Author: jcarrigan

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Swimbait Mayhem

DRT KLASH JOKER PART 2 “Project” Swimbait Mayhem

KLASH JOKER

DRT KLASH JOKER PART 2 “Project” Swimbait Mayhem

The Division Rebel Tackles (DRT) KLASH JOKER is noted as a Mystery Wake Bait, with a trashing noise, violent vortex, surface nightmare. This topwater wake bait also has a removable lip to allow it to walk side to side as well. Amazing tail rattles and a submarine effect, this is sure to elicit some explosive topwater bites.

This is part 2, working off the first review that I made. Working this bait with no lip to produce a walk-the-dog action is relatively hard and I had some bad camera angles on the first video. Honestly, the right rod which the shorter the better and a fast retrieve reel is the way to go. Short jerks with line slacks to give way to the side to side action is key. It’s a cadence, and you just have to practice.

If you end up with a JOKER don’t give up if you can’t get this amazing bait to go back and forth. It will come with time and patience. Once you get the cadence down you will be amazed at how the KLASH JOKER dances on top of the water.  Please comment below and let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Here is the link to this video review! CLICK HERE

Here is the link to my first review! CLICK HERE

Here is the YouTube video of the first review! CLICK HERE

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE REST OF “PROJECT” SWIMBAIT MAYHEM. CLICK HERE

Division Rebel Tackles

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Anger

Categories
Reviews Swimbait Mayhem

CABELAS SWIMBAIT ROD – CABELAS PREDATOR MUSKY ROD

Cabela's SWIMBAIT ROD

CABELAS SWIMBAIT ROD – CABELAS PREDATOR MUSKY ROD

The most sought-after swimbait rods on social media are lightweight and under $200, which is almost impossible to find unless you have a custom rod made. The Cabela’s Predator Musky Rod is just that rod, it’s now $129 and weighs in at 10oz. You would be hard-pressed to find a comparable rod at this price.

You can check out all the details on this rod here -> http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-PREDATOR-MUSKY-CASTING-RODS/1925800.uts?slotId=0
Check out my YouTube video review here -> https://youtu.be/YPMTt2VrZkw

I won’t bore you with all the technical details, just the ones important to me.
1. Price: You can’t beat a big bait rod for under $200, and this one just had a price drop to $129 and they go on sale frequently. I got my first one for $129 and my second $99.
2. Weight: This rod only weighs in at 10oz. Combined with my Ardent Apex Magnum at 8oz, that an 18oz combo. The closet combo to that was nearly 800 dollars. It was a high-end JDM rod and reel.
3. Comfort: This goes along with the weight of the rod, but the grips are great. Most models have 100% Winn Grips, while one has half rubber and half Winn.
4. Action: Wide range of typical stout H through XXH, but they have one rod that is XH with a Moderate Action. This rod is perfect for big baits with treble hooks with its parabolic bend. Same idea bass guys have for their crankbait rods.

Conclusion: This is my new and go-to big bait rod for swimbaits, while I’m also going to start to target Muskie’s as well. Again, you can’t beat the price. Let me know what you think as well. As always, if you have questions, ask below!
Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

Cabela's Predator Musky Rod

Categories
Swimbait Mayhem

SWIMBAIT SPINNING ROD

SWIMBIAT SPINNING ROD

A Swimbait Spinning Rod is probably the least sought-after rod in a big swimbaiters arsenal. A swimbait spinning rod is for those who are just getting started or may not know how to use a bait casting reel. When it comes to rods geared towards throwing big swimbaits, you have swimbait specific rods, mushy rods, and heavy saltwater rods. However, most of these are geared around casting rods, and not spinning rods.

The spinning rods that are offered are not generally offered in the heavy models that will handle monster baits. They are offered up to 4-5 oz. rods. The rod that I’m using is actually a surf rod form Tsunami, and it’s a great fit for smaller swimbaits. Cabela’s offers a spinning rod geared for musky and again it’s not rated past 4 oz. I do own two casting models of the Cabela’s Predator Musky rods and they are my favorite rods for big baits. So, I’m confident that the spinning models will work for anyone that wants to target fish with big baits. The saltwater rods, tend to be surf rods. If you want a super heavy surf rod for swimbaits, it’s going to be a 9-10ft plus.

If you are just getting started with big baits or not comfortable with baitcasting reels the above-mentioned spinning rods will work for throwing big swimbaits. Plus, should you decide that throwing big swimbaits is not for these rods will work for many more types of fishing. Your money will not be wasted on buying these rods. If you have any questions, I’m always here to help.

