Category Archives for Reviews

Largemouth Bass Fishing Tips – 8 Tips That Will Get You More Bass!

Are you ready to go on your first bass fishing trip? Before you do, you will want to read this article. I have compiled eight largemouth bass fishing tips that will give you the edge you need to catch more bass than you ever thought possible!

The largemouth bass is one of the most fun and demanding fish species to catch. So without further ado, let’s get into the bass fishing tips you will need to know to make your bass fishing trip a successful one.

Tip #1 – Five Artificial Baits That Will Help You Catch More Largemouth Bass…

There are five artificial lures you want to make sure that you have in your largemouth bass fishing arsenal.

1. The first and most popular lure for largemouth bass fishing year round is the skirted jig. Jigs are work wonders if you are hard water fishing or summertime fishing. Bass love these things and if you don’t have a good assortment of skirted jigs I recommend you go out and get you a bunch.
2. The second artificial bait for largemouth bass would be crankbaits. You will want to focus on the big-billed crankbaits they seem to work the best around underwater structures such as sunken trees and weed beds.
3. Thirdly you will want to have an assortment of swimbaits. Swimbaits work well when they are on an umbrella rig. They work well because they look and act just like the prey that largemouth bass are use to feeding on.
4. Number four in the list would be the good old rubber worm. These work great any time of year and in any weather condition. Fish these artificial worms in the weed beds, around docks and piers. If you’re having no luck with the other artificial baits, the rubber worm usually will do the trick as long as the bass are hanging around where you are fishing.
5. If all else fails, grab a jig and a plastic crayfish. These two lures together work wonders for catching largemouth bass and can be fished year round. Craws are foragers, and largemouth bass just love these little creatures. You can fish them around weed beds and in deeper waters because that’s where you will find the crayfish.

Tip #2 – The Best Times Of Day To Fish For Largemouth Bass

Our second tip is to know when the best times of day that you will be the most successful in catching largemouth bass. The best times are right before sunrise and right before sunset for about an hour each time. This is true for most fish they have feeding schedules, not unlike us humans.

So you can wake up early and be ready for the morning onslaught. Then you can take a nap in the afternoon if you like and be prepared for the evening fishing bash! You can catch them all day long but the best times are in the early morning and late evenings.

Tip #3 – What Are The Bass Feeding On?

A little research can go along way when you are largemouth bass fishing. Find out from your local bait stores or other anglers who have fishing for bass in the area you are going to fish in about what type of prey bass feed on in the area. You can also find what they’re feeding on after you catch one they usually will throw up the contents of their stomach.

I know it sounds disgusting, but once you see what they have eaten, it will give you a good idea of exactly what kind of live bait you want to fish with when you find out to get that type of live bait or artificial bait that mimics the live bait and give that a try.

Tip #4 – What Color and Size Are The Largemouths Going For?

Before you start fishing look around and see what colors the forage is in the area and match those colors as close you can to your artificial lures. Fish are visual creatures so if you can match the natural color around them you will have a better chance at catching them.

If the day is cloudy or sunny can be a factor as well in your lures color choice. A lighter color, such as yellow for when it’s cloudy out and a darker color or translucent color for when it is sunny.

Also, find out about what size prey they are going after and match your bait size with the real preys size. The big largemouths won’t know the difference from your bait or the real thing!

Tip #5 – Be Quiet!!!

A good tip for when you are fishing for largemouth bass is to keep your mouth shut! Bass will spook if you are talking too loudly so make as little noise as possible. If you are fishing with other especially just whisper and you will have a better chance at not spooking the bass. Your friends may not want what to listen to you anyway.:)

Tip #6 – Fish For Bass Pre-Spawn

When largemouth bass are in the pre-spawn phase is a perfect time to be fishing for them. During pre-spawn and while spawning they will come to the same areas year after year. And during this time bass are extremely territorial, and they will attack just about anything that gets in their way!

The pre-spawn and spawning periods for bass happen different times of the year depending on your geographical location. In my area of Wisconsin, pre-spawn starts in late April and lasts until early July. So if you live in my area of the country, this would be the time to hammer the largemouth bass and catch your limit.

Tip #7 – Cast Against The Wind

I know it sounds like a pain in the,  you know what but cast against the wind. Bass swim with the current, so if you cast against the current, you will be presenting your lure in front of the bass instead of behind them. They won’t be spooked so easily this way because the noise that you might produce will carry away from the bass not at them.

Tip #8 – Fish In Shallow Water During The Spawn

When the bass are spawning, you will find them in shallow water because that is where the bass are laying their eggs. Cast and fish shallow and they will also be close to the edges of the banks. Doing this will help you catch more largemouth bass than you know what to do with.

These Eight Tips Will Help You Catch More Largemouth Bass

The more you practice and use these tips in the field the better your chances are at snagging that big largemouth bass. So go out have fun put into use each one of these largemouth bass fishing tips and bring home the motherload!

If you have any questions or comment, please leave them below. Thanks for reading and Happy Fishing!

 

Wild River Tackle Backpack | Special LED System Included

Product: Wild River Tackle Tek Lighted Backpack
Price: $155.30
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com
Product Dimensions: 18.5 x 17 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 7 Pounds
Guarantee: 90-Day Limited Warranty
My Rating: 9.4 out of 10

    

        Tackle Tek Recon Backpack
                        Purchase On Amazon
    
    

Wild River Tackle Backpack Overview

If you are a night angler and are looking for an affordable, compact and lighted backpack, then the Wild River Tackle Tek lighted backpack is for you. This fishing backpack has a led lighting system so you can see inside the backpack when it’s dark. The light also shines on the outside so you can see around the backpack where you are working.

