Facts Of Fishing Tips

Tip 59

Rusty Hooks

So we’ve all been on that fishing trip that took place during a perpetual rainstorm. You get home, unload your gear and forget about it until your next excursion only to find everything in your box has turned rust brown from sitting in all that moisture for however long it’s been since that last trip. Many companies make small pouches or inserts that sit in your box and eliminate any moisture from the air inside. This gives you the peace of mind that your tackle collection will stay rust free which means you won’t be stuck polishing it up and changing every hook before each fishing trip.

Tip 58

Fish Isolated Cover

Ever been overwhelmed by that “where do I start feeling?” looking out onto acres of giant weed beds, lily pads or stump fields? Stop worrying about fishing it all and start looking for isolated pieces of the cover or irregularities in it. That means looking for points in the weed bed, small patches of pads away from the main field, or that single stump sitting in the middle of a big flat. Often the biggest fish in the lake will make these key features home as they offer great ambush points to feed on unsuspecting prey.

Tip 57

Match the Hatch

We’ve all heard fly fisherman use the term “match the hatch” but matching the hatch in any fishing situation can mean the difference between a good and a great day on the water. Do some homework before you hit the water to find out what forage the lake has to offer and always keep an eye out for anything that may clue you in while on the water; like any smaller fish you catch in an area. These are what the larger fish are eating and paying attention to the shape, size and color and matching your lures to them is a sure way to help you load the boat.  

Tip 56

Try a Baitcaster! 

Many anglers begin their fishing adventures using a spinning reel, and for good reason it is simple to operate and will work in all situations. But there are times when its baitcasting counterpart will outperform and help you catch more fish. First off look at using a baitcaster for throwing heavier baits, the internal breaking systems will give you a ton more control over the bait allowing you to place it more precisely and silently into the water. A baitcaster also allows you to use heavier line without taking away from casting distance and the worry of it jumping of the spool and becoming unmanageable.   

Tip 55

Fix that Backlash!

I’ll be honest the first time I picked up a baitcaster I went through five spools of line before I could even think about getting the bait out five feet in front of me. Understanding how to adjust the breaking systems before you go to flailing the bait in the air will go a long way in preventing that same thing from happening to you. The first thing to remember is each bait will require more or less tension based on its weight, so make these adjustments each time you change baits. Engage the spool; if the bait doesn’t fall to the floor loosen the tension knob until it does, if it goes crashing to the floor tighten it. The key you are looking for is when the bait hits the floor the spool stops turning, so continue to reel in and adjust until you find this happy medium and you’ll be sure to eliminate a ton of wasted line and a giant headache.

By: Jeff Slute

 

Tip 54

Retrieve speed is a critical dimension that is often overlooked by anglers. When bringing your bait back to the boat pay attention to how fast or slow you were reeling it in when you get a strike. The same goes for any action you impart during the retrieve, did the fish hit when you paused or when you sped up? A great way to speed up your retrieve when using a spinnerbait is to change the large blades that come with 1/2 and 3/4 oz. baits to smaller ones. This will let you "burn" the bait back to the boat and can make the difference between a good or great day on the water. 

Tip 53

Fishing pressure is something we as anglers are dealing with more and more these days. Put the odds in your favour by customizing your baits with different color dyes. The key to this is to pay attention to what you see in the water. If you notice a crayfish with bright orange claws than dye the tip of your jig trailer with some orange. If the bluegill in the lake your are fishing have a hint of blue or chartruese to the their tail then dye the bait you are using to match. You can also use dye to make quick adjustments to spinnerbait skirts and blades.

Tip 52

The most common way to peg your weight when fishing around heavy cover has always been a toothpick.  Jamming a toothpick between your weight and line can cause line damage and will push the weight to one side of the line creating an unnatural fall.  An alternative is to use a common rubber bobber stop. This will eliminate line damage and keep your weight and bait strait. Also when using heavier weights put one below it, this will keep it from pushing your plastic down the hook shank.

Tip 51

When Fishing with live night crawlers a little tip that saves messing up your boat is place a handful of crawlers in a small dish of water (dirt and all )  ad a few ice cubes, when you need a fresh crawler it will be clean your hands will be clean and the so will the floor of your boat.

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charters and Guide Services www.jpfish.com

Tip 50

When keeping fish to eat put them on ice prior to cleaning them. The flesh of the fish will firm up and the job at hand will be a lot less messy.

