Now that the Christmas season is winding down it is time for us anglers to start preparing for the tournament season ahead. Many things should be in order when it comes to the start of a new season of bass fishing, here are few things to consider.

 My most important piece of equipment is my boat. I need to make sure it is ready to withstand long hours and possible rough conditions. My engine is my main focus here. I need to make sure the plugs are in proper working order and my gear lube has been changed. These are the two main reasons for breaking down on the water. Make sure you use premium gear lube for your boats engine. This will help it stay clean and run like never before.

The next thing you need to check is all your pumps and electronics. Make sure your livewell and bilge pump are in good working order. This can be a frustrating end to your day on the water if not properly maintained. Your electronics are also very important for your success in finding key spots to fish. Test them out well and make sure they are working to their potential.

One of the biggest things to make sure you have is fully charged batteries. These can be pricy but well worth their weight in gold. A dead battery can put and end to fishing just like that. Look to buy quality batteries that will last and keep you out there fishing with no worries. I prefer interstate batteries for my boat.

Now you should take a look at your trailer and make sure everything works properly. Your lights are a major factor in your safety while towing. Try to carry extra bulbs and fuses for your lights so you can change them out and get back on the road. Also check your bearings on your wheels to make sure they are properly greased. This is extremely important and can cause major problems for you on the road if not adequately maintained.

Many of the things we discussed here are simple everyday maintenance for some but it is worth taking a look at to keep all of our equipment in good working order. In the next article we will discuss our tackle and how to get our boat organized for tournament fishing.

Keywords:  Bass Fishing  |  Tournament Fishing 

Popularity: 49% [?]

Share This

This could be the perfect gift for the outdoorsman in your life! If the weather will not allow you to fish you could always have a great fishing trip using your game-station. Here are a few fishing games to keep you busy.

Rapala Pro Fishing for XBox is a great game to play. It has many different features including a wide variety of fish, equipment and underwater angles to give you the feeling of being there in person! This game has a very reasonable price and would be a great gift for any serious angler.

If you were lucky enough to find a Nintendo Wii this year they also make a great interactive game called Rapala Tournament Fishing. This is more for the anglers who love to compete in fishing. It also is designed to keep you active and think your way through the game strategies. It features eleven different places to fish and also has a mode for the non tournament angler for a more relaxed experience. This game retails for around $39.

If you prefer the on the go games the game Boy Advance system has introduced a game called American Bass Challenge. This game may have a cartoon look but the complexity of the game can be a challenge. It is great for anglers and kids who love to fish. This game even features a GPS and fish finder to help locate good fish! This game features many different options from lure selection to the type of lake you wish to fish on. This is a great on the go game!

If you need to find something different for the angler in your family try out one of these fishing games. It is fun for the whole family!

keywords Fishing Games  |  Nintendo Wii 

Popularity: 51% [?]

Share This

When bites are few and far between you need to make an adjustment to catch fish. The first thing you should try is to downsize your offerings.

I can remember a day many summers ago when I was on a small lake in West Virginia and I was getting bites but not nearly catching as many fish as I knew where there. I immediately reached into my storage compartment on my boat and grabbed a five inch version of the same bait I was fishing. It was lights out! Over twenty fish later I realized by simply downsizing my bait I was able to entice the same group of fish that saw my seven inch version only moments ago into biting without hesitation. I guess if you think about it we do not always want a double cheeseburger, sometimes just a small little hamburger will cure our hunger or look more appetizing to us. The same applies with fish and their outlook on feeding.

The good thing about downsizing is that it works everywhere in the world. I have yet to fish a body of water that in some way downsizing helped to put fish in the boat. You can downsize anything from spinnerbaits to soft plastics. There are also many times when a smaller profile spinnerbait will get more attention than the normal large size spinnerbaits. I feel it is time to downsize when I am getting bites with no hookups or no bites at all. This usually means that my bait is not the right size that the fish are keying on.

When downsizing soft plastics I like to use spinning gear with lighter line when the conditions allow. Spinning gear lets me make more accurate casts with smaller baits and I am able to feel the bites better. Remember to downsize everything about your setup. The hook, weight and bait all need to match up to make this effective.

