Sportsman’s Tips – March 2007
When the bunker schools are thick in the spring, it can be tricky to get striped bass and bluefish to pick your bait out from the rest of the pack. To make my live bunker stand out, I use scissors to cut off the lower lobe of the tail. This makes the bunker swim down below the rest of the school where predators usually hang out. It also makes the bunker emit different vibrations that draw attention from gamefish attacking the schools.
“” Tom Rauth, Lakewood, New Jersey
Sportsman’s Tips – March 2007
When I’m wading the back bay with my fly rod, I never know what kind of baitfish I’ll find. I once lugged up to five fly boxes to have the right pattern for any situation, but being bogged down with gear is tiring. Instead, I carry one box of white Deceivers and Clousers in various sizes and a few markers in natural baitfish colors, like olive, brown and blue. The white works fine by itself most of the time, but if I need to, I can just color my flies in a pinch to match the bait or water conditions.
“” Kyle Stanson, Beaufort, South Carolina
Sportsman’s Tips – March 2007
Safety chains are an essential part of trailering, but many anglers just let them dangle as they tow their boats. Over time, the chains get badly worn and weakened from dragging on the road. A simple fix is to use a bungee cord to keep the chains raised off the ground. Hook one end of the bungee through a link in the middle of the first chain, wrap the cord around the trailer tongue a few times, then loop the other bungee hook in the middle of the second chain. Now the chains are raised out of the way and will do their job if the tongue hops off the ball.
“” Jack K. Avery, Stafford Springs, Connecticut
