Tackling BassTackling Bass

Inside The Tackle Box Inside The Tackle Box Inside The Tackle Box Randy Vining ~ page 8Randy Vining ~ page 8Randy Vining ~ page 8

Mark Lozier ~ page10Mark Lozier ~ page10Mark Lozier ~ page10

Tray Collins ~ page 12Tray Collins ~ page 12Tray Collins ~ page 12

Mark Wheeler ~ page 14Mark Wheeler ~ page 14Mark Wheeler ~ page 14

Chuck Wrenn ~ page 16Chuck Wrenn ~ page 16Chuck Wrenn ~ page 16

PLUS

Yaktastic Adventures ~ page 20

Bigfin Tip Of The Month ~ page 23

The Fishing Chef ~ page 25

Built Barbie Strong ~ 26

Peacocks On Fly ~ 30

Have you ever wanted to relive that big catch, tell

your story, and enlighten others to how you

accomplished it? Do you have a tip or technique

everyone should by using?

Well come aboard and contribute to

The Fisherman’s Journal!

All articles must be well written and contain

quality photos. Unique, knowledgeable articles

will be chosen for an upcoming issue.

Send all inquiries and questions to

editor@thefishermansjournal.com

Wants Wants YouYou!!

I know nothing about bass fishing.

There I said it. When I moved away from

the coasts of Florida I thought my world

of fishing came crumbling down. Catching

freshwater fish was always an afterthought

and now I found myself hundreds of miles

away from the “saltlife,” lost to the won-

ders of the lakes and rivers of Georgia.

After months of no fishing my health dete-

riorated. I had to catch fish.

I dreamed of lakes and streams. The

excitement of tailing redfish has morphed

into spawning bass and sunning carp.

Man have I changed. I still long for the

salty air and changing currents, however

the challenge of stillwater has my atten-

tion. Live in peace for now saltwater fish

for I will be back. I still have unfinished

business with you. But for now this old

salt is starting fresh . The only problem

was I had no idea where to start.

Sure I could go out there with my

saltwater gear, inshore fishing tactics, and

soft plastics. I was positive I could get a

bite. But I wanted to know more, under-

stand the when, where, why, and how. I

needed experts! And the April issue of The

Fisherman’s Journal was born.

This month’s issue is jammed packed

with know how anglers, giving us clues as

to what they use and how they use it.

They are tournament anglers, guides, fish-

ing radio show hosts, and shop owners.

When a novice like myself wants to start

fresh, these are the guys to turn to. So I

hope you learn something along with me.

My journey has started fresh and first on

the list is bass.

Editor’s Notes

An Old Salt

Starts Fresh

Darryl Barrs, Jr.

I know nothing about bass fishing.

There I said it. When I moved away from

the coasts of Florida I thought my world

of fishing came crumbling down. Catching

freshwater fish was always an afterthought

and now I found myself hundreds of miles

away from the “saltlife,” lost to the won-

ders of the lakes and rivers of Georgia.

After months of no fishing my health dete-

riorated. I had to catch fish.

I dreamed of lakes and streams. The

excitement of tailing redfish has morphed

into spawning bass and sunning carp.

Man have I changed. I still long for the

salty air and changing currents, however

the challenge of stillwater has my atten-

tion. Live in peace for now saltwater fish

for I will be back. I still have unfinished

business with you. But for now this old

salt is starting fresh . The only problem

was I had no idea where to start.

Sure I could go out there with my

saltwater gear, inshore fishing tactics, and

soft plastics. I was positive I could get a

bite. But I wanted to know more, under-

stand the when, where, why, and how. I

needed experts! And the April issue of The

Fisherman’s Journal was born.

This month’s issue is jammed packed

with know how anglers, giving us clues as

to what they use and how they use it.

They are tournament anglers, guides, fish-

ing radio show hosts, and shop owners.

When a novice like myself wants to start

fresh, these are the guys to turn to. So I

hope you learn something along with me.

My journey has started fresh and first on

the list is bass.

Inside The Inside The Inside The

Tackle BoxTackle BoxTackle Box

Tackling Tackling

BassBass

Inside The Inside The Inside The

Tackle BoxTackle BoxTackle Box

Plastics On The Fly RodPlastics On The Fly RodPlastics On The Fly Rod Randy ViningRandy ViningRandy Vining

The Ultimate Search The Ultimate Search The Ultimate Search

BaitsBaitsBaits Mark LozierMark LozierMark Lozier

Trapping FishTrapping FishTrapping Fish Tray CollinsTray CollinsTray Collins

The Versatile FishermanThe Versatile FishermanThe Versatile Fisherman Mark WheelerMark WheelerMark Wheeler

Are You A Frog Are You A Frog Are You A Frog

Fisherman?Fisherman?Fisherman? Chuck WrennChuck WrennChuck Wrenn

Tackling Tackling

BassBass

Before I begin, I should warn you, if you

are a traditional fly fisherman that believes only

hand tied flies belong on the end of a fly line

then you may want to stop right here. But if

you go fishing to catch fish and you understand

the advantages of using a fly rod to do so, I am

about to share something with you that will add

to your success on the water.

First a little background. I have been

fishing all my life, or at least most of it. And

while I have dabbled in fly fishing over the

years, I have mostly used bait casters. I have

always considered fly fishermen at a distinct

disadvantage when it comes to catching fish. I

am not sure why I thought that, but I did. After

some encouragement from a fly fishing pal of

mine, Jim Neilson, I decided to pick up a fly

rod and try it. Since I don’t tie my own flies, I

bought what my research said was the best flies

for catching my favorite fish, the shoal bass.

They worked, sort of. But I did not have the

success I was having using some of my favorite

soft plastics on the bait caster.

Despite many of my river fishing friends

throwing big baits, I have always done very

well with small crawfish and baitfish imitations

on my bait caster. Of course these small plas-

tics required a little weight on the line to be able

to cast them. You just can’t cast a very light

weight piece of plastic very far on a bait caster.

So one day I looked at my old faithful small

plastics and wondered if I could cast them on

my fly rod? I asked around on a few sites and I

got comments from “try it, it might work” to

“that’s not fly fishing .“ But my pal Jim said

“try it and let us know how it does.” Thanks to

Jim, I have had my best year on the river ever.