The Tackle Tek lighted backpack comes with many features that you usually don’t get in a compact tackle backpack. For example, this backpack comes with four PT3600 tackle trays and a hard plastic holder for your glasses. It also comes with a removable pliers holder that clips to your belt so that you have your pliers right where you need them when you need them.

The front pocket cover folds down for a convenient working surface. The Tackle Tek also has a rain cover that you can quickly pull over the backpack to keep your fishing tackle safe from the elements. It’s an all-around handy tackle backpack to bring along to your fishing excursions.

Pros

• Compact
• Lightweight
• Padded Shoulder Straps for Comfort
• Built-in LED Lighting System
• Removeable Pliers Holder
• Four PT3600 Tackle Trays Included
• Weather Resistant Protective Cover
• Permanent Glasses Holder

Cons

• May Not Ship To All Countries
• Batteries Not Included

A Well Designed Backpack Makes Organization of Your Tackle a Snap!

The Wild River tackle backpack is well designed with many compartments and pockets that help you keep your tackle and fishing gear organized. It has four side pockets, one big open upper storage area, and a large bottom storage area that holds four PT #3600 tackle trays.

You get a work surface by folding down the front pocket so you can tie your jigs, lay out your lures and sinkers or whatever you need to do to get ready for the fish. This backpack also has open storage that is easily accessible from the front which is nice when you need to grab something quickly. Just unzip, grab and off you go. You can keep your fishing sunglasses safe with a permanently mounted glasses holder.

It has a handy rain cover to keep all your tackle and gear dry when the weather turns rainy. I can’t count how many times I have been out fishing and it started to rain soaking my backpack and water would fill up in all the outer pockets making a total mess of things.

You get all that with this fishing backpack plus a handy dandy pliers holder that is removable, and you can clip it right to your belt. So, organization is not a problem with this tackle backpack.

Backpack Features

1. Retractable Laynard is removable and useful for clipping your keys or other items that you don’t want to get lost.
2. Web Loops to help secure any fishing tools and gadgets you might have.
3. Plier Holder that’s removable and clips right on your belt for which makes your pliers easily accessible when you need them.
4. Mesh Pockets so you can grab those essential fishing tools without having to look in each pocket to find what you are looking for.
5. Clear Pocket that zips shut to put your fishing license in so that its visible and keeps it dry.
6. Shoulder Straps are adjustable and padded. This helps make that backpack comfortable to carry if you are hiking for long distances.
7. Sternum Strap adds extra support when carrying.
8. LED Light System illuminated the inside as well as the outside when your fishing at night or if it’s a dark cloudy day.
9. Rain Cover is handy to have when it starts raining it keeps all your tackle and fishing gear dry and protected.
10. Four Storage Trays come with the Wild River Tackle Tek backpack. These are Plano tackle trays medium #3600. The trays are great for organizing all your jigs, lures, bobbers and sinkers. Find what you need easily and accessible.

 Wild River Tackle Backpack Specifications

• Light Source – LED
• Batteries – 2 AAA 1.5V batteries, not included
• Light Output Levels – Select a green light setting or high and low white LED settings
• Weight Without Trays – 3.15 Pounds
• Weight With Trays – 4.35 Pounds
• Exterior Dimensions – 13″W x 16.5″H x 6.75″D
• Tray Compartment Dimensions – 10″W x 7″H x 6″D
• Tray Exterior Dimensions – 9″W x 1.25″H x 4.75″ D

My Recommendation

I recommend the Wild River Tackle Backpack for those of you who love to hike to where you are going to fish and if you are fishing at night. The built-in LED system gives you ample light to work with inside and outside of the backpack. There is plenty of storage and pockets so that you can have everything you need to have a successful fishing trip all in a compact bag.

The padded shoulder straps and sternum strap make this tackle backpack comfortable to carry long distances. The four Plano tackle trays make it easy to organize your tackle anyway you see fit so you can find the exact jig or lure you need quickly.

And with all the little extras that come with this backpack like the removable plier’s holder, the fishing sunglasses holder, the rain cover, the retractable lanyard, and the web loops you can’t go wrong with this backpack. I recommend you get yours today before your next fishing outing.

Get Your Tackle Tek Fishing Backpack at Amazon

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I hope this review of the Wild River Tackle Backpack helps you make an informed purchasing decision. Thanks for reading and Happy Fishing!

Walleye Ice Fishing Tips – 5 Proven Tips That Work!

Are you looking for some walleye ice fishing tips to help you catch these monsters of the deep? If you are, you have come to the right place. In this article, I will explain to you five proven tips that work wonders for catching walleye through the ice.

We all know walleye can be a tricky fish to catch especially when you are ice fishing. So I won’t bore you with fluff lets get right into those five proven tips and get you out ice fishing for walleye while the fishing is good.

Tip #1 – Dead Stick Fish When The Walleyes Aren’t Biting

If you have never heard of dead stick fishing, it’s easy to do and will help you catch those walleyes when you are ice fishing. First, you need to drill a hole next to the hole that you are fishing in. Next, you want to rig up the rod that you’re going to dead stick the walleyes with. You want to rig them up with a stick float. Here’s how you rig a dead stick.

On your braided mainline, you slide a small rubber bobber stop. Next, you want to slip a dead stick float onto your braided line and tie a micro swivel #12 onto the line. After that, you want to take an 18” fluorocarbon leader and tie it to the micro swivel on one of the ends and whatever lure you are using to the other end.

Then you want to slider your bobber stopper to the depth you want to fish at and let your lure go down the hole. The dead stick float will slide until it hits the bobber stopper and your off and fishing. If you need to adjust the depth, you are fishing at slide the stopper to whatever the desired depth is.

