August 4, 2010
A fast retrieve
by jpdubois
You will find all kinds of lures on the market today. Most of the time, swimbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs all get a lot of attention and the good old spinnerbait is forgotten. That's too bad because, when you want a lure that you can bring back rapidly to the boat to cover a lot of water, no other lure can beat the spinnerbait.
Burning a spinnerbait will let you catch fish all year long but this technique is at its best when the season opens in spring. That's when the fish that have just spawned are in shallow water and eagerly looking for a meal.
Just fast enough
The ideal retrieve, when a fisherman wants to cover water really fast and catch some fish at the same time, is to bring the spinnerbait back at a depth of about 30 cm. That way, the spinnerbait doesn't create a wake. To do so, you need the right lure. Spinnerbaits weighing ½ oz or more are best for fast retrieves. They have less tendency to turn to the side when you bring them back at a fast pace. If the lure you are using still turns a bit, you can fix this by changing the top blade to a smaller one. Generally, fishermen use willow blades for this technique. You can change a #5 blade for # 4 to get a straight running spinnerbait.
A gold willow and a silver willow is the most versatile combination. For skirt color, most fishermen use a white or chartreuse and white.
You can throw this lure and bring it back quickly in all sorts of environments. It can work in open water as well as in places full of weeds and other obstacles. The best technique is to cast beyond the target and bring it back fast to where you think the fish is hiding. As you reach your target, you can pause for a fraction of a second. This sometimes makes the fish react.
The right tackle
For a fast retrieve, you need the right tackle. A 6 ½ or 7 feet rod, in medium heavy action, is well suited but choose one with enough flex in the tip to let the fish take the bait. A small fast baitcaster with a ratio of 7:1 will let you bring that lure back quickly. Seventeen or twenty pound test mono or better yet fluoro will give all the power you need to bring the fish to the boat. You can use thicker line because you're winding so fast that the fish don't have time to pay attention to your line.
So, if you need to find out rapidly where the fish are hiding in a large bay, get out your spinnerbait and bring it back fast.
Réal Larose
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June 28, 2010
Five rules for trolling
by jpdubois
Trolling, what could be simpler! A lot of fishermen just let some line out of the back of the boat and hope for the best. Yes, trolling can be as simple as that. But, if you want to catch one type of fish using the "right" lure, you have to work a bit harder at it. Why should trolling be complicated? Well because when you do it right, you catch more fish and bigger fish. Trolling can become a fantastic way to explore vast areas and to locate large schools of fish. To do it right, you have to follow some rules. There are five important ones that will let you reach fish at different depths and present the lure in a way that they will make them react.
1 Choose the right type of equipment.
If you want to transform trolling into an "art", that will let you catch more fish, you have to use the right type of equipment. When you are trolling at the back of the boat using crankbaits or other lures, a medium action rod, around 7 feet long, is about right. If you combine that with a casting reel of the right size, you will have a combo that will be comfortable to use. Casting reels have enough capacity to hold all the line you may want to use and let you fish far from the boat. Some even have a line counter that tells how much line is out there. That way, if you catch a fish, you can let out the same amount of line a second time.
When you're trolling, the line you use is also important. In most situations, braided line is better. This type of line has a smaller diameter for the same resistance. This lets the lure dive deeper. This type of line also tells you if the lure is working correctly. If weeds are picked up, the tip of the rod will stop vibrating and you will know that you have to reel in to clean the lure. Braided line also does not stretch. This gives you a better hook set.
2 Read you electronics
You can troll without using a sonar unit, but this kind of electronic instrument has become almost a necessity if you want to fish with precision. Owning one is not enough. When you troll, you have to watch it carefully. Travelling slowly in a zone that seems to be holding fish, you have to watch the screen to detect baitfish or groups of sport fish. If you pick up a fish signal, slow down to pinpoint the location of the predator.
3 Go down to where the fish are feeding
The depth of your lure is the most important aspect when you're trolling. There are different ways to get a lure to track at the "right" depth. You can use a lure with a small diving lip to explore fairly shallow water. For deeper water, you want a lure with a larger lip and also a small diameter braided line to get that lure to reach the bottom in 15 or 20 feet of water. For even deeper water, you can put some weight on the line a few feet ahead of the lure or use a "bottom walker". Lead core line might be considered for spots that are deeper than 40 feet.
4 Use the right speed
Every fisherman knows that certain species like a lure that is travelling slowly. This is true early in the season when the water is cold and the metabolism of the fish is slow. During this period, a speed between 1 and 2 mph is ideal to get a reaction from the fish. Later on in the season, when the fish have scattered and the water is warmer, it's better the go a little faster to cover more water. Then, a speed between 2 and 4 mph lets you explore a wider area and is not too fast for the fish.
