Merry Christmas December 2017 Everyone!

Hardwater Fishin’ By Mike Hall I picked up the mail the other day Number one is reading the ice. rod and reel, ice shelter, and was excited to see this year’s You need to know the quality and good selection of your favorite ice catalogs. Cooler weather and thickness of the ice to determine new stuff is what fuels my soul when it’s safe to venture on to the for winter fun on the hard deck. water. Clear ice is stronger than Ice brings many friends with that cloudy or grey colored ice. Two shared passion to my lakes for good inches of clear solid ice on small times and great adventures. I hope bodies of water will support one these few words will help bring you person but four inches is really what the cure for cabin fever this winter. is needed to be safe. Ice with cracks, Now, let’s get started with the open spots or pressure ridges is nuts, bolts and knowledge to make not safe and these areas should be your ice fishing season a success. avoided. On larger bodies of water, six inches of clear or twelve inches of cloudy ice is a safe standard. Ice varies in thickness on all waters lures, a trash bag and, of course, a 5 as currents, warm springs, or gallon bucket or a sled for transport. physical formation as ice freezes Oh, yes, a chair to sit on is always impacts quality and thickness. handy and a snowmobile is the Other options should include a first pinnacle of transportation on ice. aid kit and a length of rope. These Ice fishing is a family and friends are a must for cut fingers, fish hooks outing, so snacks or hot meals are and rescue tactics should someone always a delight. The idea is that fall through the ice. Dress in layers you balance your fun with enough and buy a quality ice suit that will gear to be comfortable and prepared make life comfy out there in cold for this outdoor adventure. weather. There are several outerwear Finding Fish | We live in the products to keep you toasty, but ice information age with the internet suits float and help maintain body and social media front and center. Safety | Above all else, safety on temperatures should an accident Hot spots are announced hourly the ice is paramount. Time in the happen. Don’t be sorry—be safe. and pictures of and for success outdoors on ice is always a risky Equipment | Essential equipment are everywhere. Smart phone apps business, at best. Although, being begins with an ice auger to drill show you detailed maps of nearly prepared and well-informed can holes and a dipper to remove ice all waters and GPS will plot the make the difference between a slush. The list continues with a fish places to try. On top of that, a fish disaster and a cold water memory. finder, for sure, a rod holder, heater, finder and underwater cameras will