Not much to it. You let that dead stick rod sit there and jig aggressively with your other rod like you usually would do. The rod that you are actively fishing with will lure the walleyes in and if they don’t bit on that rod they will go for the dead stick rig set-up and hopefully bite on that one.

We do this dead stick fishing method because most fish in iced over cold water will be lethargic because their metabolism slows way down and will naturally go for the bait that’s easiest for them to capture.

Tip #2 – Fish Over Rock Structures

In the mid-winter when the walleyes are being picky on the bait and lures, you use you want to find a spot on the lake that you are fishing over rock structures that are around 16 feet deep. I don’t know why it is, but walleyes will bite more often in this terrain in the dead of winter.

To know the depth and the terrain that is below you will want to get yourself a fish finder. These come in real handy for ice fishing not just to know the depths and topography below the ice but to know if there are fish where your fishing as well.

It helps to have two people when you are looking for rocky bottom areas. One person will drill the holes along a dropoff, and the other person will go behind with the fish finder and measure the depth of the water and see if there is any rock structure underneath the ice. If you do this and pick the right holes to fish, you should come up with some nice walleye.

Tip #3 – Leave Room To Set Your Hook

This tip is for when you are fishing in an ice shelter, and it’s a tip for whatever kind of fish you are fishing for. Your ice fishing shelter might be 5 to 6 feet in height on the inside and if you are holding your rod a foot or more above the hole that doesn’t give you enough room to set your hook effectively.

To remedy this, you will want only to hold your rod about 3 inches above the fishing hole. Doing this will ensure that you have enough room to hook that walleye and bring him home to the frying pan.

Tip #4 – Best Time To Catch Walleye Is During Sunrise and Sunset

Like most fish, the best time to catch walleye is when the sun is rising in the morning and when the sun is setting in the evening. These times of day is a fish’s natural feeding cycle. During these hours of the day the walleyes are swimming out from under the weed bed covers, and you have a more significant area that you can fish and catch walleye. And because you can fish a wider area of water, you won’t have to drill so many holes because the walleye will be just about anywhere you can think.

You will want to drill your holes ahead of time. Don’t be drilling holes during the peak walleye fishing hours of sunrise and sunset because this will disrupt the natural flow of the fish. Have the holes already drilled and then do some sampling of the holes until you find a few spots that are ample with walleye and then focus on those areas during the peak time.

Tip #5 – Vibration Gets The Walleyes Attention

The last tip in this walleye ice fishing tips article is to use vibration to get the walleye’s attention. To do this, you want to hit the bottom of the lake with your lure and raise the lure slowly. Doing this will stir up the mud and sediment on the bottom. It also causes the vibration necessary to get the walleyes attention. And when stirring up the bottom sediment, your lure will be mimicking a live creature that the walleyes would be used to feeding on.

You also might want to use a vibrating blade lure when you fish walleye with this method. When using a vibrating blade lure, you want to move the bait up and down about 3 feet. Make sure to keep aggressively jigging the lure. This will attract the fish in. If the walleye are active and ready to strike it will either grab your vibrating blade lure or the walleye if it is not prepared for a fight will go after your dead stick if you have one set up close by.

Put These Walleye Ice Fishing Tips To The Test

Now that I have shown you these effective walleye ice fishing tips it’s time for you to put them to the test. We all know that walleyes can be finicky when it comes to their eating habits especially in the winter. But if you put all five of these tips to good use, you should start catching some nice healthy sized walleye.

To recap when the walleyes aren’t biting start by dead stick fishing. This is where drill a hole close to the hole you are actively fishing. Put your dead stick fishing lure down the other hole and let it sit there.

With the second tip, you will need a fish finder. Use your fish finder to look for depths of the water and what structures are beneath the ice. I recommend you get yourself a Vexilar fish finder. Vexilar fish finders work best because they give you a clear reading of what’s underneath the ice.

Drill a bunch of holes along a drop off and find the best spots to fish. For walleye, you want about 16 feet of depth with rock structure.

The third tip is when you are fishing in an ice shelter leave plenty of room to set your hook. To do this hold your rod about two to three inches above the fishing hole. Holding your rod close will allow you enough room. Otherwise, you will be hitting the roof of your shelter when you are hooking the walleye.

The Best Time To Catch Walleye

Peak time to catch walleye is either in the early morning hours and or late in the evening when the sun is setting.

The fifth and final tip for walleye ice fishing is to use vibration to get the walleyes attention. Aggressively hit the bottom of the lake with your lure and bring it up slowly. Doing this will get the walleyes attention by stirring up the bottom sediment and causing vibration through the water. The stirring up of the sediment and the vibrations mimics the living creatures that the walleye are used to feeding on.

I hope these walleye ice fishing tips help you catch more walleye. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Good luck ice anglers and Happy Fishing!

Garmin Striker 4 Review – Mark Those Hot Fishing Spots with Ease!

Product: Garmin Striker 4 
Price: $99.98
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com
Product Dimensions: 3.6 x 1.6 x 5.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.2 Pounds
Guarantee: 2-year Limited Warranty
My Rating: 9.8 Out of 10

    

        Garmin Striker 4
                        Available On Amazon
    
    

Garmin Striker 4 Overview

In this Garmin Striker 4 review, I will show you everything you need to know about the Garmin Striker 4 sonar fishfinder. You will be able to make an informed decision on whether or not this fish finder is right for you.

The Garmin Striker 4 is a state of the art fishfinder with realistic graphics and a high sensitivity GPS that lets you mark those spots on the lake that you are killing it with the fish so that you can go back to that fishing spot time and time again. You can also share your locations with other echo maps and striker combinations.

