Winter Fishing

Cold Fronts and how to fish them

Cold fronts are different depending on where in the country you live.  When a cold front hits up north it will slow the bite a little, but you can still catch them.  A cold front in Florida can be devastating to the bite.  When faced with frontal conditions, I would slow down and fish a jig, drop shot, tight wobble crankbait or a Rattl’n Vibe.  All of these presentations should be slow and close to the bottom.  Sometimes the best way to catch them is to get a reaction bite.  For a reaction bite the Yo-Zuri Rattl’n Vibe is my favorite.  You can cover lots of water and fish the entire water column.  The bite will almost always be when the bait is stopped and falling.  The Vibe glides down and when ripped up again the fish react and bite.  There is no better way to catch a cold front bass than with this technique.

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 I also throw the Yo-Zuri 3DR-X Flat and 3DR-X Shad crankbaits.  Both of these baits have a very tight wobble.  This tight wobble looks very realistic to how the shad swim, when the water is cold.  With the Rattl’n Vibe I am making the erratic movement, but with the crankbaits, I try to deflect them off the cover to get the bite.  The colder the water, the more important it is to throw a tight wobbling, subtle style crankbait.  I usually throw 16 lb T7 fluorocarbon on the Vibe, and 10-12 lb T7 fluorocarbon on the crankbaits. 

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I always first try to fish a moving bait during cold fronts.  I’m looking to get a reaction bite, but if that fails, I switch to a jig or dropshot.  The jig I fish really slow on the bottom.  I will try slight hops, but generally it’s a slow drag presentation.  For this, I usually throw 16 lb T7 fluorocarbon which is strong but invisible.  Cold fronts can make the bass really finicky, which is why I downsize my line.  When all else fails I will fish a drop shot.  This presentation will be slow and methodical.  I use 15 lb yellow Super Braid for my main line and 8-12lb T7 fluorocarbon for my leader.  Most of the time I just drag it on the bottom, trying to feel for structure.  This presentation is usually my last resort but has saved the day many times.


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Even though cold fronts can be fishermen’s worst nightmare, it doesn’t mean you can’t catch them.  I have had some incredible bags of fish on cold front days.  Just remember to slow down and try to keep a positive attitude.  Your goal is to see if you can get a reaction bite or do you have to slow down and finesse fish.  Once you get a few bites the bass will tell you how to move forward.  Remember even in Florida cold fronts, a big bag is possible.


By Mike Surman


 

Yo-Zuri Superbraid: A Top Choice


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It's no secret that braided line can provide some real tangible benefits to anglers. For the past 8 years I've been fishing Yo-Zuri Superbraid on all my spinning and baitcasting gear and I've had great success on lakes and rivers around Ontario from Lake St. Clair, south and east to the mighty St. Lawrence River, and north to the James Bay lowlands. 
On spinning gear I lean on 10lb (NED rigging and drop shot), with one or two reels spooled with 15-20lb for a bit heavier applications like heavier (tube jigs and swimbaits). Baitcasting gear always gets adorned with heavier weight Superbraid like 30 to 50lb for tacking largies (Texas and Carolina rigs and froggin') and the ever-present Northern pike (large spoons and soft plastic offerings.

Braid Advantage

Braided line offers several advantages over traditional monofilament or fluorocarbon lines. Its low-stretch properties provide reduces superior sensitivity, allowing anglers to detect even the subtlest bites. Additionally, braided line has a higher tensile strength, meaning it can handle heavier loads and larger fish. Its thin also diameter line resistance , resulting in longer casts and better hooksets. One often overlooked advantage, is longevity. Braided lines tend to be more resistant to twisting, and they can also be reversed, extending the life of the line even longer!

Should I Use a Leader?

While braided line offers many advantages, it can be commonplace to use a fluorocarbon leader especially in ultra-clear smallmouth waters where I live. Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater and can provide a higher level of confidence where finesse fishing tactics are needed. Short leader lengths of 4-8ft are common joined to the braided line with a knot such as the back-to-back uni-knot, Alberto, FG, or similar. By combining the strength and sensitivity of SuperBraid with the stealth and durability of fluorocarbon such as Yo-Zuri Top Knot, T7 Premium Flourocarbon, and the newest addition, SuperFlouro, anglers can create a powerful and effective fishing system that can't be beat. Why Superbraid? Yo-Zuri SuperBraid is a high-performance 4 strand PE (polyethylene) braided fishing line construction offered in 10-40lb test. The larger braid between 50 and 80lb is constructed of 8 strands of PE. SuperBraid has a special coating to provide a amazing abrasion resistance and very low stretch. With its exceptional strength, sensitivity, and durability, this braided line offers a multitude of benefits that can significantly enhance your fishing experience. There are also several color options available, and it is reasonably priced for a premium braided line! Several Color Options! Yo-Zuri SuperBraid is available in a variety of colors to suit different fishing conditions.

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  • Green - a popular choice for freshwater applications, as it blends well with aquatic vegetation
  • Hi-Vis Yellow - ideal for low-light conditions, making it easier for line watching and detecting strikes
  • Blue - for use in saltwater and clear lakes, and;
  • Five Color - provides 10 meter sections of multi-coloured braid, with small black color change demarking 1 meter intervals. This metered line is ideal for vertical jigging and long line trolling.

By understanding the benefits of Yo-Zuri SuperBraid and choosing the right color for your specific fishing needs, you can elevate your angling skills and have a great time on the water targeting your favorite species! Will Nalley

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By Will Nalley

Early Fall Bass Fishing: Adapt to Shallow Water

EARLY FALL BASS FISHING : ADAPT TO SHALLOW WATER

Cool nighttime temperatures can drop water temps fast. A lot of bass seek out shallower areas to feed, following schools of minnows and pods of young-of-the-year baitfish. The key to success lies in adapting your presentation to trigger reaction bites from these shallow-water dwellers.

