Started New Sporting Goods Store

Welcome back-Your continued support is appreciated. Enjoy your fishing day!!

While many of you have been following my blog I have recently started selling fishing equipment on Ebay. I have a new Anchor Store “Neu Sporting Goods” here is link Neu Sporting Goods. We are selling all new brand name fishing equipment such as Shimano, Penn, Daiwa, Avet, and Pflueger. We are also currently adding fly fishing equipment and are currently stocking Abel Fly reels, Scientific Anglers  and Cortland fly lines. Check our store out you will be pleased with price and we ship within 24 hrs.

Here is what some of our customers are saying: Customer feedback!!

Bookmark our store and feel free to contact me with any questions via email: info@neusportinggoods.com

Spring Time Bassin’ is Here

March 1st marks the official start of Spring, It also marks prime time for Bass fishing. While it may feel like winter in most of the northern states it is time to start gearing up for warming water and the spring fishing season.

During the spring season the spawning instinct moves into full swing and the bass begin their annual migration to shallower waters. These fish are active, hungry and easy to catch as the weather stabilizes and begins to warm.The time to start catching the spring lunker is now.

To find spring bass start fishing long points adjacent to know spawning grounds, adjacent to creek mouths, coves and deeper ledges leading to the point. You are looking for the natural path for the migration to the shallows. Start on the deeper side of the point/drop and work your way up shallow until yo find the bass and make note of the depth and temperature. It is important cover a lot of water. typically these find will be in groups moving from the deeper depths to the shallows. Once you find one work the area, there will be more.

If the weather is still feeling like winter you will most likely find the fish deeper and on the break lines. Use a deep diving crankbait, or fish a lipless crankbait deep. I will also mix in a jig and pig if the fish seem to still be inactive.

If the water is warmer on a daily basis don’t be shy about moving to the shallows and throw a spinner bait. Look for cover adjacent to deeper ledges and breaklines.Try slow rolling your spinnerbait. If the water is still cold you will have much better success with a slower retrieve.

Look for baitfish, as the sun comes out and the water warms bait will start to show themselves and will always attract the hungry spring bass.

Be patient and adjust to the weather. As cold fronts may rear their ugly head in early spring, be willing to adapt to the weather changes. The fish will not move far, it is up to you to stay with them.

Skeet Reese Bassmaster Champion heads for show In Long Beach

by Ed Zieralski of the Union Tribune

SHREVEPORT, La. - It’s not often Southern Californians meet the Bassmaster Classic champion right after he wins it, but that’s the case at the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle Show in Long Beach, March 4-8.

In a stroke of good fortune, Hall Show organizers Tim Baker and Mike Lum arranged for Skeet Reese of Auburn to appear and give seminars at the Berkley booth and freshwater tank. The Hall Show opensMarch 4 at the Long Beach Convention Center and runs through Sunday. March8.

“At the time we booked Skeet, I remember Tim saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if Skeet won the Classic?’ ” Lum said.

Reese, 39, won the 39th Bassmaster Classic on Sunday in Louisiana on the muddy Red River, beating out New Jersey’s Michael Iaconelli by 11 ounces to become the first Californian to win the Classic in its history. Reese won $500,000, a championship ring and the Classic trophy.

Reese is scheduled to give two seminars at the Hall Show’s Berkley Freshwater area. His first is titled, “California Style Big Bass Fishing,” set for 2:30 p.m., and the second is “Tournament Fishing Tips and Techniques,” set for 6:30 p.m.

It was a wild night of celebration for Reese and many of the other anglers in Shreveport. BASS events coordinator Jamie Wilkinson had his room at the Hilton set up with Reese’s favorite celebration beverage, some fancy appetizers and his winner’s check.

But before the Bassmaster champion reached the Hilton, Reese and his wife and daughters made a stop at their favorite eatery - McDonald’s.

Cold Front Bass Fishing

After a Cold Front is one of the most difficult times to catch Largemouth Bass. Throughout my Bass fishing career I always dreaded fishing right after a cold front. For me this was the toughest time to fish until I recently discovered some of the habits of the after cold front fish.

