Fishing-Headquarters Magazine

Fishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 �

Kankakee River State Park. Will County, Illinois Photograph by Michael Planthaber

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• Running with Walleyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

• Inland Striped Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

• Coastal Fishing: American Shad Runs . . . . . 35

• Great Lakes Tributary Steelheads . . . . . . . . 45

• Trap Attack Bass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

• Get Dirty with Backwater Pike . . . . . . . . . . . 73

• Illinois River Sauger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

• Tackle Logic: Let’s Talk Jigs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Fishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 �

Fishing-Headquarters MagazineVolume 1. Issue 3.March & April, 2011Spring Issue

About the Fishing-Headquarters

The Fishing-Headquarters began as a small homepage featuring a collection of photos and YouTube fishing videos. It even featured a small contingency of misfits and rebellious anglers who were tired of the internet elitism and racism expressed by other websites towards specific groups of anglers and species of freshwater gamefish.

Formally established in January 2007, the FHQ was created for like-minded anglers to share the wealth of information, and enjoy the beauty in diverse fishing. This greatness as we presently know it is multi-species fishing.

Designed and created by posessed and gravely obsessed angler, Andrew Ragas, the website has grown to a large world audience. Our basis as an online media platform is to drop the ego, and catch anything that swims and has fins.

All fish are created as equals. Only to be pursued as opposites.

Important Biz Stuff

http://[email protected]@fishing-headquarters.comtelephone - 708. 256. 2201

Questions or Comments, and if interested in contributing or sponsoring, please contact Andrew Ragas at:[email protected]

Magazine layout and design by Ragas Mediahttp://www.ragasmedia.com

C O V E R S T O R YThe spring season represents a seasonal rebirth for all of the living. As the ice melts and water temperatures rise, fish of all species awaken from their winter doldrums and begin to feed heavily in preparation for the spawn.

Showcasing our spring issue was this photograph of a mega Central Illinois largemouth bass caught by FHQ Contributor, Kenny Lookingbill. Measured at 23 inches and estimated at nearly 8 pounds, this fish was caught with a lipless crankbait.

Learn more about fishing with lipless crankbaits by turning to page 59.


I S S U E 3 F E A T U R E D W R I T E R S A N D C O N T R I B U T O R S

Fishing-Headquarters Issue-3 It is within our beliefs that you enjoy reading the articles and looking at photos with captions as much as we enjoyed putting this issue together. Over the course of the 2011 season, we hope to continue making improvements to the content, layout, and ideas of Fishing-Headquarters Magazine so that we have all seasonal fishing topics of interest covered for a large and diverse audience.

For example, you may already notice a slight facelift in terms of design for Issue-3 and beyond. It looks a lot better, right?

We would like to personally thank the individuals and readers who sent us posi-tive, encouraging, and kind messages, and enjoyed reading our first two issues that were released on 11-22-2010, and 1/20/2011, respectively. With positive news and outcomes such as this, we hope to eventually make something out of this venture that could lead to a print magazine, job opportunities, profit, and more within the fishing industry.

Lastly, we would like to thank our friends, anglers, and team of writers andwebsite bloggers who have dedicated themselves to provide and contribute their knowledge, experiences, and content into this publication. Without their assistance, nothing like this would be possible.

This will be a FREE internet publication. Good things are set to come in 2011. Thank you for reading our third issue of Fishing-Headquarters Magazine.

Andrew RagasEditor In-Chief, Designer, and Owner.

2011 Issue ReleasesRemaining Schedule

• Issue 4: May 15, 2011• Issue 5: July 15, 2011• Issue 6: September 15, 2011• Issue 7: November 15, 2011

Jim Gronaw Blake Hamilton Kenny Lookingbill

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Copyright © 2011 Fishing-Headquarters.All rights reserved. The usage of articles, excerpts, photographs, and any reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited.

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I S S U E 3 F E A T U R E D W R I T E R S A N D C O N T R I B U T O R S

David Graham Roy Vivian Bryan Blazek

Submitted Photographs

• Frank Weilnhammer• Michael Planthaber• Nate Tessler• Thomas Harris• Dan Sims• David Mannion• Zack Wallin

Layout and Design By

• Ragas Media Designs

Sponsors and Advertising Partners

• Bearpaw’s Handpoured Baits• CB’s Hawg Sauce• Heartland Outdoors• Ragas Media Designs • Sims Spinners Inc. • Stankx Bait Company• Time on the Water Outdoors

SEEKING SPONSORS AND ADVERTISING PARTNERS FOR 2011 SEASON!

With over 5,000 readers, you will get more than just your share of business opportunities with us. Contact us and we will be thrilled to supply you with our resumes, a 2011 season media kit, and more!

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L E A D I N G O F F .



GOOD RIDDANCE.Sometime before March: “Today it felt like spring may be on the horizon in an im-possibly long winter. I haven’t had any fishing to report, so here are a few images from Wisconsin. Ice blue, clean water with trout in sight, and those wonderful air bubbles locked in ice we have all pressed our noses against the ice to see.”

Photograph by Thomas Harris


L E A D I N G O F F .

Fishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 � Fishing-Headquarters | Page 8

First Light on the Water.



Photograph by Michael Planthaber



Running with Walleyes.The world famous Maumee River, Ohio, Walleye Run.

Andrew Ragas



According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the annual walleye run up the Maumee River is one of the largest migrations of riverbound walleyes east of the Mississippi.



By: Andrew RagasEditor In-Chief [email protected]

R U N N I N G W I T H W A L L E Y E S .

Another spring season is quickly approaching. In my opin-ion, there is no better way to begin the open water season than to run with infinite amounts of fish during their seasonal spawning migrations.

Back in April of 2009, I had one of my most enjoyable spring fishing trips ever.

Joined by friends, Mike Goode, John Dyers, and Ohio resident Nate Tessler, I traveled 300 miles east from Chicago to Perrysburg, Ohio, where we fished the Maumee River for a long weekend.

The Maumee River is leg-endary and well known within the Great Lakes region as walleyes by the thousands migrate from Lake Erie into this river system to spawn. According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the annual walleye run up the Maumee River is one of the larg-est migrations of riverbound wall-eyes east of the Mississippi River. For up to two months, anglers by the hundreds enjoy catching their daily walleye limits by fishing con-centrated fish spawning sites shoul-

der-to-shoulder.Fishing a few feet away from

hundreds of other fishermen is in-timidating. I was terrified at first and my participation on this trip was questionable. Despite these fears, I did not let them prevent me from enjoyment.

Privileged to experience this legendary run, I quickly learned that we don’t get anything like this in Il-linois.

Beginning in March and lasting until early May, the Maumee River walleye run is driven by a number of factors that includes water tem-perature, river currents, and hours of daylight. Peak spawning occurs anytime from March through April when water temperatures are in the range of 42 to 55 degrees. However, best activity frequently occurs the last week of March through the first

The crowds get much worse than this in some locations, indicating how popular of an event the walleye run truly is. This photo was taken at Side Cut Park in Maumee, Ohio.

Photograph by Andrew Ragas



first week of April. Typical spawning habitat of the

river is comprised of swift hard bot-tomed mid-river current runs with a composition of gravel and rock. Depths are usually shallow in the range of 3 to 6 feet. It is common for several dozen spawning male walleyes to be concentrated and re-lating to the same 50 foot stretch of bottom structure.

The majority of the walleyes that are present in the river to spawn are males, locally referred as “Jacks”. Running at an average length of 19 to 24 inches and weights of two to four pounds, the aggressive males eagerly take your jig in almost any situation. While females are sharing the waters with the more abundant Jacks, they tend to be less aggres-sive, their presence goes unnoticed, and their population numbers are low in comparison. Catching fish larger than 10 pounds is possible, but if caught, it is suggested to re-lease the females as they replenish

Floating Jig (Mister Twister)

Nate Tessler sets his hook into a walleye. Long rods with a medium action enable you to detect bites and fight fish through the strong current.




the system with future generations of fish, and enable future walleye runs to take place. This is the un-written courtesy rule of the river.

This fantastic run of walleye is an excellent period of fishing for anglers who do not have access to boats and cannot fish Lake Erie. In order to get up close and personal with Maumee River walleyes, wad-ing is generally the best way to fish

the run. What makes the walleye run

unique is the special regulations and strict management set forth by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. First, nighttime fishing is banned from March 1st through May 1st. This allows for the migratory walleye to move into their spawning sites to lay eggs, unmolested. Second, the daily bag limit of six fish per day

at 15 inches is reduced to just four fish during this two month period. Thanks to the heavy angling pres-sure, this reduced bag limit helps conserve the naturally-spawning fish populations. Third a hook size regulation is also in effect. It is un-lawful for anglers to use a line with more than one single hook attached. This means no lures with treble hooks, or hook sizes larger than one-half inch from shank to point. Lastly, because of how concentrat-ed the walleye numbers are during the run, some will be accidentally snagged with even a single hook. Consequently all snagged fish must be returned.

As previously noted with the hundreds of other fishermen I

Fishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 � Fishing Headquarters | Page 14

3 inch Twister Tail(Mister Twister)

Notice how this 22 incher was hooked near its eyeball and not inside of the mouth? For fear of getting in trouble with a CPO, I had to let this one go. This proof of how thick the fish are concentrated during the run.



would be sharing the water with, I was also intimidated by these spe-cial regulations.

With all of these factors being included in the game plan, a typical day of fishing the run occurs from sunrise to sunset. Anglers by the dozens arrive daily at the river by dawn, reserving their spots by sun-rise, then fishing and focusing their efforts on shallow current runs with hard bottom.

During my two days of fishing the run, I failed to catch my limit. However, friends and seasoned vet-erans of the run, John Dyers and Nate Tessler, scored limits on both days.

Fishing the walleye run re-quires a learning curve as the type of fishing experienced is far differ-ent than anything else you may ever come across. For example, I learned the stubborn way. Here on our northern Illinois rivers, I tradition-ally fish with lighter gear: Six and a half foot St. Croix medium action rods with size 20 Quantum Energy spinning reels spooled with 6 lb. co-polymer line. My personal experi-ence called for me to try my proven finesse methods first, before switch-ing over to what actually works best for the run.

If you fish this run, forget about finesse. Power and strength will be needed.

