Trip planning

T'was the night before the fishing trip, and all through the house, not a creature bait was stirring, not even the Power Team Lures Craw D,oeuvre.

Okay so maybe it's not quite like that. In this article I want to talk about trip planning. In my opinion it's the most important part of any trip, then again I have been accused of thinking and/or planning too much in the past. What can I say, I like to be thorough. 

The first thing I do, is decide where I want to fish. I'm blessed to live in an area that has endless angling opportunities. I can choose to fish a lake, river, bay or even the Gulf of Mexico. Once I've decided where I want to fish, then I need to decide where I will launch from.

A good map or Google Maps/Earth are great ways to find launch points. I try to stay away from boat ramps if possible, so  I look for "Day Use" areas or parking areas with easy access to the water. Luckily the areas I fish allow me to do this.

The next thing I think about is season and weather conditions. Obviously season is extremely important. I need to know what the pattern is so I know what tactics I want to use. Knowing this will help me decide what gear and tackle to bring along. The weather is equally important, as is solunar data. For researching this I use Scout Look. Their App allows me to pick any location and find all the weather data and solunar data I need. I highly recommend downloading the Scout Look App to your smartphone. Knowing the weather also helps with dressing for the conditions and taking any necessary precautions.

Obviously, if you fish the same water regularly, some of this isn't always necessary for each trip. However, when you fish new water I suggest you take the time to research and plan ahead. Planning not only gives you the best shot at catching fish, it also allows you to be safer on the water. 

Be as thorough as you can, to avoid any surprises. On one occasion, I was going to fish a lake I had never been before. I did my research, felt confident I knew what I needed to know, loaded up and headed there. I got to the lake, which was over an hour from my house only to find it wasn't there. I don't mean I got lost or I was mistaken, I mean it was GONE! Apparently this particular lake is known to dry up every five to six years. I didn't do much fishing that day.  As I said do your research and be thorough. It can only help you and make for a more pleasant fishing experience.

D.S

HOOK1 Kayak Fishing Gear

Have you just gotten into kayak fishing and not sure what to do next? Or maybe you've been kayak fishing for awhile now, and realized it's time for an upgrade or some modifications. Well, look no further, HOOK1 Kayak Fishing Gear has anything and everything you need.

HOOK1 has been at the forefront of kayak fishing for over twelve years. The Vice President is none other than Chad Hoover, arguably the man who single-handedly caused this kayak fishing explosion. Chad is a "Rock Star" in the kayak fishing community. Not only is he a published author of Kayak Bass Fishing, but you may know him from Kayak Bassin TV on WFN or Knot Right Kayak Fishing on NBC Sports. If that isn't enough, every employee at HOOK1 is obsessed with kayak angling. They are always there to assist newcomers and veterans with any and all kayak fishing questions.

HOOK1 has three locations, two in Central Tennessee and one in Oklahoma. Their online store carries just about anything you could imagine, relating to kayak fishing. They carry several brands of kayaks, paddlesports gear, fishing gear and equipment, tackle and even hunting gear. Their knowledgeable staff can answer any questions you have about this wonderful sport. They also have an extensive "Field Staff," HOOK1 Team and HOOK1 Crew that can assist you.

Something new that was just created, is the HOOK1 Gear Talk page. This page is a direct link to the HOOK1 "Field Staff" for tips, tricks and advice. HOOK1 is more than just a retail shop, it's made up of over a hundred ambassadors of this great sport.  A "Band of Brothers and Sisters" in the kayak fishing community, that is always willing to help out fellow anglers.  So whether you are new to the sport, a veteran angler or just curious about this whole kayak fishing epidemic, check out HOOK1KFG for all your kayak fishing needs.

D.S
HOOK1 Team Member

Gear Review: CRB Custom Rods

   

With all the options out there, finding the right fishing rod can be a daunting task. Of course, there is no perfect rod for every situation. However, a custom built rod can be pretty darn close.

Building a fishing rod isn't as difficult as you may think. Oh sure, there is some special equipment that is needed, but actually building the rod is very straight forward. Mud Hole makes this even easier by selling complete rod kits with instructions, to guide you through the process. Alas, this post isn't an instructional "How-To," instead it's a review about the CRB Value Spinning/Casting rod kits sold by Mud Hole.

These kits come complete with rod blank, cork grips, deluxe Graphite reel seats and Halide guides with tip top. They also come in an array of colors such as, Blue, Green Orange, Pink, Lime, Yellow, Purple and of course Black. The kit does not include thread, epoxy, thread finish or any of the tools or equipment to build the rod. Mud Hole does sell starter kits that are reasonably priced though, that will get you going quickly and easily.

So lets start with the most important part of any rod, the blank. The CRB Value kits, feature a high quality blank constructed of IM6 Graphite (44 million modules) that guarantee a high-strength low-weight rod. These blanks are all 1-piece construction. The reel seat is also made from high quality Graphite, to ensure many years of abuse. The cork handles are of good quality, and come pre-shaped and ready to install. Finally, the guides are made of Halide, which is the highest grade of aluminum oxide you can get.