My favorite baits to downsize are small finesse worms, spinnerbaits and topwaters. You may get alot more smaller fish to commit to your bait but it’s better than not catching fish at all, especially if the money is on the line. If you find yourself struggling to catch fish on your next trip try downsizing your baits, it may just salvage your day!

Keywords:  Downsize  |  Spinning Gear 

Popularity: 55% [?]

Share This

Shopping for Christmas gifts can be tough. Here are some great gifts for the Holidays that are sure to please the fisherman in your life!

I am not big on wanting many things when it comes to Christmas but the number one gift to me would be something I could use in the outdoors. My wife always seems to spoil me when it comes to fishing. She really supports my passion for fishing and loves to see me enjoy the sport. Let’s take a look at some fail safe fishing gifts.

It’s always good to have the newest baits on the market. So I recommend a grab bag type gift that contains different baits that have just been released such as new spinnerbaits, worms and crankbaits. Just take a look at the tackle of the person you are buying for and buy the same types of colors that you see they use. This gift will definitely please!

Of course a good rod and reel combo will always be a great gift. May I recommend the new Pinnacle Pro Series Reels matched with a Pinnacle Scion Titanium rod. Sounds expensive right? Well, It can be purchased very reasonably right here at FishingReelDealz.com! This combo is normally $250.00 dollars plus in stores but the price here is only $180.00 Just leave us an email in the “shop” section for ordering.

If you have someone who is a boat owner I recommend checking with the local marinas for boat detailers. A boat could always need a good cleaning and this makes a perfect gift that will not break the bank. Also a good GPS sonar unit is an awesome gift for the holidays. These can get pricy but will only enhance your favorite fisherman’s ability to catch fish. I recommend Lowrance or Hummingbird when it comes to searching for sonar units.

You cannot go wrong with giving the gift of fishing apparel for Christmas. A good Gortex fishing suit is a great choice for anyone who loves to fish. If they like to tournament fish a new tournament fishing shirt can be a perfect gift fot the holidays. Looking good while fishing makes up for a bad day catching!

I hope this has given you some ideas for the fisherman in your family and I hope your Christmas season is the best one yet!

Keywords:  Fishing Gits  |  Hummingbird 

Popularity: 48% [?]

Share This

Many lures come and go for us fisherman but there are a trusty few that just won’t go away! Let’s take a look at a bait I am sure all of us use have used at one time or another.

The Jig is one of the all time greats when it comes to catching quality fish. The Jig has been altered here an there to make it more fishable but the concept has stayed the same. It provides anglers with a bait that looks natural to fish and can be worked in any type of cover or depth. In recent years I have really started using finesse approaches with my Jigs. I am hooked on the small 1/4 to 3/16 oz. Jigs for picking up keepers on tough water. A small Jig really appeals to lazy fish due to it’s unchallenging size and profile. Bass tend to strike more at small offerings when the pressure is on a lake. 

Fishing Jigs just use to consist of heavy lead and a good imitating trailer to try and target bigger fish. Today many Jigs are made with better quality components such as tungsten and ultra sharp, super strong hooks. This has made them more effective and also more expensive. Although the price of a jig is still considerably less than a good quality crankbait or spinnerbait it has risen in price but is still worth it’s weight in gold to many anglers. A Jig should always be a consideration no matter what time of year or lake you are fishing. There is always a time and place for a Jig. Denny Brauer would definitely amen that! He has won more money on a Jig than anybody that has ever tied one on to a line. If you want to learn to fish a Jig just watch Denny for a while and you will see him do things with a Jig you did not know where possible.

In recommending what Jigs to use I would have to say I really like the Booyah line of Jigs. They are very well made and also put out a great profile when fished. Strike King has always made a great Jig in the Pro Model series. Tungsten Jigs although pricey, create a great sound and are worth the money. A Jig is complimented by what trailer is used with it. A trailer should always be added for better appeal and to make it look more natural. This is something you will need to experiment with to find what works for you in the water you fish. I also recommend trying different sizes and styles. A small finesse approach is hard to beat anywhere.

Fishing Jigs can result in a full livewell time after time so make sure and gain as much knowledge as possible about these warriors of the water. Remember, there is always a time and a place for a Jig!

Keywords:  Denny Bruaer  |  Fishing Jigs 

Popularity: 54% [?]

