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Top fishing tips

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1
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Fall Fishing is here

Fall is here, it is getting cold, and its a good time to fish. The ice is already starting to build on the ponds and shorelines. A lot of people already have brought there boats out of the water. But if you have a small boat I recommend trolling along the shoreline for muskies, jigging for walleyes, top lures through the weeds for Northern/Bass. The walleyes are in the cold shallow waters. Fall is my favorite time to fish, and usually one of the only times I fish off shore. Since the walleyes are in shallower waters, you can just cast off shore for the lunkers.......

Topics: Walleye, Muskies, Pike, Fall weather
2
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Fishing the hump 2

Fishing underwater humps is fairly easy. There are four primary ways to fish them. 1) Parallel along the edges of the humps; 2) On the top flat part (shallower water); 3) From the top flat down the hump into deeper water and; 4) Casting into the deep water and bringing your lure up the hump into shallower water. These different presentations along with changing from lure to a worm harness or dragging and bouncing some bait as necessary will most definitely do the trick to landing some of the larger fish on average. Don't forget the deeper humps in the middle of the lakes as well. The fish don't just cruise the shores, the big ones will cruise the humps for bait fish and protection also.

Topics: Humps
7
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Top Lures

In some of the smaller lakes with Northerns, I love using top lures! Up on the Little Gunflint Lake, its a narrow, shallow lake. You can watch the perch and northern swim around. I set my top lure out in the prop wash and troll. I think the best thing about it is watching your lure get takin under!!

Topics: Northerns, and, top, lures
7
Vote

Casting Shore Lines

Getbit wrote a tip about casting parallel to shore a while back and it's worked for me in the past but last night it was a little slow for me. Most fished that were getting hooked were actually being caught by casting just outside of or on top the weed line and pulling from the shore to open water; most of which were casts ahead of the boat. I'm thinking that the fish could hear the action or splash above 'em and could then see the lure come out from "hiding" from out of cover of the weeds and would have less time to process whether to strike or not vs seeing the lure coming from downstream and just come past 'em. I was using a floating rapalla and could cast directly on the weeds and just lift it off of and through the weeds but then it would dive down 6 feet or so when i started reeling. It seems I may have to test this out a little more to see what might be more consistent for different lures. Any body have a similar/different experience?

Topics: Casting, Techniques
10
Vote

Beat the Heat

Beat the Heat!! Summertime is in full swing in the southeast and man is it Hot and the Night Fishing is even Hotter!! The afternoon rains cool things off and often trigger fish to feed well into the night. Try slow crawling a Junebug lizard through vegetation or popping a JitterBug across the top for Explosive Night Bites!!

Capt. Kevin Brotz
407-448-3635
www.GetBitOutdoors.com

Topics: Summer fishing, Night fishing
9
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Spinnerbait and braided line

SpinnerBait, Braid. Try throwing your spinnerbait on braid the next time you go out. The sensitivity is AMAZING and the thin braid cuts through vegetation that would stop mono dead in its tracks.

Topics: spinnerbait, braided line, bass
12
Vote

The Night Walleye Bite

Fishing for Walleyes @ night! Evenings the big females start to come shallow probably to return to their spawning beds or feed on minnows along the shore. For the big 10-pound walleye, evening and night is your best chance. Troll slow and close to shore or along reefs with Rapalas or a bottom bouncer rig with lots of line out. Stop and cast if you come up to some structure on bottom that is within close proximity to the weeds they hide in during the day. Blues, Greens and especially Fire-tiger jigs!

Topics: Walleye
7
Vote

Crankbait Hooks

The hooks that come on new crankbaits, topwaters, jerkbaits, minnows, and lipless crankbaits are good, but bass have a tendency to jump and throw the lure. Switch out the original hooks with Mustad KVD Elite 2x short treble hooks - the short shank, unique bend and strong wire almost guarantee no lost fish. I've hooked over two-dozen bass in three tournaments this year, most have jumped, and none have come off! Plus, with the shorter shank, you can usually upsize by one size (if the original hook is a size 4, you can usually get away with putting a size 2 Mustad on).

