Well the weather on Guntersville is not great but the fish have not got the memo.LOL We have hit them hard this week with big fish moving up all day long. I have also been fishing Wheeler. The fish there are on the same track and they seem to be right on time. As many anglers from here know the BASS Elite are on Wheeler now and will start thier first day of compition on Thursday. From what I have seen they will smoke em'! We fished everything near from the flats to the Lower Dam and the fish are eating. I thing the Elite guys will catch them best in shallow water using plastics and reaction bite type baits but the bigger fish will come from the guy that can find areas that will "cut off fish" as they move up to spawn. These fish will be coming up each day and that angler will be able to stick out a 25+lb bag everyday without a problem. Best colors there have been everything in Junebug and green pumpkin as well as the guys that go "outside the box" and use deep crankbaits and swimbaits. The swimbait was the bait that produced the bigger fish for us. The numbers dropped when using the Stride and Swimming Ninja but the size was alot better. It will come down to the guy that tosses it all on the line and not looking for numbers and points but only fishing to win. The "bronze backs" are also eating well and we saw a guy haul in a 20+ bag of them on several trips there in the last few days. Those fish are deeper but still easy to find in the creek channels. Good Luck to all those guys fishing and looking forward to some exciting weigh-in action in the coming days.
I will be doing updates on the tournament as well as some new products coming from both Jackall and Daiwa. Be sure to also check back during the week for some really big news. If the deal goes though it will be the biggest thing to hit the fishing world in North Alabama in years. I will let the cat out of the bag in a couple of days. Thanks again to everyones support and comments. Have a great Wed.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
First "interview" type article- Featured in the American Bass Anglers Mag
Alot of people have known I was working on this article and wanted to see it. Problem is some dont get ABA book so I wanted to list it below. Hope you enjoy, it's the first one I have done which involved interviews.
Team that fishes together
Stays together
By Chris Jackson
Fishing together in order to stay together? That’s right the team of Damon Abernethy and Tonya Mayberry, who have been dating for almost 2 years now, not only fish together but they work together as well. This fishing duo has just hit the ABA Couples tour and is hard to beat. When they are not on the water, they are working in the same field. Though the both work for the State, they are in different agencies with similar goals and interests. Tonya works for the Aquatic Assessment Division for the State of Alabama, investigating water quality and biological indicators for the waters of the state. Damon, as the Fisheries Development Coordinator, also works for the State of Alabama in DCNR's Fisheries Development. Both Damon and Tonya have dedicated their life to improving our sport of fishing, by not only working to educate other people about fish and their behaviors but also by continuing to learn everyday how fishing impacts one of the best resources the state has to offer. Alabama fisheries are definitely better for their efforts. Tonya has been fishing most of her life and seems to be very passionate about both her career and her love of competitive bass fishing. She said that she began fishing with Damon after they met at an Alabama Fisheries Association (AFA) meeting two years ago and they have been together ever sense. When she asked him to get into the couples trail with her, it was only the beginning. He won’t be fishing alone anytime soon. But when you have a partner as good as Mayberry, would you want to? Though they are not married, as many other couples that fish the trail, they are just as strong of a team. They both agree they can read each other and both have different strong points that make them a hard team to beat.
They showed off their abilities when fishing their first ABA couples’ tournament together. They finished 3rd during the Lake Martin event of the ABA Couples Trail Alabama Central District. Getting a check your first time out is a feat most anglers cannot achieve. It is hard to figure who is the better angler as they tend to disagree on this point. They each give each other credit with the honor. When it comes to tournament fishing, both agree it is a team effort and not just one member catching fish. Damon admits she does a lot more than just pulling her fair share of fish in the boat. He says she also knows and understands fish behavior. She puts that knowledge to work when they are fishing tournaments together as she adapts to the always changing water conditions. Damon also adds, “She is one of the most patient anglers I have ever seen.” With both being employed by the state in the Fisheries Division they both study fish and their behavior which definitely helps them both adjust when things change on the water.
