In the early 2000s, I switched from J-hooks to in-line circle hooks because they performed better when chunking. First, their geometry hangs a chunk better. Second, their geometry gives them increased strength— particularly under load. Third, they penetrate and hold better. This year, I am going to field test in-line replacement hooks to determine if they perform better than treble hooks for plugging.

I plan to acquire in-line replacement hooks from several manufacturers in different sizes. I will collect several metrics and fish them on wood, plastic, and metal plugs. If you are interested in my impressions and results, drop me a line.

I use dropper loops for my teaser leaders because they keep my teaser from wrapping on my running line. In order to prevent my fly teaser from coming off my leader’s dropper loop, which tends to happen in rough water conditions, I use thin and clear heat shrink tubing.

I do not apply heat to shrink the tubing because this could weaken my leader. This also always me to reuse the heat shrink tubing segment on new leaders, which is economical and ecological. For dropper loop teaser leaders made with 50 pound test line, I use 1/16″ tubing; for dropper loop teaser leaders made with 60 pound test line, I use 3/32″ tubing; and for dropper loop teaser leaders made with 80 pound test line, I use 1/8″ tubing.

I have been using this method for several years with great success. This tubing is difficult to find and acquire because of supply chain issues. Get yours today!

Fishing reel technology has evolved at an exponential speed. The number of spinning reels on the rods of saltwater striped bass anglers overwhelmingly outnumber the occasional conventional reels in active use. Why? Because saltwater spinning reels have no backlashes and because they have equal or greater cranking and drag power than conventional reels. Unlike conventional reels, saltwater spinning reels are available with sealed and waterproof drags and gear systems. In contrast, even though freshwater spinning and baitcaster reels have functionally equivalent performance, the number of baitcasters on the rods of large and small mouth bass anglers overwhelmingly outnumber the occasional spinning reels in active use. Why? Complacency! Anglers who use baitcasters do not want to try anything new. New anglers adopt baitcasters because “everyone else” uses them. Personally, I avoid compliancy because like cancer, it will consume you.

My go-to freshwater spinning reel is the Shimano Stradic 2500FK HG. This real is light (8.3 oz), easy to use, and full of high performance features like 6+1 bearings, a 6.0:1 gear ratio, 20 lbs of drag, and 35 inches of line-per-crank. This reel has helped me cast the full spectrum of baits into challenging spots, from conventional to unconventional angles. I have landed several heavy largemouth bass and gator chain pickerel (40+ inches) with this reel. I have confidence in the Shimano Stradic 2500FK HG.

I have ice fished for years without a heat source. I dress in multiple layers of high-tech clothing. My insulated boots are 100% water proof. My ice fishing suit keeps me dry. In recent years, however, the weather has become more extreme and less predictable. I hence purchased the Mr. Heater Big Buddy Propane Heater because of it’s performance, safety, design, and versatility.

The Mr. Heater Big Buddy Propane Heater can heat up to 400 square feet at three different levels: low (4000 btu), medium (9,000 btu), and high (18,000 btu). I feel safe using it inside my ice fishing shelter because is has a low-oxygen shutoff pilot. I really like how the two 1 lb propane bottles fit securely within the unit. I also like having the ability to connect a larger propane thank via hose adapter (model # F273701). This heater is not just for ice fishing! I use it for family outdoor gatherings during the early spring and late fall and when I am working inside my garage during the winter.

When ice fishing, having a heat source is not a luxury, it’s prudent. Get a Mr. Heater Big Buddy Propane Heater! 😉

I like to tie my own bucktails because I can select jigs with strong and sharp hooks.  I also like to tie my own bucktails because I can tie custom color patterns.  However, I did not tie them often because of the time it took me to manually turn my jigs while the epoxy cured.  While paper prototyping a motorized device to turn my bucktails (1/4 oz to 5 oz), I decided to try UV epoxy.

I decided to go with Solarez UV Resin (medium viscosity) and the UltraFire UV Flashlight (with rechargeable Li batteries!).  Whenever working with epoxy, wear plastic gloves!  And when working with UV epoxy, were 100% UV blocking sun glasses.  Even though you are working with a small batches of epoxy, I would highly recommend doing this in a ventilated area.

While wearing a pair of 100% UV blocking sun glasses, focus the UV light on one section for 10 second, and then rotate.  Once cured, the Solarez forms a hard layer that holds and protects the wrapped threads.

The Solarez UV Resin and the UltraFire UV Flashlight allow me to efficiently tie bucktails in half of the time, which is more valuable than the price difference between regular epoxy and UV epoxy.  Time is fish!

When targeting largemouth and smallmouth bass via kayak, I use to hoist fish up and over into my kayak; until one day a hefty largemouth bass snapped my rod!  I then started bringing the fish along the side of my kayak, lip-grip them with my free hand and pull them into my kayak.  Last season I hook a monst’ah!  The fish was not only pulling drag, it was towing my kayak!  When I got the fish to the side of my kayak, I decided to preserve my digits and hoist the lengthy pickerel into my kayak.  Thankfully, my St. Croix rod did not break like my previous brand-x rod.  While I was trying to negotiate a secure grip on the slippery fish as it was twerking, it unhooked itself and jumped back into the water!

