Outdoor Fisherman

Strike Master Lazer Mag Express Ice Auger

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:16:00 +0000

Well the ice fishing season is well under way as we are into February now. With the cold weather this year we have a lot of ice. Some lakes are up to 30” of ice and some auger extensions will be needed, especially if the cold weather stays in place through the end of the month. By now you have drilled many holes and you either love you auger or hate it. Now’s not the time to have an ice auger that doesn’t cut well or isn’t very reliable. My wife wanted to get me one big present for Christmas which was great. I told her if you get me one just one, I want the Strike Master Lazer Mag Express. I used the Jiffy STX Pro and the Strike Master and liked the Lazer Mag Express better. It cuts much smother and does not collect ice in the auger. It saves from pulling the auger out of the hole to free the ice and then go back down to continue cutting the hole.

The Jiffy bogs down much more and doesn’t seem to have the torque the Strike Master does. I’ve had my Lazer Mag Express for 5 years now. I have never changed or sharpened my blades and it still cuts like butter. The only maintenance I’ve done is change the spark plug this year. It runs like a top and starts on 1 or 2 pulls, always. I was recently out fishing with a very popular fishing guide in the Midwest who fishes over 300 days a year and he’s a Jiffy guy. But after he used my Strike Master Lazer Mag Express, he was hooked and went out and bought one. He cuts thousands of holes every winter and said it cuts without putting any force on the auger and is faster. Remember time is money to a fishing guide.

The Lazer Mag Express has a 8” or 10” auger with a 42” drilling auger depth, has a 2hp Tecumseh engine, with steel blades and a powder-coated auger. The 8” model weighs only 24lbs. and the 10” is 27lbs. From my experience the Strike Master Lazer Mag Express 8” is faster and much smoother on the cut than the Jiffy. The 8” runs about $425 If that’s a bit high on price get the Strike Master Mag 2000 ice auger, it has the single chipper auger and is available in 8 ¾” and 10 ¼” cuts and the 8 ¼” runs about $399. - Gary

Check out the StrikeMaster Mag 2000 Power Ice Auger

Frabill Ice Fishing Pail Pack and Ice Skimmer

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:54:00 +0000

Ice fishing without my Frabill Pail Pack just wouldn’t be the same. It keeps all my gear organized, and my ice rods tangled free. I put my ice rods, scoopers, and wooden tip ups on the outside of my bucket. That frees up the inside for my catch, or other lures, and accessories. When ice fishing, you want to be very organized and only carry out what you need. The Frabill Pail Pack keeps it simple. These are a pretty hot item and may be sold out, but you check Fleet Farm, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops or Dicks Sporting Goods.

Another great tool to have is the Frabill Ice Skimmer with the 30" Handle. This model features Polypropylene reinforced nylon construction, a 30-in engraved ruler on the handle and a large scoop to remove ice shavings more effectively. The long handle design prevents stress on your back, less bending over to keep the ice clear. The ruler comes in handy to measure the ice thickness too. - Gary

Frabill Ice Skimmer with 30" handle only $12.99

Frabill Panfish Popper Plus Spinning Rod and Reel

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:07:00 +0000

Well, we are back from a short break and getting geared up for the Ice Fishing Season. This Frabill Panfish Popper Plus is a great little Panfish combo, I use mine for Perch, Bluegills, and Crappies. It has a built in spring bobber for those light biting fish. It has a fast taper for extra sensitivity, and micro ice guides for less freeze ups. It’s matched with the Frabill P-10 spinning reel, which is made for cold weather with subzero lubrication. If you spool it with 4lb Fireline Micro Ice you can’t go wrong. This Frabill Panfish Popper Plus Spinning Rod and Reel Ice Fishing Combo also has the backbone for the occasional Walleye. It also includes a set of jigs and spinners, so you're ready to jig immediately.