Continued on Page 2 Page 1 Continued from Page 1 show you the fish. Here are a few the deciding factor. For example, fish generally respond to smaller tips that have produced many dinner minnows or insect life. Kokanee are lures and active fish respond to friends on my adventures. near the edge of the main current larger lures. , such as crappie, bluegill line and suspended. Walleye are Address both the size of lures and yellow perch, are a favorite. very versatile predators are found (small to large) and the colors They’re social fish and tend to in water from shore to center of the when stocking your inventory of school in numbers. Crappie and lake. offerings. Colors should include or yellow perch can be found in the The real keys here are temperature incorporate silver, brass, copper, main lake basin during winter of the water, currents and preferred pink, orange, chartreuse, white and, months, suspended or close to the food resources. Be versatile in your especially, glow in the dark. Target bottom and tend to move around. search and move if you do not see natural and metallic patterns on Try areas around the edges of the fish on the finder. Early season fish clear water, painted lures in murky main lake basin with under water are likely in or near the inflows of water and glow for dark water. drop-offs or points. Particularly, lakes because the temperature is Now, let’s talk attractors. They are look for hard bottom, underwater stable. Late season fish trend to generally tied in line 6- to 14-inches springs, trees or rock piles, which be toward the main lake basin and above the lure and aid the fish in can all be bonanzas. Crappie will deep because water at that depth is finding your offering and exciting a often chart on the finder as clutter or generally warmer. Search different strike. They come in all sizes. Small clouds of fish, but perch will show depths and structure types until a attractors, such as the 0.8” Smile up as single fish or in small groups. pattern can be determined. Drill Blade®, large attractors, like the Both crappie and yellow perch are holes in a line from shallow to deep 4” Sling Blade™. Thinking outside found from 10- to 50- feet of water and try different depths. Compare the box, attractors can also be used as a rule. the structure where you see fish to effectively by themselves on a Bluegills are found in less that 20 other similar places on your GPS separate line in an adjacent ice hole. feet of water and near or in weed maps. Decipher the graph or inspect These are extremely productive beds. Generally, they will stay in in the hole for minnows, current, for attracting especially large or an area for several days or weeks. weeds, insect life or micro biology. schooling fish to a location. These fish like weed edges, holes in All fish inhabit an area or depth for Again, size plays a large role the vegetation and submerged trees a reason. Find that reason and you in success. Smaller, more subtle or bushes. will be more successful. attractors like the Flash Lite® Troll Lures | Lures have five group or the larger Sling Blade™ 6” with types: spinners, jigs, crank baits, a weight added to the bottom and spoons and top water. Pointing jigged slowly are fish magnets. out the obvious top water lures is These can also be suspended at paramount for ice fishing. Although, any depth to attract walleye, perch, the other groups have offerings that crappie, or salmon. are commonly used for ice fishing a Jigging spoons are my favorite vertical pursuit. lure for ice fishing, as they will Size is both detrimental and catch anything that swims. At the relative for success. Small lures and top of this list, of course, is the Sonic offerings are very popular, but are Baitfish™ because of the range in not always the answer. Using a small sizes from small to large, and its tear drop when fish are actively success with bass, crappie, yellow Trout can be found suspended in feeding on three-inch minnows can perch, rainbow trout, burbot, lake open water near underwater river have its drawbacks. Try matching trout, kokanee and many more. This channels and often visit weed lines the lure to both the activity levels lure will work right out of the box and underwater points to feed. and the feeding behavior. Fish bite with no tuning required. There are Trophy trout are generally single a lure for several different reasons: 12 different ways to rig this amazing fish, but will inhabit areas that anger, hunger, instinct, territory or spoon and endless applications to hold other trout. Feed types are spawn, to mention a few. Neutral catch whatever swims. Continued on Page 3 Page 2 Continued from Page 2 offering. Perhaps this is the reason attracting fish to the offering. the glow in the dark lures are the 4) Swim or drag the lure side most popular. to side. Make sure to slightly 2) Waving the flag. Lift and pump the lure when moving it. drop the rod, allowing the lure to This brings reaction strikes and free fall backwards. The lift and lifelike attraction to the lure. Keep drop can vary from a few inches in mind, using the zoom feature on to several feet. Different waves are your fish finder will help you to see also effective. For example, slow fish and the lure better. Most often, up, slow down; fast up fast, down; Presentation | Ice fishing is a fish swim upward to bite a lure so or mix them. This action allows vertical presentation of a lure, presenting the lure above the fish the lure to roll and flutter with full commonly termed jigging. These will be the most effective method. action. Don’t be a tourist. Jerking or jigging presentations can be used on An exception to this, though, is waving without purpose may make the ice and are also effective in open pounding the bottom and leaving you seem friendly with others, water for year round success on the lure to rest on the bottom. I’ve but won’t catch dinner. However, your favorite waters. The basic rule found that this produces walleye moving the lure with intention will. is to keep your line as vertical as and lake trout quite often. Remember, the strikes are often possible. Allowing the line to drift These four presentations can be very soft and your full attention is to the side will aid in attracting fish, varied or mixed and matched to absolutely necessary. Most strikes but for perfect presentations, pause fine tune any catch. Watch your fish are felt and some are indicated and hold the rod still and allow the finder to see which presentation by the lure stopping or the line line to again become vertical. This is effective in attracting fish and becoming slack. gives the angler absolute control exciting a strike, then repeat it. 3) Gently pumping the rod with over the rise and fall rate, as well For additional video information small lifts and drops. Remember as the lure action. This is important on these four super presentations to add long or short pauses to the because once you find an effective go to the Mack’s Lure website and pumping action to incite fish to wiggle you need to repeat the view the Sonic Baitfish™ Review. strike. This imparts action not only presentation. There are also several other videos to the lure but to the bait on your Here are four simple methods of to add information to your fishing hook, making the lure appear alive. presentation to make you a master arsenal. Again, pay attention to the finder at ice fishing and jigging with any The ticket here is (as is the case as fish attracted to this action show lure, especially jigging spoons: with all fishing) to become versatile. up. Simply pause and wait for the 1) Lower the lure to the desired Information is everywhere, but it strike. If the fish seem disinterested depth and simply hold it still. The doesn’t work if you don’t use it. then very slowly lift the lure., as this trick is to watch the fish finder as Move if you’re not seeing fish on the often incites a strike. Adding a small the lure falls and stop where the locator, try a different presentation blade or a glow bead to the hook is a fish are. Small bits of your favorite or lure but, above all else, be flexible tremendous way to increase catches bait are just as effective as a plain in your approach. Beginners only lure. Be sure not to add too much have a few ways to catch fish, but bait to the lure as this tends to the pros have thousands of ways. restrict the action. Another tip is to A great is one that learns use scents in place of bait, as they to climb the informational ladder won’t affect the action of lures. My to the top. The payoff is more fish, favorite is a new product for Pro- more fun and an increased interest Cure called Bait Waxx. Try using in this sport that we all pursue. un-baited lures if the water is clear, Be safe in your endeavors and with this presentation. Pounding but remember the thickness or snow remember to enjoy and share fishing the bottom, lifting the lure and covered ice restricts the light levels with others. I’ll see you on the lake. pausing is another dynamic way and fish may not be able to see an to be effective. This is a big aid in Page 3 job of , as well as having fish on the first cast and many more Stan’s Space quality equipment to do it with, isn’t after that. The photographer wound going to hurt you any. But I like to up with just what he wanted. Those Bluegills Are Memory think of bluegill as close Makers combat. If you can manage to cast Your days won’t always go that By Hall-of-Fame Angler your flies out there from 20 to 30- well, of course, with the fly rod or anything else. But there are things Stan Fagerstrom feet most of the time you’ll be in business. you can do to bend the odds in your Part 2 favor. The first is to stick to Number If you’ve got a chapter in your As we covered in the last column, 10 fly sizes. Carry dark, light and in Fly Fishing Memories book that’s your gear must be scaled down to between shades in your fly patterns. headlined by something like “Just match the size of the fish you are Plain Fun,” I’d be willing to bet after. My favorite fly rods for A Number 10 hook is small it includes mention of one of that purpose range from 7 to 8-feet. enough for the bluegills to get hold. America’s favorite panfish. As Fly-fishing for bluegill isn’t long Go down in size and you’ll be you already know if you read last range action. If you can cast 20 to forever hooking little tiny guys you month’s column, that great little 30- feet, you’ll do just fine. Be sure don’t want to mess with. Go larger scrapper is the bluegill. the leaders you select have a tippet and the teensy ‘gills won’t be able testing from two four pounds. to get hold of it.