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charters and Guide Services www.jpfish.com

Tip 49

I usually start the day with several different colours of baits and once a colour catches two fish I will double or triple up on that colour. Some days I will have 8-10 of the same colour on all my rods and they are all producing.

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charters and Guide Services www.jpfish.com

Tip 48

Lure selection is something that can be confusing. Try to match baits that work well together what I mean by this is use baits that can be trolled at the same speed be it fast or slow a good way to see if they are compatible is just hold the bait over the side and watch it as its being trolled if its turning on its side or not wobbling at all change to something else.

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charters and Guide Services www.jpfish.com

Tip 47

Early in the season Anglers often become confused that they are not marking or catching fish. Chances are they are fishing to deep. try running some of your baits down 5-12 feet with either downriggers dipsies or planer boards. This is a killer technique that will pay off huge.

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charters and Guide Services www.jpfish.com

Tip 46

Often you will hear on the radio anglers referring to trolling uphill and downhill this is trollers jargon for trolling into the waves (uphill) or trolling with the waves pushing you (downhill). Other common phrases that refer to direction are trolling in the trough or the ditch (this is when the boat is trolling between the waves (the waves are hitting the sides of the boat as you troll.)

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charter and Guide Services www.jpfish.com

Tip 45

Direction of boat when trolling is very important. Ever notice some days you catch more fish going one direction over another. This is not a coincidence a lot of times there is current under the surface that you can not see. So if you are trolling north to south and getting lots of bites then you turn around and troll south to north and nothing, chances are there is a speed change at the lure that you are not aware of. Solution -troll in one direction until the bite slows down and pick up lines- run to the top of your spot and continue to troll in the direction that you are getting bites or adjust speed up or down from your productive speed to offset the difference of the current.

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charters and Guide Services www.jpfish.com

Tip 44

Often I am asked what the best speed is for trolling. This is a difficult question to answer but here goes in the spring just after ice out the water is still very cold and the fish are lethargic, troll as slow as you can go 1mph or less. Often drift socks or dragging a pail behind the boat is necessary to go slow enough. When the water starts to warm up a good trick to find the proper speed to get bites especially when using planer boards is to make wide S turns. This will do two things one side will speed up (the opposite side you are turning) and the other side will slow down (the side you are turning toward. Sometimes the slower speed triggers a strike other times it’s the faster side.

By: Paul Powis, JP Fishing Charters and Guide Service www.jpfish.com

Tip 43

Trailer Mainenance: To stop those pesky stone chips on your trailer when towing you have two options...1. You can pain the front edge of the trailer cross members with rubberized rocker guard or 2. Apply the heavy duty clear 3-M vinyl to these same places. The Key areas to focus on are the front sides of the tire fenders and any front side cross members that would be hit with stones from your vehicle. These pesky stone chips are the first thing to rust on any trailer and can be a real eye sore not to mention substantially depreciate the value of your trailer.

 By: JP DeRose, Professional Angler and Shimano Team Member

Tip 42

When using a flipping jig or any Texas rigged soft plastic, the key to detecting strikes is to understand how the bait feels under normal conditions, such as going over wood, rock and/or weed. Not every bite will shake your arm to the bone, bass have an uncanny ability to suck a bait in without you ever knowing it. That's why when something doesn't feel right on the retrieve...that's when you set the hook, and set it hard!

 By: JP DeRose, Professional Angler and Shimano Team Member

Tip 41

When usuing braided line remember to use a rod that has a bit softer of a tip than what you would use with monofilament. The no-stretch properties of the braid coupled with a stiff fishing rod will result in a lot of missed fish and torn out hooks. The wear and tear on your arms and wrist will quickly add up as well.

 By: JP DeRose, Professional Angler and Shimano Team Member

Tip 40

Covering structure from every angle: when fishing structure such as rock piles, weed beds or even lily pads, pay close attention to the direction you are getting hit and duplicate it. Some major factors that will affect fish position are sun, wind and current.

By: JP DeRose, Professional Angler and Shimano Team Member

Tip 39

Letting the wind dictate your plan of attack on any given structure will up your odds every time. Always remember that the majority of fish will face the wind waiting for food to come to them. Present your baits in the same natural manner to increase your odds.

 By: JP DeRose, Professional Angler and Shimano Team Member

Tip 38

Keeping your batteries in top working order should be every anglers priority, especially you deep cycle trolling motor batteries. You should check the fluid levels in your batteries at least once every couple of weeks and top up the level with distilled water when needed. If you find that you battery needs it often you probably have a cracked case and should return the battery to the dealer. Proper charging methods will also extend the life of your batteries... never let them sit exhausted before charging them for the next trip. Get into the habit of plugging them in as soon as you get home with the boat.

