Category Archives: Fishing Tackle

Rods and reels to live bait

FREE RELEASE TOOLS OFFERED FOR GULF OF MEXICO FISHERMEN

Free Release Tools Offered for Gulf of Mexico Fishermen

Return ‘Em Right is launching its program to offshore anglers throughout the Gulf of Mexico today. By participating in a short online review of best practices anglers can receive free release gear valued at $100 to help reef fish survive release.

Each year, more than 10 million federally-managed reef fish are released, and at least one million of those will die after being released. A main reason is due to barotrauma, a pressure-related injury fish experience when reeled up from depth. Anglers may observe barotrauma when they release a fish, only to see it float away on the surface. For every one percent of landed and released fish anglers save through learning and using best release practices, over 100,000 reef fish could survive to grow, possibly spawn, and be caught again.

“I have enjoyed teaching my daughter to fish and know one way to keep the fisheries healthy for her generation is to release them properly. I hope Gulf anglers take advantage of Return ‘Em Right – free gear and training to benefit the fishery is a win-win,” said JD Dugas, recreational angler from Louisiana.

Return ‘Em Right promotes best release practices, with an emphasis on proper use of descending devices, which research shows can improve long-term survival of reef fish by up to three times. Descending devices are weighted devices that help fish overcome buoyancy and injury by releasing them at depth. These devices come in a variety of forms including weighted inverted hooks, lip clamp devices, and weighted crates and boxes.

“I used descending devices for the first time recently, and I’ve seen them work firsthand. Not a single fish floated back up the entire day offshore fishing,” said Alexandra Spring, three-time IGFA World Record Holder.

Gulf of Mexico reef fish anglers 18 years and older are now eligible to visit the Return ‘Em Right website, review best release practices, and receive a package of release gear to use out on the water. The educational review is available to all individuals who are interested in learning best practices when encountering barotrauma, regardless of your age, location, or role in the fishery.

“Return ‘Em Right welcomes all anglers to participate in the program and we are excited to be a resource to a community committed to preserving the future of the sport,” said Nick Haddad, Fisheries Communications Manager, Return ‘Em Right.

About Return ‘Em Right

Return ‘Em Right is a program that aims to reduce catch and release mortality from fish suffering from barotrauma in the Gulf of Mexico. The program is led by Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA and a coalition of anglers, industry groups, state agencies, universities, government and non-government organizations committed to maintaining healthy fish stocks and fishing access in the Gulf of Mexico. The project was selected by the Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Trustee’s as part of a 2019 Restoration Plan.

St. Croix Rod Grows Product Team hires Robert Woods as Product Manager




St. Croix Rod Grows Product Team

Robert Woods joins St. Croix family as Product Manager

PARK FALLS, Wisc. (June 1, 2022) – St. Croix Rod, handcrafters of the Best Rods on Earth® for 75 years, announces the hiring of Robert Woods as Product Manager. A passionate angler hailing from Southeast Wisconsin, Woods graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and has spent the past eight years at Wells Vehicle Electronics in Fond du Lac.“

St. Croix’s continued growth is driven solely by our mission of making anglers better on the water,” says St. Croix VP of Marketing, Jesse Simpkins. “And we’re more committed than ever to building the best team on Earth to make sure we’re developing and delivering the tools anglers need to enjoy those kinds of heightened successes and experiences. Robert is the latest example of that commitment. As Product Manager, Robert will leverage his unique experience as a part of a growing Product Team to help improve product development and distribution processes for all our product categories.”

Woods’ angling journey began at age four at his family’s cabin in Northern Wisconsin, where his father taught him how to fish and he developed a penchant for walleye and musky, as well as for St. Croix Rods. “I remember my dad buying a St. Croix rod when I was about eight years old and visiting the St. Croix Factory Store,” says Woods, who continued to hone his angling skills back home in Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago. “I’ve always enjoyed traveling to fish up north or making trips to Green Bay and Lake Erie, but Bago has always been my home water,” continues Woods, who remained active with a local fishing club throughout his career at Wells, serving six years as its VP, organizing and hosting numerous fishing events for veterans and kids, while promoting catch-and-release and other conservation initiatives.“

I’ve always made time to give back to the sport I love so much,” Woods says. “And that’s something I really appreciate about coming to work at St. Croix. I’ve seen and read about the organizations and causes St. Croix helps to support – whether it’s Take a Vet Fishing, the  NPAA, ASA and RBFF initiatives, or one of hundreds of local events and organizations across the country – but I’ve met so many individual team members here at St. Croix over the past few weeks who also get involved personally in events and causes that are good for angling and anglers. The culture is very unique in that respect. You hear and read about that culture, but until you visit and spend time in Park Falls, you don’t fully understand the passion and commitment that shines through at all levels.”