Topics: Hooks, crankbaits, treble hooks
14
Vote

I just caught all this tuna, now what

You just arrived back at the dock after a wide open "wfo" two day tuna trip. Everyone aboard who caught fish meets at the top of the dock where the fish are handed out generally by the fisherman's manifest number (te sign in sheet filled out by law before the boat departs). Some fish are already filleted while during the trip, a decision made by the angler. You are now thinking "what the heck am I going to do with all this fish I just caught and get it back home to Texas" (or wherever you are from)

There are "dockside" services for handling all your processing needs. There are many options available, some pricier than others. From shipping your catch home that was filleted on the boat to same day filet and ship services, just about anything can be done for a price. Here's just a few of the services available to you:

* Trade whole Tuna for pre-packaged smoked Tuna (or other fish like Dorado or Wahoo when available)

* Trade whole Tuna for canned Albacore

* Ship your fish filleted on the boat home to any place in the world (some restrictions may apply)

* Fillet and ship your whole fish
* Trading is done by "x" amount of pounds of fish caught to "x" amount of pounds canned. Your best bet is listen to the deckhands or captain on your trip for advice on how to best handle and process your catch. On shorter trips where your catch is filleted nightly after a day of fishing, let the pros deal with the mess and time of filleting. Most deckhands have years of experience in fish handling and rely on customer satisfaction and fish cleaning to make a living. So everyone benefits by having the boat care for your fish. They filet fish everyday and most are very good at it. If you do want the crew to clean your fish, be sure to tell them any special requests like skin on, having the fish "rocked", save the bellies and cheeks, etc...

By the way, Tuna bellies have a very high trade value for smoked wahoo and other excellent tasting fish. Cheeks are full of meat and heads can be used for soup. Or you may just want the fillets to give to friends and family with some saved for yourself of course.

Whatever you choose, proper handling is essential for health reasons. You will not regret these services when you get in from your trip. Just plan on working it in on the cost of your trip.

Here's the main companies in San Diego who provide dockside services:
Fisherman's Processing
Sportsmen's Seafood
Five Star Processing

Some additional Questions:

Original question I received by email from one of my very appreciated visitors:

Rob,

I stumbled across your web site as I prepare for a brief fishing trip in San Diego. I'm sure I'm the regular type that contacts you; I'm just going on a 1/2 day trip with my girlfriend during a long weekend. All the same, I'm wondering if there are any companies that will pack and ship our catch (which I'm assuming I can have filleted on the boat/dock). We live in AZ, so it wouldn't be a long journey. I would think it could be packed in dry ice inside a sturdy cooler, similar to Omaha Steaks.

Do you have any ideas for somewhere that might be able to lend us a hand. We are hitting the water on next Friday (8/13/10).

-Jordan

Here's the great response from Five Star:
Rob, One more thing I forgot to add- if they take the box or ice chest on as luggage, they can only fill it to 50 lbs. Otherwise huge charges apply. That should be added if anyone asks. Thanks for the kind words. ~Sarah


Rob,

This is a hard question for me to answer because our business relies on the processing of the WHOLE fish off of long range trips. We do not make money on the shipping part of it, because the customer pays for the box, employee time handling, taking it to the airport and making sure it gets on the correct flight. From there, the customer usually pays C.O.D. to the airline where they would pick up the fish. They may also pay the cost for shipping the fish straight to their door via UPS or Fed Ex. For this, I cover the cost and then they pay me back the exact cost the carrier charges me. Each situation is unique. If I am at the docks and someone is stuck in a predicament and has no other choice, I sometimes will do them a favor and freeze their fillets & ship them. But I try to discourage that. I have been trying to work with the landing to see if they will sell boxes and frozen gel packs so that customers on the shorter range trips have an option to take their already fillet fish back on the plane with them as luggage. This would be the ideal situation. They may also take an ice chest with them before their trip and load up their fillets and take it back with them as luggage. The fish does not need to be frozen before this...but always nice to have something cold, like gel packs to accompany the fillets. They do not allow wet or dry ice in the containers.

Topics: dockside fish processing San Diego, Sportfishing San Diego, tuna jerky
8
Vote

Alternative way to rig a tube - with a leadhead and rattle

Just a quick tip for another way to rig a tube with a rattle - Bass Pro Shops sells this little roundish rattle for tubes (XPS Tube Rattle), and I use the Bass Pro Shops tender tube head in 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz., depending on the depth and conditions. First, push the tube rattle up in the tube, then insert the tube head, and push the eyelet through the tube where it stops. The rattle sometimes adds just enough extra to the tube to get more strikes, and by having the jig head back a little from the end of the tube, it helicopters down in a more random manner, which also gets more strikes. You can also rig it this way without the rattle, just leave 1/4"-1/2" of space between the jig head and the end of the tube.

Topics: Tubes, Rattles
17
Vote

Using marker bouys on points

Bass, and probably other gamefish, congregate along points, and especially cover and secondary structure along the points. The system is simple, takes a couple of minutes to set up, and you can spend a few hours fishing one point a nd catching serious amounts of bass.