Not only has my catch rate increased but so has

my success on big shoal bass.

It makes a lot of sense if you think about

it. This light weight crawfish imitation weighs

about what a real crawfish weighs and this bait-

fish imitation weighs about what a real minnow

weighs. On top of that, the action from these un

-weighted baits is almost exactly the action of

the real thing. Very erratic actions and slow

falls just like an injured bait. The un-weighted

crawfish just tumbles in the current like a dead

or dying crawfish. What could be better? A

hand tied fly you say? Not in my experience.

Hand tied baitfish flies do not dart side to

side like this plastic baitfish imitation. Hand

tied crawfish patterns fold up when the feathers

get wet and are not much more that a wooly

bugger. They will catch some bass but not

nearly at the rate I have found with these plas-

tics. So what are these small plastic baits you

ask? They are the Zoom Super Fluke Jr. and the

Yum Craw Papi. Colors matter too. My most

successful colors are the pearl white and the

baitfish colors for the Fluke and the Crawdad

color for the Craw Papi. Others work but these

are the closest to the real thing I have found.

Throwing these small plastics on a fly

rod is not real easy but with a little practice you

can do it. I use a 7 wt. rod. A 6wt. seems to be

just a little light and an 8wt. is a bear to cast all

day. A 7wt. also has just the right feel to make

landing a big bass fun while not being to light

that you cannot get them to hand in strong cur-

rent. I throw them on straight 15 pound fluoro-

carbon leaders. No you don’t need 15 most of

the time but 15 pound line sure helps if you get

a wind knot and it hold up to a little more abra-

sion on the rocks. Another little trick I have

learned is using the right hook. The back cast

and the forward cast can “pull the skirts down”

on these baits. You need a hook that will keep

them on and not slide down the hook. The best

hook I have found is the Gamakatsu Skip Gap

hook. This hook was designed to skip plastics

under docks while holding them on the hook.

They work perfect for casting the baits on the

fly rod.

You may not consider casting small plas-

tics on a fly rod fly fishing, and maybe it isn’t?

But I can tell you one thing, if you want to

catch more and bigger bass on a fly rod, these

baits will do it or my name is not River Pirate.

Try them and let me know how you did. I bet

you catch more and bigger bass than you ever

have on a hand tied fly.

Plastics On Plastics On Plastics On

The Fly RodThe Fly RodThe Fly Rod By Randy ViningBy Randy ViningBy Randy Vining

Before I begin, I should warn you, if you

are a traditional fly fisherman that believes only

hand tied flies belong on the end of a fly line

then you may want to stop right here. But if

you go fishing to catch fish and you understand

the advantages of using a fly rod to do so, I am

about to share something with you that will add

to your success on the water.

First a little background. I have been

fishing all my life, or at least most of it. And

while I have dabbled in fly fishing over the

years, I have mostly used bait casters. I have

always considered fly fishermen at a distinct

disadvantage when it comes to catching fish. I

am not sure why I thought that, but I did. After

some encouragement from a fly fishing pal of

mine, Jim Neilson, I decided to pick up a fly

rod and try it. Since I don’t tie my own flies, I

bought what my research said was the best flies

for catching my favorite fish, the shoal bass.

They worked, sort of. But I did not have the

success I was having using some of my favorite

soft plastics on the bait caster.

Despite many of my river fishing friends

throwing big baits, I have always done very

well with small crawfish and baitfish imitations

on my bait caster. Of course these small plas-

tics required a little weight on the line to be able

to cast them. You just can’t cast a very light

weight piece of plastic very far on a bait caster.

So one day I looked at my old faithful small

plastics and wondered if I could cast them on

my fly rod? I asked around on a few sites and I

got comments from “try it, it might work” to

“that’s not fly fishing .“ But my pal Jim said

“try it and let us know how it does.” Thanks to

Jim, I have had my best year on the river ever.

Not only has my catch rate increased but so has

my success on big shoal bass.

It makes a lot of sense if you think about

it. This light weight crawfish imitation weighs

about what a real crawfish weighs and this bait-

fish imitation weighs about what a real minnow

weighs. On top of that, the action from these un

-weighted baits is almost exactly the action of

the real thing. Very erratic actions and slow

falls just like an injured bait. The un-weighted

crawfish just tumbles in the current like a dead

or dying crawfish. What could be better? A

hand tied fly you say? Not in my experience.

Hand tied baitfish flies do not dart side to

side like this plastic baitfish imitation. Hand

tied crawfish patterns fold up when the feathers

get wet and are not much more that a wooly

bugger. They will catch some bass but not

nearly at the rate I have found with these plas-

tics. So what are these small plastic baits you

ask? They are the Zoom Super Fluke Jr. and the

Yum Craw Papi. Colors matter too. My most

successful colors are the pearl white and the

baitfish colors for the Fluke and the Crawdad

color for the Craw Papi. Others work but these

are the closest to the real thing I have found.

Throwing these small plastics on a fly

rod is not real easy but with a little practice you

can do it. I use a 7 wt. rod. A 6wt. seems to be

just a little light and an 8wt. is a bear to cast all

day. A 7wt. also has just the right feel to make

landing a big bass fun while not being to light

that you cannot get them to hand in strong cur-

rent. I throw them on straight 15 pound fluoro-

carbon leaders. No you don’t need 15 most of

the time but 15 pound line sure helps if you get

a wind knot and it hold up to a little more abra-

sion on the rocks. Another little trick I have

learned is using the right hook. The back cast

and the forward cast can “pull the skirts down”

on these baits. You need a hook that will keep

them on and not slide down the hook. The best

hook I have found is the Gamakatsu Skip Gap

hook. This hook was designed to skip plastics

under docks while holding them on the hook.

They work perfect for casting the baits on the

fly rod.

You may not consider casting small plas-

tics on a fly rod fly fishing, and maybe it isn’t?

But I can tell you one thing, if you want to

catch more and bigger bass on a fly rod, these

baits will do it or my name is not River Pirate.

Try them and let me know how you did. I bet

you catch more and bigger bass than you ever

have on a hand tied fly.

To learn more about Randy Vining

and book a guided kayak fishing trip

visit www.georgiariverpirate.com

Spoons and Spinner Baits,

Ultimate Search Baits!

The fish may not always be where you

want or think they should be. Two of the

most effective ways to dissect an area of

water is with either a spoon or spinner bait.

By their design for the most part both are

meant to be casted, a steady retrieve back

and repeat. Which lends itself great for fan

casting an area to see if anyone is home be-

fore moving on to your next location.

My constant of the two would have to be

the spoon. Presented properly I have yet to

see a Redfish turn down a spoon, so I know

if I’m using the right spoon and Mr. Red is

there we are about to meet. There are sev-

eral good spoons on the market but my per-

sonal favorites are those made by Captain

Mike Hakala, the Aqua Dream Living

Spoons. Besides for the craftsmanship and

durable finishes of these spoons they also

come in several colors and even bait fish

patterns. As I just mentioned not every day

is a gold spoon day and with the variety of

colors that Aqua Dream offers you can fine

tune your choices. For most conditions the

¼ oz. is the ideal size for fishing average

flats and shallower bay areas. Colors are

something you may need to play with. Gold

is always a good starting point but I also

have good results with white, pink and

green. One thing you should do as soon as

you get any new spoon is attach a high qual-

ity barrel swivel to the split ring on the

spoon. Putting your swivel inline will attract

more grass then it will connect directly

spoon. The swivel will prevent your line

from getting twisted from the spinning mo-

tion in the retrieve of the spoon.

Spinner baits are another staple for a

style of lure that helps you cast far and

dissect an area to find fish. Either the inline

models or the “R” bend arm style that most

bass fisherman are familiar with. Now is

where I like the arms that have one of two

ways to change the jig head as opposed to

the fixed freshwater style. There is the

safety pin style or the split ring style for

connecting the jig to the arm. This makes it

easier to change weighted jig depending on

the depth of the area you are fishing. Spin-

nerbaits are very effective because the in-

corporate all of the feeding methods fish

use. The flash and vibration of the gold

spoon, the profile of the swim bait and if

you like to use scents or scented baits like

Gulp you have incorporated all of the ele-

ments fish use to find their next meal, sight,

smell and vibration.

Both of the above I use 15-20lb braided

line on my reel with a 2-3 foot fluorocarbon

leader of 12-20 pound test. I will increase

the leader size if fishing around a lot struc-

ture like oyster beds and even then be sure

to check the leader for nicks and frays. So

next time you go to a new area to fish or not

sure if one of your favorite spots is holding

fish, Spoon Feed ‘Em!!

www.aquadreamliving.com

Mark Lozier 1

st Landing Kayak Fishing Service

www.1stlandingyakfish.com/

www.nativewatercraft.com/

Spoons and Spinner Baits,

Ultimate Search Baits!

The fish may not always be where you

want or think they should be. Two of the

most effective ways to dissect an area of

water is with either a spoon or spinner bait.

By their design for the most part both are

meant to be casted, a steady retrieve back

and repeat. Which lends itself great for fan

casting an area to see if anyone is home be-

fore moving on to your next location.

My constant of the two would have to be

the spoon. Presented properly I have yet to

see a Redfish turn down a spoon, so I know

if I’m using the right spoon and Mr. Red is

there we are about to meet. There are sev-

eral good spoons on the market but my per-

sonal favorites are those made by Captain

Mike Hakala, the Aqua Dream Living

Spoons. Besides for the craftsmanship and

durable finishes of these spoons they also

come in several colors and even bait fish

patterns. As I just mentioned not every day

is a gold spoon day and with the variety of

colors that Aqua Dream offers you can fine

tune your choices. For most conditions the

¼ oz. is the ideal size for fishing average

flats and shallower bay areas. Colors are

something you may need to play with. Gold

is always a good starting point but I also

have good results with white, pink and

green. One thing you should do as soon as

you get any new spoon is attach a high qual-

ity barrel swivel to the split ring on the

spoon. Putting your swivel inline will attract

more grass then it will connect directly

spoon. The swivel will prevent your line

from getting twisted from the spinning mo-

tion in the retrieve of the spoon.

Spinner baits are another staple for a

style of lure that helps you cast far and

dissect an area to find fish. Either the inline

models or the “R” bend arm style that most

bass fisherman are familiar with. Now is

where I like the arms that have one of two

ways to change the jig head as opposed to

the fixed freshwater style. There is the

safety pin style or the split ring style for

connecting the jig to the arm. This makes it

easier to change weighted jig depending on

the depth of the area you are fishing. Spin-

nerbaits are very effective because the in-

corporate all of the feeding methods fish

use. The flash and vibration of the gold

spoon, the profile of the swim bait and if

you like to use scents or scented baits like

Gulp you have incorporated all of the ele-

ments fish use to find their next meal, sight,

smell and vibration.

Both of the above I use 15-20lb braided

line on my reel with a 2-3 foot fluorocarbon

leader of 12-20 pound test. I will increase

the leader size if fishing around a lot struc-

ture like oyster beds and even then be sure

to check the leader for nicks and frays. So

next time you go to a new area to fish or not

sure if one of your favorite spots is holding

fish, Spoon Feed ‘Em!!

www.aquadreamliving.com

Mark Lozier 1

st Landing Kayak Fishing Service

www.1stlandingyakfish.com/

www.nativewatercraft.com/

Most hard-bodied lures have their time and place, even when thrown at the right time, the color of the lure can keep fish looking elsewhere. Almost all hard-bodied lures are depth specific; they may move a certain way, have pitch differ-ences, and can be shaped to resemble a specific baitfish. Finding the right hard-bodied lure for every situation can get expensive really fast, but there’s a solution to this. There’s a magic lure by Bill Lewis Lures called the Rat-L-Trap – okay, there’s really no magic associated with this lure but anglers often think so because of its ability to draw bites from quality fish. In my opinion, the Rat-L-Trap is the most versatile hard-bodied lure, only limited by the angler’s imagination. Decades ago Bill Lewis created the Rat-L-Trap, a lipless crankbait that was intended to entice big hungry bass into feeding. The lures work so well at imitat-ing the forage of many different game fish that it’s not uncommon to catch fish that you weren’t targeting, even while fishing in saltwater. The most basic, but effective, way to fish a Rat-L-Trap is with a constant re-trieve. You can dictate the Trap’s running depth along the majority of your retrieve by allowing the ‘Trap to sink before you begin reeling it back in. Rat-L-Traps have a sink rate of about a foot per second, knowing that will allow you to put the lure anywhere in the water column. An internet search will bring up other articles that describe advanced ways to retrieve this lure, as stated before a Rat-L-Trap is only limited by your imagination. To build off of the above statement, I want to share some of the lesser seen ‘Traps that Bill Lewis offer. If your local retailer doesn’t offer these ‘Traps, they can be ordered directly from

Rat-L-Trap’s website, www.rat-l-trap.com

TrappingTrappingTrapping

FishFishFish By Tray Collins

Pro-Trap:

Upon the hook set, the lure body will slide up the line away from the hook. By separating the hooked fish from the lure, the Pro-Trap prevents the fish from us-

ing the lure’s weight as leverage to shake the hook loose.

Available in 3/8 oz. and 5/8 oz.

Spin-Trap:

The Spin-Trap has a willow-leaf blade

added to the back of the ‘Trap that adds

flash and turbulence to the lure. With the

front hook guarded by the downward

pointed nose and the rear hook removed,

this ‘Trap can be fished in and around

structure holding predator fish.

Available in 1/4 oz. and 1/8 oz.

Floating-Trap:

The Floating-Trap will run at a depth of 3’

with a constant retrieve, or be popped

along the surface when fish are keying

in on topwater lures. Floaters also work

well around docks, through standing

timber, or over submerged cover.

The Shaky head, it brings

visions of slow, slow finesse fish-

ing. But it is much, much more than

that. In the fishing world there are

very few “Jack of all trades” lures,

the Shaky head fits that bill.

Let’s break down what

makes a great Jig. First and most

importantly the hook has to be

strong, but not bulky. The best are

thin wire hooks as this doesn’t im-

pede the action of the bait. Next is

avoid all of the jig heads that have

screws, wires or any extra plastic

holders as this only limits the jigs

uses. What you’re looking for is jig

heads with multiple parts.

As an example is the tom-

myhead Jig

(www.tommyheadjig.com)

it has a collar similar to

what you would find on

spinner bait, it also has a

barb like on a basic jig

head for swim baits. This

allows for unlimited possi-

bilities. The third thing is

the eye, you want one that

is at a 60 degree angle, and

this is what gives a shaky head its

action when being pulled thru the

water.

So you went out and picked

up a few packs of jigs, what else

should you get? Well the basics are

finesse worms, along with curly

tailed style worms. But along with

those you should get some replace-

ment skirts, the ones that are used

for replacing jig and spinner bait

skirts, these, will add another di-

mension to your game. Creature

baits and craw baits are also great

choices as the arms and appendages

can stay off the bottom. Any of

your favorite wacky rigged baits are

now weighted for a faster presenta-

tion. Those are just a few ways to

rig a shaky head, now why did I

mention these things?

In the professional tourna-

ment world, whenever you are tak-

ing precious time to tie on a new

lure that is time that you are not

putting a lure on the fish. That

could mean the difference between

bringing home a check or well not.

So when you have a system that

you can rig once but present it dif-

ferent ways without taking the time

to search out a new bait, and rig it.

In the Kayak fishing world, space is

a virtue, this is the key to success as

the jig now replaces other baits.

Meaning you now have room for

other baits to round out your tackle

selection. Versatility is what makes

a great bait selection.

Let’s talk how to present it.

The old thinking is to shake the

bait, and that is an effective tech-

nique, but let’s talk other ways that

work equally as well but can cover

more water. The way I run the

shaky head two ways with finesse

plastic. The first way is to make a

long cast, then I keep my rod tip

low and drag it, when I feel some

structure I will shake it for up to 10

seconds then hop it over the struc-

ture and immediately start dragging

it again till I hit the next piece of

structure. If I am working an area

that has not structure for me to

bounce the bait off of then I will

‘swim’ the bait back to me. This is

my favorite as I can really work an

area quickly, what you are going to

do is make a long cast, then you are

going to start popping your rod tip

and reeling at the same time, what

you need to do is visualize the bait

hopping along barely touching the

bottom, the key is to hit the bottom

on every hop, this technique is one

that will illicit some vicious strikes.

The Shaky Head technique

is one that you want to throw on

spinning tackle plain and simple.

Many of the jig heads are very light

and with bulky baits can slow the

lure in the air to the point that if

you threw it on a bait caster you

would be picking out the birds nest

all day along with limited casting

distance. Fill your spinning reel

with 10lb fluorocarbon, this will

give you the sensitivity and will

also help you keep the bait present-

ing right, braid wants to float and

will change the style, mono sensi-

tivity is awful and you won’t feel

the bottom or the bite so fluoro.

Next is the rod, and this is where

you are going to want to pay atten-

tion; any medium heavy, light

weight rod with a very fast tip is

what you are looking for. It seems

like every technique out there uses

that rod style so you shouldn’t have

to buy a specialized rod. The cool

thing is that no matter what plastic

or presentation style you choose

you can fish it with the same setup

and be extremely effective in put-

ting a big ole pig in the boat!

So grab your favorite spinning reel,

sensitive rod and throw a shaky

head, use your imagination and try

new baits new styles and

GET YOUR FISH ON MAN!

The Versatile The Versatile The Versatile Shaky HeadShaky HeadShaky Head

By Mark “Landingcrew” Wheeler

Mark "Landingcrew" Wheeler is an avid fisherman, whether from

pier, shore, kayak or boat, if there is fish to be caught he will most

likely be fishing for them. Mark is currently fishing the Weekend

Series on the BASS tour, as well as many kayak fishing tourna-

ments up and down the east coast. Mark is the host of the LOW

SODIUM SHOW on kayakfishingradio.com, is an elite team

member with ORCA COOLERS, and is on the pro fishing teams

with Jackson Kayak, yakangler.com, Bull Bay Rods, Unfair Lures,

and Tommyhead Jigs. Mark lives in Virginia and is joined in his

life long passion with his wonderful wife and two children. As

mark says, GET YOUR FISH ON...MAN!.