Woods, who has been on the job for about two weeks now and plans to relocate with his family to the Park Falls area, says it’s an exciting time to be an angler fishing St. Croix rods. “It’s been really incredible learning about and diving into everything St. Croix has in different stages of development for anglers,” Woods reports. “I’ve quickly learned there’s no such thing as business as usual here, unless ‘business as usual’ refers to the core mission of putting anglers at the center of everything that St. Croix does every day.”

Eliminate the Confusion Associated with Fishing Fluoro Leaders

Seaguar Pro Staff Help Eliminate the Confusion Associated with Fishing Fluoro Leaders

Louisville, KY – One subject many anglers wrestle with has to do with optimal use of fluorocarbon leaders. There’s when to use leaders, length choices, the best knots to use to attach them to main line, as well as which presentations benefit most from their use. In an attempt to reduce the frequent head scratching we’ve talked with some of Seaguar’s staff of bass pros who share the nuances of their fluorocarbon leader use. Their shared knowledge will no doubt help you in your use of fluorocarbon leaders this season, alleviating much of the confusion that can accompany the topic.

Seaguar pro Brandon Palaniuk

When asked what’s the typical fluorocarbon length he uses, bass pro Brandon Palaniuk responded, “My fluorocarbon leader is typically between 10 and 12 feet long. I don’t have an exact measurement for it, but rather make sure that my knot is in my reel and then I make two more revelations with the reel and cut the leader next to the reel after it travels through the guides and back down the rod.”

With regard to technique, Palaniuk keeps the fluorocarbon length the same for each technique. He says the length of the rod may vary slightly or he will potentially go longer for extremely clear water like lakes or reservoirs with greater than 20 feet of visibility. In terms of the type and test of his preferred fluorocarbon, Palaniuk prefers 6-10 lb. Seaguar Tatsu for his leader material. He says the deciding factor for which pound test will be the type or amount of cover he’s fishing around.

Greg Vinson

Greg Vinson prefers six to 20 feet leaders depending on “water clarity, depth and technique.” He continues: “For weightless rigs like twitching Netbait T-Macs, flukes or wacky rigs I like to use a 6 to 10 foot Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon leader. That helps to get the most sensitivity but more importantly helps to get a solid hookset, which can be a challenge with weightless rigs, especially when the hook is Texposed, like a fluke. But I will also use a shorter leader with heavier fluorocarbon like 10 to 15 pound test. And in deeper, clear water I prefer a longer 20 foot leader for drop shotting, vertical rigs (Damiki), and especially when casting a finesse swimbait to suspended fish. Sometimes I feel that the leader-main line connection passing through a group of suspended fish can be a turn off if it’s too close to the bait, especially in clear water and heavily pressured waters. That’s when a 20 foot leader really excels. Although the leader is long, the braid on the spool lessens the amount of overall stretch and absorbs the line twist after hours of dropping or casting.”

John Garret

John Garret says his preferred go-to leader length when fishing the stained waters in the southern states is usually about six feet of Seaguar Tatsu 8 lb. fluorocarbon. What he likes about that length is the leader knot is not in your guides when you cast and in most water conditions it’s enough that fish do not see your braid. “This length also allows for the maximum hook driving power which is a big key when throwing a spinning rod and fishing shakey heads, weightless worms, small lures with treble hooks, and casting drop shot rigs.”

However, if he’s fishing clear northern waters or dropping directly down on fish Garret will up his fluorocarbon leader length to 15 feet depending on how deep and clear he’s fishing. “That still gives you plenty of fluorocarbon leader that the fish don’t see your braided line. And the majority of the time you’re fishing deep clear water you’re using a smaller size wire hook, so you do don’t need as much hook driving power. You have a little more give from the leader length.”

Matt Lee

Bass pro Matt Lee’s typical fluorocarbon leader length is about 10 feet or 8 lb. Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon. He says that length typically keeps the Albright Knot out of the spool to prevent the knot from catching a rod guide when casting. However, he sometimes ups the length of the Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon he uses in southern stained waters on lakes with greater visibility, going as long as 20 feet with 8 lb. and switching to an FG knot to connect to his main line braid. “There are some situations when I might go up to 10 lb. Tatsu, but I don’t ever need to go heavier than that.”