By:  JP DeRose, Professional Angler and Shimano Team Member

 

Tip 37

A good tip for the anglers fishing in areas with barbless hooks: when baiting with live bait (especially minnows), to keep your bait on, take a small piece of rubber worm and push onto hook after your bait. This allows you to bait in a way that keeps your bait very active.

By: Mike, Facts of Fishing Viewer, Winnipeg, MB 

Tip 36

So you are on the water, and you've caught that giant fish of a lifetime. And then you realize you don't have a scale or even a measuring tape to measure this fish. Quick and simple fix is to cut a piece of your fishing line the same length and girth of the fish and put that in your pocket to measure when you get home.

By:  Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of The Facts of Fishing

Tip 35

A good way to secure your bait to any rig is with a drop of Pro Soft Bait Glue. This will let you fish more and fix your bait less.

By: Peter Savoia CFT Classic Champion
www.setthehook.ca

Tip 34

Water proof storage boxes are great for keeping your stuff dry but if they have been opened during a rainy day they will also keep the water in.  So, at the end of the day, open them up to air them out.

By: Simon Frost
Bass Pro Shops Team Member

 

Tip 33

If your pliers ever become rusty and you need to free them up quickly, put them in some pop. The acids in the pop free the pliers up in a couple of minutes.

By:  Simon Frost
Bass Pro Shops Team Member

 

Tip 32

Label your tackle trays using a label maker. This will make finding that specific tray much easier. You can also do this for hooks and weights.

By:  Simon Frost
Bass Pro Shops Team Member

Tip 31

When using a drift sock, attach a line from the lop of the sock to the boat. This will cause the sock to collapse when you are pulling it in and also if the main line becomes untied it will save your sock.

By:  Simon Frost
Bass Pro Shops Team Member

Tip 30

When inserting your jig heads into tube baits, put a little scent on the top of the jig head. This will allow the jig to slide in a little easier and also add a little scent to your bait.

By:  Simon Frost
Bass Pro Shops Team Member

Tip 29

After fishing with salted baits, wipe down your rods with a damp cloth. This will prevent pitting and corrosion on your rods and reels, keeping them looking newer, longer.

By:  Simon Frost, Bass Pro Shops Team Member

Tip 28

When jigging for walleyes, don't be afraid to use bright coloured line when seeing your line is important.  Berkley Fireline Flame Green is a great choice.

By:  Capt. Bob Devine
Chartertalk Guide Service
www.chartertalk.com

Tip 27

When backing up your trailer, put your hand on the bottom of the steering wheel and turn in the direction that you want to go.  Most put their hand on top and try to go in the opposite direction.

By: Capt. Bob Devine
Chartertalk Guide Service
www.chartertalk.com

Tip 26

Suspending stick baits can be made to dive a bit deeper and have a better hook up and landing rate by adding a size larger treble hook. Tying feathers onto the tail treble really help trigger reluctant strikes from following fish, and add a slight hint of
movement to the bait when it sits still on the pause, again helping triggering strikes out of reluctant followers.

By Al Patton
Bass Pro Shops and Shimano Team Member

Tip 25

There are so many different sizes and thickness of tube baits on the market these days, it is important to remember to match the hook size you are using to the bait size. A small jig hook in a big tube will not allow enough hook gap to be exposed to provide a good hook up, and too big of a hook on a small or thinner bait will look odd and be a less effective presentation. The use of high quality, super sharp hooks make a big difference on your hook up rate, and are worth the small added costs.

By Al Patton
Bass Pro Shops and Shimano Team Member

Tip 24

Adding a small piece of cotton batten inside of your tube before you slide the jig inside, will hold scent and allow it to disperse over a longer period of time.

By Al Patton
Bass Pro Shops and Shimano Team Member

Tip 23

Ever notice that a salty tube bait seems to work better after it has caught a few fish? The teeth of bass tend to rough up the bait, giving it a totally different look under water. It almost adds a life-like sheen to the bait. Instead of waiting to catch a few bass to get this look, try stretching, twisting and roughing up the tube with your fingernails before using it. This will add the same look to the bait and get you started catching that much sooner.

