RAMBLING ANGLER OUTDOORS©

Staying in Shape in the Winter

for the upcoming fishing season

By: Ethan Dhuyvetter

As highly addicted bass fishermen, we tend to feel like we are going crazy during the winter, when bass fishing is pretty much impossible unless you are in the deep south. The remedy many of us use is preparing ourselves mentally for the next season. We do this by reading articles, watching videos, and participating in forums. One thing we often overlook is the physical toll fishing has on our bodies as we put our bodies to the test while on the water all day long. Returning to the water in the spring can be a lot harder than some of us may think. Knowing how to prepare your body for the next season is important, and doing so will increase your performance while on the water.

Before thinking of how you are going to work out, I must begin by saying that eating healthy foods is important as well. Eating right can keep you energized throughout the day, and can keep your body in good health. I don’t want to sound like your mother, but just make sure you balance your diet, and eat your fruits and vegetables. You will be surprised at the difference it makes while on the water.

There are many ways to keep your body in shape for the new season of fishing, and finding a workout that you are comfortable with is important. A mixture of lifting and cardio is a good place to start, working on both strength and stamina. Staying active , on a daily basis, is important but I don’t recommend a hard workout, not only because most of us don’t have time for it, but because your body needs rest. Working out three times per week is a good start.

Doing combo lifts that work your arms, legs, and core is a good way to keep your whole body in shape. Back problems are common among bass fishermen, so the core is important. For the cardio part of your workout, you could do anything from playing basketball with friends to running. The important part is that you find something that you are comfortable with and will work with your schedule.

Finding the workout that is right for you and sticking with it during the offseason will make you a better angler. As I said before, we often spend many hours on the water, and that can really affect our bodies. The workouts during the offseason will prepare our bodies for those hours on the water. There are many things that can cause serious discomfort, which the workouts will eliminate. Some of the main causes include repetitive casts, and running the trolling motor all day. Repetitive casts can cause your upper body to become sore and the weight lifting during the offseason will prepare you for that. Standing in the front of the boat, while running a trolling motor is another factor that can add discomfort, by causing strain to your joints and back, so the core and leg workouts will help with that.

Not only will the workouts prepare your body for the uncomfortable factors while on the water, but it will also allow you to focus better throughout the day. We won’t get tired as fast, and will be able to fish throughout the day without losing focus. This is especially important for tournaments or pre-fishing. You want to be as efficient with your time as possible, and not being able to focus because you are tired can be a big disadvantage. The full body workouts and the cardio will prepare you for this. You will be able to stay awake and pay attention to the small details better. Long days on the water will feel a lot shorter when your body doesn’t tire as fast.

As you can see, staying in shape is obviously important for us as anglers, not only for the off-season, but all year long, so remember to stay active during the bass fishing season as well. If you take care of your body, you will be able to fish longer and catch more fish throughout your life.

Keeping your body in good physical condition will increase your odds as an angler. I hope that you all took something away from this article that you can use. Although you might not directly think of staying in shape as a key factor to catching fish, it truly is. Eat right and balance your workout, and you will be ready to catch that big one this spring!

Importance of Maps In Fishing

Fishing an unfamiliar lake can be one of the biggest challenges bass fishermen face. Although adapting to new lakes is something important for every angler to learn, you can only adapt so much. There is a lot of preparation involved in fishing a new lake, including choosing the right tackle for the trip, and studying where the fish might be staging. One thing that often goes overlooked however, is observing a topographical map of the lake before making the trip.

Without knowing the bottom contours of lakes, it will be much harder for you to pinpoint exact locations that fish potentially stage throughout the course of the year. With topographical maps, you can find sharp break lines, underwater humps, and other types of structure that would have otherwise gone undiscovered. You can also see the depths, and locations of points, making it easier for you to fish them efficiently. After you break down the lake to the highest-potential fishing spots, you can actually go out and fish them.

Time on the water is valuable, whether you're fishing for fun, or fishing in a tournament. We only have so much time to go out and do what we love so much. Managing your time runs much smoother when having knowledge of the lake's various contours. Without maps, it will be much harder for you to pinpoint the spots you want to fish throughout the day, wasting your precious time on the water. On the other hand, if you use a map and study the lake beforehand, you will know what spots you want to fish throughout the day, giving you more time at each of your spots. This results in a higher probability of catching more fish.

The ultimate goal of every fishing trip is to, obviously, catch fish. When you have knowledge of the areas you are fishing, as well as the time needed to fish them effectively, you will have a much higher chance of catching more fish. To attain this knowledge of the lake, you must study maps. Today, there are many forms of maps available to anglers, including paper maps, sonar GPS, and online maps.

Paper Maps:

The oldest, yet still important, type of maps is the standard paper maps. These can be purchased from most fishing and tackle retailers. Paper map prices vary depending on the producer of the map, as well as the lake, but you should expect to pay anywhere from $10-$30 per map. There are a few main advantages of paper maps. First, you have the ability to have a first-person look at any part of the lake you want to see. Next, paper maps can be taken with you pretty much anywhere. Paper maps also have their downsides, or disadvantages. Most importantly, they are hard to use on the water, because water can damage them, and they are hard to hold steady with even the slightest wind (Trust me, I've tried). They can also be hard to read, because of all the small lines, and marks on the paper. Using a magnifying glass can help. Overall, paper maps are the standard way to study a lake's topographical features, and will continue to provide anglers with an easy-accessible mapping resource in later generations.

Sonar GPS:

A newer technology available to anglers made for observing the topographical features of a lake are Sonar GPS units. These are electronic devices built for boats, which provide anglers with lake maps and depth contours. The units typically come with all the maps of major lakes around the country, now. They haven't always, though, so not all units have all maps. If you need new maps for your unit, expect to pay around $150 for a large region of lakes across the country. Obviously, these units cost much more than standard paper maps. Most GPS units range anywhere from $400-$3,000. The advantages are big though, making it easier for anglers to find new spots while on the water, as compared to doing all of your studying at home. You can also zoom in or out as much as you need to, so you can study spots as thoroughly as you want. The main disadvantage of this form of maps is the cost, but other than that, these units can benefit you greatly. Using these in addition to other maps will help anglers learn the lake better.

Online Maps:

The final type of maps available to anglers, are online maps. Angling Technologies is the only company that provides this technology. It is very similar to paper maps, but it is all online. It is available for a very competitive price of $15 per year, and provides hundreds of maps across the country. If they don't have the map of a lake that you want to study, you can suggest it to them, and they will do all that they can to get it for your use. Advantages of this type of map include the many features it provides, ability to zoom in and out as much as needed, as well as the low cost. Some of the features available to users include ability to save fishing spots, structure, and points of interest. You can also export these spots to your Sonar GPS unit if you have one, and you can import new spots from the unit to save on your online map. Not only does Angling Technologies work on your computer, but it also works on your mobile device, making it possible to access the map while on the water. This innovative mapper is available at www.angling-technologies.com.

Overall, if you spend the small amount of time required to study a map of the lake you plan to fish, you will have a much higher chance of catching fish, and enjoying your time on the water. Paper maps can be easily accessed by anglers, and will always provide a good way to study lakes. Sonar GPS units mounted on boats will provide anglers the ability to locate and mark spots while on the water. Online mapping resources will allow anglers to study lakes and save potential spots, all from home, while still making it possible to see your spots on the water. After the use of these maps, you can find potential fishing spots, use your time more efficiently, and as a result, catch more fish.

I hope this article helps you in your pursuit to catch more fish, and have an overall better time on the water.

Ethan Dhuyvetter

Swim Jig Bassin

By: Ethan Dhuyvetter

Recently in the bass fishing industry, a new technique has come around. Well, most anglers think it is new, but many people have been fishing this technique for years. Only recently has it been unveiled to bass anglers nationwide. This technique is swimming a jig. Jigs were originally made to be pitched or flipped into cover and twitched a few times. This has always been an excellent technique and will continue to be, but with the fairly recent application of swimming a jig, new doors are being opened. Now we can work them faster, cover more water but yet still have that big profile of the flipping jig.

Swimming a jig is simple. Cast and wind, twitch, or basically anything else you want to try. It is a very versatile bait. You can swim any jigs, however there are now jigs made especially for this application (different style head, hook, line tie, and weed guard). My favorite way to work a swim jig, is to cast out and power fish it back, by reeling fast and aggressively popping it out of cover, but there are many other ways to fish the swim jig as you will learn from this article.

Some of my favorites are the Dirty Jigs Swim Jigs, and Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jigs. I normally opt for the Strike King, because it is easier to get my hands on (sold at Bass Pro Shops, Cabers, and basically all other fishing retailers). The 3/8 oz. size is hard to beat, due to its versatility but downsizing can be key for tough conditions. Upsizing would be a good idea is you want to get more depth from your jig. As far as color, I like to try to match the main forage that the fish are feeding on, but my favorite colors are black and blue, and a bluegill color. Black and blue excels in the murkier water, and I use bluegill for basically everything else. Whites, and other shad imitators can always be productive if you are trying to mimic a shad. You might need to experiment a little in your area, but my overall favorite is a bluegill imitator.

When it comes to swim jig trailers, almost anything can be productive on a swim jig. Some of my favorites, however, are flapping style craws Rage Craws, Paca Craws, etc. and small swimbaits. Single tail or double tail grubs can also be productive swim jig trailers. What I look for first, is something that has a little flapping motion, to give the bait a little wiggle. I normally choose a green pumpkin, or something similar that can match my bait.