About Seaguar Fishing Lines

As the inventor of fluorocarbon fishing lines in 1971, Seaguar has played a prominent role in the advancement of technologies to improve the performance of lines and leader material for both fresh and salt water anglers. Seaguar is the only manufacturer of fluorocarbon fishing lines that produces its own resins and controls the manufacturing process from start to finished product. Today, Seaguar is the #1 brand of fluorocarbon lines and offers a full spectrum of premium products including fluorocarbon mainlines and leader material, fly tippet and leaders, 8-strand and 16-strand braid and monofilament fishing lines.

April Flint River Bass Club Lake Oconee Tournament

At Oconee last Sunday six members and guests fished the Flint River April tournament. After casting from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, we brought 13 largemouth meeting the 14-inch length requirement to the scales. The total weight was about 26 pounds.  One person had a limit and there were two zeros.

     Niles Murray won with the limit weighing 9.61 pounds and my four weighing 6.32 pounds was second. Brent Drake placed third with two at 5.52 pounds and his 3.55 pounder was big fish. Don Gober had two weighing 3.75 pounds for fourth.

    Niles had fished a bigger tournament at Oconee on Saturday, the region 72 American Bass Anglers trail, with more than 40 boats in it. It took 18 pounds to win it and about 13 to get a check. Niles had 11 pounds.

    That trail is extremely tough, fishing Oconee and Sinclair for their tournaments. And several of the fishermen are really good on both lakes and some of them are able to fish them almost every day.  Its hard to compete against folks like that.

    A young man named Grant Kelly won that tournament. I did a magazine article with Grant when he was a college student in Milledgeville and followed up a few years later as he started his professional career. He is an excellent young fisherman, winning many local tournaments. I expect to see his name in the tournament results for many years as he works up the professional ladder of bass tournaments.

    In our tournament I started out good, catching a decent keeper on a spinnerbait the first place I stopped. Then I landed two more casting a shaky head worm to docks before 11:00.

I thought with three in the livewell half-way through the tournament I could land a five-bass limit, but at 2:00 I landed my fourth one. It was a two-pound bass that was feeding in the shade from a tree that was on the water between docks. It was in only about a foot of water. I never got the fifth one. I did catch six or seven fish under the 14-inch limit.

    Fishing should get better and better for the next few weeks.

Facts Fiction and Fools On Gun Control

It never fails. Laws that restrict law-abiding citizens and that are ignored by criminals are relaxed and the gun banners go wild.  As soon as the Georgia legislature started considering “Constitutional Carry,” allowing us law-abiding citizens to carry our guns without getting permission from the government, the horror stories started.

    I got a special kick out of a Griffin Daily News editorial last week where the writer claimed, “studies show relaxing gun laws increase crime.” He then went on and on with his opinion. When working on my Masters and Doctorate degrees I was repeatedly told if I used the phrase “studies show” without documenting those studies, I would get an “F.”

    I actually looked us some “studies” of making gun laws less strict and making laws follow the US Constitution and the 2nd Amendment more closely.  Gary Kleck is a criminologists and Professor Emeritus of Criminology at Florida State University.  A quick search of his name came up with at least 10 documented, statistically sound studies on how guns reduce crime. (https://criminology.fsu.edu/faculty-and-staff/gary-kleck

Gary Kleck | College of Criminology & Criminal JusticeProfessor Kleck’s recent research has found that employing more police officers or increasing police productivity in the form of more arrests per officer has no measurable effect on the public’s level of fear of crime. Other recent research found that support for harsher punishment of criminals is not affected by a person’s exposure to crime as a crime victim, living in a high-crime area …criminology.fsu.edu

)

I also found this surprising comment in the British Journal of Criminology from Marvin Wolfgang, the “most influential criminologists in the English-Speaking World:” I am as strong a gun-control advocate as can be found. The Kleck study impresses me for the caution exercised and the elaborate nuances they examine methodologically.  “I do not like their conclusions that having a gun can be useful, but I can not fault their methodology.”

John R. Lott has a BA, MA and PhD from UCLA in economics.  He has been a professor of law and economics at the Yale Law School, UCLA, Texas A&M, Rice University, and others.  In his two books, “More Guns, Less Crime and “The Bias Against Guns,” he presented research that showed allowing adults to carry concealed weapons significantly reduces crime.

Some with an antigun agenda have nitpicked these studies, trying to find exceptions that prove it wrong, but the ones I read just offered opinions, not proven research. Of course I have a pro-gun bias.