For half the day on day 1, while witnessing Johnny and Nate catch their limits in less than four hours, I caught nothing by utilizing my light gear approach. Light bites, strong river currents, and poor rod strength led to futility and lack of fish on the stringer. It was after our lunch break when I realized that I had made a mistake by not choosing to fish with my much stronger 7 ft. medium heavy action rod with size 30 Quantum Energy reel spooled Fishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 � Fishing Headquarters | Page 14

John Dyers poses with his 22 inch walleye.Although no big females were caught during our trip, this was the largest of the Jacks that were caught.




R U N N I N G W I T H W A L L E Y E S .with 10 lb. copolymer line. Not planning to originally fish with this heavier rod and reel combination, I was at least smart enough to pack it in the car.

I was finally onto fish as soon as I made the switch over to the heavier gear during the afternoon hours.

Due to the special angling reg-ulations, approximately 100 percent of the anglers you will come across will be using a simple fishing ap-proach. The best mode of angling is to present the fish a floating jig rig.

This simple rig is like your typical Carolina rig used for bass fishing, consisting of the following compo-nents:

• 3/8 oz. sliding egg sinker (use heavi-er weight depending on the current).

• Barrel swivel.

• 2 foot leader: 12 to 14 lb. fluorocar-bon preferred. Pre-tie your leaders be-forehand.

• Floating jig in bright colors tipped with fluorescent 3 inch twister tails.

Imagination Illustration: Maumee River Walleyes

Due to its bottom hugging and floating capabilities, this rig ulti-mately enables you to present your bait longer in the water column and over the spawning sites before the current sweeps it away. Other than long casts and keeping up with the current which controls the presen-tation and retrieve, it requires very little physical effort.

Typical rods and reels used during the run range in lengths from 6 ½ to 7 ½ feet long. Standard rod actions are usually medium but I prefer a 7 foot medium heavy action



or greater due to longer casting dis-tance, fighting the current and pow-erful hook-sets. As far as line goes, 8 to 12 pound abrasion-resistant co-polymers work exceptionally well.

Although I never caught my limit of walleyes (came up 1 fish short each day), I enjoyed a great time with friends, and was able to learn about this unique approach to fishing.

The Maumee River is a big river and must be respected like all other flowing bodies of water. Safe-ty and knowledge of regulations should always be the highest prior-ity. In addition, being polite and re-spectful of all the other anglers who will be sharing your fishing spot is necessary. You never know when borrowing your neighbor’s landing net may come in handy.

The river setting will be far from peaceful and quiet with the hordes of anglers that will be around. If abundant walleyes are on tap for your spring fishing schedule, there are 8 weeks during the season to ac-complish it.

From the mouth of Lake Erie in Toledo, downstream 10 miles past the town of Perrysburg, the river is loaded with an abundance of access areas, fishing spots, and opportuni-ties to catch daily limits.

Make reservations. This April marks my first return trip since 2009. Within reasonable distance from northern Illinois, there is no better place in the Midwest region to find walleye fishing as good as this!

For the best up-to-date Walleye Run in-formation, visit the following websites:

www.walleyerun.com

www.maumeetackle.net

www.thenaturalresource.com





S A T E L L I T E M A P

WATERVILLEThis Google Satellite Image points to some of the more productive water within the range of the run. Surrounded by the towns of Rossford, Perrysburg, Maumee, and Waterville, there is no shortage of river access, much of which is public parks. The spawning runs are plentiful as the shallow river bottom is made of rock and gravel that is well oxygenated.


PERRYSBURG

MAUMEE

This Google Satellite Image points to some of the more productive water within the range of the run. Surrounded by the towns of Rossford, Perrysburg, Maumee, and Waterville, there is no shortage of river access, much of which is public parks. The spawning runs are plentiful as the shallow river bottom is made of rock and gravel that is well oxygenated.



Get in line, catch a fish. The Maumee River is a big river and must be respected like all other flowing bodies of water. Safety and knowledge of regulations should always be the highest priority. In addition, being polite and respectful of all the other anglers who will be sharing your fishing spot is necessary. You never know when borrowing your neighbor’s landing net may come in handy. The river setting will be far from peaceful and quiet with the hordes of anglers that will be around. If abundant walleyes are on tap for your spring fishing schedule, there are 8 weeks during the season to accomplish it.








John Dyers brings in a Jack. Having a landing net is a convenience during situations like this.






John Dyers and Nate Tessler hold up their day-1 limits of 4 fish apiece.From March 1st through May 1st, regulations are 4 fish per day at a length of 15 inches.





I N L A N D S T R I P E D B A S S .


STRIPERSSweet and Salt

Jim Gronaw

My son, Matt Gronaw, caught and released this outstanding 36 inchstriper from Piney Run on a Lucky Craft Pointer 128.



For years, I had heard about the catch and release striper season on the Susquehanna Flats complex at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. Stories of fish of 30, 40, even 50 pounds or more are caught, photo-graphed and released every spring season. This sounded like a great fishing gig! Literally the Mecca for giant, shallow water cows that could tow the boat. And even if you didn’t catch a giant, there were tales of many, many fish of all sizes. Many methods would work, and different times would be productive.

So, when I got a call from Ron-ald Dorsey, of Bel Air, last April,

By: Jim GronawFishing-Headquarters Contributor

that he was into a bunch of light-tackle stripers, well, I just had to beg Linda for the chance to sample these powerhouse fish. Ron and his friends had been having good suc-cess with 3 to 10 pound class fish on a variety of lures to include jerkbaits, jigs with plastics and top waters. Not those huge, cow strip-ers we had all heard about, but lots of numbers. The week previous he had one trip where they landed over 50 fish from his 20-foot Crestliner, and several other trips with a count of 20 to 30 fish caught. Let’s see…dozens of 3 to 10 pound fish that smack topwaters or jigs and sizzle off on scorching light-tackle runs? Did I want any of that? Yup!! I was stoked!

We would actually be fish-ing on one of the final days on the flats before the catch and release season closed. As Ron explained, a wave of younger, male striped bass had entered the system and the av-erage size was perfect for light, 8 pound test spinning gear. Most of the bigger, female fish had already spawned and were making their way back out of the flats and down the bay. Different pulses of fish en-ter the Susquehanna throughout the

spring. They will vary in size and usually school according to such.

We launched out of Harve de Grace and went just a mile or so and began drift-casting along the north-east section of the flats. This is a huge, 30 square mile basin at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. It is shallow throughout and has a few channel areas and deeper pockets. It would be ill advised to go it alone if you have never been here, as you can get stuck on a sand bar for 6 hours waiting for the tide to change. Fish-ing with a veteran like Ron made it nice.

Almost immediately, we stated tagging stripers on jerk baits such as the Rapala Husky Jerk # 12 and I used a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 in a shad pattern. Most strikes came as solid hits, and the fish would whistle off on a brief run and then dog it all the way to the boat in typical striped bass fashion. Ron used Bass Pro Shop Inshore Extreme 6 ½ foot rods and 8 pound test Fireline. I used 20 pound Stren Sonic Braid. Both lines allowed long, smooth casts and af-forded the sensitivity and hookset power needed when fish struck far

Photographs by Jim Gronaw / Susquehanna Flats Aerial Backdrop by Maryland DNR.




from the boat on the end of the cast. It was a clear and relatively calm day and we didn’t have many issues with boat positioning. Casting on the edge of some upper bay grass beds kept us on the fish as different small schools and pods of stripers would smash our baits.

We didn’t get any giants, but I’ll tell you what…we caught and released 31 stripers in a brief, four hour stint. The fish were true to form and ran three to seven pounds, as Ron had said. These are great fish on light tackle and about all you would want on 6 or 8 pound line. Earlier in the morning, his good friend in another boat, had landed a 16 and an 18 pounder on similar sized gear. We had a bunch of doubles. What a hoot!

If you have never caught a striped bass then I guess you would put it somewhere with powerhouse salmonoids of the Great Lakes re-gion for fighting strength and en-durance. Scale the tackle accord-ingly and numbers of ‘decent’ fish are just plain fun. Of course, being primarily a panfish freak, anything over a couple pounds seems huge to me! We closed out the day with a run of only a mile back to the docks, and hopes of doing this again next year when the stripers cram the Susquehanna.

Meanwhile, in a lake not far away . . . .

Stripers roam, in some lakes throughout the Mid-Atlantic, some

are huge. The Maryland freshwater striper record is 47 ½ pounds from Liberty Lake, 20 miles west of Bal-timore. The Pennsylvania record is 52 pounds, 11 ounces and came from Raystown Lake in Huntington County. Many other regional lakes have either recent or remnant popu-lations of freshwater stripers that still provide action for those willing to refine tactics and persue them. In Maryland, Liberty, Piney Run and Triadelphia Lakes currently have stripers and the Quaker State has Raystown, Blue Marsh, Beltzville, Redman, and Pinchot holding strip-ers and hybrid stripers from past stockings. In northeast Pennsylva-nia is 5,900 acre Lake Wallenpau-pack. Along with Raystown, Wal-lenpaupack may be the only viable

Ron Dorsey with a great light tackle striper. Tagged stripers like this specimen are used for DNR info and progression of the striped bass fishery.

Photograph by Jim Gronaw



ice-fisheries for stripers in the Unit-ed States. Stripers in the 20 to 30 pound class have come through the ice from both lakes over the years. That is just CRAZY!

Freshwater stripers are differ-ent, yet the same, as the saltwater clan. They like to roam in schools, get under some baitfish and crash up through them, just like they do in the brine. They will make move-ments upstream and enter tight, riv-erine environs in an effort to spawn. Be at the right place at the right time and you can do quite well from the

shore. In lakes like Virginia’s Lake Anna, Kerr and Gaston, they key on shad based forage types and show favoritism to herring when they spawn. In smaller lakes like Piney Run or Pinchot, it’s usually a pan-fish quest or a run for gizzard or threadfin shad.

Where golden shiners exist, there can be a good early spring bite on stripers chasing these fish as waters get to the upper 40’s and low 50’s. The shiners will move in shallow on wood cover and mix it up with prespawn crappie. At that

time and they both can be an easy meal for big fish of several species. Tossing suspended jerk baits like Lucky Craft Pointer 128’s or Rapala Husky Jerks will take fish as shal-low as 18 inches off of downed trees or beaver lodges. Many anglers just don’t believe this, thinking it must be a ‘bass-only’ pattern. But, nope, it works for stripers, too.

