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The 25 Greatest Flies of All Time

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:56:03 -0400

No one fly catches all the fish all the time. That’s a fact of flyfishing, and it’s why there are thousands of different patterns. Fish, ever whimsical, sometimes refuse to eat on Friday the fly they ate on Tuesday. Fishermen, ever inventive, constantly create new patterns to compensate. Despite this, some standard patterns have evolved. Tested by time, water, and fish, these are the flies that work more often than not. Most are trout flies because the majority of flyfishermen target trout. That’s why my top 20 list leans in that direction. Compiling a top-flies list invites argument, I know. Meet me at fieldandstream.com to join the fray. -- John Merwin

The Killers: 112 Can't-Miss Lures of Today's Top Guides

Joe_Cermele — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:59:34 -0500

Ask fishing guides to name their favorite lures and most sigh, then grumble, then inevitably utter some variation on the words, “That’s tough, because it all depends on the conditions.” But deep down, all guides—regardless of sponsorships, endorsements, or free lures showered on them by manufacturers—know the patterns that will get them hooked up on their home waters anytime. They all have standbys that get it done come rain, wind, or dirty water. So we found and grilled 28 top guides throughout the United States and Canada and got them to reveal their absolute favorite lures in four categories for seven species—and even tell us how they use them. It’s a lot of info, and it’s all here. Read it, then check your gear—and we’ll see you at the tackle shop. Click on a species below.

Favorite Lures of the Smallmouth Guides

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:16:56 -0500

Guide John Blais

John Blais
Location: Belgrade/Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine
Credentials: Blais has been chasing smallmouth throughout Maine for over 20 years, both is still-water and the river systems. Boating 50 fish a day is common, and he’s led clients to his share of six-pound bronzebacks.
Number of years guiding: 7
Contact: (207) 872-9688; belgradebassin.com

Favorite Spinnerbait: War Eagle Double Willow
Color: Mouse/Nickel Blades
Weight: ½ oz.
Details: “I like War Eagles because you can really burn them. It almost seems like the faster you reel, the better they look. The water up here in Maine is really clear, so the fish tend to be spooky. I’ll have clients cast way past the area we’re targeting and get the blades moving right away. That way, the lure looks natural when it reaches the fish and the splash doesn’t scare them.”

Storm Wiggle Wort

Favorite Crankbait: Storm Original Wiggle Wart
Color: Phantom Brown Crayfish
Size: 2 in.
Weight: 3/8 oz.
Details: “Ninety-five percent of the smallmouths’ diet in my waters is crayfish. The Wiggle Wart looks a lot like a wounded crayfish if you work it correctly. If you’re retrieving a crankbait and feel it bump a rock or stump, stop reeling immediately. If it doesn’t get hit, start again with a slower cadence. This action mimics a wounded crayfish trying to escape. If you’re not deflecting the lure off structure, you won’t catch anything.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Yamamoto Senko
Color: Black/Red Flake
Size: 5 in.
Details: “Dark-colored lures create great contrast in clear water. Senkos work particularly well in the post-spawn when you want big, suspending females. They’re also easy for novices to fish. I always fish a Senko whacky-style, but you want them to fall horizontally so they look natural. Too many anglers run the hook through the collar of the bait, but that’s not the center of the bait. Bend a Senko until the ends meet so you find the center and put the hook there.”

Favorite Jig: Bass Stalker Finesse Jig
Color: Black/Blue
Weight: ½ oz.
Details: “The concave, angled head on these jigs makes them sit upright on the bottom. If you match them with a pork trailer, they look just like a defensive crayfish. People don’t realize that jigs are very versatile. If I’m fishing one more traditionally, I just move the rod tip from ten o’clock to 12 o’clock to impart slight action. But sometimes I’ll just reel steadily and swim them. Both work as long as you maintain constant contact with the lure.

Guide Ed Keller

Ed Keller
Location: Susquehanna/Potomac River, Maryland
Credentials: A former Redman Tournament Circuit pro, Keller now focuses his angling efforts into putting customers on up to 40 smallmouth a day, many of them weighing four pounds or better.
Number of years guiding: 9
Contact: (301) 582-9404; potomacguides.com

Favorite Spinnerbait: Strike King Premier Pro Model
Color: White/Gold Blades
Weight: 3/8 oz.
Details: “The water in our rivers can be off-color depending on time of year and run-off. Gold shows up much better in those conditions, and double willow blades produce more vibration. I’ve found that a slower retrieve produces well in my area. You do have to keep the blades turning, but bumping the bottom on the occasion is not a bad thing. I’ll use this retrieve when we’re fishing around grass points in four to five feet of water.”

Favorite Crankbait: Rebel Wee-Crawfish
Color: Green Crawfish
Size: 2 in.
Weight: 1/5 oz.
Details: “Crayfish are the main forage of our smallmouth. This lure has a wide wobble that triggers more strikes than any other imitation I’ve found. Because of the odd profile of this crankbait, you need to get the retrieve just right. I try to reel just fast enough to get the rod tip tapping slightly. Pull them too fast and all they do is roll.”

Yamamoto Senko

Favorite Soft Plastic: Yamamoto Senko
Color: Watermelon
Size: 4 in.
Details: “Senkos are great during the post-spawn when bass are guarding the fry. The watermelon color has great visibility, and fish hit it defensively as it falls. I rig a Senko Texas-style with no weight. I prefer a 2/0 or 3/0 wide-gap hook. You want them to fall in a nice level position. They look the most natural that way. A bait falling nose-down just doesn’t look right.”