After a broken rod and a lost fish, I decided to investment in a fishing net.  After searching to the last page of the Internet, I purchased the Frabill Bear Claw fishing net.  I like the large hoop (14″ W x 18″ L x 11″ D) and the integrated LED lights. I LOVE the one-handed design.  The fish slid right into the net with ease, thanks to asymmetrical flat-bottom design.

I still wake up in the middle of night with the image of that 3+ pound monst’ah pickerel jumping out of my kayak before I could take a picture.  If you kayak fish, then get the Frabill Bear Claw fishing net to save your rods, land fish, and sleep without haunting images of lost fish. 😉

Several years ago I invested in a Frabil Aqualife Bait Station, which I use to store and transport shiners when I am ice fishing and American Eels or shiners during the spring, summer, and fall months when I am targeting striped bass and lake trout.  The Frabil Aqualife Bait Station comes with automotive adaptor to power you unit while on your boat and driving to and from spots.  To extend the utility of my Frabil Aqualife Bait Station, I recently purchased the Frabill 120 Volt Adaptor so that I can $ave on batteries and reduce my environmental impact.

The Frabill 120 Volt Adaptor is compatible with several Frabill live well models (1435, 1437, 1409, 1469, 14351, 14371, 14691) and aerators (1435, 1437, 1469).  The 18 inch power cord is an optimal length to plug your Frabill 120 Volt Adaptor into an outlet.

With rising costs of batteries (partially COVID-19 induced), the Frabill 120 Volt Adaptor will pay for itself!  If you have a Frabil Aqualife Bait Station, buy one.  If you are buying a Frabil Aqualife Bait Station, then buy one at the same time!

I have a love-hate relationship with teasers. My mentor Tony Stetzko landed a 73 lb striped bass from the surf via black fly teaser.  For this reason alone, I have kept coming back to teasers.  I have tried rigging them every common method known.  They all failed my field tests. Hence, I started using a 6” dropper loop at mid-leader.  This method presents the teaser well and prevents the teaser from wrapping around my braided line.  But!  In rough water, the teaser can come off the dropper loop.  In order to prevent this, I now use marine grade heat shrink tubing.

Making this rig is simple. First, make a six inch dropper loop at mid-leader. Second, pass the dropper loop through a three inch length of marine grade heat shrink tubing. And lastly, insert the teaser onto the dropper loop and apply heat to reduce the diameter of the marine grade heat shrink tubing.

The COVID-19 Pandemic is slowing down the global economy. Every company has had to re-think how they operate. The COVID-19 Pandemic, however, is not slowing down Al Gags [https://www.algagsfishinglures.com/]! On the contrary, Al Gags has expanded his workshop. Al Gags has expanded his Whip-It Fish product line by innovating a new coloring technique that allows him to apply classic wooden plug color patterns to soft plastics.

Al Gags innovated this novel soft plastics coloring technique as a response to the angling saltwater community. Five classic color patterns are now available (Bunker, Chicken Scratch, Pearl Silver, Super Mack, and Wonderbread) for the 6″, 5″, and 4″ Whip-It Fish. Are classic freshwater color patterns like Trout, Perch, June Bug, and Green Pumpkin next? Drop Al Gangs a line!

The COVID-19 Pandemic is raising the prices of several products. Producing these classic wooden plug color patterns on soft plastics require more materials and more time. But! Al Gags is making them available at the standard Whip-It Fish prices. Whip-It Fish featuring these classic wooden plug color patterns (which are made in small batches) will eventually make it into our local bait and tackle shops up and down the East coast. The fishing show season is largely uncertain because of COVID-19. Hence, your best option is to order yours today from Al Gags website.

Senkos allow you to fish the entire water column from top to bottom and from left to right. Senkos allow you to fish shallow water, deep water, and everything in between. Senkos allow you to fish clear, dirty, or weedy water. Hence, Senkos are the most versatile bait on the market. But! What is better: sinking Senkos or swimming Senkos?

Sinking Senkos came first. Hence, they are more widely exploited for targeting fish. Sinking a Senko through the water column (wacky or Texas) is an efficient way to target specific structures. I rig my Senkos wacky via VMC Weedless Wacky hooks. I rig my Senkos Texas via KVD EWG hooks. I match the hook size to the size of the sinking Senko (3″, 4″, 5″, 6″, or 7″).

Sinking Senkos are relatively new. They are effectively a swim bait with a worm profile; this makes them a stealthy presentation with a seductive action that compels nearby fish into striking. Swimming a Senko across the water column (weighted or naked) is an efficient way to cover a lot of water. I rig my swim Senkos with Owner Beast Hooks. I match the size of the hook to the size of the swim Senko (3.5″, 4″, 5″, or 5.5″).

On each trip, I bring a Plano box full of pre-rigged sinking Senkos in a variety of colors from 3″ to 7″. I also bring a Plano box with pre-rigged swimming Senkos from 3.5″ to 5.5″ in a variety of colors. I select a sinking or a swim Senko based on the water and structure that I am fishing. I fan cast the Senko in 360 degrees around my kayak or at every edge holding water around the structure. If there are fish, I’ll catch them!