My son Matt and I have each taken several 36- inch class stripers chucking these baits to the wood. When water temps are below 50, very slow retrieves with long pauses

Rapala Husky Jerk 12


Nice 14 pounder just before the release.




can get the stripers attention. Strikes seem to come in two forms…it’s ei-ther a soft, almost crappie-like bump or else it’s an all-out explosion. But once the fish is hooked, it’s like a runaway freight train. We spool up with Sonic Braid at 20 pound test and use a 15 pound test mono leader to secure the lure. Rods should be 6 ½ to 7 ½ feet and have sensitivity yet backbone to handle these fish. Reels should have excellent drags, as a 75- yard initial run is not unusual. Expect long, tension-filled battles with these fish that just don’t quit. Get them in, take the photos and re-vive them to fight again. Cold water stripers release well, and delayed mortality is not a concern unless the fish is deeply hooked. In freshwater

Lucky Craft Pointer 100

lakes throughout the Mid-Atlantic, three- foot long stripers are consid-ered trophies among all but the most elite of striper anglers. Sadly, most all freshwater venues for stripers are determined by stocking ratios to sustain the fisher-ies. In todays angling world, money talks, with other species getting the overwhelming percentage of fishery management dollars. With a huge resource of saltwater stripers in the Chesapeake and adjoining coastal states, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia do not always put striped bass stocking on the front burn-er. Most of those programs have ceased. The huge sprawling reser-voirs of the south and mid –west can answer the call for these great

and adaptable game fish. But back east, I’ll settle for a combination of both sweet and saltwater stripers to shatter my nerves and keep the drags screaming. Some fisheries are emerging and some are fizzling out. But me…I’m just glad they’re here for now, in numbers and in size.

Jim Gronaw, 59, of Westminster, Maryland, has been a Fishing-Head-quarters blogger and contributor since January, 2010. Jim is a con-tributor for In-Fisherman, and has been published over 600 times both nationally and regionally for vari-ous publications such as In-Fisher-man, Outdoor Life, Fishing Facts, and Sports Afield.

Photograph by Jim GronawThe Susquehanna Flats at the head of the Chesapeake Bay is dynamitestriper territory in April and May.







My personal best freshwater striper at 37 inches taken on light gear.Photograph by Jim Gronaw





A M E R I C A N S H A D .

By: David GrahamFishing-Headquarters Contributor

Coastal Fishing:American Shad RunsAn East Coast Phenomenon That Occurs Once a Year.This is our South Carolina Version of the Story.


Photograph by David Graham




In South Carolina, shad fishing has become a very popular pastime, specifically along Berkeley County’s Tail Race Canal below the Pinopolis Lock and Dam.

In the world of fishing and amongst those who love it, when one considers great migrations the first mental imagery is the seasonal spawning runs of salmon. It is diffi-cult to fathom the incredible gaunt-let these fish run as they travel up to two thousand miles from the ocean to the freshwater rivers of their birth. These creatures must swim so far upstream against not only changing currents, but at times hurdle small waterfalls, predators, and of course the ever-present anglers. This, truly, is one of the most remarkable mi-grations in the animal kingdom. For a southern fisherman like me, this phenomenon is something we may

only dream of experiencing.I have often reflected on the

possibility of tangling with a fish so rich in history and folklore. It is sheer joy to pursue a fish which has traveled so far against innumerable odds and unimaginable obstacles to reach its spawning grounds. To be the one element that this fish has, by attrition, naturally proven its self more resilient, cunning, and endear-ing than thousands of its counter-parts which failed to make it to the same point along the way, is the strongest point of pride I could de-rive from the experience of pulling such an impressive creature from the water.

The salmon run, however, is not the only impressive seasonal spawning migration of the sort. In

fact, there is another species of fish which, with equal intensity, makes its way from the oceans to our rivers to complete its natural cycle of life. Right under the nose of most South-eastern anglers is a fish few would consider worthy of consideration as a game species, yet which has all the credentials to be wholly considered a member of that category.

The American Shad is the largest species of herring in North America, growing up to two feet in length and six pounds. They can be found along the entire Atlantic Coast from Florida to Canada. They are an anadromous species, mean-ing they spend the majority of their life at sea and travel into freshwa-ter through rivers for their annual spawn run.








A M E R I C A N S H A D .The spawn run occurs in early

spring and can continue for about three months, during which time these fish will be the primary tar-get of an abundance of predatory species from saltwater to fresh as they travel in immense schools. In addition to the element of preda-tion, these fish must often navigate through a myriad of man-made tolls including dams, fish-lifts, and lake systems.

American Shad generally begin to appear around mid-March, when the larger females will be escorted by a number of males.

In South Carolina, shad fishing has become a very popular pastime, specifically along Berkeley Coun-ty’s Tail Race Canal below the Pi-nopolis Lock and Dam. Here, vying

for the ‘good spot’ is competitive, often motivating anglers to arrive before darkness yields to daylight, simply to line up along the shore-line.

Because these fish spawn dur-ing the night, the most active bite comes during the morning. Al-though the fish will continue to bite all day, there is a slowing down as the sun reaches its highest point. With a primary diet in zooplankton, micro-crustaceans, and small fish, anglers often experience great suc-cess using small artificial lures dur-ing the spawn.

Among the anglers along the South Carolina Tailrace Canal, the most popular method has been small lead head jigs with curly tail grubs attached. Many anglers will

tie several of these grubs onto their lines when the fish are very active; it is not unusual to catch more than one fish at a time.

Like their distant cousin, the Tarpon, American Shad put up an outstanding fight, making a series of acrobatic leaps and full breach aereal shows, much to the delight of any angler seeking a first-rate bat-tle. These fish travel primarily in the lower part of the water column, so baits and lures should accommodate accordingly, to avoid a top water pattern. Unlike salmon, shad retain the ability to digest and assimilate food during the anadromous migra-tion.

American Shad have a very tender mouth combined with a par-ticularly strong set of shoulders.




This presents a unique challenge to the angler who must demonstrate a high degree of finesse if he/she in-tends to successfully land the fish without having the lure lobbed back into his face. Light tackle is general-ly sufficient for these fish, although a large female can exceed six pounds and will fight with great vigor and seemingly endless stamina.

‘Nuff Said!

Why fish for shad? Aside from the fast action and sheer numbers of fish an angler can enjoy during the spawn run, the roe from a large female is considered a delicacy for many. The double sac which con-tains millions of tiny eggs can be cooked with a light dusting of flow-er to create a fine crust. With the additional of bacon, lemon, pepper and parsley, a fine feast ensues.

Shad roe is a low-calorie, high-cholesterol food, and is a highly popular dish in the Southeast; a va-riety of recipes are available online. Shad ‘meat’ is actually quite bony, but is high in omega 3 fatty acids and low in toxins. Aside from table fare, cut shad is popular bait for cat-fish anglers, particularly along the Santee Cooper River. Many serious catfish anglers are also serious shad fishermen during this opportune time to stock up on bait.

For an angler seeking simply to gain more knowledge and to be-come a more complete angler, the American Shad is a very attainable, yet formidable foe. It is a fish with unparalleled character and all the desired qualities to ensure an enjoy-able and challenging fishing experi-ence.







David Graham, of Greenville, South Carolina, has been a Fishing-Headquarters member and contributor since it’s beginning days in 2007. A 2010 graduate from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Graham’s passions in fishing are focused on the monster fish and lesser-desired species such as Alligator Gar, Longnose Gar, Blue Catfish, Buffalofish, and Grass Carp. His favorite fishing destinations are in the Southeastern United States, especially South Carolina and Arkansas. Graham currently frequents several online venues such as Roughfish.com, and Garfishing.com. In order to contact him, you may find him online at Facebook, or send e-mail to [email protected]

More articles by David Graham, focusing on monster fish adventures, will be published in our upcoming summer 2011 issues.






T R I B U T A R Y S T E E L H E A D S .

S T E E L H E A DS U C C E S S On

the F

ly!

By: Blake HamiltonFishing-Headquarters Contributor

Photograph by Blake Hamilton



On th

e Fly!

As winter slowly releases the Great Lakes region from its icy grip, it becomes apparent that spring is on its way. Snow melt, spring showers, and warmer temperatures cause local tributaries to swell. The quick influx of fresh water into the river system and rising water tem-peratures attract spawning fish by the hundreds (if not thousands) into the river systems.

Its steelhead season in South-east Wisconsin and thing are just about to heat up.

Spring is a high percentage time to find spawning steelhead in Lake Michigan’s tributaries. Three out of the four strains stocked in Lake Michigan spawn between late February and the end of May.

The Skamania and Chambers Creek strains enter the systems late in the previous year. Plenty of these fish will hold over through the winter in the rivers and will finally spawn the following spring. Ska-manias typically spawn first right around the end of the winter (late February) followed closely by the Chambers Creek in the early spring (between March and April). Mean-while, the Ganaraskas don’t enter the river until spring and they typi-cally are the last ones to drop their eggs, right around the end of the spring (April through May).

With so many fish moving into the river systems, Wisconsin truly is a fly fisherman’s paradise that offers anglers a chance to tangle with some big and strong lake run fish from the fall salmon run all the way through to the beginning of summer.

Fishing Conditions

Early March in Wisconsin

looks a lot like the winter season anywhere else. Freezing tempera-tures and chances for snow or rain are still highly possible. Anglers should be cognizant of the weather before heading out to fish.

There is so much more to con-sider than just the weather itself when is comes to steelheading.

Such factors are water clarity, water temperature, river height are important, but the current flow is by far the most critical of all.

Current flow can be described as the volume of water that is pass-ing through a given river per second. Increases in the flow act as a stimu-lators that draw in fresh fish in from the harbors and lake. When water levels are on the rise, steelhead be-come motivated to push further up river in search of acceptable spawn-ing gravel beds.

Early season snow melt is the first thing that impacts a river’s flow. Years with modest amounts of snow, expect to find the early flow much lower. Conversely, years with large snow melts expect the start-ing season flows to be much higher.

