Fishing Tackle

If inshore and nearshore marine anglers in the southeast U.S. had to choose an overall one-stop "lurish" offering, they'd be hard-pressed to pick an item more effective than the jig head and shrimp. Before we deal with its many applications, let's examine this wonderful rig.

Louis Johnson, a retired Chicago foundry operator, was frustrated by the abundance of weeds that kept fouling the hooks on his lures in his favorite fishing lake.

If you've ever hung a big landlocked striped bass on an artificial lure, you know it's a jarring experience. There's nothing tentative about the way a striper hits a surface plug, crankbait or jig -- no slight peck, no mushy feeling, none of that maybe stuff.

Fishing electronics are a valuable tool in today's world of fishing. They are also expensive and protecting your investment will make your days on the water more enjoyable and certainly more productive.

This the season...for blade baits.

Blade baits, those compact vibrating metal lures like Bass Pro Shops' XPS Lazer Blade, represent the style of lure in which I usually catch my last open water fish of the year on.

Two goals were foremost in Robert Hopkins' mind when he set out to build a new fishing spoon in the early 1940's. He wanted a lure that would cast for long distances to reach far away gamefish. And he wanted a lure that would fool a wide variety of saltwater species.

The arrival of December serves as a reminder that open water fishing opportunities are coming to a close, at least in my part of the country, which is western Pennsylvania.

If you're putting away open-water gear and planning to strip reels, consider saving some braid to reuse for various repairs and tie-down duties. It's amazing how functional superline is as a thread and twine replacement.