Tonya on the other hand likes to give a lot of the credit to her partner for not only his fishing abilities but also for getting her into competitive bass fishing. During an interview she says that Damon is the back bone of their team and helps keep her head n the game while on the water. Tonya had been fishing her entire life, including trips to Alaska, but it took Damon to take it from a hobby to an obsession. Damon grew up in North-West Alabama and when it comes to fishing, Damon is no slouch himself. He is a long time fisherman and tournament angler, fishing several other trails in his area along with the ABA Couples Trail and AFT. In tournaments, he is known for fishing for 5 quality bites as opposed to fishing for numbers. And like most true big tournament anglers, the jig and crank bait are two of his favorite weapons of choice. His favorite fishing partner is obvious.
While speaking with her I found Tonya to be a very humble angler, a trait a lot of good anglers have and need in order to be competitive. She recalled a time when she and Damon started fishing together. At the time, she let him do most of the work when it came to launching the boat and getting it back on the trailer. On one trip while Damon was putting the boat on the trailer, a gentleman asked her, “Can’t you back a trailer?” and she said laughingly, “Yes, but he never asked me too”. Damon states that she is now in charge of all the tow vehicle duties for the team.
While Damon may catch a lot of keepers, she is not afraid to add that he can “handle a net with the best of them” when she gets in a groove and starts catching more fish than him. Tonya says when they fish together, whether in a tournament or just fishing for fun, they always seem to have a competition in the boat. She added jokingly that when they are fishing together and he catches the last fish that he is ready to go home, knowing he would be the winner. This sometimes leads to them fishing long hours until someone concedes. When asked about her bass fishing strengths, she said that when all else fails she will go to the Shaky Head and worm. She states that it is her confidence bait and she knows she can slow down enough to always coax a fish in the boat. When asked, Damon says “Dewberry” (Tonya’s nick name in the fishing world) is one of the best partners he has ever had. When asked why, he told me she was always eager to learn new stuff and gets better every time they go out. During the interview he stated Tonya is one of the most focused anglers he has ever seen. He adds the first time they fished together he was very impressed by not only how much she knew but how much she wanted to learn. It is hard to tell who the better angler is as they will both argue that is their partner. I guess it is true. The couple that fishes together will stay together. Wow, what the ABA couples tour can accomplish
Team that fishes together
Stays together
By Chris Jackson
Fishing together in order to stay together? That’s right the team of Damon Abernethy and Tonya Mayberry, who have been dating for almost 2 years now, not only fish together but they work together as well. This fishing duo has just hit the ABA Couples tour and is hard to beat. When they are not on the water, they are working in the same field. Though the both work for the State, they are in different agencies with similar goals and interests. Tonya works for the Aquatic Assessment Division for the State of Alabama, investigating water quality and biological indicators for the waters of the state. Damon, as the Fisheries Development Coordinator, also works for the State of Alabama in DCNR's Fisheries Development. Both Damon and Tonya have dedicated their life to improving our sport of fishing, by not only working to educate other people about fish and their behaviors but also by continuing to learn everyday how fishing impacts one of the best resources the state has to offer. Alabama fisheries are definitely better for their efforts. Tonya has been fishing most of her life and seems to be very passionate about both her career and her love of competitive bass fishing. She said that she began fishing with Damon after they met at an Alabama Fisheries Association (AFA) meeting two years ago and they have been together ever sense. When she asked him to get into the couples trail with her, it was only the beginning. He won’t be fishing alone anytime soon. But when you have a partner as good as Mayberry, would you want to? Though they are not married, as many other couples that fish the trail, they are just as strong of a team. They both agree they can read each other and both have different strong points that make them a hard team to beat.
They showed off their abilities when fishing their first ABA couples’ tournament together. They finished 3rd during the Lake Martin event of the ABA Couples Trail Alabama Central District. Getting a check your first time out is a feat most anglers cannot achieve. It is hard to figure who is the better angler as they tend to disagree on this point. They each give each other credit with the honor. When it comes to tournament fishing, both agree it is a team effort and not just one member catching fish. Damon admits she does a lot more than just pulling her fair share of fish in the boat. He says she also knows and understands fish behavior. She puts that knowledge to work when they are fishing tournaments together as she adapts to the always changing water conditions. Damon also adds, “She is one of the most patient anglers I have ever seen.” With both being employed by the state in the Fisheries Division they both study fish and their behavior which definitely helps them both adjust when things change on the water.