Ok, so you now know what type of swim jig to throw, but now, how to fish it. Fishing a swim jig can be very easy. I like to keep my rod at about 9 or 10 o-clock and reel at a moderately fast retrieve, with small, subtle twitches thrown in. When conditions are tough, and the bass are slow, try slowing it down and slow-rolling it along the bottom. When the fish are more active, try a faster retrieve. As I said earlier, I like to power fish mine, to try to get a reaction strike, but it all depends on the day, and how the fish are acting. Let the fish tell you what they want on a given day.

You can throw swim jigs almost anywhere. I like them in almost anything less than 10 foot deep. They are very similar to a spinnerbait, however you can fish them more effectively through grass. Try them in woody areas, weedy areas, or even rocky areas, and I guarantee you will have success. When you get that fish to bite, remember that it has a weed guard and is a jig, so you will need to try to hook them hard. So give them a solid hook-set, and crank them back to the boat. I hope this article helps you, and I hope you can go stick a pig on a swim jig!

Passing on the sport we love so much

By: Ethan Dhuyvetter

With the growing interests in technology today, outdoor activities are becoming less and less popular for young people but fortunately bass fishing still seems to grow every year. We can't expect it to stay this way forever, if we don't do something about it. Why would a kid want to pick up the old Zebco 33 and try to go catch a slimy fish, when they can stay inside and play video games with friends? That is where we come in.

As a kid, I didn't get the opportunity to fish very much, and honestly, I didn't care much for it. I fished a few times with an old, cheap spin-cast reel that my parents bought for me, and thought it was OK, but never had the urge to go out again. If you fast-forward 10 years I am now one of the most highly addicted bass anglers you will ever meet and I can't seem to get it out of my head.

How did I get this way? Why did I decide I want to buy my own equipment and start fishing so much? It all started when I got a car and at age 16 I was so happy that I could finally drive, and now I could go hang out with my friends whenever I wanted. I turned 16 in March, so the weather was starting to get warm and around that time, my friends and I wanted to do something outside, so they suggested we go fishing. I went along with it even though I didn't know how to catch a fish to save my life, and I didn't even know what we would be catching. I grabbed my dad's old Zebco 33 and headed over to my friend's house. He lived in the country, and had a few farm ponds we could fish.

When I arrived at his house, I went ahead and tied on a random cool looking lure that was in my dad's old tackle box. My friends were catching fish, and I wasn't having much luck, so they suggested I put on a rooster tail, whatever the heck that was. My friend thoughtfully lent me one, and I started fishing. Boom, fish on! I brought it in, and lipped it very carefully. It was a little 14 inch bass and boy was it fun. We fished for a while longer, and caught some more fish, and left.

At that point, I decided I wanted to buy my own pole. We started going more and more, and I ended up buying an inexpensive Shakespeare spinning rod/reel combo that I thought was beautiful. What really got me hooked; however, was when I bought a variety pack of soft plastics, and saw one that I had no idea how to use. I decided to look it up on the internet, and found out that it was called a Senko, and I could just hook it straight through the middle and let it sink. Alright, that sounds easy enough, so I rigged it up, and decided to go try it out at another friend's farm pond. I casted it a few times, and within a few minutes, I hooked into a nice three-pounder. I brought it in, and it was the biggest fish I had ever caught. When I realized that I could buy a lure, research how to use it, and then go apply it to catch nice fish, I really fell in love.

Ok, so back to our young guys and gals and how technology is one of the most popular aspects of life today. Most kids don't get to find fishing the way I did. I got lucky, and randomly caught some bass with friends and decided to teach myself more about it. So how do we ensure that fishing will always be around, and let others know how great it can be? The first step is to take someone fishing that doesn't know much about it.

All of us anglers know someone that doesn't fish, or has never got the opportunity to try. So if all of us anglers would set aside a few days out of the year to teach someone the basics of fishing, then we can ensure a beautiful future for our precious bodies of water, and all the creatures that live inside them. After all, aren't you grateful for the person who taught you to fish?

I know fishing isn't for everybody in the world, but why not open up the youth's eyes to a fun outdoor activity that can provide a healthy alternative to video games, computers, and all that other stuff. I have some advice for the fisherman who is going to bring a child or an inexperienced fisherman with them to try to catch fish. First, this trip is for your partner, not you. With younger kids, don't even bring your pole, because you will feel tempted to fish by yourself. Second, bring them to a spot that you know there are fish, whether they are bass, bluegill, or anything else. Third, let them try artificial lures, because I know that when I was inexperienced, I hated using bait or waiting on the fish to come to me (still do). If the lures aren't working, try some live bait. Fourth, make it fun. If you aren't catching fish, make sure you can do something that ensures they have a good time. If your partner is just a kid, take them for ice cream on the way home. If they don't have any fun, they will definitely not have a good memory of fishing.

Overall, fishing is what we love, and we should pass it on to others, so that future generations can enjoy it just as much as we do. If you are someone that wants to learn how to fish it is a good idea to find someone who has some angling experience to help you get started. For you experienced anglers I hope that after reading this article you will want to show someone else the sport we love so much. Fishing.