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5 Tackle Box Necessities

Whether you’re new to the fabulous sport of fishing, or you just want to see what’s on trending on the top favorites for your tackle box, you’re going to enjoy these items we found. This is our top picks for the absolute must haves in your tackle box.

#1: South Bend Value Pack Swivels

Nothing can be more frustrating than getting out on the lake or river and realizing you don’t have the right kind of swivel for your fishing needs that day. That’s why you’re going to love our South Bend value pack of swivels. With a large assortment of swivels that come in a reusable 6 compartment utility box, you’re sure to always have just the swivel you need. From brass snap swivels, to brass barrel swivels and both available in small and large sizes, you’ll have everything you need for the perfect fishing experience.

#2: Apex Jighead Kit (27 Piece)

How often have you made it to your favorite fishing destination, only to find out you don’t have the jighead you need for the water condition and fish you want to catch. If this has happened to you, then you’re going to love out 27 piece Apex Jighead kit. With the large assortment of jighead options and a bonus jig eye cleaner to remove paint from the holes, you’re going to have just what you need when you need it.

#3: Owner All Purpose Worm Hooks

It seems that no matter how prepared you think you are, you’re always going to run out of something and that’s why it’s important to make sure you have plenty of the most basic fishing items on hand for you fishing trip. Because when the fish are biting you don’t want to have to leave to go get more hooks, make sure you have our pack of Owner all-purpose worm hooks on hand. Ideal for senkos and other soft plastic worms, the super sharp needle point makes it easy to set and easy to snag that fish you’re going after.

#4: Danielson Egg Sinker 2oz (4 Pack)

When you’re fishing for those low lying fish, you need to make sure you’ve got the right sinkers to keep that bait in front of your prey. That’s why you want to make sure you have a few packages of our Danielson egg sinkers in your kit. These sinkers are snag resistant and allow sensitivity of bites. 

#5: South Bend Flexible Drift and Trolling Sinkers

Having the right trolling sinker is imperative when you want to lure your favorite lower dwelling fish. Our South Bend flexible drift and trolling sinkers will keep your bait and hook at the right level to keep your prey interested. Made from woven nylon material and filled with stacked lead balls, these sinkers are designed to prevent snags.

Can Adding a Scent Enhance Your Fishing Experience?

Every fisherman is always looking for an advantage when out on the water, but could smell really be a realistic one?

One of the bigger topics of conversation over fishing lately has been can the use of smell really give you an advantage when fishing. This sense has the ability to help you out of the water when hunting other kinds of animals, but fish are a different story with water being a factor.

If you have been curious about this method, we have some answers once and for all.

How Scents Work for Fish

One of the keys to successful fishing is learning what will get the fish to bit and what won't. Believe it or not, bass can pick up scents in the same fashion we do as humans, but their sense of smell is through an entirely different organ in the body that brings it in with the water when they breathe.

Many scientific studies have shown that a fish's ability to smell is potentially 1,000 times stronger than that of a dog's. With this ability, it is not wonder than they can easily pick up and track scents under the water.

What Type of Fish Go For Scents

If you are using scents to reel in more fish, the most common kind you will find that are attracted to it are bass. Bass can smell a scent by taking in water through two different nostrils in their nose, an anterior nostril and a posterior nostril. As the water flows in through the anterior nostril and passes through the olfactory nerve and flows back out the posterior nostril.

Bass go after bait through sight and sound first and foremost. As they begin to approach bait however, the scent is the final sense that they focus on before making their final attack. If the scent of the bait is appealing to them, there is a very likely chance that they will go for it and bite the hook. If you are fishing in murkier waters, your chances are even better as the sense of sight is disabled and they will rely on their sense of smell even more.

Types of Scents That Attract Fish

So if you are going to use scents when catching fish, how do you know which kind to use? One of the more common kinds that dates back several decades now is a type of jelly that you can place on the bait.

Other popular scents will resemble their typical prey, such as a tastier owner yuki bug, a small toad scented bait, and other common bugs that they will usually feast on.

