile flapping claws. Most baits provide you with one or the other but not both..

This AX Craw will be getting some serious work in my arsenal this season in and around submerged timber, and in the odd pad section, it's large profile will ensure it is seen, and it's ribs, small arms and large claws will make sure it is heard. Like most Reins baits, the AX Craw is salt impregnated and scented with their "shrimp" scent (similar to a Power bait scent). It is available in a 3.5 and 4 inch version, the one pictured below is the 4" as I truly believe in the "go big or go home" mentality when it comes to flipping baits

Fat RockVibe Shad

Looking the way this bait looks and with a name like "Fat RockVibe Shad" you would have to wonder if Reins ran a "name this bait" contest and a 4 year old child happened to win it.. but don't let the odd name and look fool ya, this bait is the real deal, it has all the keys I look for in a successful swim bait, all mashed into one

It's unique body shape includes a intestine shaped head/body paired up with a ribbed tail section that is then paired up with a large paddle tail. Obviously this bait was designed to not only move well in the water but to make sure it got noticed when doing so.

On top of the fact that this bait flat out catches fish, I have to give the team at Reins credit for creating a bait that was built to last (fish after fish). Too many of the swimbait/jerkbaits I have been using just don't hold up.. take the Berkley Havoc Grass Pig or even what I consider a Hall of Fame bait: the Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper. Both of these baits get chewed up fast mostly due to the pressure put on head portion of the bait while fighting fish. The Fat RockVibe Shad fixes this by creating a larger denser head (and body) that is built like tank..albeit a soft bodied tank . I'm really looking forward to getting this bait on the water, I think it will not only spend some time as a soft plastic jerk/swim bait, but may also get to take a turn on my Alabama rig (yes I still mess around with that thing) and on the back of a swim jig

Ring Craw

The little brother of the AX Craw, the Ring Craw brings more to the table then just a smaller profile. This 3" bait fishes larger then it's measurements, mostly due to the additional appendages and fat round ringed claws. The body of the bait is beefy enough to hold a hook well, although I would recommend staying with a 2/0 or even 1/0 hook.

I started looking seriously at this bait after watching the success my fishing partner (Dustin) had with the Power Team 'Craw D'oeuvre". Both are compact baits, that can be flipped using spinning or casting gear, and give you a smaller profile with lots of action to drive bedding fish crazy. I know I already have mine packed for my Spring trip to Northern NY

Bubbling Shad:

Fellow Dobyns team member Paul Mueller has been singing the praises of the Reins Bubbling Shaker for awhile now, simply put he slays fish with it.. but, I'm not much into that style of bait (drop shotting or not) so I decided to take a portion of Paul's advice and take a serious look into another "bubbling bait", the Reins Bubbling Shad.

When it comes to shad/minnow baits I'm from the school of thought that you can do no wrong selecting a white, off-white or other white variant. But in this case I decided to give the "clear" a test drive and all I can say is that thing looks like something out of an Indiana Jones movie.. look at that baby sparkly and shine.

Unlike the Fat RockVibe shad, the Bubbling Shad has a smaller profile, and even when purchasing the larger size, I was kinda disappointed with it's overall presence. Like many of the ring worms on the market this bait gives off the (first) impression that a single hard hook set will rip it to pieces. I would say that this bait was designed with more flair but less durability, kinda like a finesse swim bait.

I'm hoping I get to be proved wrong, as this is the first Reins bait I have held that did not really blow me away, or make me think.. "yeah I could use that". It will get some time on the water this season, and maybe, just maybe, you will see me eat a little crow.

Whenever ordering baits cross boarder, it helps to put together a selection, ordering just one of the above baits was not cost effective, so I waited until I could add a selection of their baits to my shopping cart, and I'm glad I did. If you are looking to give some Reins baits a test drive, I would recommend ordering them through Optimum Baits, not only do they have an awesome selection and fast shipping, but they also load up your order with an stellar assortment of stickers!

New Recipe: BBQ Perogies

2013-04-10T08:42:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I posted a recipe, and with BBQ season ramping up I though what better time to share my first attempt at BBQ'd Perogy, Peirogi, or Perogies.. however you say it, they are delicious

Ingredients:

Perogies - 4 per person

Olive Oil - 4 tbsp

BBQ Dry Rub - 2 tbsp (or till coated)

BBQ Sauce - 4 tbsp (used more as a glaze then sauce)

Cook Time: 5-10 minutes in boiling water, 5-10 minutes on the grill

I will get two fussy things out of the way first. Depending on how much time you have, making home made perogies is by far the superior method, but for those of us who are time constrained store bought versions are pretty good now-a-days.

