lure

The 50 Greatest Lures of All Time

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 11:00:00 -0400

Whether you target bass or walleyes, trout or stripers and more, these are lures that actually work. Some selections are lures your granddad fished. Others are so new you might not have seen them yet. In all cases, though, you'll find a lure that catches fish, specified right down to size and color, along with just what to do when you're on the water.

Make Your Own Spinners

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 04:20:00 -0500

Building a spinner takes all of two minutes, and the only tool you need is a pair of needle-nose pliers. You can buy kits that include a range of bodies, blades, and beads (cabelas.com) or order parts individually for more customization (800-638-2723; www.jannsnetcraft.com). Here's how to make one.

Step 1
Thread a treble hook onto an open-eye wire shaft.

Step 2
Pinch the ends of the shaft together and slide a spinner body over the top. Solid brass bodies add heft for deeper-running lures and greater castability. Trim any excess wire and add beads.

Step 3
Thread the blade onto the clevis, and slide the clevis onto the shaft. The blade's concave side should face the body.

Step 4
Using your pliers, grasp the shaft firmly about 3/16 to Â¿Â¿ inch above the clevis or terminal bead. Hold the pliers steady and slowly bend the shaft three-quarters of the way around the nose of the pliers and under the main shaft until you have formed a loop.

Step 5
Wrap the tag end of this loop tightly around the shaft twice, as close to the pliers as possible. Trim the end with wire cutters.

Quick Tip
Before you begin assembling the spinner, add desired details to components, such as paint or flash tape to blades, and squirrel-tail hair or colored tubing to treble hooks.

Jerry's Tips: December 2005

fieldandstream-editor — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 04:10:00 -0500

Stay Still On Stand
Your feet will stay warmer and you will be quieter during long waits for deer if you place an insulating layer of evergreen boughs underfoot. Sweep away snow and other material to expose bare earth, then lay the branches down about 3 inches deep. When your feet are warm, you're less likely to shift them, and if you do, the boughs are quieter than crunchy snow and leaves.

Never Forget Gear
On your computer, make separate lists of vital gear for deer hunting, bird hunting, waterfowling, bass fishing, etc., and keep them up-to-date. When it's time to pack for a trip, print out the appropriate list and check off the items as they go into your bag. With an accurate guide to help you, the process becomes quick and efficient. You won't forget necessities or lug along useless extras.

Rig Tangle-Free Decoys
Set your decoys with a trawl line to avoid frustrating tangles. To make one, tie four or five overhand loops 2 to 3 feet apart in the middle of some camo-colored cord. Tie a loop for an anchor at each end. Rig your decoy bases with snap fasteners. To use, anchor one end, snap decoys to the loops as you pay out the line, then anchor the far end. Stagger lines to create an irregular pattern.

Customize Your Lures
Permanent-ink felt-tipped markers are great for making on-the-scene pattern repairs to plastic fishing lures and for increasing their visibility under specific light conditions. Use black or blue to draw distinct scale patterns or vivid dark-light contrasts. Red is good for adding bright gill slashes. Make glaring eyes with yellow and black. Carry a few colors in your tackle box.

Shoot a Midday Buck
Deer move the farthest at dawn and dusk, but there is also a midday period during which does will leave bedding areas to browse, and attending bucks follow them. You'll have a good chance at one if you stay in the woods between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and hunt close to spots where does have been resting. Select a stand that offers good visibility over a wide area.