Today in bass fishing their are over a hundred different lure to fish with. These baits have went in and out of style threw the years but one has stood strong; the plastic worm. The plastic worm itself comes in many different sizes, colors and shapes. The most common among this worm variety is a curly tail worm in the seven inch range. Still if you take the most common worm you still must decide which color to go with.
Color is a very important aspect of worm fishing. Colors will depend on the clarity of the water mostly but sometimes fish can be so picky that you have to match the flacks in the worm with the color. If you take all the colors offered in the plastic worm industry and the different color flakes offered on these colors their would be over five hundred different options. Pick your colors according to the water you will be fishing in. If you fishing clear water fish a green pumpkin color or something that look more natural to the color of a live worm. Take in mind that sunlight also plays a role in the color selection. If you are night fishing you will throw colors that are dark or have some black or motor oil color to them. This is very important because even the slightest light from the moon can allow black to show up were red or green wouldn't. The general rule is clear water natural colors and in murky water dark colors.
Size is also very important in worm fish simply because the size of the worm will cause certain fish to strike. A four inch worm is great for small bass but bluegill will attempt to eat it as well so it is a good choice when you just want to catch fish or you are targeting small mouth bass. A seven inch worm is great for stepping up the size of the catch. Although I still have caught small bass and bluegill on a seven inch worm it can also catch some six and seven pound bass. If you are tried of the bluegill and you are looking for some big bass the ten inch worm is the way to go. This size goes for the big ones but at time this can make the difference between a good day and an unforgettable one.
Finally the style is very important and today they make over twenty different kinds. The curl tail worm has been around for over forty years. It is usually fished Texas rig style, this is just a slide sinker on your line and then tie a wide gap hook on. Most people fish the curly tail Texas rig worm weedless meaning that the hook tip is hiding in the body of the worm. This allow you to catch more fish and not get hung up as much. The curly tail worm is great for fishing in all season and are the main lure for night fishing. The curl in the tail allows the worm to have some action as it falls and while you drag it back on the bottom. Another common plastic worm is the finesse worm. It great for clear water and high pressured fish. They look very natural to the actual worm and depending on the size and color the can also imitate a bait fish. The finesse worm can be fished a variety of ways. The most common is a hook with the lead sinker attached in front of the hook. Unlike Texas rig the sinker doesn't slide on line and the shape of the weighted hook makes the tail of the worm stick up off the bottom of the lake. This seems to get the attention of bass and if you present it properly they wont resist it. The plastic stick worm is also very common. It is very similar to the finesse worm but thicker. This lure is best used as a dead weight. This mean you simply hook it in the center and don't put a sinker on it. You let gravity make it flutter to the bottom. This is good during spawning season when fish are close to the bank.
Apply the plastic worm arsenal to your tackle box and if your just starting out keep it simple. Get some green pumpkin, motor oil, black and blue colors in the curly tail style worm. Let the size depend on how big or much fish you want to catch. For the finesse and stick worm start with jun bug, green pumpkin and red shad then go from their. Worm fishing is a great way to catch fish but also understand the bottom of the lake. The weight allows you to feel how steep the bank is and you can usually figure out where the fish are sitting at. Try the plastic worm and fish slow and be patient but when you feel the thunk of the bass hitting the lure SET THE HOOK!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Zoom Thumper tail Fluke
Zoom lure company has relizied the swimbait craze is here to stay. In 2010 they have just released the new Zoom Super Fluke Thumper tail. This bait is quite like the originall Zoom Fluke but with a twist. Instead of just having a split tail at the end of this five inch bait it has a thumper tail that allows it to swim rather than dart. This swimbait is unlike any other on the market. Most swimbaits are hollow belly meaning that their is not any plastic in the middle like most soft plastic baits. This bait takes the advantages of a swimbait and a fluke and produces one heart thumping, aggrisive bait. The fluke is sight fishing lure that is great for spring fishing but you must be able to see it in order to know when the fish strikes. The fluke is best fished when it is twiched to make it dart back and forth as you real it in. The swimbaits is fished a lot easier. You simply cast them out and real them in. The bait produces a swimming action that looks very realistic. Both are fished with a single wide gap hook that be pulled into a hook set. The Zoom Thumper tail fluke takes the best of both worlds and make something unique.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Fishing Lake Cumberland Shamino Tournament
On April 17 2010 i fished the shimino tournament. This tournament was free for anyone who had purchased a shamino rod or real from a local dealer. The day started off great, we left the house at 5:00AM and were headed to get the boat. Unfortunately the key to my parents lake house was left in Lexington so we had to turn around and get it. So finally getting the boat and heading to the tournament it was looking good. The fishing started out good with a small keeper Kentucky spotted bass but i decided to head up a creek where i new the water would be warmer. I caught a walleye and some small bass but none that would keep. Only two hours left in the tournament and we decided to head toward the main lake and fish the points near the mouth of the creeks. That was the ticket i caught a nice three pound fish but time ran out. The big thing was the fish weren't as far back in the creeks as i was told. The fish were right in the mouth of the creeks feeding up for spawning.
