Rainy Fishing
Tip: If it rains the day/night before your fishing trip, always look for run-off locations. Creeks and other drainages can be especially productive. Small fishes will gather to feed on whatever the moving water brings them, drawing the larger predators to feed on them.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Backlashes
Tip: We all have days when every other cast is a backlash. Here’s a tip that actually works in most instances. Press your thumb firmly against the spool and crank the reel 3 or 4 turns. You thumb pressure and friction aligns the loops all in the same direction. Now, simply pull the off the reel and the backlash should come right out. I find that this works better than 50% of the time. It also helps us old folks with bad eyes.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Drift Sock/Sea Anchors
Tip: An essential item to every bass boat is a drift sock or sea anchor. It gives you the ability to slow a boat’s drift to a crawl, even in high winds. It can be a safety, as well as fishing, asset.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Graphite Rods
Tip: The biggest killer of graphite rods is impact against a hard object. The graphite is very hard and, therefore, brittle. Be careful not to hit the rod on the boat when casting, be sure not to step on them, and be sure not to place any heavy object on them when on the boat floor.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Cleanig Your Rods
Tip: Use alcohol prep pads to clean the cork handles on your rods. They are very cheap and you can simply throw them away after finishing the job. If the cork handles on your fishing rods are looking extra dirty and it makes your rods look lIKe they are fifty years old, try this: take a very light grade sand paper and sand the cork handles. They will look like brand new looking fishing rods

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Cleanin Up The Boat
Tip: Believe it or not, PLEDGE furniture polish is great for making a boat look like new and to protect the finish. And, you can wax your boat in 15-20 minutes

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Trolling Blades
Tip: To keep your trolling motor prop blades from damaging your boat cover, simply lay a piece of old carpet or other fabric over the blades before tightening the cover down. This is also a ‘fix’ to prevent the edge of the windshield from damaging the cover.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Black Buzz Baits
Tip: Black buzz baits always seem to produce more strikes than bright colors. Try it. You’ll find it true.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Texas Rigged Worms
Tip: With a Texas-rigged plastic worm, consider putting the sinker on backward when fishing on a sandy bottom. With the cup of the sinker facing forward, it will kick up puffs of sand when moved, making it look very life-like. It will also make the lure hang for a second and then ‘jump’ when pulled over limbs and other obstructions.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any

Grass
Tip: A great technique for big bass is ticking the top of submerged grass with a Rat-L-Trap. To prevent the lure from hanging in the grass, cut the front hook of the treble off, both on the front and rear hooks. This will help prevent catching the weeds.

Water Type: Any	Types of Fish: Any
Fishing Type: Any