Share This

Have you ever had a day nearly ruined by something you should have had in your boat? Well, I have and I don’t want to see this to happen to you. Let’s take a look at some necessities for your fishing rig.

The last thing I need after spending countless hours in the garage getting ready for a trip is to leave something out that may make my fishing adventure a disaster! I know a guy who got all the way to the lake and realized he had forgotten to put his boat keys in the boat! That can make for a bad morning to say the least. I recommend keeping your boat keys in a place where you will definitely look before leaving for a day on the lake. I once lost the coder pin inside my trolling motor which if you don’t know by now will ruin a good day of fishing instantly. I tried to make one from a hook but I would not recommend that remedy! These are things that could have been avoided by a little more preparation.

Always take along a safety repair kit, you never know what may become lose or need tools applied to them. I also recommend stocking up on extra parts such as an extra trolling motor blade and coder pins! I also never go out on the water without food and water. If you become stuck for any reason you will be glad you packed a snack! You need to check your fire extinguisher regularly and always have it handy. It has saved my home on one occasion. Make sure you always have your life vests handy and in good shape. I know this sounds funny but overlooking the small things may cost you your life.

Try and keep a medical kit in your boat also in case of an emergency. Many things can happen while on the water that can cause you to hurt yourself. You will also be able to render assistance to other boats that may be in trouble or have someone injured. Always keep a directory of telephone numbers that will get you assistance if needed while on the water. I personally always program the phone numbers of any marinas that are located on the lake I am fishing.

When it comes to fishing gear in general always have extras of everything that you often need. Pliers, clippers, golden rule or whatever it is that could ruin your day of fishing if it comes up missing. This can be really frustrating especially when the money is on the line.

Safety and preparation are of the utmost importance on every trip. Stay prepared and focused on your each and every trip and you will become a better angler!

Keywords:  Fishing Gear  |  Medical Kit 

Popularity: 36% [?]

Share This

Every year the fishing industry tries to come up with the perfect lures for catching fish. It seems to never fail that one lure explodes into instant fame. Let’s take a look at some of this coming years hopefuls.

The first lure we will take a look at is the new ABT Lures Shad Rip Bait. This is another great lure made by Allen Borden and will offer alot in the world of jointed swimbaits. The new Shad Rip Bait will come in a perfect 4 inch size and will be available in 14 color choices. It’s style will be great for working around stumps, laydowns and submerged grass. Soon to follow this dynamic lure will be ABT’s first soft plastic swimbait line.

The next bait that will see alot of action this coming year will be the new FoodSource Lures, Little Warrior. This compact flipping and pitching machine has great characteristics and a great look in the water. It is made in a 3 inch version to appeal to bass in every lake and river. The Little Warrior is made of 100% real food making it biodegradable. FoodSource Lures are becoming very popular in both fresh and saltwater fishing.

My favorite jig for the new season has to be the Jewel Bait Company’s new Football Jig. It is made to get down in the nastiest places you could imagine throwing a jig. The 1 ounce size makes it heavy enough to penetrate even the thickest of grass. It also features a 5/0 Mustad hook for great hooksetting power. Jewel Jigs are well known by the finesse fisherman but now they have mastered the world of heavy jigging with the new 1 ounce Football Jig.

Like to frog fish? Check out the new Spro Bronzeye King Daddy! This new 3/4 oz. floating frog is made just like it’s smaller siblings the Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog and Bronzeye Jr. This new King Daddy will keep your heart pounding when you work it through your favorite frogging territory! We know it’s made by one of the best frog manufactures in the country so it will definitely stand tall this year.

Rounding out my favorite new baits is the Yum Big Show Craw. The nice thing about this new bait is it’s ability to penetrate almost any type cover without much effort due to it’s design. The legs are folded in to make the craw look very similar to a fleeing crawfish when it hit’s the water and starts it’s fall to the bottom. We know how effective a good craw can be by taking a look at Terry Scroggins tournament past! This should be one of the hottest new baits for 2008!

It is always exciting to see the years new products and anticipate their impact on our year. Hopefully this has given you an idea of what to expect this year and how you need to stock your box!

Keywords:  Shad Rip Bait  |  Jewel Jigs 

Popularity: 38% [?]

Share This