The Panfish Popper Plus Rod and Reel Features: Ultra-sensitive micro spring bobber detects even the subtlest nibbles of finicky Panfish. Tapered cork handles with blank through construction for greater sensitivity. Solid composite blanks deliver full transition flex Ultra-fast tapers designed specifically for Panfish jigging. Lightweight micro ice guides for less freeze-up. I recommend it because I have one, and I love it! - Gary

Check out the Frabill PanFish Popper Plus Spinning Rod and Reel Ice Fishing Combos for only $24.99

Timber fishing isn’t just for Spring

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:30:00 +0000

When I use Northland short shank jigs and minnows fishing in 30-40 foot of stained water lakes in Northern Wisconsin I win Spring Walleye Tournaments. Fishing in these deep water conditions and winning a tournament is rare. Walleye’s stay close to spawning area’s especially the males sometimes well into June. The shoreline timber and drop off underwater timber is great for spring Walleye. This is because the Walleye doesn’t want to chase dinner any farther than they have to. The best thing about timber is that you don’t have to search far for food, because their food source is always around timber for protection and cover, just like the Walleye’s are. They hang around timber because their food is close and prey is easy. The Walleye also need timber and weeds for their protection from other predators such as Northerns, Musky, and bigger Walleye. Just remember, everybody needs food and all fish are food.

Berkley FireLine - 300 Yards $29.99

Fishing in timber takes a lot of patience and stealth, you need to be quiet, have a rod with good back bone and a fast tip. I recommend a 6’3” St. Croix Walleye Tournament Legend, Medium with a good reel, like the Shiman Stradic 1500. Also a must is either Power Pro braided stretch 8lb. test line (red or green) or Fireline Crystal. Great jigs to use are the Northland Weed Weasel or the Lindy Timber jig which helps you from snagging. I do not use weedless hooks because I’m so used to timber fishing. I set up right over the timber and use my polarized sunglasses to look into the trees or brush and drop the line down between the limbs and twigs. As soon as the Walleye takes your jig you need to set the hook and get him out of there ASAP. This is when a good rod reel and no stretch line come into play. If you’re fishing a large tree or timber area there could be a lot of Walleye down there. I’ve caught as many as 10 Walleyes and a few Northern from 1 big tree. Don’t think because you see 1 little tree there wont be anybody home, just like an iceberg there’s a lot more tree underwater than you see above. When fishing open water timber you can vertical jig, cast and retrieve, or even drag jig. If you are casting and dragging you should use a weedless jig that way you can jump your jig over the snag. Always remember if you use a weedless, always trim the weedless part of the jig to only the length you need, just to cover the hook. You will get a better hook percentage and less chance of spooking the skittish fish.

If you are in the Northwood’s…Northern Wisconsin, the U P, or Minnesota look for fallen Cedar trees or Birch which provide a lot of cover and limbs. If you are not in the Northwood’s where trees are everywhere, then any timber or tree would do.

Fishing timber is something I do all year long not just in the Spring. It can definitely be a challenge though, getting snagged can be good thing. It means that you are where the fish are, so be patient. Minnows, leeches, or night crawlers work best depending on time of year. I’ve also hammered a lot of aggressive Summer and Fall Walleye with Berkley Power grubs and Northland Slurpies Swim'n Grubs.

Check out these Northland Slurpies Swim'n Grubs

Timber fishing can be very productive and rewarding if you put your time in and use the right equipment. So just remember to stay quiet, still and be patient and you’ll end up with a great day on the water.

Bass Pro Shops Round Swivel Rod Rack

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Keep your rod organized with the New quality-crafted Bass Pro Shops Swivel Rod Rack. Constructed from solid oak it has a great looking natural finish and holds up to 24 rods (without reels). This Rod Rack also features soft rubber rod grips that won't scratch your rods. The ball bearing swivel base makes it easier to fit even in tight corners. Some assembly required. Measures 17-1/2" diameter and 26-3/4" high.

New Bass Pro Shops Round Swivel Rod Rack $84.99

Be prepared on your next fishing adventure

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:52:00 +0000

Before venturing onto a new body of water, or out for the first time fishing, getting yourself well prepared will make your fishing trip much more enjoyable. First of all get yourself the best map available. They are easy to find at Bass Pro Shops, Dicks Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain, or your local bait shop. You can always contact someone who has some knowledge of the lake like a fishing guide, local bait shop, the DNR, or other fisherman you know who might fish the body of water you choose.

Another great source of information in the Midwest is Lake-link.com. Be sure to choose a lake that has a good population of the fish species you are looking for and head out around the time of year that the fish are most active. Sonar tables are also useful in any fishing or hunting magazine, this will give you the most active times of day for fishing. Don’t forget your gear, a great place to start shopping for your fishing gear is Bass Pro Shops, Dicks Sporting goods and Gander Mountain. A good jig to start with is the Northland Gum Ball Jig in a yellow or green. Look for the short shank that way you can put the minnow or night crawler on and cover up the whole shank of the hook. As always…Good luck and keep fishing - Gary

Check out these Topo Maps at Bass Pro Shops for Fishing Hot Spots

Northland Forage Minnow Jigs

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:25:00 +0000

Northland Forage Minnow Jigs are one of my favorite ice fishing jigs. It’s not too small so you can target a wider range of fish. They come in sizes 6 or 8 and in 6 different colors.