Favorite Jig: Rite Bite Tube
Color: Green Pumpkin/Purple Flake
Size: 3 ½ in.
Weight: 1/8 oz jighead.
Details: “These tubes are heavily salt-impregnated, which I think causes fish to hang on longer when they strike. The plastic material is also thicker in this bait then many other, which makes them more durable. I use a 1/8-ounce jighead with a tube 80% of the time. If you’re targeting suspending smallmouth, they won’t usually dive to chase a jig that comes whizzing past them. One-quarter-ounce jigs fall too fast, but 1/8-ounce is just right in most cases.”

Captain John Davis

John Davis
Location: Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee
Credentials: Davis began running smallmouth trips only six years ago because he “didn’t want to share secrets.” But now that he’s offering his knowledge to clients, they shouldn’t be surprised to hook bass topping seven pounds.
Number of years guiding: 6
Contact: (859) 619-8002; smallmouthspecialty.com

Stanley Wedge Tandem

Favorite Spinnerbait: Stanley Wedge Tandem
Color: Chartreuse/White
Weight: ½ oz.
Details: “The Wedge appeals to me because it doesn’t look bulky in the water. The head is very streamlined, which gives it a nice presentation. I like to run a spinner bait shallow enough that I can see the blades flashing, but not high enough that there is a wake on the surface. I also like to position the boat so I’m throwing parallel to the bank. When the bass are holding shallow, it’s a deadly combination.”

Favorite Crankbait: Luhr Jensen Hot Lips
Color: Hot Texas Red Crystal
Size: 2 ¾ in.
Weight: ¼ oz.
Details: “Hot Lips run true right out of the box. I’ve never had to tune them to get a fish-catching action. That red-and-black color is also a terrific crayfish imitator. With any crankbait, you need to be hitting things underwater, like logs, rocks, or just the bottom, for success with bigger fish. A lure bouncing off debris better imitates a fleeing crayfish. The fish key in on the sound. I’ve had five clean runs and caught nothing, then on the sixth, I hit a rock and a fish grabs it.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Kalin’s Triple Threat Grub
Color: Brown/Chartreuse
Size: 5 in.
Details: “Grubs are great in mid- to late spring when bass are in the cover, because you can bring them over the grass without getting hung. Triple Threats have great tail action, and they’re something any client can fish easily. People get so wrapped up in all these new scented lures. They’re expensive, and in my experience grubs are more about getting a reaction strike than attracting the fish with smell. A grub brought in with a steady retrieve catches plenty of fish. I never worry about scent.”

Favorite Jig: Punisher Shaky Jig
Color: Brown
Weight: 1/8 oz.
Details: “I’ve caught hundreds of fish on this jig. It has a finer skirt material that I think gives it a little more subtle action. It even works great in really cold water. The best thing about a skirted jig is the versatility. Sure you can jig them up and down, hop them along, but one thing that I like to do is slow-crawl them. I’ll let it settle on the bottom, and provided it doesn’t get hit on the fall, just drag it so it looks like a slow-moving crayfish.”

Guide John Tipton

John Tipton
Location: New/Shenandoah River, West Virginia
Credentials: A veteran smallmouth hunter on the rivers of West Virginia, Tipton runs more than 75 trips a year, getting customers hooked into fish winter, spring, summer and fall.
Number of years guiding: 18
Contact: (540) 731-3165; newriverfishing.com

Favorite Jig: Yamamoto Hula Grub
Color: Green Pumpkin
Size: 2 in
Weight: 1/4 oz stand-up jighead.
Details: “Ninety-eight percent of the forage in the New River is crayfish, and Green Pumpkin best matches their molted color. These jigs work well year-round, but when the water is cold, I use a stand-up jighead. The smallmouth won’t chase a jig, but with a head that causes them to sit vertically on the bottom, you can practically dead-stick the bait and let the current impart the action. Just make sure to keep constant contact with the bottom.”

Favorite Spinnerbait: Strike King SpinnerBait
Color: White/Silver Blades
Weight: 1/4 oz
Details: “You can't beat a white spinnerbait in my opinion. White and silver just match so many different kinds of forage. However, I do think people tend to just cast and reel. They don't think about speed and approach enough. I've caught smallmouth as the lure was falling. I've also caught just as much reeling fast just under the surface as I have slow and deep.”

Favorite Crankbait: Lucky Craft RC 1.5
Color: Purple Perch
Size: 2 in.
Weight: 1/2 oz
Details: “Lucky Craft lures might be on the expensive side, but they can take a beating. That's important because the trick to getting strikes is often boucing a crankbait off structure. The Purple Perch pattern has always done well for me in various water conditions.”

Case's Wacky Jack

Favorite Soft Plastic: Case's Wacky Jack
Color: Green Pumpkin
Size: 5 1/2 in.
Details: “The Wacky Jack is very similar to a Senko, but I've found that the design outfishes them signifcantly. Because of those pointed ends, the lures just has a natural action on the fall that smallmouth can't seem to resist. The green pumpkin does a great job matching crayfish, and this color works all year long.”

Favorite Lures of the Crappie Guides

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:19:46 -0500

Captain Jim Porter

Jim Porter
Location: Stick Marsh/Farm 13, Florida
Credentials: An accomplished fishing writer and professional guide since 2002, fifty percent of all Porter’s trips are for crappie, during which he routinely boats fish weighing two pounds or better.
Number of years guiding: 7
Contact: (321) 951-7841; stickmarsh.com

Favorite Spinner: Mepps Aglia Ultra Lite
Color: Gold with yellow tail
Weight: 1/18 oz.
Details: “Crappie react well to flash, and a gold spinner has always been a productive standby, but I honestly don’t use them that often. I’ve always found that Colorado blades have better rotation at slower speeds than other styles. I’ll cast and give a quick wrist snap just to get it turning, but once it’s going, you can slow down to the speed you need and the blade will stay in motion.”