To Boil or not to boil: When I decide to take the plunge and BBQ my perogies I did some basic "google research" and what I found was that there was split reviews on whether to pre-boil or place your perogies on the BBQ frozen. Personally using my knowledge and experience of cooking on the BBQ I deciding that pre-boiling the perogies was the best bet, if you plan to do a frozen version stop reading now...

Step#1: Boil'em

Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Then add a tbsp or 2 to the water, this helps keep the perogies separate in the pot (as then tend to get sticky when they soften). I use a rolling boil to help keep the perogies off the bottom of the pot, you can turn it down but be sure to stir often.

There is no dedicated time frame for this, just wait for the perogies to float

Step #2: Toss'em

Grab your trusty mixing boil and add 2tbs of Olive Oil (or melted butter) and toss the perogies getting them nice and coated. Once oiled up, start to dust them with the BBQ rub of your choice, I like something with a smoky paprika/brown sugar base. Once coated they will start to dry up a bit and not be as "tacky" to the touch.

Step#3: Fire Up the Grill

I have read the various ways that people like to place their perogies on the grill, some steam them in a pouch, or use a BBQ wok, me, i throw them right on the grill and use a mix of direct and in-direct heat.

Start by getting the BBQ hot, and by hot I mean between 400-450 degrees. Once at temperature you need to grease the grill, perogies will stick, so either spray or oil it up.

Place the perogies on the grill (single layer, not stacked) and shut the lid for 2 minutes, give them a check , to see if you get those nice grill marks, if yes, give'em a flip and do the same on side 2. Once both sides are marked/charred turn off lower the temp and give them a few more minutes to cook.

Step 4: Glaze'em

I don't think perogies need a heavy hand with the sauce, so I opted to do more of a glaze. Using a small brush I gave each side a quick wash, then flipped them to let the heat caramelize the sauce a bit.

If you want to sauce them instead of glazing them, who am I to stop ya' go nuts. I also think a a good addition in the future would be to toss them with butter and hot sauce instead of oil

Step 5: Enjoy'em!

BBQ'd perogies make a great side dish for a variety of BBQ'd meats, including port chops and or sausages. Don't hesitate to be adventurous, try various spices, and or make your own flavoured sour cream for dipping (blue cheese dip is an awesome partner for these)

Dustin's Corner: The Rod Recap

2013-04-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

Well its that time of year again where everything is being looked at and broken down to make sure the 2013 season will go without a flaw!(fingers crossed). In my last post I reviewed some basic rod cleaning, and this time I am going over my entire rod arsenal, and the great support I get being part of the Dobyn's Team!

I joined the Dobyn's Pro Staff team in 2011 and do not regret one minute of it. We are all like one big family, and all have one thing in common (we love to catch fish..primarily bass). So since 2011 I have started my little collection of Dobyn's Rods which includes all the different levels, from the Savvy Series to the Champion Extreme and all of them have upheld to very hard conditions. The only issue I have ever come across was breaking one tip off (due to mainly to user error) And thats how I learned to put all the rods in The Rod Gloves even though they go into a rod locker.

This is my collection of Dobyn's so far, 12 rods strong, and more to come this year!

Casting:Champion Extreme 743C,

Coalition 735C & 734C,
Champion Series 765CB,735C,733C,703C,
Savvy Series 733C.

Spinning:
Coalition Series 704SF, 703SF
Savvy Series 703SF, 693SF.

I can honestly say that all of these rods have been put through rigorous testing,abuse,weather elements, just about anything thrown at them, and they all hold STRONG!

This year I will be adding 2 more rods to the collection which will include a new 702SF(spinning) and a new 763C(casting).

When Gary builds a rod, he sure does know what he is doing from the quality and durability to the finish of the rods, they are far superior than anything else I have used!

So if you are interested in a rod, don't hesitate to ask myself or Rob any questions, and if we don't have a answer for you, we will work as hard as we can to get one for you as we are part of the Dobyn's family. To learn more check out the all new website at www.dobynsrods.com for the full selection of these weapons!

Also keep an eye for theNew Roads Fishing Team Truck as it has the Dobyn's logo's all around it.

New Dobyns Rods Website.. Now Live!

2013-04-04T08:13:00.000-04:00

I know you must have see this by now.. but in case you have been under a rock (or stopped reading my articles) then you already know and hopefully have seen the all new Dobyns Rods website..

http://dobynsrods.com

Gary and the team at Dobyns rods have really stepped it up, this site is a thing of beauty, and really shows off their passion for the sport and all that it entails. So whether you are actually in the market for a new rod or just have some time to kill by watching all the videos posted by Gary, Richard and other members of the Dobyns rod pro staff team, this is a site worth checking out..