You can also try a cheese scented bait that targets salmon, steelhead and trout or a Coffee Tube, which work great on a Texas rig.

If you are going fishing soon, consider trying out scented bait to see if you can take your catching to the next level.

What Do You Need to Know About Surface Lures?

One of the more successful styles of fishing lately has been with the use of surface lures.

Ideal for catching larger fish, there are many different kinds of lures that can draw the fish in and really get them to bite.

What are the secrets and best tricks for utilizing surface lures though? We have a few tips and tricks for you to learn so you can use these kinds of lures to haul in even more fish during this summer.

What is a Surface Lure

A surface lure is specifically designed to replicate either baitfish or bugs that will be right around the surface of the water that larger fish, such as bass, will usually go for. These kinds of lures are very likely to get fish to chase them and hopefully take a bite at them as well.

This is by far one of the best styles of fishing as you are able to see the entire process unfold right in front of you. It can also be one of the most successful styles as well if you use it correctly.

When To Use Surface Lures

Just as with any other bait or kind of lure, there are ideal times when you should be using surface lures. These lures are great for bringing in bigger fish, which you can usually find jumping when the weather hovers around the mid 60s. This is the time that these fish will begin to start feeding heavily during this time, making the surface lure resemble a very tempting treat for them to go after.

How To Use Surface Lures

When using these kind of lures, one of the most important things to focus on is the kind of rod you are using. While a stiffer fishing rod may be helpful in many cases, you are not going to want something too stiff when utilizing surface lures for bigger fish.

Many larger fish will go after baitfish or bugs that are skimming the surface of the water in schools. By tossing your lure into areas like this, you have a great opportunity to entice the larger fish you are really going after, to take a shot at your lure instead of one of their actual prey.

Patience is key when reeling in a fish on a surface lure. As much as you may be tempted to snap the wrist back and hook the fish instantly, make sure you give the fish a second or two to really go after the bait before you go to hook it. This will increase your efficiency greatly.

One of the best ways to make your lure even more attractive is by giving it a little zig-zag pattern. By dragging it back and forth very slowly, you can create more realistic looking bait that will be far more appealing to the fish.

5 Awesome Places to Fish in Texas

If you are in Texas, there are some simply outstanding fishing spots that every fisherman should put on their bucket list of spots to visit.

If you haven't been to any of these 5 incredible fishing locations, you need to soon.

1. Falcon Lake

Located on the mainstream reservoir of the Rio Grande River and just 40 miles east of Lardedo, this incredible fishing area covers an incredible 83,654 acres of water and can be as deep as 110 feet in some spots.

The popular species that inhabit these waters are largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and white bass. Each one of these fish are common to the Texas area and bass tournaments  often take place at the Falcon Lake. To win, you will typically need to haul in something in the five to six pound range.

2. Lake Dunlap

This lake lies right on the Guadalupe River and sits just between San Antonio and Houston. Covering 410 acres of water, this lake was impounded in 1928 and has been a very popular spot to fish for years.

Fisherman here will have an excellent opportunity to haul in both largemouth bass and sunfish while also trying their hands at spotted bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, and white crappie. Multiple boat docks and piers combine well with overhanging brush and floating vegetation to make it ideal for both  boat and shore fishing. If you are wanting to reel in good bass, the spring, fall, and winter months are your best times as Dunlap.

3. Choke Canyon

Covering over 25,000 acres on the Frio River Watershed, the Choke Canyon Reservoir has been providing excellent fishing since 1982.

Anglers will have plenty of opportunity to catch fish in this area as the reservoir is  well stocked with largemouth bass, blue and flathead and catfish, and channel catfish. You can also find a good amount of crappie, white bass, and sunfish. From shallow water to the deeper ends, fishermen should be able to take advantage of the abundance of these fish in the spring, fall, and winter months.