The Northland Forage Minnow Jig is holographic which gives it a shiner fingerling image with 3D eyes and hard for fish to resist. I tip mine with about 3 or 4 waxies or even Gulp Alive colored waxies to cover the hook…it’s almost a sure thing. Perch, White Bass and Crappies are my usual target with this jig. But you would be surprised with how many Walleye’s I catch too…What a bonus!

Get the most lifelike minnow-imitating casting spoon ever – Northland Forge $3.79-$3.99

Lowrance® Color M68C Fish Locator

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:17:00 +0000

The Lowrance's M68C is a great fish locator I use on my boat and also ice fishing. Yes...it’s a great locator to use for ice fishing. Just pop it off and take it with you! The colored screen provides more detail and has a great backlight screen for evening fishing. You can set all your waypoints for your favorite spots. Here is more product information. The Lowrance's M68C S/Map features highly-detailed hydrographic mapping and an internal GPS+WAAS receiver. The internal back-up memory keeps stored sonar settings and GPS data accessible for years.

Lowrance's M68C is completely sealed and waterproof for use in the harshest environments. More features are a 3.5 diagonal 320x240 pixel screen, sunlight-readable 256-color, active matrix TFT display for superior sonar and mapping detail. A white LED backlit screen and keypad for night or low-light viewing. It displays real-time sonar readings with auto or manual sensitivity, surface clarity, noise rejection and depth-range controls. Selective on/off shallow, deep, zone and fish alarms, built-in water surface temp sensor and up to 60-degrees of fish detection coverage It also has built-in Lowrance high-detail hydrographic mapping of lakes, rivers, Great Lakes and U.S. coastal waters with navigational aids Memory saves up to 1,000 waypoints, 1,000 event markers and up to 100 waypoints/routes 100 savable plot trails with up to 10,000 points per trail 42 graphic icons to mark important spots 40 map ranges (0.02 to 4,000 miles). Easy zoom-in and out control, off course/arrival/anchor alarms, trip calculator and a sun/moon calculator. This device includes a manufacturer's full one-year warranty.

Check out the Lowrance Color M68C S/Map Sonar/GPS Marine Mapping Combo $399.00

Berkley PowerBait Power Grub

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:56:00 +0000

Berkley has brought back all the original colors and names of the PowerBait Power Grub that anglers have been asking for. With the fluttering action on the drop, a bulky shape plus PowerBait actives, creates a big meal for that big Bass and other species. Fish hold on 18 times longer with the Berkley PowerBait Advantage.

This bait is perfect for several varieties of applications, including jigs and Spinnerbait trailers. There is absolutely no soft plastic on the market that catches more fish.

Berkley PowerBait Original Power Grub on Sale for $3.29

Northland Live Bait Walleye Spinner Kit

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:25:00 +0000

Here is a great kit you can use to customize your own Walleye rigs to adapt to water clarity or have the ease of changing out the many different blades depending on what the fish are looking for. It’s good for long line trolling or drifting in a condensed area or planer board trolling in larger waters that is the versatility of this kit. These Northland Live Bait Walleye Spinner Rigs are best used with nightcrawlers and leeches. If you prefer artificial you can use a Berkley 6 inch power worm. It’s a great walleye rig that is very easy to use and you will fish like a pro.

Northland Live Bait Walleye Spinner Kit $6.99

Rapala Husky Jerk Minnow Hardbait

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Here is one of my favorite plugs for casting and suspending the Rapala Husky Jerk. This hardbait plug suspends when you stop retrieving and then floats in the water column, it does not sink. The rattle chamber transmits sound waves that amplify through the water, catching the attention of the fish. Check out all the models of this hardbait starting at $5.59! - Gary

Rapala Husky Jerk Minnow on Sale!

RedHead – Bone Dry Zip-Front Neoprene Waders

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:32:00 +0000

Looking for a great pair of waders? It’s that time of the year! Check out these New RedHead - Bone-Dry Zip-Front Neoprene Boot-Foot Waders. If you are a hunter or in the water, you will need a great pair of waders. These waders are waterproof with warm Thinsulate Insulation which is needed if you are an outdoor sportsman in the Northern and Midwest states. RedHead makes these for hard to find sizes designed to fit the bigger, more robust outdoorsman. The full cut is very comfortable and extremely easy to move in. The rugged lightweight neoprene holds your body's heat inside for extra warmth in the field. Also features adjustable suspenders, padded knees and large double hand warmer pockets.

