April 2015

The Importance Of Guides By Lance Merz The Northwest Outdoorsmen and Since I began working for Mack’s I went fishing recently on Lake Lure, I’ve been very fortunate to Chelan in central Washington and learn from some of the best fishing the majority of the Kokanee caught guides in the Pacific Northwest and were at 125ft. I’ve heard however, continue to “pick their brains” of that they have even been caught at what works best for a certain type 200ft or deeper! Sounds fishy? We of fishing. My mentor, Bob Loomis trolled around for quite some time (sales and marketing manager of before we dropped our gear deeper, Mack’s Lure) has taught me the but the results of those rod tips ropes and has taught me some very dancing were very fast. We were good lessons along the way. The using a Mack’s Lure Double D™ best way I learn is to talk about it, The author with a 2015 Kokanee Dodger, with a hot pink glow Cha then get my hands on it, then go out caught at Lake Chelan in Central and do it myself. Bob and other Washington. Cha® Kokanee Squidder, tipped with a couple kernels of corn on fishing guides have done this for each hook. me, and I’ve been pretty successful Although fishing season is in full with putting more fish in my boat. swing, there’s a great alternative The bottom line to fishing Kokanee this year is to be creative. Even There’s an old saying that holds true of how to effectively put more in the lessons that Bob has given me: fish in your boat. Have you ever though you have to do this during peak season, it especially holds true “You can lead a Horse to water, but wondered how to fish for a certain you can’t make them drink.” The species of fish, but feel absolutely when you can only find one. But where there’s one, there’s usually purpose of this saying is relative overwhelmed of what, where, and when it pertains to fishing because how to fish for them? One of the best more. This season of Kokanee fishing is going to be tremendous! you can either take their advice or ways to get started is by contacting not, it’s completely up to you. I a local fishing guide, getting on Take your time and dress warm; it’ll make dinner taste that much better! can assure you however, when Bob their boat and asking them as many or other fishing guides talk about questions as you want. At a local fishing, I listen!! area near you, there is always a Fishing is not like hunting. myriad of fishing guides who will Normally when fishing, when you show you the ropes of fishing for ask someone of how they caught a particular species of fish. These their fish, they will be the first ones to guides are extremely professional tell you what color they were using, and have the utmost passion for what bait worked the best, their fishing. Not only do these guides speed, water temperature, have fun with their jobs, but you weather conditions, how deep they can often find them between trips… Mike Roth with Team Take Down were fishing, etc, etc. If you ask fishing. Try fishing deeper during a person where they got a buck or this time of year. Richy Harrod of Guide Service. Page 1 Continued on Page 2 Continued from Page 1 bull, they will give you a very vague boat and boy let me tell you…it description of how and where they was hard work!! There are so many Finesse Vertical filled their tag. That’s the beauty variables that a guide must take into The Sonic BaitFish™ of fishing!! Most fishermen (or consideration. They really do have (SBF) For Ice-Out Bass women) are more than happy to tell a lot going on at the same time. and you what works best for them. Although they are working for a living, they are sharing their By Captain Pete Rosko experiences with you the entire Although my ice-out experiences time and teaching you; sometimes have primarily been limited to without you even knowing about it. Lake Erie marinas, this technique I wish I could tell you every guide is highly effective for most species that I’ve fished with over the past anywhere in protected freshwater. few years, but I can help steer you Here’s what I look for to maximize in the right direction. If you go to my success with the SBF… the Mack’s Lure website, there is a page that is dedicated to “Pro- Marinas and docks, in protected Staff”. This means that these local waters, are prime habitats that Bruce Warren with Fishing For guides and tournament fishermen enable me to successfully vertical Fun Guide Service. (and women) are the top dogs in the jig a 1/10 oz SBF. Prime structures industry. Booking a trip with them are metal docks with moored boats certainly means that you’re going to to absorb the sun’s warming rays. Fishing is a preference; what learn a thing or two. All of the Pro- Combine this with 4 to 6 feet of works well for one person, might not Staff are firm believers in Mack’s quiet water. By early afternoon, necessarily work for another. Using Lure products and use them on a on a sunny day, this warmer water a fishing guide however, gives you consistent basis. acts as magnet for game fish. Even a baseline of how to fish. Once a couple degrees of warmer water you have booked a trip, chances pockets can attract large numbers of are you’ll be able to pick up on fish. some great techniques or different riggings to use to more effectively I vertical jig the 1/10 oz SBF catch fish on a consistent basis. tight against any vertical structure Although I have had numerous that enters the water. The closer to mentors who have taught me how land is usually better because of the to fish, I can think of some guides warmer land mass. Larger structures who helped me in the right direction (metal or wood posts supporting as well. The first guide is Bruce docks) hold more radiant heat and Warren of Fishing for Fun Guide Jeff Witkowski of Darrel and Dad’s attract more fish. Remember, most Service. Bruce is a Salmon and Guide Service. of these fish are fairly sluggish from Steelhead fishing guide who is the cold water. Jig accordingly with based out of Puyallup, Washington. short twitches and holding the SBF I can remember that we were fishing So the next time you want to learn still (dead-sticking). Experiment at the mouth of the Deshutes river how to fish for a certain species, with your 1/10 oz SBF by attaching on the lower Columbia river when whether it be Salmon, Steelhead, the snap to the nose, or the back. I was on his boat. We were fishing Walleye, Kokanee, or Panfish, Never snap-jig in this cold water for the Fall Chinook in a technique seek out a fishing guide and you’ll environment as this will spook fish. called “hover fishing”. It’s a simple be glad that you did!! Most of the time, I will fish with way to fish; you have a weight on only a tail hook in place. However, your mainline and underneath, you -end- the advantage of a top-of-the-back have a bait of egg roe that is tied on line/snap attachment permits the use to a snelled hook. To top it all off, Mack’s Lure is pleased to of a nose and tail hook to maximize at the top of the hook is a .8” Mack’s announce that customers can the hooking efficiency. Fine wire Lure Smile Blade. As we were all now use their PayPal account treble hooks, attached with #1 light fishing on the boat, Bruce afforded to purchase from the Web site! or medium split rings work best to me the opportunity to Captain the secure the hook(s) to the SBF. Continued on Page 3 Page 2 Continued from Page 2 Glow white or glow chartreuse which you can have access. It’s my are great finishes for this ice-out Stan’s Space contention you see, that you can as most baitfish are pale in learn more about how to handle color. I do not recall ever adding You Better Learn To a bucktail jig when you can see scent or bait to the SBF to achieve Dance A Jig exactly how it’s performing down consistent high levels of success. there under the surface. “Run & gun” until you locate active Part 3 of 5 And don’t just limit your time on fish. Once you locate a productive By Hall-of-Fame Angler the pool to observing that jig all spot, I find that same spot will Stan Fagerstrom by itself. Try tipping the jig with a consistently produce every season plastic worm or grub. What happens Like the heading of this current as long as no major structural or as it falls? Does the combination do column series says: “You Better environmental changes occur. anything special as it falls if you Learn To Dance a Jig.” twitch your rod tip a bit? What does Let’s assume you’ve read a it look like down there on the pool number of the reasons why I bottom? Which worm or grub seems selected that headline in my last to have the most enticing action? two columns. You’ve read about That swimming pool is gonna nationally known anglers who say teach you a heap in a hurry. You’ll bucktail jigs are very likely one of find you have a whole lot more the most efficient lures an angler confidence when you do get out can tie on his line. there on your favorite lake or river. Let’s also assume you’ve accepted Where you do your actual fishing what the experts are saying. That’s will be one of the primary factors Try using a smaller Sonic why you’ve got yourself a selection in determining the approach you’ll BaitFish™ to more effectively catch of the Mack’s Lure Rock Dancer® be wisest to take. Another equally fish. bucktail jigs and you’re ready to go. important consideration will be the You’re asking where you should go My usual spinning outfit rigging fish you are after. includes 6 lb test braided mainline to try them yourself. with two feet of 6 lb fluorocarbon leader attached to the mainline with a double uni-knot with no swivel. I always have a wide bend snap attached to my leader to maximize the lure’s action (especially in warmer water) and for quick lure changes.

