Monday, May 25, 2015

The Fishing A Lure blog is almost ready to make an exciting change, we'll be relocating our home base to the  beautiful shores of the gulf of Mexico near Sarasota, Florida.

As a fishermen living in Michigan, I have been spoiled with countless amazing options to target a wide range of freshwater fish. Now, my fishing world is about to be turned upside down, and it's going to be awesome!

Growing up I watched ESPN's Saturday morning fishing shows. One of my favorites was the Walker's Cay chronicles. Saltwater inshore fishing has always been on my bucket list. I had my first chance about two summers ago in Brandenton. I actually ate and fished in several areas mentioned in the video below.

As good as Michigan is, the diversity, fishing location options, and year round access in the greater Tampa Bay area is almost impossible to beat. Check out the video below as the guys from Reel Time Florida Sportsman go after snook and redfish.


On my bucket list, which is almost all traveling and fishing items, is catching a huge tarpon. The next video is from probably my favorite fishing TV hosts, Cyril Chauquet. Is anyone having more fun than him? His charter lands a tarpon near the end that most of us can only dream, about. Fortunately for me, this tarpon is caught within about an hour of where my new home will be! Enjoy the fun and laughter!


Monday, May 11, 2015

The Top Seven Bass Fishing Lures for 2015

If you're heading out on the water to look for bass, you need to be prepared with the best bass fishing lures. The following list isn't based on advertising dollars or what trendy thing has hit the market recently. It's a list of lures that have produced fish and are likely to continue to produce.

Using a creature bait, Texas-rigged I could target shoreline cover mimicking a frog and quickly switch to mimicking a crayfish in deeper current.
Everyone selling you something wants you to believe that bass fishing is complicated but it's not. Find the fish, figure out what they are likely to feed on, and mimic it. It's that simple. Bass like to eat but they have decent instincts. Using those instincts to your advantage is the secret to lure selection.

Let's get straight to the list of the top bass fishing lures you should be using for 2015:

  • Soft Plastic Worm
    • The classic soft plastic worm is one of the most versatile lures ever created. It can mimic a worm, leech, minnow, and more. You can drop-shot it, Texas rig it, Carolina rig it, whacky rig it, and so much more. It has proven itself time and time again. In my opinion, a Texas-rigged worm should be a part of every bass fishing kit.
    • For more on rigging a Texas rig: 
  • Classic Crankbait

    • When bass are feeding heavy on minnows, a crankbait that matches up with the forage can produce excellent results. Crankbaits can be used by anyone with success but also allow seasoned anglers to work them in different ways to achieve even better results.
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  • Soft Plastic Creature Bait
    • My personal favorite, soft plastic creature baits can be used to mimic almost anything in the water. I use the same green pumpkin creature bait, Texas-rigged, throughout the year. I mimic frogs early in the year and in shallow water and alter my presentation to mimic crayfish when needed. To mimic a frog in spring, before heavy vegetation appears, flip a creature bait with a 3/8 oz. or heavier tungsten bullet weight near shoreline cover and allow it to hit the ground. Barely shake it, trying to keep it in place while kicking up sediment. This looks like a frog trying to hide. Pause and repeat if needed.
  • Jig and Pig (trailer)
    • Although not a personal favorite, this has been widely used by professionals with amazing results. Flip it, pitch it, swim it...it can mimic a frog, minnow, or a crayfish(it's most popular mimic choice).
  • Spinner Bait
    • Spinner baits produce fish on their own but are best used as a search bait. Running a spinner bait over different depths and structures can help you locate places where bass have schooled up. If you catch a bass or just miss one, cast a soft plastic into the same spot to target schooled fish.
  • Soft Plastic Tubes
    • Tubes are another versatile plastic that can look like different things depending on how you fish them. Texas-rigging is probably the most popular option and can easily mimic a crayfish, frog, or minnow. Adjust the color to reflect what you are trying to mimic.
  • Lipless Crankbait
    • Lipless crankbaits are similar to regular crankbaits but I like to keep them separate. They have a different profile and can be really effective for bass feeding on minnows. I find that they work excellent for smallmouth, particularly in currents. Try a lipless crank in a metallic finish the next time to try for smallmouth bass in a river. In stained water, try gold, in clear water use silver.

That concludes our list. If you see something that belongs up here or if you have questions, tips, or comments, let me know in the comment section, Good luck out there!