What Do We Have Here?

Maybe my new river boat?

  There were the teaser videos and pictures like the ones above that were ripped from the videos. There was a some chatter online and quite a few questions as to what this thing was really going to be. How big is it? What's it going to look like? Is there going to be a peddle version? I see it says "Topwater Series" does that mean three or four boats? And I was right there with the best of them. I pestered poor Ryan Lilly (Brand Manager for Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Division) but he held strong and wouldn't spill the beans. He just asked that I promote/share any social media stuff they released. Fine. Whatever. I thought you liked me.

 Now you can have all the sizzle and flash in the world but if you can't deliver you'll be outed pretty quickly. With that being said Old Town did a similar launch with the Predator Series and hit it out of the park. So I figured they had something cool on the horizon and any questions I had would be answered at ICAST which at the time was only about six weeks away.

 With ICAST right around the corner and teaser videos were being released each week leading up to the event a dealer brochure was leaked and I saw there was the 120 I knew that was the one I wanted. Now the questions of how well does the 120 paddle? Will it make a good river boat and will I like it once I put it to use?

 When I got to ICAST and made my way over to the Old Town/Ocean Kayak booth I saw something like seven or eight different Topwaters in various colors and models. To jump back a little there are three different models in the Topwater Series. The 106, 120 and the 106 PDL. 106 and 120 standing for ten feet six inches and twelve feet respectively. Each with the same four color options.

Photic

 

First Light

Boreal

Olive

The Duck's Guts

 I know, it's kind of a gross term I picked up from an old business acquaintance but it made me chuckle and it's funnier than saying "here's the bottom line." The duck's guts, I dig it. I like the open platform. There is a huge tank well so you have plenty of aft storage space. The seat! I hadn't even mentioned the seat. It's a variation of their Element Seat that's part of the Predator Series and I like it as well or better than the Element Seat in my Predator PDL. Total home run.

 One of the things that I have insisted on being part of any boat I own is a center hatch, because that's where I like to stow my rods both on the water (to keep them out of the way) and during transport (out of sight and protected from the elements). On a recent weekend fishing trip the only time I missed having the center hatch was to and from the lake. As a matter of fact I didn't miss it at all on the water. Having a nice clean open deck in front of me was truly a pleasure.

 How's it paddle? Well I'm glad you asked. But before I answer let me give a brief explanation before I give it so it doesn't sound like I'm being negative or critical.

 This is a twelve foot long boat that is 33.5" wide so it's not a race boat. It's well a utility boat... It paddles good enough to cover some water, tracks well and turns quickly for a boat with a Tri-Hull design. One thing I noticed is there is almost no "bow walk" (which is a good thing) even though this thing seems to have more than enough rocker to get it to turn quickly. Her real strength is her stability, rock solid.

 For now the only real change I'm wanting to make is to install a rudder and maybe a rod holder or two but nothing radical. They've done a good job, I may just have to hold on to this one. Or add another to the fleet.

 Is it going to make a good river boat? Well you'll just have to come back next week and I'll let you know. For now though my first impressions are good. She makes a great "throw and go" boat that has a ton of capacity (ok a 1/4 ton) is more than comfortable enough to spend the entire day on the water in. Is stable enough to inspire confidence in just about any conditions and paddles well. I dig it.

Until next week,
Tight Lines

H

The Art Of The Toad

  My Absolute Favorite Topwater

 Where a lot of people throw a buzzbait I throw a toad. Outside of big wake baits like rats, toads rule my topwater world. I've caught more 5+ pound bass on a toad than any other topwater lure. I also throw it more than anything else too.

 Now when I say toads I'm not talking about hollow bodied frogs those are completely different baits. I'm talking solid bodied baits that you rip across the surface. Like the ZOOM Horny Toad or Bass Assassin Logger Toad. Cast and crank, tear it through the grass and weeds and hold on.

  Toads became my go to topwater lure several years back, I loved fishing buzz baits but grew frustrated with the prop constantly getting bound up with weeds. So I started tinkering around with toads and the more I used them the more versatile I found they are. Not only are they fairly weedless but I fish them in more than one way.

 Although they are intended to be topwater lures but you can also fish them as a wake bait, slow roll  and present them mid-column or even drag them on the bottom. I've caught fish on all of those presentations. I will also use them as jig trailers. Experiment, it's fun.

   
 In the above picture are my hands down favorite toads. I have literally caught hundreds upon hundreds of fish on those three baits with the ZOOM Horny Toad (center) being the king. The Bass Assassin Logger Toad (left) has similar sound to the Horny Toad but I think it's a little more subtle because the legs are longer. I like to use it as my first change from the Horny Toad if things start to slow down, it's also a great jig trailer. The toad to the right is the Strike King Rage Tail Toad, I like it for it's action (read sound) and I've caught a few really good fish on it.

