May Freshwater Fly of the Month: Nymph Head Pheasant Tail Flashback

May Freshwater Fly of the Month: Nymph Head Pheasant Tail Flashback

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. 

May Freshwater Lure of the Month: Storm Arashi Shad - Parrot

May Freshwater Lure of the Month: Storm Arashi Shad - Parrot

From:  http://www.wired2fish.com/storm-arashi-silent-square-bill-crankbait/

"When the Storm Arashi Silent Square Bill first hit the market, I was hearing rave reviews about its self-tuning line tie. After getting a chance to fish with it for a few weeks, I can tell you that the hype is well-deserved.

Banging big squarebill crankbaits through thick cover is an excellent way to catch fall bass. As the shad infiltrate the creeks, laydowns and grass lines become prime ambush spots for hungry bass, making shad-imitation lures a must-have for the autumn months.

The self-tuning line tie gives it a free range of motion that consistently keeps the crankbait running straight regardless of your retrieve speed. I love to burn a crankbait to elicit reaction strikes and this is an outstanding crankbait to do it with. I put it on a 7.1:1 gear ratio reel and cranked it as fast and as hard as I possibly could and the Storm Arashi Silent Square Bill will not—I repeat—will not kick out and helicopter at any point in the retrieve. This has proved effective in schooling situations and also on high-pressure days when you need to force the bass the react quickly.

When retrieved slowly, the Storm Arashi Silent Square Bill has a very wide wobble and runs nose-down. I’ve used this retrieve when fishing around shallow bream with a lot of success and again—it runs totally straight regardless of what it collides with. When you bang it against a piece of cover, it momentarily kicks out and comes right back to its path within a few reel cranks." 

Runs with a lively rolling action and a pronounced tail kick. The buoyancy to back out of cover and square lip design for increased deflection are a perfect match for contacting structure. Non-rattling for a silent approach to wary or pressured fish in shallow water. Premium black Nickel VMC® hooks.

FEATURES

• ROTATED HOOK HANGERS nests the hooks close to the body for improved action, preventing hang-ups and allowing larger hooks

• SELF-TUNING LINE TIE is a free-moving design that keeps the lure tracking true, ensuring non-stop fishing action (Patent Pending)

• CIRCUIT BOARD LIP starts right away at slow speeds and quickly reaches maximum diving depth. Extremely thin with superior strength and durability

May Saltwater Lure of the Month: Sea Striker Got Cha Lure

May Saltwater Lure of the Month: Sea Striker Got Cha Lure

Sea Striker’s Got-Cha Lure is a must when it comes to fishing for Spanish mackerel. This particular lure is designed for blue fish, trout, stripers, Spanish mackerel, lady fish, jacks, and many others. They are particularly effective when you throw them off a pier, bridge, or jetty.  The Got-Cha lures have proven effective from the Florida Keys to the great lakes (for Musky) and all along the eastern seaboard.

Anglers can fish the Got-cha lures in several different ways.  You can cast them straight out with the current, letting out some slack in your line so it sinks.  You may also cast against the tide, so the Got-cha starts sinking and coming back towards you immediately.  When using this technique, it is recommended that you cast out diagonally as opposed to straight out.  Once you feel the bait touch the bottom, start jigging it up so it does not snag.  Make sure to jig with your rod tip down.  The stripers and trout are hanging out near the bottom, and this is best way to go down and get them (yes you will catch some snags, but you will also catch more fish!). 

When fishing off the bridge, work the shadows (the area where the lights shining down reach the shadow of the bridge itself).  The area directly below the bridge is more shallow than the water in front, so be careful of snags! Some fishermen allow for the Got-Cha plug to just go straight to the bottom during a slacking tide and just bounce it up and down.  A longer rod is recommended for this maneuver.

If fishing from a boat, Got-cha plugs are good for jigging trout, stripers, and blues.  Let them sink towards the bottom, and then jig them back up.