The Bass Geek - Part 1: Knot Tying Practise

2013-04-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

This could just as easily been Part 4 in my "How to keep busy in the off season series" as it is a sure fire way to cut through cabin fever. But instead I'm starting a new single cell comic style post called "The Bass Geek" series. This will include a list of idiosyncrasy's that ring true to all us Bass Geeks out there...the things that bring out out inner Bass Geek. I will do my best to avoid the often plagiarized Jeff Foxworthy and his " you know your a Bass Geek when" but I'm not making any promises.

BASS GEEK
noun - slang

1. An expert or enthusiast (a term of pride)
2. A person who is pre-occupied or knowledgeable about Bass Fishing
3. A person prone to spending a Saturday afternoon practising their knot tying ability (not be be confused with a Boy Scout)

How to become a Bass Geek Part 1:

During your down time (down time is defined as "non-fishing time" please feel free to practise at work or in bed) spend a few hours practising knots that you have yet to master. This can be easily achieved by following these 4 easy steps.

Step 1: Select a reference guide, there are many websites, magazine articles and phone apps that will walk you though the step by step of all fishing related knots, pick one that works best for you and keep it handy (a start and stop video version is what I find the most helpful)

Step 2: Grab a few half empty or filler spools of line (if you don't have any laying around, then you really have no chance of being a Bass Geek so stop now). It is very important that you practise with the line you will be actually using on the water to tie the knot in question, there is no sense practising with braid if you will be fishing with mono

Step 3: Choose 6 to 10 Hooks to practise on. Like with the line it is important to practise on the style of hook you will actually be using. If you are practising a "Snell knot" for punching yet are using an octopus hook then you will have issues on the water getting the perfect knot

Step 4: Practise.. this means tying knot after knot until you can achieve it 5 times or more without the use of the video aid.

Tip: In order to get the hang of a knot you will need more then one practise session, especially if that session is in March and you don't use the knot on the water until June, so make time to practise your knots monthly or atleast close to a trip, and hopefully without the aid of the video or app.

There you have it, part 1 of how to become a Bass Geek. You are now well on your way to pocket protectors (for hooks of course) and tape between the lenses of your polarized glasses (Numa's of course)

Stay tuned for Part 2.. turning your backyard deck into a dock!

2013 The Year of the Jig

2013-03-28T07:56:00.001-04:00

(Talon "Shibui Ooki" Living Rubber)

This is sort of a late in the year (although pre-season) New Years Resolution. I figured why make one that I know I will just break (like eating healthier or exercising). So instead, going forward I will give each year its own specific technique and focus that year at getting better and improving that technique.

This year (2013), I have decided to focus my attention on jig fishing, a technique that has been bringing in big bags of fish and fat cheques for years now, but is a technique that has always seemed to allude me. Don't get me wrong, it is not that I'm not set up to jig fish, on the contrary I have what many would consider a pretty solid collection of Jigs and trailers (including Black Angel Jigs, The Perfect Jig, Booyah Jigs and more) , but the technique itself just did little for me and thus my confidence waned.

So this year, in a bid to boost my confidence I will be spending time on each (non-tournament) outing getting in some jig fishing practise. Not to over do it, I will focus on a few select areas of jig fishing that I feel best suit my skills and focus on them

(Black Angel Finesse Jig with Tiny Paca Craw Chunk)

1) Finesse Jigs

Many guys see finesse jigs as kind of cop-out, but to me it is still a totally new techniques that requires a different kind of patience and

Gear: Dobyns DX743c is thee perfect rod for finesse Jig fishing, I know, I know, not many of us get down into 3" power rods, but believe me, I think you will be very surprised on how well this baby handles a finesse Jig.. I do have to give credit where credit is due, I was turned onto this rod by FLW Pro Angler (Guide and TV host) Tom Reddington, who put it to good use at the FLW Lewis Smith Lake event recently.

I will be pairing my DX743 with a Daiwa Lexa 100 model reel Im really digging the compact size of this little powerhouse and I think when spooled with 5lb-8lb fluorocarbon it will be the ultimate finesse combo.

Jigs & Trailers: A few seasons back I fell in love with the finesse Jig made by Black Angel Jigs, it is a nice compact 5/16oz jig that is available in 14 colors. What Black Angel does that I really like is all of their jigs come with what they call a "tail enhancer", really what it is are some extra long skirt strands that act like an antenna in the water and really add some additional action. For Chunks or trailers on these jigs, I have been using the Tiny or Baby version of the Paca Craw by NetBait, and although happy with it, this year I have added the V&M Mudbug to my arsenal. Both of these are great compact trailers that will allow you to keep that smaller finesse jig profile, but still be seen and heard.

