January Freshwater Fly of the Month: Dave the Fly Guy's Foam Flies

January Freshwater Fly of the Month: 

Dave the Fly Guy's Foam Flies

As I was searching for my next Freshwater Fly of the Month in my local Cabelas Sporting Goods Store, I ran into a problem: Fishing Enthusiast was growing too quickly and demanding so many flies each month that Cabelas couldn't keep up! I approached one of the employees of the store with my problem: Can they order them in bulk?  Where can I get hundreds of flies made every month?  The gentleman I spoke to pulled me to the side and said, "Take my card. Call me tomorrow when I'm not at work." 

So I did.  It turns out that this employee, Dave, was a world class fly tyer on the side - what a stroke of luck! Dave ties flies for fly fishermen, lodges, and fishing stores all across the country, right from his basement.  He ties hundreds of variations of flies, and tests each and every one of them on his own fishing trips, only selling the best ones. Dave mentioned to me that with years of practice, he considers fly tying to be similar to the martial arts - your hands become so fluid and the motion becomes so natural that when he gets going, it is poetry in motion.  With his state of the art machinery, Dave can tie as many as 60 flies per hour - one every minute!

This particular fly is one of Dave's favorites.  The foam flies are designed to sit right on top of the water as you lightly make the fly dance on the top of the water, attracting fish not only with the light and fluid motion, but also the eyes that are glued on (the little noise making eye is a bonus to attract based on sound).  Pay special attention to the base of the fly - see how the string is tied so it doesn't go diagonal throughout?  That is one of Dave's specialties that you won't anywhere else.  In Dave's eyes, if you throw this baby out there and haven't caught something in your first 3 times, then you may never catch anything.  A bold prediction, but worth a try! 

Let me know how you like the flies so I can pass the good word on to Dave!

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January 2012 Saltwater Lure of the Month: The Super Pogy

January 2012 Saltwater Lure of the Month:

The Super Pogy

The pogy, or Atlantic menhaden, are small, oily-fleshed fish, bright silver, and characterized by a series of smaller spots behind the main, Humeral spot.  They tend to have larger scales than Yellowfin menhaden and Finescale menhaden.  They spawn year round in inshore waters off the Atlantic coast, with the highest spawning rates near North Carolina in the late fall.  They serve as an important link between plankton and upper level predators  Because of their filter feeding abilities, menhaden consume and redistribute a significant amount of energy within and between Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries, and the coastal ocean.  Because they play this role, and their abundance, menhaden are an invaluable prey species for many predatory fish, such as striped bass, bluefish, mackerel, flounder, tuna, drum, and sharks.  


With this in mind, Bomber set out to make an incredibly durable, high pitch lure that would mimic the movemeny of the menhaden to attract the fish mentioned above.  The lipless rattle bait that they created in 2010 is extremely versatile.  Designed for long casts, slow to blisteringly fast retrieves, the Super Pogy is destined to be a deadly effective bait for fishermen on a huge variety of species.  The hooks are saltwater grade, and the high pitch, panicked prey vibration is just what you need on a quiet day on the water to lure the fish out and get a huge bite.  In the world of lipless baits, there really is no equal.


Enjoy and Happy Fishing!


www.FishingEnthusiast.com  

January 2012 Walleye Lure of the Month: Lindy Shadling

January 2012 Walleye Lure of the Month: 

The Lindy Shadling

The Lindy Tackle Company dates all the way back to 1968, when it was founded by the members of the Nisswa Guides' League located in the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota.  Their goal was simple: to create a revolutionary new walleye fishing product that the world had never seen before called the Lindy Rig.   The lure they created was an instant hit.  The Nisswa crew went to demonstrations, fisheries, and seminars in the upper Midwest, soon the Lady Rig by the thousands!  The Lindy Rig has since been joined by the Dingo Jig and the Spin Rig as the top lures produced by the Lindy boys.