These kits come in Lite action 5'6", 6' and 7' lengths, Medium action 6', 6'6", and 7' or Heavy action in 7'. The overall feel of these rods is fantastic. They are well balanced and very lite. If assembled properly they fish extremely well.  The 6'6" versions that I built, cast well and the action is incredible. Obviously, you can design these rods to whatever your taste, which is another great feature.  These rods easily stack up to rods that cost twice as much. I currently have several spinning and casting versions, and they all perform flawlessly. The guides hold up well to braided line too. I currently own a few St. Croix rods as well, but prefer these CRB rods. They actually feel better to use. Maybe that's just because I built them, but they have become my new favorite.

So, if you are looking to buy some high quality rods, and are willing to try your hand at custom building them, try the Value Rod kits from Mud Hole. You won't be disappointed.  The price won't break the bank either.

D.S

   www.mudhole.com

Too Much Paddling, Not Enough Fishing

Do you ever find yourself spending more time paddling from spot to spot then actually fishing? I know I do.

The problem is we are impatient. We're impatient waiting in lines, expecially at the DMV, we're impatient in traffic and we're impatient while fishing. There are a million and one things that cause us to lose our patience, but fishing shouldn't be one of them. Isn't it funny how we say we're going fishing to relax, yet we often get frustrated and impatient?

The best way to avoid this fishing faux pas, is to plan in advance how and where you will be fishing. Do some research before you go, that way you can spend more time fishing instead of searching. The old saying, 90% of the fish are only in 10% of the water. So it stands to reason if you know where the fish are, you shouldn't have to move constantly, right?

Start by asking yourself, what time of year is it? What's the temperature? What moon phase are we in? The answers to these questions should narrow down your search. If it's July with temperatures in the 90's, then you can almost bank on the fish being deep. So there is no real reason to fish the shallow areas. I'm not saying fish won't be shallow, but the percentage of success is higher in the deeper areas in this example.

As kayak anglers, our range is already more limited than those fishing in a boat. We can't just crank up a 250 horsepower Mercury and cut over to the other side of the lake. That could take us hours.  Personally I would rather have my line in the water instead of my paddle. I've never caught a fish with my paddle.  Wouldn't that be something though?

My point is, if you spend all your time overthinking it and relocating, you won't catch any fish. Don't allow yourself to get impatient.  If you did your research and feel confident, that the fish should be where you are, then spend the time there. Instead of moving, try different techniques and presentations. I'm 100% certain you'll catch more fish trying this.  Why so confident you ask? Well if your paddle is in the water and not your line, you have a 0% chance of catching anything. I know that for sure .

D.S

Ardent Reels

Ardent has been the leading designer and manufacturer of freshwater fishing reels and reel care products and accessories since 2003. Made by fishermen for fishermen, the design of every Ardent reel and accessory is the result of input from professional anglers that are members of Team Ardent. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Ardent is proud to be an American owned and operated company. Every Ardent reel is hand assembled and performance tested prior to shipment, and each reel is backed by the industry's best 3-year warranty to ensure years of great performance.

Ardent's Apex series comes in three versions. The Tournament weighs only 6.3 ounces, has 9 ball bearings and a gear ratio of 6.5:1. The Pro weighs 6.3 ounces, has 11 ball bearings and a 7.3:1 gear ratio. Finally the Elite weighs under 6 ounces, has 13 ball bearings and a 6.5:1 gear ratio. Prices range from $100 for the Tournament up to $150 for the Elite. These are by far the best baitcasting reels I have ever used.

Ardent's Horizon series is great for budget minded anglers. With 6.2:1 and 7.0:1 gear ratios to choose from, it should handle any situation. At only $70, it's in a class all by itself. I own several of these fantastic reels and couldn't be happier with them.

Ardent also manufactures two series of spinning reels, with 1000, 2000 and 3000 sizes to choose from. The Forge with a forged aluminum frame & aluminum spool or the Edgewater, with Graphite frame & aluminum spool. You can choose either a Carbon Fiber finish or the ever popular Fishouflage.

Ardent Forge

Ardent Edgewater

Ardent also sells unique NCAA, Military & Fishouflage spinning combos, for those who like a little flair while on the lake.  Along with a full line of Denny Brauer Pro Series rods.

Finally Ardent sells a complete array of reel care products like cleaning kits, line conditioners and Reel Butter grease and oil. Check out all of Ardent's great products at www.ardentreels.com

D.S

Simplify it

The other day, I ran across some old photographs of my childhood.  Several of them were pictures of me fishing.  I looked so proud holding up those little Panfish in one hand and my old fishing pole in the other.  It got me thinking, I only fished with one rod and one reel back then. That's all I had so that's all I used, yet I still caught fish.

Fast forward a bit, to when I was a teenager. Again I had one rod and one reel.  I still remember the reel was an Ultra Lite Shakespeare open-faced reel.  I had a small tackle box with a few plastics, some hooks, bobbers and one crankbait.  I really thought I was something with all that gear.  I caught the biggest Bass of my life with that setup too.