5 Choose a lure that has the right action for the trolling speed you are using
Choosing the lure is the final challenge. It's the last link when you want to troll in the right spot, at the right depth and the right speed. Some lure will wobble widely and these are best when you are going slowly. Others have a less pronounced action and can be used with good results when you are trolling faster. When the season begins, larger lure better mimic the larger preys (full grow minnows) that are present at that time. As the young of the year minnows grow, you can scale down a bit in size to imitate those preys. Color wise, a variety of lure, some rather light in color, others darker and a few with bolder colors will catch you fish.
As you can see, trolling can be an exact science where each detail is important. More than that, the 5 rules mentioned above will help you towards a better and more precise presentation. They will help you get more fish and more pleasure out of the "art of trolling".
Réal Larose
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June 3, 2010
"Rattling" lures
by jpdubois
I've always been told to be quiet when getting close to a fishing spot, so as not to frighten the fish. But, if examine a lot of the lures on the market today, they are made to send out all kinds of noise and vibrations. Why is it that even if fishermen try to be subtle and quiet, manufacturers insist on filling their lures with all kinds of little metal balls to make them noisy. They tell us it's to catch more fish. A lot of species, and bass most of all, seem to be sensitive to noise created when to objects hit each other. It's possible that this "racket" sounds like the noise produced by the shells of crayfish as they move through the water. For bass, it would be like ringing the dinner bell.
But, do other species react the same way? Walleyes seem interested in noise also. When fishing where there is not a lot of pressure or in dingy water, rattling lures like crank baits or jig heads with a rattle chamber seem to work better than silent lures. The difference in the number of fish caught is not as significant as with bass, but it's there. Walleyes like noise in dirty water. It's another matter when dealing with clear water and pressured fish. Under those conditions, no noise is much better. Depth is also important. Deep water walleyes react better to a noisy lure because they don't make the connection between the vibrations and the fisherman. In that situation noise adds to the overall attraction of the lure.
Pike seem unaffected by noise. Maybe it's because they are sight feeders. Also, they rarely eat crayfish and they probably don't associate noise with food.
What about trout and salmon? I asked a few people who are experts at catching those species and one of them finally admitted that he sometimes used a fly that was tied with one of those tiny glass rattles. A lot of the minnow baits used for trout and salmon are the same as those for bass and contains some sort of noisemaker. They are really good at the beginning of the season, but seem to lose some of their appeal as the season progresses. Silent lures are better when fishing pressure is the norm.
So, "noise" can get you more fish! When used at the right time, it can be another tool to grab the attention of that special fish that swims in your dreams.
Réal Larose
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May 12, 2010
Fishing lines
by jpdubois
You already know that your fishing line is the only link between you and the fish. So you must choose it carefully. The features of your line have an impact on your fishing success. Some lines let you cast further or feel a strike better. Others are almost invisible under water or can withstand abrasion better. Everybody would like to use the perfect line. But even today, it's impossible for manufacturers to combine all the features that a fisherman would want into one single line. So you have to choose and look for the features that correspond to the technique you are going to use. When you understand the impact that each feature has, it will be easier to choose between lines.
If you fish from shore or are going to use small lures and want to cast far, your line should be flexible. Flexible lines are often more elastic and less durable. This flexibility also takes away a bit of sensibility and abrasion resistance so these lines will suffer from contacts with rocks of even weeds. If you want the most flexibility you have to choose a small diameter line. Lots of companies manufacture monofilaments or copolymer lines that are very flexible. They use words like "Easy to cast", "Ultra-soft" or "Finesse" to describe the softest line they offer. These lines are ideal to fill a small spinning reel.
For bigger lures or fishing spots that are full of brush and rocks, you need more strength! Strength is even more important if you want to catch species like pike that can grow big. Tougher lines are usually more abrasion resistant and that can mean less flexibility. A harder finish will also mean a line that doesn't stretch as much and will give a bit more feeling. For the same pound test, the diameter of tougher line is bigger and that will shorten your casts especially if you are using spinning tackle. In light pound test, like 8 pound or 10 pound, these abrasion resistant lines are excellent for trolling or jig fishing. In heavier pound test, they work well on a baitcasting outfit. You can find these lines on the shelves of you tackle store by looking for words like "Tough or Extra Tough" and "Extra Strong".
Some fishermen swear by braided lines and others swear at them. You either love or hate these lines after using them for a couple of minutes. The feeling you get when using branded or fused lines is totally different from the one you have with monofilament. Everything is so much more intense! You feel more friction as the line rubs against the guides. You feel the vibrations of the lure and the impacts as it comes in contact with rocks and brush. Best of all, you feel the strikes. For some fishermen, it's too much information and they can't seem to tell one from the other. For others, it's ideal.