Tonya on the other hand likes to give a lot of the credit to her partner for not only his fishing abilities but also for getting her into competitive bass fishing. During an interview she says that Damon is the back bone of their team and helps keep her head n the game while on the water. Tonya had been fishing her entire life, including trips to Alaska, but it took Damon to take it from a hobby to an obsession. Damon grew up in North-West Alabama and when it comes to fishing, Damon is no slouch himself. He is a long time fisherman and tournament angler, fishing several other trails in his area along with the ABA Couples Trail and AFT. In tournaments, he is known for fishing for 5 quality bites as opposed to fishing for numbers. And like most true big tournament anglers, the jig and crank bait are two of his favorite weapons of choice. His favorite fishing partner is obvious.
While speaking with her I found Tonya to be a very humble angler, a trait a lot of good anglers have and need in order to be competitive. She recalled a time when she and Damon started fishing together. At the time, she let him do most of the work when it came to launching the boat and getting it back on the trailer. On one trip while Damon was putting the boat on the trailer, a gentleman asked her, “Can’t you back a trailer?” and she said laughingly, “Yes, but he never asked me too”. Damon states that she is now in charge of all the tow vehicle duties for the team.
While Damon may catch a lot of keepers, she is not afraid to add that he can “handle a net with the best of them” when she gets in a groove and starts catching more fish than him. Tonya says when they fish together, whether in a tournament or just fishing for fun, they always seem to have a competition in the boat. She added jokingly that when they are fishing together and he catches the last fish that he is ready to go home, knowing he would be the winner. This sometimes leads to them fishing long hours until someone concedes. When asked about her bass fishing strengths, she said that when all else fails she will go to the Shaky Head and worm. She states that it is her confidence bait and she knows she can slow down enough to always coax a fish in the boat. When asked, Damon says “Dewberry” (Tonya’s nick name in the fishing world) is one of the best partners he has ever had. When asked why, he told me she was always eager to learn new stuff and gets better every time they go out. During the interview he stated Tonya is one of the most focused anglers he has ever seen. He adds the first time they fished together he was very impressed by not only how much she knew but how much she wanted to learn. It is hard to tell who the better angler is as they will both argue that is their partner. I guess it is true. The couple that fishes together will stay together. Wow, what the ABA couples tour can accomplish
"Trapping Grass"--Lake Guntersville Style
While working the Birmingham Boat Show at the Marks Outdoors booth I was approached by several people who ask the age old question “how do I catch fish in the late winter/early spring on Guntersville?” So After talking with Mark we decided to put it in writing and give everyone a couple of the tricks to catching that once in a lifetime fish on Guntersville during this time.
Fishing late winter/early spring on Guntersville is a true test of an angler’s endurance and ability. Between braving the cold fronts and high winds it can wear even the best anglers patients thin and cause them to go home without even a sniff from a fish, but for those that know they are in the right area and using the right equipment they can go home with the thought of them hooking that dream fish we all search for. When fishing with clients I see more times than not they don’t have the equipment they need for the style of fishing they are going to need to do to help them catch that “BIG G Toad” So lets start by getting the right stuff for the job.
I like to make sure that people understand it is not just the lure they will be throwing but what they are tossing it with. I like the NEW Jackall Rushburn for this bait a lot. With this rod you can throw everything from a ½ oz to a 1oz. lipless crankbait till the line runs out. With this 6’11” rod you can toss the bait a mile but it has tons of backbone needed to load up and pull those big fish from the grass. I top the rod of with a Daiwa high speed Zillion reel and Daiwa Samurai 40lb.braid which helps cut the grass as you rip the bait through it. As the fish get weary due to high pressure and I need to slow the bait down some I switch to the new Lake Fork Flourohybrid line in 26lb test. On the same equipment and have found it will allow me to get a few more bites from the same area.
Now that we have the right equipment let’s talk about baits and presentation. I use two types of lipless crankbaits here on Guntersville that have worked great. First I will start with the Jackall TN/70 in either the Aurora black or Craw Fish (red) which have an awesome rattle/sound chamber in them. If that doesn’t seem to be getting results then I switch to the Jackall “Mask VIB70” which does not have a rattle built in, I use either the Ghost Minnow or the Black Chartreuse colors.