The Striker 4 has a built-in flasher and displays your speeds data. Included with this fishfinder is the CHIRP (77/200 kHz) transducer with trolling motor and transom cable and mounting hardware. This makes the Garmin Striker 4 easily accessible. You mount it wherever is most convenient for you.

Pros

• Highly Sensitive CHIRP Transducer GPS Navigation
• Lightweight and Compact
• Chrystal Clear Sonar Images
• Records Your Trolling Speed
• Mark Your Favorite Fishing Spots For Future Use
• Can Be Mounted On Trolling Motor or Transom
• Built-in Flasher Useful For Ice Fishing and Jigging For Crappies

Cons

• Higher Performance CHIRP Transducers Sold Separately
• Carrying Case Not Included

Sonar Images Are Crystal Clear With The CHIRP Transducer

Like I said the Garmin CHIRP transducer is included in this fish finder. It is a 77/200 kHz transducer which can be mounted on the transom or the trolling motor if you have one. The CHIRPS clarity is superb with much higher quality visibility of the fish and surrounding structure than the traditional 77/200 kHz transducers.

This is possible because the CHIRP transducer sends out a continuous array of frequencies instead of just one. These frequencies range from high to low and are interrupted individually when they return. The CHIRP sonar technology brings in a lot of information from a broader range. This creates more evident fish arches with a more significant target of separation.

If you want even higher performance CHIRP, you can upgrade to the GT8 or GT15 transducer. These two are sold separately. They provide even clearer sonar images and a better resolution and target separation from shallow to deeper depths. The bottom contours are much clearer even with faster speeds with these upgrades.

Superb Navigation with The Garmin Striker 4 Fishfinder

Never get lost again with the high sensitive GPS that the striker 4 fishfinder offers. It’s very accurate at letting you know where you are at and can maintain your GPS positioning anywhere you go on the lake or river.

With this fishfinder you can mark where on the lake the fish are biting so you can return to that exact spot in the future. It can also mark boat ramps and docks for future reference which makes it easier finding your way out of the lake when you are done fishing. There is a path that’s created on the screen, so you follow that to where you want to go.

This is especially useful when you are fishing in a massive lake that you have never fished before or are fishing on one of the great lakes. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to find your way out.

Know Your Speed

With the Striker 4 fishfinder you can know the exact speed you are going by glancing over at the screen. This helps when you are trolling for fish so you know exactly what speed you are at for the different kinds of lures you may be using. It is also useful in wake controlled areas where you need to know your speed so that you don’t create waves.

The Striker 4 Fishfinder Has a Built-in Flasher

The flasher works well when you are not in the boat like fishing on shore, crappie jigging or ice fishing. The flasher shows you what the bottom of the lake is made of if it’s a muddy or a rock solid bottom.

It will also show you the weight of your lure or live bait and how deep the fish are when they swim into the sonar beam. You can also see how far your bait or lure is being lifted and if the fish swim towards it or away from it. The built-in flasher is one of my favorite features of this sonar fishfinder.

Main Fishfinder Features of The Garmin Striker 4

• 3.5” Color Screen
• Easy To Use Keypad Operation
• Mark Your Locations On The Lake such as where the fish are biting and where your loading and unloading ramps and docks are. You can also map out weed beds and rock piles.
• CHIRP (77/200 kHz) sonar transducer is included; transmit power (200 W RMS)/(1,600 W peak-to-peak)
• Split-screen zoom
• Ultrascroll® (displays fish targets at higher boat speeds)
• AutoGain Technology (minimizes clutter, maximizes targets)
• Fish Symbol ID (helps identify fish targets)
• Adjustable depth line (measures the depth of underwater objects)
• Water temperature sensor included
• Tilt/swivel mount
• Integrated GPS
• A-scope (real time display of fish passing through transducer beam)
• Mark Waypoints
• Course over Ground (COG)
• Current draw @ 12V: 0.23A

Sonar Features and Specifications

• Dual-frequency (50/200 kHz) sonar capable
• Dual-beam (77/200 kHz) sonar capable
• Supported Frequencies: Traditional: 50/77/200 kHz; CHIRP (mid and high)
• Transmit power: 200 W (RMS)
• Maximum depth: 1,600 ft freshwater*, 750 ft saltwater*
• Bottom lock (shows return from the bottom up)
• Water temperature log and graph

General Information

• Physical dimensions: 3.6” x 5.9” x 1.6”
• Display size: 1.9” x 2.9”; 3.5” diagonal
• Display resolution: 480 x 320 pixels
• Display type: HGVA color
• Weight: 8.1 Ounces
• Water Rating IPX7

My Conclusive Opinion

I hope I have provided you all the pertinent information that you need in this Garmin Striker 4 Review. The Striker 4 fishfinder, in my opinion, is a great buy at under $100 on Amazon.

It has all the features you would want in a fishfinder and then some. There is no secret why The Garmin Striker 4 is the number one Best Seller on Amazon in the fish finder/ depth finder category.

You get a GPS that lets you mark wayward point which helps get you to where you want to go and helps you mark where you have been on the lake or river. This makes it easy to get back out of the lake.

What’s also helpful is it lets you mark where the fish are biting so that you won’t forget. Then you can come back time after time to the same fishing spot and pull in some big fish.

It’s also a great ice fishing fishfinder with the built-in flashers that let you see what your bait is doing and how the fish are reacting to your bait. It also shows you what the bottom of the lake looks like if it’s muddy or solid. You can also control your trolling speed with this fishfinder which helps to keep you at the right speed for whatever lure you are trolling with. It also helps to keep your speed down in wake controlled areas of the lake.

I highly recommend you purchase your own Garmin Striker 4 fishfinder. The cheapest place to buy this fishfinder is on Amazon. I know you won’t regret this purchase.