I learned a lot during the trip and now realize that the best thing to do when fishing a new area is run and gun. This means start at the mouth of a creek fish a hour. Then go up the creek fish a hour. Then go to the main part of the lake and fish for a hour. Record what you catch and use your best judgment to decide where to fish. I feel like if we return to Lake Cumberland I will have a better idea of where to fish are and what to catch them on.
I learned a lot during the trip and now realize that the best thing to do when fishing a new area is run and gun. This means start at the mouth of a creek fish a hour. Then go up the creek fish a hour. Then go to the main part of the lake and fish for a hour. Record what you catch and use your best judgment to decide where to fish. I feel like if we return to Lake Cumberland I will have a better idea of where to fish are and what to catch them on.
Hydropower
Only 7% of the electricity in the United States is hydroelectric power according to the United States Government Service www.usgs.gov/. The problem with this is in 1995 about 10% of the United States electricity was hydroelectric power so were decreasing in this renewable source. Today, most of our electricity comes from burning coal, a process that emits air pollution. Coal is not a renewable source so when we mine all of it out, it’s gone. This means it will be another million years for coal deposits to develop again. Water is a renewable source; the sun plays a big role in the water cycle. We need to face the fact that burning coal is not the way go get our electricity. The pollution that is emitted from these coal plants will change the earth forever. If you drive more than twenty miles you will more than likely go over a creek, river or reservoir. We have the source for hydroelectric power and now we need to harness it. I realize coal is a major export for eastern Kentucky and if coal was not used for electricity the demand would plummet putting a lot of people out of business. We need to start utilizing our water to produce the electricity. Other countries have begun to dam up rivers to make hydroelectric power for major cities but they are not necessarily doing the right thing. Countries like Russia and China have created massive hydroelectric power plants by damming up major rivers but they do not realize the ecological effect they are causing. Small hydroelectric power plants like the Ann Mary power plant on the Kentucky River is the way to get our electricity. It has a low impact on the watershed and allows fish to migrate during the rainy season. Although it doesn’t produce like the Harrington lake power plant, we have enough streams and rivers to duplicate the Mother Ann Lee power plant. Hydroelectric power plants are the way to get a clean, renewable source of energy but we must not change our watersheds anymore than we already have.
Monday, April 12, 2010
How to rig a Swimbait
In the last ten years the swimbait has became a big deal in the fishing industry. These swimbaits range from three inches to ten but the right hook or jig head will help you catch some fish. Swimbaits are used for all preditoral fish and with that in mind these different species range in different water depths and react to different retrieves.
Take fishing in Elkhorn creek for small and large mouth bass. A three inch swimbait is perfect for this creek because its the smallest swimbait and a larger swimbait will be to big for the bass to attempt to eat it. So with a three inch swimbait their still is different colors and hook sizes to decide on. Depending on where your fishing you will either want to throw a swimbait on a jig head or Texas rig it with the weight being on the hook. The jig head is great for rapidly changing depth and it leaves the hook exposed allowing easier hook ups and better swimming action. You will still need to decide on the weight of the jig either 1/8 ounce or 3/16 depending on deep you want it to run. With the Texas rig style you will also need to decide on the weight but it may take a 1/4 ounce if you want it to get down ten feet or more. Although you don't get the good swimming action like a jig head you do have the ability add a treble hook trailer allowing for the greatest hook up rate.
I personally like a jig head on the three inch swimbait because of the action it creates but most people still rig it Texas style. The great thing about swimbaits is there action and realistic of a true forage of a predatoral fish.
Now when you get to the four and five inch swimbaits its better to hook them Texas style, because they are longer the hook going threw the bait doesn't effect their swimming action like the three inch. These sizes are great for lakes that have shad or shiners due to the fact that they are around this size. When I fish Harrington lake I use a five inch swimbait with a 3/16 or a 1/4 ounce weight on the hook.
The only problem with swimbaits is their durability. They are made of a silcone and when you catch some fish on them they begin to rip and tear where the hook is places but I have found a solution for that. If you will take some super glue with you on your trip you can extend the life of our bait. If your using a jig head put the swimbait on like you normally would and then super glue the jig head to the head of the swimbait. The swimbait will actually mold to the jig head allowing you to use it longer.
