Fishing Tips and Techniques

Hole Bombing: Sometimes weed-bed bass refuse to come topside to hit surface lures, especially in deep water or clear water in bright sunlight. That’s when you should “bomb” the holes in the weeds. Use a heavy slip-sinker to get down where bass live. I’ve fished thick, matted weeds this way where vertical fishing was the only way to effectively catch bass. This is a very common tactic in Florida, Georgia, Texas, the Carolinas and other states where mats of hydrilia, water hyacinths and water lettuce abound.

The Lures – I like soft plastic worms and lizard imitations for deep weed-bed work. Snag Proofs “Hawg Dawg” is an excellent lure for heavy bass in thick cover because it comes rigged with two hooks, which help in hauling fish out of the slop. continue reading…

Fly casting can be a very rewarding and add a sense of enjoyment, accomplishment and confidence to your sport. By setting a strong foundation of fundamentals and mechanics to your casting stroke, you will find the time to master other aspects of fly fishing, like actually catching a fish rather than the back of your head. By following a set of guidelines listed below and making some of your own, you will be headed down the right path to become an efficient fly fisherman and not just a frustrated one.

The Grip

Good casting form begins with the correct grip, there are many different types of grips but the most comfortable hand position is the extended finger grip. continue reading…

1) Combine black Strike Out yarn with any other color for a strike indicator that’s visible in nearly all lighting conditions.

2) Indicators aren’t just for nymphs, they also work great when you’re casting tiny dry flies. An indicator can serve a marker so you don’t lose track of your fly’s position on the water.

3) To fish most effectively with an indicator set-up in deep waters or waters of varying depth, use two or more indicators of different colors and space them evenly along the body and butt of your leader. If one indicator sinks, just watch the next in line, and so on. continue reading…

1) Try using a drop of Water-Based Head Cement at the base of parachute-style hackles to help secure the hackle against repeated chewing by the fish. The cement’s super-thin consistency allows it to penetrate deeply and doesn’t mat hackle like more viscous cements (try it on store-bought flies, too).

2) Sun Set is tremendously versatile and can even be used for on-the-water fly repair. A little dab and a little sun and you can fix everything from unraveling Adams to tooth-scarred epoxy-minnows. continue reading…

1) Deep Soft Weight may be soft to handle, but it can be hard on your head if you cast improperly. To make the easiest (and safest) presentation possible, use an elliptical casting stroke whenever you need to “chuck and duck.”

2) Does the tip of your floating line sink sometimes? It may not be a problem with the line, rather your leader may be sinking, pulling the fly line’s fine tip after it. Try a little Payette Paste or Aquel on the connector or butt of your leader to keep it (and the tip of your line) floating high. continue reading…

The triangle between Stony Point to Sandy Pond to the Main Duck offers the greatest fishing triangle of the Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario. This is 100 square miles providing the finest fishing hotspots in the most beautiful Lake of the Great Lakes. Boating out of Henderson Harbor you pass the high rises of the Trench and the Lighthouse on Stony Point to enter the fish enriched deep beautiful Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario. Fishing in the this great lake has never been better! Expect catches of salmon, trout, walleye, and bass on any given day. Grand Slams are common (a mixed bag from each species). This is a fishing paradise.

THE KING SALMON (CHINOOK) continue reading…

Jigs are often thought of as primarily bottom-bouncing baits, yet I have had great success in the fall period by swimming a jig. It seems to be especially effective in water bodies that have lots of baitfish. Not only will swimming a jig give the fish a different look from what they are used to, it will also allow you to cover lots of water with a quicker retrieve than the traditional jig retrieve.

Generally in the Fall, schools of baitfish will get up near the surface and move up on the flats. A good bunch of bass will follow them to feed. In that situation, the bass will often suspend on cover waiting to ambush prey as it swims by. They will suspend on anything from a wood stick up to a dock. If you work a jig on the bottom, you probably will not appeal to many of these fish. But if you swim it along in a pumping motion at the depth the fish are suspended, you will generate more strikes. continue reading…

Summertime is known for its deep water bassing, and for many that means crankbaits and Carolina rigs. But there are instances when picking up your flipping rod will put the bass in the boat. That does not necessarily mean you go to the bank and fish shallow. One of my favorite techniques is pitching in deep water.

A combination of two things is required for deep water pitching. The first of course is deep water. The second is some type of cover that requires a precise presentation. The cover can be a variety of things including docks, standing timber, or vegetation. Why pitch to these targets rather than cast if the fish are deep? Well, even though the fish may be deep, by pitching you can get your bait into the cover more easily and in a more controlled manner. Also for me, I can pitch with my left hand while I cast with two hands. By pitching I am more efficient and can get more presentations during the day. I basically use a normal pitch to get the bait where I want it, then feed it line with my free hand to allow the bait to fall straight down. Be sure to watch your line and monitor how far the bait has fallen, because you may get lots of bites on the initial drop. continue reading…

To become a fisherman is often confused with learning to cast. A great caster is not necessarily a great fisherman, but a great fisherman or woman is usually a good caster. These words of caution are offered as my opinion, as today many fly fishing schools teach just casting. Make sure when you investigate a fly fishing school that you ask for a syllabus or outline of what is to be taught. Make sure it fits your needs, and fulfills your expectations. If less than 50% of the time is not on the water, either a pond or a stream or better yet a pond first and then a stream, then you are attending a casting school and not a fly fishing school. continue reading…