Get Your Garmin Striker 4 Fishfinder At Amazon

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading and Happy Fishing!

Ugly Stic Tackle Bag – The Perfect Tackle Bag For Kayak Fishing

Product: Ugly Stick Tackle Bag
Price: $35.99
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com
Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.4 x 7.5 inches ; 3.87 pounds
Shipping Weight: 9.4 Pounds
Storage Capacity: 28.8 Liters
Guarantee: Lifetime Manufacturers Warranty
My Rating: 9.5 out of 10 

Introducing the Ugly Stick tackle bag. If you’re looking for an affordable, durable, lightweight tackle bag that you can throw on your shoulder and go then The Ugly Stick tackle bag is for you.

In this article, I will show you what is included with this tackle bag and some pros and cons of the bag so you can make an informed decision on whether or not to purchase the Ugly Stick Tackle bag. So let’s start with the pros and cons of the bag.

Pros

• Lifetime Manufacturers Warranty
• Roomy
• Lightweight
• Comfortable to Carry
• External Accessory pockets
• Affordable
• Compression Molded Bottom

Cons

• Small lures and Loose Hooks Will Slide Under the dividers in the Tackle Box Tray Compartments

As you can see the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot. Now I will explain some of the features of the Ugly Stik tackle bag.

Core Features Of The Ugly Stic Tackle Bag

This tackle bag has many essential features that it comes with. The tackle bag is built tough, comfortable to carry and compact with enough room for what you need to have a successful fishing experience. There is no fishing tackle bag quite like the Ugly Stick Tackle bag!

Works Great For Kayak Fishing

This tackle bag is made out of tough polyester with a roughed up bottom surface that won’t slip and slide around your kayak or boat. The base is also made of a strongly compressed mold that keeps the bag from sagging.

It’s waterproof as well. The waterproof feature is critical especially when you are kayak fishing. You know that water will get into your kayak. That’s just a matter of fact.

The Ugly Stic tackle bag is not too big and not too small. It fits in a kayak a lot better than a standard hard plastic or metal tackle box would. It will mold to your kayak.

You Can Get Your Tackle Bag On Amazon

Roomy Tackle Bag With Plenty Of Extras

The Ugly Stic tackle bag measures 11.7 x 9.4 x 7.5 inches and has a 20.8-liter capacity to fit all your fishing lures, line, and fishing tools. This bag comes with four plastic tackle box containers.

The tackle trays measure 10.2 x 6.6 x 1.6 inches and have dividers so that you can organize your fishing lures, split shots and small bobber any way you like.  The tackle trays that this bag comes with are not recommended for tiny swivel lures or loose hooks because they will get under the dividers and slide all over.

These tackle trays also come with ruler type measuring on top of the containers. This is convenient for measuring the fish that you catch to make sure they are within the legal length. If these are too small of tackle containers for you, the Plano 3600 series tackle trays will fit in this bag.

 

Wait, There’s More To The Tackle Bag

This tackle bag has a padded shoulder strap with a mesh top handle which makes the bag comfortable when carrying from place to place. It comes with three external accessory pockets that zip shut so that you won’t lose your fishing tools if the bag gets tipped upside down.

The Ugly Stic tackle bag also comes with a removable fishing tool holster with a belt clip. So you can clip this onto your belt and have all your pliers or your hook removal tool right on your waist where you can access them easily when you need them. The belt clip fits on most 2” wide belts.

There are also outer stretchy bands to slide in tools or your plastic bottles of bait scent for easy accessibility. This tackle bag is also guaranteed with a lifetime limited manufactures warranty so no need to worry if the bag fails you in any normal use way Ugly Stic will replace it.

My Conclusion

I recommend the Ugly Stic Tackle Bag for its roominess that can hold all the fishing tackle and tools that you need to have a successful fishing excursion. The tackle box trays help with organization of your tackle so you will find everything you need when you need it without having to rummage through the bag.

It’s perfect for kayak fishing. The bag is comfortable to carry with its padded shoulder strap. The bottom of this tackle bag is durable won’t sag and is waterproof.

The removable tool holder for your pliers is another feature I love about the Ugly Stic tackle bag. You unclip the tool holder from the pack a clip it on your belt. So now you have your hook remover tool right on your waist. This way you can retrieve it quickly when you catch a fish that has swallowed the hook. You also can’t beat the affordable price on this tackle bag.

Get Your Ugly Stic Tackle Bag On Amazon

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below in our comments section. You can also visit our contact page and send a message there. I hope this review of the Ugly Stic Tackle Bag helped you make an informed decision on whether or not to purchase this product. At Tackle Box Talk You can Have Your Fish and Eat ’em Too! Happy Fishing!

Fly Fishing Beginners Guide – Discover What You Need To Start Fly Fishing

The following is a beginners guide to fly fishing that I thought I would put together because I get so many questions on how to get started fly fishing?

I will explain the basics of what you need to get started in fly fishing and then show you a few tricks and techniques that work quite well for the beginner fly fisherman.

Beginners Guide To Fly Fishing – The Equipment

When you first start fly fishing, you will want to purchase some equipment. There are fly fishing kits you can get on Amazon that provide you with everything you need to get started, or you can purchase individual pieces of equipment. I will explain both and show you what’s out there so you can get started fly fishing as fast as possible.

Fly Fishing Rod/Reel

The first piece of equipment you want to start looking for is a fly fishing rod and reel. There are many to choose from. They can get expensive but if you are serious about learning how to fly fish you might as well get a good fly fishing rod and reel which will make it easier to learn with, and you will find fly fishing more enjoyable.

