September 2015

Mack’s Lure - A Cut Above The Rest By Lance Merz There are many lure The hook itself is produced by companies that come and go, but VMC® who have given Mack’s the ones that stick around must be Lure the right to produce the lure doing something right. Mack’s with their product. It is made of Lure has been in existence since heavy gauged steel that has an 1969 and there’s no doubt that they Mack’s Lure’s Smile Blade® UV integrated swivel to hook system will be around for many years to Glo Burst. that allows the hook and swivel to come. The business itself started The blade itself has the same move freely from each other. The with Vern McPherson, his wife shape, but it’s the color that will results are staggering, which gives Edna, and their son Ray who had knock your socks off. This blade it a corkscrew rotation in the water. started making lures in the garage can be used in clear or darker waters, No longer are the days of using a of their home in Riggins, Idaho. on sunny or cloudy days; it really full night crawler either. Tipped The invention of the Wedding doesn’t matter. The rays of the sun with a 1.1” Smile Blade, this lure Ring® spinner came into existence, (or lack thereof) create a multitude has, and will continue to catch not which has been a “must have” in of colors that create a frenzy of only walleye, but trout, kokanee, any anglers tackle box even today. different colors with the slightest bass, and . movement of the blade. The best A legacy of innovation to be part of it all, is that this blade will sure, Mack’s Lure continues to spin at less than 1/4MPH, so you produce quality products that allow will constantly have that flash and anglers to catch more . As I’ve attraction to the lure that you are learned from my mentors in the using. , when a product is The Smile Blade® SpinDrift® introduced, it usually takes three to Walleye lure is yet another lure that four years to catch on. This past effectively catches more fish. This year, we have introduced several lure was given to professional and It doesn’t matter what bait you new products into the arsenal of fish guide staff of Mack’s Lure; all of choose to use, it spins effortlessly catching killers. which asked for more! If a guide in the water. The beauty of this First, if you haven’t heard of the is using a lure to catch more fish, lure is that it can be trolled or Smile Blade® UV Glo Burst, you wouldn’t you want the same lure even rigged to cast from a boat or must check it out! This blade has they are using? Now you can. shoreline. Combine this lure with a already been placed in my “Top Double D™ Dodger, Hot Wings®, Five” blades to use, for any type of Flash Lite® attractor and you’ll be fishing. As of right now, this blade catching fish in no time. Again, this only comes in three sizes: .8”, 1.1”, lure comes with a 1.1” Smile Blade and 1.5”. Realistically however, which provides even more flash and it’s all you need. attraction. Mack’s Lure’s Smile Blade® These are just a few of the new Spindrift® Walleye. Continued on Page 2 Page 1 Continued from Page 1 out with in 2015. Some of the Horizontal , and 2) “I personally have consistently other lures that you can search Techniques To out fished other techniques that at www.MacksLure.com are the Increase Your Catches went dead while this tight line Wedding Ring® Shad Slammer and with the The Sonic technique never missed a Smile Blade® Shrimp . We’ve beat. The increased lure vibration, also introduced new colors in our BaitFish™ (SBF) of a lively darting SBF, is the main Cha Cha® Squidder series as well as By Captain Pete Rosko fish attractant. More line tension new colors of the Sonic BaitFish™. on the lure is supplied by longer There are more products that are casts. This line tension increases coming soon as well! lure action. Once your cast lure hits the water, point your rod tip directly where the lure hit the water, not sideways to it, for best line control. Immediately point your rod at an Captain Pete Rosko. 11o’clock position then constantly alternate an upward rod twitch with In last month’s issue, I prefaced one full turn of your reel handle as my article with the following you retrieve the SBF. The rod action two paragraphs. I am repeating further increases the erratic action them because they are critical for of the lure. Always cast down wind increasing your catch rate… for best line control, better lure action and more strikes. Minimize 1) “Casting a Sonic BaitFish, on a any bow in your line as it ruins line tight line, is a deadly technique for control and attributes to missed Mack’s Lure’s Smile Blade® triggering strikes in shallow water Shrimp Rig. strikes and poor hook-ups. Side and for suspended fish in deeper wind, vs. down wind, causes line water. It is a highly effective search bow and ruins one’s presentation.” bait! A tight line causes the SBF to dart & flutter more lively in a zigzag Now, back to this September pattern, causing it to fall more issue… slowly. Slowing the fall enables the lure to remain suspended longer Horizontal jigging is any metal jig in the strike zone. A tight line also technique that is not being vertically detects strikes more easily and jigged. They include stationary improves hook-sets.” Note…It’s casting, drift-casting and trolling. the backward flutter of the lure that Casting covers water from top to triggers most strikes. That is the bottom. The same applies to drifting main reason for alternating each as long as the bottom is not snaggy. turn of your reel handle with a short Trolling almost exclusively targets lift of your rod when retrieving. suspended fish. Remember not to Mack’s Lure’s Smile Blade® Shad All predator fish are programmed Slammer™. attach your line/snap to the top of the to strike a falling metal jig as it back on the SBF as this attachment Stay tuned for those products in resembles an injured prey…an easy is only for vertical jigging. All line/ future editions of the Mack Attack meal. So mimic that in your retrieve snap attachments will be to the nose magazine. Do you have a story you to get that backward flutter. with a single hook on the tail. wish to share? If so, please send the story to [email protected] for STATIONARY CASTING… consideration to place into the Mack Whether from shore, or when Attack. If your story is chosen, we anchored, the principle remains the will send you a Mack’s Lure hat for same. Casting to near surface fish is free! Please ensure that the article easy with a SBF if the tips in 1 & 2 are is related to a Mack’s Lure product followed. Casting to suspended fish and of course, pictures are always Captain Pete with a Gag Grouper is more difficult, vs. vertical jigging, welcome! caught in Florida with a Sonic because the lure passes through the

