December Freshwater Lure of the Month: Rapala X-Rap Deep

December Freshwater Lure of the Month: Rapala X-Rap Deep

The Rapala X-Rap is the dream lure of the 21st century. It is where technical innovation meets Rapala fishing smarts to create a lure like nothing that has hit the water before.

Its premium finish includes prominent scales and lateral line on the fuselage to capture and flash light like a beacon. This Rapala slashbait cuts, darts and slashes its way through the water. Intended for trout and panfish, with an internal long-cast system built in, fishing the X-Rap will get any angler's adrenaline pumping.

Evolving the lineage of the X-Rap family, the Rapala X-Rap Deep takes all the positive characteristics of the X-Rap and adds the ability to dive deep.  The lip design rockets it down to a depth of 6-15 feet. Its aggressive darting action and rattling is every bit as enticing as the original. Cast the X-Rap, and the new lip design rockets it toward the bottom, then rip it for extreme slashbait action. Stop and go for enticing suspending on stall or slow-wind for classic Rapala wounded-minnow action. Internal holographic foil captures and reflects light for optimum flash and attraction. An internal weight-transfer system aids casting distance. Pyramid point hooks penetrate tough-mouthed fish and hold fast. Per each.

Since the original X-Rap’s introduction many anglers have yearned for a deeper version to have the flexibility to fish the same bait while targeting fish holding over deeper structure. The original is capable of reaching a 5 foot depth, but most anglers on a normal retrieve will find that the bait runs between 3-4 feet on average. Last season Rapala answered the call with the new X-Rap Deep which is available in 13 color patterns, and designed to exhibit the same type of action and performance, just at a lower running depth.

Features:Aggressive darting action
Internal rattles for attraction
Weight-transfer system for casting distance
Size/Model: 4" - 7/16 oz.
Dive depth: 6-15 ft.
Hook: 2x Black treble hooks #4 & #5
Body material: plastic - suspending
Rattle: Yes
Overall length: 5.2 in.
Body length: 4 in.
Height: .7 in.
Width: .5 in.

December Saltwater Lure of the Month: Paul Brown's Original

December Saltwater Lure of the Month: Paul Brown's Original

Happy Holidays to all of the Fishing Enthusiasts!  

In 1974, avid Angler Paul Brown began experimenting with different types of trout lures.  He worked out of his garage, a place that his wife, Phyllis, lovingly called "The Shop".  It was in this very shop that Paul knew he was on to something with his newest creation, the "Corky".  The Corky has gone on to become one of the best big seat trout lures ever made, and is sold through Mirrolure's great line of baits.  

It was always Paul's dream to supply fishermen throughout the country with a creation of his own, and this dream has been a reality for many years.  Paul continues to work with MirroLure consulting on lure creation to this day.

  The Corky was a unique lure that is actually a hybrid between a hard plug and a soft plastic.  If you look at the organic looking lure, it features a torpedo-like profile, an oversized eye, a subtle rattle, and a set of sticky sharp hooks that give it a very home made appearance.  The built in action of the Paul Brown Original, when fished correctly, is absolutely deadly on big speckled trout.  

Deadly on coastal predators, Paul Brown’s Original Series Lures have a soft-bodied mullet profile. This lure once held the Texas State record for speckled trout and has taken thousands of other trophy-sized fish. Scientifically weighted with an internal wire harness and fish-calling rattle, the Original’s suspending action and lifelike eye make this one outstanding lure. The Original darts erratically from side-to-side with a twitching retrieve. Working depth: 0 to 24".

Features:

Soft-bodied mullet profile
Scientifically weighted
"Fish-calling" rattle
Suspending action
Lifelike eye
Side-to-side action on retrieve

November Freshwater Lure of the Month: Rebel F10 Minnow

November Freshwater Lure of the Month: Rebel F10 Minnow 

It is hard to believe that it was 50 
years ago that Fort Smith, 
Arkansas, resident George 
Perrin saw the potential of 
plastic fishing lures and 
created the first Floating 
Minnow. 

Perrin had grown frustrated 
with the wooden minnow 
lures on the market. They 
were inconsistent, dove to 
different depths and ran to 
the left or right, and with 
use they took on water, 
which killed the action. He 
reasoned that he could 
make a better one out of 
plastic. 

He was right; unlike the 
wooden lures of the day, 
every one of his Minnows ran 
true right out the package, 
dove to the right depth and was 
tough enough to handle giant 
fish. 

Perrin established Rebel, 
named after the mascot 
of the high school his 
daughter attended. 

That original lure, the 
Rebel F10 Minnow, is 
still catching fish half a 
century later.

