February 2017 | Mack Attack Magazine

February 2017

Show Season

By Lance Merz It’s that time of season again.

Sportsman’s shows are popping up everywhere around the country and it embellishes a sort of feeding frenzy; especially for fishing.

There are many fishermen who go to these shows to see what’s new and exciting for the new fishing season and many are filling up their tackle boxes in preparation. These shows are not just about shopping however. It’s also a place to learn about particular fisheries and types of fishing that we can all get out and enjoy.

There are many of us that go to shows to wander up and down the aisle, mainly because we want something to do during the winter months; but there is an opportunity to learn from some of the best fishermen around. Seminars are a plethora of information because they are taught by master anglers who have had much success with fishing. If someone is consistently landing more fish in their boat, wouldn’t you want to listen to ensure that you do as well? Most of these seminars will teach you how to be a better fisherman in the area of which you live. These classes teach you how to rig your line, which bait to use (if any), equipment needed to ensure success; the list goes on and on.

The author conducting a Kokanee seminar.

In the Pacific Northwest, there will be a slough of Mack’s Lure Pro Staff at these shows, who will also be teaching seminars at the show. I will be giving a seminar on Kokanee and Trout fishing, Keith Jensen of Big Wally’s Guide Service will be giving seminars on Walleye, and Pro Walleye Angler Johnnie Candle will be teaching Walleye. These shows are located in Puyallup, Washington and Portland, Oregon during the months of January and February. Stop by the Mack’s Lure booth and say hello! There is many of Mack’s Lure Pro-Staff in an area near you who give seminars as well.

As far as new fishing products go, Mack’s Lure does have some new products that aren’t quite ready to hit the stores just yet. These products

have been pre-fished with amazing results in many lakes. They can be seen however, at a Sportsman show of which Mack’s Lure attends.

Come and check them out at the show!

You can easily learn to fish better by talking to people on the water, at your local bait and tackle shop, through on-line fishing forums and seminars at your local sportsman shows. The more you know about fishing, the better you’ll be at catching fish. Learning everything you can will determine your success rate and bring a more enjoyable experience that you can share with friends and family for years to come.

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was the importance of coming up with lures of forage based colors.

As a lure manufacturer we just couldn’t make enough different It’s Often The Color That colors to fit every scenario. We had Counts to attempt to create these forage

By Hall-of-Fame Angler based colors to match to match the Stan Fagerstrom primary fishing portion of the years Part 3 Each species of sports fish has in as many different bodies of water certain colors that set off their as possible.” feeding reaction more than others.

If you’ve followed the rapid expansion of Mack’s Lure in recent My words? Nope. If you read years you know the company has my previous column in this series about the importance of color when taken major steps in achieving this dealing with fishing lures you know objective. And that’s undoubtedly they came from Bobby Loomis, a a major reason for the company’s top executive with Mack’s Lure and soaring sales and worldwide a man who has devoted his life to acceptance among anglers. this business of putting fish in the “Decades ago,” Bobby says, boat. “we found a lot of our product line just didn’t have the ‘right’ colors involved. Over the years we have changed a lot of what we do including creating baits that areas close to forage based colors as possible.”

Stan’s Space

What a beautiful a bunch of fish these two Mack’s Lure executives are holding. It took their knowledge of the importance of color to help put these fish in the boat.

clarity, water depths, etc.

“But there are certain colors that will always trigger or attract fish.

One of the main colors that even most manufacturers of lures don’t think about is a yellow chartreuse shade. Why is that color one of the main colors for every species of fish? Could it be because it is about the highest UV color that exists?

“Why do we fish yellow chartreuse early in the year for salmon, walleye, trout, etc.? It’s because early in the year waters are generally colored and more stained with less clarity. Lures of yellow chartreuse show through this like a beacon and attract fish from farther away because of its high UV.” Despite his proven expertise in the field of lure development, Bobby Loomis will be the first to tell you he knows he doesn’t have all the answers. “I have to apologize for rambling a bit whenever I get into a discussion of lure colors,” Bobby says. “It’s hard not to because this is such a huge subject that really needs to be taken fish by fish, time of the year and forage base subject matter.

This one is just about to go into the landing net. See that Smile Blade® up front of the lure this one hit?

Loomis is so right in the way he sums up the importance of lure color. As I’ve mentioned a couple of times in this series, I’ve had the same experiences as he’s had when it comes to dealing with fish like bass and crappie. I’ll have more on that later.