By Al Patton
Bass Pro Shops and Shimano Team Member

Tip 22

When fishing tube baits in dirty or dingy water, the use of darker colours is best, but I like to add rattles inside the tube to help draw attention to the bait. Also, using larger or magnum sized tubes help to provide a bigger profile and make the bait easier for fish to find. The addition of a touch of scent inside the tube doesn't hurt.

By Al Patton
Bass Pro Shops and Shimano Team Member

Tip 21

Many lures come with split rings to tie on to. The split ring allows the lure to more room, giving more action.....most split rings have a spot where they will open up to allow for them to be added or taken off. When you tie your knot, make sure it doesn't slide into this area as the edges are sharp and will cut the line resulting in a lost lure, or even worse, losing that trophy of a lifetime. When tying a knot, I prefer to put the area of the splits so that the lure eye rests in this area, and the knot is completely opposite, tied around the thicker, cleaner area of the ring,avoiding the potential of a cut off.

By Al Patton
Bass Pro Shops and Shimano Team Member

Tip 20

I cannot stress enough the advantages of keeping a fishing log. I have been doing so since 1990 and I am always amazed when I look back to check a seasonal pattern or how we caught our fish in a certain tournament only to realize that what I remember was in most cases not accurate. Record things like lake, date, weather, technique, lure and lure colour, what time of day was best and where, structure, etc. Our memories for detailed information are short so get in the habit of writing them down. If nothing else, it makes for a good read in the middle of winter.

By Derek Strub
Pro Angler and Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff

 

Tip 19

For any outdoorsman, it is a must to own the best quality rain wear you can afford. There is nothing worse than spending a rainy day on the outdoor's water and getting soaked and chilled under a poor quality jacket. Another advantage of high quality materials such as Gortex, is in the heat of the summer, your suit will breathe so you don't bathe in your own sweat all day. Small price to pay for comfort!

By Derek Strub
Pro Angler and Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff

Tip 18

One of the most important tools an angler should rely on to catch more and bigger fish are marine electronics or “fishfinders”.  Most anglers use these devices to stay off the rocks while traveling and to know the depth that they’re fishing but often forget that today’s marine electronics offer other pieces of valuable information.  These units show important details that we sometimes disregard such as water temperature, boat speed, bottom hardness (rock, sand, mud), variations in the bottom (ditches, bars, saddles, humps), vegetation, and baitfish.  It’s important for anglers to pay attention to all of these details to find out where the fish are situated in any given body of water.  Keeping a journal of this information can save a lot of time when trying to figure out where the fish are. In addition some units are now equipped with GPS (global positioning systems) and lake charts that can aid in navigation and keep you safe on the water!

Stay safe and have fun! See you on the water,

Davis Viehbeck
www.extremeangling.ca

Tip 17

If you spend any amount of time on the water consider investing in a quality pair of polarized sunglasses.  Polarized sunglasses dramatically reduce glare from the sun allowing anglers to see fish, structure and navigational hazards with ease.

Stay safe and have fun!  See you on the water,

Davis Viehbeck
www.extremeangling.ca

Tip 16

Tube jerking for aggressive bass.
As you know for most situations a tube jig is best fished at a slow crawling retrieve to best imitate a crawfish. There are times though when it is best to fish a tube like you would a hard bodied jerkbait. When fish are very aggressive and chasing bait try casting a white or smoke tube out and let it sink a few feet and begin retrieving the bait with rhythmic jerks causing the bait to dart side to side.  This technique will often induce a violent strike from shallow water smallmouth.

By Derek Strub
Pro Angler and Shimano Pro Staff

Tip 15

Using braided line on spinning gear.
One of the biggest improvements in fishing equipment in the last ten years has to be the introduction of braided lines.  Lots of anglers have made the switch to braid on their bait casting gear but have been reluctant to do the same with spinning tackle. Anyone that is regularly fishing deeper than 15' (5m.) with spinning gear should consider making the switch. Because braided lines are no stretch anglers can increase the number of strikes they feel and also improve their landing rates because of better hook sets. Another tip to increase hookups is to add a 4' fluorocarbon leader to the end of their braid.  

By Derek Strub
Pro Angler and Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff

Tip 14

Using sonar to your advantage!
The sonar unit on your boat can be the single biggest advantage you have while fishing.  These units allow the fisherman to locate fish holding structure, baitfish, thermoclines and even specific fish that you can target and catch.  Whether you're using a brand new high tech unit like Hummingbirds top of the line 987 side scan or a regular run of the mill sonar unit it is very important that you learn how to use the graph inside and out. Most anglers simply turn them on and let the auto feature handle things, this is not a good idea, take the time to read the manual and learn the many things that you sonar can do for you. The next thing you should do with a new unit is drive the boat over an area of bottom that you are familiar with so you can see what the bottom looks like on the screen so you know first hand what you are looking at.