When the Rebel Minnow was born in the early 1960's, a standard of excellence was created. The same commitment to quality and craftsmanship that was established then is alive today.  Rebel minnows are available in a variety of fish catching sizes ranging from panfish fooling ultra-lights to heavy weights designed to handle brutes like muskie, pike, and many saltwater species. Most sizes are also available in a lazy summer jointed model that scores of anglers have relied on to bring most hard to catch trophies to the landing net. Great for walleye, pike, striped bass, trout, muskie and bass fishing.The 3.5" Rebel Minnow (F10) was the first hard plastic Rebel lure produced. Its success came almost overnight. Demand quickly grew for other sizes and styles of the now legendary Rebel Minnow. For traditional, dependable, true-running action, nothing compares to the one that started it all — the Rebel Minnow. The Rebel Jointed Minnow Fishing Lure has all of the same great qualities as the original Rebel Minnow, but with a ‘broke’ back.

• Delivers straight-running stability at any speed
• Tight, lifelike action and high-speed trolling
• Cranks from 5' to 7' under the surface
• Trolls at 13-1/2'
• Ideal for targeting striped bass, salmon, & trout

November Saltwater Lure of the Month The Bomber Badonk-A-Donk

FishingEnthusiast.com's November 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.

November Freshwater Fly of the Month: Nymph Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

November Freshwater Fly of the Month: Nymph Head Pheasant Tail Nymph

Fishing Guide's Top Selection of 2013!!

There are over 600 mayfly nymph species, of which most are brown, and very similar in appearance to the pheasant tail nymph. Originally tied by Frank Sawyer, the Pheasant Tail Nymph is one of the oldest of modern nymphs. A few good wrinkles have been added over the years, such as the peacock thorax, optional beadhead, etc., but when you peel them away, it's still Sawyer's elegantly simple, generically suggestive, devastatingly effective nymph. this pattern has been tweaked over the years, with a bead to sink the fly and catch a trout's attention, and flash to appear like an emerger. 

The Pheasant Tail nymph is one of the most utilized nymph patterns in the history of the sport for the simple reason that it works almost anywhere. 

The heavy metal Nymph-Head Pheasant Tail Flashback-Olive that we are featuring as this month's FishingEnthusiast.com Freshwater Fly of the Month enhances traditional nymph flies. These fishing flies catch big fish. With the extra-heavy tungsten bead head and chemically sharpened hooks, you can't beat the quality or success this fly brings. 

The Nymph-Head fly portfolio is designed to be a more realistic and attractive option to a series of proven fly patterns. The most successful trout flies are fishing flies that can imitate a wide variety of insect life. With already successful patterns like the Copper John, Pheasant Tail and Hares Ear as the base for this category, and now you can Nymph-Head tungsten beads to that mix. Not only do these bead heads keep the fly in the strike zone longer, but also provide a realistic and color-consistent fly profile for catching trout. 

At the end of the day, fish rely on color, proportions, and profile to decide what to eat. These flies catch more fish. 


Check out FlyDealFlies.com for other Nymph Head selections!

Freshwater Fly of the Month: Terrestrial Dave's Hopper

October Freshwater Fly of the Month: Terrestrial Dave's Hopper

So many different hoppers, so many first names! How did this happen?  Well we do know the story of Dave's Hopper, this months Freshwater Fly of the Month.  The hopper is named for Dave Whitlock, a fishermen that we owe a great bit of gratitude to for his many creations.  Not only did he create the Dave's Hopper, but also the Matuka, Mouse Rat, Redhead flies and about several dozen bass and saltwater patterns.  His nymph and streamer patterns are old standbys at most fly shops.  Many consider Dave's contribution to fly trying, in terms of pattersn, are broader and more numerous than the contributions of Lee Wulff, one of the most famous fly tyers of all time.

Dave's hopper is somewhat of a tradition to many western fly fishers.  Many fishermen say that once you master spinning deer hair, this is one of the easiest hopper patterns to tie (reason enough to learn how!).  This fly can be tied with all-black materials to create a cricket, or stonefly colors to imitate any of the stoneflies that inhabit the mountain streams. The hopper is tied with trimmed hackle legs that were knotted and bent to shape.  Some of the later variations used knotted pheasant tail fibers, rubber hackle, and hair for legs.  Depending on the area that you live in, and the terrestrials of the local area, feel free to use artistic creativity to add any features as you see fit.

Dave's Hopper casts like a bullet.  The fly is the best in wind because it shoots through wind and tends to land right up tight to the bank more than the other bugs.  It does hold some water, but then it seems to "punch" through blades of grass and fall in the water.  This gives it great fishability.  This fly can also be fished sunk (it's an old timers trick... but it works!).  Try fishing it with a little piece of split shot under a Hopper-Cator, which will allow it to drift up under the grass and into the trout's mouth.  Try it and let me know how it goes!