As far as how to fish them the first thing is to be in the right area on the right grass. If you have read the last article I did on finding the right grass that will come into play now. I move to an area where I can keep the boat in about 6-9 feet of water and toss the bait up onto the grass flats and work it across small ditches that run thru the flats. The first presentation I use is “ripping it”, which is throwing the bait as far as you can then “burn it” back to the boat as fast as you can turn the handle on the reel. When the bait hits the grass and it starts to load up jerk the rod hard like you were setting the hook, this is where the braid line comes in handy; it will cut through the grass like a weedeater and help free your bait faster. If I know the fish are in the area and they don’t seen to want what I am doing I then switch to the Fluorocarbon line and slow it down using a “yo-yo” type retrieve. Just tossing the bait out and letting it fall into the grass with the rod tip at about 7 o’clock then with one smooth motion pull the bait up till the rod reaches about 10 to 11 o’clock and stop. Once the bait starts to fall again reel down back to the starting position and repeat this back to the boat. I will work an area like this using both baits I mentioned and if there are no takers then move to another area. Keep in mind that Guntersville is a huge impoundment where the upper end of the lake will be completely different from the lower end so don’t give up on the lake entirely if you are not getting bit, just move up or down and I feel sure if you use these techniques you will find what you’re searching for. Also if you would like to see first hand how we trap on Guntersville give us a call and we can set up a date for you to fish with us and let us show you to that fish of a lifetime.
Capt. Chris Jackson
Fins-N-Grins
Freshwater Adventures
205-706-2425
www.finsngrinsfishing.com
Fishing late winter/early spring on Guntersville is a true test of an angler’s endurance and ability. Between braving the cold fronts and high winds it can wear even the best anglers patients thin and cause them to go home without even a sniff from a fish, but for those that know they are in the right area and using the right equipment they can go home with the thought of them hooking that dream fish we all search for. When fishing with clients I see more times than not they don’t have the equipment they need for the style of fishing they are going to need to do to help them catch that “BIG G Toad” So lets start by getting the right stuff for the job.
I like to make sure that people understand it is not just the lure they will be throwing but what they are tossing it with. I like the NEW Jackall Rushburn for this bait a lot. With this rod you can throw everything from a ½ oz to a 1oz. lipless crankbait till the line runs out. With this 6’11” rod you can toss the bait a mile but it has tons of backbone needed to load up and pull those big fish from the grass. I top the rod of with a Daiwa high speed Zillion reel and Daiwa Samurai 40lb.braid which helps cut the grass as you rip the bait through it. As the fish get weary due to high pressure and I need to slow the bait down some I switch to the new Lake Fork Flourohybrid line in 26lb test. On the same equipment and have found it will allow me to get a few more bites from the same area.
Now that we have the right equipment let’s talk about baits and presentation. I use two types of lipless crankbaits here on Guntersville that have worked great. First I will start with the Jackall TN/70 in either the Aurora black or Craw Fish (red) which have an awesome rattle/sound chamber in them. If that doesn’t seem to be getting results then I switch to the Jackall “Mask VIB70” which does not have a rattle built in, I use either the Ghost Minnow or the Black Chartreuse colors.
As far as how to fish them the first thing is to be in the right area on the right grass. If you have read the last article I did on finding the right grass that will come into play now. I move to an area where I can keep the boat in about 6-9 feet of water and toss the bait up onto the grass flats and work it across small ditches that run thru the flats. The first presentation I use is “ripping it”, which is throwing the bait as far as you can then “burn it” back to the boat as fast as you can turn the handle on the reel. When the bait hits the grass and it starts to load up jerk the rod hard like you were setting the hook, this is where the braid line comes in handy; it will cut through the grass like a weedeater and help free your bait faster. If I know the fish are in the area and they don’t seen to want what I am doing I then switch to the Fluorocarbon line and slow it down using a “yo-yo” type retrieve. Just tossing the bait out and letting it fall into the grass with the rod tip at about 7 o’clock then with one smooth motion pull the bait up till the rod reaches about 10 to 11 o’clock and stop. Once the bait starts to fall again reel down back to the starting position and repeat this back to the boat. I will work an area like this using both baits I mentioned and if there are no takers then move to another area. Keep in mind that Guntersville is a huge impoundment where the upper end of the lake will be completely different from the lower end so don’t give up on the lake entirely if you are not getting bit, just move up or down and I feel sure if you use these techniques you will find what you’re searching for. Also if you would like to see first hand how we trap on Guntersville give us a call and we can set up a date for you to fish with us and let us show you to that fish of a lifetime.
