Author Archives: Julio Silva

New England Saltwater Fishing Show ~ 2018

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I am exhibiting and presenting at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show this weekend.  I will be in booth 1130, which is towards the educational area.

Fish360 New England Saltwater Fishing Show

This year I am presenting Chunking the Surf.  I will be covering how to select and use the optimal gear for the species you are targeting (striped bass, bluefish, sharks, and rays); how to determine the best spots and times to fish; and field-tested tips and tricks.  At the end of each seminar, I will be doing a give away for a custom DIY Dropper Loop Jig.

Fish360 DIY Dropper Loop Jig

Here are the days and times that I will be presenting:

  • Friday, March 9 2018 at 3:30 PM on the Main Stage
  • Saturday, March 10 2018 at 11:30 AM in the Seminar Area
  • Saturday, March 10 2018 at 5:30 PM in the Workshop Area
  • Sunday, March 11 2018 at 2:30 PM on the Main Stage

I have tied some of my favorite custom teasers and tails to raise money for the Open Source Fish360 Journal Project.  These teasers and tails feature proven fish catching color patterns tied using a multi-layered threading and epoxy process on strong bleeding sharp hooks.  Keep in mind that Tony Stetzko landed a 73 lb striped bass from the surf on a teaser! 😉

Fish360 Teasers Tails

Stop by the Fish360 booth (1130) to learn more about the cool things happening in the Open Source Fish360 Journal Project.  Attend one my seminars to learn how to catch more fish in less time.  ‘Cya at the show!

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Trolling on Ice

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I was ice fishing today at a lake that I had only fished once before.  Using a depth map from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, I identified an area that I wanted to fish.  I rigged up my Jack Traps tip-ups in an inline-five formation from shallow to deep water.  This formation has always worked for me.  Always!  Until today!!  Plan B: Trolling!!!

Fish360 Ice Fishing Trolling

I drilled another set of five holes five yards away from and parallel to the inline-five formation.  I jigged each hole from the lake’s bottom to the water’s surface.  Nothing!  I drilled another set of five holes five yards away from and parallel to the second set of holes.  I jigged each hole from the lake’s bottom to the water’s surface.  Nothing!!  I repeated this pattern until I found fish!!!

Fish360 Ice Fishing Trolling

This fatty yellow perch hit a 1/8 oz blue/chrome Kastmater like a freight train!  In addition to horizontal swimming, Kastmasters clearly also work well for vertical jigging.

At the end of the trip, I had 40+ holes covering an area the size of a football field.  Good thing I had my Jiffy Pro4 Propane Auger.  Time is fish!

No matter how much you plan.  No matter how good your gear.  No matter how good your technique.  There are NO guarantees in fishing.  Always have a plan B! 😉

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Night Tides

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In Night Tides Michael Cinquemani tells the story of his mentor: Billy Legakis (a.k.a. “Billy the Greek”, “BTG”). For some fishing is a hobby, a passion, a pursuit, or an addiction. For BTG, fishing is the thing beyond addition: life’s purpose.

Fish360 Night Tides Billy Legakis Billy the Greek BTG

The stories in Night Tides are entertaining and a pleasure to read. As I read through the book, I began to think that BTG was mad. When I finished the book, I realized that BTG was not mad, but mad in craft. BTG’s ability to catch large fish on a consistent basis can be attributed to his skill and the methods he exploited:

  1. Fish a specific spot or a set of spots all season, during all stages of the tide, during all moon phases, under various weather conditions, and at different times of day to identify the most productive patterns.
  2. Employ heavy gear to increase your changes of landing big fish and not exhaust the fish to a premature death.
  3. Fish from boat, surf, and bridges to expand your knowledge and perspective.
  4. Read fishing reports to forecast where the fish will be.
  5. Selectively harvest fish to feed your family. Release the rest.

These methods produce results. No question. But, you do not need to fish 7 days a week and risk divorce or being terminated at work. The key to success in fishing while balancing life is to maximize your limited time on the water by keeping a smart fishing journal and building a small network of trusted anglers. Work hard. Fish harder!

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Linesider69 Custom Plugs

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I first met Charles Carlow from Linesider69 Custom Plugs at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show. He stopped by my booth and showed one of his plugs. I have been hooked on his plugs ever since.

Fish360 Linesider69 Customer Plugs

Charles Carlow is a prolific plug builder who has been building plugs for 15+ years. He has 40 different plug models that are available in 2 or 3 sizes. He paints his wooden plugs in standard and custom colors. Charles Carlow has round, off-set, and carved plugs. He has done for offset plugs what John Haberek did for needlefish.

Each plug model goes through an extensive design and testing phase. During the construction phase, Charles Carlow uses templates to ensure that all his plugs are crafted consistently. Because wood is a natural porous product, he keeps his workshop at less than 20% humidity at all times. After he paints his plugs, he coats them with a two-part epoxy/resin mixture for maximum durability. All of his plugs are assembled with quality hardware: stainless steel thru-wire, stainless steel swivels, Rasco split rings, and VMC hooks.

The design, color, construction, and action of the Linesider69 plugs attract a variety of fish. For example, a 53″ striped bass was hooked and landed a Linesider69 plug. A 200 lb class blue fin tuna engulfed a Linesider69 popper; the line could not hold the fish as it raced towards the Azores. White perch, yellow perch, large mouth bass, small mouth bass, pickerel, northern pike, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluefish, yellow fin tuna, jack crevelle, and sea robin have also been landed on Linesider69 plugs.