About three years ago I moved into a home which sits on a lake in South Florida. Living directly on the lake has proven once that Bass change their habits when the temperature drops directly after a cold front. On warm and sunny days I have had the pleasure of watching Bass up to the 5 lb range cruising the shoreline in search of minnows and other bait fish. In fact during the middle of the day I have witnessed these fish gingerly swimming about in and around lilly pads and grass which sprinkle the shoreline. At times in they merely sit in open water almost as though they are enjoying the direct rays of the sun.

Prior to a cold front these fish become more active exploding baitfish right up against the bank. On the days following a cold front there is not a fish in sight. There is definitely an effect on the Bass. As the weather warms the process takes shape all over again. Within a two or three days of direct sunshine the same fish are back cruising the shallows looking for food as desperately as just prior to the cold front.

In addition to witnessing first hand the effects of a front in my back yard I have taken what I have discovered and utilized this information fishing on the lake as well.

Here are some tips I have discovered which will keep fish on the end of your line after a cold front:

1. Move back to deeper water. If you are fishing the bank move off the bank and fish deeper. If you are fishing an open water flat look for the closest adjacent drop off.
2. Slow down your presentation. Cold front fish are more lethargic and moving slow if they are moving at all. Slow Down!
3. Fish tighter to cover. Bass love cover. When inactive they will snuggle up to their favorite cover until the front passes.
4. Downsize your Bait. Cold bass do not want to tackle a large difficult dinner. They will however; still eat a small easy to eat prey if presented right in front of them.
5. Make several casts to the same spot, at different angles. These fish will need more coaxing than usual.
6. If fishing a drop off, mark the drop as accurately as possible. These fish will not chase your bait very far, if at all.
7. Be patient. These fish could really care less about you or your bait.

Follow these tips after a cold front and I’m positive your catch will increase.

Bass Boat Buying Basics

So you are in the market for a New Bass Boat??

Buying a new Bass Boat can be one of the most exciting new toy purchases we will make. The relationship between a man and his boat ranks right up there with a man and his dog and don’t forget about a man and his wife.

Once the excitement of realizing you are going to purchase a new bass boat is over, there are a few things which must be carefully considered before diving into a purchase of a new rig. Continue Reading >>

How do you engage your Reel?

I bet you have never thought about the art of engaging your reel after a cast. Is it something which requires any attention while fishing? I never really thought so until I had an experience while bonefishing a few years ago. It was my first guided fishing trip in the Florida Keys, I was fishing for bonefish. I had one of those salty old time, old school guides, which was apparently one of the best guides in the Keys.

One of the first instructions, among many others was how to engage my reel. I was fishing with a Daiwa spinning reel. His instruction was “always engage the reel by hand, do not use the handle to flip the spinning reel bail” seemed a bit ridiculous to me. Until I quickly found out why he gave me such explicit instruction.

After about an hour without sighting a single bonefish, my guide instructed me to get ready to cast as a bonefish was on his way towards our boat. I was ready… Once the fish was about 30 yards to our front right side direction the fish suddenly stopped and started circling in a tight area. The guide informed me he found something to eat and this would be the opportunity to make a cast. I made what could only be described as a perfect cast directly in the path of the feeding bonefish.

The fish made its way to my bait and started circling. About that time I engaged my bail not as instructed by my formidable guide. “CLICK” was the sound I heard and it seemed as though the whole world became silent except for that clicking sound. All of a sudden the bonefish flashed in disgust and swam off as though the world was truly coming to an end. After a tongue lashing explaining how “I told you so” and a few mumbled words which I could not make out from my guide. I decided I would not do that again.

Needless to say that incident has stayed with me ever since. I have become much more aware of the intricacies of how to engage your reel.

Don’t make the same mistake. Here are a few tips which might put an extra fish in the livewell.

1. Whether with a spinning outfit or baitcasting rig always let your bait fall with a slack line. Even if you have to pull some line off manually. this will insure a more natural fall, keeping your bait in the cover.
2. Let your rest once your cast is complete before engaging your reel. Whether fishing on the bottom or the top, let your bait complete its decent prior to engaging your reel.
3. When fishing with a spinning outfit always engage your bail manually.
4. When fishing with a baitcasting outfit, engage your reel as quietly as possible, especially in shallow water.
5. Always and I mean always watch your line as your bait is falling, if your line twitches or stops before you believe it has reached its destination forget about all of the above, engage, reel down and set the hook.