These very flexible lines do not stretch very much and keep you in contact with what's happening. The surface of the first ones developed was a bit rough and there was a lot of friction. Today braided and fused lines have smoothed out and you can cast as far with them as you would using mono. The biggest advantage of braided lines is their strength. For the same diameter, braided or super lines are three times as strong as monofilament. This makes them ideal for using in a spinning reel when you want a strong line but in a small diameter.
Fluorocarbon lines are the last ones to appear on the market. Less flexible than mono or braided lines, fluorocarbon has qualities that make up for some this. It's the king of clear water. It's almost invisible underwater and it's ideal when you are casting to fish that you can see or when "finesse" is the name of the game. It's moderately tough and will stretch less than mono in most situations. It also sinks faster than mono and is great when using lures that suspend.
Only time will tell if one of these lines will grab the attention of most fishermen. Braided and fused lines seem to have the advantage now but who knows what the future will bring. Choose your lines now, but keep an open mind!
Réal Larose
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April 6, 2010
Aim for fish!
by jpdubois
When I talk with other fishermen at an outdoor show, a lot of anglers want to know how to improve their performance when fishing. They would like info about the most popular new lure or the latest technique that is guaranteed to put fish in the boat even in the worst conditions. I usually tell them that one of the best ways to improve their catch is to practice casting.
Sure, lures and techniques are important aspects and they have an impact on your success but to get the most out of them you need to go back to the basics. One of the skills you have to master before even thinking about the complexity of presentation and lure choice is casting with precision. If you can put your lure where you want to, you're sure to improve your catch.
Practice makes perfect
If you really want to get good at it, you should practice at least twice a week. In summer, you can lay out practice rings on the lawn, some close some far. In winter, depending where you live, you can practice in the basement using different size containers to improve your flippin' and pitchin'. It's also important to use different types of equipment. Go from heavy casting gear to light spinning to be able to adjust to changing conditions without loosing your accuracy. To cast with precision, you need good quality tackle so buy the best you can afford.
If you live close to a lake or river, it's also a good idea to practice on water. You can lay out three or four targets at different distances using empty pop bottles anchored by a line and sinker. These can be retrieved at the end of the session with the help of floating/diving lure. If you can hit these targets two times at out three, then your casting skills are on par with those of the best fishermen.
More than skill
Casting with skill is good, but casting to fish is even better! It' important to be able to get within inches of a stump or a rock, but even more, to aim your cast for the fish! You've got to imagine the position of the fish in relation to the cover and then put your lure in the spot that will let you retrieve it toward the fish in the most natural way. Experience only will tell you if the fish are upstream or downstream from cover, in the shadows or roaming.
Some days, you've got to drop your lure right next to the fish to make them react. On other occasions it's better to let your lure hit the water farther off and then retrieve it with an angle that intersects the cover. It's important to vary that angle too. A fish might ignore a lure that is brought back at a 90° angle and bust one that is retrieved almost parallel to cover. The first type of retrieve is ideal in clear water where you want to induce a reaction strike. The second one might be better in stained or muddy water where it gives the fish more opportunity to locate the lure. Always let the fish tell you how they want their food.
Casting low
You can get good distance and precision casting overhead but you've got to learn to cast underhand to be able to get close to fish and not scare them. Conventional underhand casting, flipping and pitching have become part of the arsenal of all successful tournament fishermen and it's no surprise.
These casting techniques don't let you cast as far but the lure travels parallel to water, is easier to control and falls with a much softer impact. With practice, you'll be able to slow and stop your lure in midair, right on target and make it fall with barely a "splat" that will not scare even the most timid of fish. In clear water or at close range this will have a tremendous impact on how the fish will react to your bait. It can mean the difference between an immediate strike or an instant retreat into cover.
Casting right
Another way to improve your casting skills is to learn to use your right hand for baitcasting. Most fishermen cast with the right hand then switch the rod over to the left hand for the retrieve. It's faster and more efficient to keep the rod in the right hand for the retrieve also. You don't lose time switching hands and you don't have that second or two where you don't have complete control.
If you're right-handed, your right hand and arm are stronger and have better coordination. You can retrieve and maneuver lures with more skill and strike with more power. All the other hand does is turn the handle so why not leave that job the one that is not so efficient. That way you'll never loose a fish while switching hands.
Yes, the few hours that you take to learn to cast better can really improve your fishing skills. Each time you try a new lure or a new technique you will do so with the confidence that your casts will reach the fish.
Réal Larose
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