August Freshwater Lure of the Month: ZMAN ChatterStick 5” Blue/Silver

August Freshwater Lure of the Month: ZMAN ChatterStick 5” Blue/Silver

An excerpt from GearPatrol.com's "The Art of the Fishing Lure" to read the rest of the article on our blog at www.FishingEnthusiast.BlogSpot.com! 

I

f any item holds special mysticism among fishing gear, it’s the lure. Some anglers spit on them for good luck; many have favorites (my dad and I still call one spinner, which will be kept secret to protect innocent fish, our “secret weapon”); rules abound for their use, like “light on dark days, dark on light”. Or was it vice versa? There are spoons and buzzbaits, tubes and cranks, jitterbugs and streamers (and dry flies, wet flies, and a million other flies) to choose from. It’s a lot to keep track of.

It's understood that at their basic level, lures are deceptions meant to replace live bait, which are hard to gather and often expire prematurely, escape or are used up before the day’s work is done. But beyond that, a surprising majority of fishermen don’t really understand lures — and in this vacuum, myths abound. So we spit on them. And worship them. And generally pick them from our tackle boxes without much sense of why they’re the right choice.

And the lures (the good ones, at least) tend to work, maybe not every time, but on the whole — which, given recent findings about the intelligence of fish, is more impressive than we might have realized. In a recent study, biologist Culum Brown found that “fish perception and cognitive abilities often match or exceed other vertebrates.” Turns out they don't have five-second memories. More like a year, and maybe more. Brown has even written that certain fish species like the wrasse show similar tool use to primates and corvids (birds).

Fishermen have long known that fish are often smarter than they. But the rest of us probably haven’t given the lures used to catch these clever creatures their due. In fact, the best lures are really works of inventiveness, science, utility and even art.

Along those lines, this month's selection, the ZMAN ChatterStick is a very rare, hard to find, but devlishly effective bait.  ZMan's better know Chatterbait is heralded, but the Chatterstick is an equally effective bait for bass and other freshwater fishing.  Take em out on the water and try it out! Hopefully you can outsmart some fish!!

July Saltwater Lure of the Month: Logic Lures Scented Tandem Rigs

July Saltwater Lure of the Month: Logic Lures Scented Tandem Rigs

The Logic Lures Pre-Rigged Tandem Rigs feature Logic Lures' patented swivel hook technology, which allowed them to perfectly pair two lifelike PlastiX Flutter Tails, and produce the natural schooling action bass instinctively key in on. The patented Texas Twister Swivel hooks also keep the baits weedless so you can swim them through weeds and around structure, while still preventing line twist and increasing action.

 Each Tandem Rig comes ready to fish, and each bait also comes loaded with Logic Lures’ own Scent Formula iX. Tungsten sound beads provide additional fish attracting sound, while helping to keep the baits down in the strike zone, and 30lb fluorocarbon links it all together. Available in several colors, the Logic Lures Pre-Rigged Tandem Rigs are also completely reusable - just replace your PlastiX Flutter Tails.

It's best to fish this with a slower retrieve and slight movements to attract the fish.  The slightest movements of the rod will help to send the baits side to side across the water, making these even more enticing for the big boys to come after and create that beautiful swimming action that makes this a must have bait.  

Features

• Realistic swimming action
• Pre-rigged with premium 30lb fluorocarbon
• PlastiX  are infused with Logics own Scent Formula iX
• Weedless, rigged with our patented Swivel Hooks
• Tungsten sound beads
• Realistic 3D Eyez
• Bait Clips – baits stay on!
• Reusable rig  - just replace your PlastiX

July Freshwater Lure of the Month: LIVETARGET Frogs

July Freshwater Lure of the Month: LIVETARGET Frogs

In 2007, professional sportfishing guide, Grant Koppers, founded Koppers Fishing and Tackle Corp.

Koppers caught his very first gamefish when he was 8-years-old. He had joined his dad and a friend for a morning of casting spoons from a Lake Ontario beachfront. The quarry were Brown Trout cruising the shoreline, foraging on Emerald Shiners. Being only eight and the only angler to catch a fish that day, one would say that Koppers was officially ‘bitten by the bug’. Fueled with a new passion and exploding with energy, he crafted his own lure using an old kitchen spoon that same day.  In 1996, Koppers took his experience on his own to start a different kind of lure company – one with the finest crafted baits.  In 2005, he took the company to the next level by creating the first ever anatomically accurate line of fishing lures. They continue to fine tune their baits every year, continuing to dazzle their customers at every new bait that hits the market

This month’s Freshwater Lure of the Month is the LiveTarget Frog, a spectacular series of lures.  Weightlessly gliding left and right across the surface, the LIVETARGET frog series has all the attributes to attract BIG fish. Anatomical accuracy, detailed color and effortless action make this a first to the market, elevating the thrill of topwater fishing to a whole new level.