Freshwater Lure of the Month: Matzuo Zen Series Binate Crank

Freshwater Lure of the Month: Matzuo Zen Series Binate Crank 

The Matzuo bait company's slogan is "From Master Craftsman to Master Angler".  They have produced some of the finest baits known to freshwater fisherman, and are constantly innovating and testing.  Their incredibly attention to detail, such as being painfully precise bending each of their sickle hooks to achieve the optimal 43.405 degree bend, is what truly separates their baits from the rest.  They are dedicated to recreational or avid anglers who are truly trying to get the best bang for their buck, making tournament level baits affortable to the masses.

At Fishing Enthusiast, we have featured a number of fantastic baits from the Matzuo Zen Series, the finest quality tournament series of bait.  Previously we have featured the Kamikazi Spinnerbait, Double Play Crank, and the Triple Play Minnow.  This month, we are incredibly excited to be featuring the Binate Crank bait from the Matzuo Zen Series line, one of the finest baits in this quality tournament series.  

Matzuo Zen Binate Finesse lures are shallow runners available in two sizes. These lures feature two treble hooks and a jointed section to create a perfect swimming action when retrieved in the water. A versatile bait no matter how fast or slow you retrieve it. At rest, the Binate floats like a live resting fish.

From Matzuo.com:

We Value...

Innovation -- The latest styles and finishes at tremendous value

Intelligence-- Smart choice for "techy" products at affordable prices

Passion -- Authentic emotions coming from a passion for the activity

Saltwater Lure of the Month: McKala Fishing’s Poppa

October Saltwater Lure of the Month: McKala Cap'n Andy Poppa

The McKala Fishing and tackle company was founded in 1994 in Beacon Falls, Connecticut.  With plenty of experience on the Eastern seaboard, the McKala fishing team has perfected a full line of wooden plugs of all shapes and sizes, built specifically for avid saltwater fishermen.  These lures include fun names like the Poppa, Lil Momma, Killa Gorilla, and this month's selction, the McKala Cap'n Andy Poppa, named for it's creator.  All of the McKala products have been thoroughly and extensively tested by some of the top fishermen on the East Coast, as well as charter Captains throughout the country.   

The Cap'n Andy Poppa is one McKala's finest creations.  The wooden plug comes in white, blue, yellow, and flueorescent orange, and range in size from 1 1/4 oz to 2 3/4 oz.  I recommend trying out all of the different shapes and sizes to find the best fit that provides the most fishing success for you! 

Some tips on how to fish:

1. Cast is out, then let it sit for a litte bit.
2. Jerk your rod tip to pop it up, and then let it set again... then pop again.
3. Cast it and retrieve it slowly, giving it a pop every few feet.  
4. Cast it out and retrieve it rapidly, jerking the rod tip during the retrieve.
5. Experiment to find out how it works best for you each time you fishing.

Popular Lures: Poppa, Lil Momma, Big Momma, Killa Gorilla

Company location: Beacon falls, CT

Company Founded: 1994

References:

http://www.mckalafishing.com/WoodenPlugsLinksRmvd.pdf

September Saltwater Lure of the Month: Sea Striker 3 oz. bucktail spoon

Sea Striker 3 oz. bucktail spoon

September Saltwater Lure of the Month: Sea Striker 3 oz. bucktail spoon

Sea Striker Lure Company was founded in 1992 in North Carolina and immediately found their niche in high quality, saltwater fishing lures and terminal tackle for both inshore and offshore fishing.  Famous for their Got-cha lures, Swivels, and many other saltwater lures, their Bucktail spoon sneaks in as one of their most durable lures and as some say, "This durable spoon will last you a lifetime!"


The spoon is nickel plated and contains a single hook that is specially plated for saltwater use.  It has the wild action of a Kastmaster, but with the added appeal of a bucktail.  It works well on a wide variety of gamefish.   The bucktail helps to add color to this deadly, 3 oz spoon, but it also helps to accentuate the spoon's fluttering action to trigger even more strikes.  Many use this as a great alternative to the Kastmaster.

Deadly for everything from trout to bass and even saltwater gamefish, the very well-balanced, solid brass produes a great action and are especially deadly when jigging for suspended bass.  Easy to cast and complete with premium components and durable finishes ensure this will hold up in even the toughest saltwater.