Soon Lindy outgrew the ability of it's founders to continue to finance the growth, so it was sold to Ray-O-Vac in 1973.  Ray-O-Vac had just purchased Mille Lacs Mfg., so they merged Lindy and MLM to create their Fishing Tackle Division.  After a few years of experimentation, the tackle division decided to stream line their efforts and focus solely marketing to the fastly growing niche of walleye fishing.  The company is credited with identifying walleye fishing as a market and also with developing many of the walleye fishing methods and products which dominate the arena to this day.

The Lindy Shadling is a lure designed with incredible attention to detail.  The Shadling successfully emulates both the basic patterns and subtle undertones of a variety of common baitifish species.  The secondary hues flash as the shadling swims and triggers savage strikes from all species of gamefish.  Add to that the ultra-realisitc holographic eyes and predators don't mistake the Shadling for anything other than real prey.  Lindy's cutting edge pull-point technology ensures the Shadling will track true out of the package every single time. It's tight wiggling action does not need to be tuned and will reliably perform at the highest trolling speeds needed for gamefish.

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January 2012 Freshwater Lure of the Month: The Daredevle

January 2012

Freshwater Lure of the Month:

DARDEVLE

The creator of the Dardevle, Lou Eppinger, was making his living as a taxidermist in SE Michigan at the end of the 1800’s.  When Eppinger’s business hit somewhat of a slump, he decided to sell lures alongside his taxidermy services in order to help make ends meet.  As the tackle end of his business grew, Eppinger soon began to experiment with lures of his own design.  While on a fishing trip in the Canadian woods, Eppinger took along a spoon he had handcrafted back in Michigan.  He was pleasantly surprised with the results.  Eppinger particularly liked the longdistances he could cast his lure—even into a stiff wind.  On top of everything, Eppinger’s prototype actually caught more fish than any other bait he fished on the trip.

After quite a bit of tinkering, Eppinger’s first lure made its official American debut in 1912.  Initially Eppinger called his lure the Osprey.  Eight years later, Eppinger changed the name of his wonder-lure to the Dardevle after the Marines, who had been nicknamed the “Dare Devils” for their feats of bravery in the first World War.  Today, Eppinger’s trademark red-and-white stripped Dardevle is perhaps the most recognizable and omnipresent lures ever to hit the fishing scene.  Alongside his trademark paint scheme, anglers will find dozens of color and size combinations.  Although all the colors have their fans, FE is partial to the classic red-and-white.

Featured lure: Dardevle

Created by: Lou Eppinger

Created: c. 1912

Manufacturer: Eppinger Manufacturing Company

Type: Spoon

Technique:

While this lure is not considered to be the most versatile of all lures, as many anglers will confirm, it’s highly effective when others simply are not.  The Dardevle can be relied upon to be a good selection for a broad number of species when fished with a consistent, moderate to rapid retrieve.  If you haven’t used the Dardevle while trolling, you could be in for a surprise.

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A Sportfisherman's view of "The Night Before Christmas"

A Sportfisherman’s view of
"The Night Before Christmas"

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the bay,
all the fish were real happy cause the fishermen were away.

The rods were all hung in the garage with care, 
in hopes that the bluefish soon would be there.

All the fishermen were nestled, all snug in their beds, 
while visions of rockfish swam in their heads.

All the boats in their slips were tied very tight,
and settled at dock for a long winter’s night.

When out on the river there arose such a clatter, 
I ran to the pier to see what was the matter.

When what to my wandering eyes should appear, 
but one giant splash the biggest this year!!!

The Grand Dad of rockfish I saw in the night, 
I just had to know how hard could he fight?

I jumped off the pier and ran through the sod,
grabbed a net, tackle box, and my favorite rod.

Dashed back to the pier threw open my box, 
tried so many lures put my stomach in knots.

Tried Tonys then Bucktails from big ones to small,
put on Rebels and Bombers he would not bite at all.

When down in my box I saw something squirm,
I reached down and grabbed a Killer Ice Worm!

It barely hit water my line got real tight,
I set the hook and then on with the fight.

