Some questions about tackle and how to use it

[zippyFX]

(09-24-2013 02:17 PM)sonicsink Wrote:  I know one spot where there are bass because I see a lot of imitation frog lures hung up on the powerlines above it So, how do you fish fake frog lures like a Hula Popper? Do you just cast it out to the weedy areas and pull on the rod to make the lure "hop" around as you reel it in slowly?

Just because there are lures thier does not mean there are fish

Generally fogs are reeled in with a "popping retrieve" that gives the lure a frog like hoping action; Usually enough to give it some actions. Gentle is better; Frogs tend to work better in the spring; Come fall frogs start to become more scarce.

Check out youtube they have some demonstrations.

(09-24-2013 02:17 PM)sonicsink Wrote:  Jigs... I have seen some with curly grub lures, "feathers", etc...Do you just cast these out until it hits the bottom and then just tug at it and let it drop back down again as you slowly reel it in (sort of the same idea as the frog lure above but then under the water)?

Generally that is how I use them but you can also use them with a constant retrieve. The tug should be gentel you want the lure to bounce up 6-12 inches not 3-4 feet; How hard you work the line will depnd if you have mono or braid.

(09-24-2013 02:17 PM)sonicsink Wrote:  Other lures that look like fake fish or minnows... I know that the way the scoop is at the front makes the lure do different things like dive down and stuff, but do you just basically cast these lures out on their own (with no weights on them) and then you steadily reel them back in?

Generally yes. Each type of lure has a method to use. Some rise, sink to stay neutral on a retrieve and have different effects. Generally you can either rip it (reel it in quickly), reel it with moderate to slow speed, you can add start and stops or twitches to give it some action. Again you want to move inches not feet.

(09-24-2013 02:17 PM)sonicsink Wrote:  Spinners...Is all the fish is attracted to is the flashiness and rattle of it? It will just grab it with out any kind of fake or real bait on it? Do you need any weights on the spinner line or does it basically stay down mid level on it's own when you pull it through the water on retrieve?

No wieghts generally required; There are different spinners for different depths; You should reel in with either a fast or moderate retrieve; Sound and flash are the key elements that trigger the bite.

(09-24-2013 02:17 PM)sonicsink Wrote:  Leader lines...Is this those little lengths of wire line with the clips on them? If so, this one confused me a bit, so I wanted to know if I have it right now...I was always curious as to why people were talking about leader lines having like a __ lb weight limit when they were attaching it to fishing line that had a much smaller weight limit, but is the weight limit on leader line just lbs of pressure from fish with big choppers, so that when they clamp down on the bait/lure, that their teeth jaws don't snap the line?!

Generally a leader is a line fixed to your main line via a swivel. This allows you to do some things:

- Have a different line at the end of your rig than you main line. you can rig fluro carbon as a leader on on a mono/braid mainline.
- you an use the swivel of the leader to be the bottom stop on a slip float. Or use it it stop your weight (link an egg sinker) at your swivel, allowing the leader to drift in the current.
- you can use a wire leader for toothy fish such as Pike or Musky.
- Generally they the pound weight of the leader is less than or equal to the strength of the main line; This will alow the leader to snap before the mainline preventing you from loosing terminal tackle such as sinkers, floats and swivels.

The weight of leader/main line generally deals with the weigh or force the target species of fish you are trying to get weighs. you also need to compensate for the additional force of getting unhooked from snags or the weight of the lures being cast,