If you have been to a fishing tackle shop lately, you have discovered there are literally thousands of different fishing lures. They have all caught fish on given days, but some are more consistently productive then others. Here are some of the best:

•    Spinners: These lures make sounds in the water, which will either attract or challenge the fish. There are a number of different sizes and colors. Smaller fish tend to bite smaller lures, but that is just a trend. I have caught 5-pound trout on a spinner, which was less then an inch long. You simply need to experiment with what they want that day. Some good brands are Meps, Bang Tail and Rooster Tail.
•    Swimmers: These lures resemble a fish swimming. They should go in a back and forth motion. They need to be shinny, resembling the flash of light off of fish scales. These lures are to resemble bait fish. If you are targeting a spawning fish like a Salmon or Steelhead, the lure will resemble a fish coming to attack the nest and steal eggs. Types Of Swimmers: Quick Fish, Flat Fish, Crank baits, Castmaster Wiggle Warts, Spoons, Crocodile, Dick Nite, Super Duper, … and many more.
•    Tuning A Lure: You may need to “tune” the lure so it swims straight. Check this by pulling the lure in the water where you can see it. You should tie your leader directly to the lure, without a snap swivel. Place a swivel on the other end of the leader, and attach it to your main line. You may need to bend the lure at the connection point to make it swim straight. This will result in many more bites.
•    Enhance the lure: Adding a small portion of a nightcrawler, Powerbait or other type bait can greatly increase the odds of a strike. Make sure the bait does not alter the action of the lure! This will cause the fish to ignore it. Scent is also becoming a very popular enhancement. Pro Cure makes scents, which glow. These are good when fishing deeper depths or in dark water.

See You at the Dock.

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear

With the nice weather we have been having, you may be thinking about going trout fishing. Yes it’s time to get the rods out of the basement and make sure they are in good working order. It’s wise to replace the line at the beginning of the season. You don’t want the line to break when you hook the big one.

Also check out your tackle box. Those nice fresh salmon eggs you purchased two years ago may have turned into little red rocks. Hopefully you did not leave the left over night crawlers in the box. You will know the moment you open the lid. If you have the urge to burn your tackle box, they are there, or at least the aroma of death they left behind.

You may have some work ahead of you if you own your own boat. Ah yes, that is a flat tire on your trailer. Make sure the registration is current of you may have trouble when visited by the State Police on the water. Charge the battery. Replace the old fuel or the motor may not start. Where are those life jackets?

If the boat has been covered and stored outside, you may discover that mold has taken up residence in your boat. Beware of your new friends the spiders. They grew quite well under the tarp. Some may be the size of a Silver Dollar! Since they run fast, they are good for raising your heart rate (Oh My God!). Yah that’s the one!

So you have checked out the motor and it runs ok in the driveway. They always run ok in the driveway, but will it run WELL at the lake?

Hook up the lights to make sure the neighborhood cats have not eaten the wiring. If they have, you won’t be going out this weekend. No, you will be re-wiring the trailer!

Remember you are doing all of this to relax. Work has been very stressful with the cutbacks and all. You still have your job, but you need to also do the work of the other two people they laid off in your department.

With all of that accomplished, you head out to the lake to join the other ten thousand who also thought it would be nice to go fishing. If you are fishing from shore, you may need to bring your own rock to stand on, because it is combat fishing. It’s so much fun rubbing shoulders with your neighbor and untangling all those lines.

If you brought your boat, you may encounter a psychopath who thinks everyone should let him launch his boat first. And then there is always the new boater who skipped the “backing the trailer” class. It seems he can’t move the boat more then 10′ without making five corrections. Hopefully he will be finished before the sun goes down.

You can go through all of this OR you can meet me at the dock. I will have the boat launched, all necessary safety equipment, bait, fishing gear and a warm smile. I know the lake, since I have been fishing there 2-4 times each week, for two months.

Call me, if you truly want to relax.

See you at the dock!

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear LLC