|
Ontario Fishing Network
Newsletter
www.ontariofishing.net
Volume 2, Issue 7 - July 2002 |
|
| In this issue:
NEW ONTARIO FISHING CHAT
CLICK HERE!
Long Point Airways
Last minute fly-in trips. We have some openings
available at some of our fly-in lakes. These trips have been discounted for the rest
of the summer. Go on the fly-in trip you been dreaming of at extremely affordable
rates. Click here to find out more! |
| Auld Reekie Lodge - Whether you pamper yourself with our full meal plan and the ultimate in
comfort in one of our 6 luxury suites, or stay in a fully equipped 4 star cottage where
you can cook your own meals, at Auld Reekie Lodge we feel we've got everything you're
looking for and more. Auld Reekie Lodge, as featured on the Canadian Sportsfishing Show,
is a true escape in the beauty of Northern Ontario's wilderness. |
| Camp Raymond - Camp Raymond is situated on the picturesque northwest bay of Lake
Nipissing. A fully equipped housekeeping camp geared to both families and fishermen. We
offer many amenities to make your vacation a memorable one |
| Trails End Lodge
- A full service facility, situated on Pipestone/Clearwater chain
of lakes, offers incredible fishing experiences with Muskie, Lake Trout, Walleye, Bass and
Northern on 76 miles of pristine waters. Enjoy a shorelunch prepared by experienced guides
and explore the white pine forest. Join the fall hunters for white tailed deer and grouse.
The new Conference Centre allows for groups of up to 80 people for reunion or corporate
meetings. |
Ontario Bass Fishing
Click Here |
|
" The Basic Lures for Lunker Largemouth"
By Justin Hoffman
For those anglers that have caught a severe case of the "bassin'
bug," deciding on what lures and baits to choose can be a complicated and difficult
decision. Breaking down the collection of baits into five significant and productive types
will help all those new to bass fishing get a better handle on what to throw a
largemouth's way. Stock your tackle box up with each of the following lures and watch how
simplified the bassin' game can be and how your success rate will seemingly skyrocket.
Plastic Worm
The plastic worm is one of the oldest and most productive baits to ever
hit the market. Quite simply, this bait catches bass. Although they can be found in a
variety of lengths, colours and body types, my suggestion is to begin with an assortment
of baits in the six to eight-inch length. Of these, choose a few basic colours, including
black, purple and crawfish, in both a curly tail and paddle tail style. Hooks can be
purchased in a variety of sizes, although the range of 4/0 to 6/0 will generally cover all
applications. Finally, an assortment of worm weights should be chosen to complement the
worm and hook.
Plastic worms are an outstanding bait because they can be fished in so
many different ways. Carolina rigged, weightless and wacky are just some of the ways that
they can be used, and learning each of these techniques will enable you to cover all types
of water conditions that you are faced with. If you are fishing water that is
predominantly weedy, a worm rigged "Texas-style" (weedless), will be your best
bet.
Spinnerbait
A spinnerbait is a great addition to any bass anglers bag of tricks due
to its ease of use and the aggressive strikes it produces. Spinnerbaits come in a variety
of sizes and shapes, with three main blade designs. Willow Leaf, Colorado and Indiana
style blades should all be represented in your collection, in a variety of colours and
weights. 3/8 oz. and ½ oz. sizes are the two most popular weights on the market, with
white, black, chartreuse and silver/blue being great starting colours.
Spinnerbaits can be fished fast or slow, buzzed on the surface or
fluttered into weed pockets. The versatility and relative weedlessness is what makes this
a great bait for lunker bass. A key point to remember is to always attach a stinger hook
to your bait when fishing in relatively weed-free water. The stinger hook will help in
catching fish that strike short on the bait or those that the main hook did not penetrate.
Topwater
Topwater baits are an exhilarating and heart-stopping tactic for active
largemouth bass. The sheer thrill of seeing an explosive strike on the surface of the
water is one that no other bait can reproduce. There are tons of topwater baits on the
market that are designed to catch bass, yet the decision can be simplified by selecting a
few of the top choices. Start with a collection of buzzbaits, poppers and
"walk-the-dog" models. These three types will cover most conditions you will
face and will help in learning the basics of throwing topwaters. |
|
Some top brands on the market for these styles of baits are Strike
King Buzzbaits, Excalibur Pop-R and the famous Zara Spook. Buzzbaits are ideal for weedy
conditions, especially around slop and lily pads, while the other two are great for
throwing around docks and open-water situations.
Jig and Pig
This rates as one of my all-time favourite baits for big bucketmouths.
The jig and pig is comprised of a skirted jig with a weed guard coupled with either a pork
or plastic trailer on the hook. This trailer can take the shape of such things as a frog,
crawfish or lizard.
Choose a few jigs in assorted sizes and a bunch of trailers in
different styles and colours. A few popular colours for jigs and trailers are black,
black/blue, pumpkin and black/red.
The jig and pig really shines when it comes to close-contact fishing in
heavy cover. Toss this bait under docks, along trees or undercut banks and wait for that
hiding hog to take a swipe. It can also be used along deep weedlines and on weed pockets
you will find on the flats.
Crankbait
A crankbait is designed to mimic a minnow in the water, and the new
designs and models on the market have really improved over the years. When it comes to
choosing crankbaits for the tackle box, I feel that carrying a varied assortment will be
the best key to success. Stock up on such things as shallow divers, deep divers, lipless
cranks and suspending cranks. Largemouth predominantly feed on short, stubby minnows in
the wild, so mimicking this style will definitely work to your advantage.
Colours can be overwhelming when walking into a tackle store, although
picking out a few basics will help simplify the matter. Shiner, perch, chartreuse and
crawfish patterns are a good place to start and will help in covering any conditions you
are faced with. One last point to remember - ensure that your cranks come with high
quality trebles. If not, replace them with either Excaliburs or Owner hooks for better
hooking capabilities.
Bass fishing can be a complex endeavor when dealing with all the types
of baits found on the market. Sticking with the basics baits I've discussed here will get
you started out right in the game of bassin'. Experiment and discover what lures work best
and when, and watch as your largemouth expertise rises in leaps and bounds.
Justin Hoffman is the proprietor of Nature's Eye Images, a
photographic stock company that specializes in nature and outdoor themes. Check out his
online catalog at : www.geocities.com/natureseyeimages/stockpage.html
|
|
