FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

How exciting is that!  Congratulations to Michael and My Coast Outdoors for making the real deal.

So many good things to come from My Coast Outdoors.  The brand is growing and from the first time I threw the Controlled Descent Lure through the testing of the Knockin Tail it has been my pleasure to watch the company grow.  Michael is a great lure designer and expect big things to come in the future.  Again, my congratulations, now the big shots are finding out what the rest of us already know – The Knockin Tail catches fish, end of story.  I knew the Knockin Tail was a killer when he designed it and now Mark Davis has used them on his show.  So, if you get a chance tune in and watch the Knockin Tail do its magic.

And while it has been a struggle due to supply chain issues there is great news on the Knockin Tail front.  Appearing soon will be 3″ and 5″ additions which will round out the line for those of you who like bigger baits, or folks like me who like the smaller ones.  Plus he added a Geenback to the color line, (Hard to keep up with the color options but they all catch fish.)  which is basically a green/watermelon red flake Chicken on a Chain without the chartreuse tail, which should also be good for freshwater and salt.

Along with that painted jig heads are on the way.  I got to fish them earlier this fall and they look different than most.  One thing I was concerned about was when hopping and dropping would it fall over and get hung up more than others, but no problem.  It will also be good for you freshwater swim bait guys, the shape is right.  Additionally he will have a line of spinnerbaits, a man after my own heart.  Not sure if that will complete the line, he has plenty of ideas and is on the right track.  He will be at the Bassmaster Classic in South Carolina this year and then ICAST in Orlando along with other shows to introduce the new baits.  A real exciting time at My Coast Outdoors.

As far as the show not tons of traffic but when I can spend the day talking fishing it is the next best thing to being there.  Good to see some old friends, meet a reader of two, and meet some new folks.  I restrained myself and only bought a few jig heads.  Finally, I have gotten to the point in my life where I don’t need much, who would have ever thought that would come out of my mouth.  The Boss is still thunderstruck at the very thought.  So great way to spend a day and if you get a chance stop in the booth this weekend say hi.  Michael’s kids will be working the booth and who could you say no to a great deal on the Knockin Tail!

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Salty Head Tackle

They are seriously sharp and well made.

I really wanted to put a plug in for a great guy Jorge Guzman who I met at the show and is the owner of Salty Head Tackle.  As a jig head snob I like them a certain way and his Razor series look just right and come in a great looking 1/16.  Plus, they have a recessed reflective eye that looks deadly.  They also have a line of bucktails and plastics.  He is a big flounder guy and the bucktail is one of his go-to baits.  The one he gave me to try will probably get hijacked for some freshwater striper/white bass fishing unless it makes it until the fall run.

I really have an affinity for local young folks in the business and prefer to buy from them when I get the chance.  The fishing business is cutthroat and a tough nut to crack.  So please stop by his website, or booth if you are at the show, and buy some.  I will be gluing Knockin Tails on mine as soon as I finish this.

Home | Salty Head (saltyheadtackle.com)

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I only took one picture this time and it says it all about the current and soon to be past state of affairs in boating.

That is freakin insane!

Now if you can swing it have at it.  I just know that my last couple of trips to the gas station with the boat and truck was over $80 for a couple of trips.  I can’t imagine a stop at the marina for gas to feed a set of thirsty Quads!

To go along with that I looked at a couple of new Ranger bass boats fully rigged, almost, for tournament fishing.  Must say I was stunned to see they were OVER $100K!  Wow.  My old fishing partner and floor manager at Ranger would be amazed at what has happened.  But it sure brought back the memories.

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Moving to Arkansas like I did in the early 70’s put me in the heart of the birth of the bass fishing craze.  The first BASS tournament on Beaver Lake.  The Norfork bass club having the second Bassmaster Classic Champion.  Boat building just exploded.  From cigar style boats with a big 70hp to 21 foot Champion with 150 hps.  Fishing our club with John Story of Champion Boats.  The first Lew’s small profile, graphite rods, the explosion of bass jigs designed from the original Bull Shoals Sam Welch jig, the jerk bait, and on and on.  My buddy Lenny, who was the original Black Max, made famous by the introduction of the Mercury Black Max 150hp.  The resident pro at Tad’s Fishin Machine Lures where I worked winning a BASS tournament on the Buzz King spinnerbait, I actually have 2 left.  Getting to fish the Arkansas Federation tournament with our club which won the state title on a 6 out of 8 year stretch.  What I call the “Time of the Stripers” when they went nuts on Norfork and we caught 10 -20 pounders like crappie.  And finally, to be so lucky to guide off and on for over 20 years.  It was a time of innovation, and I will always be thankful to being there, it was something.

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This is how disconnected I have been the last 6 weeks or so, not only did I desert Facebook I actually missed a blog milestone that was a big deal to me.  A couple of posts ago was my 1,500th post.  That is a freakin lot.  Now if I would get off my ass and start reviewing there is a book in there somewhere.  And it would not be about me, but about fishing where folks like us find common ground.

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Funny how much I have learned from my TV fishing habit.  In Fishermen is really the top as far as actually disseminating information you can use.  In Wisconsin where you can only use one jig per bait they modified the Alabama Rig, instead of baits on the 4 outside arms they put a spinner on each arm with 1 bait on the middle arm.  (A quick note: They said the fish would hit the spinners at times but if you keep cranking and let the rod load up you were good to go.  Whether one bait or 5, just let them load the rod then set the hook.)  Looks good to me.  And I promise you, and myself, that I will throw a smaller one on the bay over deep shell this summer.  The more I think about it (5 years or so.) the better it sounds.  I base that assessment on my early days fishing trout in Florida.  It was the Bang O Lure used as a jerk bait in that clear water where I would often see multiple trout chasing and flashing at it.  The A Rig with Knockin Tail trailers might absolutely kill them.  (Which is why I just ordered some smaller ones for this summer.)

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We love seeing the wolves in Yellowstone.  Unfortunately, they wander out of the park and this year a ton have been shot or killed outside the park.  Montana just reduced the seasons bag numbers after so many were killed.  Of course, there are competing interests from wolf experts, tourism interests, and ranchers.  I have no problem with hunting them when legal though I never would, but at times the justification for it is not really grounded in science.

The first year we saw them the number of farm animals killed by wolves the prior year was over 200 domestic animals.  Remember the ranchers are compensated for the animals, so it is not a total loss for them.  The same year domestic dogs were responsible for killing over 2,000 animals statewide.  As usual do not listen to the hype on either side, as I have said repeatedly, we have to figure out a way for all of us to enjoy the outdoors and the game and fish.  As crowded as the outdoors is becoming the conflicts will only increase.

A perfect example of the debate is what has happened in Colorada the last month.  A pair moved into northwestern Colorado and for the first time in forever had a documented litter of 6 pups.  Great as Colorado voted to re-introduce them.  Unfortunately, they have killed some cattle on a ranch.  Once that starts and happens again, they have to be either removed with passive and active measures or they have to be shot.  Since it is Colorado, they are still considered endangered, so no killing is allowed.  But most experts say once they kill like that it will happen again so the Game and Fish in partnership with landowners and biologists are working together to figure out a solution.  So time will tell how that plays out.  In the end they are magnificent animals, they have a place on this earth, where remains to be seen.

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Going to the show gave me a boost to get back at it.  My return to Facebook and an internet presence is coming soon.  Time to start organizing the calendar.  So many places so little time and money but I will give it a shot.    Tomorrow it is football, Monday the forecast is for heavy rain with possible street flooding.  Unless something changes will be back on the water Tuesday.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines