Freshwater Fishing News

Metal jigs or spoons can be extremely effective during winter fishing. Their effectiveness is related to winter fish behavior. During the cold months, freshwater fish often move into deeper water and feed primarily on small baitfish. Metal slab jigs and similar lures are designed to be fished deep and mimic baitfish.

Unlike some lure designs, metal jigs are reliable and easy to use. Although they can be casted, they often work well simply by lowering them straight down. As metal lures fall, their fluttering motion attracts hungry fish.

By keeping the rod tip high and making a series of lifts and slow drops, the angler can cover the entire water column. This same technique can be applied while anchored, drifting, or from a slow moving boat. Some anglers combine several techniques such as casting around the boat as well as vertical jigging as each method produces a slightly different presentation to fish.

Both jigs and spoons are available in a variety of sizes and colors. Chrome plated is the most popular, but some models are available in gold or colors such as white, chartreuse, or other choices. Some models of metal jigs feature treble hooks while others are equipped with a single hook. Spoons also feature a variety of hook styles, including fixed single hooks, free-swinging treble hooks, or other configurations. Some models of spoons are also equipped with a weed guard which lessens snagging or fouling from debris.

Small metal jigs can be extremely effective for catching bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseeds, or other sunfish species. They also take crappie, yellow perch, white perch, and other panfish. Larger models are used to catch largemouth bass, pike, pickerel, walleye, and other fish. In many locations, it can be critical to match lures to local baitfish populations.

Soft plastics or other lures are sometimes added to metal jigs or spoons. Single hook rigged jigs are necessary when adding lures such as grub bodies, tubes or slug baits. Some models of metal jigs or spoons are available with pre-dressed hooks. A few of the more popular styles are dressed with deer hair or feathers and come in several colors.

In some fisheries, anglers prefer to tip metal jig hooks with a live minnow, strip bait, or morsel of cut bait.

Fishing journals are essential tools for anglers. Fishing journals record important information about fishing trips. In many cases, these journals become priceless sources of information as they document fish behavior over a span of time. Fishing journals are kept by recreational anglers, professional fishing guides, charter boat captains, researchers, and others that are involved with fisheries.

Some angler’s journals are as simple as a pocket-sized notepad while others are kept in elaborate, hardbound books. In addition to paper journals, there are countless electronic options for recording data. As more and more anglers gained access to personal computers, fishing software grew in popularity.

Computer programs allow anglers to use powerful tools for storing, sorting and analyzing information. Technology continues to evolve, allowing fishing journals to be kept on blogs (web logs), social networks, smart phone apps, and other methods.

Regardless of the format, most anglers logs and fishing journals provide the same basic functions. Journals record date and time, location, weather conditions, tidal or water flow information (if applicable), fish measurements, and other data. Most journals also include an overview of the trip including information about fish behavior, nature, or other observations. When records are kept electronically, photographs or video footage may also be included with entries.

As entries build up in a fishing journal, valuable patterns often begin to appear. Anglers may notice that productive fishing days tend to coincide with events such as changing barometric pressure, tidal phases, or other occurrences. In some cases, a journal might indicate that productive fishing often coincides with the seasonal appearance of a specific bird, insect, or flower.

Anglers also gain insight about fishing techniques by studying past journal entries. For example, a fisherman might use a variety of lure colors over the course of a season, with the success of each color varying among trips. Over several seasons, a fishing journal might help show a relationship between the most productive lure colors and water visibility, ambient light, or other factors.

As each fishing season is logged, a fishing journal becomes more and more valuable. Most anglers simply retain their past logs for personal use, but some fishermen eventually utilize their logs in other ways. Old fishing journals sometimes become useful decades, or even centuries later. Outdoor writers sometimes consult their old journals, occasionally including entries in their work. Old fishing journals are highly prized by historians and other researchers as they contain a wealth of historical, natural and cultural information.

Tube lures are a favorite choice for catching crappie, sunfish, bass, pickerel and other species. These highly effective lures are often fished on jig heads, but when weeds are thick in productive fishing areas, weedless tube rigs can make the difference between success and a disappointing trip. The effectiveness of these rigs is partly due to their near-neutral buoyancy.

Rigging tube bodies is very easy. To rig a small tube lure for panfish, all that is required is a selection of bodies, few hooks and if desired, a supply of toothpicks. For panfish, an ultralight spinning outfit is essential when fishing weedless tube lures. Line choices should be limited to 6 pound test or smaller, in order to achieve reasonable casting distances. The rig can be fished in a variety of situations, although it is designed for fishing areas of dense vegetation.

When choosing hooks, several styles can be adapted. Regardless of the hook shape, non-offset hooks should be used in order to reduce spinning. Circle hooks work well for this rig as their barbs are naturally turned inward, further reducing snags. For anglers that are not comfortable using circle hooks, kahle hooks or other light wire, non-offset styles can be modified. The important thing is to be able to bend the hook shank and bend into the correct shapes.

The basic weedless-weightless tube lure design can be improved upon by pinning the body to the hook. Pinning helps prevent fish from pulling the body down the hook during the strike. Pinning a tube body can be accomplished by passing a toothpick thru the lure body, into the hook eye and back out the other side of the body. The toothpick is then broken off, leaving little to no material protruding out of the body. If desired, a small swivel can be added about 18 inches above the hook to reduce line twist.

Panfish anglers may also choose to add a short section of nightcrawler or other natural bait on the hook. When rigged correctly, there is just enough room on the hook shank for a morsel of bait. Adding bait should be done carefully as any non-symmetrical shaped pieces will cause the lure to spin during retrieval or otherwise hinder the motion of the rig. When rigged correctly, baits actually act as a keel to help stabilize the rig and improve its action when moved thru the water.

For smallmouth or largemouth bass, the same technique can be used with larger tubes and standard offset shank worm hooks. Depending on angler preferences and local conditions, bass anglers usually select tube bodies in the 3-6 inch range. Like most soft plastics, these designs come in a myriad of colors, shapes, tentacle styles and other attributes. Tube bodies are even available in scented versions.

Fishing the weedless tube lure requires a slightly different technique than standard jigs or Texas rigged worms. Tube bodies can be casted into openings in weed beds and allowed to sink a foot or 2 before slowly being worked back towards the boat. The natural action of the tentacles creates interest from fish without additional movement.

Another effective technique is to cast the lure and immediately jig it sharply across the surface. This method usually works best around sunrise and sunset. Larger tube rigs will float initially and work especially well for catching largemouth bass among heavy surface weeds.

When fishing for smallmouth bass in areas where crayfish are found, choosing the correct color and allowing the lure to sink deeper can improve fishing success.

How to Rig A Weedless Tube Lure

Step 1. Pass the barb down the body and back out the side. Slide the body up the hook until the eye is covered.

Step 2. Tuck the hook point up inside the tentacles of the body.

Step 3 (optional). Pass a toothpick thru the body, into the hook eye and back out the body.

Step 4 (optional). Break off the toothpick flush with the lure body.

Other Tube Rigs

The weedless tube rig can be combined with other rigs to increase its effectiveness. For example, it can be used as the top lure for tandem rigs. Because of their near neutral buoyancy, they work well when rigged in tandem with a jig or other weighted lure. Weedless tubes can also be rigged using the popular dropshot configuration. These can be highly effective when slowly jigged along drop offs, bottom structure or other areas where fish are congregated. When vegetation does not reach the surface, tube bodies can be effective rigged on weedless jig heads. These special jig designs incorporate a bristle in front of the hook point to deflect snags.

Tandem rigs, sometimes called “doubles” or “twin rigs”, can be highly effective rigs for catching bass, crappie, sunfish, perch, shad, and other species.

There are a number of reasons why these rigs are effective. One advantage is that they allow anglers to have greater depth control. For example, an angler can effectively double the weight of a rig, while still maintaining a slow retrieve at mid-depth. In addition, the added weight of the rig helps anglers achieve longer casts.

The action of two lures rigged in tandem can be remarkably different than a single offering. One of the most well known presentations involves lures of different sizes. When rigged and retrieved properly, these special rigs mimic a small baitfish chasing after its prey. The rig is known to sometimes incite strikes from fish. The reaction by predators to this presentation can sometimes be extremely aggressive, with double hookups a common occurrence.

Jigs are often rigged in tandem. There are a number of configurations, each having its special application. Some rigs use jigs of identical weight, while others feature a heavy-light combination. The variations are endless, with anglers mixing sizes, colors, shapes, and lure types.

To begin making a tandem jig rig, select a section of mono leader of the proper strength. The simplest way to attach the upper jig is by using a dropper loop or surgeon’s loop. Next the lower jig can be attached using an improved clinch knot or other knot. Finally, to complete the rig, a small swivel should be added above the upper jig.

A similar version employs two leaders of different lengths, both of which attach to a common swivel. Larger versions of this rig sometimes employ a 3-way swivel for the connection. Angler preference determines the length of each leader and the size, color and style of each lure.

One of the most well known tandem jig setups is used to catch anadromous shad and river herring. Each spring, these ocean dwelling fish migrate hundreds of miles upstream into freshwater creeks and streams. Although the fish do not feed heavily while migrating, they will strike a small, moving lure.

To catch American shad, hickory shad, or river herring, anglers often rig shad darts in tandem, Choosing jig sizes or colors based on local preferences. Other anglers prefer flashy jigs such as small feathered versions, tinsel jigs, or lead heads rigged with curly tailed grubs.

Tandem jigs can be highly effective for catching members of the bass-sunfish family. One advantage of these setups is that anglers can fish two sizes of lures on a single cast. In addition to providing a unique presentation, this method of fishing allows anglers to target bass, crappie and sunfish all at once.

An excellent bass-sunfish rig features a 1/32 oz. shad dart on a dropper loop, followed by a larger soft plastic grub or tube jig. These double rigs often catch two species at once or may catch pairs of bass, sunfish, or crappie

Tandems are also useful for as live bait rigs. One popular tandem bait rig features a minnow on a bare jig hook, with a worm or other small rig trailing behind.

Another popular tandem bait rig for catching species such a walleye, trout or salmon uses beads and spinner blade in front, followed by a worm rigged with a single or tandem hooks. These rigs are used to work a live nightcrawler or minnow very slowly along the bottom.

Tandem rigs are not limited to mid-depth and bottom fishing. A little known but very effective tandem rig pairs a surface popper with a trailing fly or small baited hook. The rear hook is removed or disabled by snipping off the shanks. From the rear eye, a short leader extends back several inches, upon which a fly or live bait hook is attached. The rig is casted around structure and twitched.

This action often draws out multiple species of fish. Top level predators such as bass or pickerel may attract the popper. If no large fish are present, a perch, crappie, sunfish or other fish may charge and take the trailing lure.

When crappie fishing, choosing the correct lure color can make the difference between a busted trip and a successful day. Most anglers are aware that crappie can be quite finicky when it comes to lure color.

Top crappie lure colors and patterns are often related to light conditions, water clarity, time of day, season, and abundance of local forage species.

Live bait anglers often combine live minnows with colored jigs to entice crappie. Although live minnows presented on a bare hook will catch fish in many situations, there are times when a colored jig can be critical for success. In most areas, traditional crappie jigs or shad darts are favored for fishing live minnows, with colors often related to water conditions.

Crappie jigs come in a range of weights, patterns, and material combinations. The simplest and oldest designs incorporate a painted lead head jig, a chenille body and marabou feathers for the tail. Solid color jigs are among the most popular, with white, black, yellow, chartreuse, green and other colors being common.

Several old school marabou crappie jig patterns feature color combinations. Some of the most famous are red head/black body/white tail, red and white, pink and white, chartreuse body/black tail and others. Elaborate jigs may feature a variety of head shapes, body materials, and tail designs. The combinations are endless, with spinner blades, tinsel and other flashy materials often added to designs.

Shad darts are another old school fishing lure that never looses popularity. These small jigs have remain popular because of their low cost, simplicity, and effectiveness. They are fished as-is or used in conjunction with live baits.

The most popular shad dart patterns include some combination of red, pink, white, chartreuse, green, yellow, orange, and black. Crappie specialists sometimes prefer shad darts with  a traditional red and white head pattern, dressed with white deer hair. In addition to the basic version, anglers often carry a selection of shad darts in various colors and patterns.

Beetle spins are another traditional crappie lure. These specialized spinnerbaits utilize a wire arm, which attaches to the line. The arm has upper and lower branches, to which a jig and spinner blade are attached. The original design uses a soft plastic “grub” body with a spit tail. The body itself has no action, but has a lifelike feel and provides an element of color. On the opposing arm is the spinner blade, which can be silver, gold, or painted. Beetle spins come in a wide range of colors and patterns, with favorites varying regionally.

One advantage of the beetle spin design is its modular construction. The simple wire arm allows anglers to quickly change the entire jig, allowing for variations of weights, colors, or head shape. The spinner arm not only adds an element of flash and pulse, but also serves to slow down the jig. In heavy cover, the spinner arm also helps deflect the jig off branches and other snags.

Simple painted or unpainted jig heads rigged with soft plastic “curly tail” bodies are one of the best lures for catching crappie. These jigs are among the easiest lures when it comes to changing colors. Most anglers select a basic jig head and experiment with different body colors while fishing.

Regardless of the type of lure chosen, color can be an important factor for success. Some anglers swear by black on black, and rarely fish other patterns. Others claim that white, chartreuse, or another choice is the best color for catching crappie.

Color patterns are also popular. Red and white is perhaps the most famous color combination in the world, having been popular for more than a century. Many patterns attempt to mimic species of fish or other prey. Shad, bluegill, rainbow trout, fire tiger, crawfish, and other patterns are usually among the best sellers.

A few exceptions to these guidelines are notable. First, crappie are known to sometimes be attracted to bright colored lures which in no way resemble natural baits. This behavior occurs with a number of fish species and can be difficult to predict. Another situation occurs when crappie will bite a certain lure, regardless of color. Similar to their attraction to bright colors, crappie may sometimes respond to a particular lure action.