Luhr Jensen Hot Shot

Favorite Hardbait: Luhr Jensen Hot Shot
Color: Silver
Size: 1 ½ in.
Details: “These are odd looking crankbaits, but they have a very erratic action that makes them want to run to one side, then run back to center for a few beats, then go the other way. I think the give off a different sound wave because of that action. To effectively fish crankbaits for crappie, you have to know the size of the fish you’re targeting. I use them primarily when I know there are lots of ten-plus-inchers around. Big crappie hit them no problem, but smaller fish will shy away from larger baits.”

Favorite Jig: The Perfect Crappy Jig
Color: Gray Ghost
Weight: 1/16 oz.
Details: “I developed these jigs because I wasn’t happy with what was out there. The eye is offset so the jig hangs horizontally instead of tail down, which is unnatural. The marabou tail also undulates constantly, even while sitting still, which really triggers strikes. I actually don’t jig a jig at all. I find that a slow, steady retrieve is more productive. I think that might be because the jig doesn’t look nervous, therefore it’s more vulnerable because it doesn’t act like a baitfish that thinks it’s in trouble.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Bass Pro Tripple Ripple Grub
Color: White
Size: 3 in.
Weight: 1/8 oz. jighead
Details: “Many curly-tail grubs are molded in one piece, so the tail is stiff and takes some aggressive jigging to get it moving correctly. The three strands on the Tripple Ripple have a nice wiggle even when worked super slowly. Lots of guys fish soft plastics under corks, which is effective but can also hold you back. Even when you think your depth is set just right, the lure will always find the one branch or rock sticking up higher and hang up. If you skip the float, you can adapt to quick changes in depth or structure height more efficiently, which means more time in the water.”

Captain Randy Martin

Randy Martin
Location: Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
Credentials: When anglers want the best shot at boating plenty of crappie weighing over two pounds, they book with Martin, who has guided on Kentucky Lake for eight years, but fished it since 1986.
Number of years guiding: 8
Contact: (270) 354-8935; crappieattitude.com

Favorite Spinner: Blakemore Road Runner
Color: Chartreuse/White
Weight: 1/8 oz.
Details: “The blade action on these lures does a good job of simulating a wounded baitfish. Sometimes I’ll tip them with a tube or grub to add even more action. A tight line is key for fishing a Road Runner, because the blade spins on the fall just as well as on the retrieve, so many times the crappie will hit it as it drops over structure.”

Favorite Hardbait: Rapala Fat Rap
Color: Silver
Size: 1 ½ in.
Weight: 1/8 oz.
Details: “Any color that imitates a generic shad is a good crankbait choice. I like a lure that can run shallow but dive up to 12 feet and has a good, tight wobble. Crappie tend to key in on erratic action over a steady retrieve. I instruct my clients to stop the lure frequently and change speeds often. It’s subtle changes that catch a crappie’s attention.”

Favorite Jig: Standard Round Head Hair Jig
Color: Chartreuse
Weight: 3/32 oz.
Details: “The jigs I use most often are locally made, but they’re pretty standard. Any plain, round head jig will work well, and I always do best with this head style. A 3/32-ounce jig is a middle-of-the-road weight that’s pretty versatile. When you’re vertical jigging over brush piles, or any structure, you want the jig to be parallel when you pause. Round head jigs stay evenly horizontal, which I think most accurately represents a real baitfish. I find that jigs that lay nose-up or down catch fewer crappie.”

Southern Pro Lit'l Hustler

Favorite Soft Plastic: Southern Pro Lit’l Hustler
Color: Chartreuse
Size: 1 in.
Weight: 1/16 oz. jighead
Details: “Tubes will always be a universal producer for crappie, and they’re effective all throughout the season. Our water is often slightly stained, so you can never go wrong with chartreuse. When the crappie are up on the banks spawning in the spring, I remind my charters that most hits are out of egg defense rather than hunger. If you cast into spawning fish and retrieve quickly, they see the threat leave and might not chase. But if you cast and let the jig hang under a float right in the middle of them, keeping it perfectly still, they’ll get mad and attack it.”

Guide Jason Piper

Jason Piper
Location: Beaver Lake, Arkansas
Credentials: A regular crappie hunter on Beaver Lake since 1992, Piper began guiding professionally in 2003 and now runs more than 100 trips a season to put clients on crappie that often reach two-pounds.
Number of years guiding: 6
Contact: (479) 640-3980; jtcrappieguidear.com

Favorite Spinner: Strike King Mini-King
Color: Black/Blue
Weight: 1/8 oz.
Details: “I fish the upper end of Beaver Lake, which can get really murky compared to the rest. Black has a sharp silhouette and has always done well for me in dirty water. When you get out on the water and the clarity is bad, you’ve got to get something out there that has lots of vibration. Tubes and jigs will still catch fish, but they have to be right in front of their faces, whereas a spinnerbait they can find.”

Favorite Hardbait: Rat-L-Trap
Color: Fire Tiger
Weight: 1/8 oz.
Details: “Threadfin shad are a favorite forage of our crappie. Although it doesn’t seem like this color would match them, if you hold a threadfin in the sun, you’ll see twinges of green and purple. Lots of anglers will probably tell you to pause your retrieve with a Rat-L-Trap, but I don’t care for the way they fall. Dropping nose-down is not natural, so I’ll cast past the structure I want to fish and always maintain a steady retrieve over it all the way back to the boat.”