What I’ve said about finding bluegill while using spinning gear also applies to fly-fishing. You’ve got to find them before you can catch them. Once you do get them pinned down, you’re in for a fun day.

I recall one day years ago when I’d just come in from fly fishing for bluegills on my home lake. A well known Seattle photographer I find a Number 10 hook to There’s a whole school of be just the right size for my hungy bluegills hanging happened to be at the dock when I bluegill fly fishing. around that sunken log came in. He was in the process of you see in the foreground producing a film for the Evergreen One of my all time favorites is my of this picture. Look close State’s Parks Department. He own version of the McGinty. I tie and you’ll see the swirl one saw the nice string of bluegill I’d it with a red tag and alternate bands made when it just grabbed brought in. He expressed his regret of brown and yellow yarn. In finish my fly. that he hadn’t been around to shoot it off with sparse brown hackle. pictures of me catching them. Another favorite is a black ant.

In my previous column I wrote “Don’t sweat it,” I said, “it’s no Don’t be in a hurry to do anything about how effective teensy plastic problem. Get in another boat and with whatever the pattern you’re worms could be for these interesting follow me back out there and I’ll using after you’ve made a cast. Get panfish that you’ll find in lakes and catch some more for you.” your fly out there and then let it sink ponds all over the United States. through the surface film. When This time around let’s look at another Now making a statement like that you begin your retrieve bring the favored technique that can provide where fish of any kind are concerned fly back with little twitches of the even more fun when conditions are is a good way to wind up with gravy line. I do that by holding the line right. That technique, of course, is in your whiskers, but the fish had in my left hand rather than working fly fishing. still been hitting when I quit and I the rod tip. Be especially alert each Don’t feel like you have to be a knew right where they were. The time you twitch the line. That’s fly fishing wizard with the best of photographer followed me went when your strikes are most likely to equipment for bluegill fishing. back to the same spot. I caught a come. Certainly the ability to do a decent Continued on Page 5 Page 4 Continued from Page 4