Continued on Page 3 Page 2 Continued from Page 2 strike zone more quickly. Casting, so superior to monofilament line. line trolling, for the first three hours then bottom-bouncing the SBF back The braid has no stretch with far after sun-up, can be scary effective to you can be very effective for more sensitivity than mono; which with a 1/3 oz glow chartreuse SBF, bottom-positioned fish… provided allows you to better feel bottom’s especially for coho (silver) salmon. is not a problem. structure, avoiding snags before Once it gets too light, attach the they happen. Braid also is superior SBF to a diver to get deeper. to mono in achieving greater casting distance because of its thinner Finally, practice with your SBF in diameter. Note…Generally, line clear water to become familiar with twist is minimal with braided line its actions relative to your particular vs. monofilament line. In the event technique. As with anything in life, that you experience line twist with knowledge leads to greater success. Attaching a swivel prvents line either line, attach a swivel about a And, as always, thank you for taking tiwists. foot above the snap that connects the time to become better anglers DRIFT-CASTING…In the leader to the mainline. The through the Mack Attack articles…. freshwater lakes or reservoirs, the only time I attach a snap swivel to Pete (Capt. Pete Rosko) drift is determined by wind speed the SBF is when it’s being trolled and depth of water. In rivers, water otherwise hook-to-line fouling may current, depth and wind speed are be experienced. When fishing in considering factors. In saltwater, waters with toothy fish, use a black tide movement, depth and wind swivel instead of a shiny nickel- are constant factors. Most fishing coated one that attracts bite offs. Mack’s Lure in freshwater is either near-surface In Florida waters, I use black. In or against bottom. Remember Alaskan, and Pacific NW, waters Sonic BaitFish™ the tight line technique for near either finish is fine since cut offs surface casting and use wind, or are not a problem with salmon and water current, to your advantage for other species. View photo(s) for Captain Pete Rosko, Inventor of maximizing a tight line. Against a my swivel/leader set-up. the Mack’s Lure Sonic BaitFish™. snag free bottom, bottom bouncing a SBF can be very effective. On a TROLLING…Since the SBF slow drift, cast up or down wind/ is an excellent swim bait, it also current, to see what presentation excels as a troll bait. The single tail works best at that time. The SBF positioned hook can be increased up has great swimming action so do not to two sizes larger without adversely hesitate to “drag” it along bottom. affecting its action. It can be flat However, make sure you use lined trolled by itself or attached intermittent short rod lifts to achieve to any attractor or diver in addition that all so important backward to a . It is extremely flutter. Snaggy bottoms, and a fast versatile and is only limited by one’s drift require a different casting imagination. Unlike most trolling approach. In these conditions, lures, the SBF has a variety of cast directly in line where your actions. The larger the SBF, you’ll drifting boat is headed (down-wind/ feel greater vibration and sideways current). This accomplishes two darting action. Almost always, very important benefits. In deep the inside rod on a turn will be the water, your SBF will reach bottom one that gets the strike. Why? It’s faster and hold along bottom much because the SBF loses line tension longer until the lure begins lifting and flutters downward. off bottom. In snaggy water, a snagged lure can generally be un- For all SBF techniques, I favor snagged by the boat simply passing silver finishes on sunny days in over, and beyond, the snag. Note… clear water and glow white, or glow This is just one example where chartreuse, on cloudy days, early casting with braided mainline is morning and late afternoon. Flat

