Maybe getting up there in age, but still not too mentally feeble to learn a thing or two

[Frank M]

Granted, my short-term memory leaves a lot to be desired, but my mind is constantly alert to discovering new things, correct mistakes, innovating and remembering useful things. The list is endless and ongoing, which makes getting up in the morning worth it. Hobbies can be lifesaving because they involve concentration, learning and relearning, and the satisfaction of knowing the truth - the real truth minus the hype and misinformation. Posting on forums and sharing information keeps me going when other interests - like TV - fail to be of interest and when I can't fish.

Fishing, like most things, has rules. When those rules are ignored - few or no fish. As I get older, I find many rules actually limited my catch or at least didn't improve it, many based on fallacies decades old. The proof of what is true is in-the-catching. Well-I'll-be!!!! is a recurring feeling when a surprise reveals itself unexpectedly.

I know most of us have our own set of rules to fish by and no one can say they are wrong IF they serve a purpose. I don't expect anyone to agree with my assessments based on decades of testing ideas that seem rock solid but that actually muddy the waters. Based on what works for me - consistently- and my catches in different waters and seasons, still allow discovering new things and rule modifications. Here are some old and updated rules:

old:  fish are line-shy   

new - not really 

Line diameter and visualization underwater mean nothing to fish - anytime. Fluorocarbon has been used extensively based on misinformation, as does the practice of always using the smallest diameter line so as not to distract fish from striking. Again, my solid belief when it comes to line choice:

1. Line type and diameter should never negatively affect a lure's action Lures, in general, trigger strikes  That's it! Kill the trigger/ kill the effectiveness of the lure. For panfish in particular, I use smaller, lighter lures. Part of their appeal is time-in-the-zone, strike zone that it is. Rule #1: slower and smaller are usually better - but not always. Finesse lures, especially, need the time to strut their stuff. Heavier lures and line test reduce the strike trigger's potential.

2. That said, I use braid on spincast and spinning reels and for good reason: smaller line diameter for line test, long-distance light-strike detection and hooksets. I routinely cast 1/32 - 1/16 oz jigs and soft plastics. As long as I can cast a light lure 50', I'm happy. Covering more water means finding more fish willing to wake up and strike my lure. I always assume solitary fish are not active until schoolies MAKE NY DAY!

3. Recently I started using bright chartreuse and white braid and the bite is just as good.

old: action-tail soft plastics - i.e. curl tail grubs - are better overall

new - not really, and in fact - NOT TRUE!

Last year I had a curl tail ripped off by a fish but decided to caat it anyway. DANG IF IT DIDN'T CATCH FISH AFTER FISH AFTER FISH! I tried other bodies and found even more no-astico tail shapes that made my day- and every day thereafter. This was the first fish caught on the no-tail Mr Twister grub:

When it comes to discovering new things that help me catch fish, I can't help myself and have to explore variations on a theme. (BTW, the lure shown is not a NED Rig, the only similarity being a jig + soft plastic.) I have a zillion grub bodies to choose from, including those I pour. Here's one I call the bulb: 

   It waddles via rod tip twitches like no tomorrow which, as it turns out, is a great strike-trigger! Curl tails have a time & place when a steadily retrieved lure works, but for my money, no tail or finesse motion tails do better a majority of the time.

old: fish strike lures to EAT them and/ or are fooled into believing them to be prey.

new: NO WAY JOSE! e

As you've noticed from the above lure shape, it resembles nothing in nature - like 99.9 % of lures ever made. Natural-looking is something humans imagine when it comes to lures - not fish. In fact, the description unnatural is more descriptive of lures in general. So why do fish strike lures? Maybe is has to do with hypersensitive-senses coupled with the bully in them that is not tolerant of trespassers. We swat with our hands/ they bite and maybe  takes a lure in that gets deep hooked. A yummy meal it is not!

old: to catch larger fish one must cast larger lures

new: small lures catch all fish species and fish sizes.

Last week this 3.5 lb. pickerel was caught on a pink Crappie Magnet:

Good thing for the anti-reverse on my spincast reel!

That lure caught over 40 fish that day - mostly panfish.

I don't expect the majority of anglers to hold the same beliefs I have, but I do know that anglers who fish with me change their opinions when it comes to the above.

[Frank M]

Innovation, solutions to problems and WELL I'LL BE discoveries come when we least expect them to. I'm convinced that the human brain never rests - even in sleep. Subconsciously, it plays back what I disliked or liked about a situation or event and weighs various options. Most important is problem solving!

Example:

For decades I hated destroying soft plastics I wanted to change and use again because of the keeper barb on jigs. My brain got so desperate to find a solution that it put this idea on the table: the wire GRUB GRIP.

Some plastic-coated, floral arrangement wire, 24 ga, I had laying around I used for - I have no idea what!  

Wrap around once and clip one side close to the line tie post and bend as shown. Swing the wire into the plastic.

Note: I chose no-barb lead jigs and cut the barb off with wire cutters if there's no choice. Problem solved! Lures can be used over and over with no damage to the body.

[Frank M]

Many revelations come by dumb luck!

I was getting ready to launch my boat and I saw a lure on the ground. Turned out it was a Micro Chatterbait. I'd seen Chatterbaits before but never thought to buy one. The Micro stayed in my tackle box for a few weeks until I figured there must be a use for it - even as ugly as it was. When I retrieved it, the silicone skirt had little action so I attached a 5" Gary Yamamoto Kut Tail worm. The blade made that worm shimmy and pulsate like wild at a moderate retrieve. It was also more weedless than jig lures in the pads. 

Sure enough it caught bass!:

 

A week later, I reattached the slirt after shortening it. Now it had a nice flutter and skirt pulsations. It caught bass with no trailer!

I listened to my subconscious suggestions when it was time and rewarded with new lures to have fun catching fish on.

The latest is a Beetle Spin I hadn't used in years and I found a way to make my own as well as various lure to use with it. What a blast to see fish blast it!