I have owed guns since getting a BB gun when I had my tonsils out at six years old, and two years later got my first real firearm, a dreaded “semiautomatic rifle” with one of those “high capacity magazines” that held 17 rounds of bullets that had aa range of one mile.  That .22 has killed a lot of birds and squirrels but has never been used in a crime.

Criminals ignore laws.  Read the Griffin Daily News crime reports that often included “charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.”  Relaxing the permit requirement to carry a gun affects law-abiding citizens like me, not felons and other criminals.

Expect more “the sky is falling and we all will be shot” whines in response to this law. Just know they are emotions, not facts.

All-New Legend Tournament Bass Series from St. Croix

Fish a Legend
St. Croix set to drop all-new Legend Tournament Bass Series at the 2022 Bassmaster Classic
PARK FALLS, Wisc. (February 28, 2022) – Having the blues is never a good thing, unless, of course, you’re a bass angler with a deck full of St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass rods. Introduced some 17 years ago and consistently refined and expanded over the past decade, this coveted collection of technique-specific casting and spinning rods quickly grew to become a favorite of performance-minded bass anglers seeking an elite combination of St. Croix materials and technologies.

The Rebirth of a Legend Building on its expanding and proprietary expertise with hybrid blank engineering and construction, St. Croix Rod announces its latest expression of angler-centric design, an all-new series of Legend Tournament Bass rods that are lighter, stronger, and poised to elevate the bass-fishing experience with improved balance, performance, and capability in any technique or presentation.
Scheduled to be unveiled at stcroixrods.com and in the St. Croix booth (#2231) at the 2022 Bassmaster Classic Expo in Greenville, South Carolina, March 4, these 24 all-new Legend Tournament Bass casting and spinning rods will feature next-generation hybrid SCIV+ carbon fiber blanks. 
Select reaction bait models will feature all-new iACT Glass hybrid blanks. 
In addition to their unique combination of proprietary materials, all-new Legend Tournament Bass rods will also incorporate all of St. Croix’s top technologies. Handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, USA, new Legend Tournament Bass rods will come with a 15-year transferrable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service and will retail between $290 and $345.

Get the Blues Learn complete details on the all-new technique-specific made-in-the-USA Legend Tournament Bass Series in the coming weeks. Plan to make them your own at stcroixrods.com and at St. Croix dealers worldwide on March 25. 

I love my St Croix Avid Rods!

St Croix Rods Offer New Designs and Materials


Engineering a LegendThe designs and materials behind St. Croix’s all-new Legend Tournament Bass Series – available to anglers March 25PARK FALLS, Wisc. (March 3, 2022) – Building on its expanding and proprietary expertise with hybrid blank development, St. Croix’s latest expression of angler-centric design becomes reality in an all-new series of Legend Tournament Bass rods that are lighter, stronger, and poised to elevate the bass-fishing experience further with improved balance, performance, and capability in any technique or presentation.Unveiled this week at the 2022 Bassmaster Classic, these 24 all-new Legend Tournament Bass casting and spinning rods will be available to anglers at stcroixrods.com and at St. Croix dealers worldwide beginning March 25. New Legend Tournament Bass rods feature next-generation hybrid SCIV+ carbon fiber blanks. Select reaction bait models will feature all-new iACT Glass hybrid blanks. In addition to their unique combinations of proprietary materials, all-new Legend Tournament Bass rods will also incorporate all of St. Croix’s top technologies and premium components.Despite the all the improvements, some things will stay the same: new Legend Tournament Bass rods remain handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, USA with a 15-year transferrable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service. They also retain their iconic Tournament Blue Pearl color.New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass FeaturesNext-generation hybrid CARBON FIBER SCIV+ blanksTechnique-specific iACT SCIV+ and linear S-Glass hybrid blanks on specific modelsFortified Resin System (FRS) technologyAdvanced Reinforcing TechnologyTM (ARTTM)Integrated Poly Curve® (IPC®) mandrel technologyTaper Enhancement Technology (TET) blank designFuji® K-Series tangle-free guides with Alconite® ringsFuji® SK2 reel seat on casting models with ergonomic complimenting componentryFuji® VSS real seat on spinning models with extended foregripPrecision machined aluminum reel seat nuts and wind checks on spinning and casting modelsSplit-grip, super-grade cork handles customized per modelFull-grip super grade cork handles on select modelsModel specific hook keepers selectively placed per techniqueSingle coat sealer on blank with slow cure finishTwo coats of Flex-Coat slow cure finish on guides15-year transferable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar ServiceDesigned and handcrafted in Park Falls, U.S.A. for bass anglers worldwide• Retail price $290 to $345