Capt. Chris Jackson
Fins-N-Grins
Freshwater Adventures
205-706-2425
www.finsngrinsfishing.com
Sunday, March 29, 2009
"Flick Shakin"- The New Style of Finesse Fishing
You got it folks, Flick Shakin. This is the newest craze in light line, light lure finesse fishing. What this means is, those of you that stick with the ol' jig head and small worm better pay attention. There is a new style in town and it is putting up some huge tournament numbers. The style is called "Flick Shakin". The term comes from one of the leading Japanese lure companies in the industry Jackall. They have developed a new style finesse worm that is just awesome. They come is two sizes and several colors but, the biggest thing is the Tungsten head you use with it called the "Wacky Jig Head". It has a 90-degree line tie that makes it almost impossible to hang up. It comes in either the 1/16 or the 3/32 head and used for rigging the bait "wacky style". They have also even accommodated the grass fisherman as well with the "Weedless Wacky Jig head". This neat little head will not only work as well as the other jig head but will come through the grass like it wasn't there. It sports the same Tungsten compound head as it counterpart but is also equipped with a weed guard to keep it from snagging. One thing I like most about this model is, it has a huge hook custom made for Jackall by Owner that is not only bigger but stronger than the light wire head and also comes in 1/16, 3/32, as well as the new 1/8 size. In this article I will not only give you a couple of ways to use this new bait but, also the right equipment to use it with.
First let's get you started with the right equipment for the job. I like to use either the G-Loomis GLX or IMX spinning rod rigged with the Daiwa Steez reel. I use either 10-12 lb Hi-Seas fluorocarbon line. If I am fishing heavy cover, like Lake Guntersville or big stump and root systems I use a G-Loomis "Mossyback" worm rod with a Daiwa Zillion reel and Hi-Seas 15 lb fluorocarbon line. Personally I like the heavy stuff better but, sometimes the bite just gets tuff and you have to downsize a little to get the bites.
Let's talk about how to fish the bait. There really is several ways this bait has been effective for me while using it. First is the way it was intended to be used. Wacky Style, the reason I say it was intended to be used this way is well, it was designed for it. If you look at the bait you can see the bait was made in a curve design, which gives it a squirming action that far surpasses other baits with this technique. It is made to be rigged with a "Wacky Jig Head" and placed in the center of the worm. I use this bait when I find it hard to get a bite from either docks or brush piles that I have already fished or that I know have had a lot of pressure on them. Tossing the bait out and letting it sink a little then twitch the bait a couple of times then let it fall again. Most bites will occur on the fall so it is important you watch your line.
The second way I use this bait is with the ever famous "Shaky Head". I rig it on a Davis HBT long shank jig head in either a 3/16 or 1/4 size and rig it Texas style. This works great when the bass are locked on to cover due to high air or fishing pressure. You can let the bait fall into the cover, such as a brush pile, and then just work it out of it. Where this worm will give you an advantage is the live fish scent Jackall has placed into the bait and the curve gives it a wild action when shaking it on the bottom.
The third way of working this bait I found out by accident and necessity. Those of you, who know me, know I am not much on "drop shots". Well while fishing an event this past year on Lake Martin I had a couple of fish I could see but could not get to bite anything I threw at them. I still had some time left before weigh-in so I pulled out a bait caster with some 12 lb Hi-Seas Fluorocarbon on it and tied a drop shot rig. Now it was not the way most of you tie this rig seeing as how I never do it I had none of the right things to rig it. I used a Owner 1/0 EWG hook, tied a regular Palomar knot and ran the tag end back thru the line tie. I then marked off about a foot or so and tied a couple of over hand knots to hold a couple of split shots on the end. I tossed out the bait to a brush pile, shook it for a minute or so and boated a 6.75lb largemouth to move me from 13th to 5th and take big fish for the tournament. So I guess me going outside the box was not all bad. The one thing that was cool about that day was I had fished that same brush pile for about 30 minutes with a couple of other baits and could not get the fish to bite. I truly believe the bait was what made the difference between me getting a check and not.
