Go With Less in Summer

Bass fishing is a tedious thing to do and can be very frustrating. I know I have spoken about different lures and my opinions about them; however, I am not here to talk about that right now.

I am here to talk about the very essence of bass fishing during the dreadful hot Summer days on the lake. When you go fishing, do you take a lawn chair and search for the best shade when it is hot? Don't you take water or Gatorade for hydration? Well, just as you search for cooler places to fish so do the bass. They look for deeper and cooler water to stay in so they don't get so hot as the day progresses.

With this said, you should go with less for your baiting system. Use either a weightless or wacky rigged worm with either a 2/0, 3/0, or 4/0 hook. I would recommend using a quality hook such as a Trokar. Also, I would recommend using a wide gap or extra wide gap (EWG). This helps with the hookset once your prize bass takes the bait.

Now, some of the best plastic worms out there are made by Gary Yamamoto (Senko), Zoom, Strike King (what I use), Slurpies (Use these too from Northland Tackle), and Yum. Any of these are good and I would pick a good color such as watermelon, pumpkin, or even a blueish purple. They all have different color names.

The best advice when fishing weightless or even wacky is to be patient. You may feel a tug as the bait is going down and if so wait a second or two and then set the hook. Sometimes the bass will take the bait and go with it and sometimes they will just sit still but you have to wait until they have it in their mouth. All of us adrenaline junkies want to impatiently set the hooks thinking they will spit the bait out and we have lost the fish when that is not the case  most of the time.

So, next time you venture down to your favorite lake, pond, or whatever fishing for bass, fish with less and go with a weightless Texas rigged worm or wacky rig it for what could be the fish of a lifetime!

Team Trokar

Just got into Team Trokar! Big Fishing is on its way to becoming global. Join and follow me on Twitter! Thank you for your support everyone and remember to send your friends my way. Also, remember to check out and purchase one of the great books listed below before they get gone! Have a blessed day and catch some big ones.

Review Anyone?

Looking to review some topwater lures for bass fishing here on Big Fishing blog. If anyone is interested, I would like to get some topwater lures that no one is using any longer or even some new ones to review if generous.

I will put the review on here either in writing, video, or both. Send me a comment at the bottom of this to let me know and I will get you my information to send them to me. Thanks and I look forward to reviewing your topwater lures!

Have a blessed and prosperous day.

Fishing This Morning

Well, went to the lake this morning to fish. I used my Texas rig with no luck even though I got a few small bites. I think the bass spit the bait out since they were mainly going after top water. Great thing was it wasn't all a bust. I found a 10 pack of 3/0 bass hooks lying on the ground from the night before I guess. So, didn't go home empty handed! Had to dump them out because the pack was full of dirt, mud, and dew.

Bass Fishing Exposed

Check this out! Ran across this book on the internet and I had to have it. Take a look if you want to catch the bass of a lifetime.

Expert bass fisherman, Dave Dussault has created this book for people like you and I who love to fish for bass and cannot get enough of it. It is for people who desire to catch a bass every time they cast out their rod! Check it out.

More of my fishing tips coming up so stay tuned here to Big Fishing!

Fish Bait for More Fish

Have you ever wanted to catch more fish? Ever tried artificial bait without a bite or just plain food with no luck. Well, we all know that fishing is a sport but sitting out on the lake all day without a bite can sometimes be frustrating! I have ran across this manual to making your own fish bait and it seems to be doing very well on the market. I would like to invite you as an avid fisherman myself, to take a look at the book and you will be very surprised at the results you get when following the instructions. Click on the image below for more details. Thanks and have a prosperous and blessed day!

Extreme Tuna Fishing

Want to learn how to do some extreme tuna fishing? Click on the image for more information. Professional tuna fisherman from around the world has compiled information about tuna fishing into a digital mastery called Extreme Tuna Fishing. Check it out now!
I know that this blog is mainly for freshwater fishing; however, after seeing this great opportunity and seeing that I could possibly make some big money by selling the tuna to a bait shop, I got really interested!

5 Lures for Bass Fishing

There are many different types of lures out there for bass fishing but there are only 5 that are crucial and essential to catching them.

1- Plastic Worms
     * Texas Rigged - most simple rig setup there is with a plastic worm, wide gap hook, and a bullet weight
     * Carolina Rigged - more tricky setup with worm, wide gap hook, weight, swivel, leader line, and bead

Both of these worm setups are deadly and very effective in catching bass any time of the year on any body of water where there are bass.