Arkie Jigs Shinneee Hinneee

Favorite Jig: Arkie Jigs Shinneee Hinneee
Color: Chartreuse/Silver
Weight: 1/16 oz.
Details: “These jigs are incredibly simple but highly effective. The bottom line is, crappies react to flash, and just the little bit off tinsel goes a long way. They’re absolutely my top-producing jig. This jig is a big producer because it takes hardly any action to make fish hit it. The trick is just barely flicking your wrist. It can almost be boring because it’s like dead-sticking, but the slightest twitch gets it done. If it’s windy and there are waves, I tell me clients to drop it and not do anything. The bounce of the boat is enough.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: YUM Wooly Curltail
Color: Chartreuse
Size: 1 ½ in.
Weight: 1/16 oz. jighead
Details: “I’ve fished a lots of soft plastics over the years, and this is the best by far. The tail is a little shorter, which helps avoid short strikes, and since it’s ribbed down the entire body length, the vibration, although slight, is a huge plus. No matter how deep the water is, I never use more than a 1/16-ounce jighead with grubs or tubes. Any bigger and they fall too fast, plus the hook size grows and may affect the number of fish you get. Rather than up head size, I’ll use split shots on the line to increase the weight, but keep the offering small.”

Captain Steve Welch

Steve Welch
Location: Lake Shelbyville, Illinois
Credentials: A Crappie U.S.A touring pro and guide on Lake Shelbyville since 1993, Welch has a widespread reputation for bringing heavy stringers back to the dock.
Number of years guiding: 16
Contact: (217) 762-7257; lakeshelbyvilleguide.com

Favorite Spinner: Charlie Brewer’s Slider
Color: White/Chartreuse
Weight: 1/16 oz.
Details: “There are spinners similar to the Slider, but most have curly tails and I believe the paddle tail out-fishes them three to one. I also never go heavier than 1/16th ounce because the lure will drop too fast and end up under suspended crappie. People tend to attempt a 60-foot cast with a spinner when all you need to do is throw 30 feet. The worst thing you can do is throw high in the air and create a big loop between the lure and the water. When the lure splashes down, it’ll sink and end up in the brush before you get all of that slack reeled up. I’ll tell clients to only move the rod tip from 11 to 2 o’clock when they cast. A short stroke is all it takes.”

Cotton Cordell Gay Blade

Favorite Hardbait: Cotton Cordell Gay Blade
Color: Chrome/Blue
Weight: 1/4 oz.
Details: “I don't often throw crankbaits for crappy, but I will use a Gay Blade on occasion as a search bait. The vibration this lure gives off really stands out. I'll fan-cast it in shallower water when I'm looking for crappie in the spring or if I think they're on the move. Once I find them, I'll switch to a move effetive method. Lures like this will, however, catch bigger fish over all.”

Favorite Jig: Midsouth Super Jig
Color: Chartreuse
Size: 1 in.
Weight: 1/16 oz. jighead
Details: “Tubes are always going to produce crappie any time of year. I think the trick to making them work for you is being able to adapt them to any situation. You have to know when to jig, when to let them sit under a float, and be really familiar with the depth of top spots. Chartreuse has always caught the most fish for me."

Favorite Soft Plastic: Mister Twister Teenie
Color: Black/Chartreuse Pearl
Size: 2 in.
Details: “Tiny grubs are great because you can work them many different way. Sometimes I find that a straight retrieve works best. But these particular grubs don't require hard motion to get the tail going, which is really important.”

Favorite Lures of the Walleye Guides

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:07:24 -0500

Captain Rick Millette

Rick Millette
Location: Lake Erie, Ohio
Credentials: Millette has taken the knowledge gained fishing Erie since 1962 and turned it over to his clients, who have put walleye over 14 pounds in the box with his help.
Number of years guiding: 28
Contact: (614) 771-1910; eriequest.com

Favorite Shallow Hardbait: Storm Junior Thunderstick
Color: Hot Tiger
Size: 3 ½ in.
Weight: ¼ oz.
Details: “Perch are a major forage for our walleye, and this is a great imitation. Thundersticks roll slightly, which give them a lot of side flash. Over the years, I devised a reeling pattern that works well for these lures. I’ll cast out, crank three times just to get the lure tapping bottom, then stop for three seconds and repeat. That stop-start action broken up in threes always catches walleye for me.”

Favorite Deep Hardbait: Storm Deep Junior Thunderstick
Color: Metallic Rainbow Trout
Size: 3 ½ in.
Weight: 5/16 oz.
Details: “I troll these lures most of the time, and they run well with trolling weights, which is very important. The color is also a good match for an emerald shiner. Too many anglers think you can set a rod in a holder, get on the troll and forget about it, but you’ve got to watch constantly. Even big walleye can hit so subtly, they won’t even trip the planer board. Any change in the action of the rod tip can mean there’s a fish on."

Storm Junior Thunderstick

Favorite Jig: Standard Round Head
Color: Purple
Weight: ¾ oz.
Details: “I don’t really have a brand preference and I buy lots of jigs locally, but plain round doesn’t seen to hang as much. Since I fish rocky bottom, that means a lot. A 3/4-ounce jigs might seem heavy to many walleye anglers, but I have a theory that the bigger the jig, the more sound it makes as it bangs off the rocks. That thumping sound attracts fish because they feel it with their lateral line. My catch rates went way up after switching to heavier jigheads.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Berkley Power Grub
Color: Natural Chartreuse
Size: 3 in.
Details: “When the walleye are coming out of the rivers after spawning, the water is turbid and dirty with run-off. These grubs get it done in that situation because they have good vibration and the scent doesn’t hurt. Stinger hooks are often only used with live bait on a jighead, but I use them with grubs, too. Rather than try to place a treble stinger in the rear of the bait, I’ll let it free-swing back by the tail. That’s often the key to coming tight on walleye that hit gently.”