4. Lake Tawakoni

This incredible lake expands for over 37,000 acres on Caddo Creek with a max depth of 70 feet. Fishermen have been enjoying taking advantage of catfish, white bass, and hybrid and striped bass in this area since 1960. Anglers will also be able to find a few largemouth bass and crappie in the area.

By far  one of the best catfishing spots around, anglers can reel these fish in with a mixture of bait icluding shrip, liver, and earthworms. With a proper combination of bank fishing and trolling, the catfishing scene should be very success at Lake Tawakoni.

5. Amistad Reservoir

Covering an incredible 64,900 acres on the Rio Grande, the Amistad Reservoir has been providing Texas anglers with  outstanding largemouth bass fishing since 1969.

The largemouth bass will be the most abundant in this body of water, as anglers can reel them in best during the fall, winter, and spring months with topwater baits, buzzbaits, and spinner baits.

Top 3 Places to Fish in Eastern Oregon

The Pacific Northwest is by far one of the hottest spots in the United States for outstanding fish. From Washington to Oregon and even into Idaho, there are tons of great spots where you can reel in the fish. If you find yourself in the Eastern Oregon area looking for some great fishing holes, we have a list of places that you have to hit. These spots and more are always great spots to score big with the fish.

Mann Lake

Roughly 80 miles south of Burns and located in the South Eastern part of Oregon lies Mann Lake. For the fisherman who likes to head to the water early in the season, this spot is always one of the best to visit for some of the best fishing the state has to offer. This lake is typically quite full of trout and it will be very rare when you aren't getting them to bite on any day of the week. Wait until the water is warm to really capitalize on these fish.

The Donner and Blitzen River

Located near Steens Moutain in Eastern Oregon, the Donner and Blitzen River, commonly referred to as the Blitzen, provides a variety of different settings to fish in as it goes through both marshlands and canyons. Some of the best trout fishing can be found in this area according to this article from Perfect Fly Store as these fish can get up to 18 inches long. For more on this incredible river, you can  check out the article in its entirety here.

Owyhee River

Located just an hour outside of Boise, Idaho, the Owyhee River is located on the Eastern border of Oregon. This fishery has become one of the most popular spots for brown trout as the average size you will find is roughly 20-inches long. Ideal for the fly fisherman, the fish are abundant in this river during the summer making catches very likely each time you go out. For more on this outstanding river, you can read more in  this article from Owyhee Fly Fisher.

How Does the Wind Affect Your Fishing

Every fisherman experiences different kinds of weather and elements. While we all want a calm, sunny day where the water is smooth and calm, unfortunately, the windy days are bound to happen. Preparing yourself for the wind and knowing how to adjust to it is key if you are wanting to still reel in a bunch of fish on the day. From issues you might face, to knowing how to battle and compensate for them, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you bring in more fish no matter what the weather conditions.

When a strong wind comes up and you do decide to go out on the water anyway, there are a few things to take into account to adjust to the new challenge. A great place to fish from when you are in a strong wind is simply to stay on the shoreline. Many smaller fish can find themselves caught against the edge as the strong wind can confuse their movement, giving you ample opportunity to pick a few of them off. If you venture our just beyond those shores in your boat, you may also be able to pick off larger fish going after the baitfish that are trapped by the shoreline.

Lines and reels are not the heaviest pieces of equipment in the world, making casting in the wind a bit tricky and difficult to master. As far as specific casting technique is concerned, you will likely want to abandon the overhead lofted toss, and opt for a lower sidearm flick that will just skim across the water's edge. By keeping it below the wind, you can still direct your bait and hit your spots where the fish are.

If you do find yourself out on a boat in the wind, anchoring is a great option to help with your casting struggles as you will be able to stay in one place much easier when doing your sidearm casts. If this isn't an option, an electric motor can help keep you in one spot so you don't drift out into areas where the fish are not abundant or you can get yourself into danger. If you are out on the water in a boat, be aware that strong winds can make this a much more dangerous activity so being aware of your surroundings is key.

Follow some of these simple tips and you will be able to be successful in any kind of wind.