Use the hollow body in heavy cover. Twitch, Twitch.....SPLASH!

Young frogs are commonly found in lakes, rivers and reservoirs throughout the world. Frogs prefer the security of heavy vegetation, submerged timber and subsurface structure.

This popular bait is a favorite prey to:

·         Bass

·         Walleye

·         Northern Pike

The hollow body Frog is the perfect choice for fishing over weed choked areas or lily pads. The weedless design allows it to be worked over the cover without hanging up.

• ·         Astounding detail
• ·         Hollow-bodied frog
• ·         Precise spots, ears, front arms, and bulging eyes
• ·         Ultra-soft yet durable body
• ·         Better collapsibility for more hook-ups
• ·         Foolproof weedless design   

The detail here is astounding--you've never seen a hollow-bodied frog this realistic! Precise spots, ears, front arms, and bulging eyes. Ultra-soft yet durable body offers better collapsibility for more hook-ups, and the foolproof weedless design lets you chunk it into those water-thickets with confidence.

July Freshwater Fly of the Month: Crystal Bugger Black Beadhead

July Freshwater Fly of the Month: Crystal Bugger Black Beadhead

The Wooly Bugger fly pattern has to be one of the most productive streamer patterns to ever be created. Over the last few decades the wooly bugger style of flies have without a doubt accounted for more and larger fish being duped than with any other freshwater fly. The main reason for the wooly bugger’s great success is its ability to be adapted to catch virtually any fresh water fish that exists and to be used in all the different water conditions that may occur. From trout to bass, rivers to spring fed lakes the wooly bugger can just about do it all. The Crystal Bugger fly pattern is a relatively new addition to the wooly bugger family. 

Simple enough the crystal bugger boasts a flashy estaz body instead of the traditional chenille to spice things up a bit. This added flash coupled with the undulating action produced by the marabou tail in the water makes this fly a definite steelhead spring time favorite. Another of the key features of this fly is the Spirit River metallic bead head. This bead head provides the fly with the necessary weight to get it down on the bottom of those big deep pools where the big steelies like to hang out.

Fishing the bead head crystal bugger is relatively simple. If you are going to be fishing very cold weather cast this pattern to your target and let it dead drift drag-free down the river. Fish that are in these very cold temperatures become very lackadaisical and will not aggressively search out and chase down prey. Providing a slow subtle presentation with the crystal bugger will help keep your fly in the fish’s strike zone for longer providing you with a better chance of hooking into quality fish. In summer these same lazy fish will now be ready for a more active and rapid approach. Continuously stripping in the wooly pattern will have the head-heavy fly dancing up and down in the water column driving the fish wild.

June Freshwater Fly of the Month: Dry Stone-Stimulator Orange

June Freshwater Fly of the Month: Dry Stone-Stimulator Orange

The Stimulator dry fly is a go-to attractor dry fly, particularly when you're dry fly fishing during a big stone fly hatch or salmon fly hatch. This dry fly sits up high in the water, even in faster water. Its "bugginess" also makes the Stimulator one of the very best dry flies to use as an attractor dry fly pattern "prospecting" for trout when there is no hatch. 

Stimulator Orange. We all know how fruitful a colour orange can be. The Orange Stimulator is no exception. A ruggedly hackled searching dry fly that doubles as a tempting sight indication. I don't know how many times I have tied one of these on  a slower day to experience and immediate rod slamming take. make sure that you keep a wide variety of colours and sizes on you patch at all time, the Orange Stimulator is one pattern you won't want to be without.

This is my go-to prospecting fly for just about any stream/creek/small river. It mimics so many species of insects that trout prey upon it is pretty much universal. Not only can you fish it dry, I have often caught fish while stripping the fly in for another cast. I've compared this fly to other stimulators tied by other online fly stores, and there is no doubt about it. These flies stimulate a strike where others do not. Try it for yourself. These flies last longer and yield more strikes. There's really no substitute.

Although listed under stoneflies, a yelllow or orange Stimulator in size 12 or 14 is my go-to choice for my dry-dropper rigs. In smaller sizes it can imitate a caddis or small hopper. But it really shines as an indicator with a dropper and every so often the Stimulator gets nailed too- especially in broken faster water. Don't fish the dry / dropper on too fine a tippet though or you will just twist yourself into frustration.