Check out the RedHead Bone-Dry Zip-Front Neoprene Waders $199.95

My top 10 cranks for fall Walleye – Rapala Minnow Rap

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:06:00 +0000

Here are my favorite 10 cranks for pitching in the wind, on the rocks, or down the drop. Rapala Husky Jerk, Rapala Minnow Rap, Rapala Shad Rap, Cotton Cordell Grapler Shad, Berkley Flicker Shad, Sebile Koolie Minnow, Dave’s KABOOM!, Deep Shiner, Reef Runner Deep Little Ripper, Lucky Craft Moonsault, Smithwick, Mr.Walleye Suspending Rouge. Always try to pitch to the wind blown shore or structure this is where your baitfish will be. Remember the longer the wind direction remains the same and the weather is stable the hotter the crankin gets!

When the Rapala began the design of the Minnow Rap, their expectations were high. They wanted to construct a lure that has a firm wobbling Shad Rap action in a minnow profile bait. This hard bait is built from balsa wood and is available in two distinct designs. The Classic Patterns feature a clear deep-diving lip and VMC black nickel hooks. These bleeding patterns are specifically patterned with bleeding gills, a red deep-diving lip and VMC red hooks. Watch for more detailed articles on each one of my favorite crank baits over the next few months. – Gary

Check out more Rapala Minnow Rap Hardbaits on Sale

Rapala Fish' N Fillet 9" Fillet Knife with Sheath

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:54:00 +0000

You never have an excuse to not clean fish when you have this knife around. It features a light weight comfortable grip birch wood handle. The blade is 5 inches in length and holds its edge through many fish fillets. It also comes with a genuine tooled leather sheath.

Check out the Rapala Fish' N Fillet 9" Fillet Knife $24.99

Big Walleye on a Sunny September Day on the Petenwell

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:25:00 +0000

As days go…it was just right, about 48 degrees clear and calm at the launch on the Petenwell Flowage. By 2pm it was 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, wind about 8mph with a slight chop. Not what you would classify as a Walleye day, more a day to take the family out for a boat ride or enjoy a barbeque on the patio. But for me and my fishing partner Steve, fishing is priority…just don’t tell our wives.

The day started out slow, we fished the shallows, mud, and rip rap with jigs and crawlers to no avail. I thought we might pick up a couple Walleye early up tight to the rocks, but not today. This year everything is about 3 weeks behind because of the long cold, snowy winter and late ice out it just never got caught up which means the normal fall patterns are not happening yet. We haven’t had much rain over the past few weeks and no real cold weather, so the fish are still in the main lakes and flowages. They haven’t started up the rivers yet like normal. So with that in mind, I decided to try the main lake buoy line which separates Strongs Prairie flats from the Main flowage lake bed. This measures from 8’ to 10’ to 35’ and it drops fast. We caught some Small Mouth Bass in the 10’ range but no Walleye’s. Now were getting to about 10:30am and we have 1 Small Mouth Bass, 2 Walleyes, 2 Catfish…its time to move.
I tried the rip rap Dyke on the SE Shore and tried vertical jigging up and down from 8’ to 26’ with no luck. This is usually a very good area in the fall but the fish aren’t moving at all. Now it’s about 1:30pm, we decided to go back to the drop off where we marked several spots with the GPS. Steve suggested we go to the area about 22’ which was a very wise choice. We anchored and I decided we would try dead sticking. I thought maybe the Walleye were just lying along the bottom and that turned out to be true. I don’t usually dead stick unless I’m Perch fishing Winnebago or Castle Rock. I prefer casting or vertical jigging, but today they wanted just the action of the waves, but we still were not catching as many as I wanted, one here…one there. So I tried something I use in the spring when the Walleye’s are very lethargic.The trick today was tail hooking the fatheads, just leaving the jig touching the bottom. The action of the minnow franticly swimming and churning up the bottom is too much for the Walleye to handle. Steve and I ended up with 18 Walleye’s, 10 catfish, 3 Small Mouth Bass, 1 White Bass in 3 hrs and we missed our fair share too.

