It seems to never fail. Every trip to the lake I come home with a mound of used soft plastic baits with small tears or rips in them. I usually have no choice but to discard them. Not any more!

Mend-It is a new product that will save you hundreds maybe thousands of dollars on soft plastics. It is not a glue and will not stick to your boat, fingers or clothes. It only sticks to plastic. Mend-It actually melts the plastic back together leaving a smooth soft plastic bait for you to fish over and over again. Do you have any high dollar swimbaits that need repair after one fish? Just apply Mend-It to the swimbait tear and it is good as new! The repaired area is even stronger than before without leaving a hard spot or crease in the bait giving it the same action it had right out of the pack! Why mess with glue anymore?

I also am using mend it to create different color combinations by tearing two worms apart and “Mending” them together creating a unique new color scheme. For example, take a black senko and cut an inch off the tail. Then cut a inch of tail off a blue senko, mend-it together and you have a unique new bait to show the fish. A black senko with a blue tail. The possibilities are up to you! Get creative and save money!

Mend-It is available in the ReelDeal Shop! Click Here!

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Many valuable lessons are to be learned from each trip on the water. Here is how I approached a recent tournament and how prefishing guided my way.

 Before my last tournament I visited the lake three different times before the off limits period. In each of those three trips I managed to catch only one bass. That may sound like a real failure to some but to me it was a positive sign that I was eliminating useless water. Pre fishing to me is a matter of being able to learn from what the water throws at you and sometimes it throws nothing! That to can be very valuable in the process of finding a bag of fish.

As I launched my boat on the official practice day before the tournament I remembered the three previous trips and how the bass had handed me a good butt kicking. I smiled and said to myself, “Not today”. I then ran to my first spot a whole 1/2 mile from the luanch where I believed the better fish were holding. This area held a thick mat of hydrilla and under that hydrilla was a sharp drop from 2ft to 6ft. This type of water and cover was abundant throughout the river but many overlooked the small cove so close to the launch. This area also held large amounts of baitfish and fry from the spawn and during the mid day hours it had plenty of shade from the nearby Oaks.

I started the day at about 10:30 throwing a Gitem Toad to the mats. This resulted in a 4.lber right off the bat. Two more casts another big fish busts on the frog. That gives me all the knowledge I will need for that spot. I now know that by using the frog as a search bait I can catch these fish flipping those mats. I left the fish to be for the next day and found a secondary location of the same type vegetation. It also produced. Then for good measure I went looking for fish in the headwaters where I found a plethora of small keeper size fish in case I needed them.

On tournament day I caught those fish under the mats by flipping. A solid limit and six place finish. My point being do not let so called bad days on the water discourage you from maintaining focus on finding fish. If you want to make it in tournament fishing you have to be willing to learn non stop! Never give up!

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Alton Jones uses boat control to catch fish on deep diving crankbaits as well as anyone in the bass fishing world! He is a 9 time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and has helped shape the sport to where it is today. Try and use these helpful tips the next time you find yourself searching for guidance on the water. I am always searching for a better way to catch fish and little pieces of advice like this can really add up to making you a well rounded angler.

Deep diving crankbaits are not everyones strenght but look outside the box and focus on the real message here, boat control and the position of the fish. You can take this advice and utilize it with other techniques that better suit your fishing style. Be creative to catch more fish and do not be afraid to think outside the box.

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There is nine minutes left until weigh-in, you have just caught your fourth keeper and the bite is on! You need a new worm, but where are they? Have you ever been there? Well, If you have’nt you are not missing anything! Let’s get organized.

Most fisherman just throw some baits in a tackle bag and head out to the lake but not us hard core tournament fisherman right? You would be surprised. Tackle organization is critical when the money is on the line. You need to have everything extremely handy because time is ticking. Here are some simple tips to keep you fishing not wishing.

Storage boxes that are labeled can save you a tremendous amount of time when looking for a particular bait. Try and get all your tackle labeled, this is a simple step most anglers overlook. Try storing your baits in certain sizes and colors to make them easier to locate. For example my crankbaits are in order from shallow to deep diving. I know right where to look for any style crankbait that I may need.

Also if you fish alot of what I call “Specialty Rigs” you need to organize them in a specific box or area of your boat. I am talking about Carolina Rigs, Drop Shots, Split Shot Rigs etc. This will make it alot easier when you need to find the right components that make the rig work. Arrange your hooks by size, sinkers by weight and keep an area open for swivels and beads.