Spring is a high percentage time to find spawning steelhead in Lake Michigan’s tributaries. Pictured with a double are Tom Harris and Keith Jasch.

after the initial spike subsides, rain is the only thing left to influence “flow”. After a good rain the small rivers will peak quick and drop quick. The larger watersheds will take more time to rise and are slow-er to go back down.

The USGS monitors river dis-charge and river height. They pub-lish their information online in easy to read graphs. The water discharge is measured by CFS (cubic feet per second) and the height is measured

in feet. It’s important to first under-stand what a safe flow is for wad-ing and knowing at what level your river fishes best.

Once you understand gauge heights and all other numbers, tim-ing is the only thing standing in your way. Small rivers like the Pike River in Kenosha, Wisconsin fish best between 50-110 CFS. Medium rivers like the Root River in Racine, Wisconsin fish best between 100-220 CFS and larger rivers like the Milwaukee River in Milwaukee, Wisconsin fish best between 200 to



350 CFS. The USGS will give you the cur-

rent river flow in real time and will plot this information on the graph. Studying these graphs will help you to understand when fresh fish are moving into the rivers. They are key indicators to the beginning and end of spawning runs. The USGS will help you pattern fish based on flows without ever stepping foot out of the house. You will be quickly able to identify if the water is on the rise or the fall. Lastly, they will also save you some wasted time driving to a river when its blown out or running high and muddy.

Locations

Ever hear the saying that 10%

of the water holds 90% of the fish? This saying holds true here. But where do you start?

Deep Water, skinny water, slack water, fast water, pools, runs, riffles, bends and cuts will all hold fish, but breaking down an individ-ual river takes hours of exploration.

Rivers are best learned during those periods when river levels and flows are at their lowest. Getting in-timate with every high percentage spot will serve you well when the water is considerably higher. If you also fish for salmon in the fall it’s always good to pay special attention to where the salmon stack because come spring, steelhead will capi-talize on many of the same gravel beds.

Early in the season and after

big rain the deeper pools down and around the river mouth can be hot producers.

As fish have time to migrate and make their way through the river focus your attention to the best pools, runs and riffles. Any natural or man-made barriers are also in-stant hot spots. Lunker structures and undercut banks are fish mag-nets and will usually always have at least one fish tucked underneath. Pools around dams and beneath nat-ural rock barriers are areas where numerous fish will congregate at any given time. Areas where rivers contract create natural funnels and shouldn’t be over looked.

Once the females start to move on to their beds they are typically easy targets to spot and usually


Once the females start to move on to their beds they are typically easy targets to spot and usually very aggressive to any-thing swimming through their nest.



Photo courtesy, Thomas Harris

very aggressive to anything swim-ming through their nest. Slack wa-ter downstream for nesting females are good spots to find males wait-ing for to the chance to push up a mate. Sight fishing is a lot harder in the spring than it is in comparison to fall. Steelhead are much better at remaining hidden than Chinooks are. When conditions are super clear they feel exposed and threatened and will often hold under cover or in the deeper sections of the river. When rivers are stained, steelhead will feel more at ease in skinnier water situations.

My best suggestion for putting a pattern together is to stay mobile and switch flies often. We normally sight fish the best looking runs first and then slow down the pace to work the deeper slack water pools that are directly adjacent. If nothing happens right away, change up your fly pat-tern give yourself 10 more minutes. After that, make a new move.

It is common for us to be out for a half day and cover several miles of water in that time span. Just be-cause there was fish there yesterday speaks nothing for today. Fish are constantly moving throughout the river spurred on by the ever-fluctu-ating water levels. Once you estab-lish a pattern of both location and presentation it makes picking spots more efficient and a lot easier.


Purple Egg Sucking Leech



Clouds over Lake Michigan in January.


Presentation Picks

Streamers:

Streamers should be a main-stay in any steelhead angler’s fly box. Most are fished down and then across the current on what is called the “swing”. Typically, this would be done with a sinking line but can still be pulled off with the normal weight-forward floating line. The acceleration on the down swing is usually what triggers strikes from aggressive fish.

Streamers and wet flies are versatile and can also be stripped across the slack water pools, one of my favorite techniques, which sometimes results in the most ex-plosives strikes of all. Getting down the right cadence is important and most strikes come just after the first strip following a pause. Your rod will load up with pressure and many times the fish will be hooked just from the stripping action you im-parted on the fly.

If your box only has available room for one streamer, fill the space with an egg-sucking leech. The ESL is a Great Lakes favorite that has brought countless fish to net. Other favorites are wooly buggers, Alaska-boo’s, sculpins, speys, mud-dlers and any other baitfish or leech imitations.

The specific situations certain fly patterns should be used. The follow-ing flies should be in any steelhead angler’s arsenal.

Black Egg Sucking Leech

Black Wooly Bugger

Muddler Minnow

Egg Sucking Sculpin



Egg Patterns:

Egg patterns are top steel-head producers especially after the spawn begins. These fish are raven-ous predators when it comes to their own roe.

Egg patterns are fished on the drift and throwing mends into the line is important for keeping the drift slow and natural. Eggs are quite often seen fished under indica-tors normally weighted with some form of shot.

When fishing eggs, keep in mind that if you are not bump-ing the bottom you are not fishing deep enough. The strike on an egg fly isn’t vicious at all and steelhead are more likely to just sip the fly in. Your indicator will look very simi-lar as to when your just snagged on bottom. Don’t be shy and go ahead and give your line a rip. Various sizes, and colored eggs, quite often have a different effect on fish. Pop-ular eggs include glo-bugs, sucker spawn, yarn flies, and estaz eggs.

Glo Bug

Sucker Spawn

Nymphs:

Nymphs are often fished alone or as a dropper off the back of a streamer or an egg. They are fished in the same fashion as an egg pat-tern, mostly drifted under indicators with split shot to get the bait down to fish level.

Steelhead nymphs should look a lot like the nymphs commonly fished for trout. In fact, just upsize your hook size and almost all your trout nymphs can be converted to steelhead tackle. Favorites include hares ears, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, brassies, stones, and so forth.

Prince Nymph

Hare’s Ear

Spawn:

Spawn is often overlooked by fly fishing purists but I’m not one of those people anymore. The ef-fects of real trout eggs in the form of spawn sacs sometimes has a magi-

ical effect on fish. For instance, I was schooled

on the Root River last year by a good friend who switched over from drifting home made artificial eggs to the real thing. I recall look-ing at him and shaking my head in disgust. I wasn’t throwing spawn on the fly rod, so you have to be joking me!

I continued fishing my stream-er and chuckled to myself. On his first cast the spawn rolled through the same pool he had just worked for almost an hour prior with arti-ficials.

At the end of that drift he brought his arm up with the inten-tions of roll casting back to the top of the pool. Just as the bait came rocketing out of the water, so did an angry charging steelhead. This fish came clean out of the water after those eggs!

Unfortunately it was already too late. He had already pulled the bait away from the fish. The very next cast he made a deliberate slow-er presentation through the same pool throwing mends in the line to keep the spawn ticking on the bot-tom. This time it worked and he hooked and landed a real beauty of a steelhead.

He ended up going three-for-four on strikes after that, and it seemed like my sole purpose for the rest of the day was to assist in land-ing his fish.

Spawn is fished the same man-ner as an egg pattern. However, it is important to use a small bait holder or circle hook to penetrate the top of the spawn sac. Toss it to the top of the pool, and drift away. Spawn tends to excel in high water condi-tions and should never be an over-looked option.

Stone Nymph



T R I B U T A R Y S T E E L H E A D S .Weighty Issues

When trying to get flies down to the fish you will often find your-self in the position of needing some sort of split shot. In my opinion, the smaller the weight, the better.

Bass Pro Shops has a split shot called “clam shots” and they per-form as a great application in the fly fishing world. They are smaller than virtually any other split shot on the market and are perfect for present-ing just the right amount of weight. My advice is to add one split shot at a time until you find just the perfect amount.

Strike Indicators

Indicator is just another fancy word used by fly fishing cults to de-scribe bobbers.

Trust me I’ve tried them all. There are many different types and brands on the market. Some I like and some I dislike.

I really dislike the putty be-cause it doesn’t last for more then a few months before the whole jar starts to dry out. After it dries, it has the tendency to fly off on hook sets and snags. In addition, yarn in-dicators are fine for a few casts but become waterlogged and then begin to sink, thus negatively affecting the presentation. Also, the football shaped foam indicator with the rub-ber tubing in the middle comes off the line too easy. Far too often I’m watching them float downriver after popping of my line.

The indicators that work for me are the pinch on foam indicators that fold over the line. Their back-

side is a sticker which makes them easy to apply but hard to remove. These foam indicators keep a low profile in the water and buy far are the cheapest type.

Another indicator I like to em-ploy is the simple foam ball that is attached to the line with a tooth pick. These are easy to change out and are quite visible in the water. They come in different sizes and shapes and are also very cost effective.

Thingamabobbers are by far my favorite indicator and they are attached by looping it in the line. They wont ever pop off and are the most durable and easy to remove if needed, but are a bit more expensive in comparison with most other indi-cators.

Thingamabobbers

Rod and Reel Options

For somebody just starting to get into steelhead on the fly, I would recommend a very basic 8 weight, 9 foot rod. This is a very standard weight for steelhead and will have the backbone to do battle with some of the larger fish that you will come across as you venture out into the tributaries.

For beginners I suggest us-ing an all purpose weight forward floating line. This will be able to be converted to fish almost every situ-

ation. When purchasing a fly reel, it

isn’t necessary to look for an ex-pensive brand with a super smooth drag. In fly fishing the reel is there just to hold your fly line. The drag should be applied with just the palm of your hand placed on the spool of the reel.

Control Your Own Destiny

There is no doubt that a good day of steelhead fishing is having the opportunity of being able to hook one fish. Other days, you might go out and catch a half dozen.

From their sheer size, to their acrobatic jumps, throw in your own hand made lures into the mix and you might have just found the most rewarding fish to ever be caught on the fly.

Success will ensue when you have determined the right location for the conditions matched with proper presentation.

One thing for sure is that spring is just around the corner, and of course, you’re never going to catch one by sitting on your couch.

Blake Hamilton is a Fishing-Head-quarters blogger and contributor. He is an avid multi-species angler who lives on the Illinois/ Wisconsin border. In the Spring and Fall you will most likely find him wading in the tributaries fishing for steelhead, salmon, and brown trout.