Give the swimbaits a try and you will see that they are the most realistic bait fish imitator ever invented. Stick to the common colors just like you would with crankbaits. If your fishing where bluegill or shad are use a five inch green shad. If your fishing in creek where the forage is minnows and suckers use a blue back with a white belly. The slightest size and color and change a great day and a hard day on the water.
Take fishing in Elkhorn creek for small and large mouth bass. A three inch swimbait is perfect for this creek because its the smallest swimbait and a larger swimbait will be to big for the bass to attempt to eat it. So with a three inch swimbait their still is different colors and hook sizes to decide on. Depending on where your fishing you will either want to throw a swimbait on a jig head or Texas rig it with the weight being on the hook. The jig head is great for rapidly changing depth and it leaves the hook exposed allowing easier hook ups and better swimming action. You will still need to decide on the weight of the jig either 1/8 ounce or 3/16 depending on deep you want it to run. With the Texas rig style you will also need to decide on the weight but it may take a 1/4 ounce if you want it to get down ten feet or more. Although you don't get the good swimming action like a jig head you do have the ability add a treble hook trailer allowing for the greatest hook up rate.
I personally like a jig head on the three inch swimbait because of the action it creates but most people still rig it Texas style. The great thing about swimbaits is there action and realistic of a true forage of a predatoral fish.
Now when you get to the four and five inch swimbaits its better to hook them Texas style, because they are longer the hook going threw the bait doesn't effect their swimming action like the three inch. These sizes are great for lakes that have shad or shiners due to the fact that they are around this size. When I fish Harrington lake I use a five inch swimbait with a 3/16 or a 1/4 ounce weight on the hook.
The only problem with swimbaits is their durability. They are made of a silcone and when you catch some fish on them they begin to rip and tear where the hook is places but I have found a solution for that. If you will take some super glue with you on your trip you can extend the life of our bait. If your using a jig head put the swimbait on like you normally would and then super glue the jig head to the head of the swimbait. The swimbait will actually mold to the jig head allowing you to use it longer.
Give the swimbaits a try and you will see that they are the most realistic bait fish imitator ever invented. Stick to the common colors just like you would with crankbaits. If your fishing where bluegill or shad are use a five inch green shad. If your fishing in creek where the forage is minnows and suckers use a blue back with a white belly. The slightest size and color and change a great day and a hard day on the water.
The Swimbait
As a kid I always threw a banjo minnow. Now this bait was basically a soft plastic lure with a thump er style tail. Back then they were about 4 inches and were a solid cream color bait that you put a jig head on. This bait imitated a small fish swimming and was great for creeks and small rivers. I caught both Large and Small mouth bass as well as bluegill and redeye. It was a great bait to throw when I waded the creeks or rivers around my family's house. The fish their didn't see much pressure from other fishermen due to private property. I can remember the bass would eventually get used to seeing this bait and would stop striking it so I eventually lost it and never replaced it.
Ten years later I began fishing crankbaits. This lure is the same concept as the banjo minnow except it floats because its made of wood and has a bill that allows it to dive to certain depths depending on the size of the bill. These baits work and you have a better chance of hooking a fish due to the two treble hooks located underneath body and at the rear end. When you real it in it vibraites and creates a swimming action but doesnt look like a baitfish like a swimbait. In the last 10 years swimbaits have been created to catch really big bass. They started on the West coast and were about ten inches long. These big shad or bluegill immitators would catch bass 3 pounds and up. The realistic look of these swimbaits makes it had for a large bass to pass up.
The last few years swimbaits have made their way to the west coast and now are used for all preditoral fish. Pike, Musky and other toothy fish have started a crease for their ability to fool a fish into striking. Bass Fisherman have now took it to the professional side showing its ability to catch big fish and alot of them. The lure industry has jumped all over the swimbait crease and now there are over a thousand different types,brands and colors of swimbaits. They now range from three inches for smallers waters or fish like the small mouth bass. To the big ten inch swimbaits for pike, musky and big large mouth bass. I still throw crankbaits and they will always be in my tackel box but by adding the swimbait to my collection I now have options of what bait fish i want to immatate. Kentucky fisherman are still slow to use these swimbaits but that means the ones who do have a greater chance of sucess.
Ten years later I began fishing crankbaits. This lure is the same concept as the banjo minnow except it floats because its made of wood and has a bill that allows it to dive to certain depths depending on the size of the bill. These baits work and you have a better chance of hooking a fish due to the two treble hooks located underneath body and at the rear end. When you real it in it vibraites and creates a swimming action but doesnt look like a baitfish like a swimbait. In the last 10 years swimbaits have been created to catch really big bass. They started on the West coast and were about ten inches long. These big shad or bluegill immitators would catch bass 3 pounds and up. The realistic look of these swimbaits makes it had for a large bass to pass up.