• Proven for trout, bass and more

• Produces enticing fluttering action

• Bucktail improves action and adds color

• Solid brass construction  

• Very well-balanced; easy to cast

• Premium components and durable finish

• Hooks plated for saltwater use

• High quality spoon made to Sea Striker Specifications

September Freshwater Fly of the Month; Fish Skull Forage Fly

September Freshwater Fly of the Month: Fish Skull Forage Fly

The Forage Fly™ combines the unique features of the Fish-Skull™ head with natural body materials and a “frantic tail” to create an incredibly authentic baitfish imitation that is as versatile as it is realistic. While originally designed to target river species, such as trout and smallmouth bass, this pattern has proven itself equally effective at catching a broad range of many other fresh and saltwater species.

The Fish Skull Forage Fly imitates shad, a favorite of predatory fish. This is a perfect streamer pattern for small mouth bass or large trout in big water like the Clinch River, Caney Fork, and Hiwassee with generators running. This fly also has applications for anyone who chases stripers with a fly rod.

“This incredible baitfish imitation is a staple in my repertoire of bass flies and has proven itself time and again as the number one big fish fly on the New River—a world class ‘smallie’ destination. While some anglers may have a tendency to ‘overwork’ the fly by fishing it in short, fast strips much like they might other weighted streamers, the secret is to make long, deliberate strips, allowing the natural action of the pattern to work. Because of the subtle tail motion, the most effective presentation is created by mending the line while sight fishing the fly as it gradually descends in the water column and setting the hook abruptly when it disappears! And, best of all, the Forage Fly works equally well for many other fresh and saltwater species.” – Mike Smith, New River Fly Fishing

• Fish-Skull head

• Natural materials

• Mustad 3366 1/0 hook

September Freshwater Lure of the Month: Strike King Pure Poison swim jig 3/8

September Freshwater Lure of the Month: Strike King Pure Poison swim jig 3/8

It was in 1966 when Mr. Charles Spence decided that today was the day he was going to dive head first into the fishing tackle industry.  There was a small individual's garage operation that caught his eye, and he knew that this was his opportunity to quit his day job.  He purchased this garage operation and established the "Strike King Lure Company."  Shortly thereafter, he began making sales calls in Northwest Arkansas to Ben Franklin Five and Dime Stores and the Walton Variety Stores, which are, of course, owned by the infamous Mr. Sam Walton who later went on to found the Walmart conglomerate.

In the 1970's and 80's the tournament bass fishing sport took off, and the Strike King Lure Company took off with it.  Their spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and jigs were known as the best on the market, and tournament fishermen couldn't get enough of them.  Their growth was fueled by quality products and also quality promotion, as Spence and team worked hard to harness the newly found power of television advertising.  

During the 1980's, Strike King grew to become the largest producers of buzzbaits and jigs in the entire world.  Their quality surpassed all others.  They expanded their line of baits to include all sorts of different types: including one clever dive into the pork bait markets.  Overall they expanded to over 400 different products, but one thing always held true: they would never lose their market share on their top of the line, never to be beaten jigs and buzzbaits, one of which we are featuring this month.  

The Strike King Pure Poison Freshwater Jig


Strike King Pure Poison Freshwater Jig - It's a jig, it's a spinnerbait, it's a-----Extreme Action Swimming Jig! This new lure has a unique head design, blade and harness that produce incredible action and vibration. You've got to see and feel it to believe it! They are terrific just about anywhere you would fish a spinnerbait or swim a jig. The Perfect Skirt® with Magic Tails® gives enhanced action compared to regular skirts and the colors match the head. A long shank premium hook ensures great hook ups. The 3D eyes give a realistic appeal and the special split ring line tie is strong and secure.

http://www.strikeking.com/info/history.php

August 2013 Freshwater Fly of the MOnth: Gold Bead Hare's Ear Nymph

The Hare's Ear nymph is a fly fishing lure that is fished below the surface. It is thus a wet fly or nymph.  It is an older pattern that imitates a variety of aquatic life, including scuds, sow bugs, mayfly nymphs, and caddis larvae.This month's Freshwater Fly of the Month is a  "bling" version of the famous Hare's Ear with lots of flash, gold bead body and head. This nymph fly pattern is great for prospecting in off color water when you need a little something to get their attention.  Add a gold bead to the popular Hare's Ear nymph, and you have an irresistible combination. A favorite of trout anglers, this pattern has hare's mask guard hairs on the tail and natural hare's ear dubbing on the abdomen. The gold bead adds extra weight, allowing the fly to sink faster, and it adds extra flash. 
A favorite among fly anglers in the bead head version. The shaggy hare ear dubbing and squirell tail gives this fly the "buggy" look.