2) Flipping/Swim Jigs

I already spend a good deal of time flipping baits in around docks, seedbeds, timber and various other structure, so this year I will be cutting off those flipping baits and tying on a jig, whether it means swimming jigs over or through grass, or pitching jigs into a submerged Forrest

Gear: For this I will be switching back and forth between 3 rods.. for the most part a Dobyns 734c will get the job done every day of the week, but at times when fishing nasty cover or when the size of the jig dictates I will jump up to a 735c (not my champ as it always has a frog tied on, but I do keep a spare 735 in the collation series that is my jig rod). Lastly the DX795 is very sensitive yet stout rod that gives you the best of both worlds, I like to use it when throwing heavier grass jigs, or football jigs.

For a reel, I will be breaking in my Daiwa Lexa300 as well as the old standby Dawia Advantage reels. These are both workhorse reels with great drag and pick-up.

(Booyah Swim Jig)

Jigs & Trailers: My swim jig arsenal is really a bit of a hodge podge, I carry the swim and stand-up jig by The Perfect Jig, The Combat Flipping Jig and Grass Bomb by Black Angel, as well as a mix of Booyah and Buckeye jigs that I have picked up over the years.. for the most part I stick to throwing 1/2 jigs and in some pretty basic colours (Black or shades there of) with the odd highlights. When it comes to trailers I'm a pretty simple guy, for my money Zoom Baits chunks can be counted on for the perfect bare bones trailer.. no matter if it is the Super Chunk, the Big Salty, The Swimming Chunk, the Ultra Vibe or even the twin tail.. they are all quality products at a reasonable price.. If I want to step it up a bit, I also carry with me The Strike King Rage Tail chunk and this year I will be adding the Perfect Jigs standard size Chunk, they are big and meaty and really give your jig a profile boost.

(ZMan Chatter Bait)

3) Bladed Jigs

This is a last minute add to my plan for this summer, based mostly on conversations that I have had with fellow Dobyns Rods team members. The bladed jig has it's popularity cycles and I believe that it has not been used to its full potential in Canadian waters (even more so in my area). I will be grabbing a few bladed jigs shortly to add them to my arsenal and hope to get some use out of them (and hook into some nice fish)

Gear: For this technique I'm told there is not better rod on the market then the Dobyns 734c, and since I have never fished them, who am I to argue? I will be pairing up my 724c with a Dawia Advantage reel, and hopefully I can slay some monsters with this fabled jig.

The Wrap-Up

So there you have it, 2013 will officially be the "year of the Jig" for me, and I will do all in my power to gain confidence in this presentation while hopefully catching a whack of fish in the process. I wont be along, some long time angling buddies will help and coach me along the way.. Bass season can come quick enough!

(Black Angel "Grass Bomb")

Dustin's Corner: New Boat for a New Season

2013-03-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Please welcome the Newest Addition to our Fishing Team. , the yet unnamed Ranger Z521 paired with a 250 Yamaha SHO..and a Power Pole Blade

As everyone knows, I had my boat aka "Big Sexy"(Z518 Ranger) for a couple of years (editors note: Dustin is the only one who called the boat 'Big Sexy"). This boat worked amazing for us, and we have had alot of fun in it, however due to getting busier in the fishing tournaments, and taking on bigger waters (not to mention carrying more tackle and gear on board) it was time to go on the hunt for a bigger boat.

  I wasn't going to veer away from Ranger or the new Yamaha SHO outboards, so that left my options limited to where I would be able to find one or a place that was wanting to make a deal. Well it took some looking but I found a Z521 Ranger with a 250 Yamaha SHO at Bay-Marine located in Trenton. So after talking with them at the Belleville Sportsman Show and throwing some numbers around, we came to a deal within 5 minutes (amazing).

The sales team at Bay-Marine made it easy to work with them, and make me a great offer on my current boat (unlike some other dealers).   So this past saturday we made the road trip down and dropped off "Big Sexy" and picked up to the new Girl ( and yes I shed a tear letting go of my first baby, however I was excited to adopt the new one).  

It won't be to much longer now and the hard water will be off the lakes, and we can get this new beast wet...the only thing left to do is think of a new name (any suggestions!) and get it decked out in the New Roads Fishing Logo's!  

(This year will also be our first year sporting the Power Pole Blade)

Once again a big thanks to Bay-Marine, and if anyone is looking for a boat please go see them, as how they treated me was a awesome experience, friendly and made the deal happen!