Since then I have accumulated a plethora of gear and tackle.  All in the pursuit of fish.  I have rod and reel setups for Bass fishing, surf fishing, deep sea fishing and inshore fishing.  I even have duplicates of certain setups.  I have a tackle box for freshwater fishing, one for saltwater and a separate kit just for soft plastics. I even have stuff for fly fishing, which I've never done.  My entire garage is dedicated to fishing gear, with rod building supplies and equipment and storage for everything.  

Then I look at my son's fishing equipment. They each have one rod and reel, that's it.  They all have a small tackle box with a few weights, hooks and some small plastics.  Yet they are so proud of the little they have.  It makes me wonder if I could be happy with one rod and reel again.  I doubt it.

Kayak fishing, however, almost forces me to trim down what I fish with. There is no way I could carry everything I think I need for an outing. Instead, I have to decide how I want to fish that day and bring only what I need for that particular trip. I rarely take more than three rods with me.  I bring two baitcasting and one spinning setup. As for tackle I bring whichever tackle box I will need depending on if I'm fishing fresh or salt. There are days where I get so frustrated, because I keep changing lures and having to retie often. Other days though, I enjoy deciding ahead of time what I'm going to use and sticking with it. Those days seem to be more relaxing and remind me of my childhood fishing trips.  

Sometimes I think we all just need to simplify it. Limit our options and make ourselves fish with just a few techniques.  Tie on that spinnerbait and throw it, then throw it again and then again. Let it sink, burn it near the surface or stop and go.  Throw it all over the place spend hours with it instead of minutes. You may not catch anything, but I guarantee you'll get to know that spinnerbait by the end of the day. Which might come in handy on those days fish want that spinnerbait.

D.S

Kayak Fishing vs Family Man

I want to tell you a story, my story. Once upon a time... just kidding.  Seriously though, I can't be the only one who finds it difficult to squeeze time in for fishing.

I am blessed with 4 boys.  Three of which are under 5 and the other is about to start driving. I also have a wonderful wife, who for the past year has been able to stay home with the kids while completing her Bachelors Degree.  

Thankfully my job is not only rewarding, it's fairly flexible too. Most of my weekday consists of work 6-4 sometimes 6-5.  Two nights a week my wife has school, so I'm on "Daddy Duty" until 7pm.  Plus everything else that comes with having children, expecially small ones. Needless to say fishing after work is a rarity for me.  

Saturdays are filled with family fun, "Honey Do" chores, or College Football this time of year. Anything that keeps us all together one day a week.  So that leaves Sunday.  On Sunday mornings my wife and children go to church, which frees me up until noon.  I wonder if I'll regret writing that later?  Oh well, moving on.  

That is my "ME" time, my freedom from responsibility, if only for a few hours.  My wife uses her church time for that, I prefer fishing. For several years I would feel guilty anytime I did something, anything for myself.  I felt bad not using that time to spend with them. Slowly that guilt has faded, not because I don't care, but because my wonderful wife always encourages me to go.  

Being a parent is hard work.  It takes love, dedication, patience, resilience and sacrifice.  In many ways you have to give up who you were, to be a better parent.  However, you still need to take care of you.  Everyone needs a way to relieve stress and just relax.  Fishing does that for me like church does that for my wife.  

It's a delicate balancing act between family and fishing, but I am able to have both.  I also know what's more important, luckily I haven't had to choose.

D.S

Fish finder, useful or distracting?

Until this year, I had never used a Fishfinder. Not that I never wanted one, just never got one. I decided to get an inexpensive one just to see if it would be something I would or could use. Can never have too many tools I suppose.

I bought the Hummingbird 143, installed it and took it out. It took me awhile to figure out the settings and all that, but soon I was seeing fish after fish on the screen. This is awesome I thought! I could see structure, cover, water temp and I knew right where the fish were. However, I found myself spending too much time starring at the screen waiting for an unexpecting fish to swim by. It didn't matter if I was paddling to a spot I knew held fish, if I seen one on the screen, I stopped and casted out.

To date I have not caught one single fish, that I'm aware of, that I have seen on my Fishfinder. Every time I seen a fish or a school of fish swimming near, I have came up empty handed. As the season went on I finally realized that this tool will not, by itself, put more fish in the boat. While I still use it every trip, I now focus on finding the structure or cover where the fish should be. I watch the water temp and depth, but try to ignore every little blip that swims by.

An old fisherman I knew told me once, "You can't catch fish with dry line." Oh how true that is. While gadgets and gizmos are cool, they can also be very distracting. After 20 some years of fishing I finally know the secret to catch more fish.  Keep your line wet. That's it, it's that simple. You can't catch fish on the couch, or at the store buying every fishing lure you can find. You also can't catch fish if you spend your time on the water messing with gadgets the whole time. Well there it is, the biggest secret in fishing revealed. Now get out there and see if I'm wrong.

D.S