The Shaky head, it brings

visions of slow, slow finesse fish-

ing. But it is much, much more than

that. In the fishing world there are

very few “Jack of all trades” lures,

the Shaky head fits that bill.

Let’s break down what

makes a great Jig. First and most

importantly the hook has to be

strong, but not bulky. The best are

thin wire hooks as this doesn’t im-

pede the action of the bait. Next is

avoid all of the jig heads that have

screws, wires or any extra plastic

holders as this only limits the jigs

uses. What you’re looking for is jig

heads with multiple parts.

As an example is the tom-

myhead Jig

(www.tommyheadjig.com)

it has a collar similar to

what you would find on

spinner bait, it also has a

barb like on a basic jig

head for swim baits. This

allows for unlimited possi-

bilities. The third thing is

the eye, you want one that

is at a 60 degree angle, and

this is what gives a shaky head its

action when being pulled thru the

water.

So you went out and picked

up a few packs of jigs, what else

should you get? Well the basics are

finesse worms, along with curly

tailed style worms. But along with

those you should get some replace-

ment skirts, the ones that are used

for replacing jig and spinner bait

skirts, these, will add another di-

mension to your game. Creature

baits and craw baits are also great

choices as the arms and appendages

can stay off the bottom. Any of

your favorite wacky rigged baits are

now weighted for a faster presenta-

tion. Those are just a few ways to

rig a shaky head, now why did I

mention these things?

In the professional tourna-

ment world, whenever you are tak-

ing precious time to tie on a new

lure that is time that you are not

putting a lure on the fish. That

could mean the difference between

bringing home a check or well not.

So when you have a system that

you can rig once but present it dif-

ferent ways without taking the time

to search out a new bait, and rig it.

In the Kayak fishing world, space is

a virtue, this is the key to success as

the jig now replaces other baits.

Meaning you now have room for

other baits to round out your tackle

selection. Versatility is what makes

a great bait selection.

Let’s talk how to present it.

The old thinking is to shake the

bait, and that is an effective tech-

nique, but let’s talk other ways that

work equally as well but can cover

more water. The way I run the

shaky head two ways with finesse

plastic. The first way is to make a

long cast, then I keep my rod tip

low and drag it, when I feel some

structure I will shake it for up to 10

seconds then hop it over the struc-

ture and immediately start dragging

it again till I hit the next piece of

structure. If I am working an area

that has not structure for me to

bounce the bait off of then I will

‘swim’ the bait back to me. This is

my favorite as I can really work an

area quickly, what you are going to

do is make a long cast, then you are

going to start popping your rod tip

and reeling at the same time, what

you need to do is visualize the bait

hopping along barely touching the

bottom, the key is to hit the bottom

on every hop, this technique is one

that will illicit some vicious strikes.

The Shaky Head technique

is one that you want to throw on

spinning tackle plain and simple.

Many of the jig heads are very light

and with bulky baits can slow the

lure in the air to the point that if

you threw it on a bait caster you

would be picking out the birds nest

all day along with limited casting

distance. Fill your spinning reel

with 10lb fluorocarbon, this will

give you the sensitivity and will

also help you keep the bait present-

ing right, braid wants to float and

will change the style, mono sensi-

tivity is awful and you won’t feel

the bottom or the bite so fluoro.

Next is the rod, and this is where

you are going to want to pay atten-

tion; any medium heavy, light

weight rod with a very fast tip is

what you are looking for. It seems

like every technique out there uses

that rod style so you shouldn’t have

to buy a specialized rod. The cool

thing is that no matter what plastic

or presentation style you choose

you can fish it with the same setup

and be extremely effective in put-

ting a big ole pig in the boat!

So grab your favorite spinning reel,

sensitive rod and throw a shaky

head, use your imagination and try

new baits new styles and

GET YOUR FISH ON MAN!

By Chuck Wrenn

Are you a frog fisherman?

If not, have you ever thought of trying

it but were scared you didn't have the right

gear? At first, it may seem intimidating

when you walk down the aisle at your local

tackle store and see an entire section dedi-

cated to soft plastic frogs. If that wasn't

enough, you simply have to turn around and

then take in the multitude of hollow-bodied

frogs, popping frogs and other diving or

floating frog variants on the opposite side of

the aisle. So where do you begin?

Before we get started, it is important to

understand that this article is geared more

towards those that have never frog fished or

have had some struggles. To the seasoned or

veteran frog angler, the items discussed be-

low are old hat and are pretty much auto-

matic. The other key point to understand is

that every body of water is unique and may

require you to adjust not only your tactics,

but also the gear you choose to utilize. With

that said.....

The first thing you need to understand

is that frogging requires some sturdier equip-

ment in the way of rod, reel and line

choices. That means you will most likely

need at least two complete setups to target

fish using a frog. This will make more sense

a little later. For the rod, you want to find a

good medium-heavy rod with an extra fast

action in a length between 6'6" and 7'3". For

most kayak anglers, this length is sufficient

for reaching around the front of your kayak

and playing the fish to either side yet still

stout enough to handle some big fish and

short enough to fit inside your vehicle for

transport. A key point to remember here is

that as kayak anglers, we do not need to in-

vest in those heavy technique specific frog

rods, because we can go to the fish if it gets

hung up

whereas a

traditional

bass angler

in a boat

does not al-

ways have

that lux-

ury. Sensi-

tivity is not

as key in a

frog rod

here, so don't

get hung up

on how sen-

sitive it

feels. You

should be

more con-

cerned about the strength of the rod's back-

bone and the action of the tip.

