I suspect that the fly-fishing gene had always lay dormant in my angling DNA. Inklings of it surfaced early in life when, at age 26, I signed up for a summer freshwater fly-fishing class at the local recreation center. But it was never to be. A day later our 18-month-old first son contracted life-threatening spinal meningitis, and all other plans faded to pale memories as my wife and I spent weeks at the hospital overseeing his treatment and, fortunately, his recovery. My wife was pregnant with our second son at the time, and little did I know that he would become the person to introduce me to fly fishing. It just took 44 years to get there.

In the autumn of 2023, I traveled to northern Utah where my middle son, Joshua, now resides with his wife and two kids. The plans had called for fishing a big lake called Strawberry Reservoir to troll for kokanee salmon — a strain of landlocked sockeye salmon known for its great taste. But gale winds had different plans, putting a halt to venturing out on this high-mountain lake and risking treacherous weather.

A Fly-Fishing Plan Comes Together

Joshua instead organized a float trip with his buddy Jeff Harwin on the lower Provo River to target big brown trout. Harwin runs Park City Flyfishing and Joshua is one of his guides, but this trip would be busman’s holiday for both of them with a caveat: fly fishing only. More to the point, dry flies exclusively.

“Woof!” I exclaimed. “You guys know that I have never fly-fished. Like ever.”

“That’s Okay!” Harwin hollered to me in the front of the boat, above the din of roaring Provo waters as we pushed into the first set of rapids. “It’s easy,” he said, while working the oars. “You know how to fish, so you’ll learn quickly.”

I turned to Joshua with a WTF expression. He was less reassuring. “The river’s moving pretty fast and we have gusty headwinds, so you’re going to have to cast quickly and with some power to hit the prime spots. Just listen to Jeff and do exactly what he says.”

Trouble with the Backcast

As we entered a slow section of the river, Harwin began calling out spots. “See that undercut bank on the left just ahead? Put your fly tight to the shore!” he barked. But rather than focusing on the spots, I grew concerned with my backcast, a cautionary precept drilled into the minds of West Coast saltwater anglers from a young age to avoid injuring anyone behind you. I missed spot after spot, and was beginning to think I would never learn.

“Don’t worry about the backcast,” Harwin said. “If you’re casting correctly, you won’t hit us. Stop that side-arm $#*!. Hold the rod high on the back cast, wait for it to load, and then come forward. The line will go well over our heads.”

I drew a deep breath and tried to relax while keeping Harwin’s coaching in mind. Joshua, an expert fly-caster in his own right, remained remarkably silent, knowing that Harwin possessed decades more experience and sensed that I might reach a point of overload if he too piped in.

My First Brown Trout

My fortunes turned around as we exited the next section of whitewater and slipped into the roiling pool below. “Put your fly next to the fallen tree,” Harwin said. I amazed myself by hitting the target. “Now give it a big mend up river.” I complied. “Good job, now let ’er hunt.”

Seconds later, a nice brown trout rolled on the dry fly, and I set the hook. This is what I came for. Harwin coached me through the fight. His first command: “Get it on the reel!” I let the excess fly line slip through my fingers. “Hold that rod high and keep a big bend in it, and keep your hands off the reel until I tell you to reel,” he said.

The last thing I wanted was to break off the first fish I ever hooked on a fly. That would piss everyone off, including me. So I followed Harwin’s advice to a tee, except for one little mistake. I kept lowering the rod, a habit born of years of battling saltwater fish in which high-sticking is a cardinal sin. “This isn’t saltwater fishing,” Harwin barked. “Get that rod high! Once it stops bending, crank in some line.”

After what seemed like an excruciating amount of time, the brown trout finally slipped into the landing net. Joshua finally spoke up. “That’s how you do it Dad,” he said, his voice cracking. For all of his outdoorsy toughness, like his mom, he is an easy cry. Not only was this my first fly-caught fish, but also my personal best brown trout, estimated at around 18 inches before we released it.

A Lean, Mean Fly-Fishing Machine

We went on that day to land six more brown trout amid nearly twice as many “eats” on dry flies between Joshua and I before reaching the haul-out point. Both Joshua and Harwin later admitted over lunch that my introduction to fly-fishing—indeed dry-fly fishing, the pinnacle of the sport—took place under some of the worst conditions possible. They were pleasantly surprised that such an old tyro could prevail.

The next day the weather improved, lending us an opportunity to visit Strawberry to troll for kokanee. “That’d be nice, but I’d like to go fly-fishing again,” I said to Joshua. His eyes lit up. “I know right where to go.”

We hooked up the Lund aluminum fishing boat and headed out to a beautiful lake in a picturesque high-mountain valley in the Wasatch National Forest, and for four solid hours caught rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Arctic grayling (a bucket-list species for me). We caught and released more than 50 fish, giving me an incredible opportunity to hone my fly-fishing skills. I fished nothing but dry flies, even when Joshua asked if I wanted to try fishing a nymph. “Nope,” I answered. “I’m hardcore now—it’s dry-fly or die.”

Yes, I definitely possess the fly-fishing gene. As such, there’s a lot catching up to do, and I plan to enjoy every minute.

The post Dry-Fly or Die appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

There is no place better than the annual ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) show in Orlando, Florida, to see the newest fishing products available this fall or early next year. The weeklong event is a blast for outdoor media because it allows us to get a sneak peek of things to come.

This year we saw a couple of different trends, including the introduction of next-generation trolling motors from a number of manufacturers. Also, since the ICAST show is a useful indicator of the future, anglers can expect to have even more options for sunglasses, deck boots, electric reels, and lithium batteries. Below, the products listed in alphabetical order caught our eye in some way. For complete features and specs on each product, check out the link provided to their official website.

Abu Garcia Revo SX-SS

The precision redesigning that went into the Abu Garcia Revo SX-SS is obvious. A lightweight, shallow spool makes this reel purpose built for skipping, pitching and flipping. No long casts with this one. A high speed 8.1:1 gear ratio and 22 pounds of Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag will help pull big bass out of thick cover.

AFTCO Mojeaux 1/4 Zip

ICAST’s winner for Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Women, the AFTCO Mojeaux 1/4 Zip Performance Shirt was designed by Capt. Moe Newman of Venice, Louisiana. She spends more days than most on the water in the Gulf heat. Her performance shirt includes Air-O Mesh ventilation fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, DWR stain release, quick dry / moisture wicking, a stealth zipper pocket, and thumb loops.

Bajio Eldora

Florida-based Bajio sunglasses label some of their frames after spots in the Sunshine State, places like Stiltsville and Ozello. The Eldora frames are named after an area of Mosquito Lagoon, located not too far from their office. Bajio prides itself on its quality frames and lenses, but also their sustainable practices and initiatives. Of note, Bajio recently launched a College Ambassador Program to help students and prospective students learn about the fishing opportunities at different universities.

