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Any of the combinations you see above can be switched around. However, the combinations that are outlined, will give the bait the best presentation. The key always is to be as natural as possible. Go to our Soft Plastics Pages to see these baits. Using unusually light lead heads for larger baits are also very effective on pressured waters. For instance, a 1/16 oz. lead head with a 4・Tickle worm is very effective around timber or docks. Use your imagination, you will be surprised!!! Darter heads and Minnow Shaped heads allow the bait to glide through the water columns for a more horizontal presentation. Round ball and Football heads are primarily used for vertical or bottom presentations. Football heads are extremely effective for fishing the rocky bottoms that hold Smallmouth Bass or Walleyes. The design of the head keeps it from hanging up as much. Football head jigs are great for crawling a crawfish along the bottom.

BOTTOM FISHING Fishing in a lake has so many options. This page will show you what to do when you are fishing from the bank/shore. There are many baits you can use in this application but the basics are dew worms, flavored marshmallows or Power Bait. The Power Bait comes in a few different styles, all of which float: Nuggets, Eggs or Paste. The floating characteristics is what makes them so effective. It is important to keep your line taut while waiting for a bite. That means before you put your rod in a rod holder or lean it up against something, you need to reel in the line until the rod tip bends slightly. This way you will be able to sense even the lightest bite. BOBBER/FLOAT FISHING Bobber/Float - Will depend on the type of fishing you are going to attempt. Red and White: Are the less expensive spring catch bobbers which are easy to attach to your main line but are easily broken if they are not cared for. Although, they are less expensive, I do not recommend these when taking your children. They are available in various sizes but the 3/4・to 1・sizes are most common. Slip Bobbers: These bobbers are great for fishing varied depths and conditions. These bobbers require a bobber stop above the bobber and if you do not want to lose them, a bobber stop below. The depth is easily adjusted by sliding the bobber stops until you find the desired length. With slip bobbers the main line is fed through the bobber and tied directly to your swivel, jighead or hook. Float and Fly: Using specialty floats for casting flies is a very effective and easy way to fish either the stillwaters or small streams and creeks. However, some of these floats require the angler to tie the main line to the top and a leader from the bottom to the fly. The great thing about these floats is they can be used for every other type of bobber fishing and are very durable. One of my favorites is the Adjust-A-Bubble. This float is well weighted and has a rubber band that you twist which holds the line snug. No need for leaders or bobber stops and if you want more distance all to need to do is fill up the body with water and give it a cast. Probably one of the most costly floats out there but for it's versatility the best buy in my books. This end of the leader is typically tied to a worm hook sizes 2 to 14 and one or two small split shot would be crimped to add some weight. Adding the split shot allows the angler to get more distance on their cast but more importantly get the offerings down to the target depth quicker. Other options would be: - A small jighead, maybe 1/32 or 1/16 oz. and small grub or tube for Crappie/Bluegill. - Using corn nuggets instead of the worm can work very well, especially with course fish like the Northern Pike Minnow (Squaw Fish) and Carp. - Leeches, Minnows or Crayfish (Where it is legal) FLOAT FISHING for Salmon/Steelhead This is a typical float fishing set up. Obviously, this will vary among experienced anglers but the basics are covered here. The foam floats allow easy adjustment when fishing a variety of water but the cork floats have a better buoyancy and if you snag the bottom and break of you do not run the risk of losing your float. All that needs to be added is your offering on the hook. This could be cured roe, wool, single egg, gooey bob, corkie, spin-n-glo, marabou jigs or a Colorado blade. Many of these can be used in combination as well. Float fishing takes practice and practice makes perfect.

CAROLINA RIG The Carolina Rig uses the main line threaded through a lead or brass worm weight, then a bead and tied to a #12 or #14 barrel swivel. Brass weights and glass beads are preferred by professionals when they want to maximize attraction. The leader length from the swivel to the hook will vary as the fishing conditions. Typically, the leader length is 18"-24". This technique is effective when fishing submerged weed beds and weed lines, it allows the bait to float above the weeds. TEXAS RIG The ‘Texas Rig’ is the main line threaded through a worm weight and tied directly to the hook. The free sliding of the weight allows the bait to fall with control. SPLIT SHOT RIG The ‘Split Shot Rig’ is used in conditions that require finesse techniques. Use the split shot, crimped onto the main line to determine line length between lead and the hook. This technique is very effective around timber or docks, the rate of fall is controlled. Finesse fishing allows the angler to keep the bait in the strike zone longer. DROP SHOT RIG The most popular rig of late, gaining popularity among weekend warriors and professionals alike. The two weights shown are distinct in the type of terrain they should be fished in. If the bottom has a lot of chunk rock and is quite variable, then the round ball is your choice. These weights will not slip between the rocks and get caught as easily as the finesse weights. As far as the hook is concerned, the split-shot hook is the hook of choice. I use our New Eagleclaw Pro Series L7226BPD Drop Shot hook in a # 4 or # 6. Tying this type of hook directly to the mainline using 6 lb. Monofilament and a polymer knot with the hook point facing the rod tip is recommended. A trick when tying the knot is to feed the tag end back through the eye before attaching the weight. This simple application will keep the hook facing the surface reducing it chance to get hung up. At this point all you have to do is tip a plastic worm or tube and cast it out. When retrieving this rigging technique, shake the rod tip and then reel until taut. The bite will be as much as a tick then a spongy feeling. Set the rod finishing with the rod tip high and then reduce your drag so that you do not over exert the line. I would also recommend either a #1 or #2 Pro Series X-Wide Gap L7013BPG hook, or a #2 or #4 Split Shot Hook. WACKY STYLE Basically this type of presentation relies on the weight and shape of the plastic baits to determine the rate of fall and action. If you use a stiffer bait, like our SinkSlo, then the action will be a lengthy side to side. However, if you use our Tickle Worm, then the fall will be more like an undulation action (definitely more lifelike). There are so many baits to use but the best ones are skinny, soft and 4” or longer. All you have to do is tie a small X-Wide Gap or Drop Shot hook directly to your mainline. I recommend either 6 or 8 lb. Extra limp monofilament. BOTTOM BOUNCING Bottom bouncing is a very effective technique for fishing deeper pools more methodically. Although the leader length may vary from 36・to 12・depending on the type of water and the species of Salmon you are targeting. This technique allows the angler to use a multitude of baits, the most popular being cured or treated roe. The idea behind this rigging is to offer the bait as natural as possible while maintaining control of the rig with your rod tip. After you cast slightly upstream, maintain in contact with the weight/bottom by reeling in any slack line (until line is taut) and lifting your rod tip slightly allowing the weight to bounce off the rocks. Keep in mind when offering any bait maintaining proper drifting speed can be crucial to whether or not you hit a fish or not. When the fish strikes your bottom bouncing rig, your rod tip usually drops with a spongy weight, set the hook and hold on. Take a look at our Leader Savers which will save you time and money while bottom bouncing for salmon or other large fish.

I like the look and feel of this "new" board. Way better than the previous one which was kinda plain. That's my two cents.