The last few years swimbaits have made their way to the west coast and now are used for all preditoral fish. Pike, Musky and other toothy fish have started a crease for their ability to fool a fish into striking. Bass Fisherman have now took it to the professional side showing its ability to catch big fish and alot of them. The lure industry has jumped all over the swimbait crease and now there are over a thousand different types,brands and colors of swimbaits. They now range from three inches for smallers waters or fish like the small mouth bass. To the big ten inch swimbaits for pike, musky and big large mouth bass. I still throw crankbaits and they will always be in my tackel box but by adding the swimbait to my collection I now have options of what bait fish i want to immatate. Kentucky fisherman are still slow to use these swimbaits but that means the ones who do have a greater chance of sucess.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Putting Your new Fishing Licence to use
Kentucky has many outdoor opportunities ranging from hiking at the gorge, to fishing at Kentucky Lake. Today Kentucky Lake is one of the most productive bass fishery in the United States. It has been a primary lake for the Bassmaster tournament for many years. Also the show "Ultimate Match Fishing" is shot on Kentucky Lake every year. But if you are like me Kentucky Lake is too far for a one day trip and cost allot to just get their. Kentucky has many lakes and streams running threw it, so their is no reason for you to drive to the other side of Kentucky just to fish. I'm going to recommend places to fish with in fifty miles of Lexington.
My first place to recommend is Elkhorn Creek. Elkhorn Creek is the watershed of Lexington. It flows into the Kentucky River just north of Frankfort and is unlike any creek in Kentucky. It is a swift moving creek with a flat rock bottom that can get range from one to fifteen feet. Their has been many articles written about Elkhorn Creek and all rate it in the top ten small mouth fisheries in the east. It also has good size large mouth bass in it as well. From Frankfort the creek breaks down into two arms North Elkhorn and South Elkhorn. North runs from Georgetown and has several dams on it for Georgetown to get their water from. Great Crossing is a good place to fish. Their are picnic area and a boat ramp and a trail that follows the creek. South Elkhorn runs south toward Nicholasville. This is where Lexington's waste treatment plant is but don't let that discharge you from fishing it. Their are not a lot of places for people to fish but if you ask permission you can fish some place that have never seen a artificially bait. This is my personal favorite part of the creek to fish. I start at I-64 and float down six miles to the Midway Road Bridge.
Next I would recommend Harrington Lake. Although you need a boat to fish it, you will not regret it. It lays in the Dix River basin and is the deepest lake in Kentucky. Only thirty minutes from Lexington Harrington Lake is close to home. The big thing about Harrington is the selection of fish to pursue. Large mouth bass are fished more than any other but Harrington has Hybrid Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Crappie. Their is a size limit on the Large mouth of 12in. and this encourages local fishing tournaments on Harrington. Hybrid Bass are stocked by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and can be found in the lower region of Harrington. This fish can get up to 30 pounds and are stocked in the hundreds of thousands. Flatheads where originally in Harrington and have a great population. Bluegill and Crappie are great to fish for in the summer but gets tougher as winter comes due to the depth of the water.
My first place to recommend is Elkhorn Creek. Elkhorn Creek is the watershed of Lexington. It flows into the Kentucky River just north of Frankfort and is unlike any creek in Kentucky. It is a swift moving creek with a flat rock bottom that can get range from one to fifteen feet. Their has been many articles written about Elkhorn Creek and all rate it in the top ten small mouth fisheries in the east. It also has good size large mouth bass in it as well. From Frankfort the creek breaks down into two arms North Elkhorn and South Elkhorn. North runs from Georgetown and has several dams on it for Georgetown to get their water from. Great Crossing is a good place to fish. Their are picnic area and a boat ramp and a trail that follows the creek. South Elkhorn runs south toward Nicholasville. This is where Lexington's waste treatment plant is but don't let that discharge you from fishing it. Their are not a lot of places for people to fish but if you ask permission you can fish some place that have never seen a artificially bait. This is my personal favorite part of the creek to fish. I start at I-64 and float down six miles to the Midway Road Bridge.
Next I would recommend Harrington Lake. Although you need a boat to fish it, you will not regret it. It lays in the Dix River basin and is the deepest lake in Kentucky. Only thirty minutes from Lexington Harrington Lake is close to home. The big thing about Harrington is the selection of fish to pursue. Large mouth bass are fished more than any other but Harrington has Hybrid Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Crappie. Their is a size limit on the Large mouth of 12in. and this encourages local fishing tournaments on Harrington. Hybrid Bass are stocked by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and can be found in the lower region of Harrington. This fish can get up to 30 pounds and are stocked in the hundreds of thousands. Flatheads where originally in Harrington and have a great population. Bluegill and Crappie are great to fish for in the summer but gets tougher as winter comes due to the depth of the water.
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