  See you on the water soon!

Dustin

Canadian Angler Hall of Fame Welcomes Rick Morgan

2013-03-22T09:37:00.000-04:00

I though it was only prudent to take a minute out of my busy day to congratulate my friend and fellow angler Rick Morgan on his induction into the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame. It is an honour that was a long time coming but well deserved.

For those of you that don't know Rick (or never shared a boat with him) he has been a long time advocate for (us) the Anglers and outdoors men of Ontario. Not only was he the executive vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) but he was also the host of the TV program "Angler and Hunter TV" (on the air since 1993). Rick lives and breaths fishing, to this day he is still very active in getting the word out on issues important to anglers in Ontario, not a week goes by when I don't get an email from Rick informing me on some impending changes in the industry (good and bad). In his down time he can still be found on the water, fishing in tournaments or just for fun. Just last season he and his tournament partner (Brian) took home a few nice cheques during some events I struggled in.

Now I don't claim to know Rick very well, as we are relatively new friends, but we have shared a boat and fished against each other in a few tournaments. Last year I was lucky enough to be invited on a trip with Rick to tackle Lake Erie as well as another northern NY Lake. I learned a lot while in the boat with him (including patience as I watched him pitch to a single stump for well over 30 minutes, only to then be rewarded with a 6lber) and I guess I must have passed the test as I was invited back again this year. I'm honoured that the above image (taken by yours truly) was used are part of his induction ceremony as well as in one of the below articles.

If you would like to learn more about Rick or the other 2013 Inductees, please check out one of the below links to articles covering the ceremony

Outdoorcanada Article

My Kawartha Article

Again, I want to congratulate Rick and his fellow 2013 inductees on this huge honour.

(Image borrow from OutDoor Canada)

2012 Inductees (left to right): Phil Morlock, Rick Morgan, Will Wegman (Arora BassMasters)

Spring is Here!.. Baseball, BBQ's and Crappie Fishing

2013-03-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

That's right, Spring is officially here, and although Bass Season (in Ontario) is still months away, I officially have "spring fishing fever"

Spring for me, means crappie fishing, and plenty of it. As of March 21st, the trunk of my car becomes a storage locker for Crappie rods and gear, and each day on my lunch break or on my way home from work I begin the process of stopping to make a few casts at my favourite crappie hole. A few casts is all it will take, if they are there, you can quickly fill a bucket, and if there not, oh well at least you got to cast and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Spring all so means that my early May Bass trip to Lake Erie (NY) is just around the corner, it means it is time to start re-spooling rods and loading up on gear before most fisherman are even done prepping for the walleye opener

Pike, Walleye and Trout are also on the radar for Spring fisherman, it is amazing the watch the back roads and streams line-up with anglers looking for that spring trout run. In my home town in Peterborough On, 10,000 kids will sign up and fish in the annual GreenWing trout Derby.. yes 10,000

Outside of fishing, Spring means Baseball and BBQ season are also in full swing, there is nothing better then watching you team hit the field while holding a BBQ'd jumbo hotdog (and probably a beer)

So I say "Welcome to spring" and I will see ya on the water

Accu-Cull.. These aint your daddy's balls

2013-03-19T08:09:00.000-04:00

I have only been tournament fishing for 3 years now, but during that time there has been nothing that has annoyed me more then messing around with an inferior culling system..Personally I have put 3 systems to the test and one system I actually returned to the store prior to them ever even hitting the boat. A poor culling system can cost you time, money and your fingers.. but after 3 years of searching I can finally say.. the search is over

This past weekend I picked up the tangle free Accu-Cull tag system, and simple put this thing is awesome. The Accu-Cull tag system can be purchased 2 ways, either with lip piercing metal clamps or with the more fish friendly plastic clamps, as you can see from the above pics, I went with the non-piercing plastic clamps . Both versions are equipped with a tangle free surgical tubing that floats in the live-well (or when you drop them overboard). The kit itself contains 7 tags each with a different color tubing, the tubing colors are nice and bright and match up to the Accu-Cull weight system (that I didn't purchase). A nice perk to this kit is that it also comes equipped with a mounting bracket to keep them all together when stored int he live-well. (a sticky base not something you need to actually screw on)

Obviously there is a lot to like about this set, the clips themselves are very durable and hold tight to the fishes lip.. believe me there is nothing worse then heading to the live-well to make a quick cull only to see tags floating but no longer attached to fish.. The long surgical tubes have some stretch and bounce to them, so when you grab hold and the fish takes off there is less possibility of the clip being ripped off.. it's like a bungee cord. Perk #3 is that although the Accu-cull system is technically a 3-pc set you can buy these separately (like I did)..

but if you are in the market for a new scale and complete culling system you can buy the additional pieces that include a digital scale and a color codes weigh recording system.. these can both be purchased separately and both come with the ability to be mounted inside your boats live-well.. right where you always need 'em, but rarely find them.