New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Casting ModelsJERKBAITS / LBTC68MXF – 6’8”, medium power, extra-fast action / Retail $295ALL-IN / LBTC71MHF – 7’1”, medium-heavy power, fast action / Retail $300FINESSE CARBON CRANKER / LBTC72MHMF – 7’2”, medium-heavy power, moderate-fast action / Retail $315CARBON CRANKER / LBTC72MHM – 7’2”, medium-heavy power, moderate action / Retail $315FINESSE GLASS CRANKER (iACT) / LBTC72MM – 7’2”, medium power, moderate action / Retail $315RIP-N-CHATTER / LBTC72HM (iACT) – 7’2”, heavy power, moderate action / Retail $315POWER FINESSE / LBTC73HXF – 7’3”, heavy power, extra-fast action / Retail $320WORKHORSE / LBTC73MHF – 7’3”, medium-heavy power, fast action / Retail $320FLIP-CHAT-CRANK / LBTC73HMF – 7’3”, heavy power, moderate-fast action / Retail $320SLOP-N-FROG / LBTC74HF – 7’4”, heavy power, fast action / Retail $325POWER GLASS CRANKER / LBTC74MHM (iACT) – 7’4”, medium-heavy power, moderate action / Retail $325WARHORSE / LBTC75MHF – 7’5”, medium-heavy power, fast action / Retail $330FLIP’N / LBTC76HMF – 7’6”, heavy power, moderate-fast action / Retail $335BIG CRANKER / LBTC710HM – 7’10”, heavy power, moderate action / Retail $345MAG CRANKER / LBTC710XHM – 7’10”, extra-heavy power, moderate action / Retail $345POWER FLIP’N / LBTC711HMF – 7’11”, heavy power, moderate-fast action / Retail $340

New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Spinning ModelsPINPOINT / LBTS68MXF – 6’8”, medium power, extra-fast action / Retail $290DROPSHOT FINESSE / LBTS610MLXF – 6’10”, medium-light power, extra-fast action / Retail $290VERSATILE / LBTS71MF – 7’1”, medium power, fast action / Retail $300POWER VERSATILE / LBTS73MHF – 7’3”, medium-heavy power, fast action / Retail $300DROPSHOT FINESSE XL / LBTS73MLXF- 7’3”, medium-light power, extra-fast action / Retail $300POWER FINESSE / LBTS73MXF – 7’3”, medium power, extra-fast action / Retail $300HAIR JIG / LBTS710MLXF – 7’10”, medium-light power, extra-fast action / Retail $335SWIMMING BAITS / LBTS710MMF – 7’10”, medium power, moderate-fast action / Retail $335A Look Behind the Park Falls Curtain“Recent launches of Croix Custom Ice, Legend Xtreme, Victory, Panfish and other series have proven the performance advantages that can be attained using hybrid blank designs,” says St. Croix Brand Manager, Ryan Teach. “We’re building rods for anglers today that are markedly lighter, stronger and better balanced than previous models, and these hybrid designs are also allowing us to dial in specific models within each series to possess the unique performance characteristics that allow them to excel in their intended applications. In other words, rods within the same series may look the same, but each individual blank contains a different and distinct combination of materials. In the case of these new Legend Tournament Bass rods, those materials are high modulus SCIV carbon, super-high modulus SCVI exotic carbon, and in the case of some of the reaction-bait models, linear S-Glass. The specific and proprietary percentages, locations, and combinations are based on exhaustive research and testing for each length, power, and action.”
Teach says the exercise of designing, testing and building the new Victory Series opened the door to wider-ranging opportunities. “After we saw what could be accomplished with the hybrid SCIII+ material in the Victory Series, we knew SCIV+ would be next, and the angler-favorite Legend Tournament Bass Series was the logical place to deliver the exciting advantages of this new material to anglers.”While every new Legend Tournament Bass rod is special and distinct, St. Croix Engineering Supervisor, Gavin Falk, says the three iACT Glass models – specifically engineered for hardbait applications like crankbaits and chatterbaits – represent an even greater technological achievement for anglers. “These rods introduce a third material – our linear S-Glass – to the hybrid SCIV+ blank to produce rods with the softer actions reaction presentations demand. We call the combination iACT Glass. It stands for Internally Active, and it allows us to deliver those slower, parabolic actions while maintaining peak sensitivity in a blank that’s significantly smaller in diameter and lighter than a pure glass cranking rod,” Falk says. “Our anglers have asked for this and we’re always listening, not being reactive but addressing ideas and opportunities as they come forward.”