Captain Jeff Sundin

Jeff Sundin
Location: Lake Winnibigoshish/Leech Lake, Minnesota
Credentials: Sundin’s 25 years of experience guiding year-round in the boundaries of Chippewa National Forest have given him a knack for leading clients to 10-plus-pound walleye.
Number of years guiding: 25
Contact: (218) 246-2375; jeffsundin.com

Favorite Shallow Hardbait: Salmo Hornet
Color: Red Tail Shiner
Size: 2 in.
Weight: ¼ oz.
Details" “In the spring and fall, we troll lots of water 10 feet deep or less. This lure is rated to dive to five feet and tracks very straight. The color is also a perfect match for northen ciscos, locally known as tulibees, which are a primary walleye forage. Sometimes you hurt yourself by matching forage color too closely with a crankbait. When there are tons of baitfish in an area, the walleye may not be able to differentiate between your lure and the real thing, which sounds good, but throwing an off-the-wall color that shows them something different can produce more fish.”

Favorite Deep Hardbait: Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk
Color: Gold
Size: 4 in.
Weight: 3/8 oz.
Details: “The water in the local lakes is often stained and this color stands out really well. The Husky also has a consistent action when trolled at a slow speed. If I’m trolling bigger baits like a Husky, I always start out running at two or three miles per hour, then adjust to find the sweet spot. You can’t rely on the speed that worked last week, because wind, depth, and other factors will have an effect on how the lure runs.”

Jigs N' Rigs Bugeye Shorty

Favorite Jig: Jigs N’ Rigs Bugeye Shorty
Color: Glow/blue back
Weight: 1/8 oz.
Details: “These jigs have a short-shank hook and tear-drop body, so when you rig a minnow on one, the bait’s head stays tight against the lead and can’t slide back. This makes for a much cleaner presentation. I liken my jigging method to snapping somebody with a wet towel. I go for that quick snap, but tell clients to always maintain a tight line after the snap because a walleye bite is often very light. It feels more like extra pressure on the line instead of a sharp tug.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Berkley Gulp! Alive Minnow
Color: Black Shad
Size: 4 in.
Weight: ¼ oz. long-shank jighead
Details: “Spot tail shiners are a popular live bait in my area, and if they’re in short supply this soft plastic in this color matches them perfectly. I’ve also noticed that this lure catches bigger fish on average. A soft plastic rigged on a jighead is a very productive lure when the fish are gathered in numbers to spawn in the spring. Strikes can be most aggressive this time of year, so since I use a four-inch bait, it’s important to rig them on a jighead with a long enough hook to seat the bend near the tail. This way you don’t miss short-strikers.”

Captain Karl Palmer

Karl Palmer
Location: Lake Oahe/Lake Sharpe, South Dakota
Credentials: Running over 100 trips between per season, Palmer has a sharp bead on the walleye in his home lakes, using 15 years experience to put charters on walleye topping 10 pounds.
Number of years guiding: 15
Contact: (605) 223-3186; dakotawalleye.com

Favorite Shallow Hardbait: Rapala Husky Jerk
Color: Silver/Blue
Size: 3 1/8 in.
Weight: ¼ oz.
Details: “This lure best resembles a rainbow smelt, which is a main food source for our walleye. In the spring when the fish hold in ten feet or less, the Husky works the shallows very effectively. If I need to get a Husky Jerk down a little deeper, I’ll add a few split shots about 14 inches up the line. People think that will affect the action, but it doesn’t. In cold water you need to work lures really slowly sometimes, but it can be hard to get them to the right depth without cranking fast.”

Favorite Deep Hardbait: Cotton Cordell Wally Diver
Color: Fluorescent Red/Black
Size: 2 ½ in.
Weight: ¼ oz.
Details: “Wally Divers have a tight vibration that ups catch rates on the troll, especially in the spring when the water is usually a little stained from all the run-off. The bright red color has always done well for me in tinged water conditions. When we’re on the troll, I tell my clients to set the hook on every little tick. Walleye don’t slam a lure like a largemouth. They inhale the lure with a gulp of water, which can equate to only a minor tug in rod tip. I always say, ‘hook sets are free.’”

Cabela's Wobble Jig

Favorite Jig: Cabela's Wobble Jig
Color: Pink Glow
Weight: ¼ oz.
Details: “When a Wobble Jig hits the bottom, the hook stands straight up. So if I have a live minnow on the jig, it’s now more visible and can’t easily burry in the bottom. A minnow’s back is designed to be camouflage, so I always put one on a jig upside down. If you think about it, the white belly is now exposed and the bait will flop more trying to right itself. I outfish other guys with this trick all the time.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Mister Twister Lil’ Bit
Color: White
Size: 1 in.
Weight: ¼ oz. jighead
Details: “I actually pinch the tail off these lures are just put the body on a jig to give it a little extra color and bulk. This also makes the jig sink a little slower. The biggest mistake anglers make with jigs is fishing them as soon as they hit the water. Even if I mark suspending fish, I tell them to drop to the bottom, because there are usually fish there, too. Depending on the depth, I tell them to count to 20 or so before they even think about touching the reel handle.”

Captain Kimm Blaquiere

Kimm Blaquiere
Location: Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Credentials: Running more than 60 trips a season for Lake Winnipeg “greenbacks,” Blaquiere has a GPS loaded with coveted marks where he frequently finds fish that pin the needle past 13 pounds.
Number of years guiding: 14
Contact: (204) 955-6683; greenbackfishing.com

Favorite Deep Hardbait: Rapala Shad Rap
Color: White
Size: 3 ½ in.
Weight: 9/16 oz.
Details: “White is my favorite color, but it’s tough to find a white Shad Rap in the States, so the shad pattern is my number two. Shad Raps run true right out of the box, whereas other brands need tuning in the nose to get the right action. In the summer, Lake Winnipeg has an algae bloom. So I let the swimmers stir up the algae, which gets the bait moving and the walleye move in to feed. I’ll troll the outside of the bathing beaches. As soon as the swimmers leave, the bite stops.”