Berkley Swamp Lord

The hollow-body Swamp Lord topwater frog from Berkley was designed by longtime bass pro Bobby Lane. The frog features mega-sharp Fusion19 hooks, plus a supple body material that easily collapses when eaten. A sealed body chamber reduces water intrusion. Buy the Swamp Lord in both standard and popping models.

Bonafide SKF 117

In a world where kayaks are looking more and more like single-person boats, the Bonafide SKF 117 keeps it surprisingly simple. The hybrid standup/sitdown fishing kayak is at home on the shallowest flats. A spring-loaded skeg in the keel deploys by a lever to help track straight. Total length is under 12 feet, but still has room for a cooler behind the seat. Plus, the high rise seat makes it easy to stand up and fish on the wide-open front deck. You’ll have no problem adding accessories such as a fishfinder or Micro Anchor if you want to go that route.

Columbia Castback TC PFG

A couple great features highlight the new Columbia Castback TC PFG shoe. First, you might notice the grippy razor sipings on the rubber outsole for exceptional staying power on the boat. Second, the midsole incorporates the OMNI-MAX Plus system: a TECHLITE+ midsole cradles the heel for balance while deflection domes in the forefoot and heel absorb impact. A fun fact: Castback’s shoe heel collapses if you want to wear the shoe like a slip-on.

Costa King Tide

Years in the making, the Costa King Tide 6 and 8 sunglasses are loaded with innovation. Two options include a medium wrap 6-base frame (King Tide 6) and a full wrap 8-base option (King Tide 8). What you’ll notice on the frames are the removable side shields, shark inspired venting to prevent fog, sweat management channels and eye wire drains, and non-skid hooding to keep your frames in one spot when you’re not wearing them.

Daiwa Tatula Elite

At the show, Daiwa introduced the TATULA Elite AGS bass rod series, a 16 model lineup with the latest advancements in Daiwa rod technology. At the core of the TATULA Elite AGS rods are lightweight SVF Nano Plus blanks, along with X45 Bias construction to prevent blank twisting for greater strength, excellent sensitivity, and hook-setting power. In conjunction, Daiwa also released a redesigned and affordable TATULA 100 that’s extremely palmable and ultra-ergonomic.

Fenwick World Class

Fenwick’s World Class rod series provide anglers with 62 technique-specific rods to meet their specialized needs. The freshwater rod models consist of bass casting, bass spinning, bass crankbait casting, and walleye spinning. The saltwater rod options offered include inshore spinning and casting rods. What makes the World Class rods special is how they feel in the hand — they developed a winner. Features include tailored foregrip, 40/36 ton graphite blend with proprietary reinforcing resin, contoured rod butt, and titanium guide frames with super thin zirconia inserts.

Garmin Force Kraken

Garmin Force Kraken’s brushless trolling motor produces 100 pounds of thrust on a 36-volt system. Key “modes” that new anglers will like include the precise anchor lock technology, route navigation and heading hold abilities. The Kraken trolling motor is designed with longer shaft lengths (63, 75 and 90 inches) and a pivot-style mount. Kraken also features wireless integration with Garmin electronics, plus select motors include a built-in all-in-one transducer with Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar.

G. Loomis NRX+ Inshore

Best saltwater rod at the show went to the G. Loomis NRX+ Inshore. These American-made blanks are rolled with Spiral X technology for increased casting distance, heightened sensitivity, and drastic weight reduction. No doubt about it, the rods are lightweight in your hand. Other specs include custom CI4+ reel seats and Fuji Titanium SiC guide train. The full lineup includes 10 casting and spinning rods.

Grundens Fishfinder Sandal

Grundens incorporated SeaDek into the footbed of its Fishfinder Sandal for wet traction and all day comfort. Water-friendly synthetic straps are quick drying, while a compression-molded EVA midsole delivers heel and arch support. The razor-siped non-marking rubber outsole performs well in wet conditions. This sandal offers everything you need in a flip flop.

Hobie Eyewear Floating Collection

While other sunglasses sink, Hobie Eyewear’s floating collection won’t slither into the depths. If you accidentally drop these sunglasses over the side, you won’t be kicking yourself. These glasses float. Different models are available, including the popular Coastal, Mariposa, Bluefin and Mojo (pictured) frames. All models are base 6 or 8 and feature Hydroclean 360 polarized lenses.

KastKing IReel

You might know about KastKing fishing products from Amazon, but its new IReel is as close as you can get to a “smart” reel. The IReel IFC (Intelligent Frequency Control) low-profile baitcaster features an axis eye line guide, lightweight aluminum alloy frame and carbon fiber side covers, 11+1 double-sealed stainless ball bearings, and a digital braking system. But the true highlight might be its Bluetooth capability. The reel connects to an app on your phone, then uses sensors in the spool to capture casting metrics (such as number of casts made, average distance, farthest cast, and retrieve speed) which you can study later off the water.

Minn Kota Riptide Instinct

The new Minn Kota Riptide Instinct brushless trolling motor is packed with QUEST technology. Check the specs on their website for complete details, but some highlights include 30% longer runtime and 50% greater torque, a redesigned and upgraded mount to handle increased torque, carbon fiber infused shaft, a new lift-assist assembly, and real-time battery monitoring. We tried out a model with a 100-inch shaft on a center console boat — this new Instinct motor is built for offshore fishing too.

Mustad Alpha Point

Mustad’s Assault 4/0 Wide Gap hook is a next level option for weedless rigged soft plastics because of its unique hook shape and AlphaPoint 4.8 technology. AlphaPoint delivers an even sharper and slimmer hook point length than the popular UltraPoint. An elongated and shallower point section allows for deeper and faster hooksets, while Mustad’s strategic Tak-bend gives larger and thicker soft baits the ability to sit flush to the hook. Soft plastics will fully collapse and produce better hooksets.

Native Watercraft TitanX 12.5

One the most loaded kayak rigs we’ve ever seen at the ICAST show. The new TitanX 12.5 measures 12 and a half feet long and 40 inches wide. What you can customize on the boat is eye-opening. Up front, a quick release mount allows a trolling motor to easily be added or removed (not pictured in this photo). Then, in the cockpit, there’s space for two Garmin graphs on a bar accessory, and the Propel Pedal Drive. In the back, a Native Watercraft Sidekick Wheel System, YakAttack BlackPak Pro and dual Power-Pole Micro Anchors. At the stern, a Newport Vessels NK 300 Motor with foot steering. Yep, two motors on this rig.

Newport Bluetooth Lithium Battery

Newport introduced its Bluetooth Lithium batteries. The lightweight battery features LiFePO4 cell construction and Bluetooth connectivity. With three versatile power options (24V50Ah, 36V30Ah and 36V40Ah), each battery is equipped with mobile-enabled Bluetooth monitoring. Anglers can check real-time battery status directly from their smartphone using the Newport Battery app. In addition, a built-in Battery Management System (BMS) actively monitors and regulates battery functions for optimized performance.

Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL + 132

The Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 stole the show, winning the best boat at ICAST. What grabbed everyone’s attention was the ePDL+ drive, similar to an assist you might see on an ebike. The saltwater-proof ePDL+ drive allows anglers to seamlessly switch between manual pedal, power-assisted pedal, or fully motorized cruise control. There are five levels of power assistance total. A cruise control option lets a kayaker take their feet off the pedals, allowing the motor to take over.

Pelagic’s Steve T Goione Shirts

Steve Goione, a marine artist who works with fishing tournaments such as the Bermuda Triple Crown, teamed up with Pelagic to produce shirts with his incredible artwork. Goione utilizes a technique called pointillism, painting with small, distinct dots in conjunction with fish patterns to form an image. The tough task was to transfer Goione’s prints to Pelagic’s shirts, but the results were an absolute success. Pictured in the inset, Pelagic’s tri blend shirt with a sailfish.

PENN Spinfisher VII

The newest Spinfisher VII features IPX5 sealing so you don’t have to worry about saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system. Penn’s HT-100 drag washers are also housed in a fully sealed spool. A full metal body and side plate keep the brass CNC gears in precise alignment under stress. Pictured, notice the unique line keeper that holds heavy leader material.

Plano Edge Jerkbait Box

The Plano Edge Jerkbait box is purpose-built to hold up to 20 jerkbaits. An EZ label system and crystal-clear lid makes organization easy. And Plano’s Rustrictor technology offers 360 degree moisture protection. The days of untangling a mass of hooks and lures from your tackle tray are gone.

Rapala CrushCity

Rapala introduced its first-ever line of soft baits, with design help from pro angler Jacob Wheeler. The brand is called CrushCity, and they already have five different creature baits ready to rock. The baits look pretty darn tantalizing. Rapala says to pair CrushCity softbaits with VMC hooks and Sufix fishing line. Pictured, from left to right, the Cleanup Craw, Freeloader, Mayor and Bronco Bug.

Salt Life SLX

Salt Life has so many different options when it comes to clothing, you’ll have something to wear whether you’re on the water or out to dinner. Salt Life designed its best performance fabric for a life in the sun, near the water, with their proprietary SLX UVapor fabrics. Look for that SLX label. You’ll also notice the breathability of Salt Life offerings in positions along the back or under the arms (pictured).

Savage Gear BFT Flyer

The Savage Gear BFT Flyer is a pre-rigged flyingfish lure built to catch big-game species such as tunas. The design is based on a meticulous 3D scan of an actual flying fish. The 16-inch Flyer’s wings are easily removable by design. The lure comes pre-rigged in a harness, able to be presented for trolling or kite fishing. A line-thru design causes the lure to surge up the leader when a fish is hooked, preventing the fish from utilizing the lure’s weight as leverage during the fight.

Seaguar TactX

Seaguar TactX comes as a budget friendly braid and fluoro kit. Seaguar provides a recommended leader pound test to go along with the 4-strand braid. The braid is strong and abrasion resistant, engineered to maintain its round shape and stay firm to minimize rod tip wrapping and wind knots. Treat this braid as an all-around option for castability, abrasion resistance and overall strength.

Seviin Reels

St. Croix, the well-known rod company, now makes reels. Under a new brand called Seviin reels, they introduced spinning and baitcasting models at ICAST. Yes, fresh and saltwater too, with the GX Series Seviin for freshwater and GSW for saltwater. Available in 3000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 sizes, GSW reels are sealed with fully gasketed side plates and blade seals on the spool shaft. Specs include 6 + 1 shielded stainless-steel bearing system, powerful multi-stack carbon fiber drag, stainless-steel drag components, and precision hard-brass pinion and die-cast drive gear.

Shimano Mastiff FC

Shimano won the best line category at ICAST with its Shimano Mastiff FC fluorocarbon line. In particular, Mastiff FC utilizes NANOARMOR technology. An application of nano-size ridges across the outer surface of the line helps prevent knot-slipping when fighting large fish. Plus, there’s no slippage when bass fishing with techniques like twitching, jerking or casting large lures.

Shimano Poison Ultima

The freshwater Poison Ultima rod from Shimano has its history in the JDM market. This rod incorporates some of Shimano’s most advanced rod technologies, including Spiral X Core technology, Hi-Power X technology, and Shimano X-Guide. Casting models feature Shimano’s Full Carbon Monocoque grip — a full-carbon design that’s surprisingly sensitive. Of note, the new handle shape was developed by analyzing tournament anglers’ movements and holding posture to elevate performance.

Toadfish Casting Series Rod

A Toadfish casting rod is a great inshore option. They’re lightweight and built with salt-proof hardware. Components include Kigan 3D stainless steel guides, plus Winn Grip foregrip and handle butt. Buying a Toadfish rod as part of their Put ‘Em Back movement actually helps clean coastal waters, as Toadfish supports replanting and replenishing oyster habitat efforts.

Tsunami Forged Spinning Reels

A new beefy option from Tsunami. You might be aware of their Forged lever drags, but Tsunami introduced black Forged spinners in a number of sizes (4000, 6000 and 8000). Pick these spinners up, and you can feel the weighty toughness in your hands. The reels feature a stainless gear S-Drive, similar to their SaltX spinners. The 4000 model has a 6 bearing system.

TUF-LINE Fluorocarbon XD

TUF-LINE Fluorocarbon XD was designed to be abrasion-resistant and virtually invisible underwater. The company says this is the leader to use when targeting skittish fish or when fishing in heavy cover, dragging baits along rocky bottom, or jigging offshore. With less stretch and slack, plus its quick sinking ability, expect a great bait presentation and solid hookset.

XTRATUF BioLite

Check out this unique sandal from XTRATUF. It reminds me of Crocs. But these XTRATUFs are made using BioLite, a low compression high performance injection molded EVA foam that is easy to clean. Take these water shoes anywhere. They’ll drain quickly and dry out in short order. Can you handle the look of them?

YETI Yonder Water Bottle

YETI released some new sizes of its lightweight and nearly indestructible Yonder Water Bottle, along with a new Tether Cap. This is a great bottle to use when you need to keep the weight down in your backpack. Yonders are made from BPA-Free 50% recycled plastic, they’re 100% leakproof and 50% lighter than Ramblers.

Z-Man Rattle Snaker

Z-Man figured out a way to add rattles inside its soft baits with the Rattle Snaker. Insert the tool’s point into the bait’s tail, head or torso. Then place a rattle inside the tool’s hollow needle. Implant it with the pushrod and you’re all set. The package includes a surgical steel grade needle protected by a silicone needle guard, 10 glass rattles, and storage for rattles or tungsten weights.

