I have added a new section to my blog called HardKore Klinix. HK-X will be an archive of tips and techniques articles that I have posted in my blog or collected from around the net. I have posted the HK-X archives about half-way down in the sidebar. That does not mean it will always be there, but that is its home for now. My hope is it will become large enough so you can use it as a resource for bass fishing information without wasting time rummaging around the internet.
I will be doing my best to update HardKore Klinix on a bi-weekly basis. This may turn into a monthly update, but we’ll try it and see how it works. If you run across any HK-X worthy articles, feel free to drop me a heads-up in the comments section and I will give them a look. Thanks to everyone who participated in the naming contest for this section.
I realize that the fishing season is in full swing for many of you, but up North we are just gearing up. So for that reason I decided to make the first installment of HardKore Klinix about patterning Springtime bass. I hope you find it useful and be able to apply some of the information on your next outing.
The Four Stages of Spring ~ The Four Stages of Spring is part one of a three part seasonal outline. I will be adding an outline for Summer fishing and for the Fall transition as the season progresses. Hopefully you will find these outlines a little more detailed and dotted with a few more delicious tidbits than other seasonal outline articles. Read More...
I will be adding a new Tips & Techniques section to my blog in the following week. Initially, I was just going to post them on the main page, but then I thought it would be nice if you didn't have to search for them. I am not sure how it will be set up, but I think there will be a link in the sidebar so you will have access to all the tasty tidbits of information in one spot. I will try to post new tips and techniques on a bi-weekly basis starting in about a week or two, but no longer - I promise. I am not sure what it will be called yet, but I have my best men and women on the case. If you would like to participate in the "name the tips and technique page" contest for a chance to win a pair of Mountain Khakis, just click the link, join getREELed.com, and have at it.
When I was learning about bass fishing I remember being overwhelmed by all the available lure colors: Citruse, Lavendar Shad, Sour Grape, Texas Craw, Spring Craw, Gold Dust, Colelsaw - Reaction Innovations has 47 colors in their Sweet Beaver bait alone! So how do you know which colors to buy? Read More...
While I am writing this I can see a few groups of ice fisherman on the lake that I live on. Fishing through the ice is not for me; I guess some anglers use it as a way to get through the winter, but since I don't like catching panfish or 'gators' when it's 80 degrees and sunny, I am sure I wouldn't like it in the cold. If you are like me and don't see the appeal of ice fishing, here are a few things I like to do to get throught the winter and get a head start on the upcoming tournament season:
1. Watch the classic - The Bassmaster Classic is will be held February 22nd - 24th on Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C. and is a great diversion for a few days. The Bassmaster website usually has live coverage and it is not edited like you'll see on television which means you'll get to see all the anglers weigh in - not just the darlings of B.A.S.S.. Elite series angler, Charlie Hartley, is keeping a Classic Blog that you might want to read.
2. Spend some time on message boards - Fishing message boards are a great resource for collecting information on anything related to bass fishing. Aside from being informative, they are entertaining and you will meet some great people. Here are a couple of my favorite message boards: The Bass Fishing Home Page
3. Organize your tackle - Throughout the tournament season I buy a lot of tackle and burn up a lot of tackle. This time of year I am on my boat nearly every day so it is relatively easy to keep on top of the baits and terminal tackle that I need for the next stop. But after storing it for the winter I have found that it is pretty easy to loose track of all the stuff that is in those Plano boxes. I just get it spread out on the kitchen table and begin to make a list of the things I think I am missing: replacement hooks for my crankbaits and topwaters, football head jigs, flipping jigs, skirts, Tungsten bullet weights, etc.....you get the idea. Reorganizing tackle can border on obsessive/ compulsive, but it is a great way to avoid suprises when the season rolls around.
4. Practice, practice, practice - While I am rewatching all of the tournaments that I recorded over the summer, I like to break out my favorite flipping rod and tie ona 3/4 oz. jig. I will place some plastic bowls around the living room and pitch and flip my way through the show. I might even see if I can pitch it into a plant or under the T.V. cabinet. If you living room doesn't provide enough room you can do the same thing outside.
5. work on sponsorship - The off season is a great time to begin contacting prospective sponsors and working on promotional plans for you current sponsors. I like to contact 2 or 3 prospective sponsors each season. keeping the numbers small gives me the ability to really focus on them, fine tune my presentation, and show each company what I can do for them. If you do not have a presentation it is a good time to put one together and collect any supporting material that you might want to include. Scott Rauber has a great newsletter and website that will get you going in the right direction.
6. Check out a show - Most regions have some sort of sportsmans show during the winter; Up here we have The Yankee Sportsmans Classic. These shows usually run for a weekend or 3 days and are a great way to get out of the house, see some cool new gear, and talk fishing. If you are lucky enought to have an "in," The Shot Show is the mother of all outdoor shows. Every company in the hunting and fishing industry will be there to show their product for the new season. It is also a great place to meet with prospective sponsors since the people who make those decisions usually attend.
7. Research your lakes - By now I know which lakes I will be fishing during the upcoming tournament season. The winter is a great time to begin collecting information on those lakes. Aside from doing the usual research, Google Earth has become a stop on my research list. If you haven't checked it out you owe it to yourself. I can pull up a google earth map of the lake that I will be fishing and get a perfect satellite image; Visible cover like docks and wood are shown as well as dirty and clear water, underwater points, inlets, etc. It's a great addition to my map research and you can also get GPS coordinates.
I hope these ideas help you get throught the winter months.