• Chemically Sharpened, High Carbon Steel Hook

• Tied with premium materials such as Whiting Hackles

• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

June Freshwater Lure of the Month: Berkley Flicker Shad

June Freshwater Lure of the Month: Berkley Flicker Shad

BONUS! We've also included a new Hat Clip in this month's box.  A Must Have for all Fisherman this summer.

Story from Berkley Fishing 

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/History/Berkley-history,default,pg.html

The Berkley story is deeply rooted in the idea of the American Dream. It is about humble beginnings and unexpected success. It's about hard work, struggle, and tough times. And it's about building partnerships to accomplish goals. Still, the story of Berkley is much more than the story of Berkley Bedell. It's also the story of dedicated co-workers and loyal customers, who were equally willing to take risks.

It all began in Spirit Lake, Iowa, in June of 1937, when 16-year old Berkley Bedell took $50.00 from his paper route earnings to start a business selling his hand-tied flies to fishing tackle shops and vacationing anglers. In his upstairs bedroom, with hair clipped from the family dog, Stubby, and feathers from the backyard chickens, young Berkley crafted flies to entice local bluegill and bass from their underwater cover. The Berkley Fly Co. was founded.

By the time Berk graduated from high school in 1939, he was employing several area girls who made flies, silkworm gut, and cable wire leaders in their homes. The business soon outgrew Berk's parent's basement and living room. He expanded to the second floor of the local grocery store, using a tub filled with ice and a fan for air conditioning.  After attending the state university and serving in the Army Air Corps, Berk returned to Spirit Lake in 1945 to start Berkley and Company. 

The next four decades were a time of great growth for the company. In the 1960's Berkley entered into the rod business, which lead to international expansion in the 1970's. Soft plastic baits made an appearance in the 1980's. The 1990's through today have seen significant technology improvements in all of the Berkley products. From the beginning, Berkley has committed significant resources to research and development - a continuing strategy that has resulted in countless product innovations, including Berkley Trilene, the Lightning Rod, PowerBait, FireLine, and more recently Gulp!? and Gulp! Alive.

The Berkley Flicker Shad:

Studies have shown that walleye will single out small shad even when they have other forage available to them. That partly explains why, since its introduction just a few years ago, the Flicker Shad has become one of the most productive trolling baits of our time. Its size, profile, action, and diving depth perfectly mimic the walleye’s favorite meal, and its top-line componentry gives you a bait tuned to run correctly right out of the package. The Flicker Shad features strong hook attachments and a wide range of colors—including custom colors available only from Bass Pro Shops®! Complete with quality, wide-gap trebles to keep fish from coming loose on the way in.

• Pro designed
• Size, profile, and dive depth imitate real shad
• Weight transfer for bullet-like casts
• Mustad Ultra Point Hooks

June Saltwater Lure of the Month: Kinchou Minnow Redhead

June Saltwater Lure of the Month: Kinchou Minnow Redhead

We are very excited at this month's selection for Lure of the Month.  The Matzuo Kinchou Minnow is a newly launched lure from the Matzuo Tournament collection, and boy is it a winner! This new launch has struck a fear in the rest of the hard bait market - especially with the fish!

The New Kinchou Minnow launched it's signature flared bloody red gills, high pitched rattle, and seductive curves and lip to create a frenzied panic in the water that has never been witnessed before.  It is an aggressive diver with maximum wobble action covering the widest range of water depths from four to 20 feet – crank it or deep water troll. 

The Kinchou features the nervousness of an eccentric baitfish with its curved body and incredible wide wobble! Its aggressive wobble action will receive much attention as it swims thru the water. With its wide wobble, it creates a different resonate sound - different from any other baits. Retrieve or Troll - Fast or Slow! The Kinchou creates a high resonating rattle created by the stainless steel bearings chambered inside the body. The pitch of these bearings is highly attractive to both active and neutral fish

The Matzuo company adds: “This distressed beauty is perfectly balanced to float at rest or take off and dive when retrieved. Fish don’t stand a chance!"

 Marianne Huskey, Professional Walleye Angler and the recipient of the prestigious Anglers Insight Marketing Angler of the Year Award for 2012:

“I am very excited to be working with Matzuo America® and their line of innovative fishing products,” Marianne Huskey commented. “I am most excited to start promoting and fishing with the new Matzuo Kinchou Minnow. It is a perfect hardbait for beginners to professional anglers to experience all the excitement that hooking a trophy fish brings.”