Redington Vice Fly Fishing Outfit

You will want a rod that is easy to cast, lightweight but strong enough to catch a variety of fish. With that in mind, I would recommend getting the Redington Vice Fly Fishing Outfit. This is a rod and reel combo made by Redington a trusted name in the sport of fly fishing.

The rod is easy to set-up with a dot system to help you. It has a sturdy Cordura rod tube with built-in rod dividers. It also has excellent accuracy and control because of multi-fiber carbon blanks. The reel seat is made out of anodized aluminum which will last a long time no matter what type of water you are fishing in be it freshwater or saltwater.

The Redington Vice rod/reel combo comes with RIO Mainstream Fly Line, iD Reel, and a rod/reel case. This combo also comes in six different sizes and are priced accordingly from $239.99 up to $299.99. This is a perfect rod/reel combo to purchase for a beginner.

Wild Water Rod/Reel Combo

Another rod/reel combo I would recommend that’s about half the price of the Redington is the Wild Water ⅚ 9’ rod fly fishing complete starter kit. This starter kit comes with a nine-foot ⅚ weighted four piece rod. The large reel is preinstalled with fishing line. It also comes with a rod case, rod sock, backing and leader, fly box, flies and an instruction book. Also included is a spare leader, zinger and nipper/knot tying tool.

The Wild Water combo kit pretty much has everything you need right out of the package to get started in fly fishing and for half the price of the one, I mentioned earlier.

Flies

The next thing you will need if you’re just starting in fly fishing is the fly. There are as many artificial flies on the market than there are real flies in the world. So I narrowed down a list of 10 for you so that you can get the flies that work the best. That way you can start fly fishing on the right foot.

1. Crayfish Fly
2. Pheasant Tail Nymph
3. Bunny Leech
4. Soft Hackle
5. San Juan Worm
6. Muddler Minnow
7. Parachute Adams
8. Elk Hair Caddis
9. Woolly Bugger
10. Gold-ribbed Hare’s Ear

I know the names are weird, but that is the ten best flies that you can get for whatever type of fish you are trying to catch when fly fishing.

Fly Fishing Beginners Guide – Tips and Techniques

Now that you know what you need in equipment and lures to fly fish with I will show you some tips and techniques to go with it.

The first and probably most important tip I can give someone just starting in fly fishing is your going to need patience. It takes time and experience to get the right rhythm down that you will need to effectively fly fish.

Watch Real Flies

When you are fishing watch how the real flies land? How do they buzz around the water? You are the guide to the artificial fly, and you will want to present it as close to the real thing as possible. You will never get it perfect but if you get it close you will start catching those fish.

Wrist control

Wrist control is crucial when you are casting. You don’t want to cock your wrist too far back. When the line slaps the water too hard, or your rod brushes the ground when your casting then you know you are moving your wrist too far back and you will want to adjust your technique.

Arc Your Rod and Hold The Tip High

When you hook a fish, you will want to keep a good curve and the tip up high on your rod even if the fish runs with the fly. Doing this ensures the fish will stay hooked and you will go home a happy angler with supper to boot!

You have to be able to read the water. When you see foam or bubbles in a line on top of the water, there is a good chance fish are feeding right below it. This is because dead flies will collect in the foam and thus the fish will be after those dead flies.

If the fish are not biting, try using a hook size smaller fly. I have heard when the fish are pressured they are wary of larger flies.

The last tip is to cast your fly on to a lily pad. Bass are notorious for waiting patiently right under a lily pad for its prey to fall off into the water. Then they strike with a vengeance. So let your fly sit on the lily pad for a while and then drop it down into the water.

In The End

I hope this little fly fishing beginners guide helps you start fly fishing on the right foot. Go out there and start fly fishing today. I know you will love it. Thanks for reading and Happy Fishing.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below.

The Larry Dahlberg Whopper Plopper – Whop Those Bass Into Submission

Search no further. You have found the Larry Dahlberg Whopper Plopper topwater fishing lure. At high speeds, the River2sea Whopper Plopper throws its share of water.

The loud popping noise that these whoppers make drive fish crazy especially the bass and muskies.

The tail is made out of taught plastic which flexes well and springs right back into place after it has been chewed on by a big fish or hits something like a rock.

There are four models of the Larry Dahlberg Whopper Plopper. They are 190, 130,110, 90 and 75. The difference in the models is the length, weight and hook types that are on them. The following is a chart with the model specifications

Colors and Styles

Blue Blood
Bone
Chubby
Delta Craw
I Know It
Loon
Perch
Fantom Shad
Powder
Rainbow Trout
Rat Ta Tat
Terminator
Yellowhead
Bee Gee
Fire Tiger
Red Horse
Lucy
Rock Star 
Munky Butt
Chrystal Minnow
T-1000
Pac Man
Abalone Shad
Bluegill
Yoda
Sunkist
Mullet
Herring
Tequila Sunrise
Unicorn
Barne
Jade
Slim
Frog
Chrome Black

You will want a bunch of these the next time you go out fishing for those aggressive fish. The Larry Dahlberg Whopper Plopper is one of the most durable topwater lures you will find. Plenty to chose from for any fishing situation you might find yourself in.

The x hooks are sharp and tough. The plastic it’s made out of is taught and will flex with every move of the lure while it plops its way through the water attracting those monster fish. There is a size for any type of fish you are after if it’s a hand-sized crappie or a 3-foot long musky. Larry Dahlberg has the Whopper Plopper for every occasion.

This lure casts to long distances and attracts fish when other lures will not. Pick yourself up some of these lures today and get your self a lunker tomorrow!