Tip: I use the Rapala Tournament touch screen scale, it allows me to store up to 8 weights on the scale for ease of culling. The saved weights are numbered, and not colour co-ordinated like the Accu-Cull system, so to make these two system work flawlessly I made a slight modification to the tags

First, Find yourself a water resistant black marker. Grab 5 tags of your choice (preferably not the black one) and line them up. On both sides of each clamp write a number 1,2,3,4 or 5. Then on the surgical tubing, make a number of lines or dots representing the same number that is written on the clamp (see above pic). Now no matter whether your are recording the weights by hand or using a digital scale (here is one I use) you now have the ability to use an easy number system instead of trying to remember what color comes first. (obviously if you bought the accu-cull complete kit this tip can be ignored). I leave the last 2 tags un-numbered, this way if I loose or damage a tag I can then replace it with one of the remaining tags

Ice fishing with Berkley NanoFil

2013-03-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

If you have been reading this blog with any regularity then you may remember my not so friendly review of Berkley's NanoFil line (found HERE). Since that time it has grown on me a bit more, and I have found the odd use for it (less scathing review found HERE) but this year I think I may have had a breakthrough.. NanoFil on Ice?

It surprises me that it took me as long as it did to spool up one of my ice rods with Berkley Nanofil. The smooth plastic or wax like texture makes it a no-brainer for ice fishing, not only will it hold way less water then standard braids (which means less freeze up), but it also seems to have a decent drop rate, a must when fishing small jigs in deep water.

So far I have stuck with it for panfish only (crappie, perch and gills), like with all my braids I do use a short 1-2ft leader, so this bright white line is not as much as a concern as it would be if tying on direct.. that being said I often use the neon orange ice braid that suffix produces so how bad can whit really be?

The price is still a concern, and as in the past I recommend working with the smaller diameter versions as the stronger you go the stiffer and more like "fire line crystal" it will get

As for strength it seems to hold up pretty well on the ice, I have had no concerns pulling up decent sized pan-fish from depths of 20ft and more and the wear from the edge of the ice hole is minimal to non-existent. Knot tying can still be a bit of a pain, and with cold finders on the ice it will be even worse, but once you get use to taking your time and checking the knot all will be ok.

Am I saying the Berkley NanoFil is the next great ice-line? No, but if you are like me and have a couple spools lying around that you know wont get used on the soft water, then hey, spool up an ice rod, and see how well it performs.. i think you may be surprised, I know I was

Great Finds @ The Quinte Sportsman Show

2013-03-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I swung by the city of Belleville, picked up my father and headed over to the Quinte Sportsman show. This has sort of become an annual thing since he moved to the city of Belleville a couple years ago and we have since watched as the show has become larger and larger each year.. except in one area.. Fishing

Yes I have to say that I find it very odd that no more then 4 booths in the entire show carried fishing gear, 1 of which only carried discontinued products or job lots (although for some reason they thought they could ask $5 a pack for Berkley Havoc when it sells for under $4 from most retailers. A second booth offered a very small collection of gear that was not really worth routing through to find gems and then the final two booths were both owned by local tackle shops.

Both these booths were loaded with a great selection of gear, but for some reason they were charging full pop.. no deals not even a tax break. I only mention this because most people walking the show paid an $8 admission to get in (unless you know a guy who knows a guy..wink,wink). So technically customers shopping from these local vendors are actually paying more for product then if they had just swung by the shop on Monday after the show.. confused?, i know I was

Other then that I would have to say the show appeared to be a success, the crowd on Saturday was large, and parking was at a premium (no fee thank god). Each room was laid out well and loaded with Boats, RV's, Bikes and tons of info about local camping spots and lodges.

I did not get time to check out any of the seminars, but having seen both Big Jim and Dave Chong speak on several occasions I will state without concern that the seminars would have been worth the price of admission.

For the Kids, a popular stop was the trout pond, although kinda pricey at $5 for 5 minutes of fishing time, kids got to toss small baits on bamboo poles at a pool filled with Trout from a local farm. I sat around to watch for a bit, and can report that the kids had a blast, fish were caught (and that the 5 minute rule was not strictly enforced)

Great Finds

What I like about fishing and sportsman shows is walking around, shooting the shit with friends and of course looking for good deals. This year the best finds of the show for me have to go to "Pro Advantage" not only were they rocking the all new larger Live Target Field mouse (I guess I was not the only one who complained about the old size options) but they also gave a nice portion of their booth to "The Perfect Jig" a Canadian Jig company that has been knocking out quality jigs and trailers for a few years now.