While this article may sound somewhat to extreme, pay attention to how loud engaging your reel is next time you are fishing. you may be surprised.

Enjoy your fishing day!

10 Practical Fishing Tips

1. Never fish where or when someone tells you to, “I caught them there yesterday”. They are most likely not there today, and if they are they may be eating something else.
2. You don’t have to use big baits to catch big fish. Some of my largest bass were caught using some of the smallest baits.
3. Most say that bass only eat early and late. While there is some truth to this, many of my best catches were in the middle of the day. Including using topwater baits.
4. Try areas no one else fishes. Hard to reach areas, difficault areas to cast to, shallow coves, difficult branches to cast under etc.
5. Try fishing around the launch area. You might be surprised.
6. Always use the lightest line possible.
7. Never miss fishing the spawning phases, the bass are the most aggressive at these times.
8. Vary your retrieve with all baits, worms, crankbaits, spinner baits etc. Stop and start your retrieve from time to time.
9. Always be ready for a strike, even when you least expect it.
10. If the fish aren’t biting go back to the marina and have a drink.

Drop Shot Fishing Tutorial

Whatever you call this technique; dropshot, down shot, or under shot, it’s effectiveness has been proven countless times by thousands of anglers all over the world. Generally it is considered a finesse technique involving fairly light weights and small plastic baits. When dropshotting first came to the United States most anglers used it as a deep water technique; fishing directly under the boat for lethargic or suspended fish, especially out west where tournament anglers won a lot of money catching tough winter bass in depths of up to 100 feet! Since then more and more people have used the dropshot the same way they would use any other finesse worm technique like split shotting or darter heading; cast it up on the bank and shake it back to the boat, working through structure and along ambush points. The hooks and weights used for dropshotting have become more sophisticated in the last few years and every major rod manufacturer has designed tapers specifically for the technique.

If you can fish a plastic worm, you can dropshot. Buy a pack of dropshot hooks from your favorite manufacturer and some dropshot weights and you’re in business, you just have to know the Palomar Knot to rig it correctly. (See attached diagram) Or, you can buy dropshot rigs pre-tied from Gamakatsu, just tie a small barrel swivel to you line and tie on the Gamakatsu rig. Our best selling hooks are size #1 and #2, but sizes range from 2/0 down to #6. Weights range from 1/8 up to 1/2 ounce, but the best selling weights are 3/16 and 1/4 ounce. Line is also a special consideration. This is a light line technique and 4-10 pound test is usually the range with most anglers using 6-8 pound. Fluorocarbon line has also gained in popularity with dropshot anglers and some people use fluorocarbon up to 12 pound test. Most anglers throw the rig on a light spinning rod but baitcasting outfits are being used more frequently, especially in Southern California where dropshotting is a part of just about every bass fisherman’s game plan. If line twist becomes a factor after a long day of dropshotting, try tying a small barrel swivel 18 inches or so above the hook. Continue Reading >>

Triton 21×3 Pro DC Bass Boat Review

Continue Reading >>

Storm 206 SE

The 2009 STORM 206 Sportsman’s Edition is built around the same bullet proof 20′6″ hull/transom/stringer/deck combination used in our 206 Tournament Bass Model, but is equipped with a package of standard features better suited for the weekend angler who desires the quality, performance, and appearance of a custom hand built boat, but at a more affordable package price.  Each 206SE is still 100% hand laid and hand built using only the finest composite materials and craftsmanship available.  One of the major benefits of this model is that it is 100% upgradeable to all of the features found in our Tournament Models and beyond.

Standard Features

The 2009 STORM 206 Sportsman’s Edition Bass Model is built around the same bullet proof 20′6″ hull/transom and stringer/deck combination used in our 206 Tournament Bass Model, but is equipped with a package of standard features better suited for the weekend angler who desires the quality, performance, and appearance of a custom hand built boat, but at a more affordable package price.  Each 206SE is still 100% hand laid and hand built using only the finest composite materials and craftsmanship available.  One of the major benefits of this model is that it is 100% upgradeable to all of the features found in our Tournament Models and beyond. Continue Reading >>