Z-Man Mulletron

Z-Man’s Mulletron is a great finger mullet imitator. The realistic head and body shape, lifelike gill plate, eye and fins are molded from ElaZtech superplastic. The bait does not come pre-rigged, so Z-Man recommends using a ZWG hook. Pick from 10 popular inshore colors. Available in 3.3- and 4-inch swimbaits sizes.

The post Here’s What Caught Our Eye at ICAST appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Like alien invaders in H.G. Well’s sci-fi novel The War of the Worlds, unwelcome invasive fish and transplanted exotics have landed in our local waterways. Unlike our reaction to Well’s three-legged Martians, earthlings welcome alien fish with open arms and sharp hooks. If you’re looking for a challenge, check out these five freshwater invasives.

An invasive fish species is defined as a fish that’s been introduced beyond its native range and is causing harm, or has the potential to cause harm, in its new waters. Check your local fishing regulations to find out what actions you should take after you’ve caught an invasive species. It’s possible you’re supposed to keep it, to report it, to kill it, or even to release it back into the waters where you caught it. No matter what, there’s little harm in fishing for invasives, but plenty of benefits.

Florida’s Peacock Bass  

South Florida’s warm water and plentiful sunshine are perfect for tropical invasives such as peacock bass from South America, cichlids from Africa, and clown knifefish from Asia. 

Capt. Johnny Stabile, at South Florida Fishing Charters says, “Peacocks are just like largemouth — find them near structure.” Stabile looks for rock pinnacles and boat docks to find peacock bass.

To load up on bait, Stabile first catches threadfin shad and shiners with a 10-foot cast net. To fish the live bait, he uses a lightweight, medium-action rod and 2500-reel spooled with 10-pound braid and 15-pound fluorocarbon leader. He snells a No. 1 octopus-style hook to the leader and runs the hook through the roof of the bait’s mouth. 

To work the structure, Stabile makes a long cast and slowly swims the live bait back to the boat. “If the bait is within 10 feet of a peacock bass, the fish will attack.” 

Stabile also uses small crankbaits and jerkbaits to target peacock bass. He recently found a new favorite, the Shimano Macbeth 39. “The tiny square-bill crankbait gets bit!” he says.

Carp Fishing on Fly

For fly fishing anglers, one of the ultimate experiences is tracking a bonefish across an emerald water flat. For fly fishing guide Henry Cowen, chasing common carp in the Chattahoochee River is the next best thing. “I’m a few miles from Atlanta, and yet I’m still poling a skiff around flats like they do in the Everglades or Keys,” he says.

Cowen recommends a 7-weight rod, floating line, 10-foot fluorocarbon leader and 10-pound-test tippet. For a fly, he uses a beadhead woolly bugger, Clouser swimming nymph or carp hybrid fly in brown, rust, black or olive. “Carp like a little pink or orange in the fly too,” he adds.

Chattahoochee River carp are feeding machines, but Cowen says they are spooky. “The fly has to land next to the carp’s mouth,” he says.

Common carp are native to Europe and Asia. The invasive species was introduced to the US intentionally, with hopes that it would catch on as a food fish and sportfish. But it never gained a strong following, even as it spread across the nation’s waterways.

Mid-Atlantic Snakeheads

Snakehead are the poster child for invasive species. Their appearance in the mid-Atlantic was first met with horror and now anglers and foodies love the asian alien.

Damien Cook, at Lowland Outfitters on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, searches the backwater creeks with chatterbaits, swimming frogs and paddle tails. In summer, he looks for fry balls guarded by overly protective snakehead parents. 

When it comes to rigging, Cook warns, “Prepare for a brutal attack.” He uses a 7-foot baitcasting rod and 200-size reel spooled with 30-pound braid tied directly to the lure.

The snakehead endgame is a fight to the death. Cook recommends using a deep net to land the snakehead. “Then I hit the fish with a steel pipe,” he says. 

Blue Catfish in Unconventional Places

In the 1970s, Mississippi blue catfish were introduced into Virginia’s James River as a target for commercial and recreational anglers. The results have exceeded expectations.

In the dead of winter, Capt. Hunter Tucker, of Hawg Hunter Fishing, turns his attention to giant catfish weighing up to 80 pounds. “Around here they’re the biggest thing going,” he says.

He starts the day catching gizzard shad with a gillnet. Then, he baits a chunk of shad on a 10/0 Owner circle hook and fish-finder rig with an eight- to 16-ounce sinker. 

He anchors his boat and fishes structure like depth changes and brush piles. “On a cold day, look for the fish moving onto shallow flats as the sun comes up,” Tucker says.

Throw Another Barramundi on the Barbie

Barramundi are native to Australia but a small population found its way to central Florida. Originally started as a barramundi fish farm, Osceola Outback Adventures added sport fishing to the menu when word got out about the fish’s fight. Owner Byron Hennecy says, “They are the hardest fighting fish I’ve ever caught.” 

To catch barramundi, Hennecy recommends a 7½-foot rod and 2500-size reel spooled with 30-pound braided line and 50-pound monofilament leader. “The fish have sharp gill plates, like a snook, so re-tie after a couple fish,” Hennecy recommends.

Barramundi lures include D.O.A. CAL shads, Z-Man Mag Swimz, Stanley Jigs Top Toad, and the Whopper Plopper. Hennecy says the fish are popular with fly fishing anglers using Clousers minnows, crab and shrimp imitations. 

Even though the fish are captive in a 3-acre pond, Hennesy says they are a blast to catch. “Barramundi hit like a freight train, run hard, and jump out of the water.” That sounds like freshwater tarpon fishing!

The post The Top 5 Invasive Freshwater Fish to Catch appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Lea Anne Powell’s already extensive resume has a new entry. Along with race car driver, TV host, competition angler, and cover model, she is now an official International Game Fish Association largemouth bass record holder.

Powell, of Lake Jackson, Texas, received official certification as the women’s 12-pound class record, having caught (and released) a 12-pound, 3-ounce jumbo at O.H. Ivie Lake in late February. The bass was her second personal best in 15 hours; she boated a 10.6-pound largemouth the previous evening.

Powell was fishing with her friend Dalton Smith, owner of Dalton Smith Guide Service, on his time off.

“We just planned on hanging out and having a good time,” she said. “We didn’t plan on breaking any personal bests.” Tossing a Strike King 10XD crankbait, Smith caught a bass they guessed was around seven pounds, then handed the rod back to Powell, who was soon connected to a 10.6-pounder.

“When she hit, the line just went soft,” Powell said. “I started winding and then felt pressure. I’m pretty sure everyone on that lake heard me, because I lost my mind. I was yelling and jumping.” Her previous best bass was 7.8 pounds.

The pair were back on O.H. Ivie the next morning. An impoundment of the Colorado and Concho rivers about 200 miles west of Dallas that gave up a 17-pounder this winter, the lake is stocked and fished hard. This time, Powell was using an Ugly Stik spinning rod, an old reel spooled with Seaguar Red Label 10-pound fluorocarbon, a Damiki jig head, and a small 6th Sense soft plastic swimbait (white with a chartreuse tail).