Do you use a certain scent attractant? Take the baits you will be using for the day and apply scent to them before heading out. This will save you a great deal of time when putting on a new plastic. The scent will already be applied. This gives you more time to fish. And if it is windy you need to be able to keep your boat in the proper position instead of fumbling with tackle. Also keep the plastics you are using in your pocket or close to you instead of in a compartment somewhere, this will save time.

Also only get the rods on the deck you will need at the time. If you are fishing a reaction bait you should have maybe three rods out max. One in your hand and two follow up rods on the deck. There is no need for ten rods on your deck at any time. Unless you want to show them off to your fishing buddies. Keep organized and you will have more success, look at the Elite Series Pros, do you see them unorganized? No way! That is one of the reasons they are where they are. Organization.

This may seem to some as unimportant but to many of us it has cashed us a check!

Keywords:  Tackle Organization  |  Elite Series Pros 

Popularity: 56% [?]

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Not all are made for fishing swimbaits. You need a reel that will handle the weight and size of these normally oversized lures. Here are a few great choices from Pinnacle to get you casting swimbaits for the bass of a lifetime!

I personally use two different reels for throwing big swimbaits. My first choice is the new Pinnacle Vision XLT. With the 13 ball bearing drive this reel will definitely perform when using heavier baits. This reel also has extremely strong gears which is what the strain is on when fishing heavy lures. The drag is also very strong and responds very well when setting the hook on fish. This reel is also very light which can make a difference in feel and comfortability.

The reel I also have great confidence in is the Pinnacle Pro Select. Made of all metal this reel is also very dependable and extremely strong. It is made for handling heavy offerings such as swimbaits and heavy spinnerbaits. Both of these reels are also loaded with Pinnacle’s new centrifugal magnetic cast control mechanism. This really gives the reel the ability to make longer smoother casts when fishing heavy baits without the worry of backlash. Both reels are geared at a 6.2:1 ratio which is perfect for swimbait fishing reels.

Just keep in mind that the heavier your bait the more quality reel you need to support the lure. You are not fishing for average keepers with a swimbait you are looking for a big bite so use a reel that will stand up to the test. Give one of these new Pinnacle Vision XLT or Pro Select Reels a try today and take your swimbait fishing to the next level!

http://www.fishingreeldealz.com/shop/

Keywords:  Swimbait Fishing Reels  |  Fishing Reels 

Popularity: 61% [?]

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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% [?]

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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% [?]

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What’s your favorite plastic crawfish? I have just found mine, the new Gitem’ Bug. It combines size, durability and appeal which are major factors to consider when choosing a plastic craw.

What makes the Gitem’ Bug so great is it’s ability to be fished many different ways. The compact 3″ size is perfect for flipping heavy matted vegetation and the action is great for dragging behind a Carolina rig. This is one of the most versatile crawfish ever produced! The reverse ribbed design gives the bait the ability to push against the water creating air bubbles and vibration. This makes the Gitem’ Bug irresistible to big bass! I love to fish this bait in scattered grass where the vegetation is not to thick. The swimming action of the bait really mimics a fleeing crawfish. I have had fish chase it out of the water! The Gitem’ Bug comes in 11 great colors and I guarantee you will catch fish on this great new bait! If you like fishing a plastic crawfish you need this bait!

Check them out at www.gitembaits.comand tell them FishingReelDealz sent you!

Keywords:  plastic craw  |  Gitem’ Bug 

Popularity: 36% [?]

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There are many different ways to get quality bites in the summer months that do not require you to fish offshore structure. Bass are always shallow somewhere on your water in the summertime, here’s how to find them.

Vegetation is the number one thing I seek out in the hot summer months. I know bass will relate to this type cover all year round and are usually very receptive to baits. I know your probably thinking heavy matted stuff right? Well, wrong! It can be grass as simple as pond weed that will hold bass in the summer. I will always start out and work my way in to the fish during this time. Many bass will hold on outside weedlines and be very predictable in food choice. I like to throw a popper to start and back that up with a small finesse worm for fish that do not eat the topwater offerings. My favorite search baits are often topwater baits. They can give away the location of active fish.