Teach says these three iACT Glass models deliver everything anglers have asked for in a reaction-bait rod and more. “You can even walk a topwater with complete control using one of these Legend Tournament Bass iACT rods,” he says. “That’s not something typically thought of or possible with a rod that has any type of glass in it. You can walk these baits with precision and never even think you have a glass rod in your hands until you’ve hooked up on a fish and the parabolic action takes over.”In addition to their distinct hybrid blank designs, new Legend Tournament Bass rods also feature all of St. Croix’s top technologies including IPC, ART, FRS, and TET. When combined with IPC (Integrated Poly Curve) mandrel technology, St. Croix’s new SCIV+ material has been lauded by rod engineers and beta-test anglers for its ability to transmit energy. IPC removes hinge points during the layup process for smoother actions, and ART (Advanced Reinforcing Technology) reinforces key transition areas. “Extremely lightweight, sensitive rods are worthless without durability,” says Teach. “ART and FRS (Fortified Resin System) combine to guard against rod failure in every new Legend Tournament Bass model, which is something that’s been proven on our Dynamic Analyzer and confirmed on the water by our test staff.”

“SCIV already delivered extreme lightweight performance and sensitivity,” says St. Croix Vice President of Research and Development, Jason Brunner. “Exotic SCVI carbon is too stiff and rigid to build a complete rod out of, but when added in the right amounts in the right locations to other materials – SCIV in this case – we can produce lighter and more sensitive rods that excel in technique-specific applications without sacrifice to strength or durability.” Falk adds that Legend Tournament Bass iACT Glass models are the first carbon/glass hybrid rods ever to be rolled on IPC mandrels.Teach says months of testing have gone into every single length, power and action offered in the all-new Legend Tournament Bass Series. “All went through multiple design and construction iterations and were repeatedly refined before our anglers and product team were completely satisfied,” reveals Teach, adding that anglers may notice the biggest difference in medium-to-heavy power LTB models. “All of these new rods are exceptionally balanced. In the heavier-power rods, we use a greater percentage of SCVI material and less SCIV to minimize tip weight and rod torque. All models have been sensitivity tested on our SC Dynamic Analyzer, which helped us determine precise placement and quantities of the SCVI material on each model.”
All lengths, powers and actions in the new series are tailored to specific bass-fishing techniques. They’ll all have the same series name and cosmetics, but each is designed for its specific purpose. “Even the hook keepers are different,” says Teach, who adds the series includes never before seen lengths powers and actions to support emerging techniques and presentations. All models feature premium componentry and split-grip or full-grip super-grade cork handles.Plan to make the all-new Legend Tournament Bass rods your own at stcroixrods.com and at St. Croix dealers worldwide on March 25. Learn more.

Get These Five Baits for Ice Fishing To Catch Fish Through the Ice This Season

THE TOP FIVE ICE FISHING BAITS YOU NEED THIS SEASON

HOMEFEATURE  THE TOP FIVE ICE FISHING BAITS YOU NEED THIS SEASONFEATURE, FISHING TIPS, THE LEADFEBRUARY 3, 20220

The Top Five Ice Fishing Baits You Need This Season

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi – With this year’s ice fishing season approaching, here are the top five ice fishing lures you should add to your arsenal. American Baitworks brands’ Freedom Tackle and STH Bait Co. have you covered with some of the best ice fishing lures available.

Freedom Tackle Minnow Jigging Spoon

The Freedom Minnow jigging spoon delivers a combination of flash, one-of-a-kind action, and bait-fish appeal that all species find irresistible.

Highly reactive, the Freedom Minnow can be worked with several retrieves to draw strikes, including a quick, attention-grabbing jerk and a slow stop-and-go. On the drop, the Freedom Minnow Spoon delivers a slow-falling flutter and an abundance of bite-inducing flash.

On the top and bottom of the center wire shaft, the Freedom Minnow Spoon is fitted with a metal bead and a glass bead that bang against the body to create a unique underwater sound. Armed with chemically sharpened hooks, the Freedom Minnow Spoon delivers a highly individualized presentation that will catch a wide range of species.

Freedom Tackle Turnback Shad – Vertical Jigging

The Freedom Tackle Turnback Shad is the perfect vertical jig for open water or through the ice. The lure features a full metal body that swings freely on the metal line tie shaft.