I fish Linesider69 plugs because they are well designed, tested, and built with a consistent action. With 40 different plug models in various sizes that can hook multiple saltwater and freshwater species, Linesider69 has a plug for you! 😉

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Connecticut Surfcasters Association Demo Day 2018

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Today I had the opportunity to attend the Connecticut Surfcasters Association Demo Day.  Driving down, James Jewkes, Clayton Patles, and I were discussing the 21 vendors and the 5 seminars.  We got there one hour early.  Yes.  I observed the speed limit!  I parked my Suburban at a prime parking spot behind the Clinton Town Hall.  We then walked over to The Coffee Break Restaurant to have breakfast.  After breakfast, we meetup with our mutual friend Jonathan O’Connor.  Within minutes of opening the doors opening at 9:00 AM, the hall was full.  WOW!!!

Fish360 CSA Demo Day 2018

Each exhibitor brought their gear.  We visited every booth.  There was no shortage of gear.  The wide spectrum of plugs was amazing.  I dropped off my reels for service at the ZeeBaas both.  The 3-Tan reels looks very interesting!  The booth that had the most action (literally) was the High Hook Lures both.  Mike Mullen brought his lathe and turned one of his fish-catching needle fish right there at the show!  W OW!!!

Fish360 CSA Demo Day 2018

Each seminar was unique.  The one that was particularly interesting to me was the “Guide Layout & Rod Types” seminar by Bill Delizio and John Martinez.  I learned a lot about the complex interdependent relationship between blank action and guide placement and how they effect casting and landing fish.  WOW!!!

Fish360 CSA Demo Day 2018

This was my first time at the Connecticut Surfcasters Association Demo Day.  I got to see old friends.  I made some new friends.  I am looking forward to next year’s show.  WOW!!!

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Old Metal, New Fish

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While targeting Lake Trout on the Wachuset Reservoir last season, I winched up an old 1 oz Kastmaster.  With some simple tools and materials, I made this old metal new again so that it can catch fish anew.

Fish360 Kastmaster DIY

I removed all the old hardware. I painted half of the metal with a blue Sharpie and sealed the color with a layer of Loon fluorescing hard head epoxy. And then I dressed the metal with a custom tied siwash tail hook.

Fish360 Kastmaster Loon Outdoors Sharpie

Kastmaters cast far and catch fish. But. They also last a long time! Give your weather, tide, current, and fish beaten Kastmasters new life using this simple technique.

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Custom Ice Fishing Rig

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When I left my house this morning to go ice fishing, the temperature was -4 degrees Fahrenheit! On my way to the lake, I stopped by Merrimac Sports Bait and Tackle to pick up some lively shiners, worms, and tungsten jigs.

Fish360 Merrimac Sports Bait and Tackle

When I got to the lake, I quickly set up my Jack Traps tip ups in a straight line configuration across a dropping bottom structure.  Four of the tips up had a tin split shot and shiner rig.  One tip up has a custom rig: a shiner at the bottom, followed by a split shot, which was then followed by a drop soft hook dressed with a worm.  After 3.75 hours on the ice, which tip up hooked a fish?  The one with the the custom rig!

Fish360 Ice Fishing Yellow Perch

My new tungesten jigs worked amazingly well.  The air was so cold that the water literally froze on my line!  Good thing I was fishing braid! Jigging out in the open became impossible.  A crew from the Plum Island Surfcasters was kind enough to let me jig inside their heated pop-up tent.  OMG!  I was spoiled: no skin burning wind and no frozen line.  Note to self: buy a Mr. Heater!

Fish360 Ice Fishing Jigging

Today was my windiest and coldest day on the ice.  Fishing was very challenging for everyone on the lake.  Only a few us frost-bite fearless anglers managed to hook and land fish.  I love fishing under challenging conditions because they inspire me to invent novel gear and methods!  A new DIY project coming soon!!  Subscribe to our newsletter to be in the loop. 😉

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Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice Line

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I use braided line almost exclusively while fishing open water.  For jigging through the ice, I have always used mono-filament line.  Last season, I decided to re-spool my ice jigging reel with Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line.

Fish360 Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice Line

On the trips that I have jigged with monofilament line, I caught fish.  But, on my first trip with the Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line, I caught more fish than all my previous trips combined!  The Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line is so sensitive, that if a fish sneezes on my jig, I’ll know.

Fish360 Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice Line

I am not sure why it took me so long to switch from monofilament line to braided line for ice jigging. But, one thing is certain: all my ice jigging reels will be spooled with Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line during the up coming season!

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Muck Arctic Pro Boots

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I have a great pair of lace-up ice fishing boats.  They are rugged, warm, and comfortable.  During an ice fishing tournament with 12+ inches of slush, water started leak into my boots after an hour.  I now use Muck Arctic Pro boots!

Fish360 Muck Boots Ice Fishing

Muck boots are made from a flex-foam material in a continuous and non-interrupted design.  There are no openings for water to penetrate.  They are hence 100% waterproof from top to bottom.  The soles have groves that provide traction and stability in snow or slush.  They are easy to put on and take off (no laces).  They are also light, comfortable, and easy to clean.  Their thermal rating is impressive: -40 degrees Fahrenheit.  Bottom line, for ice fishing there is no substitute for Muck Arctic Pro boots.

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