Rapala Shad Rap

Favorite Shallow Hardbait: Rapala Jointed Shad Rap
Color: Blue
Size: 2 in.
Weight: 1/4 oz.
Details: “Depending on the water clarity, blue can also be a very productive color, as it has lots of flash and matches many baitfish species. Shallow-running Shad Raps, like the deeper versions, also run very true without the need for tuning. I actually do a lot of trolling in water less than five feet deep. You can cast all day, but by covering more water, even in the shallows, you'll catch more walleye.”

Favorite Jig: Round Rattle Jig
Color: Blue
Weight: 1/4 oz.
Details: “Upping the noise level of even a small jig can really increase productivity whether your using a soft plastic or live bait. If the water is at all stained, that tiny click from the rattle can make all the difference. Even when working a jig very subtly, a rattle will make some noise and can actually help to attract walleye from fairly far off.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Berkley Gulp! Minnow
Color: Pearl Silver
Size: 3 in.
Details: “No doubt, the new Berkley soft plastics have increased catch rates. The scent can really produce some larger fish than older soft plastics that were popular in the past. I actually don't use too many soft plastics, but the Gulp! Minnow is pretty popular with many anglers on Lake Winnipeg.”

Favorite Lures of the Pike Guides

Joe_Cermele — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:56:33 -0500

Captain Bobby Liedberg

Bobby Liedberg
Location: Lake Delavan, Wisconsin
Credentials: Liedberg has called Lake Delavan his home since childhood and now plies its waters with clients, offering a “no pike, no pay” rule on all full-day trips.
Number of years guiding: 12
Contact: (630) 830-7687; pikeboy.com

Favorite Jerkbait: Original Rapala Floater
Color: Silver
Size: 7 in.
Weight: 11/16 oz.
Details: “The Original Rapala just matches so many different bait species. It’s a top choice no matter where you chase pike. Lots of anglers think the biggest pike are caught in really deep water, but that’s not true. Some of the heaviest fish from Lake Delavan have come from water two feet deep or less. Although I’m not a huge jerkbait fan, they do have an advantage in the shallows, especially if you remember that big fish live there, too.”

Favorite Spinnerbait: Pikeboy Single Colorado
Color: Black/Red/Silver Blade
Weight: 1 oz.
Details: “I’ve been making all my own spinner baits for a long time because everything I used to buy, the pike would destroy. These lures are made with heavy-gauge wire and high-end components. It’s really about durability. I chose that color because it gives a sharp silhouette in lots of water conditions. Finding closed-eye spinner baits these days isn’t easy, but they have a major advantage. I use wire leaders with a snap, and without a closed eye, that snap could slide all the way up to the blade and hurt the action or cause you to lose a fish because you end up pulling against the wire at a more vulnerable point.”

One of guide Bobby Liedberg's chewed up Rat-L-Traps.

Favorite Diving Hardbait: Rat-L-Trap
Color: Chrome
Weight: 1 oz.
Details: “Put me anywhere in the U.S. for pike and I’m bringing my Rat-L-Trap. You can work these lures at any depth in the water column, fast or slow. They’re just as versatile as you can get and pike slam them. I never get rid of a Rat-L-Trap that the pike have beaten up. Actually, once a little of the chrome peels off, exposing those subtle white spots underneath, I catch more with it. I guess it looks even more like a natural baitfish.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Berkley Gulp! Shaky Shad
Color: Smelt
Size: 4 in.
Weight: ½ oz. skirted jig
Details: “Pike are generally aggressive, but there are times when they’re picky. That’s when bouncing a soft plastic in front of their face works best. The Gulp! in dark, natural bait colors work best for me when the bite is slow. I typically rig these shads on ½-ounce skirted largemouth-style jigs, but vertical jigging doesn’t work that well. I use this setup to punch through the weeds and just retrieve slowly and steadily. You cover more water that way, and the idea is to pull the lure right in front of the pike. With jigging, you might lift it right over the fish.”

Guide Andrew Klassen

Andrew Klassen
Location: Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada
Credentials: A professional guide since he was 16, Klassen, now 23, is one of the youngest guide service owners and pike gurus on Lake of the Woods.
Number of years guiding: 7
Contact: (204) 480-4572; andrewklassen.com

Favorite Spinnerbait: Musky Mayhem Double Cow Girl
Color: Black/Nickel Blade
Size: 10 in.
Weight: 2 ¾ oz.
Details: “This spinner was designed for musky, but I catch lots of big pike on it. Our fish are primarily eating large ciscos. This lure matches the bait size, as well as producing lots of flash. I find spinners produce best over rocky bottom where weeds don’t impede the visibility. Pike will rise up from ten feet down to hit one, but you’ve got to get the blades going the second it hits the water.”

Favorite Diving Hardbait: Musky Mania Jake
Color: Holoform Silver Shiner
Size: 8 in.
Weight: 2 ¾ oz.
Details: “The flat, narrow profile of this bait is pretty unique. Because it’s not round, I think it has more flash. It also works well casting or trolling up to 16 feet down. To get the most out of a Jake, you want it to roll a little on the retrieve. A sharp twitch is all it takes, and by rolling it, you can better expose the sides of the lure to maximize the flash it gives off.”

Suick Thriller

Favorite Jerkbait: Original Weighted Suick Thriller
Color: Sucker
Size: 10 in.
Details: “I don’t really know why anything eats these lures, because they just look like a big stick in the water, but with a little modification, you can get them to hang in a fish’s face and they crush them. I’ll take pliers and bend the corners of the tail down at a 45-degree angle. It might take some time to get the action just right, but the end result will add just a little back-end shimmy to the lure when it stops. That little twitch drives pike mad.”