Understanding Shallow Water Bites

Shallow water bass in early fall can be more aggressive at times, and less cautious than their deeper-dwelling pounds. They are often looking for a quick meal and are more likely to strike at baits that provoke a reaction. A good program to employ means ditching the slow, methodical retrieves and opting for more aggressive presentations. Another key to this productive pattern involves covering a lot of real estate, which puts your bait in front of more fish while keeping the scenery interesting. 

The Importance of Crankbaits

Crankbaits are an essential tool for targeting shallow water bass particularly in the transition periods. Their tight, erratic action is perfect for triggering strikes from aggressive fish. However, it's important to choose the right crankbait based on the depth of the water you're fishing. I consider 1-10 feet of water the shallow water zone. 

Crankbait Tips

  • Whenever possible, try to crash your bait into structure such as rock or wood. 
  • Keep your bait moving! Burn cranks back to the boat to fool bass into chasing a fleeting meal.
  • Rip a crankbait through the tops of submerged weedbeds – this can draw the most savage strikes reaction!
Baits to Cover the Range

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Shallow Diving Crankbaits
These are ideal for targeting bass in very shallow areas - typically under 5 feet deep. Popular choices include the 3DB 1.5 Squarebill, 3DR-X Series Flat Crank, and the 3DR-X Crank SR (shallow- runner). Yo-Zuri's patented 'Wave Motion Technology' sends out some serious vibration through the water. Great buoyancy and a tight wobble gets the job done!

Mid Depth Diving Crankbaits
As the water depth increases, you'll need to use medium diving crankbaits. These baits are designed to reach fish mid-depth structure. The Yo-Zuri 3DB Deep Crank and the 3DR-X Crank MR (mid-runner) are deadly choices to crank the 5-6 foot depths efficiently. Like the other Yo -Zuri crankbaits, they are made of super durable ABS resin material with a nearly indestructible detailed finish. 

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Deeper Diving Crankbaits
Finally, when fishing down to the deepest of the shallow water areas my go to choice for a deeper diving crankbait is the 3DB Deep Crank and the 3DR-X DD (deep diver). The wobbling-rolling action and large eyes creates a natural predatorial strike response, especially along the weed edges.

FISHING DEEP DIVING JERKBAITS
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Deeper diving jerkbaits can also be effective for targeting shallow water bass. These baits are designed to create a more erratic action than crankbaits, which can be especially effective for triggering strikes from aggressive fish . When fishing jerkbaits impart action to the bait using a series of short jerks followed by brief pauses. This will cause the bait to dart and twitch erratically . As the water gets colder, extending the pause is a great move to get bit. A suspending jerkbait is enough to drive even the most tenuous followers to commit. 
My go-to bait is the 3DB Jerkbait 110 Deep. The 110 Deep is a high-quality jerkbait designed to mimic the movement of a wounded baitfish. These three treble hook baits are super durable with a 3D Prism Finish. One of my most favorite features of this bait is the Weight Transfer System which allows me to bomb that bait on a long cast, even into the wind, effortlessly.

Additional Early Fall Fishing Tips
  • Pay attention to the weather: Cloudy days and wind can make shallow water bass more active,
  • Watch for changes in wind direction – this can really fire up fish activity,
  • Experiment with different colors and sizes but start with a bait that best mimics the predominant bait fish in your water body.
As the temperatures start to drop, try these shallow water presentation options. Some of the biggest fish of the year are strapping on the feedbag right now for the coming winter season!

Will Nalley

 

SHARKS ON THE BEACH!!!!!! –by Chris Bishop

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Fishing for sharks anyone? As crazy as this may sound; this is often one of my favorite species to target and the time to target them is now. Now, we are not talking about filming the next episode of JAWS, we are talking about fishing the surf and going after the Black Tips and Spinner Shark species. 

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How do you locate sharks that are catchable? Well, remember sharks are predators like most other species of saltwater fish. Therefore, find the bait and you find the sharks.  Common bait you want to look for is Bluefish, small Jack Crevalle, Pompano, and Spanish Mackerel. It is not hard to find them because you’ll see the Spinner Sharks jumping out of the water and also busting the top after schools of bait. Overcast weather conditions seem to be the most favored, however sometimes the weather does not make a difference, sharks are hungry no matter what time of day it is. Usually the migration period for the Black Tip Sharks and Spinner Sharks is January through March. 

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Topwater baits are the guaranteed best bait to throw for feeding sharks. Again, a topwater mimics a wounded bait fish and creates a large water displacement. The sharks will locate the lure based on sound and motion. For the best choice in topwaters; try using the Yo-Zuri Surface Cruiser or Hydro Popper. Common colors to consider are Red Head, Pearl Yellow Pink, Dorado, and Sardine. Also, another important aspect to think about is your rod and reel setup. I would recommend using a spinning reel that can carry up to 300 yards of 50lb Yo-Zuri SuperBraid. A 20-50lb spinning rod is a strong enough rod to fight the sharks and is long enough to increase casting distance from the beach. The most critical component of this operation is the leader. I use 100lb-130lb TopKnot Leader and you want to use a really long leader. There are two reasons for this: sharks will jump and spin wrapping themselves up in the line, sharks have sharp fins and tails that can cut the line if it is too small. Another tip is to replace the treble hooks with inline J hooks; this makes it easier for unhooking the sharks once you reel them to land. 

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Shark fishing is not something for the faint at heart, however can definitely be something to cross off the bucket list not many anglers get to try. If you’re vacationing in south Florida in the winter months and want to catch a bizarre species not many people attempt look into land-based shark fishing!!!