You can reach Blake at his website, http://illinoiswisconsinfishing.blogspot.com/






















L I P L E S S C R A N K B A I T B A S S .


Photograph by Frank Weilnhammer


TRAPATTACKBASS

Rapala Clackin’ Rap

Catch Monster Bass This Spring Like You Have Never Before with Lipless Crankbaits.

By: Kenny LookingbillFishing-Headquarters Contributor

Regardless of what many people say, lipless crankbaits will have their shining moments at any point of the season. Occasionally I hear of some folks complain of how it’s an “idiot bait”, a technique that requires extremely long casts and quick retrieves, enabling you to catch easy fish by covering water.

Unlike these folks, I beg to dif-

fer. Lipless crankbaits play a huge role in my early season fishing.

During the end of March last year, I experienced a bitterly cold day of fishing. A dusting of snow-fall was covering the ground as a re-sult of an overnight front that came in. To make the situation seem even worse, air temperatures were about 20 degrees below seasonal average, and water temperatures were barely breaking 30 degrees, all because of this massive cold front.

On this particular early spring day, I had nothing but fishing sched-uled in my plans for the late after-noon.

My fishing partner and I de-cided to head over to the small lake in town. This particular place had been worthwhile for us during the previous weeks since ice-out. Our plan was to fish a weedy flat near the main channel. I decided to ap-proach this day a little differently than a lot of people would approach

this day a little differently than a lot of people would approach a post-frontal outing. Most people would fish VERY slowly. I, on the other hand, wanted to cover water and find a couple of aggressive fish be-cause I didn’t have a large amount of time to fish it thoroughly.

As we began fishing, I was immediately regretting my deci-sion coming here. During the first ten minutes of uncomfortable cast-ing, my hands were freezing from palming my Quantum Tour Edition TE1160 PT bait-casting reel.

Skeptical of our efforts, and my lack of success while fishing during post-frontal conditions, I had a feeling that we were going to catch nothing, and our day of trying to fish would be a waste of time.




Following our half an hour of futility, I was in the process of sug-gesting to my partner that we con-clude this outing sometime soon. Then suddenly, my fortunes changed and all hell broke loose for us.

Out of nowhere I encountered a subtle bump on my Yo Zuri Rat-tlin’ Vibe. This completely caught my off guard. I set the hook and sure enough I had a fish on. I immediate-ly knew it was a “biggun” because of its weight. When it was played in and lipped, I was in shock. I knew right away that it was the biggest bass of my life.

Final measurements were tak-en. The big bass was 23 inches, and estimated to be around 7 lbs. Pic-tures were taken and the fish was

Reaction Strikes Back

Quite often, I get asked the following questions from anglers; “What is the reason behind bass ag-gressively attacking rattle baits?”

When females are nesting and preparing to spawn, anything that intrudes their nest will be aggres-



As opposed to other methods that work well during early season situations, I enjoy fishing with lipless crankbaits because you can cover a lot more water, present your lure in diverse casting angles, and can quickly find more fish.

released to fight another day. After this fish, we continued to fish, but could not entice anything else. Vic-timized by the cold, and my lucky catch, we retired as happy anglers for the day.

This forever would cement my confidence in fishing with lipless crankbaits during cold weather pe-riods and post-frontal conditions.


sively attacked. It’s in the nature of almost all egg-laden fish spe-cies. The fish may not necessarily be hitting out of hunger, but more out of a reactionary parental instinct because of the mentality to protect their nest.

Any strike like this that isn’t influenced by hunger is called a re-action strike. There are many ways to trigger reaction strikes at any time of the year. Examples are bounc-ing crankbaits off structure such as rocks and wood. In addition, vary-ing your speeds of retrieve also lead to a plethora of strikes.

When fishing lipless crank-baits, I tend to use a variety of re-trieves. My preference is burning them, with the combination of giv-ing them erratic jerks and pauses. Many times I have gotten a strike following a pause on the first crank of the reel.

Plan-B Options

Lipless crankbaits will catch fish 95% of the time. When they don’t, I have back-up options.

Besides rattle baits, there are other fine lure selections that can be used in the springtime, most nota-bly jig & pigs, and jerkbaits. These often serve as my backup plan if lip-less crankbaits aren’t on the fishes menu.

Jig & pigs are most effective for me during the first few weeks of spring, immediately after ice out.

The bass at this time are in the process of working their way out of their winter doldrums. During their sluggish movements, it is impera-tive that a slow approach be used. Early in the season, I prefer using red or brown colored jigs with craw trailers because one of the first main forages of a bass is crayfish. Hop-ping a jig along the bottom at a very Fishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 � Fishing-Headquarters | Page 62


This egg-filled bass was 23 inches, and estimated to be around 7 lbs. Pictures were taken and the fish was released to fight another day. This is Lookingbill’s largest bass to date.


L I P L E S S C R A N K B A I T B A S S .slow pace will replicate a crayfish crawling on the bottom. I prefer using downsized versions such as Strike Kings Bitsy Bugs and Booyah Baby Boo jigs.

In addition to the much slower fishing presentations dictated by the jig and pig, jerkbaits also prove their effectiveness during slow days of fishing.

As the spring season pro-gresses towards a warmer summer, jerkbaits are an excellent option for post-frontal conditions and es-pecially in situations when the fish are flat-out active. The key to fish-ing jerkbaits at this time of year is to keep the retrieve slow and deliber-ate. The retrieves should consist of erratic jerks and very long pauses, sometimes even a ten second count is necessary between any continued movements.

My favorite jerkbaits include Storm Thundersticks and the Ra-pala X-Rap 8 and 10. Color choices are not all that important to me. Just remember the basic color rules in respect to water clarity, like using darker colored lures in murky water, and so forth.

Trap Attack

Due to the power fishing men-tality that I have, I will always re-main sensitive to the lipless crank-bait because I enjoy its fast paced fishing, and rapid casting mode.

As opposed to other methods that work well during early season situations, I enjoy fishing with lip-less crankbaits in particular because you can cover a lot more water, present your lure in diverse casting

Yo-Zuri Vibe




angles, and can quickly find more fish and get them to strike out of an-noyance of the rattling lure.

Through my experiences of early season fishing, the prime wa-ter temperatures for fishing with lip-less crankbaits are between 45-55 degrees.

I usually begin the season first by targeting smaller bodies of water such small lakes and ponds, or plac-es that receive a lot of overland and tile drainage because these are the places that warm up the quickest. In addition, I also focus often on areas such as northern most shorelines that are baked by direct sunlight.

On any body of water, whether on ponds or big lakes, the general rule of thumb is to find shallow-er water adjacent to deeper water where the females will come out of to begin the spawning process. They will often be sunning in shallow wa-ter or by other structures that attract heat. These areas, specifically, can include rocks, wood debris, emerg-ing weedgrowth, and sand.

As far as color choices are concerned, I like to keep most lip-less crankbait selections limited to any sort of red or orange color. The reasoning for this is that one of the main early season forages of bass is crayfish, as they are abundant, and get set to spawn themselves. In ad-dition to the reds and oranges, a lot of other color options work well such as firetiger. Also worth noting is that if fishing in clear water situ-ations, it is important to match the hatch and pay attention to the pat-terns of the available pelagic forage species.

When fishing with lipless crankbaits, or making your selec-tions on which brands, models, and styles to use, the most important factor is determining how noisy and effective the internal rattles are. My

Strike King Redeye Shad


Spro Aruku Shad

Cotton Cordell Super SpotFishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 � Fishing-Headquarters | Page 64



rule is the louder the vibration, the better.

Many of these lipless crank-baits are expensive for their designs and styles. However, they are defi-nitely worth using. My favorites include the Yo Zuri Rattlin’ Vibes and the Spro Aruku Shads. Besides these two, other cost-effective op-tions are available, and these work just as well. Some examples are the following: Bill Lewis Rattletraps; Strike King Redeye Shads; and Cot-ton Cordell Super Spots.

To fish effectively with rattle baits, I use the Quantum Tour Edi-tion TE1160 line of reels with the 6.3:1 gear ratio. The mid-range gear ratio seems to work best for me because I do not want to move the rattletrap too fast. That is my overall

preference, but sometimes a faster gear ratio greater than 7.0:1 such as the blazing fast Quantum Tour TKVD150HPT is required if you really want to make the lure move and get the fish to bite when nothing else can.

As far as rod lengths and ac-tions are concerned for fishing with rattle baits, most anglers prefer using medium to medium-heavy action rods. I prefer using a 7 foot medium heavy rod for this type of fishing so that I can make long casts. In addi-tion, the long rods help for stronger hook sets I as get to the backbone of the rod quicker. It helps to have as strong as a rod possible to bring in the big female bass that are full of energy from heavy feeding to meet the energy requirements for spaw-

ing. For any rattle bait rod and reel

combo, I like to use 30 lb. braided superline such as Power Pro, Spider-wire Stealth, or Sufix Fusion. These superlines enable anglers to make long, smooth casts and gives more leverage when fighting fish and not having to worry about a break off. Besides braided line options, copo-lymers and 10lb fluorocarbon will work when needed.

Like a number of anglers who began fishing with lipless crank-baits, I was skeptical of the benefits that can be had from triggering reac-tion strikes. After long hours of trial and error, I progressively gained confidence in them and feel as if I can catch fish no matter the situa-tions being presented.



On any body of water, whether on ponds or big lakes, the general rule of thumb is to find shallower water adjacent to deeper water where the females will come out of to begin the spawning process.




Regardless of what many people say, lipless crankbaits will have their shin-ing moments at any point of the sea-son. On occasion, I hear of some folks complain of how it’s an “idiot bait”, a technique that requires extremely long casts and quick retrieves that enables you to catch easy fish by covering wa-ter. Unlike some folks, I beg to differ. Lipless crankbaits play a huge role in my early season fishing.










“During your early season big bass hunts, keep angler ethics a high priority. Practice catch, photo, and release on those big females to en-sure they can be back in the water, guarding their eggs from nest raiders.”







B A C K W A T E R N O R T H E R N P I K E .