Favorite Soft Plastic: Musky Innovations Bull Dawg
Color: Black/Orange
Size: 9 in.
Weight: 3 oz.
Details: “I just have lots of confidence in this lures because it’s so versatile. It will run at any depth you want and looks great at any speed. Some people don’t understand spend a lot on Bull Dawgs to have pike tear them up, but they last longer than you think. My record is 20 fish on one Dawg, and the trick to that is taking a lighter to the cuts and gashes to melt them shut after each trip. You’ll prolong lure life significantly.”

Captain Steve Scepaniak

Steve Scepaniak
Location: Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
Credentials: Specializing in trophy pike weighing upwards of 20 pounds, Scepaniak has honed his lure methods over the last 25 years to entice the biggest fish in Mille Lacs Lake.
Number of years guiding: 25
Contact: (320) 253-7535; predatorguideservice.com

Favorite Jerkbait: Original Weighted Suick
Color: Black
Size: 9 in.
Weight: 2 ½ oz.
Details: “I love these jerkbaits because it’s up to the angler to implement the action. That lets you tailor your retrieve to match conditions. I stick to black because it has the sharpest silhouette in the water. Any time you cast a jerkbait, it’s essential to let the ripples dissipate before you start your retrieve. Pike key in on the splash and come to investigate, but sometimes they take their time. If you start to retrieve right away, the lure is almost back to the boat by the time the fish reaches the point of splash down.”

Favorite Spinnerbait: Ruff Tackle Rad Dog
Color: Gray
Weight: 2 1/8 oz.
Details: “That light gray color resembles the belly of a baitfish and these lures are pretty heavy-duty. I also caught 32 pike over 40 inches on this lure one season. I modify about 90% of my lures, and spinner baits are no exception. I take off the blade that comes on the lure and replace it with a silver Colorado, number seven. You get maximum vibration from that, and the rod tip actually quivers. Pike pick up that vibe with those long lateral lines.”

Favorite Diving Hardbait: Salmo Whitefish
Color: Copper/gold
Size: 7 in.
Weight: 2 oz.
Details: “Both the size and color of this lure matches a sucker well, and they’re the main food for our larger fish. In Mille Lacs, we’ve got suckers that weigh up to seven pounds. A spastic retrieve will always catch more fish, but to take that further, something I always tell me clients to do is rip the bait up to the surface when it gets near the boat. Pike will follow it and often lose interest near the boat, but if you rip it up, they think it’s a baitfish trying to escape and smash it.”

Musky Innovations Heli-Dawg

Favorite Soft Plastic: Musky Innovations Heli Dawg
Color: Sherbert
Size: 9 in.
Details: “One of my clients landed the largest pike of his life on this lure. They’re ideal for fishing thick cabbage patches because of their weight and helicopter action on the fall. The best thing you can do with a Heli Dog is get it hung in the weeds, then rip it free. The pike home in on the movement of the weeds and grab the lure as it breaks out and starts swimming away. You’re essentially making the effect of bait fleeing from the cover that much more realistic.”

Guide Red Childress

Red Childress
Location: Allegheny River, Pennsylvania
Credentials: A moving-water pike and musky specialist, Childress runs over 80 trips a year in his jet boat to put his clients on northerns that frequently tape out over 40 inches.
Number of years guiding: 14
Contact: (814) 723-5912; alleghenyguideservice.com

Favorite Spinnerbait: Lee Snyder Spinnerbait
Color: White/Gold
Weight: 2 oz.
Details: “Lee is a local lure maker, and I’ve always done well on pike and musky with his spinnerbaits. White is a very versatile color, and although silver and gold blades have advantages in different light conditions, gold is the all-around producer. I rarely throw a spinnerbait that isn’t tipped with a little meat, like a grub or scented shad. Pike are either on or they’re off, so anything you can do to add just a little more life to a spinner will always catch more fish.”

Shack Attack Curly Sue

Favorite Soft Plastic: Shack Attack Curly Sue
Color: Brown Sucker
Size: 9 in.
Weight: 4 1/2 oz.
Details: “There are similar soft plastics on the market, but I have yet to find a soft jig that is more durable than a Shack Attack. Right down to the internal rigging wire, these baits are tough. I'll fish them at any depth, but you have to be ready with these lures because the fish like to hit them on the drop.”

Favorite Diving Hardbait: Bomber Long A
Color: Chartreuse/Silver
Size: 6 in.
Details: “I don't really throw diving swimmers that often, but I've always done really well on a regular Bomber Long A. Chartreuse and silver are highly visible in almost any water conditions, so this pattern has proved particularly deadly. Bombers are also great because you can cast or troll them.”

Favorite Jerkbait: Phanton Lures Phantom
Color: Bleeding Sucker
Size: 7 1/2 in..
Details: “Phantoms have a great walk-the-dog action unlike many other jerkbaits. They're also nearly indestructable because of the high-impact plastic they use to make them. The bleeding sucker is a dead-on imitation of a real sucker, which happens to be a main forage item for the larger pike and muskies in the Allegheny.”

How to Tie The Five Strongest Fishing Knots

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:31:54 -0500

The Test: To determine the winners I tested a total of 18 established knots on my Chatillon DFE digital force gauge, for which I paid an obscene amount. Basically, two small fixtures hold the line (or knot) and pull slowly apart, while a precisely calibrated gauge records the force at which a break occurs.

Knots often break because they aren’t firmly and evenly tightened, so lubricate yours with saliva and pull them tight. Also, knots that require multiple turns of line must lie and draw up neatly, without line overlapping where it shouldn’t.