“We showed that bass a very small presentation, compared to what most people are throwing at O.H. Ivie,” she said. “It is stocked, but it is a giant body of water that is highly pressured.” Using a Garmin LiveScope from Smith’s tournament boat, the two could watch educated bass reject baits and then sidle up alongside some cover, seemingly spooked by the lure and finished feeding for the time being. “These big fish didn’t get big by being stupid,” she said.

The record fish put up the kind of tussle you would expect, forcing Powell to tighten and loosen drag during the fight as the bass bulldogged among sunken saltcedar trees. When it was finally in the net, the hook fell out of the fish’s mouth.

“We put her in the live well and had to take her to Elm Creek RV & Campgrounds, which had the certified scale,” Powell said. The bass went to the scale in a weigh bag, was measured and weighed, returned to the livewell, and back to O.H. Ivie. “She was released cleanly, and goes back to torment people who don’t know how to finagle big ol’ fish,” Powell recalled with a laugh.

Auto racing takes up much of Powell’s bio, but she’s also a self-described fishing fanatic. After losing both of her parents and a close friend in late 2014 and 2015, she took up fishing in, of all places, the Middle East, where she worked as a driving coach at the Yas Marina Circuit Formula 1 facility in Abu Dhabi.

“I met some locals and started fishing,” she said. “I had a natural knack for it and I just homed in on it. I don’t do much in moderation. I found both peace and excitement in it.”

The post Another World Record Bass Out of Texas appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Locating River Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass are found throughout the river, but because of the number of people who float the river every summer, I recommend fishing in the spring, or above the put-in spots and below the take-out locations of the float companies near Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

You can also use one of these float companies to your advantage. Rent a vessel from one of them if you don’t have your own. You can still catch plenty of bass in the more crowded portions of the river; just know that you might have an audience when you hook a smallmouth in the summer months.

The old cliché is true: You never fish the same river twice. But I’ve found that you can take a similar approach to the river. The deep holes with brush always seem to hold fish. I rarely spend time fishing anything that doesn’t break the current. Sometimes, this means I’m casting at a single large rock in the middle of the river. Other times I aim for the laydown on the bank’s edge.

Smallmouth bass use current breaks to rest while waiting for their next meal, so if you cast your lures in these areas, you’ll get more bites.

Wade fishing is possible on a lot of the river, but the best approach is to use a fishing kayak. I love the agility of a kayak over a canoe. Once I thoroughly fish a hole, I can quickly move on to the next spot easily. A full-size canoe simply doesn’t maneuver as well as a fishing kayak.

Smallmouth Bass Lures for River Fishing

Call me a minimalist, but I use just a few lures when fishing for river smallies. That might be because I’m in a kayak and can’t bring my entire collection of lures, but I prefer to believe it’s because I’ve found the baits that work best time and again.

Topwater Lures

A River2Sea Whopper Plopper, Berkley Choppo or similar style bait is my favorite topwater for river bronze-backs because it doesn’t take much to annoy them into biting. And it floats, so I can cast it in the shallows without getting snagged.

Moving Lures

I’m a power fisherman through and through, so moving lures are my go-to option. The lures I catch most of my smallmouth on in my plastic boat are shallow-diving crankbaits, swimbaits and inline spinners.

Finesse Lures

Even though I prefer moving baits, sometimes I have to slow down. That’s when I’ll tie on a Ned Rig or Wacky Rig. The Z-Man TRD CrawZ is my go-to soft plastic for a Ned Rig when river fishing. A Yamamoto Senko or Berkley Powerbait The General is a perfect wacky rig soft-plastic option.

Planning Your Smallmouth Fishing Trip

Growing up, we would haul our kayaks and canoes from home to fish the lower Illinois River for trout regularly. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) stocks it with rainbow trout every few weeks when the conditions are right.

However, many float companies, especially on the upper Illinois River, rent kayaks and canoes. Plus, they provide transportation to and from the river. This is an excellent option if you don’t own a small kayak or don’t feel like transporting it.

Another downside to bringing your boat is figuring out where it’s legal to launch and take out your vessel. The Illinois River has plenty of current, so you won’t be putting in and getting out in the same location. That’s why I recommend using a local float company if it’s your first trip to the Illinois River.

Best Time of Year for Smallmouth Bass

The upside to bringing your kayak or canoe is that the time of year won’t determine if you can hit the water. Most float companies are only open during the summer, limiting your opportunities to fish. The best fishing on the Illinois River occurs in the spring, early summer, and fall because you can avoid the crowds. That also tends to be when local smallmouths bite best.

The post A Float Trip for Smallmouths in Sooner Country appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The new holder of the Idaho state record for northern pike is no stranger to big fish. Thomas Francis moved west in 2005 from Boston, and “was pretty big into striper fishing back then,” he told Sport Fishing magazine.

Now settled in Post Falls, Idaho, near the Washington border, Francis has specialized in casting jumbo plugs for the local specimens. “I can’t stare at a bobber all day, and the steelhead are not big on chasing big lures,” he said. That generally leaves northern pike. Francis fishes for them as often as he can, from ice-out in the spring until it returns in the fall. “I catch 20- and 30-pound pike on the regular,” he said.

When Francis was fishing Hayden Lake on March 21, a northern attacked his 11-inch hard-plastic swimbait and ended up in the record books. The fish struck as the lure touched the bottom and buried herself, he recalled — though not for long. At one point in the intense five-minute fight, the northern flung itself into the air.

Taylor Hale, Francis’s fishing buddy, was answering nature’s call when the hookup occurred when he heard Francis say, “this fish is different.”

“I knew it was a big fish, so I zipped up my pants,” said Hale, and he went to assist in the catch.

The Idaho Fish and Game department called it “a true monster of a fish.”

The two were fishing from Hale’s 16-foot Tiderunner. Francis was using an extra heavy irod baitcasting rod with a Daiwa Tatula reel, 80-pound braid and fluorocarbon leader.

Once the fish was in the boat, the pair set out to find a scale. The one at the dock only went up to 30 pounds, but eventually they found a certified device and got an official weight of 40.76 pounds. The previous record, 40.13 pounds, was set by Kim Fleming in 2010 on nearby Lower Twin Lake.

Francis declined to say what make and model of swimbait he was using, because the company was planning an announcement in the coming days and wanted to make a splash. “I’ve been working with this bait company for a while, and they’re pretty excited,” Francis said. Meanwhile, Francis and Hale have taped an episode of Adrian Dean’s Scales N Tales podcast and will no doubt share more of their experience with the northern pike of northern Idaho.

How do they stack up against the striped bass of the East Coast? “I’d have to go with the pike,” Francis said. “Stripers are strong, but I’m into the teeth.”