When it comes to reel choice, this is

typically a personal preference when it

comes to reel brand or gear ratio, but the one

recommendation I can offer is one that can

stand up to the rigors of frog fishing and has

an IPT (Inches Per Turn) of at least 28-

30". This typically means handling heavy

cover and the torque or flex of the reel under

load. Low quality reels do not hold up well

Are You A

Frog

Fisherman?

other quality in the reel that needs to be

tested thoroughly is the drag rating and the

drag action. Any reel with a minimum drag

rating of 12-15lbs should be fine, but you

should have it tested first to know the reel's

limits. The action of the drag should be

smooth under load and not jumpy or incon-

sistent.

The next piece of your arsenal is the

line choice. Just like reels, there are many

preferences in this area as well. You can use

anything from 15lb fluorocarbon to 65lb

braided

line. The

key here is

understand

what cover

you will be

fishing in

and around

before mak-

ing your line

choice. For

open water

or light cover

like sporadic

lily pads or

grass mats,

you can use

15-25lb

fluorocarbon

and be fine. For the waters like I fish where

the lily pads are super thick and lay downs

and timber are knotted like spaghetti, I prefer

to use a dark green 50-65lb braid, because

when I get a fish on, I know I can keep the

fish hooked without fear of the fish breaking

the line on the cover and give me enough

time to get closer to it if needed. The one ca-

veat here is for those that are using the lighter

small profile frogs on spinning gear. You can

use 30lb braid with a 20lb fluorocarbon

leader and be fine. As said before, the cover

will dictate what line to use.

Now that you have your "frog combo"

ready, you need to arm yourself with some

frogs. I recommend keeping it simple at first

with regards to types of frogs and col-

ors. You have to remember, the predatory

behaviors and actions of the fish will clue

you in on what is the right cadence and re-

trieve to use, so don't focus so much on color

variation. After all, the profile of the lure un-

derneath the water and the noise profile it

emits are what entices the strike, not whether

the frog was green, red, brown, white or

black. The fish could care less what intricate

pattern or frog like graphic was painted on

the top or side of the lure - they can't see it

from below!!

For your first set of frogs, I recommend

three colors: a watermelon pearl, a brown/

orange and a black. If you stick to these

three colors, they will be get you started and

will do perfectly fine. I have caught the ma-

jority of my frog bass on either black or the

watermelon pearl. As for the other types of

frogs, I also recommend a couple popping

frogs in black and a green; a few walk the

dog soft bodied frogs in the same two or

three color patterns. The only other things

you need at this point are 4/0-5/0 EWG or

unweighted swim bait hooks and a good frog

scent. The reason for the frog scent is entic-

ing the fish to hold onto the frog a split sec-

ond longer to increase your chances of a

good hook set.

So, now that you have your "froggin' combo" and your first frog arsenal ready for the

fight, what do you do? How do you get started? First and foremost, you need to have

your two frog rods rigged with different frog types. The first combo should have your

moving presentation. The second should have your popping or walk the dog presenta-

tion. The first thing I do is target the outer edges of the lily pads, grass line or lay

downs with the moving frog. I typically burn the frog first creating a nice bubble

trail. I'll work the lay down or cover edges quickly and follow up with a slightly slower

retrieve where the frog barely disturbs the surface. These fish are typically the most

aggressive and are relative easy targets. The reason you want to start at the outer edge

first is to not spook any potentially larger fish that may be lurking deeper in the cover

or closer to shore. Once you have worked over the edges fairly well, make a cast about

midway deep into the lay down or cover and repeat. Once that is done, then I cast to

the shore and hop my frog into the water and start working it back to me.

If I miss the strike or get a short strike, I immediately get my second frog rod and

cast back just beyond that spot. Only this time, I'll let the frog sit there for a bit before

I give it a subtle twitch and let it rest. After 20-30 seconds, I'll give it a couple more

twitches. The primary purpose of the second combo is as a "throwback lure" for a

missed strike. If you aren't getting any strikes on the moving frog, the second combo

can be used in conjunction with the first combo and worked into the mix when you are

casting. For example. the first cast you made earlier was to the outer edge of a lay

down and you worked your frog quickly. The second cast was to the same general area

but with a slower retrieve. Now pick up the second combo and throw that frog to the

same outer edge and work it slowly twitching the frog every 20-30 seconds. As you

move your target area, work your second combo into the mix as the last step before cy-

cling back to the moving presentation on your first combo.

The key concept to understand here is to provide the target species with alterna-

tives. If all you are doing is power fishing with a moving presentation, you might be

missing some quality fish by not offering them something different to think about. At

the same time, if the fish only sees and hears one thing, they will tune it out and likely

not strike it. For the budget conscious angler, you can achieve the same goals by only

using one combo. You just have to be self aware enough to know when to switch it up

with your retrieve cadence or how you work the frog. For example, on some days I will

only take one frog rod, but it is worked using all three retrieval speeds - fast, medium

and slow.

The last concept to understand and often times the hardest is the hook set. There

are three key elements to the proper hook set on a fish that strikes a frog. First and

foremost is rod tip angle. When working the frog, you need to keep your rod tip at ap-

proximately the ten to eleven o'clock position. The second is lowering your rod tip im-

mediately when the strike occurs - don't try for a hook set here! You'll most likely end

up with a frog flying straight back at you at quite a high rate of speed and with hooks

exposed! Yikes! Third, count to yourself a two count (thousand one, thousand two) as

you reel the slack in and then give a quick firm hook set over your shoulder. If you try

a side hook set, you could pull the frog right out of the fish' mouth. The hardest part of

the three-part series of events is not setting the hook immediately.

Simple right? In all seriousness, it is actually that simple, but it takes practice as

with any fishing technique. I'll leave you with two helpful tips that I personally can at-

test to as helping me land more bass using frogs. First, when rigging soft plastic frogs

on the hook of your choice, work the hook through the body of the frog a couple times

to loosen the passage way for the hook shank. It only takes one missed fish and seeing

your hook still rigged perfectly to remember this tip. Second, if you use a frog scent at-

tractant, stick to the gel or wand-style attractants. They remain on the frog longer than

the sprays.

Have faith in your ability and go try to catch some fish on a top water frog - I can tell

you that there is nothing quite like the thrill and adrenaline rush of a top water frog

strike. It gets my blood pumping all the time!