Bobby left helping build some of the nation’s top fishing rods years ago to join a rapidly growing Mack’s Lure Company, then still a relatively small operation. Small or not that company had already done fishermen all over the world a huge favor when it introduced the Let’s look at some more of the wondrous Mack’s Lure Wedding thoughts Loomis shared with me Ring® spinner. on bait colors. “The salmonoid “When I joined Mack’s Lure,” species,” he says, “like high UV Bobby says, “one of the first things colors like yellow chartreuse, flo I had beaten into my head by certain orange, flo chartreuse and hot pinks. of our much experienced pro staff Here again it depends on water

Few anglers know the tricks and tactics it takes to consistently catch dandies like this. This one you’re looking at does. He’s Bobby Loomis, Mack’s Lure’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

“I am still learning more about this subject every day I go fishing.

As I’ve stated, we can get ‘close’ to the correct colors but water depths, clarity, time of year and Continued on Page 3

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water temperatures will all play a role in whether we are just catching fish, really pounding the fish, or not catching any at all.”

As I mentioned earlier, my own personal lure color experience with bass and crappie tie right in with what Bobby has to say in his lure color summary. I’ve already written a good bit about the experience I’ve had “Matching the Hatch” where both bass and crappie are concerned.

I’d like to wind up this series in my next column with what my experience has been regarding lures and bait colors in fly fishing for bluegills. These scrappy little devils rarely get the credit they deserve.

As I see it, if they got to be as big as the larger species in most places they are found they’d run fish like the bass to the other end of the lake.

If you’ve never taken a shot at them with a fly rod you’re missing something. I’ll share the details on what has worked wonders for me.

Mack’s Lure Smile Blades®

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drop, the initial action is the same as on the lift, then the remaining action is that of a “flutter spoon” with its darting-fluttering-gliding

By Captain Pete Rosko movement. This built-in action is

By Captain Pete Rosko released through its gravitational fall without any need for rod action (“dead-sticking”). Calm water, and slow-moving currents, are best for line control whether vertical jigging in a boat, off a dock, pier, bridge or through the ice.

FLUTTER

For lively fluttering metal jig action, simply attach your line/snap to the nose, or tail, insert . Use the The Sonic BaitFish (SBF) is a package-enclosed wide bend duo 2-in-1 hybrid finesse metal jig… lock snap for quick changes and part blade bait and part metal livelier action. jig…a.k.a. “vibrating jig / jigging spoon”. Because of its versatility 2 ) L I N E / S N A P - T O - TA I L and balance, every proven fishVERSION: The hook is attached to attracting action is designed into this the nose insert. Very effective when multi-species lure. The Sonic Bait casting or vertical jigging. On Fish is deadly for most sport fish in the fall, the darting, fluttering and open water and through the ice. It is gliding actions differ from the lineprecision-designed for fresh & salt to-nose version, usually a tighter water, down to 100 feet (depending action similar to that of a slight “C”on wind and water movement). It shape bend in the lure. Preferred is especially effective for kokanee, for attaching the hook closest to salmon and trout, in the western the lure’s prism eyes, especially states, and highly effective for most when ice fishing. 3)LINE/SNAPother sport fish in the rest of the TO-NOSE VERSION: The hook is U.S. and Canada (All Canada, “Best attached to the tail insert. This is the Spoon Award”). It excels as a most most effective, and versatile, of the versatile and productive fish-catcher three versions. On the fall, gravity whether casting, jigging, swimming releases a lively darting, fluttering, or trolling. gliding and vibrating action. It can Vibration and flutter are the two be cast, vertically jigged, swimmost important sonic mechanisms, jigged, swum or trolled in all waters, engineered into a fishing lure, to worldwide. (Trolling…only time a trigger a strike response from a snap swivel must be used on the nose predator fish. is to minimize line twist, especially VIBRATION with monofilament line. Non stretch braided, or fluorocarbon, 1) “BLADE BAIT VERSION”: line is strongly recommended for all This version is only for vertical jigging techniques. Use the lightest jigging. For unsurpassed blade line possible to effectively fish your bait (sonic vibration) action, attach target species.) your line/snap to the connection Understanding the mechanics insert located on the top of the back. of the Sonic BaitFish (SBF), and The lift results in a strong side-tofish behavior, will result in greater side vibration, resembling a fastsuccess and enjoyment, on the moving windshield wiper. On the

Understanding The Mechanics Of The Sonic BaitFish (SBF)

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water. As with most things in life, “practice makes perfect”. Fish, as with humans, can change their behavior and preferences many times over a 24 hour period. Always be willing to adapt by changing your presentation when the bite slows or stops. The SBF is designed with this in mind. If one size is not producing then change to a smaller size. (Many times, fish just want a small snack, not a large meal). If still unsuccessful, change the color or finish of the lure. (In dim light, fish see pearl white, glow-in-thedark and UV/fluorescent colors better than metallic finishes without adequate light to reflect off their surfaces). Still no result? Don’t change lures, just change versions!