Page 3 I touched on that subject in my named. These spring and summer Stan’s Space previous column. No discussion fish, unlike the winter run species, of the basics could be are nowhere near spawning. All Some Bits About The complete without it. This time the strength and energy they’ll need around, let’s take an even closer to survive in the rivers to which Basics look at the importance of picking they’ve returned to spawning time Part 3 of 4 the right weight. We’ll also look at is packed into their sleek and silvery By Hall-of-Fame Angler some of the best ways to go about it. bodes. Stan Fagerstrom Successful angling for those Get a hook into one and you’ll sea-going rainbow so commonly immediately discover what I’m They rarely get the attention they found in the waters of the Pacific talking about. I’ve seen these crazy deserve. Northwest provide one excellent battlers do things a number of times Wherever sports fishermen get example of what I’m talking about. that were so wild, I found it hard together, you’re certain to hear them One of the most popular forms of to believe that my eyes weren’t share thoughts about their rod and fishing for these steelhead is called deceiving me. reels as well as line, leaders, lures “drift fishing.” As the name implies, Perhaps you’ve studied steelhead and hooks. So what’s surprising drift fishing is done by casting your drift fishing enough to know that about that? Nothing. It’s exactly bait or lure slightly upstream and you’ve got to keep your lure moving what you’d expect. But something’s letting it drift down with the current. right along the bottom as naturally missing. as possible to be consistently Do you know what that successful. Be assured this just isn’t “something” is? There are times in going to happen unless you’ve got certain angling endeavors where this the right amount of weight to get something will play an important that job done properly. role. It could determine whether Here’s a dandy way to go about you’ll come home smelling like fish it. Attach a barrel swivel to the end or admit you’ve been skunked. of your main line. Your Wedding The “something” I have in mind Ring came assembled on a leader. is the sinkers you’ll be using. And Steelhead will a Mack’s Lure Determine what length of leader sinkers often might very well do Wedding Ring but you’ve got to get you want to use. That determination much to determine your angling it right where they are. is best made by eyeballing the water success. Sinker selection often clarity. doesn’t get the attention it deserves Steelhead usually won’t move far Sometimes I’ve found a relatively among both lake and stream to pick up either bait or lure. Now short leader of 12-inches or so fishermen. and then, one will surge up to grab worked better than the 18-inches something, but most of the time, I usually start with. Once you’ve you’ve got to get whatever you’re determined the leader length you using right down in front of their prefer, tie the end of the Wedding noses to get action. Even then, the Ring’s leader into the front eye of bite might be so soft and easy, that that barrel swivel you’ve already it’s difficult to detect. attached to the end of your main Let’s say you’re throwing a Mack’s line. Lure Wedding Ring for summer The next step is to take a 4 or 5-inch steelhead in one or another of the piece of lightweight mono and tie half dozen Southwest Washington it into the front eye of that barrel Here’s a great way to rig up for Rivers. The Cowlitz, Kalama, both swivel you’ve already attached to steelhead drift fishing. Note how North and East Forks of the Lewis the top end of your leader. This the sinker drop line is tied into the barrel swivel that’s attached to and a number of other rivers in short length of mono will simply your main line. Just tie the leader that area have annual runs of these serve as a sinker drop line. (Note the from the Wedding Ring® into the tremendously hard fighting fish. illustration that pictures this set up.) same barrel swivel opening and Note that I said “summer” You’ll need to decide what type you’re ready to go. Change the steelhead. Years ago I spent of sinker you want to attach to your sinkers attached to the sinker drop line until you get your lure drifting considerable time fishing for these sinker drop line. One method is downstream just the way you want. battlers on all of the rivers I’ve to employ sections of tubular lead. Just slide the end of the sinker drop Continued on Page 5 Page 4 Continued from Page 4 line through a piece of this tubular Use of both snap and barrel swivels lead and use your pliers to lightly provides a time saving advantage Cookin’ Your Catch crimp the upper end of the tube to when you want to change lures. drop line. You can switch from lures to natural It’s often wise to start with a piece baits with minimum of down time. Grilled Salmon of this tubular lead that might be a Like the sinker drop line, the swivels Montreal tad heavier than you’ll think might also cut down on line twist. be needed. Make a cast or two to see if it’s the right weight to get what you’re after in the way of lure presentation. If it’s too heavy, simply use your side cutter pliers to snip a small piece off the end Original recipe makes 8 serv- ings. of the tube. Continue to do this if Here’s the successful way that necessary to get what is needed. same angler walked away from the river when his drift fishing was Ingredients: done for the day. • 1 package McCormick® Grill Mates® Montreal Certainly there are other methods Steak Marinade for sinker rigging, but the one I’ve • 1/4 cup water detailed is a dandy. I put a bunch of Fish on! This angler has hooked a steelhead on the bank with it when I • 1/4 cup olive oil dandy steelhead on the East Fork lived in the Evergreen State. It will • 2 teaspoons white wine of the Lewis River in Washington work just as well for you today as it vinegar State. did for me then. Casting from a boat on a lake for • 1/4 teaspoon McCormick® If you prefer, you can also use other species of fish is a different Dill Weed split shot on your sinker drop line. matter than stream fishing. As • 2 pounds salmon fillets or Simply crimp split shot in place with most kinds of angling, there steaks on the sinker drop line with a are a number of ways to go about pair of pliers. Make a cast or two it. In my next column I’ll share the Directions: to determine the result and then details on a procedure that over the 1. Mix Marinade Mix, water, remove or add split shot as required years has worked especially well for oil, vinegar and dill weed in for a good drift. me. There are a number of ways to small bowl. Place salmon in This set up provides a number of go about easing the task of sinker large resealable plastic bag advantages. For starters, that sinker selection. I’ll share some thoughts or glass dish. Add marinade; drop line with its weight attached in that regard in my next column. turn to coat well. serves as a keel of sorts to prevent 2. Refrigerate 15 minutes or line twist. It also makes it really -To Be Continued- longer for extra flavor. -Re easy to change sinker sizes. move salmon from marinade. Whatever type lead you use, don’t Discard any remaining mari- crimp it into place on the sinker Mack’s Lure nade. drop line too tightly. Fish right 3. Grill over medium-high heat along the bottom as it is a necessity Wedding Ring® 6 to 7 minutes per side or for consistent steelhead angling until fish flakes easily with a success. You will from time to fork. time, have your weight hang on the bottom. If you don’t have the sinker crimped too tightly, it’s possible to pull the weight right off the sinker drop line. This will let you avoid Let’s Eat!!! losing your entire rigging. It’s always a good idea to pre-rig as much of your tackle as you can.