About Chuck Wrenn

I started kayak angling in April 2010 in a SOT (Sit On Top) purchased from Appomattox River Com-

pany. I have always been a freshwater angler primarily targeting Largemouth Bass. Since that time, I

have ventured out into the saltwater more and more and have enjoyed my days chasing Speckled

Trout, Summer Flounder, Striped Bass and hope to eventually catch a bull red, some Spades, Tautog

and Sheepsheads. Currently, I am a member of the Hobie Fishing Team as a Local Pro and have fished

out of three of their kayaks - the Hobie Revolution 13, Pro Angler 12 and Pro Angler 14 and find them

to be more useful for the type of fishing I am doing than a traditional paddle-based kayak. Especially

since I can venture out further without fear of arm fatigue in heavy current and wind. Not to mention

the relative ease of maintaining one's position using the Mirage Drive. You just point your bow in the

direction of the current or the wind and pedal slowly. I am also a member of the PowerTeam Lures Pro

Staff and actively fish their soft plastics anytime I am in the freshwater.

Kayak fishing film makers Yaktastic Adventures has announced their new project that will

tell the story of Mike Conneen, a disabled kayak angler from southeast Florida who does

everything on his own. “He is a really good guy and a true inspiration to me, his community,

and to everyone working on this project. We are looking forward to bringing his story to the

kayak angling world. It deserves to be told,” says Rob Devore.

The movie is yet to be named and will be released Fall 2013.

Rob Devore on set filming.

Yaktastic AdventuresYaktastic AdventuresYaktastic Adventures

Kayak fishing film makers Yaktastic Adventures has announced their new project that will

tell the story of Mike Conneen, a disabled kayak angler from southeast Florida who does

everything on his own. “He is a really good guy and a true inspiration to me, his community,

and to everyone working on this project. We are looking forward to bringing his story to the

kayak angling world. It deserves to be told,” says Rob Devore.

The movie is yet to be named and will be released Fall 2013.

Be sure to “Like”

Yaktastic Adventures on

Facebook for more updates.

Yaktastic AdventuresYaktastic AdventuresYaktastic Adventures

Whether you

are an avid

tournament an-

gler or plan to

participate in

an upcoming

tournament,

properly pre-

paring for the

challenges that will be presented can only pro-

vide a positive outcome. I actively participate in

kayak fishing tournaments around the state and

from experience I have found several tactics and

preparation methods that have made the experi-

ence more enjoyable, if not rewarding. I ap-

proach life everyday reminding myself that I can

only control myself and my own actions, taking

this attitude in to the tournament scene allows me

to focus on where my efforts should be directed.

Every tournament can be structured differently so

be sure to read through the rules before assuming

you know what to do. I like to break my tourna-

ment preparations in to three categories including

the pre-tournament research, gear preparation and

mental status.

Pre-Tournament

Research:

Several weeks out

from a tournament I

like to begin the re-

search process

which includes

scouring local fish-

ing reports from that

particular time of year and comparing with re-

ports from the previous several years. While

reading these reports, I take in to account tourna-

ment weather conditions and how they align with

that of the previous year reports. Generic guide

fishing reports may help provide some guidance,

but the reports one can find on the local fishing

forums and from calling a few local friends can

help paint a much better picture. I like to create a

folder with printouts of fishing reports, wind and

weather predictions, tide predictions, tournament

rules and a list of required gear. I will take screen

shots of aerial maps I have marked up with de-

sired fishing locations and include the print-outs

in the folder.

Continued on Next Page

Bigfin Tip of the Month:Bigfin Tip of the Month:Bigfin Tip of the Month: Tournament Preparation Tournament Preparation Tournament Preparation

While many may have quality electronics to

reference while on the water for this informa-

tion, it is always good to have a hardcopy since

we all know electronics can be your best friend

and worst enemy. It’s easy to get caught up in

the fishing research and forget all about making

lodging arrangements; I like to stay as close to

my launch location as possible, even if it means

staying in the BIGFIN Bunker at the actual

launch location.

Gear Preparation:

Review the rules of

the tournament and

make sure you

have all of the re-

quired safety gear on board; I suggest keeping it

all in one convenient location to streamline the

check-in process. Additionally review fishing

gear such as rods, reels, line, lures, tackle and

tools. Make

sure every-

thing is in

working order,

hooks are not

rusted, pliers

can still cut,

reels are not

locked up or

running low on

line or frayed

line and your

rod guides are

all accounted

for. Having a hand written or typed checklist

can help bring peace of mind.

Mental Status:

If you are anything like me, the night before a

tournament you are still up until 1 a.m. rigging

your lines and getting everything in order to

wake up in a few hours and hit the water. Lack

of sleep, food and drink the day before a tour-

nament can be detrimental to the point where I

have seen anglers faint at the launch. Mentally

preparing for a tournament can be like mentally

preparing to take a standardized test. There’s

plenty of studying, sleep, ample food and water,

but no need for the sharpened #2 pencils. Once

you hit the water plenty of other factors can

cloud and angler’s judgment however the prior

preparation can help the ability to adapt while

on the water. Tournaments can be stressful, but

should be fun at the same time. If the fish aren’t

biting, that can be completely out of your con-

trol, but knowing you did everything in your

power to prepare for the event should bring se-

renity in even the worst fishing conditions.

Whether you win or lose the tournament, al-

ways remember that a bad day of fishing al-

ways beats a good day in the office.

Nick Dyroff

BIGFIN Apparel Pro Coordinator

Malibu Kayaks Pro Staff

Tailin’ Toads Pro Staff

FINS Braid Pro

Salmon Mashed PotatoesSalmon Mashed PotatoesSalmon Mashed Potatoes

PREPARATION:

Place the potatoes in a large pot. Cover with cold

salted water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook

for 25 minutes, or until tender. Drain well. Place po-

tatoes in a large bowl and add the sour cream, but-

ter, and milk. Mash until almost smooth. Mix in the

cheese, garlic, salt, petter and salmon. Sprinkle with

the remaining dill and serve.