If version #1 (“blade bait”) does not produce, then change to a fluttertype action as in versions 2 or 3. Finally, vary the speed of your presentation until the fish respond to what they like…usually slower.

At times, when vertical jigging, hold the rod still. By letting the lure slowly rotate in the current, it can result in more strikes. Its natural appearance, and “dying” action, resembles an easy meal to a predator fish. This is especially effective in salt water during a dead tide, rapidly changing wind direction and/or unstable barometer.

Since the SBF is a finesse-type lure, it has a lively action built into it. As a result, hard jigging exaggerates its action that may cause hook-to-line fouling. Reduce your rod action to short lifts instead of excessive jerking. The goal is to attract fish and not frighten them!

More SBF information is available by downloading the “Sonic BaitFish Tech Guide”.

As always, it is my pleasure to hopefully help you to be more efficient on the water. Thank you for being a subscriber to our monthly edition of the Mack Attack.

Pete

Gary’s Fishing Corner

It’s Going To Be A Good Year By Gary Miralles

of course, feed the many other species of fish that we spend our precious time pursuing. Kokanee will have an abundant supply of plankton to help grow more quickly, as well.

So, I expect to see many lakes producing above average sized fish this year. I do, however, expect a late start to many of the higher elevation lakes with a longer season to enjoy.

All in all, the future looks bright even if the skies don’t. See you on the water. Good fishing y’all.

Wiggle Hoochie 4.5"

I have been doing sportsman shows for 25 years and one thing I have experienced during that time is that you can learn a lot about how your season will be by talking to the many people you visit with at the shows. This year is no different.

Overall, everyone this year seems upbeat. The entire West is getting hammered. Record rain and snowfall is the talk. If you are living it, you are probably ready for an end, but no chance. We have at least three more months to go. That being said after four years of drought, it is a welcome sight. The lakes are all filling and the snow pack is deep.

To those of us that fish, that is exciting. Nothing is better than launching your boat and trolling the shoreline of a full lake catching limits of fish. This means lake access is going to be good everywhere and fishing is going to be excellent, as well. All of the rain and runoff is supplying our many reservoirs with all of the necessary nutrients that help the ecosystem thrive. This will increase the phytoplankton that baitfish need in order to grow. They, Page 4

HOT DEAL OF THE MONTH Glo® Hooks

Question of the Month Have a question? We’d love to answer it! Contact us at MacksLure@MacksLure.com if you have a question you would like to see featured!

Q: I’ve heard a lot about Glo® Hooks this winter. Are they strictly an ice fishing tool?

Looking for that extra edge this ice fishing season? Try a Glo® Hook, a proven performer on hard water. Enter code GGSKH at checkout to receive 20% off Glo® Hooks Bronze Series.

Enter code:

GGSKH

A: That’s a fantastic question. The short answer is no, Glo® Hooks are not strictly an ice fishing tool, as they can be used in many different styles of fishing. Mack’s Lure Glo® Hooks come in four different types of hooks and five different colors.

They are available in a treble hook, red octopus-style hook, bronze bait hook and our new Glo® Fly hook.

The Glo® material that is used on these hooks is totally different than most glow hooks, as it is made with

Photo of the Month

a type of plastic with glow material added to it during manufacturing.

Since it’s a lightweight glow plastic on the hook, it can be used in a lot of different types of fisheries. The red octopus-style hooks work fantastic for kokanee, sockeye and trout as a trailer hook for trolling, especially when fishing deep. The bronze bait hooks work great fishing through the ice with live bait because your bait lasts much longer, as it doesn’t weigh down your bait. The trebles work great on most types of jigging spoons and spinners while the Glo® Fly is as versatile as they come, working great rigged up with beads for trolling or even as a hook for a spinner. So, the Mack’s Lure Glo® Hooks work great as an ice fishing tool but can be used in a number of different styles and methods of fishing.

Video of the Month Check out this Video, Let’s take a trip down to Flaming Gorge Reservoir to watch Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Mike Hall and Luke Ellifritz get out on the ice.

If you have video’s to share, we’d love to see them!! Send your video links to: MacksLure@ MacksLure.com.

A Lake Tahoe Lunker! Travis Jones caught this massive rainbow on a Cripplure™ Glow Frog earlier this month. The Cripplure™ presents as a dying fish bait on the fall and gives off a vibration on the rise -an irresistible presentation in nearly all fisheries.

Send your photo’s to media@MacksLure.com for consideration to be included in a future Mack Attack edition or on Facebook.

See more pictures by clicking here: Mack’s Photo Gallery Page 5