The post Record Pike Caught in North Idaho appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

In Minnesota, Lake of the Woods will allow fish houses to remain on the ice until the end of March. But for many of us across the US, the ice is melting quickly. In fact, for some anglers, it’s gone already or was never cold enough this past winter. Open water fishing is back on the menu.

Time to get your tackle and gear ready to fish. One of the top species many freshwater anglers will be itching to target is bass — largemouths or smallmouths are favorites. Yes, catfish, walleye, trout, pike and panfish have fanatics too, but their popularity is nothing compared to bass fishing.

As proof, pro angler Jeff Gustafon recently won the 2023 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River. He caught 42 pounds of smallmouth bass over three days of fishing to take home a check surpassing $300,000. He was quoted as saying, “This is my Stanley Cup.” That’s quite a statement from a Canadian.

Checkout this new gear for freshwater anglers. Will something highlighted below help you land a bass worth bragging about? Maybe it’ll even help you catch a tournament winner.

Daiwa Tatula Elite

Looking for a new baitcasting rod that allows you to cast far and work a jig deep? Daiwa’s Tatula Elite could be a great option ($189.99). When Daiwa created this series of rods — and there are a bunch of rod options — they asked bass pros their favorite techniques and optimal rod actions. Canada’s Cory Johnston prefers a specific Tatula Elite rod (Model: TTEL751MHRB) for football jigs. The 7-foot, 5-inch medium-heavy casting rod has a straight cork grip and is built from Daiwa’s X45 BIAS graphite fiber construction. He calls it his “everything rod” for bottom-bouncing techniques. Pair the rod with Daiwa’s Tatula SV 70 casting reel ($229.99) and a Daiwa + Ever Green International ¾-ounce Grass Ripper jig ($7.49). This quality setup will shine when fishing deep water or exploring shallow grass in the spring.

Berkley Scented Flicker Shad

There’s more to this lipped bait than meets the eye. Berkley Labs combined smell into its lineup of new Berkley Flicker Shad hard baits. Everyone knows about Berkley’s Gulp! soft baits and attractants, but the proprietary scent tech has now jumped to lures with trebles. Here’s how it works: The new Flicker Shads contain a scent pocket that holds and disperses Berkley’s Gulp! gel. A tube of Gulp! hard bait gel comes with new Flicker Shads (available in 10 colors), so you can apply the smell to a strip on the side of the lure over and over again. The scent disperses in the water as you troll or cast a lipped Flicker Shad. Reapply new Gulp! gel as necessary. The new Flicker Shads are sold as 1-packs ($9.99), 3-packs ($19.99) and 5-packs ($29.99) in 5- and 7-cm lengths.

H2OX Spinning Rod and Reel

What is the most common question you see on fishing forums and other online groups from new anglers? It’s almost always something along the lines of: “I’m new to fishing. What rod and reel should I buy?” To me, the answer is an affordable, easy to use spinning outfit that doesn’t have the barriers of sticker shock or a steep learning curve.

Check out these options from Academy Sports: The H2OX Mettle 30 spinning reel ($29.99) has a 5.2:1 gear ratio, 6 bearings, composite frame, and aluminum spool. Match the reel to a 7-foot H2OX Evo spinning rod ($99.99), with its medium-light power, moderate action, helical core graphite construction, semi-micro Kigan SiC line guides, Fuji PTS reel seat, EVA foregrip and carbon fiber rear grip.

To me, this setup with 10- to 15-pound line, works great for any bass angler looking to cast and retrieve lightweight soft plastics — the rod sensitivity is there to feel subtle bites. I tried out the rod-and-reel pair, and let me tell you, even catching 1-pounders on soft stick baits was a blast.

Orvis Pro Approach Hiker

Wading warriors, this one is for you — it doesn’t matter if you’re fishing the fresh or salt. The Orvis Pro Approach Hiker ($229) is one tough mid-height, wet-wading boot. Use the Approach Hiker in many applications, including river fishing, flats fishing or even kayak fishing. Included in the boot is a liner with substantial ankle support and foam foot bed, plus a soft EVA midsole. A Michelin outsole, similar to Orvis’ Pro Wading boots, means anglers can expect reliable wet and dry traction on slick or rocky terrain. The rubber toe helps too. A built-in, zippered gravel guard with hook-and-loop strap is the top layer of the boot, but just below is a lace-up interior that gives you that secure shoe feel. Easy access heel loops on the outer cover and interior help you pull the boots on snug quickly. Trek to the spot and then wade-fish all in the same footwear.

Abu Garcia Revo Rocket

Abu Garcia’s Revo casting reels have undergone a complete redesign with a new look and upgraded components. The Abu Garcia Revo Rocket ($329.95) casting reel now has an asymmetric body design to handle a larger spool for increased castability without growing the size of reel’s total profile. The reel’s Powerstack drag system delivers a surprising amount of stopping power, maxing out at 18 pounds. Other specs include an IVCB-6 brake system for controlled casts, 10 stainless-steel bearings (plus 1 roller bearing), a 95-mm handle with oversized knobs, and 10.1:1 gear ratio (about 43.5 inches per turn). Of note, Abu Garcia also makes a Revo Rocket spinning reel ($199.95) that’s hard to miss with its blazing red colors.

The post New Fishing Gear for March: Freshwater Edition appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

That remote pond you scouted on Google Maps holds more than largemouth bass and crappies. The same can be said for that isolated marsh you hunt on public lands during the season.

A new study found that out-of-the-way wetlands, disconnected from larger lake or river ecosystems, are fantastic at trapping pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus. In fact, they’re twice as effective at protecting downstream waters when not connected to those downstream waters, according to the study.

The official term for these of types of waters are called geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs). Unfortunately, GIWs are often the first environs destroyed because of increased development or agriculture. In turn, more nitrogen and phosphorus are produced in areas that once captured it.

“If pollutants aren’t caught by small wetlands, then they’ll run into our lakes, beaches and eventually impact our supply of drinking water and ability to use the beaches for recreation,” said Dr. Nandita Basu, an Earth and Environmental Sciences professor at the University of Waterloo.

Basu, Dr. Frederick Cheng, and other researchers used computer modeling to study 30 years of satellite imagery from across the United States to determine how 3,700 wetlands were filling up and draining as a function of seasons and climate. Next, the goal was to show in what way “hydrologic dynamics can increase nitrogen retention estimates by up to 130 percent, with greater retention magnification for the smaller wetlands,” explained the study.

The researchers found the retention effects were more pronounced in semi-arid systems such as the prairies in North Dakota, leading to 1.8 times more retention, compared to humid landscapes such as the North Carolina Pocosins, with only 1.4 times more retention.

“Being disconnected can actually be better because they are catching the pollutants and retaining them as opposed to leaking them back to the stream waters,” said Cheng, first author of the study and currently a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University.