Along with the Prince and Pheasant Tail nymphs the Bead Head Hare's Ear is one of the vital classic nymph patterns for most trout waters. Hares ear dubbing gives this fly a buggy look that is irresistable to fish looking for drifting mayfly nymphs. Use this Hare's Ear pattern where more robust shaped mayflies are present or simply rely on the attractive properties of this proven fish catcher.

Add a gold bead to the popular Hare's Ear nymph, and you have an irresistible combination. A favorite of trout anglers, this pattern has hare's mask guard hairs on the tail and natural hare's ear dubbing on the abdomen. The gold bead adds extra weight, allowing the fly to sink faster, and it adds extra flash. Per 12. Tactics:When this fly is immersed, the stiff fibers in the dubbing stand out and imitate the legs of an insect. Fish this fly below the surface with or without a small strike indicator and split-shot to help it sink. It is an effective pattern throughout the year because it covers a broad spectrum of prey that are active in every season.

How to Tie

August Saltwater Lure of the Month: Rapala X-Rap XR12 Lures

August Saltwater Lure of the Month: Rapala X-Rap XR12 Lures

The Rapala X-Rap is the dream lure of the 21st century. It is where technical innovation meets Rapala fishing smarts to create a lure like nothing that has hit the water before.

Its premium finish includes prominent scales and lateral line on the fuselage to capture and flash light like a beacon. This Rapala slashbait cuts, darts and slashes its way through the water. Intended for trout and panfish, with an internal long-cast system built in, fishing the X-Rap XR12 will get any angler's adrenaline pumping.
These are suspending baits, whose natural buoyancy suspends the lure during pauses in the retrieve. 

Suspending X-Rap® Saltwater lures are designed to be cast or trolled and display the X-Rap Attitude these baits are known for. Built to withstand saltwater fisheries with Perma Steel 3X hooks, these baits can be cast or trolled. Rip ‘em for xtreme, erratic Slashbait® action or troll for classic Rapala ® “wounded-minnow” action. Prominent scales and lateral line, internal holographic foil for optimum flash combine with internal long-cast system and 3D holographic eyes to create the ultimate fishing lure. Hand-tuned and tank-tested for premium performance right out of the box.

Additional features of these baits include the following:

• Flash foil teaser tail simulates the flash and movement of live forage

• Premium Pyramid Point hooks

• Internal long-cast weight system with large tungsten rattle mechanism

• Stainless steel through-wire construction for superior structural support

• Super strong, rust resistant split rings

• 3D holographic eyes

• Internal holographic foil for optimum flash

• Textured translucent body for life-like presentation

• Slashbait action has hard-cutting, aggressive, darting action

August Freshwater Lure of the Month: Bandit 300 Series Crankbait

August 2013 Freshwater Lure of the Month: Bandit 300 Series Crankbait

Whether you're a pro or just a weekend fisherman, Bandit Lures prides themselves on being able to help take your fishing to the next level.  That's because a Bandit is everything you'll need in a quality crankbait - state of the art molding, premium grade plastics, multi-coat gloss paint.  And, with a complete selection of 51 stock colors, 12 body styles, and twelve different depth ranges, there's a lure to match any fishing condition.  Plus, a Bandit always runs true right out of the box.

There's nothing sneaky about the way these cranks catch fish! Bandit lures always run true right out of the box, and have the ability to steal you a tournament win anytime. Bandit's 300 Series Crankbaits scream for attention and are great for casting parallel to steep rocky shorelines. Producing an extra-wide wobble and offering a loud, fish-attracting rattle, these Bandit 300 Series crankbaits really bring the strikes home!

 Bandit Crankbaits are some of the most popular crankbaits with experienced anglers for a reason - and it's not just because they are one of the most affordable crankbaits on the market. Featuring a compact shad-shape, with a wide wobble and loud internal rattles, the Bandit Crankbaits have all of the fish attracting features available in a crankbait. Combined with infinite color schemes to match to your local forage, there is a Bandit Crankbait for your situation. Super durable as well, you can bounce it off of every rock, stump or branch you see and it will still look good and swim like it's supposed to. Match up a Bandit Crankbait Series with the depth you want, a color scheme for where you're fishing - and go catch some fish.

About the Bandit Series 300 Crankbaits
The 300 series crankbaits are 2 inches long and run 8 to 12 feet deep. This crankbait is primarily designed for deep water fish holding on drops or below bait schools. Great for casting parallel to steep rocky shorelines. The 300 series crankbaits can reach deep fish, yet present a small baitfish profile that can trigger strikes from fish not actively feeding. This lure is also very popular to troll for crappie. 