2 - Spinnerbait
Great for catching bass in deep cover or around areas where bass like to hide out. Again, great for any type of water and just about any time of the year

3- Hard Jerkbaits

4 - Topwater Plugs
I like to personally use these either early in the morning or late evening when the water temp has cooled down and the fish are located closer to the surface and in more shallow waters.

5- Crankbait

Crankbait has bills on the front that either let them dive really deep or not so deep in the water where bass hide out. They are very effective on catching bass that are in deeper water. The more you reel, the deeper they dive.

Image of all types of lures essential to catching bass.

Fishing Knots

To tie line to lures:

1) Trilene knot
2) Improved clinch knot- simple and reliable
3) Palomar knot - best for braided line
4) Uni knot

Knot Tying Tips:

Always wet the line before cinching the knot. This reduces friction on the line and prevents burning, nicks, and abrasion caused by friction. It also reduces weakening in the line tremendously.

Retie knots after every fish catch to ensure they stay tight and break free.

Get some fingernail clippers to cut line. I keep a pair on my keys all the time for when I go fishing to trim tag ends.

Finally, tie the simplest knots you can. Improved clinch knot and Palomar knots have worked well with me. The first 10 lb catfish I caught was with a 12 lb monofilament line and a Palomar knot on a live minnow bait. Still use a Palomar knot even though it's best used with braided line.

Bass Fishing Tips

Have a new eBook titled: Awesome Bass Fishing Tips. This book contains secrets from my experience and tournament bass fisherman alike. There is always no guarantee; however, there is a 98% chance you WILL catch a bass with this knowledge.

I've tried these tips with great success and results! I am sure you will also. Pick up your copy today and you will NOT be disappointed!

Visit wordpress right now to get your copy!

Slurpies

Slurpies from northland tackle are impregnated with a special ingredient, sow sauce. This trademarked ingredient is meant to attract all the big fish. I haven't used them yet but I plan on trying them on a wacky rig along with a Texas rig in about 30+ feet of water over on lake Lanier.

Will be doing another review on these to give you an idea of how they performed. One of my fishing buddies gave me a pack of these to try out. He fishes in tournaments and uses these to catch stripers, bass, and other big fish.

Strike king crankbait

Crankbait is also called fishing plugs by some people. Crankbait is typically made of some type of wood or hard plastic. Strike king is a great crankbait for big fishing and fishing for bass.

Strike king bass bait is a deep diving lure that dives deeper the more you reel and floats back to the surface when you stop retrieving. This movement gives off vibrations and the illusion of a dying shad or minnow that attract predator fish.

I highly recommend one of these if you are serious about catching a bass.

http://amzn.to/Ndp2ss

Click the link to get one for your next big fishing trip.

Channel catfish caught!

Caught a big 10 lb channel catfish on one of my big fishing trips.

Used a Shakespeare rod and reel combo, a tiger 2. Used 12 lb test monofilament line with a live minnow as bait. Took about 10 minutes to get this beast to shore but it was well worth it.

Check him out!

The marabou jig

Wanted to talk about the marabou jig today. Have a yellow tailed jig that I use for big fishing on the lake.

A little history behind the jig is that it was first created in 1957 by a guy that wanted something just like the trout fisherman were using. Over the years bass lure companies have adapted the technique of manufacturing these finesse lures to attract the big fish on the lake.

I have a yellow one and have caught a few fish. The jig is typically tied directly to the line and fished like any other jig, letting it sink and then flipping the rod a few times.

The bright coloured marabou jigs I like to use in dark and stained water just like that of lake Lanier where I typically fish for bass and other big species.

This is the marabou jig I use to fish with and hopefully you will be successful with any marabou jig you implement into your fishing day.

Creme reusable rig

The creme reusable rig is basically a weed less Texas rig with a spin blade attached to the front to attract bass and other predator fish.

When I got it out of the package I noticed it was sort of cheap made but it is a plastic worm. It is purple with a pink curly tail with 2 weed less hooks protruding from the top.

I fish this rig by tying a good palomar knot or clinch knot to the leader, cast it out and retrieve slow and fast to attract fish. Haven't had any luck with this rig and have heard they don't last very long. I will know when a fish bites it.

Creme is a well respected lure company but fishing is all about location and the fishes mood.

Tell me what you think about this rig if you have used it before.

Shakey Head Rig Technique

The shakey head rig technique is used on largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass; although, any fish can be caught with this type of rig if they bite.

What you will need for the shakey head rig:
1. Jig head hook (1/4, 1/2, 3/4)
2. Plastic worm (Chartreuse is the best color in my opinion)
3. Good monofilament or flourocarbon line (best is probably flourocarbon since it is virtually invisible to the fish) A good flurocarbon that is fairly cheap is the Viscious Fishing brand at Wal-Mart. I would recommend 6-8 lb test for this jig so the line doesn't spook the fish.