First, determine the points. In early spring and late fall, find steep sloping points, while long, slow-sloping points are generally better from late-spring to early fall. A good topo or bathymetric map, or GPS map will show these. Once you've chosen the point, begin to go over it with your depth finder. Look for tell-tale fish arches, or baitfish schools, to determine where you should start. Whatever your target depth, toss a marker bouy a few feet shallower on the main point. Work along the point until you come to the first big drop off into deep water, then toss a marker bouy a few feet deeper on the main point. These two markers should be the same color. While you're scouting the point, when you see a key piece of cover, something different in the bottom structure, or something interesting, throw a different colored marker bouy near it.

Begin by lining up along the point, starting shallow, and fan casting the entire point. Work deeper, then shallower. Use repeated casts from different angles at all key pieces of cover and secondary structure. Crankbaits are good to use for scouting lures, and once you find the bass, pick the area apart with a variety of presentations.

It could literally take you 4 hours to fish a decent point, and I've pulled as many as two dozen keepers off one point from all different depths. Remember to use the proper color, based on conditions, forage and activity level, and the proper depth for your crankbaits. If the point drops from, say, 7 feet down to 13 feet, cast the shallow end with a crankbait that dives to 9 or 10 feet, and then work the deeper end with a crankbait that'll dive to 15 feet. Stay with it, and you'll find the bass.

Topics: Points, marker, bouy
10
Vote

Runnin N Gunnin

There's something to be said for standing on a bank and fishing while relaxing, or trolling along a lake, but most of the time, I prefer to "run n' gun". Basically, this means constantly moving and going from place to place at adecent pace while using reaction or fast-moving baits. You won't catch 20-30 fish (usually), but the 7 or 10 that you do get are usually the 7 or 10 most aggressive fish.

The key is to find an area that will likely produce, like a point, weedbed, or are with lots of different cover and structure, and have a few rods rigged up - medium crankbait, deep crankbait and a spinnerbait. Work through the area, not stopping, and moving from spot-to-spot while making casts along the structure and to cover.

If you do this every time, you get worn out quickly, but if you only have a few hours to be on the water, this is a great way to make the most of it.

Topics: Crankbait, Spinnerbait
11
Vote

Mono vs. Fluorocarbon

OK, I'll start by saying I don't know a lot about braid or the superlines, because I've never used them. There may be applications where braid or another superline work better than mono or fluorocarbon, but I'm afraid to leave my "line comfort zone". Here's a little breakdown of the differences between mono and fluorocarbon (from manufacturer specs and my experience):

MONOFILAMENT
• Limp
• Low Memory
• Good Strength vs. Diameter
• Considerable Stretch
• Low Sensitivity
• Good Abrasion Resistance
• Good Knot Strength
• Low Visibility
• Floats


FLOUROCARBON
• Stiff
• Moderate Memory
• Good Strength vs. Diameter
• Low Stretch
• Very Good Sensitivity
• High Abrasion Resistance
• Good Knot Strength
• Very Low Visibility
• Sinks

PLASTICS/JIGS/TUBES
• Fluorocarbon Is Best
• Monofilament Is OK

CRANKBAITS (SHALLOW, MEDIUM, DEEP)
• Fluorocarbon Is Best
• Monofilament Is OK

LIPLESS CRANKBAITS
• Monofilament Is Best
• Fluorocarbon Is OK

SPINNERBAITS/BUZZBAITS
• Monofilament Is Best
• Fluorocarbon Is OK

SWIMBAITS
• Fluorocarbon Is Best
• Monofilament Is OK

TOPWATERS
• Monofilament Is Best
• Fluorocarbon Is Not Recommended (Sinks)

I hope this helps, as I have found that having the differences laid out for me really helps to understand the little nuances each style of line has. Remember to use the smallest line that is practical and it's worth it to spend a little extra - paying $9.99 for good line vs. paying $2.99 for store-brand line and losing a handful of $5 lures makes no sense.

Topics: Line, Fluorocarbon, Mono
8
Vote

Rod, reel line selection

OK, back to basics. I know I posted a tip about making sense of rods & reels and making things less complicated. Absolutely an essential part of fishing. This year I've been doing some experimenting with my tackle, and I've gotten to this point:

7' MH baitcast with 12 lb. mono for bigger worms, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, lipless crankbaits, and topwaters

7' M baitcast with 12 lb. fluorocarbon for crankbaits, swimbaits, jigs, and tubes

6'6" M spinning with 8 lb. mono for worms, spoons, spinners, and all finesse tactics

I hope my homework helps you out, and as I test more ideas I'll post them to help get things going. Just remember, do what you find works well, and never stop experimenting and learning!