By Derek Strub
Pro Angler and Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff

Tip 13

When angling from shore, make sure to tread lightly. Too many anglers stomp their way down the shoreline and alert the fish that they are coming. Fish can actually feel the vibrations of you walking.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

Tip 12

One of the most disheartening feelings is catching a giant fish and when you get home, looking at the picture and finding out that it just didn't turn out. If you take your pictures with the camera person's back to the sun and the subject looking into the sun, you will get rid of those spooky shadows that spoil your super catch.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

Tip 11

One of my favorite baits to fish is a Strike King flipping jig. I have caught more big bass on a flipping jig than any other bait. But one of the first things I'll do before this lure ever hits the water is slightly bend out the hook, widening the gap, which allows me to hook more bohemath bass.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

Tip 10

When fishing in windy conditions, most anglers head for the sheltered shoreline. Don't be afraid to head the opposite way. Fishing wind-blown points pays big dividends. Bait blows in and the fishing explodes

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

 

Tip 9

Never, ever leave a spot that you have had success in without first changing your presentation. When fish stop hitting your tube jig, switch to a Berkley power grub. It may be just the ticket to turn them on again.

By Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of television's Facts of Fishing

Tip 8

Pliers, cameras, thermoses, lures, rods and reels, and even cell phones, when dropped in the bottom of a standard aluminum boat, may as well be an in-water siren. We anglers, make more noise dropping equipment to the bottom of an aluminum boat, than a busload of preschoolers on their way home from a field trip to the chocolate factory.
When purchasing your next boat or making modifications to your current model, look into one with a carpeted floor. The flooring and carpet act as an insulator and keep the noise above water.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

Tip 7

One of the most over-looked noises an angler makes, is actually their cast.
When fishing shallow water, make sure to use an underhand cast with a low trajectory to the water rather than the traditional overhead long bomb, that, in some situations will send our finned-friends fleeing.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

Tip 6

It is Friday afternoon and you just left work. You are rushing to that secret honey hole that only you know about. You fly down the lake and roar right on top of that sacred spot.
No matter where I am fishing, I will always shut down my outboard a minimum of 100 to 150 yards away from the spot. Remember the tortoise and the hare story. The tortoise always wins.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

Tip 5

Trolling motors are one of the best inventions for today’s angler. But, if you have your motor cranked up to 100% you are definitely turning the odds in the fish’s favor.  Electric trolling motors were designed to run on a slow but constant speed. Not a bone jarring, on-and-off approach. I very rarely run my Minn Kota  Maxum at over 30%.
Slow your motor down and you will speed up your success.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of TV's The Facts of Fishing

Tip 4

Noise is one of the most important keys in lure presentation. I use rattles in everything from senko's to tube baits to plastic worms. Even all my hard bodied minnow baits make noise. This will at least make the fist move or show him or herself and if it doesn't commit to that bait, at least I know it is active and I'll have something in my boat it make it eat.

By Darren Jacko
Pro Angler and Guide
519-688-8073

Tip 3

Always sharpen your hooks, even new hooks that are of less quality that are not sharp out of the package. Using the appropriate hook hone or file for the size of the hook is imperative. I like the small "pencil" type diamond hook sharpeners for small hooks, and the larger "file" type hook sharpeners for larger hooks.

Aaron Shirley
www.gettinghooked.net

Tip 2

To alleviate the problems of line twist on your spinning reel because of fresh line, simply take your spool off of the reel and run it under your hot water tap for 2 to 3 minutes.

This changes the memory from the manufacturer's spool size to your spool size.  This allows longer, smoother casts with less twists and knots.

By Darren Jacko 
Pro Angler and Guide  
519-688-8073

Tip 1

One of the most common mistakes anglers make is they don't think about spooking fish until they are actually fishing. Long before they have made their first cast, they grab their anchor and start their best impersonation of an Olympic shot-putter, firing their anchor into the lake with a thunderous boom.
You will find yourself with a lot more happy endings to your angling adventures if you gradually lower your anchor into the water.

By: Dave Mercer
Pro Angler and host of The Facts of Fishing