• 
  Depth: 8 - 12 ft
  Weight: 3/8 oz
  Length: 2"

July Saltwater Lure of the Month: Storm Rattlin Chug Bug

May Saltwater Lure of the Month: Storm Rattlin Chug Bug 

Storm Lures rightly touts their sensational Rattlin Chug Bug as a lure for all species of fish when they're feeding on the surface. “From panfish to snook” as they put it.  Founded in Oklahoma, Storm’s been manufacturing innovative lures since the 1960’s. Their first lure was the ThinFin, which began shipping in the 1960’s. About twenty years later, Storm introduced the enclosed topwater sensation. The Chug Bug comes from a long line of successful lures including Storm’s Thunderstick, Wiggle Wart, and Hot ‘N Tot, to name just a few. Normark, makers of the legendary Rapala lures, recently acquired Storm. We believe that Storm is now stronger and more innovative than ever.

The versatile Chug Bug is a favorite of professional and amateur anglers because it can be fished as a popper or as a surface chugger. Bass and walleye anglers find the Chug Bug to be very effective when fished in smaller sizes at night. Oklahoma pro Tom Morton has had success fishing the Chug Bug with a high-speed technique. Morton ties the line at the bottom of the line-tie (without a snap or split ring) and fishes the lure “real, real fast”. This technique makes the Chug Bug spit and skip wildly because the nose is kept unusually high in the water due to the position of the knot. The technique provokes explosive strikes according to Morton, who won the 1992 Oklahoma Invitational with many copies of this lure in his tackle box. Anglers can currently choose from three sizes of Chug Bugs dressed in dozens of colors.

Featured Lure: Chug Bug

Created: C. 1980’s

Manufacturer: Storm Manufacturing

Type: Topwater Plug

Technique:

Experiment with your retrieve. Anything goes with top water lures, i.e. Tom Morton’s high-speed technique. That having been said, the most often mentioned retrieve associated with the Chug Bug is a splash-and-stop technique. Cast the Chug Bug out. Let it settle quietly on the water. Wait some more. With your rod tip down so the wind doesn’t catch your line, give your Chug Bug a solid pull to create its fish attracting splash. Then wait. Let the lure rest a good long time in a motionless position before repeating. The most vicious strikes often occur just after the Chug Bug begins to move again.

Send a Fishing Gift for your Fisherman at FishingEnthusiast.com!

July Freshwater Lure of the Month: The Rebel Firetiger Minnow

July Freshwater Lure of the Month: The Rebel Firetiger Minnow

The difference between a day of fishing and a day of catching!

Storm has produced some fantastic walleye lures, and this month’s selection is no different! The June Freshwater Lure of the Month comes from Rebel's infamous minnow collection, and is a firetiger color.  Firetiger colors are best used around docks and bays, especially when the water is a little dingy. The color represents a bream, which fish love to eat, and the bright colors add a little extra enticing color that attracts fish from further distances.

When the Rebel Minnow was born in the early 1960's, a standard of excellence was created. The same commitment to quality and craftsmanship that was established then is alive today. Rebel minnows are available in a variety of fish catching sizes ranging from panfish fooling ultra-lights to heavy weights designed to handle brutes like muskie, pike, and many saltwater species. Most sizes are also available in a lazy summer jointed model that scores of anglers have relied on to bring most hard to catch trophies to the landing net. Great for walleye, pike, striped bass, trout, muskie and bass fishing.

The birth of the Rebel minnow was prompted to meet the demand of the marketplace for a light, easy-to-cast, durable plastic-bodied lure with an action that simulated a struggling bait fish. Its unique molded-in cross-hatched surface was designed to reflect light with the lure's slightest movement further enhancing its lifelike appearance. It was this 3 inch lure that was the genesis of the proud 40-year-old fishing tradition that is Rebel.

A slow sinking tracdown minnow that will work in most any water conditions. Excellent for bass, trout, walleye and other game species. 

Shop Fishing Gifts for Fishing Enthusiasts at www.FishingEnthusiast.com !

July Freshwater Fly of the Month: Hair-Wing Royal Coachman

 July Freshwater Fly of the Month: Hair-Wing Royal Coachman

For an amazing reference on flies and their tyers, please check out FlyAngelrsOnline.com !!

The August Freshwater Fly of the Month selection takes us back to an old time - where modern fly tying capabilities didn't exist.   The Hair-wing Royal Coachman was a fly tied in the spirit of early times, with just the materials that existed.  Flies back in the early 20th century often took months or even years to be improved upon - a much slower pace than the improvement seen using todays modern counterparts.  But these flies were tied with tied by passionated fishermen, who endlessly tested and improved upon their own creations, trying to find that perfect look and feel that would make the fish jump out of the water.  The Wulff Royal Coachman (or Royal Wulff as it is popularly called today) was just one of those flies, tied by Q.L. Quackenbush.

