How to fish for bass

Learning how to bass fish can seem a little daunting if you’re new to fishing or taken a walk through your local fishing tackle shop recently. Maybe you’ve been at it a while and have accumulated a lot of tackle, and you’re still not really sure how best to put it to use.
This bass fishing guide will hopefully point you in the right direction on how to bass fish regardless of your skill level and experience.

But to keep things simple, an angler needs to know the following 4 things to be successful at bass fishing:

● Required tackle for bass fishing and how to use it
● Bass fishing techniques
● Where to bass fish
● When to bass fish

For my first installment of talking about bass fishing I will talk about the required table for bass fishing and how to use it.  In the coming weeks I will talk about each of the other bullet points.

Required tackle:
The basic necessary items will be the following, a rod, a reel, line and a hook. As simple as that sounds that all you'll ever need. However as simple as it is have you ever tried to buy just those simple things without being overwhelmed? I can tell you personally I've stood in the tackle shop going holy crap what are most of these things lol. So to start lets talk about fishing poles. Poles are made in so many ways but what I have discovered is medium to medium heavy action rods are the best. These types of rods give you the ability to set the hook and be able to bring the fish with ease. The big difference between the two will determine the size of the lure you are fishing. If you are fishing heavy tackle with braided or high pound line you'll want a heavy rod. Medium rods are great for light lures, top waters, buzzbaits, etc. You'll still be able to fish with braided lines but you can now fish lighter lines.

Next we'll talk about reels. Reels have one function, hold the line. The bigger the reel the more line yes but be careful with this thought process. When fishing braided or fluorocarbon lines a bigger reel isn't always needed. These lines give the option to have heavier lines on small reels. Here is usually my rule of thumb. If I can put a reel on a 6'6" rod and balance it on one finger near the reel seat I have the perfect fit rod/reel combo. This can work with any situation.  If the reel is to heavy the reel will tip down, if the reel is to light the rod wins the balance game.

I've discussed a couple different types of lines already but nows a breakdown of them. Currently there are three main types of lines. Braided, fluorocarbon and monofilament.  Braided is just that. Line that is fibered together for super strong strength in thinner diameter. Meaning that 20lbs test is the same diameter as 6lbs monofilament line. Flourocarbon line looks like monofilament but it sinks. Monofilament line floats. Its full of air bubbles which gives it a lot of stretch. Flourocarbon has little to now air bubbles causing it to sink. Has some stretch to it but not much give.

Last is hook. Hooks can be just as confusing as rods. Hooks are all different types determined all on what type of lure you are fishing. Plastic or soft  lures use the most different hooks. Wire or hard baits usually already have a weight and hook matching the lure size. 

Next week I will talk more about different lures and how to use different techniques.

Thanks for reading and keep your lines tight.

Something new is coming... again :)

As many of you know I am always changing and evolving. This time its not my product that is changing, its my blog. I am deciding to spread the amount of knowledge I have learned from fishing over the years. I know that there are people that were like me that didnt know everything there is to know about fishing. Hell, I'm still learning a ton myself every day. So every two weeks I plan on writing something about fishing. Whether it be about bass, trout, pike, makinaw or any kind of fish. I plan on writing about it and giving what knowledge I have back. So in the coming weeks look for my new and exciting blog posts! If any of you care to leave comments or insite of your own about the topic I write about feel free to leave comments. I am opening to being told I was wrong about my information or just simply a different view. Thanks for reading and keep your lines tight!

White and chartreuse shad head spinnerbait

Custom made shad head spinnerbait. Yellow and white skirt match the brightly colored head. Single colorado hammered blade for lots of thump and flash in the water. Great for bass or pike fishing. A must have color for any fisherman!

Silver Shad head Spinnerbait

One of a kind!! Multi colored skirt red, black and yellow. Clear coated silver shad head custom made to catch big bass! Smooth size 5 colorado blade for a big thump and lots of flash in the water. Can be used in clear or murky waters. A must have!!

Red/black shad head Spinnerbait

The red bait-fish style head and seductive red skirts impart a frantic fleeing look at high speed to create that reaction bite from a bass. Built on a .035 gauge wire frame with a Mustad Needlepoint extra long hook. It features your choice of premium layered silicone skirts. This deadly spinner bait brings down bass with the best of them.

Chartreuse Shad head Spinnerbait

All packaged and ready to be shipped. Chartreuse yellow with a gold willow blade and a painted green and yellow colorado blade. Very bright and vibrant. Especially happy with the insert that allows the lure to be seen.

Will be available on castawaylures.etsy.com soon!

Thanks for reading.
Cheers and keep your lines tight!

Jig heads

So the one thing I have learned through trial and tribulations of owning your own business is being able to adapt. I started out making simple probably not very good quality spinnerbaits. As I learned more about the lure and found different types I evolved. I use a higher quality wire, sharper hooks and better blades. I often find myself in craft stores now looking at the beads and coming with new and exciting ways to make those beads match everything else on the lure. In December a high school friend reached out to me and asked if I would make him 25 buzzbaits. I had never even fished a buzzbait let alone knew what one was. But off to research and develop I did. I now even fish buzzbaits when the opportunity arises. Then came inline spinners. So many people waste their money on roostertail and mepps lures when I have found the mass producing of these lures has caused a decrease in their quality. So I started making my own. Not into trout fishing much anymore since where I live produces more bass and sunfish fishing. Which brings me to my next step in evolution. I will soon be making jig heads. With a great supply of lead at my disposal I will be making jig heads by the hundreds. I have mulled over the idea for sometime now and have always come around to not wanting to change. However the idea has been in my head since I did my first craft fair. A gentleman there said he would by hundreds of jig heads if available. I even wrote it down "jig heads". So soon enough I will be adding them to my etsy page in hopes they sell just as well as the spinnerbaits, inlines and buzzbaits. Just another piece of arsenal gathering in my tackle box :) Who knows maybe my next step will be trolling rigs. Hmm... not a bad idea :) Cheers and keep your lines tight!