 You Can Purchase  Whopper Ploppers at Amazon

 

 

Topwater Fishing Lures – Rose Kuli

Fishing Lure Info

Lure: Rose Kuli
Lure Choices: Rainbow, mixgreen, 
sinklure, Orange, Scar, Mixblue, Red,
Blackred
Lure Type: Multi-jointed
Fish Types: Bass, Trout, Perch, Walleye, 
Northern Pike, Muskie
Lure Length: 3.8"
Price: $9.99
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon.com

Rose Kuli topwater fishing lures are useful lures for catching bass, trout, walleye, northern pike, and muskie. They have lifelike 3D holographic eyes that seem to pop right out at you.

They are lifelike and multi-jointed so they swim and act just like a baitfish would. The fish that you are out to catch can’t resist this lure. With a variety of colors to choose from the Rose Kuli is as close to real live bait as you can get. The front-bill helps it swim and dive naturally through the water.

These topwater fishing lures come in choices of rainbow, mixgreen, sinklure, orange, scar, mixblue, red and blackred. I recommend getting all seven models because the bass can’t resist these lures. The Rose Kuli lure is the number one Bestseller on Amazon’s Best Sellers List for fish plugs now that has to tell you something.

Rose Kuli Features

The multi-jointed body is connected with textile fabrics that make it very flexible, and the tail moves like a fishes real tail would while swimming through the water. If left still the Rose Kuli will float on top of the water.

These topwater fishing lures come with a gravity ball which helps the lure to cast farther, and it also helps to make noise to attract the fish. It has two sharp rustproof treble hooks. If one of the hooks doesn’t snag the fish, the other will surely do the trick!

You can catch a variety of fish species with this lure like bass, trout, yellow perch, muskie, northern pike and walleye. This lure is also safe to fish in freshwater or saltwater.

The Rose Kuli can dive to about 3 to 4 feet. It will float on the water when you are not reeling. Like it’s supposed to and will also dive deep when you are reeling in quickly. And it will stay at the same depth if reeled in slowly.

 

Suggested Techniques

Here are a few techniques you might want to try when using these topwater fishing lures. If you crank it hard enough, it will mimic a dying fish as it will float on its side. Use a 16-lb test line with this swimbait this allows for smooth and long distant casting.

Another good tip when fishing with topwater lures is when you see a fish splash get the lure into the area that splashed as soon as possible before the water ripples are done. The fish attacked another bait fish that’s why it splashed, so you want to get that Rose Kuli in the place of the real baitfish that your target fish didn’t catch. Hope these couple of tips help your fishing a little.

Using braid line when you’re fishing topwater lures helps you be able to cast your lure farther out into the water. And you will be able to hook the fish better at the end of the cast. You want to be careful not to overdo it tho when hooking a fish because you could rip the lure right out of the fishes mouth. Which defeats the whole purpose of what you are trying to do.

Top Reasons Why You Should Purchase Rose Kuli Topwater Fishing Lures

I will provide you with a few reasons on why you should purchase this topwater fishing lure. The number one reason is it acts just like a real baitfish in the wild. It also can mimic a dying fish when you are cranking it correctly. It is also safe to fish this lure in fresh or salt bodies of water.

Another good reason to purchase this lure is that it comes in a plethora of colors. More color choices mean more opportunities to target different fish species and the various circumstances you will find yourself in.  And it is Amazon’s Number 1 Bestseller in the fish plugs category. The price is right at under $10 not bad for a swimbait of this caliber.

Get Your Rose Kuli Topwater Fishing Lures at Amazon

Please leave questions and comments below. Thank you for reading and Happy Fishing!

Fly Fishing Bream – Where and When To Catch Bream?

So you want to start fly fishing for bream? First, I will explain what bream is, for you that don’t know. Bream are all the species of fish that are in the sunfish genealogy. Bream or ‘brim’ which is how the name is pronounced down south are known by many names such as redbelly, bluegill, perch, crappie, shellcrackers, redear, yellow belly, panfish, rock bass, pumpkin seeds, and others.

Fly fishing for bream is one of the most fun types of fly fishing an angler can partake in. There are so many different shapes and colors of bream fish which make it very enjoyable to fish for. These fish are plentiful in most of the bodies of freshwater in the United States and Canada.

The side of the road brooks, streams running through pastures, rivers, ponds, and lakes you name it you will find these fish everywhere. You know you will catch some fish when you set out to fish for bream.

Types of Flies Used To Catch Bream

There are many bream flies on the market, and they go by a bunch of different names. Here is a short list of some of the bream flies out there.

• Predator
• F-C Mackie Bug
• Poppers
• J’s Grinchworm
• Carrot Nymph
• Panfish Fly
• Clouser Minnow
• Wolly Worm
• Sunfish Fly
• SMP
• Sponge Spider

That’s just a few of the most popular ones. There are many more out there in various names.

When and Where Can You Do Some Fly Fishing for Bream?

Like I explained above bream can be found in numerous bodies of water all of this beautiful land of the United States and Canada. If you live near any body of fishable water, you will not have a hard time finding bream.

The best time to going searching for these fish is when they are spawning. They will tend to congregate around weed beds, fallen trees, around docks and drop-offs. Bream usually stay in more shallow water like under 6 feet.

You will want to cast your fly so that it lands about a foot or so from the areas I just mentioned and then you let the fly sit for a minute so that the sunfish can see it and then reel in slowly pausing now and then just working along the line your fishing.

If you do this repeatedly, you will no doubt catch bream after bream with this method. Nothings guaranteed but your chances of good strikes are overwhelming as long as the fish are there. And if you don’t get any strikes within a few minutes move on and try somewhere else because if the fish were there, they would be striking right away.

Reel In Those Bream!