Q.L. "Quack" Quackenbush was a member of the Beaverkill Trout Club, located in the Catskills.  In 1930, the group was trying to improve upon the Royal Coachman, because they felt that the fly's wings were very fragile.  So, Quack asked one of his partners in crime in the club to try and find a substitute for the fragile white mandarin (duck) fan wings.  They asked their supplier for any part of an animal that may contain a stiff, white, kinky hair that they could use.  They struck out with that request, but he did provide some impala tails: "Perfect!" They thought.

As a name, the Beaverkill Trout Club settled on "The Quack Coachman", after it's creator. The name as since evolved, with the name changing to Hair-wing Wolff Coachman, to Hairwing Royal Coachman, to it's commonly referred to present day name, the Royall Wolff.

This is a must have for any dry fly box and can be an extremely effective fly on the water.  

Hook: TMC 100, sizes 8, 10,12.Thread: Black, Pearsall's Gossamer Silk.
Wing: White Calf-tail, split and posted.
Tail: Coachman Brown Barbs, or Golden Pheasant Tippet (shown).
Body: Peacock Herl, with center portion using Red Pearsall's Gossamer Silk.
Hackle: Coachman Brown, Rooster Cape.

June Walleye Lure of the Month: Storm Thunderstick

June Walleye Lure of the Month

Storm Thunderstick

The abundantly versatile ThunderStick was introduced to the angling community in the 1980’s by the Storm Manufacturing Company.  It’s just one lure in a comprehensive line of premium lures sold by the world famous luremaker.  Back in 1965, Storm’s charter product was the innovative, if not unusual, ThinFin.  By the late 1990’s, Storm had established seven popular product families: ThinFin, Hot’N Tot, Wart, Chug Bug, Mac, Pygmy, and, of course, ThunderStick.  Many, if not all, of Storm’s products have been “renovated” as a result of the company being acquired by Normark, makers of the legendary Rapala minnow.  Although much of the Storm product line has been updated, we’ve seen many of the new products and can report that we’re excited about fishing them all.

Storm offered the original ThunderStick dressed out in a dizzying 65 different color combinations, and, incredibly, the company continued to introduce new colors regularly.  In the highly automated world of lure making, it’s worth pointing out that each of Storm’s baits were hand painted and clear coated to ensure the highest quality finish.  Storm’s roots are in freshwater fishing, but the company did make a saltwater ThunderStick (enclosed) specifically designed to withstand the unique punishment saltwater deals out day after day.  Although replaced by a freshly updated ThunderStick, the original still lives up to its reputation as an all-around fish taker, and, according to rumor, it’s becoming rather collectible.

Created: Late 1980’s

Manufacturer: Storm Lures (now owned by Rapala)

Technique:

Storm suggests trolling or retrieving the ThunderStick at a steady speed.  A property that makes the ThunderStick so desirable is its ability to be retrieved at very high speeds without taking anything away from its wounded minnow action.  Experiment with different speeds as a practice.

If you notice that the lure does not track properly, tuning might be necessary.  To correct this, firmly grasp the ThunderStick and bend the connecting loop in the opposite direction the lure is swimming.  Needle-nose pliers work great in this situation.  Remember, a little force goes a long way here.

June Saltwater Lure of the Month: Acme Kastmaster

History and lure from AcmeTackle.com

^Check them out! Many great lures!

The Kastmaster is a popular and deadly spoon-type lure for both fresh and salt water. Many anglers use this lure or know about it. But very few anglers know the story of Art Lavallee, the man who discovered and perfected the Kastmaster and put it on the market.

Art Lavallee was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1918, and as a young boy liked freshwater fishing. After returning from W.W. II where he served on submarines in the Pacific, he resumed freshwater fishing and in 1947 he caught an 8 3/4 lb. largemouth bass that held the Rhode Island state record for many years. But when he caught his first striped bass in the ocean, striper fishing became his primary fishing interest.

In 1949, Art Lavallee and his brother Al formed the Spencer Plating Company, which polished and electroplated jewelry. Art took some of the jewelry and bent and changed their shapes to create metal fishing  lures. He and his friends enjoyed successful angling results with these inventions, so Art decided to enter the fishing tackle business and founded the Acme Tackle Company in 1952. Then Art learned about a lure called the EDA Splune developed by the Engineering Design Associates. This metal lure was the forerunner of the Kastmaster. The Acme Tackle Company entered into a royalty agreement with EDA and acquired the rights to market the lure. Art field tested the lure and then modified it, making it longer and giving it the jewelry like finish for which Acme lures are famous.