I personally made a couple purchases, the first was 3 packs of Trigger X baits that were in the Pro Advantage grab bin. Three packs for $12 is not bad (unless you paid an $8 cover) and since this year I will be spending more and more time focusing on jig fishing and flipping, I though these were a great pick-up...

The second purchase was some Perfect Jig trailers, they had a very cool assortment on display including some fairly new "tipped" versions. I personally stuck with my old standbys like "green pumpkin" and "junebug". If you have not checked out the Perfect Jig line, believe me it is worth your time!

Lastly I picked up something I have long been waiting for.. an Accu-Cull tag system. I personally have struggled through the last 2 tournament seasons with inferior culling tags, and my hands are still store.

I have heard nothing but good things about the Acc-Cull and so far it lives up to the Hype.

Well that wraps up another year of the Quinte Sportsman show, no matter the price of admission, no matter the crowds, it is always good to get out and doing something fishing related in March, and more importantly.. score some great finds!

How to Keep Busy in the Off Season Part 3: Reel Maintenance and Storage

2013-03-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well, this off season is moving along pretty fast so I though I better get this last one in prior to the ice melting and spring season kicking off. In part 1 we reviewed keeping your tackle organized and prepped for the new season, part 2 we discussed proper rod storage, so what does that leave? Reel maintenance and storage, and other then your boat your reels need more work then most other items in your arsenal.. here's how to make sure you have them ready for the up coming season

Strip'em Down

I think that this article more then the other two will really have reader butting heads, there are many schools of thought when it comes to the proper storage of reels, and all i can really do is share with you mine.. you don't like, that's cool, Ill try not to be offended.

the first step in the process for me is "strip'em down" and what that means is removing whatever line is left on your reel from the end of the season. Hopefully all you have left on there is the scraps from the end of the season and not an entirely full spool. Either way, as you all know line ages, and not well, so if you have a full or partial spool of mono or flouro there is a good chance that line is going to be a coily mess come the start of the next season, so do your self a favour and get rid of it now, because there is a good chance that if you wait, you are going to get lazy and convince yourself that "it's still good"

The same philosophy goes for braided line, but it is not as urgent as it is with higher memory lines, so if you just re-spooled prior to the end of the season, I say leave it be. Braid ages worse on the water then in storage, but it will still age. The wear on braided line is pretty visible, so if you got some use out of it prior to the end of the season so take the time to pull it off and start fresh when the time comes.

Inspection and Oiling

Ok, Im going to do my best to keep this simple, with the various types of reels and then the difference between each brand there is no way I can cover the entire spectrum, but what I can do is tell you how to complete a check of your reels condition as well as some low level maintenance to keep it running like new.

Spinning Reels:

The quick and easy process is as follows, remove all the line from your reel and do a "Q-tip" test. This is done by running a Q-tip along the spool lip and bail arm (the areas the line is most likely to run against when casting) and then again along the line roller system (the area your line places the most pressure on a retrieve) If you find any catches or ruff spots.. stop what your doing as this reel may need more loving then a cloth and some oil will ever give it.

If your reel passes the Q-Tip test it is time for some oil. To keep your reel running smooth there are 3 or 4 key areas you will want to oil up. I usually start with the bail itself by placing a drop of oil between the metal frame and the bail arm (both sides). Open the bail place a drop of oil, then open and close the bail a few times to work the oil down inside. I then move on to the line roller, and place a single drop of oil on the roller, at times I will use a Q-Tip to work it in and remove access oil. Next remove the reel handle to get access to the gear bearings, they should be clearly visible once the reel handle was been removed, so again just give it a drop or two. Lastly if your reel has a maintenance port, open it up and give it 2 or 3 drops of oil... quick and painless

Tip: A little goes a long way, I know that small drop of oil does not look like much but it will do the trick, over oiling is not helpful!

Baitcasting Reel:

cleaning or oiling your bait casters can be a more daunting task for many anglers as it requires you to take your baby apart and really get into the inner workings. Again I will keep it simple and focus on the key areas to clean and oil up.

Most reels have a simple turn key system on the opposite side from the handle. Turn the Key and open'er up. Once inside you will want to slide the spool out to get access to all the reels innards.