  There are only two things I think about when it comes to choosing what toad I'm going to use. It's tone, either being light or dark with no real color preference and the sound it makes coming across the surface. I throw white, some kind of green or brown and black. I will also throw other colors or two tones but really it's all about light or dark tone to me. 

 Sound is as important if not more important than color. You have to experiment a little at times but I have found that if the bite shuts off or slows down sometimes just a change in leg types will put you back on fish. I don't know what the bass are hearing when certain toads or topwater baits come across the water but the Horny Toad and the Logger Toad sound like shad busting the surface to me. Again I don't know what they're hearing but those two baits in particular sound like shad or little baitfish busting the surface to me.

 I have had so much fun throwing these baits and learning how to use them that I think everyone should at least give them a fair shot. You don't need a special rod and reel combo in fact I use kind of a beater set up. It's a 6'9" med-hvy/extra fast with a 8:1 reel and the reel I just "up-graded" (more of a lateral move quality wise) last year. I do recommend running braided line you don't want any stretch when you set the hook. Nothing fancy and the rig can double as a jig/Texas rig combo in a pinch. 

 Honorable mention, the Stanley Ribbit is one of if not the most popular toad on the market and many a fish have fallen for these. They are on my short list for go to toads. The plastic is dense and fairly durable as far as soft plastics go and they make plenty of noise coming across the water.

 Lastly two things, don't be afraid to throw these babies in open water and I love to fish them at night too. My favorite bait to a fault. Next time you're out give 'em a shot you won't be disappointed.

Until next time, tight lines.

H

                   

Absolute Rod Basics

 Picking a fishing rod can be confusing and frustrating if you don't know what you want or know what to look for going into the process. 

 The first thing to know is what you're going to use it for. I know, I know, fishing haha. No what type of lures or technique are you wanting the rod(s) for? Because you buy rods and rod and reel combos based on the lure or technique not the other way around. You've got to know what you're going to do before you go blowing money on stuff.

 Let's do this. Let's assume you're in the market for your first bait casting combo so you want an all-around rig that will do most things well enough to get you by but still good enough to change out a reel to make it a good technique specific rig later on.

 To me probably the most useful rod is a 7' Medium Heavy - Fast. Depending on the brand they can be stout enough to throw 5"-6" swimbaits or limber enough to throw certain weightless soft plastics. By changing reels I can transform a Jig/Texas Rig combo into something that is ok for spinnerbaits and swim jigs. It just depends on the rod.

 A 7' Medium/Heavy - Fast covers so many bases it's not funny they are generally rated to handle baits from about 3/8oz to 1oz meaning they're right in the sweet spot of most lures that are produced for inshore and freshwater fishing. The action isn't too far out of whack either way to make it unusable and the length is manageable for most places you'll fish. This is just my take on it.

Getting Down To Business

 You can go over the deep end geeking out on rod specs but when it comes down to it you really only need to understand two basic ratings of a rod.

1. Power
2. Action

After that you can start getting very particular about what rod you want for what application.

 One last thing before I try to lay this out for you. There is no industry standard for ratings although most rod ratings are close to each other every no two manufacturers products feel the same in the hand even if the load capacities and actions are supposedly the same. Also I believe some companies over rate rods where some under rate them. Neither is necessarily a bad thing you just need to know that going in.

  I HAVE THE POWER!!!

 Power ratings are pretty straight forward. The power of a rod is it's ability to handle a given load. Meaning the weight of the lure and the line test it's designed to comfortably handle. NOT the size fish you can land with it. Depending on the style of rod ratings generally range from Ultra-Light to XXX Heavy. So you can get a spinning rod that is an Ultra-Light for small panfish and trout lures to XXX Heavy bait casting rods for large swimbaits and esox lures.

 That's why it's a good idea to know what you're fishing for and what type bait or lures you're planning on using.

 In the pictures below are two completely different rods from my arsenal. The top is my Ultra Light and you'll notice it's load rating is from 1/16-3/8 of an ounce with a recommended line test of 2-8 pounds. The second pic is one of my swimbait rods and it's load rating is from 1-4 ounces and a recommended line test rating of 30-80 pounds. Again different tools for different jobs.

 Action Jackson Baby!

 The action of a rod is the "speed" of the taper or the percentage of the rod tip that is tapered. The longer the taper the slower the action. The shorter the taper the faster the action.

 Here is another easy way to look at it. An Extra Fast taper takes less time to make your lure to respond to a hook set than a slow taper. The faster the action the faster the hook set and the stiffer the rod will feel overall. Make sense?

  A lot of anglers like a slower action lighter power rods for baits with fine wire hooks like some crankbaits or small inline spinners like a Rooster Tail for example. On the flip side most like a heavy power, fast or extra fast taper for baits like frogs, toads and buzz baits. Again you match the rod to the bait or technique to a certain extent you have to muddle your way through it to find what you like and what works best for you.

 For me in general I prefer a fast taper on all of my rods but I do have a couple Extra Fast one being the rod in the above picture and my "toad rod". The "swimbait rod" in the picture above I got off a clearance rack for $20. It's taper is actually too fast for what I use it for but I make it work because I can store it in the hull of my Trident and if something happened to it I won't be heart broken. I actually like the rod in the very top picture for most of my swimbait work. It's an 8'+ rod with a true fast taper and is rated from 2-6oz. Great set-up for me and what I use it for.

 The rods I use the most though are all Med/Hvy Fast of different brands and they are all completely different from one brand to the next. I have made all of them as technique specific as I can but still retain their utility if I have a failure on the water and need to change up.

 I hope this helps.

Tight Lines
H

Practice Makes Progress

 Nothing replaces time on the water. No book, magazine, video or seminar will ever replace doing the work. I once heard a man say "A man with experience is never at the mercy of a man with a theory." The best mechanics I know turn wrenches all day then go home and work on cars on the side or have cars or motorcycles of their own they wrench on. The point is this; because they spend their time doing those things they have become proficient at most all mechanics.

 They are not intimidated by a piece of equipment whether it's a piece of industrial equipment or a lawn mower. Because that machine becomes just another machine regardless of it's size, shape or application. They have built confidence in their skill set. That confidence came through the practice of being a mechanic and the same goes for any occupational field.

 Even though my blog is mainly about fishing there are principles in life that are universal. Practice in any field is necessary for growth and advancement. You have to build not only muscle memory but the mental and emotional capacity to thrive in any given field. When it comes to fishing you've got to develop the mental and mechanical proficiency to make accurate casts, read the water, understand boat positioning, bait selection, etc. Most importantly though, is the belief and confidence in yourself and your abilities to catch fish.

 Being able to catch fish isn't luck, it is a skill like any other and it takes practice to get good at it. Yes I want to catch fish every time I go out but I also go to practice. I practice things like casting, learning new baits or techniques. I also like to fish new bodies of water on occasion not just for the change of scenery but also to learn a little about a new place.

 One thing that I don't do enough of is target multiple species. I will tell you it is definitely a short coming in my game. I have friends that are by far better anglers than I am and they each have a couple things in common. One they target all types of fish from bluegill, bass and catfish to inshore and offshore species like redfish, snapper and tarpon. Two they also fly fish. Having the ability to fish completely different styles for completely different types of fish I believe has made them the best anglers I know.

 Last but definitely not least. Many moons ago I heard or read somewhere that the way to get good at fishing a jigs was to leave everything else at home and take one rod and a few jigs and go fishing. That has been some of the best advice I've ever heard or applied. It forces you to focus on one technique and doesn't give you the backdoor of doing what you're comfortable with. It applies across the board and can be used for any technique. It has given me as much confidence in swimbaits as any other type baits, to the point that a lot of times I use certain swimbaits as search baits and are some of my favorite topwater baits over traditional tackle.

The Price

The Price

  
  Are you going to fritter away the hours? Or are you going to fish each cast with a purpose? Do you stay mentally focused or are you thinking about any and everything but the task at hand?

 It's ok to kill time and hang with family and friends but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about doing this for a reason, a purpose and that purpose may impact more people than just you.What if this "fishing thing" is what saves you from yourself?  What if its the one thing in this life you actually feel like you're good at? Good enough that when you stick a good fish you know its not luck.

 What if? What if???!!!

 You actually get good enough to consistently put fish in the boat? Make something of yourself and make a mark in the industry? There's only one way to get there and that's to put in the time and energy to make it happen. So you wake up at ungodly hours, drive ridiculous miles and trade time with family and friends for time on the water. You spend free time that should probably be used for something else to tinker around with tackle, reading fishing articles and watching videos.

 Those are just some of the things that help make those dreams and wishes come true but nothing really happens until the rubber meets the road.

 To get good at this the single most important thing you can do is fish. You must, absolutely must, practice catching fish. There is nothing that builds more confidence and belief than the act of landing fish. The other thing that makes you good, not catching fish. It's in those moments that you need to think about what happened and if there was anything you could have done to change your outcome. Sometimes there maybe nothing you could have done differently, other times you've probably made a tactical or mechanical error. Figuring those things out and learning from them is what improves you as an angler.

 With that in mind. I have noticed that the single hardest thing for me to do especially when it's slow going is to stay focused. Three or four hours into a day of grinding big baits and the old mind starts to wander. That's the last thing you want because you normally only get a handful of bites as it is and nothing is more frustrating when you blow the one shot at a fish you get that day or even week. That's where a little positive self-talk and a picture in your mind's eye comes in.

 I remind myself out loud that I'm only there for the biggest fish in the place and I only need one bite to possibly make not only my day but maybe my year. Hero or Zero baby keep grinding. Who else is doing what you're right now? F'in' nobody! That's right. Let'em laugh then watch'em cry. Keep Grinding. You can do this. Keep Grinding. Keep Grinding. Keep Grinding.......

Why?

  Do you have a reason in being out there or are you just killing time?

Last Time

 I talked about people having no drive and doing shoddy work in my post https://finstalker.blogspot.com/2018/06/half-measures.html. So now I'd like to cover The beginning of turning that corner and getting better at this game we call fishing.

 What Is Your Why

 When you close your eyes what do you see? Can you see yourself holding the giant check or netting THE FISH? Can you feel your heart pounding in your ears? Can you feel the adrenaline dump causing your hands to shake uncontrollably?
 Something so vivid so real that in your mind's eye you can't tell if it's real or tale.
 Having a dream of a tournament win that can net you thousands of dollars or Angler of the Year that can put a boat in your garage. A double digit bass or 50"+ esox that would be the fish of a lifetime for 90% of the angling community are all things worth getting excited about and dreaming about. Having those dreams and goals is what drives us as anglers.
 So what is it you're shooting for? Do you have a dream trip you'd like to see happen? A new species to remove from your bucket list. What is your why?

Your Bucket List

 I'll tell you I don't have a long list of fish on my personal list in fact I think it's truly modest. I want to catch all nine black bass species. The Esox family and a handful of saltwater fish with tarpon being at the top of that list. At the opposite end of the spectrum is a friend of mine that has almost four hundred separate species to his name and is shooting for five hundred. So whether you're just getting started and wanting to break the three pound mark on bass or a seasoned angler and wanting to go to Africa or South America you need to have something that gets you excited enough to get out the door.

Wheat From The Shaft

 I will tell you with 100% certainty that the people that win tournaments or consistently catch trophy fish have one thing in common. They know why they are out there doing what they do. Now they may not say I dream about or visualize winning a tournament or landing double digit number 50 but they do. They think about it and picture in their mind's eye holding that trophy or netting that fish. It's how it happens that's the first step, know what you want get clear about it. Then put in the work. It is that that separates the winners from the whiners.
So what is your why?

Half Measures

 I see it at work everyday. We see it in the places we shop and the restaurants we patronize. People doing sorry work and not taking any pride or responsibility for the garbage they put out.

 We had a department manager that was a total jack-wagon by every measure of people skills you can think of. He was rude and disrespectful; he birddogged his people and even got put on the street for thirty days for being his bright and cheery self.

 I would get mixed reports about the guy. Polar opposite reports (imagine that). Now me being me I decided to ignore all the stuff I was hearing and do a little thinking for myself. I also started keeping an eye on the guys he was in charge of. I learned some things.

1. Yes the the was a jerk and probably went too far on occasion.
2. There was no way he could be wrong all the time (I figured that going into it).
3. He probably had a reason to be harsh at times.
4. I also found out the guy cared about his people and wanted the best out of them, he just didn't
    have the people skills to get a losing team to pull themselves out of a self imposed hell.
5. The most important thing I learned is the man just wanted his people to show up on time and do     their jobs correctly and efficiently. That's it.

 So what's this got to do with fishing? Let me tell you what it has to do with fishing. If you take it seriously then you need to treat it like a job like you actually care about it. Not that it isn't a fun activity or that you need to be uptight and rigid, that's not what I'm saying.

 What I'm saying is this. If you're going to spend your most precious resource (your time) on it you may as well be serious about catching fish. Learn from your failures and fine tune your  successes. There are going to be days that you get to take sunset pictures and days you're shooting fish porn faster than you can say Ron Jeremy.

 Now I mentioned work because I see the same behavior on the water. Folks want to go out drink beer  and listen to music instead of focusing on a game plan and working that plan. No they'd rather get drunk and sun burnt then make excuses as to why they don't get their desired results or at least the ones they say they want. Or call it luck when the guy at work lands bigger fish than him rather than asking for tips (mentorship).

If you want to get past where you're at you need to do a few things.

1. You need to know why you're out there.
2. You need to fish with a focus and purpose.
3. You MUST put the time in.
4. Find a role model and do what they do.

Over my next four posts I'm going to handle each of these topics individually. Until next time.

Tight Lines
H