Backs of creeks are also great this time of year and offer a bass a smorgasbord of food choices. When fishing the backs of creeks I mean the very backs of creeks! So far back you can cast from one side to the other. This gets bass close to current flow and they do not see much fishing pressure. Runoff areas usually occur here and this gives the bass fresh water which is normally cooler. Try and stay away from creeks with no current flow because this leaves the area with not much oxygen and thus bass vacate the area. If you find a cove with good current flow and laydowns you need to stop and fish this area hard. This gives a bass everything they need to thrive. Many anglers like to fish reaction baits here but I normally go straight to fishing jigs and plastics. I start out with a small finesse jig such as a baby Booyah jig tipped with a plastic chunk trailer. I back that up with a Gitem’ K.O. or Warlock.

Boat docks and piers can really produce good numbers of bass during this period and are relatively easy to fish. Try to focus on docks and piers with pillings that support the dock thus giving it natural cover for the bass to relate to. I also then narrow my search down to which docks have grass around them or scattered wood. Docks and piers with this type cover will be more attractive to bass in the hot summer days. When fishing docks and piers I like to pitch a Texas rigged worm or lightly weighted Gitem’ shad around the pillings or pockets in the grass. Make sure you control your boat when fishing these areas, bass will tend to spook if you get to close.

If your lake, river or reservoir has a bridge you need to fish it! Often times bridges will have areas that have multiple structure types such as rock mixed with grass or timber. This can be a hotspot for bass and water around the pillings can be cooler during this time. This is where I will normally throw reaction type offering to the bass. My favorite way to catch bridge bass is to bang crankbaits off the bridge pilling in shallow water. Bass cannot stand a shad darting in front of their face for long! Give this a try if you have access to bridges on your water.

Do not let the dog days of summer keep you from cashing in on some hot bassin’ action! Get out there early and load the boat with these tactics we discussed today!

Keywords:  Bass  |  Booyah jig 

Popularity: 29% [?]

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If you are tired of beating the bank and feel the need to fish some deeper, possibly undiscovered hotspots then you need to search out the ledges on your home water. Here’s how to locate these overlooked bass sanctuaries.

Think of a ledge as a shelf. It is usually long and flat on the top and then drops off sharply on one side. This type contour really benefits a bass and how they approach feeding and resting. This is like a rest stop for passing fish, and gives them a place to ambush baitfish. Ledges can often be single staged or multi-staged. Bass will relate to both at certain times of the year.

Ledges are more commonly found in man made reservoirs but can occur in natural lakes and rivers as well. Ledges appear on topographical maps as parallel contour lines running close together. Use your graph to pinpoint the ledge and always carry marker buoys to mark your spots so you can fish them more effectively. What ledges you should fish depends on the time of year, water temperature and water clarity. Try and seek out shallow ledges when the visibility is slim. Bass relate more to shallow water during this time. If you are fishing ultra clear water try and locate deeper ledges in the range of 18 to 25 feet. These type ledges are exceptional in winter and summer.

Here are some lures you need to have on hand if fishing ledges:

 Suspending Jerkbait

Sometimes bass will suspend above a ledge if the water is clear enough and can be caught using a suspending jerkbait. This is a great technique for lethargic fish.

Grubs

These baits are best in fall and winter when the bass are staging on ledges and not willing to chase your offerings. Use this on light line and stay small with your baits. A good spinning outfit should do you well here. Let the grub fall from one ledge to the next.

Deep Diving Crankbaits

This is a great way of provoking a reaction strike from bass that are holding on ledges. The diving action the bait has will deflect off the ledges really getting the bass to make a commitment to eat it. Work it at different speeds to find out the best retrieves. I like this type bait for summer ledge fishing.

Spoons

Here is a great bait for mimicking bait fish and keeping your bait in position to get bit. This is usually done vertically and  worked at different depths until you find the right strike zone. Spoons are a great way of getting bass to react and become active.

Jig and Pig

This is one of my favorite lures for fishing shallow ledges during the colder months. I normally fish this bait when the water is murky or off color. Swim the jig and let it fall very slow keeping it in the strike zone longer. Here lethargic bass have time to react.

Carolina Rig

This is one of the most popular techniques for fishing ledges. It can work any time of the year and targets bass at different depths. Many different style baits may be used also. Experiment with different bait sizes and types until you find the one they are keying on.

I hope this has inspired you to get out and fish ledges with more confidence and understanding. It can be intimidating at times but stick with it and it will pay off!

Keywords:  fishing ledges  |  carolina rig 

Popularity: 29% [?]

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