The Kastmaster was quickly accepted by both fresh and saltwater anglers and is now used to catch all kinds of fish. An amazingly versatile lure, the Kastmaster is equally deadly whether cast, trolled, or vertically jigged.  It casts like a bullet, and its unique side-to-side darting action is something which pursued baitfish do, but which ordinary spoons do not.

June Freshwater Lure of the Month: Rapala Floating Lure

June Freshwater Lure of the Month: Rapala Floating Silver Lure

In the 1930's, Lauri Rapala had a very simple revelation: wounded fish get eaten by big fish, so all he needed to do was to create a lure that resembled a wounded minnow.  Such a simple thought process, but it is one that has transcended generations and helped to catch millions of fish.  The Rapala Original Floater was originally made of timber, and has since been updated to what is included in this month's selection.  It's easy to use, durable, and most importantly - it catches fish!

Used as a trolling lure, it is easy to maintain a consistent speed.  Also because of the balsa wood construction, you will find that it has a nice, rolling action through the water, further enticing the fish.  If you are lure casting, simply cast it out and pull it back in.  

As a variation, if you see fish flashing at the lure but not striking, try this: cast it out, increase the tempo of the retrieve, and add in short, sharp stops that get the Rapala minnow darting and weaving, darting and weaving.  This may "wake up" the fish that were previously not interested, and get them to chase and try to catch the lure with a new life to it.

For more info, check out FishingEnthusiast.BlogSpot.com to watch a video put together by Patrick Brennan on best practices of fishing this beautiful lure!

Features:

*Swimming Depth: 0.6-1.8 m

*Available in classic and bleeding patterns

*Can be fished top to bottom

*Balsa Wood Construction

*Natural Minnow Profile

*Run Fast or Slow

*VMC Hooks

May Walleye Lure of the Month: Lindy Shadling

May 2013 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.

May Freshwater Lure of the Month: Z-Man Chatterbait

May Freshwater Lure of the Month: Z-Man Chatterbait

No lure in recent memory has had such a profound impact on freshwater fishing as The Original ChatterBait. With its patent-pending design and unique hex-shaped ChatterBlade, the sound, vibration, flash, and action of The Original ChatterBait is unmatched. The Original ChatterBait is designed to -Inchswim-Inch in an erratic motion that mimics wounde

According to Mike Shelton, the vice president of sales for Z-Man Lures, The ChatterBait was invented by Ron Davis, of Greenwood, South Carolina.  Ron’s father had also worked on the original prototype. Ron made the first of these lures in late 2003. Eventually a fellow named Bryan Thrift got hold of these early baits. Bryan fished as a co-angler in FLW bass tournaments and nailed some good fish on his brand new ChatterBaits.”

Like lots of us, Bryan wasn’t all that eager to let everybody and his brother know what he was using to catch fish. Mike says Bryan just kept things to himself.

That worked for a while but then the old fat hit the fan. “In 2006,” Shelton says, “Bryan fished as a professional in a Stren/FLW tournament on Lake Okeechobee in Florida. He didn’t just fish in the event---he won it. He caught most of his fish with a ChatterBait. Other anglers got a look at what he was using and that’s when things really took off. We’ve sold a ton of them since.”

There’s little wonder that word about what this new lure that combines the fish-catching qualities of a spinnerbait as well as a crankbait and a jig started spreading big time. Consider, for example, what happened later at a Stren/FLW bass tournament at Lake Falcon in Texas. There an angler named Jeremy Guidry boated a winning total of more than 110-pounds. Most of his fish, including the biggest of the bunch, were caught on a ChatterBait.

When you work an Original ChatterBait, you’ll feel every pulse – especially on braided line. That vibration helps to monitor the position and speed of your lure and it prompts fish to strike.

The Original ChatterBait is a great choice to fish heavy cover. The hex-blade serves double-duty as a weed-guard to keep the hook from snagging on weeds or brush. And unlike a number of lures, The Original ChatterBait won’t hydroplane on a fast retrieve. In fact, you can regulate depth by working it slowly, at a moderate rate, or crank the reel handle as fast as you can. The Original ChatterBait responds with the appropriate action to track straight and stir fish into striking.

The result is likely to be record stringers and monster paydays!

Features :

• The Original ChatterBait is a great choice to fish heavy cover
• The hex-blade serves double-duty as a weed-guard to keep the hook from snagging on weeds or brush
• Won't hydroplane on a fast retrieve Regulate depth by working it slowly, at a moderate rate, or crank the reel handle as fast as you can The Original ChatterBait responds with the appropriate action to track straight and stir fish into striking
• Select from a range of EZ Skirt and ElaZtech split-tail trailer colors