All wetlands act like sponges, sucking up and absorbing water from sudden events such as heavy rainfall, hurricanes or snowmelt. Wetlands provide natural flood protection, as well as improve water quality, provide habitat, increase biodiversity and trap carbon.

In Florida, the Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District recently broke ground on the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir. The new 10,500-acre storage reservoir and 6,500-acre Storage Treatment Area (STA) will capture polluted water — filled with large amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen from sugar farmers, animal feed and human waste — from Lake Okeechobee, storing and cleaning it before allowing the water to flow south to the Everglades.

The project, championed by fishing captains and anglers, will significantly reduce harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers on Florida’s east and west coasts, areas that regularly make national headlines for red tides, seagrass losses, algae blooms, fish kills and manatee deaths. Just as important, Florida’s Everglades will once-again receive clean freshwater, where it once flowed naturally and is vitally needed to survive.

The post The Power of the Pond appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

First, apologies for insulting you by citing the terribly cliched “elephants eat peanuts” maxim. But when it comes to fishing tiny lures, there’s really no getting around it. That catch-phrase is and has long been a ubiquitous part of fishermen’s jargon for a reason. It’s true. So often a fish larger than the angler ever imagined ends up hooked on a very small lure.

But then there is some logic to such experiences. We, as people, can say no thanks to something like liverwurst, but fish more often can’t afford to pass up anything edible they find, whether it’s a mouthful or a speck. So, yeah, “specks” do attract the attention of predators. And tiny lures put your offering on the menu of a great range of eaters from mini to mighty, increasing the odds for action.

Micro Fishing is Not Micro-Lure Fishing

Before we get too far along, I should stress that we’re talking about the growing specialized technique of micro-lure fishing and not a different approach, that of micro fishing. Micro fishing is a specific attempt to catch tiny fish, often less than the length of a finger — on hook and line, with line being 2-pound test or less, essentially no larger than sewing thread. The hooks used are called “hair hooks,” so named because they’re about as thick in diameter as a human hair.

Micro fishing is something my friend Steve Wozniak (no, not the one from Apple) of California practices regularly, with great success, as he approaches catching an astounding 2,000 fish species on hook and line, per his 1000-fish blog. Not that all of Wozniak’s catches are tiny; many are “macro” — of trophy size. But when he pursues fish the size of a cockroach, he’s micro fishing.

Small Lures Catch Large Fish

When anglers engage in micro-lure fishing, they’re ready for anything from fish as long as their hand to fish as long as their arm. While there’s no accepted standard that quantifies a lure as micro in size, think two inches, give or take. This may include Lilliputian crankbaits — actually far smaller than Jonathan Swift’s tiny folks from Lilliput. Crankbaits can be less than 1½ inches and weigh under 1/8 of an ounce. Most often, micro-lure anglers pair soft plastic tails, only a bit larger than your average mealworm, to thin-diameter hooks on jig heads that weigh 1/8 of an ounce or less.

Part and parcel of micro-lure fishing is ultra-light rods and reels. To go heavier would be more exasperating than fun. Think of trying to cast a Wooly Bugger trout fly on a baitcaster. But with scaled-down ultra-light spinners, spooled with 4- to 6-pound braided line, and thin, noodle-like rods, suddenly reasonably long casts aren’t out of reach.

Such super-light rods and reel also make micro-lure fishing feasible because they’re simply too light to apply great pressure — the sort of pressure that could easily bend out little micro hooks. Finesse is the key to all aspects of micro-lure fishing. Hook a (relatively) big one, and you’ll realize that you need all your skills as an angler to land that fish.

A Micro-Lure Fishing Day to Remember

A recent morning fishing the St. Johns River in a shallow stretch northeast of Orlando, Florida, served as a good reminder to me just how rewarding micro-lure fishing can be. Variously casting and trolling 1/10-ounce mushroom jigheads, armed with 1 ½-inch soft baits, my first fish was a stunningly brilliant red-breasted sunfish. I would catch two more that morning. I was trolling up-current when my little rod arced under the sudden strain of what proved to be a lively American shad, the first of three I hooked on my tiny lures. After that I landed several crappie (including a sizable one for the river) and Mayan cichlids.

But the least expected catch on the teeny-tiny jig, and most impressive, came as I trolled mid-river when something far bigger than expected began heading downriver with me in tow. After a number of long, hard runs, I finally managed to get the fish by the kayak long enough to get my lip gripper on the lower jaw of a catfish weighing more than eight pounds. At times, I had felt pretty outgunned, attached to the fish with only 6-pound line and that tiny jig hook, but landing it made my day.

Tips from Micro-Lure Fishing Experts

I asked two veteran micro-lure-fishing pros for their insight on this very specialized form of fishing. Paul Macinnis, an enthusiast fishing journalist, when not tied up in his day job as a Lockheed engineer, says he started fishing micro crankbaits in his youth, with Rapala Original Floating Minnows as small as 1.5 inches. “I’ve caught thousands of fish on that Original minnow and still use it. But Macinnis also favors the deeper-diving 1.5-inch Rapala Ultra Light Shad and the 1.5-inch Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap, a lipless rattler. “I catch a surprising number of monster bluegills on those two crankbaits,” he says.

For micro-lure expert Jose Chavez, a Florida resident of Tampa, his choice of micro lure is a tiny jighead with plastic tail, also in the 1.5-inch range. He fishes these, well — wherever he fishes, from home waters to as far away as Australia, where the micro jig-and-tails gave the kayak enthusiast an edge at times during a Hobie fishing tournament.

As for reels, both use 1000-size reels for much of their micro-lure fishing, though Chavez says he’ll go up to a 1500 size at times; Macinnis, on the other hand, will fish as light as a 500 size. He favors a 6-foot ultra-light rod (rated 2- to 6-pound); Chavez prefers slightly longer rods with light or medium-light power. That means rods with a decidedly soft action appropriate to very light lures and lines. Chavez goes with 10-pound braid, while Macinnis seldom exceeds six. Both prefer light leader — 10-pound test or lighter. Macinnis will tie his main line to 20-pound leader if tarpon, snook or large ladyfish are on hand.

“The Z-Man Shad Fry is  my go-to lure,” says Chavez. “I use this 90 percent of the time,” he says of the 1.75-inch tail. Disclaimer here: Chavez is Z-Man’s Director of Product Development. That said, I am a fan of Z-Man’s squishy and super-tough ElaZtech soft lures, and have had success with the company’s entire Micro Finesse line of tiny soft baits (five designs), fished on their miniscule Micro Finesse Shroomz mushroom jig heads.

Macinnis also lists these as among his current faves, particularly the Tiny TicklerZ, StingerZ and Shad FryZ, but also Nikko’s medium Okiami Shrimp, 1.5-inch Caddisfly, and 1.9-inch Pin Straight worms.

Micro jigs and tails have a cost advantage. That is, they’re cheap, especially compared to larger such baits and other lures. So you can fill a box with a variety of little jig heads and soft tails without any great investment.

