Fishing Tackle

Flipping jigs account for more big bass than most lures on the market. The weedless design allows an angler to probe the thickest junk that fish hide out in, while tempting them with a life-like profile and action that largemouths can't resist.

Angling tactics are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. Not surprisingly, hooks are becoming more refined to keep up with these presentation innovations. The following is a sampling of popular specialty fishing hooks.

Specialty Fishng Hooks

Hooks are an important part of your angling arsenal. This guide breaks down the common terms used to describe fish hooks, and what they mean. This is important information to know so you can make informed purchases when it's time to stock-up with hooks to cover a range of fishing scenarios.

Anatomy of a Fishing Hook

As a change of pace, my friend Tom Ference and I fished a medium-sized creek over the Fourth of July weekend. Not only did we avoid the holiday congestion of nearby lakes, we enjoyed quality fishing for smallmouth bass. And I was reminded of an offering often overlooked by anglers, myself included: the use of the standard twister tail grub as a swimbait.

There are a lot of fun ways to catch bass. Fishing a jerkbait is one of my favorites. When it comes to jerkbaits that'll dive between 3 to 6 feet, there are many standout baits on the market. Here are some highlights of three lures.

The original 3-inch DOA Shrimp is the gold standard in the saltwater fishing realm. It's perfect balance and quarter-ounce weight give it the slow to neutral falling action that imitates a shrimp.

When bass, pike and walleye venture into thigh-deep water, many anglers turn to topwater plugs. While these can be effective, sometimes skinny-water fish just won't surface feed.
 

Keeping your worm weight pegged and in place can often be a struggle. Screw-in style weights often tear the nose of your plastic bait after a few fish, whereas toothpicks can often cause issues with fitting properly and staying put.