The rod bent double the drag steady bellowed,
fought it three hours my muscles were jello’d.

Finally landed, I looked at the prize,
but just couldn’t keep it you have to realize,

Fishing’s a sport we enjoy on the bay,
so catch and release is the only way.

As I released the fish, believe it you might,
he said to the group,

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Freshwater Lure of the Month: Rebel Pop-R

FishingEnthusiast.com's December Freshwater Lure of the Month

Rebel Pop-R

"America's Number 1 Popping Lure!"

Often called the “Secret Bait of the Pro’s”, the Rebel Pop-R has been around for nearly three decades.  It is one of the most highly imitated lure of all time – but never duplicated.  Still today it remains the standard by which all other topwater plugs are judged.  It’s popularity is largely due to it’s versatility.  It can be fished shallow, around weed lines, and over submerged cover.

Twenty or so years ago, when Zell Roland was in his fishing prime, he launched the Rebel Pop-R into the national spotlight after he won the Super Invitational in Chattanooga on the Tennessee River.  Zell is one of the most highly respected professional fishermen of all time, and the Rebel Pop-R is one of his favorite lures.  Following this tournament, the lure was put on sale for the general public and stores across the country couldn’t keep them on their shelves.

 A 6 1/2 - 7 foot medium action rod with a limber tip is the best for these top water lures. A rod of this design compensates for the natural reaction of anglers to “set the hook” when they get a top water strike. The limber tip of the rod allows the bass time to eat the lure before the angler over reacts. The medium action soft tip performs even better with a heavy 12 –15 lb test monofilament line.        

The secret to correctly getting the Pop-R to create the “pop” and “chug” sound and the “spitting water” effect is all in the action of the wrist as you move the rod tip. Some anglers actually sand the lure down smooth the give it a slight “walk the dog” action of side to side motion as it is chugged along.     

  Experiment with time that you pause between pops and pauses until you find what's right. The fish will soon let you know what they like. In warmwater shorten the time between the pops, and as the water cools down in the fall seen, take longer pauses between pops in order to produce better results.

December Saltwater Lure of the Month: The Bomber Badonk-A-Donk

FishingEnthusiast.com's December Saltwater Lure of the Month

The Bomber Badonk-A-Donk

Fishermen often come up with crazy names for their baits.  Sometimes the name comes from thorough brainstorming sessions.  Other times, it just happens!  Lures and baits out there have names like the “Near Nuthin, the Heddon’s Zaragossa and the Zara Spook.  But there is one lure out there with such a unique name that I had to dig deeper after reading about the rave reviews in Sport Fishing Magazine: the Badonk-A-Donk.  Why the heck is it called that?

It turns out the word “badonkadonk” is a slang term for the behind of a woman – often a curvaceous booty.  What does that have to do with fishing?  Well, since this particular lure wiggles from side to side across the water, it kind of resembled the sashay of a badonkadonk! Kim Norton, the Pradco Saltwater Division Manager came up with the name.  They then capitalized the “A” in the middle of the word because it is a Pradco trademark that they use in other lures, such as the model A, Flat A, and Long A.

Saltwater fishermen rave about the Badonk-A-Donk lure because of the weight forward design, which makes it cast like a bullet, which is a big bonus when trying to stay off spooky fish.  The key is to use your imagination with this one – make it live up to the name! Make it move fluidly with a “walk the dog” action or “slow dancing” method. 

Tips: To maximize action and lifelike attributes it is beneficial to utilize a loop knot (bowline) when utilizing topwater baits like the Badonk-A-Donk. Ensure that the loop knot is properly tied to not interfere with the first treble hook. Anglers unknowingly tie the loop knot too large, resulting in fouled baits when walking the dog. The breaking strength of the loop knot, coupled with a quality drag system provides the best shot at the fish of a lifetime when throwing topwater baits.

For more crazy names, check out:

Bill Cochran's Outdoors: Lure makers use imagination when it comes to naming products