When you are fly fishing for bream in real shallow water like 3 feet you will want to use lighter flies because you will want to be skipping across the water. The best hook sizes to use are 10’s and 12’s you can also use size 8. These fish can be good little fighters sometimes and are always hungry. You can catch your limit in no time fly fishing for bream. It takes a lot of them to fill you up, but they taste oh so good

There are many different bream flies to use, and you will want to try different ones. Some of them you will want to ride above the water line and some of them you want to fish just below the water line letting them sink a little before reeling them in. Bream love that rainbow array of color the flies typical have on them. So don’t be afraid to experiment to get the right technique down and the right kind of bream flies to use in the process.

Another tip is if your fishing the shallow water under 3 feet you will want to use dry flies and poppers. You keep these above the water, and the bream will typically jump out of the water to slap at it. This is fun to watch even if you don’t catch the fish, but most of the time you will snag the bream!

Memories Will Be Made…

Once you get fly fishing for bream in your blood, you won’t turn back. I remember when I was young about 8 or 10 a neighborhood friend of mine and I lived near a little brook that was down the road from my house.

This brook was only about 2 feet deep in the deepest spot, and we would have a great time fly fishing for rock bass. We would catch our limit every day all summer long! Those are the memories I cherish that I will never forget.

The most important thing is this. Get out there and try your hand at fly fishing for bream and it will turn into a life long passion. Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below. You can email me cory@tackleboxtalk.com

Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel – Don’t Leave Port Without It!

Today I’m doing a review on the popular Penn Battle II spinning fishing reel. This reel is loaded with new updated features that make it one of the best saltwater reels around.

The battle II comes in eight different sized models they are 1000, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 8000.

This reel works wonders for catching those elusive saltwater gamefish with its durability and high range spinning capabilities. Nothing beats Penn with its durability and speed. To start off I will list some of the pros and cons of this spinning reel.

Pros

• Five Sealed Stainless Ball Bearings
• Instant Anti-Reverse Bearings
• Durable
• Super-line Spooling
• No Backing Needed
• Eight Versions
• Line Capacity Rings
• HT-100 Carbon Fiber Drag Washers
• Body is All Metal
• Heavy-duty Aluminum Bail Wire

Cons

• Heavier Than The Original
• Over Greased

This reel also won best saltwater reel at iCast in 2014. If that doesn’t tell you it’s a saltwater reel sensation I don’t know what will! OK, I explained some of the pros and cons of the Penn Battle II spinning fishing reel now let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the details.

There Are Eight Models of The Penn Battle II to Choose From!

The Penn Battle II has eight different models to choose from they are 1000 to 8000. All 8 models come in the same colors Black/Gold/Smoke. The Specifications and Prices for each model size are as follows:

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 275/2 135/4 105/6
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 160/6 130/8 110/10
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 9 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 22″
• Weight = 8.1 lbs

Penn Battle II 1000 - $76.90

Model Size 2000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 240/4 180/6 125/8
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 210/8 180/10 165/15
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 10 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 30″
• Weight = 9.8 lbs

Penn Battle II 2000 - $72.90

Model Size 2500

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 255/6 175/8 140/10
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 240/10 220/15 160/20
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 12 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 33″
• Weight = 10.3 lbs

Penn Battle II 2500 - $74.33

Model Size 3000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 200/8 165/10 120/12
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 250/15 180/20 130/30
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 15 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 35″
• Weight = 12.3″

Penn Battle II 3000 - $73.57

Model Size 4000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 270/8 220/10 165/12
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 360/15 260/20 185/30
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 15 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 6.2:1
• Retrieve Rate = 37″
• Weight = 12.8 lbs

Penn Battle II 4000 - $84.50

Model Size 5000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 225/12 200/15 135/20
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 420/20 300/30 240/40
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 25lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.6:1
• Retrieve Rate = 36″
• Weight = 19.8 lbs

Penn Battle II 5000 - $112.22

Model Size 6000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 335/15 230/20 210/25
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 490/30 390/40 335/50
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 25 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.6:1
• Retrieve Rate = 41″
• Weight = 22.1 lbs

Penn Battle II 6000 - $89.90

Model Size 8000

• Mono Capacity YD/LB = 340/20 310/25 230/30
• Braid Capacity YD/LB = 475/50 390/65 345/80
• Number Of Bearings = 6
• Maximum Drag = 30 lbs
• Gear Ratio = 5.3:1
• Retrieve Rate = 44″
• Weight = 30.2 lbs

Penn Battle II 8000 - $128.71

The number of model sizes are amazing! You can get the smaller sizes for inshore saltwater fishing of fish species like the striped bass and bluefish. The smaller versions would work for freshwater fishing as well.

The bigger models like the  4000, 5000, 6000 and 8000 you would go after your bigger saltwater fish like your sailfish, swordfish and your occasional shark. Yes, I said shark I read that someone pulled in a 125-pound shark with the 6000 model with no problems! Now, that’s what I call a strong reel. With all these model’s it will be hard to decide which one to get.

To Recap

This reel has it all with its full metal body including the side-plates, rotor, and aluminum bail wire this is as durable as it gets in a saltwater reel. Encased stainless steel ball bearings no saltwater is going to penetrate these bearings!

Smooth powerful drag with its trademarked HT-100 carbon fiber drag system. This reel cranks smoothly with its 5 ball bearings and 1 anti-reverse bearing. No backing needed on its superline spool. The spool is braid ready and has three line capacity rings at 1/3, 2/3 and full so you can glance over at your reel quickly and know how many lines you have left.

All models come in black/Gold/Smoke colors. They all come with front drag and right or left reel position. I recommend you pick up one of these Penn Battle II spinning fishing reels. I know you won’t regret it.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below. You can also reach me directly cory@tackleboxtalk.com. Thanks for reading and Happy Fishing!

Get Your Penn Battle II Reel Here