The highlight of the day was at 4:30pm when I saw one of my older Rod and Reel combo’s start bouncing. The tip jiggled up and down like a perch bite and I thought to myself it must be a White Bass. We also had 6 lines out and only about 2 or 3 ft. apart rod to rod at most, not much room. Then the rod tip started slowly continuing to bend down almost pulling it out of the boat. I grabbed the rod made sure the fish was there. I think I mentioned to Steve I had a solid hit. Steve said yeah so, and went back to changing his jig to another color.

It was time to set the hook so I did, and when I did the fish didn’t move and I knew I had a big fish on…I told Steve to get the net. The fish was fighting aggressively and staying down, I didn’t want him to get tangled in the other lines so I was holding the rod out over the boat keeping him straight up and down. After 2 min or so he started to come up from 25 feet. I’ve caught thousands of Walleye’s but this fish had me guessing now…maybe a Big Cat. Then he finally came up to the surface, with Steve ready with the net in the water we saw it. Steve and I shouted at the same time. It’s a Walleye! It’s a Big Walleye! The Walleye was about 2 feet from going into the net, it seemed like forever to get there. But, Steve corralled him in my new Frabil Net and flipped him into the boat. My heart started pounding as the jig popped out of his mouth. Whew! It’s over…Walleye in the boat! She measured 28 ½”and 9 ½” lbs. my largest Walleye to date. I would have put her back, but I’ve fished for 48 years and have not gotten a Walleye that big, so I decided I’m going to put the Gal on my wall! The rod I used was my older St. Croix 6’ Premier with an older Shimano Symetre 1500, 8lb. Moss green Berkley Fireline and a 1/8oz.
Northland fireball short shank chartreuse jig with a tail hooked fathead. So next time it’s a beautiful 80 degree sunny September day, go wet a line, the big Walleye’s are still hungry!

Good luck and keep fishing - Gary

Try Berkley FireLine Fishing Line - Flame Green

100mph Gore-Tex® Rain Bibs and Parkas

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:12:00 +0000

We all wish everyday would be nice and calm and the fish would be biting all day, but there are bad days where we need some additional protection from the unexpected elements. I found that the Bass Pro Shops® 100mph Gore-Tex® Rain Parka and Bibs are the best at keeping me dry and warm no matter the conditions. The 100mph Gore-Tex System is no match for wind, rain sleet or snow and I have fished them all and I KNOW!

Bass Pro Shops 100mph Gore-Tex Rain Bibs starting at $199.99

Some of the great features in these rain bibs are the laminated 44-denier nylon shell with full Gore-Tex membrane which has been the standard for 100% waterproof, breathable performance and toughness. They have also added an aggressive, technical fit for your comfort and range of motion. Other features are the sonic welds on pockets, waterproof zippers and interior gussets on closures to eliminate all possibility of leaks or gaps. The super-soft high-nap poly fleece pocket and trim linings deliver a great source of comfort in any weather condition.

As for the Rain Parkas they feature a roomy zip-off visor hood that keeps rain and snow off your face and zips into its own collar pocket. Lined in cool nylon satin, the hood has a fleece chin flap with VELCRO closure and locking draw cords. The turn-down collar puts super-soft high-nap poly fleece next to your skin. The body and sleeves of this Parka are nylon lined for breath ability and ease of on and off. The sealed front zipper with internal storm flap forms an impassable barrier to wet weather. In addition the dropdown hip cover offers an extra layer of waterproofing while leaning on a pro seat, or wherever rainwater you encounter, just snap this up inside when not needed. Finally this Parka offers an optional zip-in Wind stopper liner jacket which maximizes your protection in extreme conditions…and we have extreme conditions in the Mid-West! So, if you're serious about fishing like me, you need some serious rain gear, this is as serious as it gets! - Gary

Bass Pro Shops 100mph Gore-Tex Rain Parkas staring at $229.99

Stearns 3-Ply Packable Wading Shoe with felt sole

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:14:00 +0000

These Stearns 3-Ply Packable Wading Shoes give the fishing enthusiast a classic style with quality thick felt soles for reliable traction on slippery surfaces. The insoles are removable and this shoe features a speed lace closure.

Stearns 3-Ply Packable Wading Shoe with Felt Sole for $44.99

Field & Stream AS Jumbo Worm Binder

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:48:00 +0000

Keep your baits organized with this Field and Stream AS Jumbo Worm Binder. This worm binder is made of heavy-duty material and has a water-resistant coating. The individual poly bags are reinforced with metal grommets. The web strap handle makes carrying easy.