Get Dirty With Backwater Pike




By: Andrew RagasEditor In-Chief [email protected]

As winter draws to a con-clusion, the days before us gradu-ally turn warmer and longer. When air temperatures increase, creating snow-melt, large trickles of water meander into creeks, streams, and rivers.

When this process occurs, riv-er shorelines and backwaters finally become accessible again to open water angling. In consequence, this changing of seasons enables us to pursue northern pike, the water wolf of all river systems.

The spawning behavior of pike is first observed as ice retreats from the banks of rivers and creek arms. During these days of early spring, sunlight penetration becomes criti-cal in awakening fish, thus leading them into the fertile vegetated shal-lows of newly-filled river back-waters, side channels, and ditches to seek out ideal habitat for laying eggs.

In comparison to other game-fish species, pike spawn in very cool water, immediately following ice-out. They are often the first spe-cies to spawn in most major river systems, preferring the temperature ranges of 35 to 45 degrees. During the spawning process, females will deposit as many as 100,000 eggs at random in shallow dense habi-tat they find to be most suitable for rearing their fry.

The scent of spring seeping into the river system appears to trig-ger the necessary response for an-glers that the pike spawn is quickly approaching. At this time, the stage is now set for some of the biggest

fish of the year to be highly concen-trated and eager to feed.

For many anglers, the best lo-cations to hunt down both numbers and sizes of northern pike are the shallow backwaters. If fishing large and deep river systems or flowages for example, boat access should be used. However, in my region where the river systems are shallow, small to mid-size, and require some stealth stalking, the only necessary means for travel are a set of comfortable waders.

In my mind, there is no better way of fishing for pike in rivers than to get down and dirty in the muddy backwaters with them.

Backwaters are ideal places to target pike during the spawn, and even for a period of several weeks after the spawn. These shallow sec-ondary off-channel river habitats serve as overwintering areas, pro-viding pike refuge from current as well as offering water temperatures that can be a few degrees warmer than the main river channel.

Shallow backwaters may not

In comparison to other gamefish species, pike spawn in very cool water, immediately following ice-out.




serve as year round wintering habi-tat, but pike seek them out most fre-quently for spawning purposes as they contain an abundance of ideal habitat. Prime habitat for success-ful pike spawning has proven to be newly flooded brush and vegetation. Cattail bays and marsh usually hold fish, but dense grass with nearby wood cover provides better spawn-ing habitat and efficiently isolates eggs from predation.

Another important factor to keep in mind for backwaters is the amount of penetrating sunlight. Shallows that are baked by sunlight

heat the fastest. If you can find a run of key shallow spots adjacent to deep water and the channel en-trances, there is a good chance that you will find some of the biggest pike available in the river. When you locate potential key areas like this where pike are staging, there’s going to be different pike moving in and out of the area all day long.

For these same reasons, back-waters also attract other fish species pike feed on such as minnows, creek chubs, bluegills, suckers and large invertebrates including leeches. As water temperatures climb during

the spawning period weeks, these forage species will also be active, attracted to the warmer water tem-peratures and habitat.

Based on most early season adventures, past experiences indi-cate that a mid to late afternoon out-ing is the standard procedure during this type of early season angling. If locating productive water, scout-ing your locations during the early mornings and the hours leading up to your fishing pays huge dividends in angling productivity.

Before making your way over to the river, my suggestions are to

This illustration is indicative of what some of the best and most productive backwaters encompass. During spawn, pike focus their locations on the heaviest vegetation they can find. Healthy habitats will feature numerous spawning fish. Each fish pictured on assumed location represents a spawning pair. In addition, staging fish can be found just about anywhere.




In my mind, there is no better way of fishing for pike in rivers than to get down and dirty in the muddy back-waters with them. Backwaters are ideal places to target pike during the spawn, and even for a period of several weeks after the spawn.

Pictured are Dan Sims and Mark Matejka, cutting through thick marshland in early March, in order to reach pike in the river backwaters.



first map out several good looking bays and creek arms through Google Earth, and BING satellite image software. These free programs are highly detailed in which you can sometimes notice depth changes, weed beds, laydowns, and shallow cover without even having to see the water for yourself.

Not only will you locate po-tential fishing spots by being a spy with satellite images, but you will also find your access areas to them.

In addition, information ex-change via messaging and word of mouth is critical. Consulting and comparing notes with fellow river rats will oftentimes lead to gains in your own personal information such as possible spawning loca-tions, fish movements, hot lures, and the moods of fish. Beforehand research like this will tremendously minimize your time in scouting and locating access areas, thus leaving you with more time to catch fish.

Compared to the main river channels, which will possess poor

clarity at this time (especially in high water conditions), backwaters are often clearer, and excellent wa-ter filters due to being heavily vege-tated. Since pike rely on their vision for feeding, presentations that add a visual attraction are top producers.

Once you have your backwa-ters located, and have confirmation that fish are present, it’s time to go to work.

Compared to the main river channels, which will possess poor clarity at this time (especially in high water conditions), backwaters are often clearer, and excellent wa-ter filters due to being heavily vege-tated. Since pike rely on their vision for feeding, presentations that add a visual attraction are top producers.

Many times, anglers often use big baits in order to catch the big-gest fish available. In late summer into deep fall the big bait factor will hold true, but for early season not so much. Still, throwing large offer-ings does not always result in more strikes throughout the day. Using

small to medium size lures will yield a lot of bigger fish by catching more fish overall. The big ones you end up catching will result as a function of percentages in the process.

In early season fishing situ-ations like this, pike are generally lethargic and finicky around the spawn period, and even during pe-riods of heavy angling pressure. These variables affect your tradi-tional lure selections for catching pike. Since the fish may be running hot (if unpressured and unmolested) or cold (if pressured or during post-frontal), it is important to bring a di-verse selection of baits.

When wading, I often carry a backpack with a utility box with a variety of lures and mandatory lead-er material.

Spinnerbaits

Incorporating that bigger vs. smaller lure debate in catching more fish, traditional bass spinnerbaits between the sizes of 3/8 oz. to 3/4


For many anglers, the best locations to hunt down both numbers and sizes of northern pike are the shallow backwaters. In my region where the river systems are shallow, small to mid-size, and require some stealth stalking, the only necessary means for access are a set of comfortable waders.


oz. excel for fishing along weed edges, and in extremely tight quar-ters to marshy shoreline cover where fish might be dropping eggs. In situations in which other lure op-tions might get snagged in shallow cover, spinnerbaits avoid it.

One of my favorite spinner-baits to use for pike is Northland’s Reed Runner in black with orange willow blade, and chartreuse/white with gold willow blade. In addition, Terminator’s T2 spinnerbaits work well, and hold up better because they are made from flexible titanium.

Trailer hooks aren’t required additions for your spinnerbaits un-less experiencing a myriad of short strikes and missed fish. However, if used, your chances of having a tremendous weedless presentation diminish.

Lastly, it is mandatory for me to fish my spinnerbaits for pike with the addition of a plastic trailer. One of my absolute favorites is the 5 inch Stankx Thug Grub. Its extra-large profile tail adds to the effectiveness of the swimming spinnerbait pre-sentation. Fishing-Headquarters.com | March / April, 2011 � Fishing-Headquarters | Page 78

Northland Reed Runner

Terminator T2 Series




B A C K W A T E R N O R T H E R N P I K E .Bucktails and Inline Spinners

I seldom fish with anything larger than a size 6 blade during the early season – this even holds true for fishing muskies up north. The largest lures I will use in these situations are Mepps Musky Killers. However, pike that fall victims to angling pressure grow accustomed to seeing these all the time, plus the larger profiles and treble hooks have trouble staying weed-free. In high pressure angling situations, down-sizing proves valuable.

Downsizing lures will make a big difference. #4 or #5 Mepps inline spinners are valuable when fish are running hot. In addition, the new-comers, Sims Spinners, have been exceptionally effective with their #5 single and double bladed models.In comparison with other blades such as willow styles, Colorado blades excel in running high through the water column, bulging beneath the surface. Sims specializes in creat-ing custom tails and blades so that your lures can match all angling situations. Some of my favorite all-around pike combinations are single bladed such as black tail with orange blade, white tail with red blade, and chartreuse with black blade.

Sims Spinner #5 Single Bladewww.sims-spinners.com

Mepps Musky Killers



Rattlebaits

Rattlebaits tend to be over-looked by a vast majority of pike anglers. They are class of lures that you come across in most bass fishermen’s tackle boxes. However, in some situations, especially when fishing rivers with an abundant shad and shiner population, rattlebaits are dangerous.

With a cast and burn retrieve so that bottom contact is avoided, these noisy lures excel at tempting fish on pressured waters and during post-frontal conditions. In addition, they excel when fished in deeper pools within the backwater and around its outlets leading back out to the main river channel because the most ac-tive fish will be staging in this area, and infiltrating in and out.

When visual-related presenta-tions fail, rattlebaits are a premium choice for when sound and vibration is needed. Some of my favorites are 5/8 oz. Rapala Clackin Raps, and 3/8 oz. Rattlin’ Rapala.

Jig and Plastic

When pike are so lethargic to the point that you cannot catch them on anything else, jigs with big plas-tic trailers will grab their attention.

Traditional 1/2 oz. to 3/8 oz. bass jigs work well under a leader. If weedless jigs aren’t in your bag of tricks, 3/8 oz. jig heads tipped with a 5 inch grub can catch several fish.

As far as models are concerned, Northland Jungle Jigs are my favor-ite due to their compact profile and thick brush guard. Nowadays, I fish all of my pike jigs with a Stankx 5 inch thug grub. I have found that black is the best universal color be-cause it works in any type of clar-ity, and makes your jig look like it is running with a giant juicy leech.


Rattlin’ Rapala

Northland Jungle Jigs



B A C K W A T E R N O R T H E R N P I K E .Jerkbaits

My favorites are slashbaits like the Rapala X-Rap 10. These lures give anglers the option to pause the bait at the right time, especially if fish might be lethargically trail-ing you. There is something to say about suspending baits that drive pike crazy, enough to make them strike with force.

Chatterbaits

My favorite is the Strike King Poison. Fished in ½ oz., these skirt-ed jigs with an independently mov-ing metal lip attached to the jig head are quite possibly one of the most versatile shallow-water pike catch-ing machines I have ever used. The key is how well they can deflect off of vegetation.

