December Saltwater Lure of the Month: Boone Sundance Popper

December Saltwater Lure of the Month

Boone Sundance Popper

Over 70 years ago, a young boy in Charleston, South Carolina received a fly-tying kit from his parents.  This boy, Don Boone, had a natural gift for fly tying and was tying beautiful flies by the age of 12.  His father and his father’s friends loved his flies and would pay him small sums to make them flies for their fishing trips.  The more word spread, the more flies young Don would make.  And so, at the ripe age of 15, a business was born.

In 1953, Don moved to Florida and formed the Boone Bait Company.  He joined forces with his wife Vera and his friends Joseph and Arlyne Showalter, with both couples taking equal shares in the company.  Their first factory was an airport hanger on Highway 50 at a small airport in Orlando. The company quickly grew and became appealing to a businessman named Peter Foley from Norwalk, Connecticut who purchased the company and continues to be the president today.  Boone lures are now available in more than 65 countries and hold the distinction of being the first lure company to produce soft plastic baits.

The Boone Sundance Popper is one of Boone’s most popular saltwater poppers today. When worked through the water, it looks like a strobe light because of the mirrors on the body. Thru-wire attached to two triple strength Mustad hooks. The flash from the mirrors triggers the feeding instinct of game fish. The lure is made of solid space-age plastic that will not absorb water and has a stainless steel wire frame. Attached to the frame are added action and color. A Killer lure for Striped Bass.

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December Freshwater Lure of the Month: Dardevle

December 2015

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 long distances 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.

December Freshwater Fly of the Month: Hemmingway Caddis

December Freshwater Fly of the Month: Hemmingway Caddis

The Hemingway Caddis is a variation of the Henryville, developed by Mike Lawson, with a Peacock Thorax and a Blue Dun Hackle for both the collar hackle and the palmered rib. It was named for Jack Hemingway, son of Ernest Hemingway, who preferred this variation when he fished the Henry's Fork in Idaho as he thought the Henryville Special was a little too brown in coloration.

The Hemingway Caddis is often used within Sierran streams, particularly Spring Creeks and slow-moving waters. Lawson usually ties the Quill Wings with two segments having the convex sides facing each other with some overlap. This is a quill flatwing style. Often, you will also see this pattern tied with one segment in a "Tent" style similar to the Kings River Caddis.

Either way, the quill wings provide a very good caddis sillouette. The colors of the hackle and body can be matched to the caddis found on the water.

The Hemingway Caddis has a extremely realistic narrow wing profile, is heavily hackled for good skittering and its charcoal color tone matches many real caddis. This is an excellent pattern to pull out when you have a late evening caddis hatch coming off. The darker color really shows up well in flat light and the profile is a dead-on match.

This is a very realistic looking dry caddis. It will float well in both still water and fast bubbling streams. It truly is a pattern Hemingway himself would be proud to fish with.

October Freshwater Fly of the Month: Fish Skull Forage Fly

October 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

October Freshwater Lure of the Month: Bandit 200 Series Chartreuse

October Freshwater Lure of the Month: Bandit 200 Series Chartreuse

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.

 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 200 Crankbait:
Bandit Series 200 Crankbait - The 200 series crankbaits are 2" long and run 4' to 8' deep. This is the best seller of all the Bandit crankbaits. It is an excellent search bait in the spring and fall. It runs as true as any lure made.  

• Premium grade plastics
• Multi-coat gloss paint colors
• State of the art molding
• Dives 4' - 8'

October Saltwater Lure of the Month: Clarkspoons Classic for Game Fish

October Saltwater Lure of the Month: Clarkspoons Classic for Game Fish

"These spoons catch everything ! They work so good it's hard to try anything else love then even for trolling work like magic!! Gotta have them!"

"The standard of the Clarkspoon family"

The Clarkspoon company was founded in America in 1927 and sought to create a series of better saltwater spoons for offshore fishermen.  In the nearly 100 years since the companies inception, the company has created dozens and dozens of innovative new baits, including (of course) the original Clarkspoon, but also Flashspoons, Spoon Squids, Clark Caster, Mackerel Duster, Mackerel Tree, Trolling Sinkers and many others.  Their attention to detail and quality have allowed them to stay ahead of the competition 

The Clark Spoon original is a legendary spoon that has stood the test of time.  With a fast action and strong life like motion designed to be trolled or casted, this bait is a favorite of blues.  It's also a a hands down favorite for Spanish Mackerel, Striper, and other game fish.  They are proven for both salt and freshwater fishing.  

Equipped with special built-in swivel with red bead and reinforced strong, stainless steel hooks, the fast acting lures feature a bright finish and a fast live action flutter.  Rigged Silver Clark Spoon is tied with a 24-ft., 30-lb. test leader and a No. 3 snap swivel. Wound on a 4" wheel.

Available in both chrome and gold.

FEATURES:

• Original Clarkspoons
• Fast-acting with realistic motion
• Great for trolling or casting
• Chrome or gold plated
• Built-in swivel with red beads
• Stainless steel Eagle Claw® hooks
• Clarkspoon

September Saltwater Lure of the Month: Wizard Custom Tackle's Double Header Jigging Spoon

September Saltwater Lure of the Month: Wizard Custom Tackle's Double Header Jigging Spoon

DOUBLE HEADER JIGGING SPOON Hand Made in the U.S.A. The Double Header Jigging Spoon is designed to have two different actions.

1)Head first as packaged works especially well around deep water docks and breakwaters like those normally found at the dam end of most highland reservoirs. The Double Header Jigging Spoon is particularly effective when pitched into the dock wells or along the breakwater and allowed to fall to the desired depth. Then sweep the spoon up and allow it to fall back,producing a reaction strike. The unique design of the Double Header Spoon allows it to swim back under docks and floating breakwaters. Fishing the Double Header with the stinger hook provided can produce two fish at a time action.

2)Switching the hooks to the opposite end creates a more controlled subtle action particularly effective on fish schooled under bait fish. This method is very effective around bridge piling sand standing timber. You can take two at a time when used with the stinger hook provided.

3)The third method can be used with either hook placement. Simply drop the spoon to the bottom and hop or stroke the spoon up, then allow it to fall back. Look for fish on under waterhumps, creek channel bends or points and bluff ends. Strike usually occurs at the top of your lift or as the spoon falls back in all three methods. Follow your spoon as it falls on a slightly slack line to allow the spoon to produce its maximum action. Watch your line for any indication of a strike or hesitation in the spoons fall.STRIKE IMMEDIATELY!TIP: You can affect the spoons rate of fall by changing the line weight you use for example changing the line from 12 lbs test to 17 or 20 lbs test will slow the rate of fall. Going lighter will cause the spoon to fall faster. Effective on all species of game fish.