Tiny crankbaits aren’t quite as inexpensive, but their size still offers a cost saving. Most lure manufacturers do offer various versions of their popular crankbaits in 1.5- to 2.5-inch sizes. I’ve had some notable success with little divers such as Rapala’s Ultra-Light Crank and the Savage Gear 3D Goby Crank Bait, which sadly seems to be discontinued.

I tend to favor tiny deep divers like these in many situations, since their diminutive size limits how far they can dive but the large lip (relative to the lure) give the lure plenty of frenetic action in a hard jerk/pause retrieve. Macinnis says he’s also a fan of trolling tiny crankbaits when moving from spot to spot.

When to Fish With Micro Lures

For me, fishing micro lures offers two of the things I crave most when I go fishing: variety and action. Just about everything eats the flashy little lures, which means in many situations, it’s hard to predict what will end up on your lure next. And since just about everything will snap at a micro lure, figure on fast fishing oftentimes.

Chavez echoes the variety appeal. And he’s quick to break out his box of micros “when small forage is abundant in a waterway,” where “predators can become focused on small forage to the point they may ignore anything larger.” For Macinnis, micros are great “when I just want to catch a mess of fish, and not spend a lot of time, effort or money doing it.”

“Just about every body of water is home to minnows, insects, tiny shrimp and other small prey — and an array of fish that feed on them That means micro lures work just about anywhere,” says Macinnis. He has a great time fishing Florida retention ponds, creeks and roadside canals with micro lures for bluegill, sunfish, crappie, cichlids, bass, catfish and more. “Besides all those panfish, you may catch baby versions of much larger game fish, and sometimes weird little fish you never thought would be there.”

Fishing brackish water, as Macinnis often does, offers even more variety. And he mentions in particular how effective micro lures have proven for him many times when targeting baby tarpon, which are a real kick on light tackle. “They’re so tuned in to mosquitofish and little killifish, they’ll pounce all over micro lures while ignoring larger baits.” (Though bigger tarpon will also inhale mini baits: Macinnis recalls casting teeny jigs in a coastal pond and catching bluegill and shellcracker. “I had no idea tarpon were in that pond until a 15-pounder ate my micro jig. The hook grabbed in a perfect spot, and I eventually landed it.”)

In serious bass-fishing circles, micro baits have found fans. In clear waters or where fish populations are heavily pressured, bass — and not just little ones — that ignore big worms or lures often pick up micro lures without a second thought.  Even coastally, in various fisheries, micro lures may prove valuable — for example at times for flounder.

The Challenges of Micro Fishing Lures

Fishing with such tiny offerings does present certain challenges. Both Macinnis and Chavez cite the casting distance of micro lures weighing as a limitation. Tossing lures weighing a fraction of an ounce can be tough, especially when it’s not with the wind. But very lightweight gear helps greatly. Chavez advises anglers not to bother fishing micro lures if they don’t have such light rods and reels. He likens trying to cast micros on heavier gear to “using a golf club to move a bowling ball.”

Tying braid to leader can be a challenge in general, but particularly with a very thin mainline to a wispy mono or fluoro leader. Macinnis extols the FG knot for this, and I’ve been able to tie some solid bobbin knots on super-light braid and leader, but when on the water, I still find it’s hard to beat tying a Bimini in the main line then tying that to the leader via an improved Bristol knot.

 Tiny mushroom jigs have very small, thin hooks. The good news is that such hooks tend to bite into flesh without great pressure. The bad news is the danger of thin-wire hooks bending out. That’s where the super-light line and gear come in, along with an angler’s finesse skills, to avoid applying excessive pressure. Odds are if the very light line or leader don’t snap, the hook won’t bend out. But there’s no denying that an angler’s chances of landing bigger fish require a dose of luck as well. But that challenge is part of the micro-lure fun, says Macinnis.

Micro-Lure Fishing Tips

• You may find that it doesn’t take long before tiny soft tails keep sliding down the tiny hook. The fix, advises Macinnis: A dab of gel Super Glue to hold plastic tight to jig head.
• While he generally fishes one micro jig at a time, Macinnis says in open water where casting distance may be more important, he’ll switch to a tandem rig. Two jigs cast better than one, plus of course that does put a second lure in the water. It can also be a good way to test for color preference.
• Like Macinnis, Chavez cites juvie tarpon as a poster fish for the use of micro jigs. They’re often feeding on fry bait and glass minnows and, at such times Chavez is glad he has the gear and baits to offer up micros, because, “They won’t touch anything bigger. In this situation, which I often run into in my home waters, a micro-finesse plastic bait can change a morning of frustration into one of great fun!”

The post Micro Lures Catch Fish Big and Small appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Tournament angler Jacob Moore’s bass wasn’t noteworthy for its size or length. But its color? That’s a different story. Moore was tournament pre-fishing Virginia’s James River, near Chippokes State Park, when he hooked a 16.5-inch golden largemouth bass. The catch immediately went viral across social media. Was Moore’s bass piebald, albino or maybe even radioactive?

 “Golden largemouth bass are extremely rare and most anglers have never seen them, let alone heard of them before,” said Alex McCrickard, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Aquatic Education Coordinator. “The fish is a product of a genetic mutation that alters the skin pigments called xanthism. Yellow pigmentation dominates in xanthism, as you can see in Moore’s golden largemouth.”

Moore took a couple photos of his unique catch before releasing the bass back into the water. But he’s not the first angler to catch a golden largemouth bass, and he likely won’t be the last. Anglers, with the pictures to prove it, have caught “golden” largemouths in Florida and Ontario, Canada, among other places.

What is Xanthism?

The yellow to orange-gold coloring that defines xanthism is a rare condition in nature, although it has been documented in a surprising number salt- and freshwater fish species. Sometimes, just parts of a fish are xanthochromic.

“Xanthism is caused by a mutation that depresses the presence of [black-pigmented] melanophores, thus allowing the [yellow-pigmented] xanthophores to be expressed,” the American Fisheries Society explains. “Generally, skin color in fish has a genetic base controlled by one or several genes, but may also be influenced by factors such as behavior, disease or physiological stress.”

The aquaculture industry has used xanthism to create golden trout, tilapia and catfish. Species such as smallmouth bass, peacock bass, crappie, gar, angelfish, triggerfish, narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, tripletail, barracuda and longfin yellowtail have all been observed in xanthic yellow. Of note, palomino trout are not xanthic; that unique species is selectively bred in hatcheries to express a leucistic mutation. 

Studies have shown that fish in xanthic colorations are easier for predators to spot and kill, possibly explaining why xanthic fish are so rare. So keep an eye out on your next fishing trip for that yellow- to orange-colored fish that definitely shouldn’t be those colors — the catch could be one in a million.

The post Rare Catch: The Weirdest Looking Largemouth appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.