The blade does all the work for you by creating all the noise and vi-bration needed to get the attention of pike. Note – always tip with a trailer.

Weedless Spoons

Spoons are options that I sel-dom use because they have the per-ception of being so old-school, and oftentimes I forget that I even have them in my box. Based on popular pike culture, the ¾ oz. Johnson Sil-ver Minnow tipped with a 3 inch plastic grub trailer is a longtime fa-vorite that keeps on producing year after year.

If more flair is needed, and re-quested by fish, I also suggest giv-ing Northland Jawbreaker Spoons a whirl.

Rapala X-Rap 10

Strike King Poison

Johnson Silver Minnow




On certain river systems where pike aren’t managed as thoroughly as they should be, it is extremely important to fish with your head on straight. The most important aspect about this style of fishing is releasing pre-spawn fish so they fulfill their life cycle of producing the next genera-tion of backwater inhabitants for eager and adventurous anglers to enjoy.




Plastic Minnows

Sometimes, plastic tails aren’t meant to be served as trailers for jigs and spinnerbaits.

A new concept for me is catch-ing pike on weightless jerkbaits. Twitch and glide plastics like the new Stankx 5 inch Flukez Minnow have a similar suspending charac-teristic to a naturally bouyant min-

now as it can be cast, then jerk-ed andpaused several times until brought in.

Fished weedless with hook ‘texposed’ and weightless on a size 2/0 EWG hook (with leader manda-tory), they can be worked anywhere in the water column, and easily out-perform everything else on days when fish are lazy and lethargic.

Gearing Up

For shore stalking backwater pike, proper gear is a must-have, especially because you are dealing with a species of fish that requires being in good health following re-lease. With egg-bearing females, this becomes critical.

A good all-around multi-pur-pose outfit for me is a 6 and a half to

Stankx Bait Co. Flukez www.stankxbaitco.com

Backwaters are ideal places to target pike during the spawn, and even for a period of several weeks after the spawn. These shallow secondary off-channel river habitats serve as overwintering areas, providing pike refuge from current as well as of-fering water temperatures that can be a few degrees warmer than the main river channel.



Photo courtesy, Jim Gronaw.

7 and a half foot medium heavy ac-tion casting rod with a reel spooled with 40lb braided superline. In particular, I enjoy fishing my 6 ft. 6 inch medium heavy Quantum Tour Edition PT with burner model Quantum Accurist PT. In addition, in situations when I know monster fish are likely to be caught, I beef my rig up to a 7 and a half foot me-dium heavy Quantum Blue Runner, a light saltwater rod. I pair it with a Quantum Cabo 30PT with 50lb braided superline.

I prefer using shorter rods in comparison to longer models be-cause I often find myself in situa-tions where I need to make awk-ward casts through flooded trees and brush. In addition, when pitching becomes necessary, I can maneuver through shallow water much easier when longer rods might prevent it from happening.

Besides baitcasting options, heavier spinning tackle becomes an option, especially if you intend on fishing with finesse and utilizing live bait and dead-bait techniques

beneath a float. Personally, I have yet to touch a spinning rod when in pursuit of backwater pike. How-ever, I have friends who fish with 7 and 7 and a half foot, medium heavy action rods, and do very well with them.

When fishing for spawning pike this spring, angler ethics is a critical issue that will be encoun-tered. Often, rapid decisions will be made for which fish to keep, whether or not you should trespass on someone’s land in order to reach the fish, or if a specific location is to be posted for others to know your whereabouts.

As conservative anglers, we must choose well for our own sake, and the vulnerable fish species that are being pursued for own recre-ational purposes.

Catching spawning pike is nothing different in comparison to catching other nesting species of fish. The only noticeable difference is in the way you are in pursuit of the quarry. Wading backwaters on small to mid size river systems is

one of the most unique and adven-turous ways I have successfully caught fish.

Like most other spawning grounds for pike, river backwaters are ecologically sensitive areas that have capabilities of rearing dozens of vulnerable fish at a time. Despite their large population densities in small isolated areas, they will not fare well when facing pressure, and even angler harvest.

On certain river systems where pike aren’t managed as thoroughly as they should be, it is extremely important to fish with your head on straight. The most important aspect about this style of fishing is releas-ing pre-spawn fish so they fulfill their life cycle of producing the next generation of backwater inhabitants for eager and adventurous anglers to enjoy.

Locate the areas as I have de-scribed for you, and you will cer-tainly get dirty in the backwaters at some point this spring.





Photograph by David Mannion

Pictured is Dan Sims with a pre-spawn staging fish caught during March, 2010. It is worth noting that if backwa-ters are not producing or showing signs of fish, the main river channel near its inlets and outlets are worth a few casts. This 30 inch pre-spawn female struck a Rapala X-Rap 10.



Photograph by Dan Sims

Trekking through thick jungle and swampy terrain is not suited for the lazy and weak. Gear yourselves properly to endure the elements. Once you reach your hard to access river backwaters, the rewards will be well-deserved and hard-earned. In the end, it’s always about the adventure.


Photo courtesy, Jim Gronaw. www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/


I L L I N O I S R I V E R S A U G E R .

Spring SaugerOn The Illinois River.

Photo courtesy Illinois State Parks



By: Roy VivianFishing-Headquarters Contributor

The short and cold days of winter are giving way to the warmer and longer days of spring. That can mean only one thing, it is sauger time! From a recreational and tour-nament angling standpoint there is no better place to catch sauger in March and April than the Illinois River.

The largest population of sau-ger on the Illinois River is in the Starved Rock pool. The key to suc-cess in this section, and any other sections of the river, is understand-ing and adapting to the ever chang-ing river water levels.

Each day before fishing, I check the water levels at the Nation-al Weather Service Forecast website for Central Illinois. Here I can find out whether or not the river is going up or down in addition to predicted future levels. High water is not bad to deal with. However, high water that is dirty with ‘chocolate milk’ clarity is not so good.

In addition to water levels, I check the weather to see if rain is on the way. Measurable rain in the LaSalle/Peru area isn’t necessar-ily a bad thing. However, measur-able rain in Chicago usually is a bad thing as the runoff will eventu-ally flow downstream from the Des

Plaines and Kankakee River water-sheds into the Illinois River system. As a result, water clarity will be muddy. The good news is if the rain is isolated only in the Chicago area it usually takes a few days to make it down the river.

Finally, the last thing I will do is call a local bait shop such our friends at Time on the Water Out-doors, to find out the visibility of the river.

With all of these steps finally taken cared of, you can finally get on the water and start adapting to the river conditions.

If the river is muddy, regard-less of river levels, the first thing I look for is the cleanest water in the system. An improvement as slight as an inch of visibility can make a huge difference in the productivity of fishing.

I caught this 4.36 lb. sauger at the 2009 Illinois River MWC event It was the third biggest fish of the day and won us some cashola! Photo courtesy Julia Davis, Walleye Central




Locating cleaner water can be impossible but there are some things to look for. The first places I check are feeder streams and creeks. Sometimes it is the feeder stream that is pumping in muddy water like the Vermillion or Little Vermillion River. Other times it is the opposite; those rivers are pumping in clean, emerald color, water. If the water is high and muddy, but dropping, the cleanest water will usually be clos-est to the Starved Rock dam. Other places to look are at the mouth of the backwater lakes and outlets from dams holding back water.

In 2007, the day before the MWC tournament, the river was muddy and rising, well on it’s way to record flood levels. The visibility in areas where I was catching fish had diminished to near zero and I

could not get a bite. I finally found a creek that was pumping in clean water. I slid in there with my troll-ing motor, dropped my jig and plas-tic down, jigged it once and caught a 2.5 lb. sauger. Shortly after, my partner caught another one that was 3 pounds. We then concluded, think-ing that we had found the secret spot. By the time we reached the same lo-cation the next day, there were 30 boats in this small area and the clean water was all gone as the dirty river water backed up the creek.

Of 200 boats participating in the tournament, there were only 4 fish caught and none of them were anywhere near the mouth of that creek!

If water levels are high I will search for current breaks closer to shore in the 12 to 14 foot range.

Don’t be afraid to fish shallower though as I have often found big sauger in the 6 to 10 foot, range and in some cases in as little as 2 feet.

Higher water will usually con-centrate fish on those current seams. Therefore if you catch one, make sure you cover that area thoroughly. If water level is stable, or dropping, sauger will often spread themselves out into the main channel and can be caught in the 16 to 20 foot range.

My favorite way to catch Illi-nois River sauger is to slip the river with a jig and plastic combination. Some of my favorites are Hutch’s Ringworms, Paddle Tails, and Berk-ley GULP!

I was once told that plastics don’t work on the Illinois River. I can assure you that is far beyond from being the truth. Sometimes

Photograph by Roy Vivian

Usually the best spots to catch sauger in the spring are in areas where there is a hard bottom. Sauger are curious fish and I think this continuous “pounding” of the jig draws them in.



the fish may prefer a live minnow in opposition of a plastic. When this holds true, I usually have my partner use a live bait jig with a minnow to see which one the fish prefer most.

I like to use the heaviest jig I can get away with, which is usually a 1/2 oz. Hutch River Jig. Mean-while if I am using minnows, I use a 1/2 oz. Do-It live bait jig that I make myself.

In regard to jigs, it is important to note that the heavier jig reaches the river bottom faster. With heavier jigs, it is easier to keep your pre-sentation vertical and allows you to jig more aggressively. Most im-portantly, a 1/2 oz. jig allows you to “pound” the bottom.

Usually the best spots to catch sauger in the spring are in areas where there is a hard bottom. Sau-ger are curious fish and I think this continuous “pounding” draws them in. Sauger are also very aggressive and have no problem sucking into their mouths a 1/2 oz. jig. The best places to jig are on a current seam and sharp breaks that follow the shoreline’s contour. Many times the fish will be holding tight to these areas, making a vertical jigging pre-sentation very effective.

If I am preparing for a tour-nament, which I will be on the last week of March, I will jig and also try other tactics.