How to rig it:

1st, take the jig head and place the head up against the worm and twist it in. I always buy the kind with the twist in heads.

2nd, push the hook into the worm but not all the way through. It should sit at the top of the inside of the plastic worm.

3rd, you have finished the rig. Tie with a palomar knot and you are ready to fish this lure.

To fish this lure, cast out and with the line taught, wait until the lure hits the bottom of the lake or body of freshwater you are fishing. Then, jerk your fishing pole upward once or twice and let it sink to the bottom again. This will attract the fish to the bait thinking it is injured. Once, the fish has taken the bait, set the hook and reel them in.

Image copyright belongs to http://www.bassfishingandcatching.com

Yeti cooler

Okay, I know this isn't about fishing but I just have to review this cooler. These coolers are extremely durable and will hold your food and drinks while on the lake for much longer than original coolers.

Ever opened your cooler to find your sandwiches were soggy because of melted ice? These coolers keep ice longer due to their inner lining. Also, drainage is a breeze with the leak proof and rust proof plug.

These coolers are so durable, they are considered grizzly proof by their website and I believe it. If you've ever seen one and held one, you will know a yeti cooler is for you and all your fishing needs.

These coolers can also be used to keep your prize fish in if you wish although I wouldn't recommend it because of the cost unless you are able to buy 2.

If you are in need of a cooler that won't crack, break, or come apart easily, get the cooler that will last a lifetime for all your fishing needs, a Yeti.

Hammonds Fishing Center

Hammonds Fishing Center is located in Cumming, GA right at Lake Lanier. They have a vast amount of fishing gear and accessories, archery supplies, apparel, hunting gear and supplies, and more!

Hammonds Fishing Center has some of the top brands of fishing supplies including Zoom, Berkley, Shimano, Abu Garcia, Shakespeare, St. Croix, and many others just to name a few. 

Arkie Rattle Band Bass Jig

Wanted to review this lure I have had for a while. I used this lure a few weeks ago at Lake Lanier to try and hook my first bass of the year. While I have caught bluegill and channel catfish, I still have had no luck with anything I use for bass fishing.

I believe in the right conditions, I will have plenty of luck with this particular Arkie jig. It has an Arkie flipping jig head that is ideal for attracting bass of mass proportions. Of course, this is with the right conditions such as weather, water turbidity, etc.

While there are many different colors of bass jigs, I chose one of the most popular which is the jig with the black and blue skirt. This particular jig has a neck that is suited for rattle bands that attract bass much stronger than just the jig itself. With the rattles, it sends vibrations through the water making bass more prominent to strike thinking it is an injured fish or cray.

Now, jigs are made to float slowly to the bottom of the lake or body of water it is fished in; however, if you are power fishing trying to catch as many as possible from dock to dock, it is best to remove a few strands of the skirt in order for the jig to float faster down to attract the bass better.

Took a picture of my lure I have had for a while and used a bit. Wish me luck on my next big fishing adventure and stay tuned for more fishing stuff.

Offshore bass fishing tip

This tip is great to use in any lake while fishing offshore. Utilise the tracker to find out where brush piles are located. If you don't have a tracker, don't worry it's not necessary.

The offshore bass tip is to use the drop shot technique. The key is to use the drop shot between the brush piles which is a killer for catching bass. Again, if you don't have a tracker it's okay, many bass have been caught without one.

The drop shot technique I always use is a hook directly attached to the line with either a cinched sinker weight, which is best to prevent snags, or a split shot sinker. The worm can be colourful and plastic which is what I use. I normally hook the plastic worm through the tip of the head. Here is a picture of the technique.

Morning fishing

Went fishing this morning after work with no luck. Ran across a poor catfish who had apparently either been poisoned or contracted some type of disease.

Felt bad for it because it looked like it was in no condition to be caught and attempted to be eaten.

Really looking forward to catching a bass soon. Tried a new lure today but nothing with that either. I will be reviewing that lure and trying it out more often in places I know bass will be hiding out.

Here is a picture of the catfish. Tell me what you think killed it.

Shakespeare Tiger 2

I have to give this rod and reel 8 out of 10 stars. I would have to say the rod holds up fairly well to any size fish caught on it. It is also able to be broken down into a 2 piece rod that can be conveniently carried anywhere in the car just in case a fishing urge comes along. It is a 7 ft rod which makes it ideal for big fishing.