If you get a chance to use this bait try these techniques and I am sure you will put more fish in the boat. If you want to see these techniques in action and a couple of other things I have learned fishing these baits be sure to give us a call at Fins-N-Grins Freshwater Adventures and we will get you hooked up. God Bless and Great fishing.
Capt. Chris Jackson
"Fins-N-Grins"
Freshwater Adventures
205-706-2425 www.finsngrinsfishing.com
First let's get you started with the right equipment for the job. I like to use either the G-Loomis GLX or IMX spinning rod rigged with the Daiwa Steez reel. I use either 10-12 lb Hi-Seas fluorocarbon line. If I am fishing heavy cover, like Lake Guntersville or big stump and root systems I use a G-Loomis "Mossyback" worm rod with a Daiwa Zillion reel and Hi-Seas 15 lb fluorocarbon line. Personally I like the heavy stuff better but, sometimes the bite just gets tuff and you have to downsize a little to get the bites.
Let's talk about how to fish the bait. There really is several ways this bait has been effective for me while using it. First is the way it was intended to be used. Wacky Style, the reason I say it was intended to be used this way is well, it was designed for it. If you look at the bait you can see the bait was made in a curve design, which gives it a squirming action that far surpasses other baits with this technique. It is made to be rigged with a "Wacky Jig Head" and placed in the center of the worm. I use this bait when I find it hard to get a bite from either docks or brush piles that I have already fished or that I know have had a lot of pressure on them. Tossing the bait out and letting it sink a little then twitch the bait a couple of times then let it fall again. Most bites will occur on the fall so it is important you watch your line.
The second way I use this bait is with the ever famous "Shaky Head". I rig it on a Davis HBT long shank jig head in either a 3/16 or 1/4 size and rig it Texas style. This works great when the bass are locked on to cover due to high air or fishing pressure. You can let the bait fall into the cover, such as a brush pile, and then just work it out of it. Where this worm will give you an advantage is the live fish scent Jackall has placed into the bait and the curve gives it a wild action when shaking it on the bottom.
The third way of working this bait I found out by accident and necessity. Those of you, who know me, know I am not much on "drop shots". Well while fishing an event this past year on Lake Martin I had a couple of fish I could see but could not get to bite anything I threw at them. I still had some time left before weigh-in so I pulled out a bait caster with some 12 lb Hi-Seas Fluorocarbon on it and tied a drop shot rig. Now it was not the way most of you tie this rig seeing as how I never do it I had none of the right things to rig it. I used a Owner 1/0 EWG hook, tied a regular Palomar knot and ran the tag end back thru the line tie. I then marked off about a foot or so and tied a couple of over hand knots to hold a couple of split shots on the end. I tossed out the bait to a brush pile, shook it for a minute or so and boated a 6.75lb largemouth to move me from 13th to 5th and take big fish for the tournament. So I guess me going outside the box was not all bad. The one thing that was cool about that day was I had fished that same brush pile for about 30 minutes with a couple of other baits and could not get the fish to bite. I truly believe the bait was what made the difference between me getting a check and not.
If you get a chance to use this bait try these techniques and I am sure you will put more fish in the boat. If you want to see these techniques in action and a couple of other things I have learned fishing these baits be sure to give us a call at Fins-N-Grins Freshwater Adventures and we will get you hooked up. God Bless and Great fishing.
Capt. Chris Jackson
"Fins-N-Grins"
Freshwater Adventures
205-706-2425 www.finsngrinsfishing.com
Friday, March 27, 2009
Jackall Stride(Hard) Swimbait review
Thats right anglers, Jackall, the maker of one of the best crankbaits in the industry has stepped up in 2009 with a swimbait. To be honest this is not really a new bait they designed. They have had it on the market in Japan for awhile but it is new to the US market. I had ordered several from Japan about a year and a half ago and fished them alot in tournaments and while fun fishing for bigger fish. The US bait is not any different than the Japan version except some colors. They are only on the market in the US in limited numbers and dealers but well worth the $30.00 price tag.