Note: Different brands and sizes of fishing line will show different strengths for the same knot. For these tests, I used Sufix Siege 8-pound-test mono. Contrary to what the label says, the unknotted breaking strength of this line tested at 12.47 pounds. The results below, averaged over 10 tests per knot, list what percentage of that unknotted breaking strength the various knots broke at. --JM

Story Leak: Gear for the New Year

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 30 May 2006 17:00:00 -0400

Begin to Spin (Deal of the Month)
An oscillation gear keeps the line evenly spooled, while a special roller reduces tangles. Bottom line: great castability. The rear-drag Solstace makes a good first spinning reel. $50; 949-951-5003; shimano.com

Table of Contents

The 50 Best Guns Ever Made, Revisited

fieldandstream-editor — Fri, 05 May 2006 12:00:00 -0400

Click here to read this story and post your comments on David E. Petzal's blog, The Gun Nut

Editor's Note: Last February, Dave wrote a cover story titled "The 50 Best Guns Ever Made" that generated lots of heated opinion. In case any of you missed the piece, we've posted links to it in photo gallery form in Dave's blog. Keep an eye on the story next week as he returns to the subject with updates to the list and some fresh thoughts on these guns.

Click here to read this story and post your comments on David E. Petzal's blog, The Gun Nut

Best of 2005: Jerry's Tips

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 04:15:00 -0500

[BRACKET "1"] Get Your Socks On--February 2005
Wet, sandy feet are a nuisance to outdoorsmen--difficult to wipe dry and nearly impossible to pull socks over. A liberal sprinkling of baby powder, however, will absorb moisture instantly and allow you to brush the sand off. Socks are easier to pull on over powdered feet, and dry feet are essential for fungus prevention.

[BRACKET "2"]Bring In Distant Turkeys--March 2005
When a distant gobbler answers your call, move silently in his direction before he starts moving toward you. Try to get within 200 yards of the bird before calling again. Gobblers are more likeley to come all the way to a hunter who is inside that range. If you continue calling froma long distance, the turkey's answers will likely attract a live hen that will cut him off before he reaches you.

[BRACKET "3"]Organize Your Mess Kit--April 2005
When camping, tie a many-pocketed carpenter's apron at eye level on a tree trunk within reach of your cooking site. Fill the pockets with cooking utensils and a pair of long-handled pliers for handling hot pots and pans. The apron pockets provide a means of organizing utensils so you will always know where they are and have them close at hand when you need them.

[BRACKET "4"]Release Your Anchor Quickly--May 2005
It can be difficult to land large fish from a boat anchored in strong current if you can't slip anchor quickly. To make a quick-release system, tie a loop in the anchor line and attach a buoy or plastic jug to the loop, which you will place around the bow anchor cleat. When you hook up, slip it off the cleat and toss it overboard. After you've landed the fish, retrieve the anchor and buoy.

[BRACKET "5"]Make A Double-Sided Worm Can--June 2005
Instead fo digging down to the bottom of your bait can to find worms, replace the metal end of the can with another plastic lid in which you've punched a dozen tiny airholes. When the worms burrow down to the bottom, simply turn the can over and open the other end. The worms will always be on top and easy to see.

[BRACKET "6"]Release Fish Stress-Free--July 2005
Unhooking a wriggling fish becomes much easier when you hold the fish on its back with one hand gently cupping its dorsal fin. All fish immediately relax and lie still when held in this position, allowing you to remove the hook without having to squeeze, thereby causing less stress and injury. Always remember to wet your hands before handling any fish.

[BRACKET "7"]Stay Focused On Stand--July 2005
To help pass the time when you're spending long hours in a deer stand, take along a few ounces of birdseed. Scatter the seed on a nearby log or other bare area within a few yards of your stand. Birds, chipmunks, and squirrels are sure to discover the horde and will give you hours of entertainment, and their presence will keep you alert and remind you to stay still.

[BRACKET "8"]Camouflage Your Tree Stand--August 2005
Branches that you remove to clear a climbing path and shooting lanes at your tree stand should not be left on the ground. They may draw unwanted attention from people who might sit in your stand. Instead, drag them away from the vicinity, or lash some to the trunk above the stand to break up its outline and camouflage your silhouette as you hunt.

[BRACKET "9"]Protect Your Trailer Lights--September 2005
To prevent shorting, rig your trailer's wiring so that no junctions or terminals are ever submerged. Elevate lights on upright poles bolted to the frame. Don't join the wires in a Y-formation on the trailer body. Instead, run separate wires from each taillight all the way to the vehicle plug. For extra protection, use outdoor extension cord rather than standard electrical wire.

[BRACKET "10"]Train Your Dog To Hold Point--October 2005
Practice staunching a bird dog on point by pushing his shoulders and hind end toward the bird he's pointing. He will resist the pressure and push back against your hand, stiffening his point. Over time he will think it was his idea to remain steady. As your dog absorbs the lesson, gradually delay flushing so that he learns to enjoy the anticipation of keeping the bird in place.

[BRACKET "11"]Lubricate Your Grill--November 2005
You can use a raw potato to prevent wild game steaks or fresh fish fillets from sticking to the survace of your barbeque grill. Slice the potato in half, then, when the grill is hot, rub the cut side back and forth lengthwise along the grate. You'll hear a hissing sound as starch from the potato coats the metal with a natural non-stick compound.

[BRACKET "12"]Rig Tangle-Free Decoys--December/January 2005-06
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 deocy bases with snap fasteners. To use, anchor one end, snap deocys to the loops as you pay out the line, then anchor the far end. Stagger lines to create an irregular pattern.