As always, be safe on the water You’ll find experienced anglers all and handle your catch & release over the place using bucktail jigs fish with loving care. Thank you for a variety of sports fish in both for subscribing to the Mack Attack salt and fresh water. These Mack’s and join us next month for the May Lure Rock Dancers are available in issue. Pete a variety of sizes and skirt colors. I’ve a skilled fishing friend whose approach when he’s after bass is one commonly used darned everywhere. “Once I find appropriate cover,” he Mack’s Lure Jigs have long been a favorite lure for Columbia River walleye anglers. says, “I get my Rock Dancer Jig Sonic BaitFish™ down into it with the least possible disturbance. I let the lure fall Let me make a suggestion in this straight down. If I don’t get bit as regard. Now that you’ve got those it falls, I just let the jig settle on the Rock Dancers forget all about bottom for about 10 seconds. Then heading for a lake or stream and I bounce it up about 5 to 7-inches find the nearest swimming pool to with a slight flip of my rod tip. If Continued on Page 4 Page 3 Continued from Page 3 I still don’t get a hit, I then hop it I’ve caught enough bass to know along the bottom for a couple more what one of them usually does Cookin’ Your Catch feet. If nothing happens I then reel when hooked. This one was acting on in and cast to a different part of different. When I finally got it up the cover.” to the boat, I was surprised to find Salmon Patties I’ve caught both bass and walleye it was a channel catfish that ran using a similar approach myself. As between three and four pounds. I quoted my friend Bobby Loomis We moved on down the shoreline saying earlier in this column series, and less than ten minutes later, I bucktail jigs appeal to darn near nailed another of those Fool Hollow every predatory fish that swims in cats. This one felt like it was about either salt or freshwater. Bobby is twice the size of the first. It finally the Sales and Marketing Director threw my jig and grub back at me. of Mack’s Lure and believe me he Like Bobby Loomis says, “get one does know his fishing. of those bucktail jigs out there in I had what he told me brought front of a hungry finned predator home to me once morning when and it’s going to take a whack at it.” I fished Arizona’s beautiful Fool I hadn’t even known those channel Hollow Lake for bass. Fool Hollow catfish were in Fool Hollow Lake. Lake is located in the White Original recipe makes 4 to 6 Mountains just a short distance west servings. of the city of Show Low. Ingredients: • 1 (14.75 ounce) can canned salmon • 1 egg • 1/4 cup chopped onion