Field and Stream Worm Binder on Sale for $14.99

Field & Stream Sportsman Series 370 Tackle Bag

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:47:00 +0000

Looking for some tackle gear, we found this to be a pretty popular tackle bag to keep your gear organized. This Field and Stream Sportsman series 370 tackle bag has four plastic 370 size boxes and also has a non-slip bottom to keep it in place in the boat or wherever you are fishing. You can find this at a special price of $39.99 at Dick’s Sporting Goods online. Get one today and get out there and fish.

Field & Stream Sportsman Series 370 Tackle Bag on Sale for $39.99!

Fish love transitioning floors

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:51:00 +0000

Fish love transition areas when soft bottom transitions into hard bottom or gravel to boulders. Rock and gravel mid lake humps or flats surrounded by mud or soft grassy areas, are fish magnets. This would be a great time to use an underwater camera, like the Aqua View explorer 5 or the new Fish TV 7 to search the bottom areas.

Check out the New Aqua-Vu Explorer 5 Underwater Viewing System

You can see how the fish relate to certain areas of transition. Some fish suspend off the humps in deep water, while others will lay right tight to the bottom.

But not everybody has an underwater camera, that’s where good electronics come into play, like the new Hummingbird 797c2 SI Combo Side Imaging. This unit takes a lot of the guess work out of your structure search.

Also check out this New Nature Vision FishTV Plus Underwater Viewing System for $129.99

Abu Garcia Revo SKT Bait Cast Reel

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:22:00 +0000

Here is a great low riding bait caster reel to check out. With its 11 ball bearings, and powerful oversized handles, it can handle anything that a trophy fish can give you and more. Abu Garcia's REVO Skeet Reese Bait cast Reel delivers all the features you need to become number 1. One of the lightest aluminum reels on the market, the Abu Garcia REVO Skeet Reese Reel is built for fishing hard and fast.

The Carbon Matrix™ drag system is constantly smooth across all drag settings, and the 10 stainless steel HPCR® ball bearings and one instant anti-reverse bearing provide ultra-smooth casting and retrieve with corrosion-resistant performance.

For enhanced corrosion resistance and lightweight performance, the frame and side plate are made of X-Craftic™ alloy. Plus, the six-pin centrifugal brake aids in controlling casts in varying fishing conditions. This bait caster reel is really smooth, long casting, very durable. And the yellow and black color tops off the look. It may be a bit more expensive but well worth it! - Gary

Get this Abu Garcia REVO Skeet Reese Baitcast Reel for $279.99

Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:55:00 +0000

The best bait hook for dead sticking perch is the Gamakatsu #2 Octopus hook. They come in 14 different colors, I prefer orange or chartreuse. These hooks are super sharp, and fit a piece of night crawler and a 1” plastic tail. They are very strong and catch Perch on Lake Winnebago big time. Remember Gamakatsu Octopus hooks size 2.

Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks on Sale for $2.49!

Daiwa Sealine Counter Reel

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:46:00 +0000

I’m not a big troller but when I do, the reel for me is the Daiwa Sealine SG27LCA-W ‘walleye’. The line counter is in feet and very visible on top of the reel. Comfortable power handle, runs up to 450 yards of 12lbs. test line, so if you’re running Power Pro or Berkley Fireline you can go up to 30lbs. test. It has 1 piece composite frame, which makes the reel very strong and smooth. 2 ball bearings for ease of use. Put this together with the 8’ 1 piece St. Croix trolling rod and your set. I highly recommend this reel. - Gary

Check out the Daiwa SeaLine Line Counter Reel Series

Using Owner Hooks for fishing Dark water Walleye

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:12:00 +0000

I’ve found a great hook for live bait. I use it for deep water vertical jigging, stained, or night fishing. Owner Hooks has a no. 2 bait hook with soft glow bead on it. I prefer the black hook with green bead.
They have super sharp needle point and the green bead glows lime green. Slip the bead up over the knot and the eye of the hook, it works as an attractant and protects your knot. - Gary

Check out these Owner Live Bait Hooks Offshore models $10.99 a pack

Drop anchor!

noreply@blogger.com (G and B) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:22:00 +0000

Anchoring a boat works well when slow presentations are your only option. The technique of fishing directly under the boat or casting out and retrieving works the best when fish are in shallow water or in a specific area. This method also works well if you are dead sticking for perch on mud or a gravel bottom. Keep fishing and good luck - Gary