The reel is where I minus the 2 stars. First is because the line is okay but I would recommend replacing it with any of your favourite fishing lines. It is a medium spinning rod so make sure you add the correct lb test and correct length. Second is the reel itself. The bail broke with me during a cast and even though I was able to repair it, i would replace it if desired with something like a Shimano or Abu Garcia. I will be replacing mine as soon as I get additional funds to do so. The line also reels off a little too fast causing loops which I could probably fix by thumbing it but who wants to do that?

Anyways, the positive side was I caught my 1st big fish with it a few weeks ago. Caught a 10 lb channel catfish out of lake Lanier. The rod and reel was easy to maintain and got the fish in quickly.

Would recommend the tiger 2 but would replace the line and reel.

Mine

New Homemade Lures for Big Fishing

I found these new lures to use for big fishing at the lake and other areas where big fish are located. They are called ZazzyPop lures from www.owljones.com  just click the link on the right hand side that says "A zazzypop blog."

These lures have great coloring to attract some of the biggest fish you have seen. They come in orange, black, red, chartreuse, and other mad colors to attract those fish in dark and stained or even clear water.

Great little poppers to attract some really big fish. I will update when I get some to use as to how the big fish react to my luring but don't take my word for it. Search ZazzyPop to see all the testimonials from people who have already used and caught some really big fish with these things.

Summer Lures for Smallmouth

During the Summer, many weather conditions make it a little more difficult to catch smallmouth bass. This includes storms, runoff into the lakes, boaters, etc. This makes the water a little more stained and the hot weather also send the fish into much deeper territory. This is all the reason I like to fish either early in the morning when it is still cool or in the evening when the sun is setting around 7-8 pm.

Lures are different for clear water than for water such as Lake Lanier that is dark and stained. I particularly use crankbait for bass in my local lake in bright colors such as chartreuse, red, black, and orange. This gets the bass' attention because let's be honest, have you ever tried to play tag in pitch dark? Hard to see your target right? Same goes for the bass if the water is dark and stained.

Many companies offer great crankbaits for bass. Some of these include, I use all different kinds as long as they work and I am not getting paid to put these on here, Strike King, Creme Lure, Berkley, Rapala, and more. They can be found at any outdoor or sporting good store or section at the local department store such as Wal-Mart. I typically try to go with a 2-3 inch crankbait just because they have to be big enough for the bass to be attracted to as well as see in the water.

Poppers and other top water lures are great to use during Summer for smallmouth bass also. The poppers are meant to be jerked across the top of the water which attracts other fish signalling it is time to eat. This attracts the smallmouth bass which strike at your lures if they are ready to eat of course.

Soft baits such as plastic worms can be rigged either Texas rig or Carolina rig which really attract the bass too. I've never seen a rig not work on a bass unless they are just being stubborn and not wanting to eat at the time. This leads to the bass spitting the rig out, knocking it away with its' tail, or even bumping it out of the way with its' head.

Three soft jerk bait that can be used for smallmouth bass. See the difference in colors to attract the bass? Image taken from http://www.smallmouths.com/2010/03/three-soft-jerkbaits-for-spring-smallmouth-bass/
Can give more information about the soft jerk bait along with other smallmouth tips and techniques.

Smallmouth Bass

One of the most commonly caught fish and most popular fish to catch is the smallmouth bass. The smallmouth bass has different feeding habits and a little bit different anatomy than its' counterpart, the largemouth bass.

The smallmouth bass of course has a smaller mouth and tougher skin than the largemouth. This is because of the feeding habits the smallmouth bass acquires. The smallmouth bass preys on frogs, crayfish, small snakes, baby ducks, small alligators, and just about anything else it can fit its small mouth around. The bass, both smallmouth and largemouth, are predator fish which eat dying and living prey in the waters. This is important for an angler to recognize to be able to catch the smallmouth bass as well as rig his or her line.

The smallmouth bass also has a more slender body structure which allows it to chase down prey and they are also more comfortable in open water rather in a patch of reed somewhere like its' counterpart.

They are more apt to clear and cold water. This means the smallmouth are going to be in the deeper parts of the lakes more than likely.

These fish will put up a bigger and harder fight if caught, so be sure to use a great rod, reel, and some good line which we will be discussing in other segments of this blog.

If you have anything else to add to this segment of the smallmouth bass, leave a comment below.

Happy big fishing!

Welcome to Big Fishing

Here is my 1st post here on Big Fishing and I will be reviewing a number of fishing tackle, reels, rods, bait, and other big fishing items. I will also be sharing my adventures while fishing on great Lake Lanier in GA.

I hope you have fun reading about my fishing adventures and invite your friends to join the blog.

Thanks and I hope you catch some big fish