More and more Pacific Northwest • 1/2 cup seasoned dry bread salmon and steelhead anglers are crumbs using Rock Dancer Jigs in their search for these migratory battlers. • 1 tablespoon olive oil Look below the jaw of this fish and Use of Rock Dancer bucktail jigs you can see the Rock Dancer that gives a variety of tactics to employ got it. in their search for fish. I work the Directions: steelhead I have on here in close to I knew going in that this lake is the bank. 1. Drain and reserve liquid from stocked annually with trout and salmon. Mix egg, onion, bread that it also has a scattering of bass, You won’t of course, use the crumbs and salmon together. walleyes and panfish as well as a same approach with a bucktail jig 2. Make into patties. If mixture few unwelcome pike. It was bass if you’re after salmon or steelhead. is too dry to form into pat- I was after on the morning I’m And there’s more than one tactic that ties, add reserved liquid from talking about. I was brand new to some of the top Pacific Northwest salmon. the lake but knowing that bass often anglers are using successfully with just can’t leave a jig alone if you get their Rock Dancers for the migratory 3. In a frying pan, heat olive oil. one where they can see it and then species. If you’re planning a Place patties in pan. Brown work it properly once it gets there. fishing adventure into the Pacific on each side, turning gently. We moved along one shoreline that Northwest, these are techniques you Drain on paper towels and was filled with rocks. I expect that need to know about. serve. figured in my decision to eventually I’ll be detailing a couple of them tie on a Mack’s Rock Danger jig in my next column. with a plastic grub trailer. I flipped . that combination up into a shaded -To Be Continued- Let’s Eat!!! opening next to a big rock and--- wham! Fish on! Page 4 of the boat. Hot Deal!!! Question of the Month I believe it would work fantastic as I have fished it back in Kansas Kokanee Killer® for Wipers with great success. Single Series Have a question? We’d love to an- The extra flash, along with the swer it! Contact us at MacksLure@ stop and go action it puts in your MacksLure.com if you have a ques- bait, definitely helps trigger bass to tion you would like to see featured! attack. The side planning feature was not only useful in spreading our lines, and thus widening the amount I was watching a fishing The Kokanee Killer® Q: of water we were fishing, but it program called Anglers West TV combines a Glo® Hook with also allowed us to troll some lures and they were using an item of yours the Wedding Ring® spinner to right next to the shoreline when we that took the lure out to one side, or create a deadly combination for wanted to. kokanee. It has also filled many a the other, of the boat. It looked like stringer with rainbows, browns, a dodger or flasher and it obviously perch and bluegill. Order the wasn’t a planer board. What exactly Kokanee Killer (16200) which is is it? I troll for sand, white, hybrid, a great lure for kokanee! Order and stripped bass. Would you Video of the Month through the month of April and recommend trying it for that type of receive a 25% discount on the fishing? lure by using code: A: You are correct it is a patented dodger called the Double D™ and KK2500 it does have options to take it out to two different settings on either side Trolling Attractors Check out the trolling attractors that Mack’s Lure has Photo of the Month to offer. Not only does it show the attractors, it also shows them in the water catching fish! Click Here to view the video. Other videos can be viewed as well, Click Here.

If you have video’s to share, we’d love to see them!! Send your video links to: MacksLure@ MacksLure.com.

This beautiful Walleye was caught by Richy Harrod using the Smile Blade® Spindrift® Walleye on Banks Lake in Central Washington.

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