Serves 8

The Fishing

Chef

INGREDIENTS:

3 1/2 lb Red Potaotes

1/2 cup Sour Cream

1/4 cup Melted Butter

1 cup Milk

2 cups Harvarti Cheese

3 cloves Garlic, minced

Pinch of Salt/Pepper

1/2 cup canned Salmon

1/2 tbsp chopped Dill

The Barbie Rod Challenge initially was

thought to be just a fad. This past month has

proven it is here to stay and only continues to

grow stronger. Last month’s challenge was

clearly one for the books, gaining over four

hundred new members of The Barbie Rod

Militia. The “Locked & Loaded Challenge”

allowed the participant’s imagination to run

wild and create the most interesting modified

Barbie rod. Only two rules applied to this

challenge:

1. The rod must still have pink on it.

2. No altering of the Barbie rod length.

The submissions were so impressive

that photos could not do them justice which

lead to a series of hilarious and outrageous

video submissions of participants modeling

their creations. All entries were to be sub-

mitted by a certain date, allowing the Barbie

Rod Militia a week to vote on their favorite

submissions and participants to market their

creations. To really gain a full appreciation of

these submissions I encourage you to view

them on the Barbie Rod Challenge facebook

page.

www.facebook.com/groups/

barbierodchallenge

All of the submissions left me breath-

less and longing for more. The winner earned

their name on the Barbie Rod Challenge tro-

phy and a free pair of Costa Sunglasses gen-

erously donated from Fishing Florida Radio.

The voting was very intense and remained

neck and neck all week between Austin

Rouse and Tammy Wilson. The winner was

finally announced at the traditional monthly

get-together, all entrants won some great

prizes provided by the sponsors. Austin

Rouse and his Pro Staff Barbie ended up tak-

ing the cake with Tammy Wilson’s fly rod

closely trailing behind. The current challenge

is the “Alternative Challenge,” where par-

ticipants much submit photo/video of the

best alternative use for a Barbie rod other

than fishing. Come join in the fun and see

what everyone is talking about!

Nick Dyroff

Barbie Rod Challenge Founder

Malibu Kayaks Pro Staff Member

BIGFIN Apparel Pro Coordinator

Tailin’ Toad Pro Staff

.

Built Barbie StrongBuilt Barbie StrongBuilt Barbie Strong

The Barbie Rod Challenge initially was

thought to be just a fad. This past month has

proven it is here to stay and only continues to

grow stronger. Last month’s challenge was

clearly one for the books, gaining over four

hundred new members of The Barbie Rod

Militia. The “Locked & Loaded Challenge”

allowed the participant’s imagination to run

wild and create the most interesting modified

Barbie rod. Only two rules applied to this

challenge:

1. The rod must still have pink on it.

2. No altering of the Barbie rod length.

The submissions were so impressive

that photos could not do them justice which

lead to a series of hilarious and outrageous

video submissions of participants modeling

their creations. All entries were to be sub-

mitted by a certain date, allowing the Barbie

Rod Militia a week to vote on their favorite

submissions and participants to market their

creations. To really gain a full appreciation of

these submissions I encourage you to view

them on the Barbie Rod Challenge facebook

page.

www.facebook.com/groups/

barbierodchallenge

All of the submissions left me breath-

less and longing for more. The winner earned

their name on the Barbie Rod Challenge tro-

phy and a free pair of Costa Sunglasses gen-

erously donated from Fishing Florida Radio.

The voting was very intense and remained

neck and neck all week between Austin

Rouse and Tammy Wilson. The winner was

finally announced at the traditional monthly

get-together, all entrants won some great

prizes provided by the sponsors. Austin

Rouse and his Pro Staff Barbie ended up tak-

ing the cake with Tammy Wilson’s fly rod

closely trailing behind. The current challenge

is the “Alternative Challenge,” where par-

ticipants much submit photo/video of the

best alternative use for a Barbie rod other

than fishing. Come join in the fun and see

what everyone is talking about!

Nick Dyroff

Barbie Rod Challenge Founder

Malibu Kayaks Pro Staff Member

BIGFIN Apparel Pro Coordinator

Tailin’ Toad Pro Staff

.

1. Tammy Wilson’s Barbie Fly-Rod:

The first ever Barbie Fly Rod with glittered guide wraps and a

custom pink matching fly.

2, Paul Rivera's Bumpin' Barbie Rod:

Custom décor and a sound system with iPod dock.

3. Shawn Scribner’s Locked & Loaded Barbie Rod:

Bedazzle, laser sighted, strapped and a custom LED light

show.

4. Austin Rouse’s Pro-Staff Barbie:

Bedazzled and full of hand laid gems.

5. . Tyler Vollmer’s Barbie Rod Cannon:

A new take on the traditional potato gun, this first ever Barbie

Rod cannon can launch lures up to fifty feet away.

6. Steve McNerney’s Multi-Purpose Barbie Rod:

With intricate beading, a bottle-opener and a custom made

lure.

7. Jara Lipman’s Blinging Barbie:

Wrapped in gems and a matching Barbie bikini and protec-

tive Tailin’ Toads gloves and shield.

1

2 3

4

5

6

7

WINNER

Show Off Your Catch Share Your Story

Make The Front Cover Be A Part Of Something Great

Just send us your fishing photos and share your story with us

for a chance to be featured in a future issue of The Fisherman’s

Journal. Who knows, you may be the next famous face to

grace the front cover and spotlight our Angler Profile. Send all photos and articles to editor@thefishermansjournal.com

Peacocks On FlyPeacocks On FlyPeacocks On Fly

Jason Fernandez prepares himself

for a day of canal fishing.

Peacocks On FlyPeacocks On FlyPeacocks On Fly

Daniel Diez takes us on a tour

of pictures as he pursues

Peacock Bass in the local

lakes and canals of Miami

1

2

3

1.Warren Chin

2. Jason Fernandez

3. Daniel Hernandez/

Daniel Diez

Da

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l D

ie

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an

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l D

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1

3 2

1.1.1.Lared Lared Lared

FernandezFernandezFernandez

2. Daniel 2. Daniel 2. Daniel

Hernandez/Hernandez/Hernandez/

Daniel DiezDaniel DiezDaniel Diez

3. Eric 3. Eric 3. Eric

EstradaEstradaEstrada