With a jerk of the rod, the lure will dart off in random directions, turn around and swim back the other way, covering more water and imparting a more life-like action. The Glass beads on the metal shaft offer a visual and audio attraction to compliment the beautifully sculpted metal body.

Available in 4 sizes (3/32oz, 3/16oz, 5/8oz, 1oz) and 8 colors, including natural, glow, and UV colors for any situation.

Freedom Tackle Blade Bait

The most versatile Blade Bait on the market, the Freedom Blade Bait is a three in one tool to get the job done through the ice. The lure features multiple ways to rig the hooks to match your desired presentation.

The Blade Bait delivers maximum vibration and flash that draws in fish. Designed with a unique feature, the ability to rig the double hook on the top of the lure head and lock it into place on the custom design hook notch.

STH Bait Co. Drifter

A legend for targeting walleye and whitefish through the ice, the Drifter is one of the best baits available for catching these sometimes-tight-lipped species.

A classic, handcrafted, and hand-poured bait with year-round application, the Drifter is 2.75”/69 mm in length. Super soft with 3D eyes gives the Drifter a life-like appearance, giving fish the visual cues and makes them think it’s real prey. Try rigging this bait as a drop shot or on a jig head to maximize its action and fish catching ability.

STH Bait Co. Dart Minnow

Uniquely designed to target panfish, walleye, and whitefish, the Dart Minnow delivers a lot of fish catching power in its relatively small size at 2.3”. Designed to be used on a jig head or as a drop shot, the Dart Minnow is a consistent performer and a must-have in your ice fishing arsenal.

American Baitworks Keeps You Fishing in Every Season of the Year

Undoubtedly, American Baitworks’ ice fishing lures will keep you pulling fish throughout the ice season. Carrying mix of vertical jigs, multiuse hard baits, and finesse soft plastics from Freedom Tackle and STH Bait Co. will give you more variety to throw at your target species this winter.

For more information about and to check out our full line of ice fishing products, please visit americanbaitworks.com.

Deer Coolers Were Hard To Find This Year

Deer hunters have an unusual problem this year. When they shoot a deer there is no processor to take it to for hanging, cutting and packaging. I know of two local long-term processors that are closed this year. I heard they just could not get help since the government is paying folks so much to stay home and not work.

The processors, often called “deer coolers,” that are open are full and not taking deer the last I heard. Even Welch’s Smokehouse in Macon that takes in 20 pound of boneless meat and returns 25 pounds of delicious smoked summer sausage had a sign on the door last week saying no more deer until after Thanksgiving.

I cut up and processed one deer, only the third one I killed, way back in 1972. Linda and I had just gotten married the year before and she helped me. We covered my parents pool table with heavy plastic and “processed” the deer on it.

It was a hard job, especially since I did not know what I was doing. The cuts of meat did not resemble what processors provide, they were more just chunks of meat.  And the ground meat, put through a hand grinder my parents had, without adding any fat, was not nearly as good as what the processors produce.

I think a big problem was the deer did not hang and age at all, we cut it up the day I shot it. And it was an old buck, tough and with almost no fat.

I have cut up deer since then. If I can shoot a small yearling, either on purpose or accidently, like one I shot in thick brush and I could not really tell how big it was, I skin and gut them and put them in a huge ice chest. 

After three or four days I cut the deer into quarters, with hind and rear quarters left whole for roasts. And I cut the backbone into two or three sections for loin roast. They are delicious smoked or cooked in a big crockpot. I even cut up sections of ribs for smoking.

Linda says she will never help me cut up a deer again, she does not want to eat the meat after doing that although she loves it from the processor. I really do not want to process bigger deer and hope local coolers are able to open again soon!

What Are Some Good Innovative Ice Fishing Lures?

Of Innovation and Ice Fishing Originals

FISKAS Wolfram Jigs & Little-Atom; All-Time Money Winners on Ice

from The Fishing Wire

Saline, MI – Right place. Right time. Great lure. For Jamie and Carmin Olson of Your Bobbers Down, Inc., the old fishing adage parallels not just the successful company’s back-story, but also serves as a sort of remarkable self-fulfilling prophecy. Sixteen years after the company’s inception, the Olson’s brands remain benchmarks in the ice fishing industry.

In 2001, Jamie Olson was on a mission to find the best spring bobber for his ice fishing when he came across FISKAS, a Swedish manufacturer of top hardwater products. Unable to sell across oceans at the time, FISKAS opted to ship Olson a sample of every product they made—primarily FISKAS Wolfram (tungsten) ice jigs — hopeful for a U.S. distribution deal.

