Fishing Tackle

One of the real joys of fishing occurs when warm spring weather draws fish of all species into skinny water. Anglers don polarized sunglasses and scan the shallows for emerging signs of life. The “sight fishing” that results can be positively thrilling. It’s high-level sensory stuff that combines stalking, hunting and casting into a singular stimulating experience.

Last week while shooting a video for 1Source on the subject of jigging tactics for crappie in weeds, a theme arose in terms of bait details. The best plastics that I used for the day were a 2.5-inch Lunker City Fin-S Fish and a 2-1/4-inch Bass Pro Shops Magnum Squirt Tube. These are two of my top crappie soft baits, but what really made these particular lures I was using so deadly was the glitter in the plastic.

During the summer months, I rely on soft swimbaits to take river smallmouth bass, particularl

A ball head jig combined with live-bait or rigged with a plastic grub, minnow or worm is a basic presentation — but it's far from simple. The weight of a jig can make a huge difference in how many fish you catch.

Fishing stained water comes with its own set of rules. Adapting to the conditions, by knowing what plastic body shapes, sounds, and colors work best, will help put more fish in the boat.

Plastic Bait Body Shape

Out of all the baits out there for catching walleye, some of the simplest and most productive have to be

Most bass anglers would shutter at the thought of throwing an expensive

If I had to choose one style of bait that consistently provokes heart-stopping excitement, thunderous thrills and a fair share of big bass to boot, it would be no other than a topwater lure. There's something about the way these plugs and prop baits sputter and weave across the surface of the water, filling an angler with anticipation while they patiently await the churning of water and splash of that next big strike. Fishing really doesn't get any better than this.