I have fished the bait in just about every situation over the last year and it has preformed well. I have to say as far as hard swimbaits go it is one of the most versital baits I have seen. When I first got it and took it out of the box I did not like the way it swam in the water. The bait seemed to not have any action at all. I then had to speed up the retrieve and that made a huge difference. At first, I would swim the bait like the Giron, which has to be fished very slow to work, this bait likes it a little faster making it fish a little faster and cover water faster. I also fished it with a "jerking" motion and this is one of my favorite ways to fish it. After making a long cast, which is not hard at all with this bait, let it fall for a couple of seconds. Then jerk the bait with the rod tip in a downward motion. This will make the bait jump clean out of the water. The next time you jerk the bait it will dive. I think I can best describe the action like working a spook underwater. Fish love this action when they are feeding/schooling. One other thing I found to be good on this bait is swimming it back to the boat then twitch it and let it sit. The bait does sink slow but when you twitch it it will turn around and face backwards. I placed the bait in a tank after a demo and had fish follow the bait all the way back without taking it(mainly because I had been slamming them for about 45 mins). I tossed it back out and when they were following it back I stopped it then twitched it and when it turned on the fish(facing it) they killed it. I think this is a good way to trigger a bite when it gets tough.
As far as being duriable, the bait is like every other Jackall bait. They last and the paint work is awesome. I have boated over 115 fish(at the time of this article) and you can tell it has caught fish but it still looks good. I feel sure if you try this bait you will love it. Biggest thing I see many clients do is they dont want to fish it long enough. Alot of anglers, myself included, tend not to fish a new bait they have never seen long enough to build any confidence in it. I hope this helps some anglers understand how to fish the bait and if you want to see it in action give me a call. The swimbait bite is just getting started on Lake Guntersville and only going to get better.
I have fished the bait in just about every situation over the last year and it has preformed well. I have to say as far as hard swimbaits go it is one of the most versital baits I have seen. When I first got it and took it out of the box I did not like the way it swam in the water. The bait seemed to not have any action at all. I then had to speed up the retrieve and that made a huge difference. At first, I would swim the bait like the Giron, which has to be fished very slow to work, this bait likes it a little faster making it fish a little faster and cover water faster. I also fished it with a "jerking" motion and this is one of my favorite ways to fish it. After making a long cast, which is not hard at all with this bait, let it fall for a couple of seconds. Then jerk the bait with the rod tip in a downward motion. This will make the bait jump clean out of the water. The next time you jerk the bait it will dive. I think I can best describe the action like working a spook underwater. Fish love this action when they are feeding/schooling. One other thing I found to be good on this bait is swimming it back to the boat then twitch it and let it sit. The bait does sink slow but when you twitch it it will turn around and face backwards. I placed the bait in a tank after a demo and had fish follow the bait all the way back without taking it(mainly because I had been slamming them for about 45 mins). I tossed it back out and when they were following it back I stopped it then twitched it and when it turned on the fish(facing it) they killed it. I think this is a good way to trigger a bite when it gets tough.
As far as being duriable, the bait is like every other Jackall bait. They last and the paint work is awesome. I have boated over 115 fish(at the time of this article) and you can tell it has caught fish but it still looks good. I feel sure if you try this bait you will love it. Biggest thing I see many clients do is they dont want to fish it long enough. Alot of anglers, myself included, tend not to fish a new bait they have never seen long enough to build any confidence in it. I hope this helps some anglers understand how to fish the bait and if you want to see it in action give me a call. The swimbait bite is just getting started on Lake Guntersville and only going to get better.
Jackall Swimming Ninja Swimbait Review
Well after along time of testing and re-testing they are on the US market and ready for sale. As many of you know I have always been known for using baits from Japan and having a couple of clients pick them up for me there when they go on business trips to save shipping cost.LOL Well the US version is about the same as the one I have been using but without one hook on the top(I think that might change though). When fishing this bait I have found it has exactly the right action most avid swimbait anglers look for. While at the Classic this year I was talking to some guys from Swimbait Nation in Ca.. They showed me just how much I did not know on swimbaits and I took the education to heart.LOL Several of the guys showed me some small tricks to change a bait they have found to work well. After showing them the Swimming Ninja they were impressed to say the least. One guy said "I would not change a thing". Trust me coming from those guys that is saying something. Only issue I have had with the bait is the paint coming off but its a give a take kinda issue. The bait will still catch fish either way and the paint holds up until about the 7th or 8th fish. The most important thing I have found that makes the bait stand out is the rear hook in the bait. It pop right out when the fish hit the bait and flex like the front hook. This has saved me loosing several fish when they jump and get in the grass. Another good thing about the bait is the way it falls. Alot of swimbait I have tested in the past have had some type of action when the fall which looks good to most anglers but really is not life-like. When you stop the Ninja it falls nose first and the tail has no action at all just like a fish falling. When you pick up the rod tip the bait returns right to the swimming action and the tail goes crazy, also like a fish that is trying to run after being hit by another fish and stunned.