Topics: Rods, Reels, lines
5
Vote

Catching Crab

Things to remember when setting crab traps.
- set your traps near fresh water.
- if using square wire traps, remove the bait cage and hang your bait in the center from the top of the trap ensuring the crab can reach it.
- set your traps 50-150 feet deep.
- check your traps every couple hours, they will only hold so much. Check your regulations for size and sex limits.
- Take a jug along with you for salt water, at least 4 liters. Try cooking your crab in ocean water, you will be surprised just how much better it tastes.
- If you think the area is holding some king or snow crab but you don't have a large ring trap. Take a spreader bar or coat hanger, securely attach it to any fishing line. Attach some squid to the spreader bar using wire or zip ties. Attach enough weight to take it to the bottom. Leave it on the bottom for up to 30 minutes then real it up at an even pace. If there are any king or snow crab in the area they will clamp on to the squid and won't let go... A poor mans crab trap...lol

Topics: seafood, tips, crab
20
Vote

Small ponds can equal BIG fish

I live in an area that has lots and lots of water, from rivers, to 45,000 acre lakes, to small ponds, and everything in between. While it is easier to get onto a big lake and run to 15 different spots that may be miles from each other, sometimes the best catches come from the little 40 acre pond down the street. If you have a kayak or canoe, you may find you have the whole pond to yourself, and the fishing can be quite relaxing!

Next time you drive past "that small pond", stop and try a few casts - you may be surprised what you hook into!

Topics: Pond, Kayak, Small Pond
12
Vote

Direct tie or swivels

Do you tie directly to the lure or clip on a snap swivel? Depends. There are times when a snap swivel is a necessity - like fishing spoons with a spinning reel. Sometimes, tieing directly to the lure is needed, such as with jigs or topwaters when you you don't want the action affected by the extra weight of the snap swivel. However, when I fish crankbaits or a select few topwaters and jerkbaits, I use a size 1 Fast Snap. They don't really affect lure action, in fact they help improve lure action on some retreives, and they make changing out lure a "snap".

Topics: Snaps, Swivels, Lures
21
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Offshore Structure - Lake Winnipesaukee

OK, I'm guessing three more weeks and the ice will be gone. Tht means that spring bass fishing will be upon us. But what about when the spawn ends, and it gets into mid-to-late June, and the bass seem to disappear from the shallows? If you're on the big lake, try these two spots (please leave a few for me):

1. There is a nice hump between Eagle Island and Stonedam Island in Meredith - lots of rocks, tops out at about 5 feet, one side slopes gradually, the other has a quick drop. Awesome for summer smallmouth;

2. Another nice sunken ridge between Pine Island and Three Mile Island in Center Harbor. Tops off around 10 feet, with steep slopes and a gradual ridge drop off both sides.

Try the 6-8 foot depth range around some structure whn the weather has been stable, a little ahllower if it's overcast, and go right down to about 18 feet after a cold front blows through. Cover the whole area with crankbaits, and you won't be disappointed!

Topics: Bass, humps, offshore, Lake Winnipesaukee
6
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Salt water salmon fishing.

Tried and true salmon trolling tips.
If your not familiar with the area, drop in at a local tackle shop for directions to some of the hot spots and inquire about what's working.
My favorite method is trolling a cut-plug herring. A cut-plug is simply cutting the head of the herring off. This must be done in the following fashion to ensure the proper "action" or "roll" is achieved. Cut the herring at a 45 degree angle from top to bottom and also the width of the herring. This will give you a nice tight or small roll on your bait.
Next attach your flasher to the down rigger cable, 1 foot above the ball with a 3-4 foot leader. Note do not use a long leader or you will get tangled with your line.
Attach your release clip 18-24 inches above your flasher line, make sure your bait is only 4-5 feet behind your flasher.
The reason I like this setup is because the fight you will experience from the fish will be increased 10 fold. With Coho often the flasher will take 90% of the fight out of the fish. Try the above method and you will never attach the flasher to your rod again.
Other tips I can give you:
Try different trolling speeds: The speeds that have worked best for me range from 2.5 to 6 km per hour.
Look for bait balls on your fish finder, they will show up as a big red or black ball. When you find one and if you are fishing in a tide, turn your boat into the tide and adjust your speed so as you are stationary on top of the bail ball. The tide will work your bait/cut-plug for you and you will catch more fish than you could imagine.
Coho like fairly open water where as Chinook like to be close to shore.
Remember in Canada you must use barbless hooks when fishing for salmon!
Good luck and Good Fishing. Brady

Topics: Salmon Tips on bait, presentation, trolling methods and where to find them
6
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Ice fishing for crappie

Crappie have their eyes on top of their heads, and will see your bait and lures above them. If you have a sonar and can see crappie at a certain depth, try to keep your bait or lure just a little higher because crappie won't see anything below them. Crappie will often continue to follow your lure higher and higher until they strike, and when they hit your rod tip will actually go up instead of down because the fish is taking your lure higher. Make sure to set the hook when this happens.

Topics: crappie, technique, depth, lures, bait, sonar, ice fishing