A great place to catch sauger during spring are on the flats, which are areas with little change in depth. Flats are usually located on long, straight stretches of the river. The river bottom of the best areas usual-ly possess hard bottom composition and are often featureless with the exception of humps that are caused by passing barges. The fish are usu-ally spread out making jigging a little more difficult. For these fish the most productive way to catch

Photo courtesy Illinois State Parks

The largest population of sauger on the Illinois River is in the Starved Rock pool. The key to success in this section, and any other sections of the river, is understanding and adapting to the ever changing river water levels.




them is to hand line, pole line, troll lead core or use heavy weights on a three way swivel presentation. You can also use a 3 way swivel with the dropper line being a 1-2 oz. jig tipped with a plastic and a hook or a Phelps floater on the other line. I prefer to use the latter method on current seams, distinct breaks and spots rather than on the flats because I can’t cover as much water.

The key advantage of these tactics is you can cover more water by trolling upstream in an S pattern in comparison to a straight line that is needed to vertical jig. The S pat-tern also helps trigger fish as the bait speeds up or slows down and pauses. An experienced boat operator can also increase the odds by “sliding” across the current which keeps the stick baits in front of the fish longer

giving them a greater opportunity to eat the bait. In areas where barges have created humps the heavier weights used in these presentations keep the baits in the strike zone lon-ger than with jigging.

Many trollers use smaller, Ra-pala style stick baits that are number 5’s or 7’s. I prefer to use number 9’s and sometimes 11’s. If you think a number 9 or 11 is too big your con-cern will go away when you catch a sauger that is smaller than your bait!

The Illinois River isn’t a glam-orous river. In fact, the locals call it a ditch, probably because it is dredged out to allow for barge traf-fic among other things. However, it is a resilient river full of history. You can catch fish right next to a barge loading coal or next to a beautiful,

historical landmark like Starved Rock.

Either way the Illinois River is full of sauger. If you keep an eye on river levels and adapt accordingly, then you are sure to catch your share of sauger! If you happen to encoun-ter a Lund 1975 Pro V with a 225 Verado sometime this spring, stop me on the water and say hello!

Roy Vivian is a tournament walleye angler from Madison, Wisconsin. In 2008, he finished in 11th place at the Illinois River MWC event, and took third place in 2009. He is presently on the pro-staff of Lund Boats, Mer-cury Motors, EZEE Steps, Do-It Molds and Shimano rods and reels.

Read more at Roy’s blog:

fishing-headquarters.com/royvivian/

Photo courtesy Julia Davis, Walleye Central

Pictured is Kevin Dahl, of Muskego, Wisconsin. His 25.55 weight earned him and partner, Steve Stack, a first place finish at the Illinois River MWC event in March, 2010.



Photo courtesy Julia Davis, Walleye Central



T A C K L E L O G I C

LET’STALKJIGS.

By: Bryan BlazekFishing-Headquarters Contributor

A bass jig is a fish catch-ing tool that can be used in a variety of situations. Some anglers will ar-

gue that the jig is perhaps the most versatile lure available to the mod-ern angler. Advances in braided line have enabled the modern angler to fish structure and slop much more effectively than ever before.

Jigs are the perfect tools used in order to get into cover and mimic natural forage. A jig can be hopped back along the bottom, dragged at a snails pace, stroked, or swam at various depths imitating bait fish or frogs.

This highlights perhaps my favorite and most effective way of fishing a jig, with a bulky skirt and craw trailer, swam as a subsurface frog.

pecially love jigs. Many tours have been won with this lure, and the market is saturated with every color, size, and shape of bass jigs- some costing upwards of five dollars apiece.

Now I am not disputing that some of the premium jigs on the market are not excellent products, but it is hard to justify spending five dollars on a lure that you are inten-tionally going to throw into a tree.

Furthermore, the problem I have found is that halfway into the season, many tackle shops start to run out of all the colors I like. (I guess someone else is using my se-cret lure...)



My favorite jig is being demonstrated for creation. I call this the “Bama Bug”.

From an appearance stand-point, most of all of the major tack-le manufacturers still fall short in one specific area; they do not offer flash on their jigs. Flash is great for imitating bait fish, or giving a little something extra for stained water applications. This is the primary reason I started tying my own jigs, I wanted to add flash, and I had to take the skirts apart in to do this.

Before I get too far into this, I’d like to add the disclaimer that I am not manufacturing jig heads my-self. I have personally come across an eBay merchant who sells me all the jigs I need for about fifty cents apiece. It saves me the hassle of having to melt lead, buy molds, and so forth. Furthermore, I like to spoil myself with a package of premium jig heads from one of the big manu-facturers every once in a while, as variations such as the Grass Bomb are not available in any of the com-mercially available molds.

This leads us into what we will need to source for our little project. First, you will need an assortment of jig heads, a common vise, a proper fly tying bobbin, a spool with some Power-Pro or similar braided line remnants, clear nail polish, jig rat-tles, a package of premium rainbow flashabou, and skirting material.

At this point, you can finally get creative.

Imagine all of the colors that have worked for you in past fishing experiences, and think of what you are trying to emulate with your bait. Is it a crayfish dancing in the rocks, or frightened bait fish scurrying just under the surface?

There are several options for skirt material such as living rubber, silicone, and round rubber, the last of which is often overlooked but very

First we are going to need to wind up an empty spool with some remnants of your favorite braid. I stumbled on this idea one day when I ran out of thread.

Next you are going to need some freshly painted powder-coated jig heads. Color selections are endless, but I suggest purchasing black, brown, or green.



T A C K L E L O G I C effective. It may cost a few bucks to get everything together, but when you have all of your supplies, you will be able to turn out custom bass jigs for a little over a dollar apiece, five minutes before you leave to go fishing. A hand tied jig will last lon-ger, with fewer adjustments, giving you more time concentrate on fish-ing. When your friends and fellow anglers see these flashy new jigs, they will want to take you on trips on their boats, let you stay at their cabins, or even share their wives to get their hands on one of your cus-tom lures.

First we are going to need to wind up an empty spool with some remnants of your favorite braid. I stumbled on this idea one day when I ran out of thread. I really like utilizing this braid alternative as opposed to rubber wrap or small thread because it allows me to make up to twenty-five wraps instead of many more with thread. It will also allow us to do something cool with the rattle later.

Next you are going to need some freshly painted powder-coated jig heads. I was going to thorough-ly explain how to powder-coat the heads, but it is an extremely easy process. Color selections are end-less, but I suggest purchasing black, brown, or green, and following the listed directions on the package.

Following the paint process, you will need to work with a vise. You will notice mine is of the “trusty-rusty” brand. First I tried this with a fly vise, only to find it doesn’t hold a hook over 4/0 well. Also, you can exert much more pressure on a stan-dard vise as opposed to a fly vise.

Following the paint process, you will need to work with a vise.

Next, we will need to get our thread process started.

We are ready to add our first skirt tab.



Next the top color, and adding three more wraps.

If flashabou skirt material is added, I will clip a few strands out of the rainbow pack that I think will contrast with water clarity nicely.

Purple is by far my favorite. As far as other color options are concerned, black, or “baitfish emulator” works very well.

Take a look at how I positioned the jig and used an elastic band to se-cure the weed guard out of the way. The jig I am working with today is a half ounce Arkie style, with a 7/0 hook. The jig pattern being tied up is my Bama Bug.

Next, we will need to get our thread process started. Begin by wrapping the line over itself once, and continue down towards the hook shank with five or six neat wraps. It’s not a bad idea to throw down a dab of super glue on the jig before you wrap the thread in order to eliminate any possibility of your skirt from shifting.

Finally, we are ready to add our first skirt tab. A typical jig will consist of a 1/2 tab for finesse swim jigs, up to 3 or more for dark or stained water applications. You want to lay the middle of the skirt over the thread, and wrap it about three times.

Next the top color, and adding three more wraps.

If flashabou skirt material is added, I will clip a few strands out of the rainbow pack that I think will contrast with water clarity nicely. Strangely, most of the purple seems to be gone from this package be-cause it is used most often. As far as other color options are concerned, black, or “baitfish emulator” works very well.

Here comes my signature fea-ture.

Last summer, after losing rat-tles off of every style rattle band on the market right now, I knew there had to be a better solution. In order to correct this problem, grabbed my leftover Power-Pro, and began ty-ing on my own rattles. I haven’t lost a rattle since then. To attach your rattles, use a knot that you prefer to


T A C K L E L O G I C T A C K L E L O G I C

Here comes my signature feature. Adding the rattles.

Complete the jig by making a few more neat wraps. Then seal up the thread.

Lastly we need to trim the skirt and weed guard. Finally, jig is completed.

attach with the Power-Pro. First tie it to the rattle, and then to the jig. When completed, use a tiny dab of super glue to make sure the knot doesn’t slip on the rattle.

Complete the jig by making a few more neat wraps, then use a few simple half hitches, or a whip knot to finish your jig. Seal up the thread with a dab of clear nail polish

Lastly we need to trim away the solid ends of the tabs.

Take your jig out of the vise, and you will have something that closely resembles a jig from your favorite tackle shop, only WAY COOLER because you made it yourself!

I wouldn’t be doing you any justice if I stopped here, as this is often the most important and fre-quently neglected step of putting together a jig.

First the skirt needs to be trimmed back to just below the hook. Next, the weed guard needs to be trimmed and split. Consequently, splitting the weed guard will keep more weeds and debris off the hook, as well as protect you from snags should your jig roll onto its side.

Add your favorite trailer and enjoy!

Bryan Blazek is an avid Bass fisher-man and student of fishing. Every day on the water is a learning experi-ence as he fishes to gain insight into the behavior and seasonal patterns predatory fish, especially Bass. You can read up more at Bryan’s blog at Fishing-Headquarters:

fishing-headquarters/afterclassbass/


http://www.fishing-headquarters/afterclassbass/

http://www.fishing-headquarters/afterclassbass/



Photograph by Bryan Blazek

Photograph by Bryan Blazek


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Need more information?http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/mediakit.html

Please contact us at:[email protected]


May / June 2011 Issue:

• Big Country Smallmouth Bass.• Horsin’ for River Redhorse.• Early Season Up North Muskies.• Topwater Techniques for Bass. • Play in Mud with Bowfin.• Plus more!

Expected Release Date: May 15th, 2011.

For article and photo submissions and advertising, contact us at: [email protected] Photograph by Andrew Ragas.

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Jacob Saylor poses with a 20 inch, 5 lb. Smallmouth Bass from Northern Wisconsin - May, 2010.

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