Check out my YouTube review https://youtu.be/Mv0ec5pPOkk

Semper Fish!
Joe, The National Angler

Categories
Fishing Tips & Tricks The National Angler

Angler Express Tackle Box OCT 2017

Angler Express Tackle Box

Subscription tackle boxes are an extremely popular way to try new tackle. What if there was an option to get a more tailored box for the season and body of water that was selected by a professional at an individual. That’s exactly what you get when you get an Angler Express Tackle Box. They come in increments and can be ordered monthly or a single.
Here is the exact wording from www.anglersexpress.com

Check out my video review: https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=g1mCtkj1sEQ

“Anglers Express Tackle Box – The Express Tackle Box is a custom-tailored box filled with tried and true lures and/or terminal tackle designated for your lake, river or favorite fishing hole. Our boxes can be orders on a 1-time basis or can be ordered as a monthly subscription. The Express Tackle Box also comes with a custom write up describing your LUNKER SOLUTIONS from Anglers Express. This write up will explain the theory on what should be happening during a given month and what lures and techniques will work the best. Our boxes may be plain jane but our lures are not!!! There are 2 ways to order. Either a 1-time purchase or a subscription. If you choose the subscription model you will receive 1 free monthly box with the purchase of 12 months. We are calling this our fishermen’s dozen. 13 boxes for the price of 12. Your credit card will only be charged on the 1st of every month and your boxes will leave the same day. There will be a $5.00 shipping charge added to all boxes under $50.00. If you choose to unsubscribe to the monthly box please email us at info@anglersexpress.com or call us at 844-204-FISH (3474). If you choose to email please make sure you include your name, email address, and phone number. Thank you very much for choosing Anglers Express Tackle Box.”

If you want a more tailored box for your needs this is a must! Reach out to Angler’s Express and ask for a custom-tailored box for your area.
Semper Fish!
Joe, The National Angler

Categories
Swimbait Mayhem

DRT KLASH JOKER

DRT KLASH JOKER

DRT KLASH JOKER

The Division Rebel Tackles (DRT) KLASH JOKER is noted as a Mystery Wake Bait, with a trashing noise, violent vortex, surface nightmare. This topwater wake bait also has a removable lip to allow it to walk side to side as well. Amazing tail rattles and a submarine effect, this is sure to elicit some explosive topwater bites.

I’m really looking forward to using this bait even more than I have. Right time, right place, I believe this will provoke some monster strikes from some monster fish. The one downside to the lure is with the lip out. You are supposed to be able to walk the dog with the lip out. However, I have yet to get a rhythm down for working the bait.

This bait does have some amazing action on the surface, it’s almost mesmerizing how it barely runs subsurface and that tail kicks water back and forth. More to come on this bait in the future. If you have any questions, please comment below!

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Anger

Division Rebel Tackles

Categories
Swimbait Mayhem

Swimbait Storage Solutions

Swimbait Storage Solution

Swimbait Storage Solution

This is just one option for storing your big swimbaits. The is a great starter storage for your swimbaits. I will show a few more options for keeping swimbaits from getting scratched up during storage as well. Remember, this is just one option. 

Swimbait Storage Solution

 

Check out my YouTube Video – Click Here

Categories
Swimbait Mayhem

Big Baits Small Reel – Will it work?

Big Baits Small Reel – Will it work?

So, needing a new swimbait reel and having to wait was just killing me. I posed the question, will a regular size reel work for throwing big swimbaits. I asked several high-profile swimbait groups on Facebook and got responses from very high-profile followers to everyday people. I received responses all across the board. I was told it would and wouldn’t, not enough line capacity, gears would get destroyed, drag couldn’t handle the big baits. It was endless the amount of people who said it wouldn’t work.

However, I found several people that swore they would work and nothing would go wrong. I believed they knew something the others didn’t. I also suspect that most of the nay-sayers were just repeating what they had heard from someone else.

I chose the Ardent Pro in 7.3:1 gear ratio and ending up spooling up 17lb Cabela’s Professional Fluorocarbon on the reel. I started this adventure on August 20th 2017. I will keep this post updated to tell all how everything went. If you have any questions or thoughts on the subject, please let me know below.

Check out my video here!

Semper Fish!

Categories
Blog The National Angler

Guadalupe Bass

Guadalupe Bass – Fishing the Guadalupe River

The Guadalupe Bass is another subspecies of species Black Bass. While there is several very popular species more notable know as Largemouth and Smallmouth. The Guadalupe Bass is a subspecies of the Black Bass and is only found in the Hill Country of Texas, most notably the Guadalupe River. You can find these bass spread throughout the Hill Country from San Antonio to Austin.