All in all I can say this bait is well worth the price tag and will catch great fish. I have already put several awesome fish on the bait and it's not even post spawn yet. One hint I have for you anglers out there is after the baits hooks tear out several times they tend not to stay in the plastic. I carry them home or plug in a hot glue gun in the boat and without glue, let the tip heat up and just melt the plastic back together. This is very effective for making the bait last alot longer and better than using glue. I hope everyone has a great fishing trip and if you get one of these baits be sure to have a camera in the boat.LOL
All in all I can say this bait is well worth the price tag and will catch great fish. I have already put several awesome fish on the bait and it's not even post spawn yet. One hint I have for you anglers out there is after the baits hooks tear out several times they tend not to stay in the plastic. I carry them home or plug in a hot glue gun in the boat and without glue, let the tip heat up and just melt the plastic back together. This is very effective for making the bait last alot longer and better than using glue. I hope everyone has a great fishing trip and if you get one of these baits be sure to have a camera in the boat.LOL
Pre-Fsihing updates
I have been hitting the water everyday pre-fishing several lakes in the area. The BASS Southern Open is headed to Lake Wheeler in a couple of weeks and wanted to do everything I could to stay on top of the fish there. Problem is alot of awesome anglers will be flooding the lake in a week for the BASS Elite Series. I have the fish on 3 patterns there so I think atleast one will hold up for my event there.
I am also fishing the Alabama Bass Buddy Trail this year with best friend and business partner Rodney Evens. We have an event coming up on Logan Martin in April so I hit the Coosa River looking around on the 26th and 27th. Fishing there is "off the hook" for lack of better words. I had fish in everything from 20 feet of water to water so shallow if the wind blew they would be dry.LOL In the last two days caught atleast 50 fish all keepers on about 5 baits. Better fish were coming off Jackall Swimming Ninja Swimbaits and the NEW Jackall Stride. These baits are setting the bar for the swimbait industry. I will have a better write up on them after I get to test them just a little longer in some other situations.
As far as Lake Guntersville goes the fishing is better than I have seen it in several years as far as big fish go. We have not had a trip this month that clients have not put atleast one fish over 6lbs in the boat. The numbers bite is still good on soft plasitcs like the Lake Fork Lizard and ring fry. The better fish are moving up everyday and most are being caught on Swimming Ninja's, Jackall Dozers, and Lake Fork Live Magic Shads.
I hope everyone has had a great week and looking forward to a wonderful weekend. Be sure to check back on my blog. I will be updating it every chance I get. There will be product updates/reviews, fishing reports, and also tour results as we get them. See you on the water and take a kid fishing
I am also fishing the Alabama Bass Buddy Trail this year with best friend and business partner Rodney Evens. We have an event coming up on Logan Martin in April so I hit the Coosa River looking around on the 26th and 27th. Fishing there is "off the hook" for lack of better words. I had fish in everything from 20 feet of water to water so shallow if the wind blew they would be dry.LOL In the last two days caught atleast 50 fish all keepers on about 5 baits. Better fish were coming off Jackall Swimming Ninja Swimbaits and the NEW Jackall Stride. These baits are setting the bar for the swimbait industry. I will have a better write up on them after I get to test them just a little longer in some other situations.
As far as Lake Guntersville goes the fishing is better than I have seen it in several years as far as big fish go. We have not had a trip this month that clients have not put atleast one fish over 6lbs in the boat. The numbers bite is still good on soft plasitcs like the Lake Fork Lizard and ring fry. The better fish are moving up everyday and most are being caught on Swimming Ninja's, Jackall Dozers, and Lake Fork Live Magic Shads.
I hope everyone has had a great week and looking forward to a wonderful weekend. Be sure to check back on my blog. I will be updating it every chance I get. There will be product updates/reviews, fishing reports, and also tour results as we get them. See you on the water and take a kid fishing
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