I like to give my reel a slight cleaning prior to re-oiling, this means simply applying some warm soapy water to a Q-Tip and wiping down each area prior to re-oiling. The oil itself will be applied to 3 key areas, starting with the area/gear in which the spool slides in and attaches to reels handle all so called a spindle. I then move on and place a drop or two of oil on the level wind bar.. give the handle a few cranks the the level-wind moves and works the oil in. lastly I apply some oil to the spool itself (yes along the shaft, and I know there is a joke in there somewhere). I do this just before sliding the spool back into the reel cavity. Once the side plate is locked back on, give'er a few cranks and see the difference, your TLC has made

Tip: Give Quatum Hot Sauce oil and grease a try, I cant say I'm a huge Quantum reel fan, but they sure as hell make some killer lubricants. For cleaning products soap and water will work, but Ardent makes a cleaning spray and gets into the areas you need it to go and is fairly reasonably priced

What No Grease?

I know your reading this and thinking that i missed a pretty big step in overall reel maintenance, and your right, but just know that I missed it intentionally, and not as an oversight. The greasing of reels can be considered an advanced step in this process and not one that many anglers are comfortable doing.. seeing the parts of your best reel spread out on a table can be frightening. So if you plan to take apart your reel to grease it, be sure you can put it back together.. if you can't.. consult help. Not only are there hundreds of videos on-line walking you though this process but many major areas have shops and or places you can send reels to get this done.. make no mistake cleaning and re-greasing your reel will improve it's life span, old grease gets loaded with dirt and starts to bind up.

Pack'em away

Now that your reels are cleaned and oiled , it's time to store'em. Like with storing rods there are a few things to consider when storing reels. First things first, I take a moment to loosen back the drag and spool tensioner. I'm a firm believer that relieving any undue stress on the reel while in storage will lengthen the life of the reel. It also helps ensure and internal great or parts do not bind up on you.

When it comes to actually storing the reel, I again try to keep it in an area that will not be effected by dramatic weather changes. Keeping the reel out of "freezing" temps is better for the life of the grease, as most ice fisherman can attest not all greases are created equal, and some will bind up in colder temps.

If you treat your reels with respect they will return the favor and live a long and healthy life. But just like your car they do need the occasional tune-up and will benefit from proper winter storage.

Welcome: TEAM DAIWA

2013-03-05T08:26:00.000-05:00

Not since the day I took a personal call from Gary Dobyns welcoming me to the Dobyns team have I been as excited to introduce a new partner... that being said I would like to now announce that I will be officially joining "Team Daiwa"Reels for the 2013 season and beyond!

For those of you that know me, you know that just over 2 seasons ago I made the switch from Shimano reels to Daiwa reels, and since that time there has been no looking back, I was immediately blown away by the quality, durability and ease of use of all Daiwa reels I got my hands on. So much so that I can only really compare them to Lays potato chips.. because you can't have just one... Over the past two years I have been slowly building my Daiwa arsenal and it has grown to included models like the Advantage Series, T3 Ballistics and of course a Team Daiwa Zillion. This year I will be adding the Lexa, a reel that has quite a bit of hype behind it (review to follow)

I want to take a moment to thank Daiwa for giving me this opportunity to work with them, and I as always I will see you on the water

BJ

Dustin's Corner: Ardent Rod Kleen Cleaner

2013-03-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

I know its been awhile since I have put a post out there. Its been a hectic winter for me at my day job, as well training, but as that slows down, I will be putting out more posts of my 2012 year, and upcoming events for 2013

and I have been working hard at a few things-soon to come (insert wink here)

Following up on BassJunky's article on rod storage and maintenance I though I would share a review of a stellar cleaning product sold under the Ardent banner... check it out

ARDENT ROD KLEEN CLEANER

So at the end of every year of fishing, putting everything through the abuse,weather,storage, and everything else that gets thrown at them. Our hardest working tool while on the water is probably our fishing rods, next to our fishing reels. Its amazing to see how the rods of today take such stress and elements, but they always hold up with a little TLC.

Ardent Rod Kleen Cleaner is a superior cleaner and corrosion inhibitor for use with all fishing tackle. Use to remove build-up on all parts of rods and reels. Spray on all type of rods and reels, and then lightly wipe down after returning from your trip to help prevent moisture and salt build-up that can be a major cause of corrosion. Rod Kleen will have no adverse effects on line and/ or composite material on your equipment.

I recently gave Rod Kleen a test run, this is a before picture of my rod after a years worth of abuse on and off the water!

After applying the Ardent Rod Kleener and giving it a quick wipe down, this is what the after shot looks like..

So there you have it, we clean our house,vehicles, and everything else, but sometimes we over look our fishing stuff which also needs to be taken care of, so you can still land the big one that always seems to get away!