There will be times when sponge- Sonic BaitFish (SBF) bodied spiders or tiny poppers catch “Tips & Techniques” fish off the surface. That’s the most fun of all and it’s always worth a try “Will Tibbels’ 14-lb to find out if the fish will feed that Walleye Retold” way. As in any kind of fishing, don’t By Captain Pete Rosko hesitate to experiment in fly fishing for bluegill. Try your poppers, In February, 2013 the Sonic but if they don’t work don’t stick BaitFish™ received the “Best Spoon with them for hours on end. Try a Award” by All Outdoor Canada. A different approach. Bluegills aren’t Buegill fishing is fun month later, eleven year old Will all that picky. Sooner or later you’ll fishing and catching them Tibbels caught a 14-pound walleye find what they want. on a fly is a great way to through the ice. It was reported do it. as the second largest walleye ever If you decide to do that don’t fool caught by sport fishing in Lake around attempting to scale each Erie. The lure Will used was a 1/3- fish. Cut off the dorsal and a strip of oz silver Sonic BaitFish™ with the skin along the top of the back. Next line/snap attached to the top of the slice through the skin in back of the back. On that eventful day, Will gill covers on both sides of the fish. was fishing with his dad, Capt. John Use a pair of nippers to pull the skin Tibbels of Tibbels Marina, located back toward the tail. at Marblehead, Ohio. Once you do that, cut the head halfway off. Now pull the head Here’s my all time favorite off with your hand and the guts pattern for bluegill fly fishing. will come out along with it. Use a lightweight pair of canvas gloves I haven’t killed a bass in years. while you’re cleaning your bluegill I’ve made some friends and relatives and it simplifies the task by at least unhappy by not bringing home the fifty per cent. largemouth I put in the boat. I killed They were jigging in about 32 my share of them decades ago when Roll the skinned fish in cracker feet of water off Rattlesnake Island those wonderful fish didn’t face crumbs and flour and pop it into the in Lake Erie’s western basin. Other the ever building pressures they do frying pan. Fresh bluegill prepared Sonic BaitFish™ produced good- today. Bass are a slow growing fish, in such fashion and served along sized walleye that day but the particularly in areas like the Pacific with hot French bread, coleslaw and 14-pounder was special. Since then, Northwest where the growing a glass of chilled white wine will Will has never had a chance to ice- season is relatively short. It might have your taste buds doing the cha- jig again as Lake Erie never froze take years to grow a 4-pound cha-cha and begging for more. over because of its warmer winter largemouth. weather. The Good Lord created bass to From a personal standpoint, I have It’s a different story with bluegill. teach fishermen humility. I suspect not fished the Sonic BaitFish™ One of the dangers with bluegill is He gave us bluegills to make up for through the ice. However, I have over population. One lake I fished the frustration He knew those bass fished it in every other conceivable as a young man was loaded with would bring. He also made them way, including casting, jigging and yellow perch. Later the bluegill for eating. . Will’s silver and blue- became even more numerous. silver finishes have been particularly They are among the most prolific As said in last month’s column, effective in Washington State for of panfish. It doesn’t hurt to invite if you know your butt from a Beardslee (rainbow) trout in Lake some to dinner. barracuda, you’ve got to have a high Crescent, as well as for coho and regard for bluegill. And if you don’t pink salmon in salt water using know about them now, I envy you these three techniques that were the fun you’ll have learning. equally effective. Continued on Page 6 Page 5 Continued from Page 5

