January Contest--Fishing Tips

[Fishaholic]

Whenever faced with a tough fishing scenario always remember to employ your PMA...your Positive Mental Attitude...without it you're no longer in the game.

[bassguy2004]

Keep a couple of pocket warmers in you tackle box. When needed take it out and bingo warm hands.

[Fishaholic]

Never overlook shallow water with lots of slop on top...the water under the slop is a lot cooler than the exposed water.

[calincalif50]

Use those small rubber bands that horse people use to braid thier hore's tails and mane with....there are loads of uses for them...like hold a twe peice rod together, use them on your senkos, make a emergency weed guard by tying the band through the eye of the hook and then under the hook tip

[Ron Fogelson]

Before every fishing trip, stop in to Ultimatebass and check up on the lakes past fishing reports.  Will give you a head start on what to use & where to go.

[bassguy2004]

To insure my rain gear is water proof, I spray scotch guard on the jacket a couple of days before fishing. Two or three applications during the winter and never a leak.

[Mike Noble]

I heard this one a couple of years ago.  To clean the oil and other buildup in the bottom of your boat...before you head to the lake, fill up a bucket with warm soapy water (dish washing liquid).  Open the back storage and pour it into the bottom of your boat.  The drive to the launch will slosh the soapy water around, breaking up the residue that has built up.  You can turn on your bilge pump at the ramp or pull the drain plug to release the dirty water.

Oh yeah...put the plug back in before launching.

[bassguy2004]

Always ask the wife if she needs something from the store on the way back from fishing, it's gotten me out of trouble more than once.

[BassBUFF]

Get one of the kids foam "noodles" they use for swimming, cut a slit lengthwise and wrap around whatever you don't want to lose in the lake. Like transom savers, net, or even a rod.

[Fishaholic]

In the fall, a great bait to consider is a 1/2 oz Johnson Silver Minnow with a 10" plastic worm used as a trailer...worked on top of leaves that have fallen into the water is deadly.

[bass1cpr]

 Plastic cicgar tubes make great containers for things like reel lube bottles, Backlash pics.  

[bassguy2004]

To repair a plastic worm, just use a drop of super glue. You'll get at least a couple more casts and that could mean fish.

[Fishaholic]

When fishing heavy timber with crankbaits, I sometimes remove the front treble hook to reduce getting snagged.

[Ron Fogelson]

Keep a spare tolling motor prop nut in your boat, you know one of these days while taking it off to unwind some fishing line its going to fall over board.  With a spare on board you can continue fishing.

[kevin dahlke]

When fishing with plastics it is always a good idea to use a cover scent to mask the human odors that we leave on the bait. As well as giving the fish something very tasty for them and giving us a few extra seconds to get the hook set.

[Fishaholic]

When fishing light jigs in bushes and tree branches, you can reduce the amount of times you get hung up by opening up the bend of the hook...it won't reduce the number of hookups either.

[Jared LeBlue]

Ok, for the back of the boat angler that keeps getting front ended. When the person in front of the boat goes to cast, stick your rod out to where his lure will hit it. This will cause the person to backlash. Simply say I'm sorry and while he's pulling out backlash you can fish. Laurie you don't have to count this one, I thought I would add some humor.

[bassguy2004]

I made my backlash pick out of an ink pen and a small crochet hook. The ink pen housing holds the hook nicely and it can be carried in your shirt pocket.

[kevin dahlke]

As you are finishing the tournament day, there may only be a few minutes left, always make that one last cast as that may be the fish that puts you over the edge and into first place.

[Fishaholic]

Wash your hands before you go out on the water...

[bassguy2004]

Keeping small items such as swivels and clips can be contained in 35mm film cans.

[BassBUFF]

You can make cheap rod hook holders by zip tying a split ring to the butt of your rod.

[Mike Cork]

Don't forget lure modifications, cold weather gear, safety tips, how about some more on the mods you do to your boat or how you make a john boat into the ultimate bass rig. Planting your own brush piles???

[Fishaholic]

Light biters...use a Lindy slip rig with your plastic worm, after the pickup, simply open your bail, once the line starts to pay out you can get ready to set the hook.

[kevin dahlke]

When you get that new crankbait and you take it out of the box, replace the hooks with wide gap hooks and this will give you many more hook ups that will put more fish in the boat. Also, the front hook should be a red treble hook for the added color.