“It was a small box of jigs,” Olson recalled. “There were just four sizes and thirty color patterns back then, plus a pile of FISKAS Balances (swimming / jigging lures), but the package weighed well over 20-pounds.

“At the time, no one in North America had any idea what a tungsten jig was, let alone how heavy they were compared to lead or how effectively they fished. But when I placed a single tiny FISKAS Wolfram Jig in my palm, and felt its impressive heft, I knew we were on to something big.”

That very November, Olson and his wife Carmin launched YourBobbersDown.com, a family-run online store offering cutting-edge, hard-to-find ice fishing products. “My favorite fishing partner is my wife’s father, George Pullin. He’d call me up at work all the time when he wanted to go fishing. I’d pick up the phone and hear George’s exuberant voice: ‘Hey, your bobber’s down!’ he’d always say. Later, when we started our business, the phrase became a natural for our company name.”

Success followed, with product placement at numerous local retailers, and Cabela’s stores in 2003. “Our good friends Jeff Morse and his father Phil understood the power of FISKAS Wolfram Jigs right away. Jeff worked at the local Cabela’s store and introduced us to Cabela’s corporate folks. In 2004, the Morses also won $20,000 and the first NAIFC Championship, pairing FISKAS Wolfram Jigs with Little-Atom Nuggies.”

Soon, the profitable lure pairing led to a relationship between YourBobbersDown.com and Little-Atom, a classic ice fishing company who created early microplastic baits, such as the Wedgee, Noodle and Nuggie. “While most folks consider Little-Atom the pioneer in ice plastics,” noted Olson, “few know that they also crafted some of the original ice jigs. The Rembrandt, Rat Finkie, Purist and Shmoe are all classic lure designs created in the 50s and 60s by Little-Atom, imitated by many other companies over the years.”

Following a handshake in 2005, YourBobbersDown.com became the sole online sales point and a distributor of Little-Atom lures and plastics. “Before this, I was traveling to the big ice tournaments, selling FISKAS Wolfram Jigs and Little-Atom lures out of my van. I remember having lines of anglers wrapped around parking lots, people who’d heard about the success of our stuff and couldn’t find it anywhere else. At times, folks wondered if we were selling fishing tackle, or something else less legit,” Olson laughs.

“When we first showed tackle buyers at Cabela’s, Scheels, Bass Pro Shops and other stores our products, they told us they’d never seen anything like it before. We were the first company to bring tungsten ice jigs to the U.S. market. It took some time and education for the market to accept the higher cost of these premium products.

Today, all our FISKAS Wolfram Jigs are still made in the same factory, using premium tungsten molded bodies and the finest Japanese fly-tying hooks. Every lure is hand-soldered and painted by artists with tremendous attention to detail.”

All these years later, tungsten jigs have become big business, with numerous other companies jumping at the ‘heavy metal’ hype. “Anglers have a lot more choices now,” observes Olson, “but what we’ve found is that most of our customers remain loyal to FISKAS and Little-Atom because no other company can match our quality and our personal service.

Interestingly, more and more anglers are also discovering the advantages of heavy tungsten for their spring and summer fishing. They’re just so much more versatile and an awesome alternative to lead.”

Indeed, even with a surplus of new tungsten ice jig entries—including models from much larger companies—top anglers continue to choose FISKAS. At least six NAIFC Championships have been won by anglers using FISKAS / Little-Atom plastic combos to date, including titles in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Interjects Tony Boshold, NAIFC and World Ice Fishing champ and longtime FISKAS-Little Atom aficionado. “When you add up all the championships and other tournament wins, FISKAS jigs and Little-Atom plastics are without question the money-winningest ice lures of all time. Even though a lot of imitators are out there now, word on the street about who’s got the best stuff has never strayed from the lures we’ve always used.”

ABOUT YourBobbersDown.com
Acknowledged as the finest one-stop-shop for premium, cutting-edge ice products, YourBobbersDown.com continues to bolster its product line with elite items. Beyond FISKAS and Little-Atom lures, Olson has added popular J&S Plastics, ASSO technical fishing line, Fiskas Balances, and bi-metal tungsten jigging spoons. Select complementary products such as Jonttu palm rods, C9 Scent Formula, Cold Snap Products, Ice-Strong Titanium Spring Bobbers and Bug Luggage jig boxes put the good stuff within the reach of all anglers.