Note: glow-white and glow- As we bring 2017 to a close, I Here are a few of my favorite chartreuse were primary color hope this season provided you with Christmas wish list items. preferences for chinook salmon good health and enjoyment on the and glow-orange was popular for water. Thank you for subscribing to KOKANEE BOOKS: kokanee. In the Gulf of Mexico, the Mack Attack and here’s to even • Kokanee: A Complete Fishing there has not been any Sonic better fishing. Guide by David Biser BaitFish™ finish that has performed poorly. Standout examples have • Kokanee Obsession: Catch More and Larger Fish by Kent been silver and blue-silver for Gary’s Fishing Corner mackerel and snook; fire tiger Cannon for mangrove snapper; and glow- It’s The Time For Giving chartreuse for all other snapper and KOKANEE VIDEOS grouper. By As most seasoned anglers now Gary Miralles • Kokanee Trolling with yours know, the unique feature of the truly Sonic BaitFish™ is that the line/ During this time of year, I’m snap can be attached three different puzzled by what to buy everyone Now for my favorite Attractors ways: to the traditional nose, for Christmas. My lovely wife is and Lures broke down by Species: the tail and to the top of its back. very fashion minded and loves new Please remember the top-of-the- clothes; however the only thing I TROUT back attachment is exclusively for feel secure buying her is sleepwear. • Medium Sling Blade™ vertical jigging. The nose (or tail) A set of silky Pajamas with cute • Double D™ Dodger attachment can be effectively used puppies on them is fine, as long as whether casting, jigging or trolling. they don’t have fish on them. Gift • Flash Lites™ There is no other lure that is so certificates are always a safe bet, • Trol-lites™ versatile because of these multiple but also says “I don’t have a clue on attachments and different actions. what to buy you and I’m too lazy • Cripplures™ Nothing usually stays the same to figure it out.” Life would be so • Hum Dingers® for long when spending a day on the easy if everyone fished; that is a • Wiggle Hoochies™ water. Variable conditions primarily subject I know well and could buy include changes in the barometer, for anyone and make them happy. • Wedding Rings®. water current or tidal flow, and wind So that is where I’m taking you. direction. Any of these can kill a What to buy the fisherman in your KOKANEE good bite! Over the years, I have life for Christmas? I personally • Small Sling Blade™ found that changing your line/snap am always excited to receive gifts location on the Sonic BaitFish™ can of any type, related to my favorite • Double D™ Dodger help in triggering more strikes when sport and passion. But there are • Pee Wee Wiggle Hoochie™ so many fishing rods, reels, tackle the bite slows or dies. Secondly, • Spinner Hoochie™ add scent to your jig with a small boxes, dodgers, spinners, lures-- piece of cut bait (worm/minnow you name it, it’s out there. How • Wedding Rings® sections in freshwater and shrimp, do you pick what’s right? If this is • Koke-A-Nuts™. squid, clam or baitfish sections your dilemma, I suggest a selection in saltwater). The combination of of my favorite items perfect for that SALMON scent, added to a finesse-moving angler with everything. Sonic BaitFish™, will almost First, start with a small cheap • Large 8” Sling Blade™ always out-fish “drowning” a plain tackle box you can purchase • 4.5” Wiggle Hoochies™ dead bait with a sinker when fishing just about anywhere. This is the for gamefish. container used to house all your • Scorpion Salmon Spinners™. That 14 pound walleye, which goodies. I personally like books Merry Christmas to all and to all Will Tibbels caught on a Sonic or videos to read or watch on those Good Fishing!! BaitFish™, was tipped with a piece cold rainy days when it’s impossible of emerald shiner on both the nose to go fishing. If I can’t fish, I can P.S. I almost forgot. A ball cap and tail hooks. at least study it or enjoy watching from Mack’s Lure is always a safe someone else doing it. bet. Page 6 Question of the Month action on the rise and fall. Simply HOT DEAL OF attach a 14- to 16-inch leader to a THE MONTH Glo® Hook in the color of your Have a question? We’d love to answer choosing. In between the dodger Mack’s Lure it! Contact us at MacksLure@Mack- and the hook, attach a couple of Gift Certificates sLure.com if you have a question you split shot weights to help keep the would like to see featured! presentation vertical, then slowly jig up 4- to 6-inches, then drop and Q: I’ve heard a lot about Glo® repeat until your rod starts dancing. Hooks, especially for ice fishing. Best of luck! Christmas is approaching and How would you recommend rigging there’s no better stocking stuffer them? than the gift of Mack’s Lure. A: That’s a great question. Video of the Month This month only, receive 10% And the Glo® Hook is an awesome off all gift certificates of $20, ice that can be used in $35 or $50 using promo code conjunction with others products Chrome Through The Ice GIFT10 at checkout. For custom or as a standalone lure for various dollar amounts, please call 800- panfish. Attach a Glo® Hook The popularity of kokanee 525-8737 and mention this offer with a 2-inch leader to the tail of to receive 10% off your gift fishing has greatly increased a Sonic BaitFish™ or rig a Glo® over the past decade. But when certificate amount. Hook with a Double D™ Dodger many lakes freeze over, the or Sling Blade™ to increase your kokanee fishing ends, except Enter code: attraction. Be sure to rig your dodger for the hardiest of fishermen. backwards, however, as this will Mack’s Lure’s Danny Coyne, GIFT10 provide the Glo® Hook with more Bob Loomis and Lance Merz joined Harrod Outdoors and The Northwest Outdoorsman to Photo of the Month discover what chrome through the ice is all about. Click Here to watch the video. If you have video’s to share, we’d love to see them!! Send your video links to: MacksLure@ MacksLure.com.

The cold water isn’t stopping Mack’s Lure pro staffer Jeff Witkowski from getting out on Lake Chelan. Witkowski, a guide for Darrell & Dad’s Family Guide Service, shows off a lake trout pulled from Chelan using “Jeff Drift,” a custom lure combining a Smile Blade® UV and Cha Cha® Floats.

Send your photos to [email protected] for consideration to be included in a future Mack Attack edition or on Facebook.

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