Here is a great web page with information from Texas Parks & Wildlife https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/gdb/

Through some research, I have found the Guadalupe bass to be quite the small ferocious fish. The Texas state record is just 3.71lbs and measured 17.25 in. The state of Texas has stated that a 12in Guadalupe Bass is a trophy fish. Recognition of the species is also very hard with the introduction of Smallmouth Bass in some of the rivers. So, finding a true Guadalupe Bass may be difficult.

Now, catching a Guadalupe Bass or just a bass in some of the Texas Hill country rivers can be difficult. One you have a limited amount of public shore access. When looking for shore access to the Hill Country rivers, go to google maps and scan the areas of the river and look for areas of green on google maps. This will designate some sort of public location. These are the areas to key in on if you do not have a boat, kayak or stand-up paddleboard.  Check out my social media articles for more information on how to use google maps and other social media tools to find fishing locations. Click Here https://www.thenationalangler.com/category/social-media-fishing/

The second part of catching bass on these rivers especially during the summer is getting away from tubers. During the extremely hot summer months, people flock to the Hill Country rivers to cool off. Well, they are everywhere and getting away from people cooling off is hard.

To be successful you need to be fishing from a boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard. You need to be on the river to target the fish you can’t from the shore. You need to be on one of these platforms to get to areas of the rivers with no shore access. This also gets you away from people swimming and tubing.

Let me know if you have caught a Guadalupe Bass or have any thoughts on fishing the Hill Country area for Guadalupe Bass.

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

Categories
Blog The National Angler

Travel Rods

Travel Rods

Travel rods are probably one of the most overlooked items an angler could have in his or her arsenal.  However, if you have one or two, I promise you will use them. They come in handy at multiple times and at any time you think, “man I wish I had a rod”, those are the time you will want a travel rod. I keep my travel rods and backup reels in my truck. I also take them on every flight I take. You just never know when you might have the chance to fish. So always keep a travel rod, backup reel and a small assortment of tackle ready.

I went on the hunt several years ago for travel rods when I went out to Northern California for training one summer. Went to the local Bass Pro and found the only travel rod they had was the Browning Safari spinning model. It was medium light and thought it would do well. That was almost 3 years ago and I have taken that rod on a half dozen trips.  That rod has been used in lakes and rivers of Northern California, Texas Hill Country streams, and the clear water of the Florida Keys. Being a medium light rod and 4 pieces, I can say it’s one tough rod.

Just this year, I wanted a casting travel rod. Unfortunately, the local Bass Pro didn’t have any travel rods. On a recent trip to Texas, I went to another Bass Pro and thankfully found a Heavy model of the same rod, just a casting model. It had the exact same specs as the Bass Pro saltwater travel rod. So again, I went with the Browning Safari. This rod isn’t rated as high for lure weight as I wanted. However, it works great and I really can’t complain.

So, if you are on the hunt for a travel rod. Seriously, take a look at the Bass Pro Browning Safari travel rods. Under a $100 and well worth the investment to always have a rod handy. If you have any questions, ask below!

Bass Pro Browning Safari Travel Rod Casting http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/browning-fishing-safari-travel-casting-rod-3-piece

Bass Pro Browning Safari Travel Rod Spinning http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/browning-fishing-safari-travel-spinning-rod-1407030701442-1

 

Semper Fish!

Joe, The National Angler

Categories
Swimbait Mayhem

FINESSE CASTING BIG SWIMBAITS

SWIMBAIT TIPS: FINESSE CASTING BIG BAITS

Finesse casting big swimbaits will not draw the attention of bass or the attention from other anglers and key in shallow water.

Let’s just say, that when most people see an angler throwing a big swimbait, they tend to over react. I’ve heard people say, “you can’t use live bait”, “is that real”, “are you shark fishing”, and other crazy things. My response, have you ever seen the mouth of a 5lb plus Largemouth Bass? Usually, the answer is no….

One of my favorite lakes that I fish is crystal clear and you can only use trolling motors. Bass are routinely cruising the banks as the structure is pretty limited. I handful of laydowns, builders, and points. There is very little weed growth in the shallows. In the early spring, the bass bed up and remain stationary. However, throughout the rest of the year, they cruise the banks. This provides an opportunity for me to target fish in the lake. Due to pressure, water clarity, and electric motor only limitation these fish spook easily.

I quickly learned that the big baits splashing set all fish in the close area running, and probably put the rest of the fish in the area on high alert. Finesse casting will be key in these environments and conditions if I’m going to be successful. While I’m still on the hunt for my first big bass on a big swimbait. I’m confident that this technique will prove successful for anyone who wants to implement it. 

Make sure you check out my article HERE or YouTube video HERE for info on how to adjust your reel for finesse casting big swimbaits. 

Let me know what you use in the comments section below. If you have any questions, this is a great area for that as well.

Semper Fish!

 

Joe, The National Angler

 

Check out the video for this article HERE