Page 5 it provide a lot of flash and attraction Question of the Month in the water, you control how it Hot Deal!!! spins in the water! Customize by Wedding Ring® pinching the blade down to increase Original Classic Series Have a question? We’d love to answer the spin in the water, or widen the it! Contact us at MacksLure@Mack- blade for a slower spin. HINT: sLure.com if you have a question you Try reversing the spin by folding would like to see featured! the blade backwards so the color is facing toward the lure. This Q: I have heard a lot about your way, fish approaching the lure Smile Blades. What makes them from behind can see the main color better than a traditional metal blade? better. These versatile blades can be placed virtually anywhere on your Trout season is still in full force. line, whether it be directly in front Why not purchase the tried and A: Thanks for the question. First of the lure, or in front of an attractor true Wedding Ring® spinner to it’s made of a lightweight plastic such as a Double D™ Dodger, Flash catch them? During the month called “Mylar”. It’s often more Lite®, or Hot Wing®. Smile Blades of September, receive 20% off effective than that of traditional are an effective tool for any angler’s on this classic (product number blades (Indiana, Colorado, etc) needs. They come in a large variety 09241). Enter W9241 for this because it’s lighter weight and of sizes and colors. Match the hatch discount. design. Traditional blades usually of the water’s you are fishing in and spin effectively at a certain speed. see even more results! Smile Blades however, spin and W9241 vibrate no matter what speed you’re going. In fact, these blades can spin at less than 1/4MPH! Not only does Video of the Month Photo of the Month

Smile Blade® Spindrift® Walleye

Would you like to see the Smile Blade® Spindrift® Walleye Lure in action? Click Here to watch the video.

Our guide staff Jordan Osborn of Upper Columbia Guide Services caught these dandy Walleye on Potholes Reservoir in less than two hours! He was using the Mack’s Lure Smile Blade® SpinDrift® Walleye Lure. Great job Jordan, keep up the good work!

Send your photo’s to [email protected] for consideration to be included in a future Mack Attack. For Facebook send pictures to Media@ MacksLure.com. See more pictures by clicking here: Mack’s Photo Gallery www.MacksLure.com Page 6